Sure Footing in Christianity, Title page 1 – Dedication
Sure-Footing IN CHRISTIANITY EXAMINED.
BY GEORGE HUGHES, Late Minister of the Gospel at Plymouth in Devon.
The Testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple, Psal. 19.7.
My Foot standeth in an even place: In the Congregations will I bless the Lord, Psal. 26.12.
Ye are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-Stone, Ephes. 2.20.
LONDON, Printed for Abisha Brocas, Bookseller in Exon. 1668.
Sure-Footing IN CHRISTIANITY EXAMINED.
By G. H.
The Testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple, Psal. 19.7.
My Foot standeth in an even place: In the Congregations will I bless the Lord, Psal. 26.12.
Ye are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-Stone, Ephes. 2.20.
LONDON, Printed in the Year, M.DC.LXVIII.
TO THE Most Ingenious and Ingenuous GENTRY, IN THE Kingdome of ENGLAND Who seriously mind ETERNITY.
Gentlemen,
I Hope the discriminating Character of the Men to whom I make this Address can justly offend none. I would pray that all the Gentry in this Nation were such and more than such; even sublimely and powerfully Christian, Spiritual and Holy: But to entitle all to be so Noble, would be accounted a Reproach by multitudes of them who call themselves Gentlemen. I will not therefore in the least asperse them by interesting them in this Concernment of Religion. My design only is to engage pregnant wits, and serious spirits in matters of Nature and Grace to a due consideration of the Examen of a Discourse styled Sure-Footing in Christianity, and after all weighed to give their discretive Judgments as becomes men loving the Truth,
The Reason why I direct this work unto you, is because I do see the Discourser boasting, that it was to his exceeding satisfaction to understand, that multitudes of the most Eminent, solid, and ingenuous wits of our Nation, had been diligent perusers of this Book. You then are the precious souls, after which he hunts to catch by his Discourses, not to save but to destroy you: It will therefore be no way injurious to you, nor uncivil for a poor Country-Fellow to Item you, to look about you; for there are snares laid for your souls. I confess Sure-Footing in Christianity is such a lovely Title to a Book, that it would allure any Serious Christian to hunger after it and peruse it: I could not choose but long to see it when first I heard of it; having a desire to be sure of heaven. But best Names and Titles may be prefixed to the worst Authors and Books; as this will be found by an intelligent, piercing, Christian Reader. I shall not prejudge, but having perus'd the whole with as much diligence, as I can, I shall offer unto you the most eminent, Solid, Ing…nuous, and Christian wits, these Animadversions to be weighed thereupon.
1. As to the Title I offer unto your observation, whether any or all his Discourses do answer it or make it good, that he hath discovered A sure-Footing in Christianity; when the very Church and Religion for which he contends, are yet under dispute among many, whether they be Christian or Antichristian? Can he give us Sure-footing in disputable matters? Again, what greater lubricity or slipperiness can there be, than in Common voluntary-talk from Fathers to Sons, which is his Oral-tradition of doctrine? unless there be a standing-written Record by which their reports may be tried? Yet herein is the surest ground he gives us to stand upon. It is my happiness in some kind that I know not the Man; therefore I can have no personal grudge, nor disrespect unto him nor quarrel with him: but as he is interested in a cause contradictory to the Gospel of Christ, and sure way unto salvation. And herein I profess my self an Adversary to his Sure-footing; yet so far as to shew him, where he may set his Foot surer for Heaven. For indeed his Title seems to me to be given from the reason of Contraries, as Mountains are said to be from moving, Montes à movendo, quia minimè movent.because they move not at all; so may his Book be styled; Sure-footing in Christianity, because it giveth none at all; but rather sets men on slippery places whence they easily slide, and fall into perdition: as is discovered in the Examination of it. As his work is entitled Sure-footing, so may he as Author, thence bear the Denomination of Sure-foot, or Sure-footer: Ichno…ates Ovid Metam. page 3.Or as a Country man of ours translates the name of one of Actaeons Dogs, Sure-tracer; For having metamorphos'd Christ into the shape of a strange Roman Beast, pretending him, he makes a loud cry to the rest of the Kennel, and fastens upon the Lord who bought him, and bites him through; though he bespeaks him, I am Jesus whom you persecute.
2. I give you here a finger pointing to his Preface, Transition to the Appendixes, and his Post-script Letter to his Answerer; where (if words can do it) he sets in the Front of his Book Prologum Galeatum, a Preface Helmet-steeled; not suffering any weapon-stroak to pierce into his Book, if any will believe him, when he saith, It is impossible that Reason strained to its utmost can invent any other Principle to secure us in Christianity but his Tradition: words able to make a man afraid to assault his Discourse, if he were a white-liverd Souldier. And no less hath he guarded it in the Rere, affixing his Epilogum Calceatum & clavatum, that is, shod it with iron, to strike more dangerously than an Horse flinging backward; So that his Body of Discourse is armed Cap a Pee, that he fears no assault, thinking himself shot-proof. What else mean his vaunts, and his Laws, which he imposeth on his Answerer? His Postcript of defence being more simple than the rest; For wherein hath he brought controversie from an endless to a Conclusive way? unless it be in this, that all men must yeeld to his Conclusion, to subscribe to Popish-Tradition; and then we are all friends. I suppose some such easie Protestants he met withall to whom he communicated his thoughts, and received approbation from them. His pride in exalting himself is displaied enough in his Transition: As that the Opposers of Dr. Pierce thought fit to answer his Testimonies; but left to him the way of Reason and Principles, to make his Congress with him. This man then it seems is accounted the Master and Oracle of Reason among his Tribe. And again; It is needless perhaps to the Generality (however very satisfactory to Examining wits, such as his own) to confute that in Common, which is already confuted by Retail. So then this Gentleman is an whole-sale Merchant for Rome one of the better rank, others retailers of a meaner trade. Let him be so, but it had been better spoken by another, than himself. His demands of his Answerer, whereunto he accounts him obliged, are partly Rational, which ingenuous men would have observed without his forestalling: but mostly unreasonable and frivolous which to grant, were to yeeld the Cause, and this is begging to the purpose. I have conformed to that which is, To speak to the main of his Book, and not catch at some odd words; And therefore have I followed him step by step: though I confess, it liketh me better what I have only seen of an answer made by a worthy person to this Book,Mr. Tillotson. (after I had travell'd thorough it in my way) who hath more concisely and sufficiently methodized and answered these Discourses; For indeed one sheet of Paper may contain a Reply abundantly satisfactory to the strength of Argument therein. It will be your wisdome then to discern the man and his language.
3. I propose it to your most serious thoughts and judgments. Doth not Reason bind such a scientifical undertaker, (as he professeth himself to be) to give exact explications, and definitions of those terms which must make up his Conclusion? And what loose and Identical descriptions doth he make of Rule and Faith singly and joyntly? Can your understandings bear such frivolous and frothy dealings in matters of so high concernment as Salvation? I think not.
4. I appeal to you; Is it not most slanderous to say, that the Protestants make Scriptures-Letter unsenc't their Rule of Faith? Did ever any of them state it so? Or is it not absurd for him to impose it on them, that by Scriptures they must mean the Letter only unsenc't, pag. 3…8. Sect 34.as he doth on the Bishop of Down; when he tells him, that must be his meaning, and that the faith of our Church hath for its object Ink thus figur'd in a Book? Have not mens writings their minds and innate sence in them, as well as their words; both of them being signs or significations of things? Or, will be deny to God, that which is granted to men, even to sence, and spirit his own word? Yet thus superciliously he doth, and blasphemously subjects the Scriptures of God to be senced by his lying Tradition. See and consider and judge for God.
5. I shall mind you of his equivocal evasions under the Ambiguity of his Tradition. First …e tells us, that Protestants take a wrong aim, to dispute against things delivered, instead of Tradition it self. This is his new Invention, whereof he boasts, and hopes hereby to elude his Adversaries, as if they had mistaken in their disputes against Jesuits, to argue against the matter of Tradition, (as if the Papists held them for faith) Whereas they mean by Tradition, as the Rule of Faith, only the method of publickly delivering down Tenets, &c. that is, Oral-speech or words without sence or matter. It is left to your judgments to discern, what a new, nothing, this Invention is; and whether his Fathers had not more wit to maintain mode and matter of Tradition to be the Rule of their Faith: A fuller reply to this the Examen may give.
2. His reciprocating Popish-Oral-Tradition with the Universal Tradition of mankin, is to be marked: for so he often styleth it; as if all mankind were Papists; or his Oral-delivery were the speech of them all. Whereas we know there are as many sorts of Traditions as Men; and as many sorts of Men as Nations or languages: neither could the spreading Power of the Roman Beast over many Nations, make them all of one Tradition, as to matters of Religion, though for a time it prevailed much; and that as an Usurper against Christ.
3. His confounding Scriptur al Tradion with Oral is to be noted; as usually he doth in citing of the Fathers; whereby he grossely abuseth his unskilful Readers, perswading that all under the term of Tradition, must note his Oral-Delivery, when the Author cited meaneth it of Scripture. How he dodgeth in and out among these Amphibolies is worthy of most piercing observation to note out a Deceiver.
6. May I in the last place, as to the Man and his work only add this Item to you. Let not his Flatteries upon one hand, nor his Impudent boldness, presumptuous Confidence, and bitter Invectives against his Adversaries on the other, scare you or byass you: Weigh Principles and Conclusions justly and seriously. He hath hinted that your eyes will be intent upon his Answerers; and I dare not suspect your impartial scrutiny of him and his Discourses: Though he account all mad men who oppose him; yet you will finde them in their witts, speaking words of soberness and Truth for Christ.
Lastly not to extend an Epistolary Bound any Further, I shall close up with a Compassionate complaint, and Prayer. Is it not Pity that Royal Heads and hearts in their respective Ditions under Papal power, and noble Spirits in their several Stations, should be enchanted by such seducing Spirits? Lord, reveal thy Son not only unto, but in the hearts of such Princes, Nobles, great, and wise men, who desire to know and love thy Truth; that they may not be given up to beleive lies, but deliver their souls from the snares of those Hunters, and let thy Truth make them free.
Is it not sad to behold so many great Houses and Families consumed with droppings of sin, smitten with breaches by the Concussions of their Iniquities, and even subverted by Profaneness, Irreligion, and ungodliness, because they will not make mention of the name of the Lord, nor call upon him? Lord look from Heaven, and pity these who do not, who cannot pity their own souls, who curse God out of their habitations; and think it their Gentility. Sprinkle them that they may shut their mouths from blaspheming; Let them see what was not told them: and let them consider, what formerly they would not hear, even the secret of thy Salvation. Is it not further to be lamented, to see notable Heads, Pregnants wits, Sagacious understandings to spend their studies upon vain Curiosities; and scarce take up a thought to reach the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the Mysterie of God, of the Father and of Christ? Is it not yet more pitiful to find such spirits who beleeve the Prophets and Apostles, sit down with Agrippa perswaded only to be almost Christians? who content themselves with the letter and form of Godliness, and yet never make out to the power of it; How sad is this to seem to come so neer to the Kingdom of Heaven, and yet fall short at last. Such slight Christianity makes many halt at this day between God and Baal: But they who thoroughly do the will of the Father shall know the Doctrine of Christ to be of God, and cleave unto it; Such are my hopes of you. Now the God of all Grace so teach you all that you may learn Christ,Omnia amittet qui facit Doctrinae Christi j…cturam Bez. as the Truth is in Jesus, to put off the old, and put on the new man, and so walk and persevere in the Truth, that ye loose not the things, which ye have gained, but may receive a full reward, Amen.
If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Heb. 10.38.