The end of religious controversy, in a friendly correspondence between a religious society of Protestants, and a Roman Catholic divine ..

Front matter

THE END

OF

RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY.

Introduction

Mr. Brown's Apology to Dr. M. Account of the Friendly Society of^***

New Cottage 29

ESSAY I.

On the Existence of God and Natural Religion, by the Kev. Samuel

Carey, LL.D . 32

ESSAY II.

On the truth of the Christian Religion, by Do 35

LETTER IL To James Brown, Esq.

Dr. Itl 's Conditions for entering on the Correspondence. Freedom

of Speech. Sincerity and Candour. A Conclusive Method . 41 LETTER III.

From James Brown, Esq.

Agreement to the Conditions on the part of the Society . . 43 LETTER IV.

To James Brown, Esq.

Dispositions for success in Religious Inquiries. Renunciation of prejudices, passions, and vicious inclinations. Fervent prayer , ib, LETTER V.

To James Brown^ Esq.

Rule or Method of finding out the True Religion. Christ has left a Rule. This Rule must be sure and unerring. It must be adapted to the capacity and situations of the bulk of mankind . . 45 LETTER VL To James Brovm, Esq.

First fallacious Rule; Private Inspiration. This has led numberless Christians into errors, impiety, and vice, in ancient and in modern times. Account of Modern Fanatics, Anabaptists, Quakers, Moravians, Swedenborgians, Methodists, &c 47

LETTER Vn.

To James Brown, Esq.

Objections of certain Members of the Society answered . . 56 LETTER YIII.

To James Brown, Esq.

Sdcond fallacious Rule; the Scripture according to each person's particular interpretation of it. Christ did not intend that mankind, in general, should learn his Religion from a Book. No Legislator ever made Laws without providing Judges and Magistrates to explain mud enforce them. Dissensions, divisions, immorality, and infidelity.

I iw Contents.

Pag»

which have arisen from the private interpretation of Scripture. Illusions of Protestants in this matter. Their inconsistency in making Articles, Catechisms, &c. Acknowledgment of learned Protestants on this head M

LETTER IX.

To James Brown, Esq.

The subject continued. Protestants have no evidence of the Inspiration of Scriptnre: nor of its authenticity : nox of the fidelity of their copies: nor of its sense. Causes of the obscurity of Scripture: Instances of this. The Protestant Rule affords no ground for Faith, Doubts in which those who follow it live and also die . . 71 LETTER X.

To James Brown, Esq.

The True Rule, namely. The Whole Word of God, unwritten as well as written, subject to the interpretation of the Church. In this and in every other country, the written law is grounded upon the unwritten law. Christ taught the Apostles by word of mouth, and sent them to preach it by word of mouth. This method was followed by them and their disciples and successors. Testimonies of this from the Fathers of the five first centuries ..... 79

LETTER XL To James Broion, Esq.

The subject continued, Protestants forced to have recourse to the Catholic Rule, in different instances. Different instances of this. Their vain attempts to adopt it in other instances. Qubbling evasions of the Articles, Canons, Oaths, and Laws respecting uniformity. Acknowledged necessity of deceiving the people. Bishop Hoadley the patron of this hypocrisy. The Catholic Rule confessed by Bishop Marsh to be the Original Rule. Proofs that it has never been abrogated. Advantages of this Rule to the Church at large, and to its individual members ....... 88

LETTER XII.

To James Brown, Esq.

Objections answered. Texts of Scripture. Other objections. Illu« sory declamation of Bishop Porteus. The advice of Tobias, when he sent his Son into a strange country, recommended to the Societj of New Cottage . 102

PART IL

LETTER Xin.

To James Brown, Esq.

Congratulation with the Society of New Cottage on their acknowledgment of the right Rule of Faith. Proof that the Catholic Church alone is possessed of this Rule. Characters or Marks of the True

Church 113

LETTER XIV.

To James Brown, Esq.

Unity, the First Mark of the True Church, This proved from Reason— from Scripture — and from the Holy Fathers . . . llS

Contents,

LETTER XV.

To James Browut Esq.

Pag«

Want of Unity among Protestants in general. This acknowledged by their eminent writers. Striicing instances of it in the Established Church. Vain attempts to reconcile diversity of belief with uniform Articles . . . 117

LETTER XVL To James Brown, Esq.

Unity of the Catholic Church — in Doctrine — in Liturgy — in Government, and Constitution 123

LETTER XVIL To Dr. M. From James Brown, Esq.

Objections against the exclusive claims of Catholics. Extract of a letter from the Rev. N. N. Prebendary of N. Bishop Watson's doctrine on this head » 126

LETTER XVin.

To James Brown, Esq.

Objections answered. Bishop Watson, by attempting to prove too much, proves nothing. Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures and the Fathers on this head. Exclusive claim of the Catholic Church a

proof of her truth . 128

LETTER XIX.

To James Brown, Esq.

Second Mark of the True Church, Sanctity. Sanctity of doctrine wanting to the different Protestant Communions — to Luther's system— to Calvin's — to that of the Established Church — to those of Dissenters and Methodists, Doctrine of the Catholic Church Holy 132 POSTSCRIPT.

Variations and impiety of the late Rev. John Wesley's doctrine 140 LETTER XX.

To James Brown, Esq.

Means of Sanctity. The Seven Sacraments, possessed by Catholics. Protectants possess none of them, except Baptism. The whole Liturgy of the Established Church borrowed from the Catholic Missal and Ritual. Sacritice the most acceptable worship of God. The most perfect Sacrifice offered in the Catholic Church. Protestants destitute of Sacrifice. Other means of Sanctity in the Catholic communion 142

LETTER XXL To James Broion, Esq.

Fruits of Sanctity. All the saints were Catholics. Comparison of eminent Protestants with contemporary Catholics. Immorality caused by changing the Ancient Religion .... 150 LETTER XXIL To Mr. J. Toulmin.

Objections answered. False accounts of the Church before the Reformation, so called. Ditto of John Fox's Martyrs. The vices ot a few Popes no impeachment of the Church's Sanctity. Scriptural 1"

p

Contents

ractices and exercises common among Catholics but despised by rotestants 153

7''o Javies Brown, Esq.

Divine Attestation of Sanctity in the Catholic Church, Miracles the Criterion of Truth. Christ appeals to them, and promises a contiauation of them. The Holy Fathers and Church writers attest their continuation, and appeal to them, in proof of the True Church. Evidence of the Truth of many Miracles. Irreligious scepticism ol Dr. Conyer's JVIiddleton: this undermines the Credit of the Gospel. Continuation of miracles down to the present time: living witnesses of it I6fl

Letter III

From JAMES BROWN, Esq. to the Rev. J. M. D. D.

PRELIMINARIES.

New Cottage, Oct. 30, 1801

Reverend Sir,

1 HAVE been favoured, in due course, with yours of the 20th instant, which I have communicated to those persons of our society, whom I have had an opportunity of seein,^. No circumstance could strike us with greater sorrow, than that you should suffer any inconvenience from your edifying promptness to comply with our w^ell meant request, and we confidently trust that nothing of the kind will take place through our fault. We agree with you, as to the necessity of perfect freedom of speech, where the discovery of important truths is the real object of inquiry. Hence, while we are at liberty to censure many of your popes, and other clergy, Mr. Topham will not be offended with any thing that you can prove against Calvin ; nor will Mr. Rankin quarrel with you for exposing the faults of George Fox and James Naylor ; nor shall I complain of you for any thing that you can make out against our venerable Latimer or Cranmer ; I say the same of doctrines and practices, as of persons. If you are guilty of Idolatry, or we of heresy, we are respectively unfortunate, and the greatest charity we can do, is to point out to each other the danger of our respective situations, to their full extent. Not to renounce error and embrace truth of every kind, when we clearly see it, would be folly ; and to neglect doing this, when the question is about religious truth, would be folly and wickedness combined together. Finally, we cheerfully leave you to follow w^hat course you please, and to whatever extent you please, provided you only give us such satisfaction as you can give, on the subjects I mentioned in my former letter,

I am, Rev. Sir, &c. JAMES BROWN.

Letter IV

To JAMES BROWN, Esq. <Sfc. dispositions for religious inquiry.

THE dispositions which you profess, on the part of youi friends, as well as yourself, I own, please me, and animate me

Letter IV.

to undertake the task you impose upon me. Nevertheless, availing myself of the liberty of speech which, you and your friends allow me, I am forced to observe that there is nothing in which men are more apt to deceive themselves, than in thinking themselves to be free from religious prejudices, and sincere in seeking after, and resolved to embrace and follow the truth of religion, in opposition to their preconceived opinions and worldly interests. How many imitate Pilate, who, when he had asked our Saviour the question, What is truth? presently went out of his company, before he could receive an answer to it ! John xviii. 38. How many others resemble the rich young man, who, having interrogated Christ, What good thing shall I do that T may have eternal life? when this divine master answered him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell what thou hast and give to the poor ; — went away sorrowful ! Matt. xix. 22. Finally, how many more act like certain presumptuous disciples of our Lord, who, when he had propounded to them a mystery beyond their conception, that of the real presence, in these words, My flesh is meat indeed^ and my blood is drink indeed: — said, this is a hard saying; who can hear it ? — and went back and walked no more with him ! John vi. 56. O ! if all Christians, of the different sects and opinions, were but possessed of the sincerity, disinterestedness, and earnestness, to serve their God, and save their souls, which a Francis Walsingham, kinsman to the great statesman of that name, a Hugh Paulin Cressy, dean of Laugblin, and prebendary of Windsor, and an Anthony Ulric, duke of Brunswick and Lunenburgh, prove themselves to have been possefised of ; the first, in his Search into Matters of Religion ; the second, in his Eoromologesis, or Motives of Conversion, <^c. ; and the la.st, in his Fifty Reasons ; how soon would all and every one of our controversies cease, and we be all united in one faith, hope, and charity ! I will here transcribe, from the preface to the Fifty Reasons, what the illustrious relative of his majesty says, concerning the dispositions, v/ith which he set about inquiring into the grounds and differences of the several systems of Christianity, when he began to entertain doubts concerning the truth of that in which he had been educated ; namely, Lutheranism. He says, " First, 1 earnestly implored the aid and grace of the Holy Ghost, and with all my power, begged the light of true faith, from God, the father of lights," &c.

Secondly, I made a strong resolution, by the grace of God, to avoid sin, well knowing that Wisdom will not enter into a corrupt mind, nor dwell in a body subject to sin,'^ Wisd. i. 4. "and I am convinced, and was so then, that the reason why so many