Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

THE

POOR MAN'S CONTROVERSY.

By J. MANNOCK, O. S. B.

The AuгHOR of

The Poor Man's Catechifm.

A

POSTHUMOUS WORK,

Published by his FRIEND S.

Be always ready to give an Account of your Faith.

PERMISSU SUPERIORUM.

516.

Printed in the Year M.DC!

1. DEO. 1933

THE

PREFACE.

IN

N this fmall treatise, called the Poor Man's Controverfy, I have endeavoured to lay the matter open in the plaineft and lowest style, that it may be understood by the meaneft capacities, and have the better effect upon their understandings and morals.

It contains, in fhort, the chief points controverted between Catholics and their adverfaries, and unfolds all mifrepresentations and flanders of the doctrine and practice of the former; fo that in equity none can pretend to cavil any longer about them: for who are the beft Judges of our Faith but ourfelves, who know, believe, and profefs it, and expose ourselves to perfecution for it? Is not the publick more likely to learn it from ourselves, than from those who are the most ignorant of what we hold, or wilfully mistake our belief?

It is an eafy thing to blacken others by affertions without proof: And very often prejudice of education brings on great blindness in searching out the truth of others tenets.

What I have wrote is without malice or ill-will wishing my adverfaries the fame good as, I do my own foul, Truth and Virtue: It is rather an apology for ourselves, than an Invective against them; fo hope it may be taken in good part. I only wish they would speak the truth in all they alledge against us, which they certainly do not in their capital accufations, making us Idolaters, drowned in damnable Errors and Superftition; by which they have figned not only our damnation, but that of all

A 2

their

(iv)

their Catholic ancestors, and the first founders and Apostles of the English Church, even Pope Gregory the Great and Saint Auguftin, fent by him, who by his preaching and miracles, converted the Saxon Inhabitants of this once bleffed Island from Paganifm. They fhould not at leaft any longer condemn our Creed of Uncharitableness in teaching, that out of the true Church there is no falvation.

Let them obferve three words, and it must make a great converfion among them: Veni, Vidi, Vici: Let them first Come, and feriously examine our defence: Let them See the truth we hold, and upon what grounds: And this will Overcome Blindness, Ignorance, Prejudice, Malice, and conduct them to the truth which remains for ever. The Truth of God remains for ever, (Pf. cxvi. 2.)

THE

THE

POOR MAN'S CONTROVERSY.

CHAP. I.

On the Authority of the Holy Catholick Church.

If he will not bear the Church let him be unto thee as a Heathen Man and a Publican, Matth. xviii. 17.

[blocks in formation]

HAT is the root and foundation of our Juftification?

2. What do you mean by Faith?

A. I mean a firm belief of all that God has taught and revealed for man's falvation.

2. What are the grounds for fuch a Faith?

A. No less than the authority of God: I believe the myfteries of Faith, purely because God has revealed them all.

2. How fhall I know with certainty that God has revealed them?

A. By the authority and teftimony of the Holy Catholick Church, which he appointed to teach them. 2. Is not this trufting to a human authority? A. No: It is a divine authority established by Chrift, and upheld by his divine power: As the authority of the Apostles and the Church in their

A 3

time

« AnteriorContinuar »