A64661:65
The judgement of the late Arch-Bishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland 1. Of…
The judgement of the late Arch-Bishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland 1. Of the extent of Christs death and satisfaction &c, 2. Of the Sabbath, and observation of the Lords day, 3. Of the ordination in other reformed churches : with a vindication of him from a pretended change of opinion in the first, some advertisements upon the latter, and in prevention of further injuries, a declaration of his judgement in several other subjects / by N. Bernard.
London: printed for John Crook, 1658
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Letter: A Vindication of the Primate, from a late change of opinion. A second Letter, of the sa…
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Author is a Stranger to me, but appears to be a man of very excellent parts and abilities, and I am sorry he hath been moved to employ them in this particular, in a continued confident declaring the change of opinion in so Learned and pious a Prelate (as himself worthily styles him,) to whom for ought I know he was a stranger, and adding, That what he hath before affirmed to be upon a just ground and mature deliberation, and yet I find no other foundation upon which this is built, than the report of others. The frequent experimental failing of which, when it comes to the proof, hath wrought it out of reputation, with prudent men, to depend upon.
The Authour is a Stranger to me, but appears to be a man of very excellent parts and abilities, and I am sorry he hath been moved to employ them in this particular, in a continued confident declaring the change of opinion in so Learned and pious a Prelate (as himselfe worthily styles him,) to whom for ought I know he was a stranger, and adding, That what he hath before affirmed to be upon a just ground and mature deliberation, and yet I find no other foundation upon which this is built, than the report of others. The frequent experimental failing of which, when it comes to the proof, hath wrought it out of reputation, with prudent men, to depend upon.
That which I find in the conclusion of his Postscript, I must begin with, wherein he doth determine, viz. That whosoever shall appear ⟨p. 51⟩to hold the Negative, That my Lord Primate of Armagh did not declare his rejection of these opinions, which I resist, and which himself formerly embraced, will wrong the memory of the Bishop. As I do not (according to his caveat) take upon me to prove a Negative, so I do not understand the ground of this definitive Sentence, upon whomsoever shall adhere to it. I am sure his meaning is not, because he doth resist them; and less show is there, because the Primate had formerly embraced them; for a changeableness in Doctrine carries in it self a show of dishonour, that with him there should be yea and nay: surely there must be somewhat of gross corruption, or dangerous consequence formerly taught and professed by this good Primate, that should incur this censure; And it is too early a conclusive, while they are yet in Dispute between you, and the matter not heard on the Primates side; Which I expected not from