The Design and Nature of Historical Mistakes Found in Stillingfleet, Errata
ERRATA.
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A Modeſt, and Peaceable Inquiry into the Deſign and Nature of Dr. Stilling fleet's HISTORICAL MISTAKES, &c.
SUch are the Calamities of the Reformed Churches both at home and abroad, ſo great and ſo many, that it highly concerns all true Proteſtants to do their utmoſt for the Defence of them. Our Enemies are men of Bloody Deſigns, Active Spirits, Undaunted, notwithſtanding the moſt ſurprizing Diſappointments, and unwearied in a brisk Proſecution of their Helliſh Plots, turning every Stone if poſſible to Ruin us Eternally, and nothing but a ſincere Reformation, and a firm Ʋnion among our ſelves can contribute in any meaſure (unleſs God act by an uncommon Prerogative) towards our ſafety. Our own Diviſions, Heats, Animoſities and Quarrels, are but as the Enemies ſword ſheathed in our own Bowels; our mutual Jealouſies, undue ſuſpitions and Revilings of each other, tend but to the ſtrengthning the Popiſh Intereſt and the haſtening our own Rume, unto which, if ever we periſh by the hands of the Roman Faction, we muſt aſſign the great Cauſe of our Miſeries; But 'tis a ſpecial Providence of an Infinitely wiſe and Gracious God, that 'tis in the heart of our Soveraign, and the Parliament to Ʋnite and ſave us; the which Noble Deſign may be compaſs'd, unleſs the Epiſcopal and Diſſenting Clergy by their own indiſcretions impede and hinder it.
For this Reaſon, 'tis become moſt unſeaſonable to beat the Drum, or ſound the Trumpet for a Proteſtant Civil-wordy-War; To contend at this time about Triſles, or to mind the Tithing, Mint, Cummin, or Anniſe, when the weighty matters of the Proteſtant Religion are in Danger: To be over-ſevere in Ʋnneceſſary Impoſitions on the one ſide, or over-ſcrupulous in oppoſing juſt compliances on the other, is to contend about the Shadow, even when the Subſtance is ready to be violently taken from us by the mighty Torrent of Popiſh Treachery, &c. If our Learned Worthies, whether of the Church of England, or among the Diſſenters, will diſpute the Matters in difference, why may it not be done with more Calmneſs and Serenity of Mind? what need of Perſonal Reflections, Angry or ſcolding Repartees? what need of a Metabaſis, a running from the Subject-Matter, to wit, from the Argument to the Diſputant? Doth it in any manner inlighten the Mind, or convince the Gainſayer, what are the advantages of ſuch a procedure? Methinks it ought to be matter of Lamentation, rather th…n Triumph, to ſee the Church in its preſent bleeding poſture, and with all our Champions, whoſe ſtrength ſhould be turn'd againſt the common Enemy, to be at Daggers point among themſelves.
That ſuch a Conteſt as this, between the Reverend Dr. Stilling fleet, and his learned Adverſaries ſhould happen at this Juncture, cannot but ſill the hearts of all ſober Proteſtants of every perſwaſion with ſad Thoughts; but that it ſhould be managed with ſo much ſmartneſs, muſt much more afflict us. 'Tis true, Dr. O. after the occaſion was firſt given, return'd his Anſwer to Dr. S's. Sermon not only learnedly, and judiciouſly, but, with that even Temper, became a Proteſtant Divine; and I wiſh that ſuch others as engag'd in the ſame quarrel had ſo manag'd it, as to deſerve the ſame Character. 'Tis admirably expreſs'd by Franc. a Sanct a Clara, in the Preface of his Tract de Predeſtinat. &c. Mali habentibus opus eſt medico, non ſevero, ſed benigno, non dicteriis arictando, ſed dictis placidis modo ſolidis, aggrediendo. Solid Arguments cloath'd with the moſt pleaſing words are more convincing, than thoſe that are offer'd either two ſmartly, or too facetiouſly. But whilſt we carry about us the bodies of Sin, we can more eaſily declaim againſt humane infirmities, than amend them; And when we have done our utmoſt, there muſt be a Regard to the humour of a Diſputant, yea, and a mutual forbearance, beſide that reſpect, which muſt be had to our Readers, who either will not conſider what hath not in it ſomewhat grateful with the Argument, or who think no Argument ſtrong, but what is ſatyrically expreſſed.
But the Ball is up, and ſmart blows have paſſed, and every Party inflam'd. The Reverend Dean of Pauls thinks himſelf unjuſtly injur'd by his Oppoſers; and that he may be even with them, has ſufficiently reflected on all Proteſtant Diſſenters, falling into the Error for which he rebukes ſome others. The Diſſenters in like manner judge themſelves as highly wronged by the Doctor. The Honour of the Dr. is impeached, the peace of the Diſſenter broke, and their hoped for Liberties in hazard, which being ſo, 'tis become a difficulty to faſten on a juſt expedient for the accommadating this pernicious controverſie: The fury of the ſire is ſuch, that who ever will attempt the quenching of it, is in danger of being conſumed by the Flames thereof; for either the one or the other will be diſpleaſed; for though ſomething muſt be ſaid to clear the innocent: Yet what Perſon ſoever undertakes it, muſt either ſpeak the Truth and offend the Doctor or conceale it, and grieve the Innocent to the wounding his own Conſcience. But notwithſtanding theſe Intricacies, I will preſume to make this modeſt Eſſay in a ſober Addreſs unto the Dr. beſeeching him candidly to interpret my Zeal for Truth, Faithfulneſs to the Proteſtant Religion, and Love to the peace of the Church, and his and my own Conſcience. Not that I deſign to engage ſo far in the Skirmiſh, as to concerne my ſelfe about what ſo many a Learned and Judicious Perſon as the Drs. Adverſaries, are more immediately obliged to conſider: I will not invade either of their Provinces, and yet I will make ſome inſpection into the Nature of that charge, with which he ſeems to endeavour the blaſting the untainted Reputation of truly Loyal and ſincere (though diſſenting) Proteſtants. In purſuance of which end.
1. I will propoſe the deſign of the Drs. Hiſtory, being charitably; diſpoſed to diſtinguiſh between the finis operis, & operantis for though the end of the Work it ſelf cannot but in its tendency prove pernicious to the Proteſtant Religion; yet I hope the Dr. deſigned it not as ſuch.
2. I will ſhew his miſtakes concerning the account he gives of the Diſſenting Brethren, and evince that the Reaſons urg'd to engage the Reader to believe that the Diſſenters, are a People carrying on the Popiſh Deſigns, are of ſuch a Nature as cannot but move a thinking and unbyaſſed Mind to Judge the Author himſelf to be the Perſon who alone under a diſguiſe doth ſo.
3. I will acquaint you with the great diſadvantages the Dr. Expoſeth himſelf unto, by the Method he hath taken to reproach us: The Principles From which he muſt and doth raiſe the Oppoſition he maketh againſt Diſſenters, being ſuch as are found in Bellarmine, and the moſt noted Champions of the Roman Church. And
4. In fine I will in a way moſt fair and candid evince, how reaſonable it is, that the Dr. (if he will do the Proteſtant Religion, and himſelf but right;) make either a more full, diſtinct, and clear diſcovery of his thoughts, or a Retractation of what in this late Diſcourſe he hath ſuggeſted.
1. The Deſign of the Hiſtory in the Preface is to miſrepreſent Diſſenting Proteſtants by his falſe Accuſations, which are That they do carry on the Papiſts work for them, that they hold ſuch Principles, as by evident conſequences from them do overthrow the Juſtice and Equity of the Reformation, preface. p. 6. and out of Biſhop Sanderſon 'tis aſſerted, That the Diſſenting Brethren, though not intentionally and purpoſely, yet really, and eventually have been the great Promoters of the Roman Inte: reſt among us. — I do not ſay (adds the Dr.) that ſuch men, (namely the Diſſenters) are ſet on by the Jeſuits; But I ſay they do their work as effectually in blaſting the Credit of the Reformation; as if they were. p. 10 — But if we trace the footſteps of their Separation as far as we can, we may find ſtrong probabilities, that the Jeſuitical Party had a very great influence on the very firſt beginnings of it — And the Papiſts could not but pleaſe themſelves to ſee that other men did their work ſo effectually for them. p. 16. The Papiſts could not have met with better Proctors (i. e. then the Diſſenters) they did the Pope very good ſervice, and he would not miſs them for any thing. — The Pope could not have fitter and apter inſtruments for his Purpoſe. The Diſſenters were made the Engines of the Roman Conclave.
Thus tis evident that the great end of the Drs. Hiſtory, if not of the whole Book it ſelf, is to repreſent Diſſenting Proteſtants to be but the Jeſuits Inſtruments, that is, to be men, not worthy of any favour from a Proteſtant Prince, for ſurely ſuch are the Jeſuits Engines. But as no ſuggeſtion can be more untrue, even ſo nothing could proceed from the Drs. Pen more unſeaſonably; what ſhould provoke him to be ſo invective and ſatyrical in this juncture of affairs is not eaſie to determine, or what was his end is as difficult to imagine; whether it was to caſt contempt on the Wiſdom of the Parliament, who entertain other ſentiments concerning the Diſſenters; or whether to gratifie the Roman Faction, by acting ſo ſutably to the Jeſuits meaſures as diſcovered by Mr. Dugdale and ſome others, which is to revile the Diſſenters, as the Dr. hath done; to the end the common People may be prepared to believe, that whatever horrid Plots the Papiſts are carrying on, are but Presbyterian; The which can no ſooner be believed, but his Maieſties moſt Loyal Subjects are expoſed to the mercileſs cruelty of the bloody Papiſts, who will not boggle at falſe Oaths, to accuſe them of the worſt of Treaſons under the Name of Presbyterians, or Diſſenting Proteſtants. Or whether it be to caſt a Bone of contention into the Parliament Houſe; thereby to prevent the uniting and ſtrengthening the Proteſtant Intereſt, as well as for diverting the Houſe from ſuch other Methods as are moſt neceſſary for the impeding the Future growth of Popery; or whether to raiſe one of the ſevereſt Perſecutions againſt that Loyal and truly Proteſtant Party; which cannot be weakned or impoveriſhed but to the advancing the Papal deſign; whether any one, or all of theſe particulars have been aimed at by the Dr. the Searcher of Hearts, and his own Conſcience doth beſt know. But whatever was the Authors end, 'tis moſt uncontroulably true, that if theſe ſeveral Miſchiefs do not proceed from the Diſcourſe, it muſt be conſidered as a ſignal Providence, to which alone we are owing for ſuch preventing Grace. But
2. To Exerciſe the Charity of collecting ſuch Arguments as are ſubtly Inſinuated for the enſnaring the Credulity of ſome of his Readers; The which I will with the greateſt fairneſs ſet forth in their ſtrength, and then deſcend to a detecting the Miſtakes.
1. To give the Dr. the greater advantage, we'l conſider his Arguments to be as numerous as is poſſible, after this following method.
1. The Diſſenters have embrac'd the Jeſuits Principles about Spiritual Prayer, and a more pure way of worſhip.
2. They have blaſted the Reputation and Honour of the firſt Reformation.
3. They oppoſe Epiſcopacy, and innocent Ceremonies notwithſtanding their Antiquity.
4. They have ſeparated from the Church of England, and have cauſ'd great Diviſions.
5. They accepted of his Majeſties gracious Toleration given them 7 or 8 years ago.
6. They have ſince the diſcovery of the Plot cloſed with the people in an over fierce oppoſing the papiſts. Ergo the Diſſenters are the Jeſuits Inſtruments deſigning the Deſtruction of the Protestant Religion, This is the Drs. Concluſion, drawn from theſe ſix weighty conſiderations.
2. To inquire into the ſtrength, or rather the miſtakes of theſe weighty conſiderations.