SOME REFLECTIONS UPON THE Author and Licenser Of a Scandalous Pamphlet; called, The Missioners ARTS Discover'd. WITH THE REPLY OF A. PULTON TO A CHALLENGE Made Him in a LETTER Prefix'd to the said Pamphlet.
Qui semel verecundiae fines transierit, eum bene & gnaviter oportet esse impudentem.
With Allowance.
London, Printed by Mary Thompson for the Author, and are to be Sold by Matthew Turner at the Holy-Lamb in Holbourn, and John Lane at the Blew-Anchor in Wild-street, Anno Dom. 1688.
SOME REFLECTIONS UPON THE Anonymus Author AND THE LICENSER OF A Scandalous Pamphlet; CALLED, The Missioners Arts Discover'd, &c.
IT is well known, that there was one Needham that help'd (by the power of the Press) to bring Charles I. to the Scaffold; and labour'd hard to keep Charles II. from his Throne: Far be it from me to maintain that to have been his design, or that it is his present Namesakes, to imitate him: Yet the place he is Intrusted with, ought to make him Cautious, what Consequences may attend the Scandalous Pamphlets, which are Lionsed by him to the Press. To write Imprimatur, upon a presunption of the Authors Honesty; is Remissness, if not Rashness: To pense, and yet to License Defamatory Libells, is inexcusable Malice: For he who allows of a Book, and abetts the Printing and Publishing of it becomes (though not a Legitimate Parent) a Step-Father at least hereof. So far as he is able, he Adopts it for his Own: So that if a Book prove a Trumpet to Rebellion, it is by his Breath it Sounds.
I shuld be apt to Censure my self for the freedom of this Address, (says my Anonyaus,) but it is certainly time to speak, when a Man in his Station, Who [Page 2]ought to advance in the Hearts of every Subject, an Obedience, Respect and Esteem for his Prince; makes it his business, so far as in him lyes, to create in all a Contempt, Scorn, and Dis-respect of Him. To Ridicule even the Habit, Words, or Gesture of a Prince, is to lessen Him in the Minds of Those that Hear us: What then shall it be, to License Books stufft with Calumnies (not to say Blasphemies) against His Religion? To deliver to the People a Character of their King, as a Member of a Heathenish, Vain, Superstitious, Abominable Religion: What is it else, than to Imprint in them, a Notion of Him, as a Heathenish, Superstitious, Vain, and Abominable Man; and as Dr. Tenison, and Dr. Beverige teach. uncapable of Salvation, as having of Protestant become a Roman Catholick? Now what Honour, Allegiance, or Respect shall he retain for his Soveraign, who hath such an Abhorrence of the Man who is King? To Preach to us of Respecting His Majesty, and Despising most Calumniously his Religion; of Loving His Person, and unjustly Abhorring his Principles; is such a Phylosophical Barbarity, that it is only fit for the practice of Schismaticks, or Protestants: These Principles being Abominated by all true Catholick Christians. Very many of this nature, have been Licensed by Mr. Needham, the most moderate of which would never have escap'd the Flames, had any Catholick presumed to Write and Vend the like Scurrilous Provocations under a Protestant King against his Religion. But certainly none ever deserved it more, than a Pamphlet, called, The Missioners Arts Discovered, &c. By the Imprimatur affixed thereunto, Mr. Needham approves of the Impious Calumny of Du Moulin, Charging the Murder of King Charles the First upon the Catholicks: Whereas he ought to have reflected, that for fear Catholicks might be in any Capacity to shew their Duty, or stir in His Majesties behalf, as was justly apprehended, it was specially Ordered by Parliament, that none should be allowed to come within 25 Miles of London during those black Days. And I challenge Mr. Needham, to Name those Catholicks, which by his Licensed Aspersions, he would have the World believe Interess'd therein. He approves moreover, and vends to the World, that the Catholicks never ventured to clear themselves of this detestable Crime imputed to them; which he cannot but know to be most false: That Lover of Truth, and Renowned Loyallist the Right Honourable the Earl of Castlemain, having done it more then 20 years ago in his Repl [...] to the Answer to the Catholicks Apology, to the eternal Confusion [...]f that Impudent Calumniator; who when call'd to Account, had nothi [...]g else to say, than that he had heard Pim say so; a goodly Author or Protestants to build their Faith upon: But Moulin had a mind to ma [...]e a third to those two French Authors, one of which denyed, that the English had ever Conquer'd France; and thesecond, that Francis the I had ever been taken Prisoner by the Spaniards.
Now our Anonymus, back'd with his Imprimatur, governs himself intirely by that Anti-Christian Maxime, Calumniare fortiter aliquid adhaerebit: And therefore I must be tax'd as a Slanderer, a Vender of pernicious Falshood, with many such Charitable Characters, for returning, as the World must believe Rashly, the Charge of Disloyalty, and practising the Deposing Power, (when without Provocation Accus'd of it my self) upon our pretended Reformers. Now before an Imprimatur was given, Mr. Needham should in Justice have inform'd himself whether I had meerly, and rashly asserted this, as our Anonymus pretends, or prov'd it, as I did, by eight to or ten undenyable Instances, which he wisely passes in Silence.
Before a Book be Licensed, it ought to be examined of what Credit the Authors are, which are alleadged for its support; of what Sincerity,Account of the Conf. pag. ult. of what Honesty. I shall take an instance from the very first passage of his over-grown Preface, to shew the Sincerity of his Authors, and his own Disingenuous Descant upon the Passage he Cavils at. He Ushers in then his Calumniatory Preface, with an Account of a Procession set forth by the Jesuits and their Students in Luxemburgh, and takes it not from the true Relation published by the Authors, of which, Credite posteri, we must believe he could, (that is, he would) procure no Copy; for during the three Months which have pass'd since his Book was Licensed, he might have procured 30 if he had pleased; but Slander being what he evidently aimes at, and Truth what he hates, he made choice rather of a Scandalous Pamphlet, Very Rare, as he says, (for the Infamy of it) even in French, and thence he borrowes his Account.
He passeth in Silence the real Devotion, extraordinary frequentation of Sacraments, and Edifying Sermons had on that occasion: But because the Students in Poetry exercis'd their vain in pious Fictions to Adorn some Pageants drest upon that occasion for a mixt and harmless Entertainment; he most Preposterously takes occasion thence to term this, A Consecrating the Pagan Gods to the Service of the Blessed Virgin; and offers it as a notion of that Worship the Jesuits (forsooth!) pay to the Mother of God. Now what can be imagin'd more opposite to the Sincerity of a Church-man, than to deliver to his Reader as a Catechistical Instruction, what every Grammar-Scholar understands to be the exercise of School-Boys? Who is so Sottishly Ignorant, except our Ignorant Anonymus, as not to understand, that a Poëtical Fiction is not to be taken in the rigour of Logick? And that Emblematical Symbols must of their own Nature be one thing, and represent another? O but there should be nothing Prophane in Sacred Processions; nothing that can draw off the Peoples Minds from Almighty God. Had this Reformer liv'd in King David's days, how would he have been Scandaliz'd to hear Profane Instruments play before the Ark? He would have joyn'd [Page 4]with the Religious Michol, and have accused the Servant of God of Heathenish Superstition, and contaminating the pure Rites of Gods Elect People, by introducing the Paganish Ceremonies of Bacchus, in Dancing before the Ark. He would have Quarrell'd with God Almighty for commanding the Portraits of Beasts to support the Lavatory; for what so unbeseeming, as to have Bestial Shapes cast before your Eyes, when you are intertaining your self with God? He would have Apostatiz'd from the Jewish Church, by reason of the number of her Ceremonies, Pomp, and State of the Temple; all which Savours of Paganism with our Reformer.
Now what if the Intent of those Pageants was only to Assemble the People together, and so by an usual and pious Artifice, to invite them to more Serious and Religious Actions? What if somthing be allow'd to the more gross temper of that People, which in a more refin'd Climate might appear Exotick? But if you will needs have it Profane, keep then at Home in Gods name; you may remain a sound and perfect Roman Catholick, without being oblig'd to approve of this, or t'other manner of Adorning Processions. But it is a strong Argument that he is depriv'd of Charity, and void of the Spirit of Christianity, who takes all things in the worst Sense, and Malitiously Interprets, what is Piously Design'd.
Our Anonymus would have done a great deal better to have kept his wandring Thoughts at Home, and Study'd how to excuse the Famous Procession of Westminster, when in Waller's Reign our Blessed Redeemer was Burnt in Effigie, and Gill the Constable went Profanely about the Palace in Priests Habits, with the Tacite Applause of our Church of England Divines. I appeal to every unbyass'd Judgment, whether this was not a more Antichristian Action, than the shewing by a Poëtical Pageant, how the Mother of God is more worthy of Honour than the Paganish Deities?
I have not singl'd out this Passage, as that which is most capable of discovering to you, our Anonymus's Fraud and Malice, for most in-Instances of his Book are of the same Nature; but I took the first I met with, and will content my self at present, to remark, that the prime Authors on which he grounds his Charge against Catholicks; are infamous and defamatory Libels. Such as the Jesuits Morals, Burnt by a common Hangman in Paris; Arcana Societatis Jesu Secr. instruct. &c. of the same stamp; Burnet's Letters, inferior to neither for Slanderous Calumnies. with many more of equal Infamy. And I cannot but wonder, Mr. Needham should have so few Sparks of Loyalty in his Breast, as to License a Book (Traducing His Majesties Principles and Religion) chiefly supported by Burnet's Testimony. As though he who studiously has fallen from the Allegiance due to his Soveraign, and lyes under a most deserv'd [Page 5]Outlawry from the Judgement of his own Country: Who imploys a thousand Endeavours to Vilify his Princes Person, and lessen his Interest at Home and Abroad; who supports by Publick Writing Infamous Rebellions: A person so Notorious for his Scurrillous Libelling and Impious Slanders, that he is call'd by the Loyal Party, The Oates of the Hague; who vents the Fictions of his own Malice as from the pretended Mouthes of this Courtier, or t'other Councellor: And we must believe all he Reports to be True, because Gilbert Burnet a Church of England Divine says it. It would be much more commendable for every Loyal Subject, to discredit such Stories, because Gilbert Burnet relates them.
What can be so void of Sincerity, as to take the Notions of Catholick Doctrine from its Sworn Enemies? What so Unreasonable and Malitious, as to reject the greatest Authorities, the most Sincere Historians, the Testimony of so many Ages, speaking in our Favour? And to believe with our Anonymus every Chamber-Maid, Old-Woman, Apostate, Libeller witnessing against us? To stile the Lives of so many thousand Romish Saints, Fanatick Enthusiasms? The most Authentick, and Juridical Examination of so many Miracles wrought in the Roman Catholick Church, Popish Impostures? The Conversion of so many Kingdoms rang'd by her under Christ's Banner, effects of Ambitious Policy? And having thus with an Oxfordian Bellarmine Mentiris, given at once the Lye to all Catholick Antiquity, and Protested against all Authority, even that of Scripture, if it speak in Catholicks Favour: To open immediatly their Ears and Hearts, to Scandalous Pamphlets, and Seditious Libels, if they contain any thing against them. Is this any thing less than studied Malice? Than Hearing not to Hear? And wittingly and willingly Sectari Mendacia, to love Lyes and the Father of them?
There will not be wanting those who are Able and Willing to make better Reflections upon such Ʋnchristian Proceedings, than either my Talents or Leasure allow. I shall only Vindicate my self and my Assertion at present, with Proofs taken from what we have Experienc'd these last 12 years, which depend not upon History. The Charge of his fourth Chapter I shall argue with him Face to Face; and from the Testimony of his own Eyes, Publish to the World the Remarks he is so Ambitious of seeing.
Far be it from me, in the mean time, to extend the Charge of Disloyalty, or evil Practices of some Members of the Church of Engl. farther than the matter of Fact spreads them. Nor can it be doubted, but many thousand of that Persuasion have always been, and still are most Loyal and Faithful Subjects: And I could wish our Church of England Writers, were so favourable to Catholicks, as to draw no more under the Guilt of Treason, than the Law has found such. If six or eight Disloyal Catholicks; (not to mention who they were that drew them in) attempted a [Page 6]most-Ʋnchristian Practice upon the Life of His Sacred Majesty James I. Why must those Millions, who all the World over held, and still hold such Treasons in utter Detestation, be Arraign'd once a year at every Protestant Pulpit, as Guilty of the same Hellish Conspiracy? which was Discover'd to the King by an Honourable Catholick Peer. Nothing must ring in the Ears of the People, but Bloody-Papists, and Gun-Powder-Plots; as though their Fingers were Daggers, and their Veins Swell'd with Powder, instead of Blood: Whilst so many Exclusioners and Associators, though a thousand times more Numerous, and in their practices little less Villanous, and more Dangerous by reason of their Numbers, must pass for Loyal well-Principled Subjects. Catholicks Sins must always be Original, Protestants only Personal; what one Catholick does out of Perversness of Will, or Violence of Passion, is presently fix'd upon his Principles, charg'd upon his Religion; than which, what can be more inequitable?
I never wrote a Paper with greater Aversion, than this present, nor us'd a Stile so contrary to my Temper; but in the Controversy I am Challenged to, no Body can do otherwise. Wherefore let the Guilt lye first at Dr. Tenison's door; who, nothing provok'd, began this odious Debate; and then at his Seconds, who had less reason to rake up cover'd Embers.
But before I answer our Anonymus's Challenge, he must give me leave to expostulate with him concerning the Ʋnreasonableness of the same: The matter in debate between Dr. Tenison and my self, is, The Rule of Faith; the desiding of which question puts an end to all Controversy. I have four Months agoe demonstrated against the said Dr. the Insufficiency of his Protestant Rule, and have all this while waited for his Answer, but in vain. Why has not his Second taken up the Cudgels for him? I Challenge him, and all his Abetters to Answer the said Defeat, Paragraph by Paragraph if he can. But he obliges me here to mind him of the usual Artifice of his Party; which is, when put to it by some undenyable Arment, to fall a Bantering, Reviling, Defaming, and to throw all the Dirt they can (nor caring from what Kennel they gather it) in their Adversaries Face.
Now knowing of how little Edification and Profit such Brawls are, I have on design in my Answers to Dr. Tenison, let pass many virulent and injurious Reflections made by him, resolving to be drawn off by no particular Controversy from that question of questions, viz. What judge we are bound to hear in Controversies of Faith: And hence upon second thoughts, that I might oblige him to close upon this point, I resolved to transmit whatever else he hath amassed together in his Pulton Considered. However that the World may see I decline not any particular Debate, take my Answer to the Challenge as follows.
A. Pulton's Reply to a Challenge sent him in a Letter Prefix'd to the said Pamphlet.
IN the so much nois'd Conference held with Dr. Tenison on St. Michael's day last, besides many other less charitable Asperssions which it pleas'd his Doctorship to Charge me with, nothing at all provok'd thereto by me; for a parting Blow, he thought fit to tax me with the being of a Religion, which is wholly destructive of all Honesty, Humane Conversation and Civil Life. Papists being by their Principles breakers of their Word, And that being a Jesuit, I held the Deposing-Power, my reply to each Charge, you have in the last pages of the Account of the Conference; and a small Reflection in my Remarks, pag. 31. 2. Where having said, to the latter, that Whatever some private Men amongst the Catholicks had judged in the Theory, it was the Reformers who had reduced it to practice, and that besides those many instances alledg'd in the Account of the Conference (which our Anonymus confutes not, but wisely transmits,) I had many Remarks in store, which I would produce if farther provok'd: After 7 Months mature Consideration, our Noble Hero by himself, or some daring Second (Fergueson I conceive, or Burnet) has sent this dreadful Challenge in Frightful Characters.
I Anonymus, &c. Do therefore here Challenge you Andrew Pulton Jesuit and Schoolmaster in the Savoy, as you would not appear a Slanderer and guilty of venting a most pernicious and notorious Falshood, as you value the Honour of your Church, and your own Reputation to publish those Remarks or else acknowledge you have Printed and Publish'd an Assertion, without regard either to Truth or Modesty.
Boldly Challeng d Gallant Anonymus: One would think that Andrew Pulton was certainly struck to the ground by the all Conquering Rodomontadoes of this Romantick Combatant; he must certainly be a man of Mettle, that dares brissel up against this Fiery-gill'd Hero. To appear a Slanderer, is a great Disgrace: To vent a pernicious and notorious Falshood; an immortal Infamy: To have no value for the Honour of my Church; an unparallel'd Ingratitude: Nor for my own Reputation, a damnable Stupidity: To publish an Assertion, without regard to Truth or Modesty; a more than Reformed Impudence.
Poor Pulton, (wonder not that like a dubious Knight, I can't conceal the Anxiety of my Panting-Heart) Poor Pulton, I say, had it not been a great deal better for thee, to let the Victorious Champion of St. Martins gather with Glory the Spoils of his Conquest, and commit in Brazen Plates to Postery the Memory of his Trophyes, rais'd on the Defeat of Savoy-Jesuits, Lady St. Johns Jesuit, and Lady St. Johns Jesuits, suppos'd fellow Jesuit, and Yellow Peruke Jesuits; and Lord [Page 8]knows how many Jesuits scatter'd in the Crowd, besides others as good as Jesuits, See the Testimonies before my Remarks. let them be eight, ten, fifteen, fifty, (for all these numbers have had their Abetters) than by Imprudently discovering the Shamme, thus to expose thy self to the fury of an enrag'd Conqueror? Although the World had remain'd in the Belief that you came with a Train of eight or ten Abetters, a Band of Bully Scholars, marching under ground with their Black-Bills, beside the foresaid number of Invisible Jesuits: It would have been no disgrace though so back'd, to be Defeated by a Church of England Divine: The meanest of which is Wiser than Eleven Ages past, and bids defyance to as many General Councils. and setteth at nought Eleven thousand Romish Divines. You had done much wiser, had you quietly sat down, and let things take their course; it had been but the undergoing the Charge of a Falsifier, A Man who has not common skill in History, a Violator of the Holy-day, a bringer in of Foreign Jurisdiction, See Dr. Tenison's account of the Confer. a Teacher of the Deposing-Power, a Catechist of Satan, who instructs his Hearers to Lye, to be idle, Ʋneasie to Others, a Corrupter of Morals, a Person obliged by his Principles to break his Word. Nay, you should have esteem'd it a Happiness that you came off no worse; and that you fell into the Hands of a man, Who never endamag'd any one so far, as the hurting a Hair of his Head for Religion. Particularly, if you had considered, how many of your Fellow-Jesuits died lately in Banishment, rotted in Goals, and that no less, than Eight were so lately Hanged, Drawn, and Quarter'd; three Kingdoms brought almost to Destruction; and His present Majesty, the best of Monarchs, three times obliged to quit His Countrey, to yeild to the All-commanding Breath of Two Church of England Divines, back'd by the godly Assistance of their Pulpit-Brethren, Dr. Tong. and Dr. Oates. who pointed out to the People a New Saviour, and never Retracted, as we know, their Blasphemy.
Considering all this, I say, had it not been more advisable for you, to shake your Ears peaceably at Home; than by rash Scribling to be thus publickly Disgraced, and Rot in Print? Rot, I say, in Print for venting so bold a Slander, tending to expose the Pure Churches of Christ, as Enemies to their Sovereigns, and so render them Odious to those (Their present Majesties) from whom they have all imaginable reason to expect Protection, as from Nursing Fathers, says our Anonymus.
For what I beseech you so endearing, as to see a Loyal Church of England Prince,D. of Monmouth. so True to his Sovereign, and Zealous for the pure Church of Christ, as to give Himself the Trouble of crossing the Seas, with three Ships of Protestant Subjects, and joyn'd by Thousands of the same Zeal and Spirit, to undertake a dangerous Progress into the Heart of the Kingdom, with intention to shew his Love to the Crown; and for his Reward to loose his Loyal Head on Tower-hill, to the great Disappointment of his Spiritual Guides, D. T. &c.
Who so far from being Abetters of the Deposing Power, or Enemies to their Sovereign, as they who in three Parliaments, out of Tenderness to the Heir Apparent, past An Act for securing of the Protestant Religion, by Disabling James Duke of York to Inherit the Imperial Crown of England, and Ireland, and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging. What I say so Obliging, so Charming, so Loyal, as Devoutly to Vote in the Lord? (five Reverend Bishops labouring notably in the Cause:) Be it Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled, and by the Authority of the same: That the said James Duke of York shall be, and is by the Authority of the same excluded, and made for ever uncapable to Inherit, Possess, or enjoy the Imperial Crown of this Realm — And be it farther Enacted — That if the said James Duke of York shall at any time hereafter, Challenge, Claim, or Attempt — any Dominion, Power or Authority, within the said Kingdoms — as King or Chief Magistrate of the same; that then he the said James Duke of York — Shall be deemed and adjudged guilty of High Treason, and shall suffer the Pains and Penalties, as in Cases of Treason And be it further Enacted — That the said James Duke of York shall not at any time, from and after the 5 of October 1680. return, or come into, or within any of the Kingdoms or Dominions aforesaid —
Now considering these signal Remonstrances of Loyalty, not to have proceeded from a Fleeting tenderness of Affection, but to be the effect of a Forethought and Imbred Allegiance, Reiterated by so many Different Members Assembled in so many Different Parliaments from all Parts of the Kingdom, and delivering the Judgement of their Respective Teachers in their Respective Counties, (there being very few Ch. of England Divines, who shewed a Dislike of what was transacting in that Grand Assembly:) Who, I say, considering all this, dare be so bold as to expose the Members of the pure Church of England, as Enemies to their Sovereign, or Abetters of the Deposing Power?
Let the Papists boast that not one of their Church ever drew his Sword against their Sovereign Charles I, though of a different Religion from theirs: Yet they are the Protestant Subjects who have all imaginable Reason to expect Protection from James the II. (whom God long preserve) as from d' Nursing-Father.
And that you may not believe, that the chief Representatives of the Nation were only Animated by these Loyal Spirits, the Numerous Rolls of Associators demonstrate moreover, an Union of Will and Judgement in many Thousands, and how rare it is to find a Protestant Abetter of [Page 10]the Deposing-power, witness the following Act of Abhorrence, Subscribed by so many men worthy of their Church.
I A. B. do in the presence of God solemnly Promise, Vow, and Protest to maintain & Defend to the utmost of my Powee with my Person and Estate the True Protestant Religion — And that I will never Consent that James Duke of York, or any other who is, or hath been a Papist — Be admitted to the Succession of the Crown of England; but by all Lawful Means, and by force of Arms, if need so require — to Subdue, Expel and Destroy Him, if he come into England.
Nor can it be pretended that this was a Test of the Dissenters Loyalty, and not of the Church of England; since it was Read with Applause in Parliament: Nor have I yet been able to hear of a Church of England Divine, who in that Conjuncture, either Preach'd, or wrote against it, by which their Silence, they undoubtedly Consented to it, and declar'd their good liking of it: For had they been of a contrary Judgement, and esteem'd it Ʋnjust, Illegal or Disloyal to put by, the immediat Heir upon a meer acount of Religion; they ought, being the Directors and Gov rnours of the Peoples Consciences to have declared to them the Disloyalty and Injustice of such Proceedings.
Nor did our Protestant Loyalty, and abhorrence of that deposing Power, extend it self only to the immediate Heir, but the Person of their then present Sovereign. How much would some of the Godly Associates have made on his late Majesty at Rye-house (to omit other Remonstrances of like kindness,) had Heaven seconded their Zeal. And had that moderate Prince had but a little more good nature to part with his Militia for forty days, till the Parliament had settled the Kingdom, they would perhaps have made him as glorious a King, and raised him as high as his most excellent Father. They would have so enriched him, that by publick Vote no man should lend him a Penny.
Her Majesty the Queen Dowager (who like the best of Christians is most grateful for it) did particularly feel the influence of the Parties Loyalty, while they encouraged the Divine Oaten Mouth of their Church, to swear against her, Nov. 26. 29. 1679. whereas but the 30th of October before, the said true Church of England Doctor had deposed upon Oath he had no other Persons to accuse then those mentioned in his Narrative.See Dr. Hawkins Narrative, &c. And that in the mouth of two Witnesses all Truth might stand, the same Party encouraged Mr. Fitz-Harris to accuse Her said Majesty of High Treason. Now having all these undoubted marks of Protestant Loyalty in my Eye, without having recourse to any Notes of History, it is a subject of astonishment, how it should come into my Head to charge any Members of that pure Church of Christ, as Enemies to their Sovereigns, or abetters of the deposing Power.
Nor can it be objected that these Loyal Spirits are now extinct, or that any Members of the Church of England are fallen, or falling from their Obedience. My Lord of L. first gave Demonstrations with what Promptitude and Alacrity a Church of England-man may at lest pay his Submission to the Orders of His Majesty, whom he has bound himself by so many Oaths and Tests to obey. The Fellows of Magdalen Colledge have made appear to the world, how forward they were in giving Example to both Universities, of the Obedience due to our Sovereigns most Legal and Positive Mandates. How ought the People to bless God for having such Mirrours of reformed Obedience before their Eyes? But nothing ever gave a more Conspicuous Argument of an unshaken Allegiance, and Passive Obedience, than the so much celebrated forwardness of some Church of England Prelates, in Ordering according to their Rubrick (as commanded) his Majesties most gracious Declaration to be read to the People; who over-gave to Caesar his due more than they, who raise themselves above the 12 Judges of the Land, and rescind by a Definitive Vote, the Declaration of the Highest standing Court? What so Loyal, as, with an humble Submission, to tell His Majesty, that what He had Commanded, by the Ʋnanimous consent of His most Honourable Privy-Council, guided by the unquestionable Judgment of the Legal and only present Interpreters of the Law, was Illegal? May not the Crown now be assured of all Support from such Pillars of the Protestant Church? Although Charles I. the meekest of Princes, laid down his Head in defence of his Bishops, yet now the Scene is changed, and they are the Church of England Divines who are ready to lay down theirs, to maintain His present Majesties Prerogative.
But to be serious in so weighty a matter; what malignant effects must such a palbable Disobedience produce, in all those thousands who take the Sense of the Law, not from the lawful Judges, but their Mininisters Lips? May not every Pettifogger from the example of his Pastor, having read any of his Majesties Declarations, and Commands, say; I can't comply with it, it is against Law: I won't act as Justice of the Peace, or in any other Commission for His Majesty, without taking Oaths and Tests; for my Minister tells me, that the Judges have all pronounced contrary to Law, in favour of the Prerogative. My Opinion is, that His Majesty's Pretension to the Dispensing Power is Illegal. And if this come to pass, who will be deemed the Authors of such Seditious and Rebellious Practises?
Will not the World have reason to think, that the so much boasted of Church of England Loyalty is like to prove little else in the root, than Self-love and Interest? And that some of them so long only pretend to Loyalty, as there is nothing to be got by being otherwise? for having all the Ecclesiastical livings in their hands, and bearing all the charges in Church and State, what should move them to Disloyalty? But no [Page 12]sooner shall their fellow Creatures be allowed to breath with freedom the common Air; their fellow Subjects to share in their Sovereigns favourable Grace and Protection; their fellow Christians to enjoy some small Liberty of Religious Worship; but presently the Kingdom must be alarmed, the Publick Peace disturbed, the Sentence of the Judges, the Order of Council, and His Majesties express Will, grounded upon, and guided by both, termed to his Face Illegal?
But I forget my self, my Anonymus warns me that such Discourses which reflect upon the Disloyalty of some of the Party,Pag. 69. may be attended by ill Consequences, and that it is the way to provoke them to some undecent Carriage. As tho' he would say, tell us not of our Faults, for if you do we shall commit the same again. If so small a provocation be necessary to shake the Loyalty of a Church of England Divine, how shall he blame, by that Principle, the want of it in some Dissenters, whom the tenderness of that Church by Canabal Laws, unconscionable Extortions, and violent Oppressions, hath, as it were, obliged to those Practices they had never thought of, under a moderate Church Government. Never thought of, I say, under a moderate Government; for who ever gave less disturbance to the Publick Peace, shewed greater Demonstrations of Love and Gratitude to their Prince, than the Dissenters have unanimously done, since his Majesties Gracious Act of Indulgence? Which had the tenderness of the Church of England allowed to be extended sooner upon them, had begot, unquestionably a most firm sense of Loyalty in the hearts of some who seemed most to want it. For if the meer minding a Church of England-man of the Dis-loyalty of some of that Perswasion, be enough to thrust him upon the like Practices? If an equal temper shewed by a Prince, towards those who are equally his Subjects, without prejudicing any Church of Englandmans Liberty or Property, hath produced in many of them, as appears, such Marks of Disloyalty, and Contempt of Sovereignty; what may we think they would do, what Measures would they take, what Resolutions, if they should be treated (which Heaven avert) as they have treated their fellow Subjects?
Mr. Pen in his Good advice, pag. 57. giving account only of what falls under our own knowledge, has computed no less than fifteen thousand Families ruined since the late Kings Restauration, and more than five thousand Persons dead under Bonds, for matter of meer Conscience. Now tho' I question not but the Passive Obedience of many a Loyal Protestant would stand the proof of such usage; yet it is no rash Judgment to think some grains of allowance would be requisite to several of them. Wherefore if they are unwilling to be provoked to Ʋndecent Actions, why are they so forward in Provoking others, by declaring themselves such Abetters of the Penal Laws, the true Source and Fountain of Rebellion? Let the meek-hearted Church of England-men learn to have [Page 13]Bowels of Compassion for the dissenting Parties, and the World will soon experience the Dissenters Loyalty to their Prince, to vye with, and perhaps out-do that of some Members of the Church of England.
Ead Episcopacy been Voted down, (after His late Majesties Restauration) as it was in a fair way to be; the House of Commons having passed the Vote, and the House of Lords (had it not been for the Catholick Peers) joyning with them, let the World imagine how the Party would have resented it? What Disloyalty would, being Persecuted, have begot in them, whose Loyalty totters upon account they are refused the Priviledge of Persecuting others? If the not being able to make others miserable hath such effects, what would the being miserable themselves drive them upon? If while they are in a most peaceable possession of every Church and Chappel in the Kingdom, that ever belonged to them, even that of His Sacred Majesties own Palace, they raise such Clamours, as, we daily hear, are filled with those unjust Surmises and Jealousies, and amuse the People with those Groundless Frights and Apprehensions, which all the World is witness of, what Temper would they shew, what Heat, (let me not say Fury) were the Dissenters allowed the liberty of Retaliation, and returning the Ʋsage upon the Church of England, she has hitherto exercised towards them.
I am as unwilling to remain upon this odious Subject, as I was averse from entring upon it, but being thus provok'd by a Church of England Man, and oblig'd to produce to the World all the Remarks I have made of Reformers Disloyalty; I let him know by these, that I accept his Challenge. I have at present only instanced the last 12 years, and reflected only on the Practices and Principles of some Church of Englandmen; let our Anonymus produce from publick Acts, or Credible Authors, the like Arguments of Catholicks Disloyal Principles and Practices, during this same space of time; nor shall I confine him to the narrow bounds of our own Kingdom, but freely allow him the whole Circumference of the Universe; and if he can, let him make appear to the World, that Roman Catholicks now living all the World over, have either, in their Practices appear'd such Enemies to their Sovereigns; or in their Pinciples, such Abetters of the Deposing-power; as some of the Church of Englandmen have shew'd themselves to be.
As for what belongs to the Dead, to the Practices and Principles of Roman Catholicks, on one side, and the Pretended Reformers on the other: I am so far from declining the Debate of each Parties Loyalty, or Retracting what I said in the Conference, that I receive with a most willing Mind the Challenge. I do therefore here require you Anonymus, that you meet me in what Place you think sit, with two Witnesses and no more, of what condition you please, and an Amanuensis, some day before the Tenth of July following in this present year 1688. Giving me three days warning, least I should not be at Home, or be [Page 14]otherwise engag'd; having accordingly met, where, and when you shall appoint; we will presently repair to a Library, and from approv'd Histories, and Credible Authors put to the Test the Remarks, we both pretend to have made. I will make good my Assertion, viz. That the pretended Reformers have Depos'd, and endeavour'd to Depose more Princes in the space of a 150 years, than the Roman Catholicks have on the like account of Religion since Christs time. You to are prove, That the Roman Catholicks have Depos'd, and endeavour'd to Depose, more than the Reformers, Pag. 77. in the same space of this last 150 years. You are moreover to make out, 65 Rebellions rais'd, and Paracides committed upon great Princes in about one hundred and sixty years, and eighty two Bulls, Indulgences, and Supplies of the Popes for the furtherance of those Treasons, besides an infinite number of Horrid Conspiracies. Moreover, Pag. 79. That the Popes Power in that point (of Deposing Princes, &c.) was Universally Reliev'd, as a matter of Faith in that Church for near five hundred years.
All which being Examin'd before Witnesses, and the Truth of each particular searched into from the respective credible Authors; shall be written down by two Amanuenses, and the Copies being Compar'd and Exchang'd, shall be Seal'd up, and sent to the Press, without any Change or Alteration; and being Printed, shall be again compared before the same Witnesses with the Originals, and being in this manner made publick, we will leave to the World to judge. Whether you Mr. Anonymus, or I appear a Slanderer, and guilty of venting most pernicious and notorious Falsbood, without regard to Truth or Modesty.
I have desir'd You to appoint a place to meet in, because I know not who you Are, nor where you Live; nor will I oblige you to a place of my nominating, least you might suspect, some Fraud; and to require you should take me up at our Schools, I cannot perswade my self you dare venture your Person, among Men whom you represent to the World, to be of such Bloody, Murthering Principles.
I have chose this method of a publick Conference, and mutual Parley, as the only Expedient to avoid all suspition of false Quotations, and Fraud. As also, that the matter of Fact being Contested on each side, the World may know for the future, whether to Address themselves in a matter of this Concern; and how much, or how little, is true of what the Pulpits have Ecchoed out, for so many years, setting forth the Roman Catholicks to the People under the most Bloody and Horrid Shape, the most enraged fury could invent. I do here solemnly engage, that if you Mr. Anonymus can make good your Charge against Roman Catholicks; and prove your self any thing less, than a Calumnious Impostor, to become upon the Spot your Proselite.