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النشر الإلكتروني

TO THE

READER.

IN judging of the Religion of our Ancestors, we are not to build our conclusion upon every single proposition, wherein they either agree with, or differ from us; but upon the main bulk of the substantial points of doctrine, which are controverted between us at this day. Therefore the Adversary must not imagine, that I intend here to make such simple collections as these. Such a man held such a point with us; therefore he was a Protestunt. No more than I will allow him to frame the like. Such a man was a Monk, or in such or such a particular agreed with the now Church of Rome; therefore he was a Papist. And forasmuch as for any one man we have not sufficient evidences left unto us, whereby it may appear what he held in every particular: the only way, that now remaineth is, to join all of them together, with this presumption, that what one man of note hath delivered, the contrary whereof is not to be found in others of his countrymen, who lived about the same time; that is to be supposed to have been the doctrine, which was commonly received in those Countries at that time.

Hence it is, that I oftentimes chain together the saying of divers authors into one context; and insert also some time certain sentences of theirs, which do not so much make for any controversy, as for the apt connexion of the points, and the illustration of the present head of doctrine there treated of. And although my principal intention in this discourse, was to produce such evidences as might shew the argument that was between our ancestors and us in matter of religion, and to leave the instances which might be alledged for the contrary to them, unto whom the maintaining of that part did properly belong: yet I have upon occasion touched upon that part also, and brought to light some things, which I met withal in such hidden antiquities, as in all likelihood would not have come unto their notice, without my discovery.

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The printed books which I cite, lye as open to them as they have done to me neither need they our help for the collecting of such things out of them, as may seem to make for their purpose: I would we were half as careful for the maintenance of the truth that way, as they every day shew themselves to be, in not letting slip any manner of advantage, which may countenance their superstitions and errors. As for the manuscripts, which I use, they are partly known to some of them, partly notified in the marginal uotations of the treatise itself; where the place is noted, in which they may be found. A great part whereof, being gathered together in the rare treasury of that worthy Baronet Sir Robert Cotton; I thought it not amiss to mark all such with an asterisk (*) in the catalogue, to the end, that if any of the other side will be pleased to look into these things, he may with more ease satisfy himself, by pèrusing the chief of these monuments brought thus together into one place; and so as well examine the truth of my allegations, as take up what he shall think meet for the patronage of his own cause. My intention herein being to deal fairly, and not to desire the concealing of any thing, that may tend to the true discovery of the state of former times; whether it may seem to make for me, or against me.

CHAP. VII.

Of the Church and various state thereof, especially in the days of Antichrist: of miracles also, and of the Head of the Church..

CHAP. VIII.

PACE.

65

Of the Pope's Spiritual Jurisdiction, and how little footing it had gotten at first within these parts.. 74

CHAP. IX.

Of the Controversy, which the Britons, Picts, and Irish maintained against the Church of Rome, touching the celebration of Easter.......

CHAP. X.

Of the height that the opposition between the Roman party, and that of the British and Scotish grew unto; and the abatement thereof in time; and how the Doctors of the Scotish and Irish side have been ever accounted most eminent men in the Catholic Church, notwithstanding their disunion from the Bishop of Rome..

CHAP. XI.

Of the temporal Power, which the Pope's followers would directly entitle him unto, over the kingdom of Ireland; together with the indirect power, which he challengeth, in absolving subjects from the obedience, which they owe to their temporal Governors....

90

102

114

OF THE

RELIGION

PROFESSED

BY THE

ANCIENT IRISH

CHAP. I.

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

ST. PAUL prescribes two excellent rules to Christians, for their direction in the ways of God: the one, that they be not unwise, but understanding what the will of God is ;* the other, that they be not more wise than behoveth to be wise, but be wise unto sobriety. And that we might know the limits, within which this wisdom and sobriety should be bounded; he elsewhere declares, that not to be more wise than is fitting, is not to be wise above that which is written.‡ Sedulius (one of the most ancient writers who remains of this country) delivers this for the meaning of the former rule ; + 1 Cor. iv. 6.

* Ephes. v. 17.

↑ Rom, xii. 3.

B

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