DIFFERENCE

Between the

CHURCH of ENGLAND,

AND THE

Church of Rome.

IN

Oppofition to a late BOOK,

INTITULED,

An Agreement between the Church of
England, and Church of Rome.

IMPRIMATUR.

October 6th, 1687.

H. Maurice.

LONDON:

Printed for Ric. Chilwell at the Rofe and Crown,
in St. Pauls Church-Tard. MDCLXXX VII.

Williams, John, of of Chichester

BX
5136

•W72

4-27-43 R.CS

T

HE Author of a Book newly pub-
lifhed, called, The Agreement between
the Church of England and Church of

Rome, faith, There has been of late a Preface to the
great cry, That the Clergy of the Church Agreement,
of England, are now the chief, if not the only Oppo-
Jers of Popery, and Defenders of the Proteftant Reli-
gion: And therefore, to put a Check to the infulting
talk of our Clergy (who would be thought the only
Champions against Popery) 'tis become necessary in the
prefent Functure to emit fuch an Effay as this, To
fhew an Agreement between the Church of England
and Rome; and that the Controverfy lies only between
the Church of Rome, and the Proteftant Dissenter.
This I confefs, is an Expedient of Expedients, and
as it's necessary for the relief of those who are fo
B 2

fuccesfully

1

1

Page 1.

Preface.

fuccesfully beaten out of their late Pleas of Mifre-
prefentation, that they fullenly declare, Until that
be yielded, they'l not difpute: So it may be neceffary
in this prefent Functure, for the charming that Adder,
which has yet been deaf to all the Arguments of Flat-
tery, Interest and Fear; and to put an end to that An-
fwering, Replying, Rejoyning and Sur-rejøyning,which for
fome Months, he faith, both fides have been employ'd
in. For if there be an Agreement in Opinion between
both Churches, there will be no further occafion
for Difputing between them; and if the only Oppo-
fers of Popery, the Clergy of the Church of England,
are convinced of it, there will be no further Difpu-
ting nor Oppofition: Since thofe between whom
the Controversy then only lies, viz. the Church of
Rome, and
Proteftant Diflenter, are it feems upon

terms of mutual Ceflation.

But now, left thofe, that after all the Complaints made against them for Mifrepresentation, will not grant any fuch thing properly, and in a strict fence, (and 'tis likely not in any fence) fhould be as obftinate and hard to be convinced in this cafe; Therefore, to put it out of difpute, (if he be to be credited) he has with some clearness demonstrated the Agreement of Opinion between the Church of England and Rome, to be exact and full. And if Demonftration, and clearness of Demonstration, will not do it, nothing will. But it's fome mens way to talk moft of Infallibility, Self-evidence, and clearness of Demonstration, when they are fartheft from it; and I began presently to fufpect our Author's credit, when I found him to fhift his Ground, as if he did diftruft his own Demonstrations.

As

As for inftance,

་

1. He had no fooner began to demonstrate this exact and full Agreement of Opinion; but by way of Prevention, he declares, He would not incumber his Difcourfe with a Catalogue of Agreements in the great Doctrines of Chriftian Religion, and Matters of Opinion; but would confine himfelf to Matters of Government and Worship, which chiefly concern mens Practices. How! demonftrate the Agreement of Opinion, and yet forbear medling with Matters of Opinion! to undertake it, and then to except the thing he undertakes! And then to confine himself to Matters of Government and Worship, as if there were not as much Reafon to fhew an Agreement in Doctrine, as Practices; or that Matters of Government and WorShip were not alfo Matters of Doctrine!

Page 2:

2. When he feems to come to the Point he confines himself to, viz. Government and Worship; yet he fails again, for it's only in fome parts of Worship, Page 3. which he ventures to fay that the Agreement will be found exact and full. As one fenfible, that tho there is nothing in the Liturgy and Prayers of the Church of England, (which he inftances in) as to the matter of them, but what every Chriftian may allow,and fo what the Pope may as well as (he faith) did approve; Page 6ɔ, yet, that their Miffal and Breviary contain fuch Prayers to the Saints, and for Souls departed, &c. as can be by no other Figure made to agree with the Worship and Prayers used in the Church of England, than one part of a Contradiction can be reconciled to the other.

3. It's further worthy of our Obfervation, That the Agreement he pretends to prove, is not from the avowed Doctrine of either Church, but by fome

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