A Relation of the Fearful Estate of Francis Spira after he turn'd C. L. Apostate from the Protestant Church to Popery. To which are now added sundry the like dreadful examples of God's Judgments, on persons of all degrees, that have for fear of worldly interest forsaken the true Religion which once they professed. Together with that incomparable Lamentation of the Great Origen, for his Fall, when he was again received into the Church. By Nath. Bacon, Esq. pp. 81, preface and to the reader pp. 16, 18mo Lond. 1683 CHAP. XII. Of the discourses written by the country Parson and 136. The Country Parson's admonition to his Parishioners. Malachi ii. 7: “The Priest's lips," &c. Heb. xiii. 17: “Obey them that have rule," &c. Single sheet, pp. 14, 8vo Lond. 1686 Cat. No. 112. Contin. p. 29. Ath. Oxon. vol. ii. col. 1026. William Assheton, D.D., Prebendary of York Cathedral and Rector of Beckenham in Kent, the son of the Rev. William Assheton, Rector of Middleton, Lancashire, was born in the year 1641, died in 1711. He was the first projector of a scheme for providing a maintenance for clergymen's widows and others. See Baines's History of Lancashire, vol. ii. P. 606-10. [I have given the title above as I find it in my copy. But Peck (who had also a copy of the book) seems to describe a different edition. He gives the title thus: "The country parson's admonition to his parishioners, with directions how to behave themseives when any one designs to seduce them from the Church of England. By William Ashton, D.D., Rector of in Surrey." 12mo Lond. 1686. And this is also the title given by Gee and Wake. Ant. Wood (loc. cit.) gives a title differing from both, in these words: "The Country Parson's admonition to his Parishioners, in two parts, persuading them to continue in the Protestant religion, with directions how to behave themselves when any one comes to seduce them." 24mo Lond. 1689. In the Library of Trin. Coll. Dublin, there is no printed copy of this book, but there is a MS. copy in the hand-writing of Dr. Claud. Gilbert, transcribed from a printed book, and evidently most accurately copied by him, for the purpose of completing his set of this class of works. In this MS. the title is given thus: "The Country Parson's Admonition to his Parishioners, persuading them to continue in the Protestant religion, with directions how to behave themselves when any one designs to seduce them from the Church of England. By Dr. Asheton, Minister of Beckenham in Kent. Lond. Printed for R. Wilde." On the whole it seems probable that there were several editions of this tract, which varied in the title page, but otherwise agreed in substance. It was necessary to give this explanation, lest it should be inferred from the foregoing great discrepancies that there had been published different books, agreeing nearly in the title. The "two parts," mentioned in Wood's title, evidently include the next tract (No. 137) as part ii. J. H. T.] 137. The plain man's reply to the catholic Missionaries. pp. 38, and "Books by the same author, pp. 2-12." 12mo Lond. 1688 "It is agreed by Catholicks that the church is an infallible witness and guide. And Protestants profess, that if this could be made evidently appear they would hold out in no controversy at all. This, therefore is to be made evident unto Protestants. This is the task of Catholicks, especially of Catholic Missionaries."Cressy's Append. to Exomol. Cap. 4, ff. 6. See Cat. No. 113 (State; p. 34.) Contin. p. 29. A copy of this book, London 1686, 12mo, is in the Library of Trin. Coll. Dublin. J. H. T. 138. The plain man's answer to his country parson's admonition; together with the missionaries answer to the plain man's reply. (Anon.) Lond. 1686 See Contin. p. 30. A copy of this tract in MS., in the handwriting of Dr. Claud. Gilbert, is in the Library of Trin. Coll. Dublin. J. H. T. 139. A Defence of the plain man's reply to the Catholick Missionaries. Being a further examination of the pretended Infallibility of the Church of Rome. Imprimatur, Guil. Needham, Y &c., March 29, 1688. By the Author of the Plain-man's reply to the Catholick Missionaries [William Ashton, D.D.] pp. 44. Title and Argt. pp. 4. 12mo Lond. 1688 See Cat. No. 114. Contin. p. 30. Ath. Oxon. vol. ii. Col. 1026. A copy of this, in MS. in the hand-writing of Dr. Claud. Gilbert, from the edit. Lond. 1687, reprinted 1704, is in the Library of Trin. Coll. Dublin. J. H. T. 140. A defence of the Country Parson's admonition; against the exceptions of the plain man's answer. (Anon. By William Ashton, D.D.) pp. 22, Lond. 1688 See Cat. No. 115. Contin. P. 30. Ath. Oxon. vol. ii. col. 1026. This tract ought to have been placed before No. 139, as it was published before it. See "The Argument" prefixed to No. 139, in which an account is given of the occasion of the controversy. A copy of this book, in MS. in the hand-writing of Dr. Claud. Gilbert, from the ed. of London 1687, is in the Library of Trin. Coll. Dublin. It would seem that these tracts were highly valued, and that they must have become very scarce at the beginning of the last century, since Dr. Gilbert took the trouble of transcribing them in his own hand, in order to complete his set. Dr. Claud. Gilbert was elected a Fellow of Trinity College in 1693, Senior Fellow 1698, Vice Provost 1716, Regius Professor of Divinity 1722. In 1735 he accepted the living of Ardstraw, and at the same time gave to the College Library his splendid collection of books, consisting of upwards of 13,000 volumes; which he saw arranged and placed on the shelves of the library as they now stand before he retired to his living. His bust in marble is preserved in the library, and there is a picture of him in the provost's house. J. H. T. 141. The child's monitor against popery. Written at first for the private use of a child, who hath Popish parents, and now made publick for the benefit of others. 24mo Lond. See Ath. Oxon. vol. ii. col. 1026. Peck and Wood give only as the title of this book, "The child's monitor against popery." Wood adds, but not as part of the title, "written to preserve the child of a person of quality from being seduced hy his popish parents." I do not know who were the popish parents of this child of a person of These tracts were all reprinted in 1751, Lond. 4to., with the following advertisement: "It may be necessary to observe that, since the time of their C. L. original editions mentioned in their respective title pages, each of these pieces (the Child's Monitor only excepted) was reprinted in the year 1706. Which edition, like the former, is now very difficult to be met with. No apology, therefore, need be offered for introducing these papers into a new acquaintance with the world, as this will be a means the better to promote their dispersion into the hands of unlearned readers, for whose benefit they were principally designed. But a particular reason for their present appearance from the press is, to recover them from an obscurity, in which they have lain so long as to become, in a manner, lost to the world; in order to assist such persons who are collecting these tracts, which have done such honour to the Protestant cause, to make their sets as complete as possible. The four first of them are exactly reprinted according to their original editions, but a printed copy of the Child's Monitor, being too scarce to be obtained, this impression is taken from a transcript of it, communicated by a worthy clergyman." In the Hist. and Crit. Dict. fol. 1735, there is an analysis of these tracts, art. Assheton. 142. A caution to protestants not to forsake the Communion of C. L. the Church of England. 12mo 1687 143. The plausible arguments of a Romish priest answered by an C.L. English Protestant. Seasonable and useful for all Protestant families. Licensed, May 24, 1686. (Anon. By Thomas Comber, D.D., Præcentor of York.) pp. 54, with title and pref. &c., pp. 8. List of Books at the end, pp. 2. 8vo Lond. 1686 See Cat. No. 187. Reprinted 1725, 8vo, pp. 47. "The plausible |