HII. THE OLD RELIGION: A TREATISE, WHEREIN IS LAID DOWN THE TRUE STATE OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWIXT THE REFORMED AND ROMAN CHURCH, AND THE BLAME OF THIS SCHISM IS CAST UPON THE TRUE AUTHORS. SERVING FOR THE VINDICATION OF OUR INNOCENCE, FOR THE SETTLING OF WAVERING MINDS, FOr a PRESERVATION AGAINST POPISH INSINUATIONS. WITH AN AD- Sect. 1. The Extent of the Differences betwixt the Churches. 310 Sect. 2. The Original of the Differences betwixt the Churches 312 Sect. 3. The Reformed unjustly charged with Novelty, Heresy, Chap. XIII. On the ENCROACHMENTS OF THE BISHOP of Rome. Sect. 4. The New Presumption of Papal Dispensations . 382 Sect. 5. The New Challenge of Popes' domineering over Kings IV. THE RECONCILER. AN EPISTLE PACIFICATORY OF THE SEEM- Address from Bp. Hall to Edward Earl of Norwich Letter from Bp. Hall to the Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield Answer from the Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield to Bp. Hall Letter from Bp. Hall to the Bishop of Salisbury Answer from the Bishop of Salisbury to Bp. Hall Letter from Bp. Hall to the Rev. Dr. Prideaux Answer from Dr. Prideaux to Bp. Hall Letter from Bp. Hall to the Rev. Dr. Primrose V. CERTAIN CATHOLIC PROPOSITIONS, WHICH A DEVOUT SON OF THE CHURCH HUMBLY OFFERS TO THE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE, HENRY, PRINCE OF GREAT BRITAIN; THE SECOND JOY AND HOPE OF OUR TIMES; ALL HAPPINESS. MOST GRACIOUS PRINCE: God calleth your Highness, by just inheritance, to defend his Faith. This divine royalty accompanies your Princedom, in a blessed society. Wherein your challenge is not more true, than your pattern admirable. He, that gives you right to the succession of this claim, gives you such an example, as what Father ever gave a Son? His sceptre hath not more defended it, than his pen. We bless God, and wonder. In this right, then, all propugnations of truth are yours. How much more from Him, whose glory it is to have sworn your service! Yet here I offer to your Highness not so much any fight of ours against them of Rome, as theirs against themselves; and, therein, for us. What can be more advantage to us, or shame to them? One blow of an enemy dealt to his brother, is more worth than many from an adverse hand. All our Apologies cannot hurt them so much, as their own divisions. Behold, here your Highness shall sit still, and see all the Romish Doctors, after all their brags of peace, scuffling and grappling together before you; and, which is most worth, in Bellarmine's own theatre. No adversary can give them more deep wounds. And, if civil discord can give us hope of their ruin, Rome cannot stand. Lo, these are the men, that gloried in their unity; and upbraided us, not once, with our dissensions; and have warned the world, because we differ in one point, not to trust us in any. The confidence of their secrecy made them peremptory; not either their innocence or our guilt. If God have not now opened their mouths to convince them of bold falsehood, let them have no accusers. I know the view of this Popish fray could not, in their conceits, fall more unhappily into any eyes than your Highness's: whom they grieve to see, in this early spring of your age, so firmly rooted in the truth; and, before Hannibal's years, threatening hostility to error. let your Highness still move their envy and our joy. So much shall God more love you, as you hate their abominations. Neither shall it, I hope, ever be forgotten, that, in their bloody project, your limbs also should have flown up to heaven with your soul. That God, which hath reserved you for his Second Hope and Stay of his Christian World, go on to prosper your gracious proceedings, but according to the promise of their entrances; that we may be still happy in your Highness, and you Hin im for ever! So be it! Yea, so will it be how can it be, that so many and faithful prayers of all God's faithful ones through the world should have other success? Amongst the rest are vowed, and duly paid to this purpose, the daily poor devotions of your Highness's unworthy, yet loyal servant, : a Suis et ipsa Roma viribus ruit.—Hor. JOS. HALL. So |