Conferences of Romish Priest Fanatic Chaplin and English Divine, Title page – Preface
SEVERAL CONFERENCES Between a Romish Priest, A Fanatick Chaplain, AND A DIVINE OF THE Church of England, Concerning the IDOLATRY OF THE CHURCH of ROME: Being a full Answer to the late Dialogues of T. G.
LONDON, Printed by M. W. for H. Mortlock at the Phoenix in St. Paul's Church-yard, and at the White Hart in Westminster Hall. 1679.
Imprimatur, Guil. Jane R. P. D. Hen. Episc. Lond. à sac. domest. May 6. 1679.
THE PREFACE.
THE following Discourses contain a full and distinct Answer to the late Dialogues of T.G. wherein the Reader may perceive what an easie Victory, Truth, when it stands its Ground, will obtain over Wit and Subtilty. When the man who fell in the Olympick Games, endeavoured by his Eloquence to perswade the spectators he was never down, it is possible he might meet with some weak and others partial enough to believe him; but the Judges could not but smile at their folly who did not discern the difference between the firmness of the ones standing and the others artificial rising; the one might shew more art and dexterity, but the other had more strength or some other advantage. I shall leave the Reader to judge in these combats who maintains his Ground best, and who seeks chiefly to avoid the dis-reputation of losing it. He that keeps close to his Adversary, declines no difficulty, uses no reproachful language, or disingenuous dealing, hath certainly greater assurance of the Goodness of his Cause and more hopes to prevail; than he that studies for shifts and evasions, avoids the strongest arguments, and flyes out into impertinent cavils and personal reflections; which are great signs that the man is conscious of the badness of his Cause, and despairs of success by any other means. And the Author of these Discourses desires that his Adversary and himself may stand or fall according to these measures.
As to the manner of writing here used, viz. by way of Dialogue, it is that which his Adversary led him to; and possibly, where the decency of it is well observed, it may make Controversie go down more pleasantly than otherwise it would. For there appears more life and vigour in a Discourse carried on by several persons of different humours and opinions, than in one continued deduction of Reason. And the Author declares he intended no reflection on any sober party of men among us in the representation made of the Army-Chaplain, who bears the third Part in the Conferences; but only to shew the advantage the Popish Party takes from the weak and peevish exceptions which some men have made against the Church of England; and how they insinuate themselves into them on the account of their prejudices against it, and have made use of their indiscreet zeal to compass their own ends.
Which is so far from being a Romance or Fiction, that besides the footsteps which may be yet traced of these transactions, by the means and instruments which were imploy'd about them; we find that one of the most busie …actors of the Roman Church, wh…n he most confidently denyed the other parts of the late horrid design, did not stick to avow and own this, that they did hope to prevail at last by joyning their strength with the obstinate Dissenters in procuring a General Toleration; which was all the Visible Design they were carrying on, when these Discourses were written. Since which, the face of things hath been so much alter'd among us, and the times appear'd so busie and dangerous, that it was thought more adviseable to respite the publishing of these Controversial Discourses till mens minds were a little calmed; lest the Author of them should seem guilty of the impertinent diligence of Archimedes, viz. of drawing lines in the Dust, when the enemy was ready to destroy us.
Had the Author had any occasion to have run away from the Argument under debate between him and his Adversary, he did not want a fair opportunity in the present state of things, to have put him in mind of something very different from an Irenicum. But he desired me to acquaint the Reader that he does so perfectly abhor this impertinent and disingenuous way of writing, especially about matters of Religion, that he could neither be provok'd nor tempted to it, no not by so great and fresh an Example as he had all along before his eyes.
May that Wise and Gracious God who hath hitherto defeated the cruel and malicious designs of our Churches enemies, still preserve it under the shadow of his Wings, and continue it a praise in the Earth.