Reply to Third Appendix, Postscript – Publishers advertisement
Postscript.
SIR,
SInce the dispatch of the former Papers, I have met with another Treatise, wherein I find my self concerned, written by the author of Fiat Lux, the Title whereof is Diaphanta: I am afraid the Title affrights you; for I assure you it is the most formidable thing in his whole Book. But the man is a very modest man and hugely different from Mr. S's. humor; for he is so far from offering to demonstrate the grounds of faith; that all he pretends to in the title of his book, i… to excuse Catholick Religion against the opposition of several Adversaries. What fault I pray hath the Catholick Religion committed, that it must now come to be excused inst…ad of being defended? But when I look into that part which concerns my self, I presently understand the meaning of it, which is not to excuse Catholick Religion, but themselves, for not being able to defend it. For he very ingenuously tells us, that faith is firm and constant, p. 210.though all his talk for it be miserably weak: i. e. he is sure they have an excellent Religion, though he knows not what to say for it; and their faith is a very good faith, but it hath not yet had the good fortune to be understood by them. For he acknowledges, that as often as they dispute, p. 2…9.they are beyond the business, (so may any one believe, who reads their late books,) which is in effect to say, there is no way left of disputing any longer with adversaries about their faith; only they must believe it stoutly themselves; but it is to no purpose to offer to defend it. Nay, it doth their faith a great deal of mischief; for, saith he, in reading controversies we see not so much the nature of the faith, as the wit of him who opposes or defends it. From whence we may easily gather what unspeakable mischief they do their cause by writing for it. By which expressions we may guess, at what a low ebbe the defence of their faith is among them: for the way now taken to defend it, is by disowning the defenders of it, and by saying, that they only vent their own opinions; and though we confute them never so much, yet their faith holds good still. Was ever a good cause driven to such miserable shifts as these are, especially among those who pretend to wit and learning? One, he saith, T. C. vents a private opinion of his own, and it is not a pin matter whether it stand or fall; another, he saith, the same of I. S. a third of J. V. C. and yet for all this, their religion is very firm and sure, and they all at perfect agreement about it. Is this the victory over me Mr. S. mentions to be so easie a thing? I see that by the same figure Mr. S. calls his way of arguing demonstration, running out of the field shall be accounted conquering. For I never saw any person do it more openly then this author does. For he plainly confesses, that his Catholick Gentleman went quite besides his business, that he built upon indefensible principles, that his theological ratiocination was indeed pretty, but too weak to hold. And are not we hugely too blame, if we do not cry up such mighty Conquerors as these are? Truly Sir, I expect the very same answer should be returned to your book; that Mr. S's. argument, is a pretty theological ratiocination; and that your answer is not unwitty: but though that way will not hold, another will. Thus when they are beaten off Infallibility, they run to Tradition: and when they are again beaten off Tradition, then back again to Infallibility. So that the short of all their answers is, though such a one cannot defend our faith, yet I can; though I cannot, yet the fai… …s firm and constant still. I wonder what their Superiors think of this …ay of proceeding among them; we …hould imagine if they be so weak …s they say themselves, they had much …etter keep them from appearing …broad and exposing their cause so …idiculously to contempt. But it may …e, they think their faith is the bet…er as well as their devotion, for their …gnorance: and that it would be a …ighty disparagement to their cause, …or such silly people to be able to de…end it. It is enough for them to …dmire it themselves, and to say as …heir common people use to do, though …hey cannot defend it, yet there are …ome that can. And although it …ay be no particular person can do …, yet their cause is able to defend … self. But for all that I can see, by …ck kind of answers, the intention of …hem, is, to intreat us, not to tri…mph over the weakness of their pre…nt Writers, but to wait till the …ause it self thinks fit to write. And when it doth so, they may expect further answer; but it were a grea… piece of cruelty for us to hasten the… ruine, who fall so fast before us b… each others Pens.
FINIS.
ERRATA.
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A Rational Account of the …rounds of Protestant Religion; being a Vindication of the Lord-Achbishop of Canterburyes Relation of a Conference, &c. from the pretended Answer by T. C. wherein the true Grounds of Faith are cleared, and the false discovered; the Church of England justified from the imputation of Schism; and the most Important particular Controversies between us and those of the Church of Rome thoughly Examined: by Edward Stillingflee… B. D.
Origines Sacrae; or a Rational Account of the Grounds of Christian Faith, as to the Truth and Divine Authority of the Scriptures, and the matters therein contained: by the sam Author: The third Edition Correcte… and Amended.
Irenicum: A Weapon-Salve for the Churches Wounds: by the same Author.
Shecinah: A Demonstration of the Divine Presence in Places of Religious Worship: by J. Stillingfleet Rector of Beckingham in Lincolnshire.
The Moral Philosophy of the Stoicks Bain upon the Ephesians.
Knowledge and Practice: or a plain Discourse of the chief things necessary to be known, believed and practised in order to salvation: by Sa… Cradock B. D. The second Edition Corrected and Enlarged, &c.
The Believers Duty towards the Spirit; the Sprits Office towards Believers by H. H. B. D.
End of the text · Edward Stillingfleet, Reply to Third Appendix (1666)