A Protestants Resolution Shewing his REASONS Why He Will not be a PAPIST Digested into so plain a Method of Question and Answer that an ordinary Capacity may be able to defend the Protestant Religion against the most Cunning Jesuit or Popish Priest Useful for these Times Be ready to render a reason of the hope that is in you c. 1 Pet. 3.15 LONDON Printed for D. Newman at the Kings Arms in the Poultrey 1679. A Protestants Resolutioâ— Question HOw many Religions are there the World Ans Principally four Quest Which are they Ans Pagan Jewish Mahometan Christian Quest Of which of these Religions are you Ans Of the Christian Religion Quest How many parties lay claim to the Christian Religion Ans Two principally 〈…〉 Which be they and how are they 〈…〉 〈…〉 The Papist and the Protestant 〈…〉 Of which of these parties are 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Of the Protestant â—â—est What understand you by a Proâ—â—â—â—â—â—t Ans One who takes part with those â—ho formerly protested against the Errors and Corruptions of the Church of Rome Quest What are those Errors Ans They are very many I am ready to give an account of some of their principal ones Quest What is the First Error Ans In that they forbid the Bible to be read in the vulgar Tongue Quest What is your opinion in this thing concerning the Scriptures Ans The Scriptures were written for the use of the common people and therefore should be translated into known Tognues Quest To what end Ans That they may be heard read and understood of all Quest How prove you that Ans Because the Lord frequently commands the reading of the Scriptures by the people and solemnly charges the reading of them to the people Quest Where is the Command Ans Deut. 31.11 Thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life Act. 15.21 Moses hath in every city them that preach him being read in the Synagogue every Sabbath-day Eph. 3.4 Whereby when ye read ye may understand my knowledg in the mystery of Christ Col. 4.16 When this Epistle is read among you cause it that it be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans and that ye also read the Epistle from Laodicea 1 Thes 5.27 I charge you by the Lord that this Epistle be read unto all the holy brethren Rev. 1.3 Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy Quest What is a Second Error of the Papists Ans Their receiving unwritten Traditions with equal respect and reverence as we receive the Holy Scriptures Quest Wherein lieth the evil of this opinion Ans In this namely in making Traditions of men equal in dignity and authority with the express Revelation of God Quest What is your opinion in this matter Ans That the Scriptures in themselves are a full sufficient and perfect rule Quest How prove you that Ans Because it containeth all things that are necessary for men to believe and do in order to eternal life Isa 8.20 To the law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this world it is because there is no light in them Joh. 20.31 These are written that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his Name Gal. 1.8 Though we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed Eph. 2.20 Built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone 2 Tim. 3.16 17 From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus That the man of God may be perfect thorowly furnished marg perfected unto all good works Quest What is a Third Error of the Papists Ans That we are to believe the Scriptures upon the sole Authority of the Church Quest Wherein lieth the evil of this opinion Ans It lieth in this namely that men being liable to mistakes may lead me into to errors so that I can never be sure that what I take as my rule is indeed that right one of Gods prescribing therefore the testimony of the Church cannot be the only or chief reason of our believing the Scripture to be the Word of God Eph. 2.20 Built upon the foundation of the prophets and apostles Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone 1 Thes 2.13 For this cause thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe Quest What then is the chief reason of our belief of the Scriptures Ans The testimony of the Spirit of God in the word it self witnessing it to be of God Psal 119.105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path Prov. 6.23 Commandment is a lamp and the law is light Heb. 4.12 The word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the Joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy whereunto you do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts Quest What is a fourth Error of the Papists Ans In asserting the infallibility of their Pope and Church and that every man must submit his faith and conscience to them Quest Do the Papists any where assert this Ans Yes and Bellarmine in particular layeth down this position That if the Pope command the practice of vice and forbid virtuous actions the Church is bound to believe vices to be good and virtues to be bad Bell. de Pontif. Rom. li. 4. cap. 5. Quest What is the Protestant belief in this matter Ans That there is no human supreme infallible Judg in the Church of God to whom all Christians are obliged to submit their faith and conscience in all matters of Religion Quest How prove you that Ans From three Reasons 1. Because it is a greater authority than the Apostles did ever claim 2 Cor. 1.24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith but are helpers of your joy for by faith ye stand 2. Because it is contrary to Christs command concerning tryal of Doctrine 1 Pet. 3.15 Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you 1 Joh. 4.1 Believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God 3. Because as to matter of fact guides and teachers have caused the people to sin in following them Exod. 32.5 31 When
Aaron saw it he built an Altar before it and Aaron made proclamation and said To morrow is a feast to the Lord. v. 31. And Moses returned unto the Lord and said Oh this people have sinned a great sin and have made them gods of gold Isa 3.12 Oh my people they which lead thee cause thee to err and destroy the way of thy paths Mat. 23.3 Do not ye after their works for they say and do not Quest What is a Fifth Error of the Papists Ans That the Pope is Universal Head of the Church Quest What is the Protestant belief in this matter Ans We deny that there is any such visible Head therefore the Pope cannot be so Quest How prove you that Ans Because neither our Creed nor the sacred Scriptures hath revealed any such thing to us Quest Whom then do the Protestants affirm to be universal Head of the Church Ans Jesus Christ and him only Quest How prove you that Ans Because the Scriptures reveal it Psal 2.6 I have set my King upon my holy hill of Sion Ephes 1.22 And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church Quest What is a sixth Error of the Papists Ans That Kings and Emperors with their respective subjects are at the Popes disposal in general and particularly that the persons and estates of the Clergy are not under the power of the Civil Magistrate Quest What is the Protestants belief Ans 1. That Kings and Emperors are not properly Subjects to the Pope nor hath the Pope any power to absolve any of their Subjects from their Allegiance 2. That even the Clergy are subject to secular Princes and their bodies and estates under their government Quest How prove you that Ans Because they are in the number of those on whom the Scripture chargeth subjection Rom. 13.1 Let every soul be subject to the higher powers Tit. 3.1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers to obey magistrates 1 Pet. 2.13 14 15. Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as supreme or unto governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of them that do well For so is the will of God that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men Quest What is the seventh Error of the Papists Ans That the Pope of Rome is next under Christ Quest What say the Protestants Ans That he is Antichrist because none have more the marks of Antichrist than he Quest How prove you that Ans Because no Antichrist can do worse things than he 2 Thes 2.3 4 9 10. That day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed that son of perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or is worshipped so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God v. 9. Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders v. 10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish Rev. 13. throughout Quest What is an Eighth Error of the Papists Ans That the Protestants are Hereticks for separating from them Quest What say the Protestants to this Ans They say that it being granted that the Protestants did separate from the Church of Rome yet that they did it upon just grounds Quest How do you prove that Ans Because they did it for the sake of Christ and the Purity of Religion for which reason they are commanded so to do 2 Cor. 6.15 16 17 18. What concord hath Christ with Belial or what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols ye are the Temple of the living God Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and will be a father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty Quest What was there in the Romish Religion that occasioned their separation Ans In that it was a Superstitious Religion Idolatrous Religion Damnable Religion Bloody Religion Traiterous Religion Blind Religion Blasphemous Religion Quest But why do yo you say their separation being granted Do they not grant their separation Ans They need not for the Church of Rome more properly separated from them than they from the Church of Rome in that they broke off from the foundation of the Apostles Doctrine which the Protestants retain still holding the head the Papists having separated them from their company and cast them out for the son of mans sake Luk. 6.22 Quest What is a Ninth Error of the Papists Ans That the Church of Rome is the only true Church Quest What say the Protestants to this Ans We deny it Quest Why Ans Because the Roman Church agreeth not with the definition of a true Church Quest What is the true Church Ans The true Church is an Universal Congregation or fellowship of Gods faithful elect people built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ being the chief corner-stone Quest What are the marks of a true Church Ans Such as these Pure and sound Doctrine preached the Sacraments administred according to Christs institution the right use of Ecclesiastical Discipline John 10.4 The sheep follow him for they know his voice Eph. 5.26 he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word Quest What is a Tenth Error of the Papists Ans Their praying to Saints and Angels Quest What is the Protestants opinion in this matter Ans That praying to Saints and Angels is a dangerous corrupting of holy Worship and abominable in the sight of God Quest How prove you that Ans 1. It is absurd and ridiculous 1. They being not 〈…〉 to hear our prayers 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—rant of us Is◠〈…〉 2. In that they cannot be sure they are all real Saints to whom they pray nay we know the Pope hath canonized many wicked men 2. It hath no warrant from the Word of God but forbidden Mat. 4.10 Him only shalt thou serve 3. It is Idolatrous 4. It is injurious to the Mediatory-office of Christ 1 Tim. 2.5 There is one God and one Mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus 1 Joh. 2.1 If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous 5. Angels refuse it Rev. 22.9 See thou do it not for I am thy fellow-servant Quest What is an Eleventh Error of the Papists Ans Their Doctrine of Purgatory Quest What do you understand by Purgatory Ans A place wherein Saints are purged after thâ—◠〈…〉 were not fully purged 〈…〉 â—hey may enter purer into Heaven Bellarm. de Purgat lib. 2. cap. 6. Quest What is the Protestants
drank of it 3. Because without the Cup a man cannot answer the end of this Sacrament As oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come 1 Cor. 11.26 4. Because the same right we have to Christs blood we have to the Cup. Mat. 26.27 28 He took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying drink ye all of it For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Luk. 22.20 This cup is the New Testament in my blood which is shed for you 1 Cor. 10.16 The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ Quest What is the twenty-fourth Error of the Papists Ans Their Doctrine of the Mass Quest What do they understand by the Mass Ans That which the Protestants according to the Scripture call the Lords Supper Papists call the Mass whereby the Sacrament is made a Sacrifice and offered up to God Bellar. lib. 1. de missa cap. 1. Quest What say the Protestants of the Mass Ans That it is a vain and Idolatrous thing as used by them Quest VVhy vain Ans Because by Christs Sacrifice God is sufficiently satisfied and the repenting-sinner fully secured Heb. 10.12 This man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sate down on the right hand of God Quest Why Idolatrous Ans Because they make it a meer Idol not only worshipping it as God but trusting therein for salvation as in Christ himself Quest How prove you that the Mass is not the very same sacrifice with that of Christ crucified on the Cross Ans 1. God appointed Christ for a Sacrifice but never the Mass 2. The Mass is not of the same sort or kind with that of Christ crucified Quest Wherein lieth the difference Ans 1. It was the sacrifice of the very body born of a Virgin but the Mass of a piece of bread 2. There was shedding of blood but the Mass is an unbloody sacrifice 3. It had the due proportion of a man but the Mass is a wafer Quest Are there no more Errors of the Papists Ans Yes many but these are sufficient to make the Protestant abhor their Church and Doctrine Quest Where was the Protestants Religion before Luther Ans In the Bible Doctrinally and in its fruits in the hearts and lives of all good men Quest Where were the Disciples first called Christians Ans At Antioch the Disciples were first called Christians Act. 11.26 Quest Then the name of Christian had not its rise from Rome Ans No. Quest What doth the name Christian put us in mind of Ans It putteth us in mind of what Christ hath done for us and the many benefits we obtain from his life death resurrection and intercession Quest What more Ans It is a remembrance unto us what we should do for Christ in gratitude of what he hath done for us Quest Do not Popish Priests Jesuits and others that dye for Treasons and Murthers dye like Christians Ans No True Christians at their death will give Glory to God Quest Do not they give glory to God Ans No if they did they would confess their just deserts that brings them to that punishment Quest Why do they not confess their Treasons Murder c. when they come to dye for them Ans Because their Church forbids them to confess to Protestants which they call Hereticks Quest How doth that appear Ans In that they receive their Absolution upon condition that they dye concealing the Crime for which they dye Quest Vpon what Principle do they proceed in this Ans Upon this principle namely That no man owes his ememy Truth Quest Why so Ans Because then he owes him what may be a means for his preservation Quest What use do they make of this Principle Ans That the Protestants being Adversaries to the Church of Rome her Sons owe them nothing but ruin and destruction and the vilest of means they can use for that end are meritorious and glorious I Have not inserted the Quotations under the Five last Questions in regard the Authors are so numerous if the Papists shall deny it let the Reader peruse what the Protestant Authors have quoted out of the Romanists own books and he will find that they do not only make this kind of Perjury blameless but necessary breach of Oaths is no less with them than a vertue or a necessary duty in many cases especially when any thing of moment is to be opposed which is against the Laws of the Roman Church against that particularly of the General Council of Lateran under Pope Innocent the Third which forbids all favour to be shewed to Hereticks under the sorest penalties and decrees That favourers of Hereticks are under Excommunication if they will not break their Oaths made in favour of Hereticks and that by the Sacred Decree of their Church he must be forsworn if he will not be excommunicated and thereby exposed to the violence of every hand as Sir Edmondbury Godfrey was yea one that hath taken the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy according to their Doctrine sins mortally and puts himself into the state of damnation not if he takes those Oaths for that their Priests may dispense with but if he keeps them So Pope Martin the Fifth declared in writing to Alexander Duke of Lithuania Know says he that thou sinnest mortally if thou keep thy Oaths with Hereticks Apud Cochlaeum l. 5. Hist Hussitarium Hereby it appears that no Papists can possibly give any security which may be trusted that Protestants shall enjoy any thing which is in their power to deprive them of for the greatest securities that can be given in this case are engagements of Faith and Truth God being invocated for Confirmation in solemn Oaths but their Religion hath laid such strong bonds upon them to break all bonds that may favour the Protestants that it leaves no hope of salvation to them who will not at their deaths take it upon their salvation the greatest untruth if the Catholick Cause may be holpen by it for another General Council that of Constance hath determined that no Faith is to be kept with Hereticks in the 19th Session of that Assembly that no safe Conduct given by Emperor King or Secular Prince to Hereticks or any defamed for Hereticks though with a design to reduce them by what engagements soever they have obliged themselves shall hinder those Hereticks from being destroyed though they come to the place of Judgment relying upon such security as in John Husse's case by Pope John the 22d Hereby Protestants may understand what reason they have to trust to nothing among Papists but what will keep them out of their power seeing the principles of that Religion not private mens opinions but the determination of Councils bind them to observe no Faith or Truth or common honesty with those whom they account Hereticks no not
when life is concerned rather than a Protestant shall be safe in any of his concerns where they can reach them It is a virtue a duty in their Religion to snap asunder all security by which the world hath hitherto been preserved to ruin a Heretick They who would see more of this at large may read the Jesuits Morals the Practical Divinity of the Papists and Mystery of Jesuitism besides the late instances which they have given at their Deaths who have been executed for Treason and Murders denying the things for which they suffered though proved upon them as clear as the Sun at noon-day occasioned by the awe their Priests have upon them being so far led away with them that the obedience of the dying Proselyte is prevalent even above his Considerations for a future estate This will be more apparent if we consider that hundreds of Irish Papists are executed in the Kingdom of Ireland every year for Murthers Thefts c. and though taken in the very fact yet when they come to dye usually take it upon their Deaths and as they must appear before the great Judg that knows all things that they are as innocent from the fact for which they dye as the Child unborn For they having discharg'd their Consciences by confessing it to the Priests and received his absolution it would bring an odium on their Religion and would be a strengthening the hands of the Protestants if the Priests should suffer it Whereas on the other side could they perswade the simple people to believe they dyed innocent they hope it may lay a stain upon that Religion which they call so often by the name of Heresie And though those Priests have always that regard to their Church as to impose upon the Prisoner to let the world know he dyeth a Roman Catholick yet he hath also much care of the Man that he must not desire the Prayers of any but Papists These things being so usual among them any considerate man will easily judg without breach of charity upon what ground such men are seduced to commit a sin and then out-face the truth of the matter of fact even in the face of Death BEcause the Papists shall not say the charge I give their Religion under the Eighth Error is groundless I shall instance in particular And 1. I say 't is a Superstitious Religion It were innumerable to account the many vain fopperies in their Devotions which they place Religion in as the Tooth of St. Christopher The Hair of St. Peters Beard The shift that came off the back of the Virgin Mary and the Dust and Vermine which they keep of some Saints Valla a great person of Learning and Eminency among them saith There are ten thousand such things in Rome if the Host fall to the ground it must be licked up the ground is to be scraped and the scrapings reduced to ashes is to have place among their Reliques Add to this their Holy-water their salt their spittle their Holy Oyl their Beads Whippings Fish-days Pilgrimages Nunneries Crossing themselves Baptizing of Bells Fonts c. So that the great Erasmus in his Annotations approved by Pope Leo the Tenth saith Their whole Religion is almost brought to their superstitious treatment of Reliques through the covetousness of Priests and the Hypocrisie of Monks fed by the foolishness of the people 2. 'T is an Idolatrous Religion In invocating Saints adoring the Host and worshipping Images Their worshipping of Reliques giving Religious Worship to such things as they do but fancy to be Reliques and not only when they are whole and sound but when they are corrupted and reduced to dust or nothing else left of them but the Vermin bred in them Henricus one of the School Doctors concludes That the Reliques in the form of dust and ashes may and ought to be adored but not under the form of Vermin and gives some reason for it But their great Vasquez rejects this scruple and the ground of it as vain and frivolous and concludes they may be worshipped as well when they are Vermin as when they are ashes Besides their Angel-worship Image-worship and Saint-worship 3. 'T is a Damnable Religion In that it overthrows the very foundation of Christianity their Doctrine of Transubstantiation overthrows the Truth of Christs humane Nature their proper Sacrifice his only Sacrifice for sin offered once for all their Doctrine of Merits for his Merits the multitude of Mediators among them deny that only Mediator betwixt God and Man the man Jesus Christ Their Sacrificing-Priests overthrow Christs Priestly office Their villifying the Scriptures and setting up their unwritten Traditions to be received with equal reverence with them overthrows Christs Prophetical office The great Article of forgiveness of sins and free justification through the Grace of God in Jesus Christ is overthrown by their Doctrine of Merit Pardons Indulgences c. 4. 'T is a Bloody Religion wherein Papal Rome exceeds Heathen Rome Witness the horrid Murthers and Massacres of the poor Waldenses who have been persecuted with Fire and Sword Armies and Inquisitions and very many Thousands nay infinite numbers of them have been inhumanely murdered That Barbarous and prodigious Villany and great Massacre of Protestants in France Anno 1572 where about 30 or 40000 innocent Protestants in Paris and other parts of France were suddenly and inhumanely murdered by Papists Witness Spains Invincible Armada in Anno 1588 when Romes force threatned to swallow us up Witness the Gun-powder Treason a black and unparallel'd villany worthy Rome and a Jesuit the blowing up of a whole Parliament King Lords and Commons the murdering a Kingdom in its Representatives and this in a moment After that their bloody Rebellion in Ireland where they murdered a Hundred thousand Protestants in cold blood without any provocation given but to kill Hereticks Add to this their bloody Traiterous design of late against His Majesty Person the Government and the Protestant Religion a Conspiracy had it taken might have turned England into an Aceldama a Field of Blood or Shambles of Popish Butchers These things considered I hope no man will be so mad to kiss the Popes Toe until his Nails be pared so as he will not scratch and make the blood run about the mouths of Christendom 5. 'T is a Traiterous Religion For they teach that the Pope may depose the Emperor or a King not subject to the Emperor that the Pope may lawfully absolve subjects from their Oath of Allegiance That subjects if they have the Popes consent which they are sure to have if it makes for his interest may depose their Kings That if the King be a manifest Heretick as all Protestants are with them then the Church may depose him Nor have they been wanting to put this their principle into practise so often as they could find occasion as their attempts on Queen Elizabeth by poyson Pistol Dagger on King James by Powder-Treason on King Charles the First and on our King to
whom God grant a long and happy Reign Nor have we only instances at home but abroad the Murder of Henry the 4th of France and many others but above all the unparallel'd Murder of that Emperor whom they poysoned with the Sacrament I call it unparallel'd having never met with a Religion before that would poyson their God to kill their Emperor 6. 'T is a Blind Religion It leads men out of the way of salvation it hides the danger of damnation to all who have not their hearts thorowly changed from the love of sin to the love of God and Holiness from their eyes it covers the pit whose descent is into that which is bottomless with Spiders webs and perswades them 't is firm-ground it leaves them no sense noâ— notice of many sins no conscience of the most no fear of any no not of the worst such as themselves call deadly crimes it gives as much security to such wickedness as a heart that hath sold it self to it need wish for it keeps the Bible the Law of the Lord which good men make a light to their feet a lanthorn to their paths away from them it will not suffer men to believe their senses or act their reason nor bottom their faith upon the Scriptures That as that General first blinded the men then led them into the Enemies quarters so do they and all the answer you shall have from the common sort among them is this They believe as the Priest bids them and if he deceive them the Devil take him And as their faith is such is their Devotion the matter of their Prayers is lock't up from them and they as little concerned to know what becomes of them sure if the blind lead the blind they must both fall into the ditch Lastly 'T is a Blasphemous Religion In ascribing the peculiar Excellencies of the Divine Majesty and the Prerogatives of our Lord Jesus Christ to the blessed Virgin and other creatures and to their Popes though divers of them as themselves acknowledg were Monsters and Incarnate Devils When one Phocas took the Emperor Maurice and his family Prisoners who was his lawful Soveraign and having slain his Wife and Children before his eyes not sparing the little Innocent which hung at the Breasts did afterward cause his Master's Throat to be cut likewise a Proceduce so black and barbarous that Historians cannot mention it without horror Yet Pope Gregory congratulates this bloody Treason with abominable Blasphemies and begins his Address to this Phocas in his 36 Epistle with Gloria in Excelsis the Song of the Angels at the Nativity of our Saviour Glory be to God on high and then proceeds Let the Heavens send forth acclamations the Earth leap for joy and let all the people be glad thereof The Jesuits frequently teach that Jesus Christ might have sinned might have been subject unto vices might have fallen into error and folly and that it is no more repugnant to him to err or to speak a thing false in it self by the nature he hath assumed than to be tormented and dye in the same nature so Amicus so Vasquez and many more of them No other sort of Hereticks not excepting Turk Jew nor Pagan no not those of Calcute who adore the Devil did ever maintain by the Grounds of their Religion that it was lawful or rather meritorious as the Romish Catholicks calls it to murther Princes or people for the quarrel of Religion and although particular men of all professions of Religion have been some Thieves some Murtherers some Traitors yet ever when they came to their end and just punishment they confessed their fault to be in their nature and not in their profession But these persons cleave to it at their deaths as zealously as if all they had been doing were the immediate guidance of the blessed Spirit Such is their blasphemy A Protestant Fathers Letter of Advice to his Son in danger of being seduc'd to Popery SON BY a Letter last Week from your Uncle I am to my grief inform'd that you have lately fallen into the unhappy Acquaintance of some Popish Emissaries and are in danger of being inveigled by them to revolt from the Protestant Church to that of Rome I confess the news much surpriz'd me and I cannot but esteem it an essential part of my Fatherly care to admonish and warn you both of the unreasonableness and danger of such a change I do not much admire that those that have been always conversant in darkness should find their eyes offended with the Light which makes me extend very charitable thoughts to poor Souls train'd up in Papal ignorance labouring under the almost invincible prejudices of corrupted Education and Erroneous Principles but that you born and brought up in a Gospel Meridian and as I well hop'd understandingly grounded in the Protestant Doctrine should now stagger in those important Truths and be gull'd and cheated out of the Religion sealed with the Blood of your Martyr'd Ancestors and hazard your Soul by a Relaps to that long since exploded Faction and their slavish as well as ridiculous superstitions is matter of no less wonder than trouble to me the rather for that I am satisfied your circumstances admit not of any temptations of profit or honour to engage you to their party and without those allurements I profess you are the first that my experience can remember in danger of such a shameful Apostacy I shall not swell this Paper with a particular Examen of all the Romish Errors that task has been sufficiently and unanswerably performed by multitudes of our Learned Writers to whom I refer you and charge you to weigh their Arguments seriously before you suffer your Judgment to be debauch'd to a contrary perswasion but because I have some hopes your duty and filial respect may oblige you to a more near and sensible regard of what is said though briefly and weakly by my self that can have no design but the good of your Soul than to the abler reasonings of others more remote I shall offer some general Considerations which methinks should deter you from casting away your self in their communion First then I do affirm to you That to body of the Popish Religion so far as it differs from the Protestant is composed notwithstanding all their pretences to Antiquity of strange Doctrines Innovations and Abuses never instituted by Christ nor warrantable by Holy Scripture nor known nor practic'd in the Primitive Church but introduced at several times in latter Ages meerly to serve the pride or the vanity the covetousness or the sensuality of the Inventors 2. That their Doctrines interfere with and infringe the Greatness and Soveraignty of God and tend to the diminishing the honour and service due to him witness their dividing adoration betwixt him and Images Invocation betwixt him and Saints and absolute obedience betwixt him and the Church c. Now what gross and horrible sacriledge is this What is it less than to divest