A Key for Catholics, Treatise 1 · Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII.
Detect. 19. ANother of the Popiſh devices is, when they have laid their own cauſe upon ſo many forgeries, and uphold it by ſo many falſe reports, to make the people believe that it is we that are the lyars, and that we are not to be believed in any thing that we ſay of them: and that we miſreport the Fathers, belye the Roman Catholicks, and therefore no man ſhould read our Books, or diſcourſe with us, ſo as to afford us any credence. So that indeed they get as much by meer perſwading the people that we are Lyars, as by any way that I know. We cannot tell them what is in their own Writers, but the ignorant people are commonly taught to ſay, we ſlander them. Though we cite the book, and page, and line, and tell them that they were printed at Rome, or Colen, or Antwerp, or Paris, by men of their own Profeſſion, yet they believe us not, for they are inſtructed to hold us for lyars, that we may be uncapable of doing them good. If we cite any of the Fathers, they tell us that we miſalledge them, or have corrupted them, or they ſay no ſuch thing. If we ſhew them the books publiſhed by their own Doctors, and licenſed by their Superiors, and printed by Papiſts, yet they will not believe us. And ſo they are taught the eaſieſt way in the world to repell the truth, and confute thoſe that would do them good. It is no more but ſay, you lye, and all's done.
In ſuch a caſe as this, what is there to be done? Ignorance and Incredulity thus purpoſely conjoyned, are the wall of braſs that is oppoſed to our endeavours. To what purpoſe ſhould we ſpeak to them that will not hear? In ſuch a caſe I know but one of theſe two wayes. 1. To endeavour to revive the ſtupified humanity and Reaſon of theſe men: and ask them, Is Religion the work of a man or of a beaſt? Of a wiſe man, or of a mad man? Is it a Reaſonable or an Unreaſonable courſe? If it be Reaſonable, why then will you go without Reaſon upon other mens bare words? But if you are ſo little men as to venture your ſouls without Reaſon, me thinks you ſhould not venture againſt it? Would you reſt on the bare word of one of theſe men, if it went againſt Reaſon? If ſo, then you renounce your manhood. But ſuppoſe you will be ſo unreaſonable, yet I hope you have your five ſenſes ſtill? What if a Prieſt ſhall tell you that the Crow is white, and the ſnow is black, or that you ſee not when you know you ſee, will you believe him? If you will believe them before your eyes, and taſte, and feeling, then I have done with you; who can diſpute with ſtocks and ſtones, or men ſo far forſaken of God, as to renounce all their ſenſes? But if you will not believe a Prieſt againſt your eyes, and other ſenſes, then why do you believe him that Bread is not Bread, and Wine is not Wine, when the eyes, and ſmell, and taſte of all men ſay it is? And if your ſenſes tell you that your Prieſts deceive you in one thing, me thinks you ſhould not be ſo confident of them in other things, as to believe and hearken to none but them.
2. If this will not ſerve, try whether you can procure their Prieſts to diſcuſs thoſe points before the incredulous people, that ſo they may hear both ſides ſpeak together. Get a conference between them, and ſome experienced judicious Divine. But this will hardly be obtained. For if it be to diſpute with one that is able, they'l preſently pretend a danger of perſecution: and no promiſe of ſecurity will ſatisfie them. But if it be a weak unexperienced man that challengeth them, then they will venture, and take the advantage.
If nothing elſe can be done, it is the beſt way to offer them ſome ſmall Book againſt Popery to read. If they are ſo captivated that they will neither Hear nor Read, and their Leaders will not be drawn to a Diſpute, I know not what to do but leave them, and let them take what they get by their unreaſonable obſtinacy: They are unworthy of truth that ſet no more by it.