IT is now two yeeres , since I was first called , by my Lord Duke of Buckingham , to conferre with an Honourable Person , who as then began to make Reuolt from the true Faith and Religion professed in our Church . By this Occasion , J entred into a Disputation with one Mr Iohn Fisher , a Jesuit , the same person which was the Author of the two Bookes , against which my younger Brother , Dr Iohn White , wrote his Way to the true Church , and the Defence of the same . After my first Conference with the aforesaid Jesuit , ensued ( not long after ) a Second , at which his most excellent Maiestie himselfe was present . The Cause ( as J afterwards perceiued ) of his Presence , was a gracious desire to recouer the foresaid Honorable Person out of the Fishers Net . Then there followed a Third Conference , betweene a most Learned and Reuerend Bishop , and the said Jesuit , intended to the same purpose . Lastly , his Royall Maiestie , in his deepe Judgement , hauing obserued by the former Conferences , and especially by the second , that our Aduersaries are cunning and subtile , in eluding our Arguments brought against them , but of no strength ( especially in particular Questions ) when they come to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and confirmation of their owne Tenet ; He was pleased to haue Nine Questions of Controuersie propounded to the Jesuit , that hee might in writing manifest the Grounds , and Arguments , whereupon the Popish Faith in those Points was builded . For his Maiestie , in his owne Judgement and Experience , knew most certainely , That Romists are not able to confirme 〈◊〉 Faith , either by sacred Scripture , or by antient Tradition . And therefore their manner is , when they dispute with Protestants viua voce to auoid other Controuersies , and to set vp their rest vpon the Questions of the Visibilitie and Authoritie of the Church . Therefore the better to discouer their weakenesse , and to plucke them out of their Fox-hole of Personall Succession , and Vistbilitie , the King imposed this Taske , of writing vpon the Nine Questions . Besides , his Maieftie had experience of the mfaithfull dealing of Pontificians , when they make Relation of such things as passe by word of mouth onely , in priuate Disputations : and hee well vnderstood , 〈◊〉 the Cretising Jesuit had dealt with a 〈◊〉 Bishop , and with my selfe : For had wee beene Schoole-Boyes of thirteene yeeres old , he could not haue made vs seeme more childish and vnskilfull than hee did , dispersing Hundreds of Papers , to his owne prayse , and our disgrace . Wherefore it was necessarie , that some publique Worke , containing the Grounds and Arguments of his part , and the Answere and Replie on ours , might be extant ; wherein neither his nor our Yea and Nay , should take place , sed res cum re , causa cum causa , &c. the weight of matter on each part , might testifie for it selfe . Now who could command this to be done , but the King himselfe ? who therefore made the former proposition of Nine Questions to the Jesuit , that the World might see the vttermost of his strength ; and againe , they might haue meanes to iudge rightly of our Cause , and of our proceedings in handling the same . Mine owne purpose at the first was , to haue published in Print a Narration of my two Disputations , and ( as farre as my Memorie would serue me ) I had to that end collected in writing the summe of those Conferences . But obseruing afterwards , by another Disputation which was printed , that our Aduersaries will perpetually tumultuate , and accuse of falsitie , all things which passe not vnder their owne hands ; knowing also , that my selfe could not exactly remember all passages of the Jesuits Disputation and mine , there being not a word written at the time when wee disputed ; J deferred the printing thereof , vntill this greater Worke was finished . The Aduersarie in this Answere , which his Friend deliuered the King , hath disputed Eight of the Questions propounded by his Maiestie , and he declineth the Ninth , for Reasons well knowne to the World ; and in stead of a Disputation , he passeth ouer that Article of deposing Kings , with a Rethoricall Declamation . But before the Nine Questions , hee placeth a large Disputation ( prouided , no doubt , aforehand , and expecting onely a prosperous Wind of Occasion , to send it abroad ) touching the Rule of Faith , concerning Scripture and Tradition , the Notes of the Church , &c. Then , to counterpoise the Kings Nine Articles , he chargeth our Church with Nine remarkable Errors ( as he accounteth them . ) Jn the former part of his Tractate , is contained the summe and substance of the first Conference betweene him and me , before the Lord Keeper , and the Lord Duke of Buckingham . Jn the Questions of Jmages , Transubstantiation , & Communion in both kinds , is contained also the summe of the second Conference : but there are many Additions in each Question ; and hee handleth matters more exactly in his written Worke , than hee did in his priuate Disputations . J haue examined his whole Treatise , and answered euery passage thereof , printing his Worke verbatim with mine owne . The World must take notice , that I am a constant Preacher , in a Pastorall Charge , and therefore J could not ose such expedition as other men may , which imploy their whole time & strength in writing . Besides , my Worke being finished before Michaelmas last , bath bin long in Printing , by reason of the number of Quotations in the Margen . These Citations are for this cause word for word out of the Authors , placed in my Booke , that the Worke may be more vsefull , especially to such persons as want the benefit of Libraries , and much Reading , themselues . J haue with as much diligence as morally a Scholler can vse , collected my Testimonies out of the very Authors themselues . The Reader shall not need to feare , or distrust , vnlesse where the Printer hath made Escapes ( which cannot alwayes be auoided in a Worke of this nature . ) And I must entreat the Reader , where he obserueth any Error in the Print , to correct the same with his Pen. Neither must the vnlearneder sort be offended , if they light vpon some hard passages , because the matter it selfe is many times very abstruse ; and disputing with Aduersaries which are Sophisters , I am compelled to vse Schollasticke tearmes , and to turne their owne Weapons vpon themselues : But so farre as I am able , I haue endeuored to be perspicuous . Of my Aduersaries I request nothing at all ( for it is in vaine : ) But if they reply , it shall be for their greater honour to set downe my Text , as I haue done theirs . And they shall but beat the ayre , vnlesse they confirme the maine Branches of their Doctrine by Principles of Diuine Reuelation , because Humane Testimonie is not sufficient to myse Articles of Faith . And I rest assured , that each intelligent person will obserue by reading this Worke , that the Aduerfarie ( notwithstanding he is well verst in Controuersie , and hath in substance said as much as his Cause will permit ) yet he is deficient of Diuine proofe in euery Article , and farre more specious in eluding our Arguments , than happie in confirming his owne . But if it be certaine that Popish Faith wanteth the Suffrage of Diuine Testimonie , then we haue sufficient cause to reiect their Doctrine . And if wee could not demonstrate , that the Articles which they maintaine against vs , were contra verbum Dei , contradictorie to the Word of God ; yet if by deficiencie of proofe on their side , it appeare , they be extra & praeter , without or besides the Word of God , they cannot be the obiect of Diuine Faith . Lastly , I entreat all , of our part , to prayse God for the benefit of true Religion , maintayned in our Church , to auoid Contention among themselues ; for in all Ages the same hath proued pernicious and scandalous . Also , to be as deuout in the way of Pietie , as Aduersaries seeme to be in the way of Superstition . And because it hath euer beene an Honor to our Profession , to be loyall and obedient to higher Powers , let this be still an indelible Caracter of euery true Brittish Protestant , to reioyce in the peaceable and happy Gouernment of his most sacred Maiestie ; & let vs all , so far as it is possible , by our feruent votes and prayers , striue to adde encrease to his dayes , and happines . Far be it from any of our part , in their secret thoughts , to misconster his actions , or to entertaine the least iealousie of any abatement of his wonted loue to true Religion , planted among vs : for assuredly he vnderstands the Mysterie of Poperie too well , to thinke any otherwise of it , than formerly he hath done ; and no subiect can lay the Cause of Religion more neere their heart , than his most Religious Maiestie doth . And we haue all great cause to glorifie God , who hath blessed our Church with such a wise and constant Defender of the Faith . Now my Conscience vrgeth me to deliuer thus much concerning his Maiestie , because the Aduersarie , in some passages of his ensuing Treatise ( as by reading you shall obserue ) rhetoriseth suspitiously , intending ( no doubt ) to raise some iealousie in credulous minds , contrarie to this which I haue spoken . My selfe therefore , through the gracious Clemencie of his Maiestie , being admitted to approach so neere , as to be an eare-witnesse of his admirable Iudgement and constant Resolution in point of Religion , and hereby certainely knowing , that the Jesuit departing from the King , added no improuement to his Popish Cause , but vanished with foile and disgrace ; J trust J shall incurre no Censure from men iudicious , and louers of Truth , for certifying that , which J obserued by mine owne experience . And thus commending my Labors to the blessing of the Almightie , to the examination of my Superiors in the Church , and to the perusall of those which desire to read them , I addresse my selfe to the ensuing Disputation .