Concerning Certainty of Faith, Treatise (1 of 2)
A DISCOURSE Concerning the NATURE & GROUNDS OF THE CERTAINTY OF FAITH, &c.
WHEN I published my Two Letters to Mr. G. I had good Reason to expect an Answer from him, who began the Controversie. But it seems he had better Reason to forbear (and it is not hard to guess at it) and I am turned over to one, who pretends to write Catholick Letters against me. I have a great and just Reverence for some Catholick Epistles, and believe them written by an Infallible Spirit; but for these Catholick Letters, though their whole design be Infallibility, yet I cannot find so much as a fair Probability in them. But why must these be call'd Catholick Letters? Are they written by some Catholick Bishop, to give an Account of his Faith, according to the Custom of the Antient Church? Is it, that the Doctrine contained in them is undoubtedly Catholick? So far from it, that I shall make it appear, that no one Church of the Christian World ever own'd it. But, suppose, it had been the Doctrine of the Roman Church, how could this make them Catholick Letters, unless so great a Logician had first proved, that a Part may assume the Denomination of the whole? But then, why not, Roman Catholick Letters according to the new Style? There was a Reason for this. J. S. hath not forgotten, how hardly he had lately escaped Censure at Rome, for the Principles contained in them; and therefore though he hopes they may pass for Catholick here, yet he durst not joyn Roman to Catholick in the Title of his Letters.
But how comes J. S. to be concerned in this Controversie with Mr. G.? The Account he gives of it in the beginning of his First Letter is very pleasant. He saith, He accepted a Commission from Mr. G. to hold his Cards, while he is not in Circumstances to play out his Game himself. I will not examine Mr. G's. Circumstances, nor the Game he plays at; but methinks, this is no very decent way of expressing the undertaking a Debate about Matters of Faith and Salvation. But in Truth, he makes the business of Infallibility, as he handles it, to be a Matter of Sport and Diversion; notwithstanding all his Grimaces and Tragical Expressions about it. It is hard to be severe upon a Metaphor; but, suppose it be allowed; yet I wonder, of all Men, he should pitch upon J. S. to hold his Cards for him, who had plaid his own so ill, and so much to the dissatisfaction of the leading Men of his own Church. Yet he now appears as brisk and confident, as if he were some New Gamester; although he produces his old sullied Cards, (a little wiped) over again; and seems to have forgotten the Answer to his Sure Footing, and the Accompt he still owes to the World for it. I know not, how far it agrees with the Laws of Ecclesiastical Chivalry, for one, who hath not defended himself, to appear a Champion for another, especially in the same Cause; but there is no great Reason to apprehend he should do much for another, who hath done next to nothing for himself.
The main Subject of the Debate is, about the Nature and Grounds of the Certainty of Faith; and the Method I think most natural and effectual to proceed in, is,
I. To shew how unfit J. S. of all Men, is to undertake this Cause.
II. To settle the true State of the Controversie between us.
III. To examine the Reasons he produces against our Grounds of Certainty.
IV. To lay open the weakness of his Arguments, on behalf of the Infallibility of Oral and Practical Tradition.
I. As to J. S. his appearing in this Cause again, we are to consider, that in his Catholick Letters, he frequently owns Faith vindicated, Reason against Raillery, and Errour nonplust; and even Sure Footing it self. But I shall now shew, that he disowned the main Principles in those Books, when he was in great danger of being Censured at Rome for them; and therefore is not to be allow'd to produce them again. The Account of this Matter will give great Light into the state of the present Controversie, and is therefore necessary to be premised to it.
Out of those Books of J. S. a considerable Person in the Church of Rome, selected three Propositions about the Grounds of his Infallible Certainty, which were these;
Faith vindicated, pag. 13.I. That he who is obliged to profess Faith propositions true, must see the Connexion between their Terms, and consequently, that they cannot be unconnected, or false.
Faith vindicated, pag. 41.II. If the two Terms be not seen to be connected, these Propositions may, nay ought to be denyed by the Respondent, whose Office and Right it is to grant nothing but what is evident, lest he ensnare himself.