The Nullity of the Romish Faith, Imprimatur – Dedication
Iuly 20. 1665.
Imprimatur,
ROBERT SAY VICECAN:
The Nullity of the Romish Faith. OR A BLOW At the Root of the Romish Church,
BEING An Examination of that Fundamentall Doctrine of the CHURCH of ROME concerning the Churches INFALLIBILITY, and of all those severall Methods which their most famous and approved Writers have used for the defence thereof;
TOGETHER WITH An APPENDIX tending to the Demonstration of the Solidity of the PROTESTANT FAITH, wherein the Reader will find all the materiall Objections and Cavils of their most considerable Writers, viz. Richworth (alias Rushworth) in his Dialogues, White in his Treatise De fide and his Apology for Tradition, Cressy in his Exomologesis, S. Clara in his Systema fidei, and Captaine Everard in his late account of his pretended Conversion to the Church of Rome discussed and Answered.
By MATTHEVV POOLE late Minister of the Gospell in London.
OXFORD, Printed by Hen: Hall Printer to the UNIVERSITY, for Ric: Davis, 1666.
To the Right Honourable ARTHUR Earle of DONEGAL Lord Viscount Chichester, of Carickfergus, Baron of Belfast, one of his MAJESTIES most Honourable Privy Councellors for his Kingdome of Ireland.
My LORD,
HOw much it concernes every man to be rightly informed in the Controversies between Rome and Us, is sufficiently evident from the great importance they have in reference to our everlasting state: The Papists think the Protestant Doctrine is dangerous to Salvation; and the Protestants know the Popish Doctrine to be so: For although they use confidently to give it out to their Partisans that their Religion is a safe way in the judgment of Protestants themselves, and though in former times of ignorance God might wink at some members of the Church of Rome that held the Foundation, although they built a great deale of Hay and Stubble upon it: Yet since the late Edition of severall new Articles of their creed, and since the contempt of that clear and glorious light of Gospell discoveries shining in the discourses and Writings of Protestant Authors. I cannot (and I fear God will not) excuse them from that hainous crime of rebelling against the light or with holding it in unrighteousnesse; and as Christ said to the Jewes, they have now no cloake for their Sinnes.
What the portion is of the followers of Antichrist we may more safely understand from the Testimony of God then from the conjectures of men; of them we read that they shall be damned, 2 Thes. 2.12. That their names are not written in the Book of Life, Rev. 13.8. That they shall drink of the Wine of the wrath of God—and shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone—and the smoke of their Torment shall ascend evermore, and they shall have no rest day nor night which worship the beast and his image, Rev. 14.9, 10, 11.
The onelyonly doubt is whether the Papists be followers of Antichrist, or (which comes to one) whether the Pope be Antichrist, which seemed so probable to the famous Lord Bacon that being asked by King JAMES whether he thought him so to be, it was no lesse truly then wittily answered by him, That if an hue and cry should come after Antichrist, which should describe him by those Characters by which he is deciphered in the Bible, he should certainly apprehend the Pope for him, and I desire all Papists, who would not venture their Eternall Salvation upon uncertainties, to doe our cause and their own Soules that justice as to peruse the Author's of both sides viz. Whitaker and Downham on the one, and Bellarmine and Lessius on the other, and then I doubt not but they will conclude the notorious weaknesse of their cavils, or pretended Answers to our Allegations to be at least an high presumption of the truth of our Assertion, if not sufficient to put an end to all further doubtings.
My Lord,
It is no small evidence of a good cause and felicity of our Protestant people, that they are permitted to see with their own Eyes, and are both allowed and warned by their teachers, not to take matters of Salvation upon trust but to enquire and search the Scriptures and other Authors whether those things be true or no, whil'st unhappy Papists like the Andabatae of old must winke and fight, and are obliged with an implicit Faith to follow their guides in spight of Christs caution used upon the like occasion, If the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the Ditch, Matth. 15.14. Protestant Ministers bespeak their hearers in St Pauls language, I speak to wise men judge ye what I say, 1 Cor. 10. 15. While Popish Priests, if they would speak out must say I speak as to Fooles, believe all that I say: A plaine signe their Gold is adulterate because they dare not suffer it to come to the Touchstone.
My Lord,
In the handling of these Controversies I thought it most prudent and ingenuous to follow the Councell which Benhadad gave to his Souldiers, to fight neither with small nor great, but with the King of Israel, and therefore I did not mind the branches, but have indeavoured to strike at the Root: For such is the Doctrine here discussed viz. The Doctrine of the Churches Authority and Infallibility and so it is acknowledged by all the Romanists, and we are advised by them (if we mean to do any good) to attaque them in this point. I like the Counsell and therefore have resolved foreign arcem petere to attempt their strongest hold: All the Controversies of the Church of Rome have (what Caligula wished all the people of Rome had) one work, and that is this of the Churches Infallible Authority: while this is safe, we do but paire their Nailes, and cut their Haire which will quickly grow againe, but if this failes, all falls, wound them here, and it goes to the heart. Whether I have done this here or no, I shall not be so absurd or arrogant as to give judgment in my own cause, this onelyonly I shall be bold to say, that I have faithfully represented the strength of the Popish cause in this great point out of their most famous and approved Authors, and such of whom it might be truly said Si moenia Romae Defendi possent dextrâ hac defensa fuissent, and therefore if all the plausible pretences of their most considerable Writers be here removed and destroyed (which I willingly referre to the judgment of the serious intelligent and impartiall Reader) I may without injustice conclude that their Doctrine is indefensible and their cause desperate.
My Lord,
The reason why I devolve the patronage of this work upon your Lordship is not onelyonly the consideration of your reall worth and those honourable qualities resplendent in you, that true generosity, sincere friendship, obliging sweetnesse, impartiall valuation of persons acc…rding to their merit, not their party or opinion in little things, and other conspicuous vertues (which they that have the happinesse of your acquaintance are witnesses of) nor is it onelyonly the known excellency and exemplary piety of your most Illustrious Lady (which nothing but ignorance or malice can deny) nor the particular obligations which I shall allwayes desire to own to both of you, but the contemplation of that great interest, which by the high capacity of your Place, and the noblenesse of your Estate, and the unexampled affability of your deportment, you have in the Kingdome of Ireland; which how free it is from other Venoms your Lordship knowes better then I, yet sure I am it is sadly infected with the Poison of Popish Doctrines, and therefore I thought the Antidote most needfull there, and that your Lordships Authority and Influence accompanied with your zealous indeavours (which God expects and I promise to my self from you in so good a cause) might induce many persons of the Romish perswasion to read and consider this short Treatise, if God peradventure may give them Repentance to the acknowledgment of the Truth that they may recover themselves from the snare of the Devill.
That God would encline your heart to contribute your most effectuall help to so good a work and succeed you in it and recompence you for it, and that God would blesse Your self and worthy Lady with all the blessings you want, and mercifully preserve and Sanctify to you all you have, and crowne all with those inexpressible felicities of another World, is now and shall by Gods assistance be the humble and fervent prayer of,
My Lord, Your Lordships Orator at the Throne of Grace MATTHEW POOLE. Sept. 1. 1665.