The Grounds of Protestant Religion, To the reader
THE PREFACE TO THE READER.
IT is now about a twelvemonth, since there appeared to the world a Book, under the Title of Dr. Lawd's Labyrinth; but, with the usual sincerity of those persons, pretended to be Printed some years before. It is not the business of this Preface to enquire, Why if Printed then, it remained so long unpublished, but to acquaint the Reader with the scope and design of that Book, and of this which comes forth as a Reply to it. There are three things mainly in dispute between us, and those of the Church of Rome, viz. Whether they, or we, give the more satisfactory account of the Grounds of Faith? Whether their Church, or ours, be guilty of the charge of Schism? And, Whether their Church be justly accused by us of introducing many Errours and Superstitions? In the handling of these, all our present Debate consists; and therefore, for the greater Advantage of the Reader, I have distributed the whole into three distinct parts: which I thought more commodious, than carrying it on in one continued discourse. And, lest our Adversaries should complain, that we still proceed in a destructive way, I have not only endeavoured to lay open the palpable weakness of their Cause, but to give a rational account of our own Doctrine in opposition to theirs. Which I have especially done in the great Controversie of the Resolution of Faith, as being the most difficult and important of any other. I hope the Reader will have no cause to blame me for false or impertinent Allegations of the Fathers, since it hath been so much my business to discover the fraud of our Adversaries in that particular: which I have chiefly done from the scope and design of those very Books, out of which their testimonies are produced. In many of the particular Differences, I have made use of several of their late Writers against themselves; both to let them see, how much Popery begins to grow weary of it self; and, how unjustly they condemn us for denying those things, which the moderate and rational men of their own side disown, and dispute against as well as we; and chiefly to undeceive the world, as to their great pretence of Unity among themselves. Since their Divisions are grown to so great a height both at home, and in foreign parts, that the dissenting parties mutually charge each other with Heresie, and that about their great Foundation of Faith, viz. the Popes Infallibility; The Jansenists in France, and a growing party in England, charging the Jesuits with Heresie in asserting it, as they do them with the same for denying it. As to my self, I only declare, that I have with freedom and impartiality enquired into the Reasons on both sides, and no interest hath kept me from letting that side of the ballance fall, where I saw the greater weight of reason. In which respect, I have been so far from dissembling the force of any of our Adversaries Arguments, that if I could add greater weight to them, I have done it; being as unwilling to abuse my self as the world. And therefore I have not only consulted their greatest Authours, especially the three famous Cardinals, Baronius, Bellarmin, and Perron; but the chiefest of those, who, under the name of Conciliators, have put the fairest Varnish on the Doctrine of that Church. However, I have kept close to my Adversary, and followed him through all his windings, from which I return with this satisfaction to my self, that I have vindicated his Lordship and Truth together. As to the style and way of writing I use, all that I have to say, is, that my design hath been to joyn clearness of Expression, with evidence of Reason. What success I have had in it, must be left to the Readers judgement; I only desire him to lay aside prejudice as much in judging, as I have done in writing; otherwise I despair of his doing me right, and of my doing him good. For, though reason be tractable and ingenuous, yet prejudice and interest are invincible things.
Having done thus much by way of Preface, I shall not detain thee longer, by a particular Answer to the impertinencies of our Authours Preface, since there is nothing contained therein, but what is abundantly answered in a more proper place. And I cannot think it reasonable to abuse so much the Readers Appetite, as to give him a tedious Preface to cloy his stomach. If any, after perusal of the whole, shall think fit to return an Answer, if they do it fairly and rationally, they shall receive the same civility; if with clamour and impertinency, I only let them know, I have not leisure enough to kill Flyes, though they make a troublesome noise. If any service be done to God, or the Church, by this present work, next to that Divine Assistance, through which I have done it, thou owest it to those great Pillars of our Church, by whose command and encouragement I undertook it. Who the Authour was of the Book I answer, I have been the less solicitous to enquire, because I would not betray the weakness of my cause, by mixing personal matters in debates of so great importance. And, whether he be now living, or dead, I suppose our Adversaries cannot think it at all material, unless they judge that their Cause doth live and dye with him.