The Truth and Certainty of the Protestant Faith, Title page – Errata
THE Truth and Certainty of the PROTESTANT FAITH, With a ſhort and plain account of the Doctrine of the ROMISH CHURCH In its viſible Oppoſition to Scripture, and the very being of Chriſtianity.
To which is adjoined ſome ſerious Conſiderations anent Popery, & the ſtate of that Controverſy.
I. PET. III: Ver. 15. And be ready alwayes to give an anſwer to every man that asketh you a reaſon of the hope that is in you.
REVEL. XIV. Ver. 9. If any man worship the Beaſt, or his Image, and re…eive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand.
Ver. 10. The ſame shal drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is powred out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, and he shall be tormented with fire and brimſtone, in the preſence of the holy Angels and in the preſence of the Lamb.
Ver. 11. And the ſmoak of their torment shall aſcend up for ever and ever.
Printed in the Year 1678.
EPISTLE To the CHRISTIAN READER.
READER,
THeſe few ſheets adjoyned here against Popery, was in part formerly publiſhed, but being with ſome further enlargement now reprinted; I hope, it may not be found unſuteable to ſet them down here in the cloſe, when ſo convincing & neceſſar a riſe from the foregoing ſubject is clear; though ſuch as deſire may have it by it ſelf alſo, without the preceeding treatiſe. Theſe grounds did in ſome meaſure preſſe me novv to the preſent publiſhing thereof. 1. That the import of this controverſy betwixt the Romiſh and Reformed Church, concernes the meanest this day no leſs than the more knowing and learned; and that to be a Proteſtant in earnest must neceſſarily require a ſeeing the truth with their ovvn eyes, yea ſuch a faith, as is the reſult of a judgment upon diligent ſearch convinced by the Scripture. 2. That it is an hour of great trial, and of the power of darkneſs; when the Popiſh Adverſary is viſibly at work almost every where to ſowe tares, whilst ſo fevv even of thoſe who ſeeme ſerious in profeſſing the truth, can give a clear account of the groſneſs of Popery, and ſolide grounds of the Proteſtant Doctrine, when thus aſſaulted, but ly… naked thereto▪ as without defence, though abounding and clearest light hath been held forth for that end; and at a ſad diſavantage to hold fast their Profeſſion by ſuffering, if they ſhould be called thereto, as in former times. 3. The viſible hazard of many young ones in this generation to be made a prey of, and eaſily poiſoned vvith Popery, vvho but ſeldome vvork out in their age and riper years, vvhat they thus drink in in their youth. 4. That ſuch an eſſay ſeemed convincingly needful for theſe, whoſe age, vvant of time, indiſpoſition to read, or loathneſs too be at expence in buying books, is too viſible a lett, for their improving what hath been more largely written by others. 5. That (as I hope it ſhall be found) vvhat is of greatest vveight or neceſſary uſe to be knovvn in theſe Controverſies, is …ere compriſed, though in ſmall bounds, yet vvith ſuch plainleſs, that the meanest Reader may underſtand and know the Doctrine and principles of Popery, and what Arguments they pretend to be most ſtrong, held forth in the Queſtions here propoſed; with a clear view of their direct oppoſition to the Scripture by the Anſwers thereto; ſo as in a very few houres, theſe for whom this is most deſigned, may by reading it but ſome times over, have it ſo far impreſſed on them, as to know how to anſwere, and give a ſo…ide account of the Proteſtant Doctrine, and groſneſs of Popery, when aſſaulted by any Seducers. If to any ſuch this ſmall eſſay might be of uſe, I may then ſay, the Author hath not lost his deſire and aime, what ever entertainment it ſhould otherwiſe meet with. The time haſteneth, when that only, vvhichwhich tendeth to a ſolide peace with Jeſus Christ vvill abide, and …y near to the ſoul vvhen the Teſtimony of men will be of ſmall value.
I ſhall but add, that nothing is here charged on the Romiſh Adverſary, as their principles. Which their own greatest Writers, of the Doctrine of the Councel of Trent do not clearly attest. The Reader vvould conſider, that theſe Sections into vvhichwhich this is divided, is vvith reſpect to the particular Heads of the Romiſh Doctrine, vvhichwhich are there handled.
There are ſeveral Miſtakes in words from the preſs, which I hope, the judicious Reader will diſcerne, without having the ſenſe darkned thereby, and pardon, with ſome viſible Miſtakes alſo in the pointing.