Answer to De Meauxs Book, To the reader
AN ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE TRANSLATOR TO THE READER.
WHEN perſons of M. de Meaux's, and Mr. Claude's Character engage, and in a Controverſy ſo important too, as that between the Church of Rome, and thoſe who have ſeparated from her; Men muſt naturally be deſirous to know the management and iſſue of ſuch a debate. For, beſides what expectations the reputation of their Learning and Judgment might raiſe, This is a Cauſe, that ſcarce any body in our part of the World can be ſuppoſed perfectly indifferent in. Every Reader muſt look on Theſe, not only as Diſputants, but Advocates; and even they, who deſign no more than the gratifying their curioſity by peruſing ſuch Conferences, do yet inſenſibly find themſelves affected with ſome degree of Concern.
The particular Argument inſiſted upon here, is likewiſe of the higheſt conſequence; for it cannot but be a mighty help and direction, to know exactly how far we are obliged to comply with the Churches Deciſions in matters of Faith; In what Caſes we may venture to depend upon our own Collections from Reaſon and Scripture; and in what we muſt renounce theſe in deference to a higher Authority; Whether Councils and their pretended Infallibility ought to ſilence all, even the moſt juſt ſcruples, againſt whatever they ſhall pleaſe to determine; or whether Almighty God have not ordered the matter ſo, that without ſome recourſe had to our private Judgments, even Theſe cannot be received as a Rule of Faith to us; but, all imaginable care, and an impartial examination of the thing always preſuppoſed, the deciſive voice does of neceſſity belong at laſt to a mans own ſelf.
M. de Meaux, we ſee, took a great deal of pains by a previous diſcourſe upon this Topick, to prepare his Proſelyte for the enſuing Conference; and he was, no doubt, in the right, to pitch upon this as the main Argument for her Converſion: It being indeed the very foundation and ſupport of all the points in diſpute between us; the beſt and moſt cunningly contrived expedient, to make men firſt embrace, and then perſevere in Error and Superſtition. For Proteſtants are uſually apt to be ſqueamiſh, and cannot digeſt Opinions contrary to Senſe and Reaſon; they ſometimes grow ſo bold too, as to queſtion their Adverſaries integrity: Now what can be more ſatisfactory in ſuch Circumſtances, than to be invited into the Communion of a Church, which you are told, in all, even her moſt abſurd Decrees, is continually aſſiſted with the unerring guidance of the Holy Ghoſt; and put under a happy impoſſibility of deceiving her Members, tho illnatured people ſhould imagine her ſo wicked to deſire and endeavour it. This then being fixed as a firſt principle, the underſtanding is ſufficiently ſubdued; for humane reaſonings to interpoſe afterwards, would be impertinent and ſawcy; and ſo the harſheſt and moſt unpalatable Doctrines go glibly down, by the help of this excellent Vehicle, the Churches Authority and Infallibility.
The ſame method is obſervable among the Miſſionaries here in England, who after having tried us firſt with general ſchemes of the diſputable points, and then endeavoured to eſtabliſh ſome of them particularly, to little or no purpoſe; do now at laſt take ſanctuary in the Churches Deſpotick power, and begin to ſeem ſenſible, that either this or nothing muſt ſtand them in any ſtead. The debate upon this Head firſt began to grow warm upon occaſion of the Royal Papers, which (becauſe bad money is not priviledged to paſs unqueſtioned, tho it have the King's ſtamp upon it) were conſidered with a Judgment and Modeſty becoming both a ſincere zeal for Truth, and a dutiful honour for the Perſon whoſe Royal Name they bore. The ſeveral Anſwers, Vindications, and Replies upon this Subject, have ſince been followed by M. de Condom's account of his Conference, as ſuiting very well the buſineſs then in hand: And when once the World had ſeen That, it was ſo reaſonable Mr. Claude ſhould be heard what he could ſay for himſelf, that I ſhould not think this Tranſlation needed any Apology, or Introduction, were it not for ſome Objections which I foreſee it may be liable to. Theſe therefore I am concerned to remove, that ſo the Book may be read without prejudice, and not expoſe men to miſtaken notions of things, for want of a ſhort, but neceſſary Advertiſement.
In the firſt place I deſire the Reader to take notice, that it is not to be expected Mr. Claude ſhould in every circumſtance expreſs himſelf, as the Church of England would do at this day. The neceſſity of reforming from the Corruptions of Rome, was eaſily diſcerned in ſeveral Countries, and each National Church having ſufficient power to reform it ſelf, was juſt and wiſe in aſſerting that rightful Authority upon ſo emergent an occaſion. But tho all did the thing, yet, all not conferring together, they did it not by the ſame methods, nor with like moderation and prudence. It was enough that they all agreed in the main points, and for the leſs material ones, that they maintained ſuch a Charity, as not magiſterially to cenſure or exclude one another for theſe little differences. This was the very way, whereby the Communion is ſtill preſerved inviolable among the Proteſtant Churches in all Nations, and is a mighty argument, that they retain the true ſpirit of Meekneſs and Chriſtian Candor. Therefore in the writings of Forreigners, we muſt always make allowances for the Genius of that particular Church, whereof they are Members, and not be extremely nice and critical, except where we find a diſagreement in ſome very ſubſtantial point. The Reformed Gallican Church and we are perfectly of one Judgment in all the moſt conſiderable parts of this diſpute, concerning the Authority of the Church. As, That ſhe hath no right at all to require an abſolute and implicit obedience to her determinations; That the Scriptures are the only aud perfect Rule of Faith; That every Man is concerned and obliged to examine by this Rule whatever is impoſed upon him as an Article of Faith; and if he finds the Doctrine conformable thereto, readily and heartily to embrace, and adhere to it; but if evidently repugnant, by all means to reject it: That no Councils, even the moſt General, are to be received any further than they proceed in correſpondence with this Diving Word; That they may, and actually have erred in deviating from it, and conſequently their Decrees ought to undergo ſome Examination before a Man complies with them; But that, notwithſtanding this poſſibility of failing, we ought to entertain very reverend and charitable preſumptions in favour of ſuch Aſſemblies; and, as not to caſt them off without the cleareſt evidence of their having perverted the Truth; ſo, where no ſuch evidence appears, to ſubmit with the moſt reſpectful humility imaginable; looking upon them as excellent means for the preſervation of the Chriſtain Faith in its Ʋnity and genuine Purity.
After ſo punctual an agreement in matters of the greateſt conſequence, what can it ſignify, if in ſome few others of leſs conſideration, and more remote from the main buſineſs, there ſeem a ſmall diſparity? Mens Judgments muſt have ſome room left to exerciſe freely in, and diverſity of Opinions in Circumſtantials, like Diviſions in Muſick, may very well be admitted, without breaking the main Cords, or doing the harmony any prejudice at all. 'Tis confeſt, the Divines abroad have taken up ſome notions diſtinct from ours, and particularly concerning the Church, its Viſibility, Miniſtry, Conſtitution and Diſcipline; and it might well ſeene ſtrange, if Mr. Claude ſhould ſo far forget his Education and Country, as not to ſcatter ſome of theſe in his Writings. But I hope Engliſhmen may enjoy the benefit of his Diſcourſes, without being obliged to ſubſcribe every ſentence, or eſpouſe every punctilio contained in them. Whether the Gentlemen of the Romiſh perſwaſion relying upon the Authority of M. de Meaux his name, called in ſo potent an Auxiliary from beyond the Seas, out of a juſt diffidence of their own ſtrength here, They beſt can tell: This I am ſure of, that it was but Juſtice to Mr. Claude, and the Cauſe he aſſerts, that he ſhould be turned into the field too: And to let the World ſee, that after all M. de Meaux's vain-glorious boaſts of a victory, and bold defiance of all the Doctors in Chriſtendom, neither the Champion, nor the Cauſe, however vilified by him, are yet ſo feeble, that they need fear to encounter this Goliah. As many as underſtand the difference between us and the Reformed Proteſtants in France, are ſenſible, that we ſtand upon the fairer ground by much for an engagement againſt the Church of Rome: But I was willing cur Country-men ſhould have the ſatisfaction of ſeeing, that it is M. de Meaux's misfortune to be reduced to ſtreights, not only by a Church of England Pen, but by a Miniſter of his own Nation, who lay under ſome diſadvantages which we do not; and that for all his Triumphant Preface before the Conference, That could no more eſcape a reply at home, than his Expoſition has done abroad.
Another Objection againſt this Tranſlation may be, That the Conference hath appeared in our Language already. I will not ſay it was in ſuch a dreſs, as was by no means after the Engliſh Mode, and unworthy of ſo good an Original, for fear of provoking a ſeverer cenſure upon the habit I have now clothed it in, to which I I have reaſon to fear it is but too obnoxious. But ſetting aſide all Reflections upon the defects of thoſe who have gone before me, this ſingle conſideration is enough to juſtifie and recommend the preſent attempt, that the Relation which was then Printed alone, is a very ſmall part of the work. And when M. de Meaux's Narrative had appeared in ſuch pomp, introduced by a long diſcourſe upon the Church, and backt with ſo many ſmart Reflexions, M. Claude's memory might have ſuffered extreamly, by concealing his abilities. And particularly, that notwithſtanding the ſtrain of confidence viſible through all the Diſputant's Writings of the Romiſh Communion, he could and did retort to as good purpoſe, and with as much advantage as Modeſty and Reaſon uſually have over Vanity. This may amuſe unthinking people, who are apt to meaſure the weight of an Argument by the bigneſs of the words, and aſſurance of the Arguer; but the other only can prevail upon the Judicious and unprejudiced, and will force a conqueſt by its own ſtrength.
One thing I have augmented this Edition with, which neither the former, nor indeed Monſieur Claude's own Original have taken care of, but 'tis what I though highly neceſſary at this particular juncture. The unſincerity we have ſo often diſcovered in the late Advocates for Popery, makes us wiſh to take as little upon truſt as may be. And therefore ſince our repeated complaints have been ſo ineffectual, I reſolved to try if example would perſwade them to any thing like Fidelity. For this reaſon all the Quotations from Authors have been carefully conſulted, and at large tranſcribed by me in the Margent; where you will alſo find, if the Preſs do me right, the Edition of each Book, and if two have been conſulted, the difference of Chapters in each, as particularly in St. Cyprian; ſo that any man may now ſee at the expence of a very little trouble, whether he be impoſed upon or no. The ſame exactneſs may be taken notice of in many of our late Learned Writers; but ſtill there are a ſort of men that will never ſuffer themſelves to be run down for want of Recrimination, and therefore tax us with negligence in this particular alſo. Whether party better deſerve this accuſation, the Author of Pax Vobis, if they pleaſe, ſhall be the Teſt, who hath the impudence to repeat over and over ſo obvious a thing … an*He ſays Dialogue 2d, pag. 20. That the Church of England in the 6th Article of their 39. ſays, We have no other Rule of Faith but Scripture, as each perſon of ſound Judgment in the Church underſtands it, and what is proved by it; This he repeats, Dialog. 3. Pag. 30. and ſeveral times afterwards: whereas the words of the Article are theſe;Holy Scripture containeth all things neceſſary to ſalvation: ſo that whatſoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, * is not to be required of any man, that it ſhould be believed as an Article of Faith; or be thought requiſite or neceſſary to ſalvation. Where you ſee the Star, there was in the Form in Edward the 6th's Reign this Clauſe inſerted, although it be ſometimes received of the Faithful, as godly and profitable for an Order and Comlineſs. But where are the expreſſions, or indeed the ſenſe of his Citation in all this? And yet the force of all his Arguments turns ſo much upon this, that the very convincing him of unſincerity in this ſingle allegation, is in effect an Anſwer to his whole Book. Article of our Church, and always by his own additionary Gloſs, make it ſpeak quite another ſenſe, than ever was deſigned for it.
As for the ſtile of this Tranſlation, my care hath been to make it natural and eaſie, rather than elaborate and fine. As I did not enſlave my ſelf to a rendering every where Verbal, ſo I durſt not take upon me to alter much, in order to being elegant.See Anſw. to M. Con… Expoſit. Pag. xxi. &c. and Vindicat. Pag. 13. Having one of the Parties engaged in this Conference for an eminent inſtance, how ſhameful a diſguiſe may be put upon things, and what material Changes may be made even in the main points, only for the greater neatneſs of the Diſcourſe and Style.
I muſt own I have been a little bold in making this Engliſh Book to differ from Mr. Claude's French one in the method: For he, after his Introductory Diſcourſe upon the Church, hath ſubjoyned an Anſwer to M. de Meaux's five laſt Reflections, ſo diſpatching that Subject entirely, and at once: And likewiſe to the Relation of the Conference, annexed a Reply to the other eight, which concern That: But I deſigning chiefly the benefit of thoſe, who either did not underſtand, or could not procure the French, and intending it for a direct anſwer to M. de Meaux in Engliſh, did rather incline to follow the method of that Tranſlation; conſulting herein▪ the Readers eaſe, when he ſhall think fit to compare them both together. And becauſe ſome time hath paſt ſince M. de Meaux appeared here, I choſe rather to divide This, than ſuffer ſo long a delay as the finiſhing of the whole muſt needs have occaſioned. But that men may not be impatient for the remaining Part, that alſo conſiſting of an Anſwer to M. de Meaux's Thirteen Reflections, will, I hope, be ſent after this very ſpeedily.
Laſtly,Eng. Preface. Becauſe M. de Meaux hath rightly obſerved, that the Authority of the Relations will in a great meaſure depend upon the Relator's Credit, I think my ſelf obliged to give this intimation to as many as ſhall peruſe them; That they would do well to remember how many, and what notorious falſifications M. de Meaux hath been charged with lately,Expoſit. of Church of Engl. &c. Defence of Expoſ. and that charge made good a ſecond time, by evident proofs of the thing, notwithſtanding all the pains taken by his Vindicator to bring him off; whereas Mr. Claude, for any thing I ever heard objected to the contrary, is rectus in Curia, clear and unſuſpected of any ſuch ſophiſtical indirect dealing. So that I mightily ſuſpect M. de Meaux would not be able to do any great feats, if both ſides were agreed to put the iſſue of the whole Controverſy upon each Author's Integrity and Reputation.