satisfaction in matters of Religion as any thing of man can be or doe For the Truths of God once taught the world by Christ and his Apostles being unchangeable for ever and our Bibles which are the onely Rule to measure Religion by continuing one and the same for ever that which was an Errour in those times must needs be Errour still and that which was a Truth in those days must needs be a Truth still And if we cannot think of any more proper means for the right understanding of Scripture and the discovery of Truth and Errours then the deliberate and unanimous Judgment of so many hundred pious learned and unbiassed men assembled together then certainly the Determinations of those Ancient Councils are very considerable Evidences for Truth and against Errour and the rather because they consisted of such persons who besides their eminent Piety and Learning had the great Advantage of living nearer the Apostles Age and thereby were the better able to inform themselves and us too what was certainly believed and done in the very Infancy of the Church 3. The Writings of the Ancient Fathers those especially that lived within the first Six Centuries where-ever they agree and are not since corrupted or maimed by the fraud and forgeries of the Roman Church are of singular use in this matter too That Ignatius Clemens Origen Athanasius Cyril Nazianzene Basil Chrysostom Hierom Augustine and some others were indeed Persons of great Devotion and excellent Parts cannot be denied And although some of these great Names in some particular matters had their peculiar Mistakes and shew'd themselves to be but men yet in all Points where we find an unanimous Consent amongst them we are to have so much veneration for their Authority as not easily to suspect or contradict it True it is if we take these Fathers singly man by man where we find any of them alone in their Opinions as Origen in reference to the Punishments of Hell and Saint Augustine in reference to Infants that die unbaptized we are not in this case much more obliged to accept their Judgment then the Judgment of some person yet alive who perhaps may be as Pious and Learned as some of them But if we take all the Fathers that lived within six hundred years after Christ together and in the lump where we find them one in Judgment they are enough to make a wiser Council then any one Age could probably afford a Council certainly of more Value and far greater Credit then that Conventicle of Trent wherein there sate sometimes at least little more then 40 Bishops and some of those but meerly Titular and suborned too And upon this score the Church of Rome must needs excuse us that we do rather adhere to the united Judgment of so many Ancient Fathers then to those late Decrees and Canons of Trent which contradict them 'T is well known to our Adversaries of Rome that in the great Controversies betwixt us and them we appeal to the most Ancient Councils and Fathers whom we look upon as the most impartial and able Judges the whole matter in question we offer to their Decision and are willing to stand or fall as they determine But alas there 's no Tribunal like Saint Peter's Chair one Pope is of more value with them then ten Saint Augustines Nor indeed can we blame them for where the Cause is notoriously bad it were strange Imprudence to refer it to any other Vmpires and Arbitratours save onely such who are prepossest with the strongest Prejudice and obliged by the greatest Interests to defend and own it And thus stands the case with the Roman Church But as for us where matters are doubtful and Scriptures are not clear we dare not run to uncertain Traditions and the pretended Infallibility of Popes but rather to Ancient Councils and Fathers from whom we do rationally expect more satisfactory Resolutions and far better Comments But 4. There are several Systems of Divinity Confessions of Faith short Abridgments of Christian Religion that are especially to unlearned persons great helps in this matter too And here methinks those Ancient Creeds of the Apostles Nice and Athanasius which are so generally received by the Church of God are of great Authority to settle our Judgment in the main and most necessary Points of Faith Whatever contradicts any one Article delivered and contained therein may be justly suspected of Heresie Errour and Innovation And as for other Doctrines Practices and matters of Discipline we may have recourse and that with good satisfaction to the known Articles of the Church of England the Book of Homilies and that excellent Liturgy of ours which that of Saint Chrysostom or Basil doth not transcend and perhaps not match Besides these there are many choice and excellent Catechisms composed by men that were Pious Learned and Judicious acquainted with Scriptures well versed in the Primitive Councils and Fathers These short Catechisms compiled by persons of singular Endowments and approved by the Church are little less then so many contracted Bibles containing in them whatever man is obliged to know and delivering enough in plain and easie terms to inform us in matters of Practice to secure us from Errours and confirm our Judgments in all the great Points of Faith So then the Summe of all is this We are obliged to examine the matters of our Religion by the written Word of God but because this Word in some material cases according to the different Fansies or Interests of men hath different Interpretations given concerning its true sense and meaning 't is our onely way for our better satisfaction to betake our selves to the most able faithful and unbiassed Judges and they are the most Ancient Councils the Primitive Fathers publick Confessions of Faith and Orthodox Catechisms set forth or approved by the Church of God Vses I. Consider how much to blame those persons are who without any Examination whatsoever take up their Religion barely upon Trust We are thus commanded in the Text Prove all things but alas we are so far from this that we will prove nothing and although perhaps we pretend to abhorr the Religion of Rome yet so far do we act like Papists that an Implicit Faith serves our turn 'T is the great Imprudence and Crime of many persons who are so supine and careless that they will not examine their Religion but withall 't is the sad Calamity of some others who are so sottish and ignorant that indeed they cannot That we are required to prove our Faith and of what concern it is so to doe we have already seen and that all matters of this nature must be judged by the Word of God and that in doubtful cases to be expounded by Ancient Councils and Fathers hath been already shewed Yea but what 's all this to the man that 's utterly unlearned and ignorant Can that man prove his Religion by the Word of God who knows it not can that man help himself in
settle and confirm it For when once a man hath duly measured the Grounds Principles and Practices of his Religion by that Rule which cannot fail him and there finds it straight and right all his Jealousies and Doubts are over What Doctrine soever he finds warranted by the written Word that he may most safely embrace and for ever conclude it to be from God 'T is in this case as it is with him that suspects some piece of money that is offered him as current Coin if he brings it to the Touchstone Scales or Standard and there finds it right Metall and full weight he receives it without farther scruple and layeth it up as a part of his Treasure So here suppose some Novice in Christianity such as these in the Text that is not yet well grounded in his Religion is not sufficiently assured whether such and such a Doctrine or Practice that is commended to him or required from him be right or wrong if he bring it to the Scripture which is the great and onely Standard in this case and there find a sufficient warrant for it from some Prophet Evangelist or Apostle with what confidence may he then receive it and for ever most justly count it one part of his Faith Well such ignorant Novices in Christianity we all are or have been and upon that score if we have not already examined the Principles of our Faith and grounds of our Religion we are obliged now to doe it See why in some Particulars 1. We are obliged to examine the nature and matters of our Religion by all that respect which we owe to the great frequent and peremptory Commands of God This is that which the Text requires in terms as express as can be Prove all things What all things doth he mean Matters of Religion sure Doctrinas Revelationes c. so Estius whatever Doctrines are recommended to you as Revelations given from God discernite dijudicate examine search and judge them So much doth Saint John require too when he thus commands us 1 John 4.1 Try the spirits And thus Saint Paul 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith Nay our Blessed Saviour himself doth in effect enjoin the same thing too when he gives us this Command Matt. 7.15 Beware of false prophets God Almighty by these Commands hath revealed his pleasure that he would not have us take up such and such Doctrines at a venture lest perhaps they should prove to be none of his nor would he have us unadvisedly close with such and such Religious Practices lest peradventure they should prove such as have no warrant That God who highly deserves and most justly expects whatever service man can doe him will be worshipped in his own way and which that is and where it lieth he bids us goe to his own Book and learn And methinks had we no other Motive in the world to examine the matter of our Religion save onely this yet this should be enough 't is one of those Duties which Man oweth his Maker the strict Examination of our Religion the Commands of God have made a considerable part thereof so that it is impossible for us to take up any Religion upon Trust but we must by so doing disobey our God and thereby shew that in truth we have none Sure it is that we have a certain Rule and Standard to measure all Religions by 't is the signal mercy of Heaven and to make a right use of that Standard it is the great Command of God and therefore the great Obligation of Man too 2. We are obliged to examine our Religion by all that respect which we owe our Neighbour our Friend our Child That we are concerned not onely to profess a Religion but promote it too no man I think that hath one jot thereof will ever deny We are bound by several obligations to instruct and teach our Brother the Principles of that Religion which we own our selves 'T is that which the Scriptures require over and over Thus Saint Paul 1 Thess 5.11 Edifie one another and so again Col. 3.16 Teach and admonish one another We are engaged by the frequent Commands of God and that eternal Law of Charity in our capacities and as occasion is offered to propagate our Religion to plant it where it is not and to water it where it is But then methinks we are deeply concerned to secure our selves and others too that the Religion which we advance in the world be indeed the Religion of God we must be sure that we plant not Weeds in stead of Flowers that we sow not Tares in stead of Wheat for to promote a Religion that possibly may be false were a desperate venture indeed and he that doth it hazards the honour of God and the Soul of man I find that our Blessed Saviour and his Apostles taught no Doctrine but what they were sure of Thus Christ tells Nicodemus John 3.11 We speak that we know and thus Saint John tells the world 1 John 3.19 We know that we are of the truth Certainly whosoever undertakes or is obliged to instruct another in matters of Religion had need very well be informed himself 'T is with us in our present case as with the Physician in his who doubtless stands bound by whatsoever is dear unto him to prescribe no Remedies but such as he throughly understands That Mountebank deserves a Check rather then a Fee who dares administer he knows not what and by so doing is more like to kill then cure The case is ours We are all obliged to prescribe our Children the Rules of life we are all obliged to train up our little ones in the fear and worship of God we are all obliged to direct our Brother in his way to Heaven but if our Directions should chance to prove wrong what then Suppose we instill into the minds of men Errour and Heresie in stead of Truth what would the issue be Should some careless Father strew Ratsbane in stead of Sugar and thereby poison some dear child of his whom probably he designed to feed would not all the world condemn him Well this and worse then this doth that man doe who through a careless Credulity and want of a stricter Enquiry doth scatter abroad where-ever he comes those unsound Opinions and unknown Errours which directly tend to the ruine of that Soul whom probably he designs to save 'T is indeed an act of Charity to instruct the ignorant and lead the blind but withall the man must have eyes in his own head that undertakes it Our Saviour hath told us Matt. 15.14 If the blind lead the blind there is danger in it 't is like enough they may both fall and perish in the ditch And if so since we are all bound to direct and guide one another in the way to Heaven since we are all obliged to promote the Worship of God and the Salvation of men let us most strictly enquire into those matters of
the understanding of difficult Scriptures by the Assistence of those Councils and Fathers to whom he is but a stranger And this is the case of those poor people who are bred up under the Tyranny of the Roman Church they cannot obey the Command in my Text because they are kept in Ignorance they cannot doe what Saint John requires they cannot try the spirits because that onely Touchstone is denied them they are in no capacity to weigh the matters of their Religion because they are not suffered so much as once to touch the Scales But alas this gross Ignorance which is their sad Calamity is our grievous Crime that utter Inability of obeying God and proving all things which ariseth from their invincible Necessity springs from our Carelesness and Choice 'T is sure enough that we have sufficient means to inform our selves of our Religion we have Bibles to reade in our families we have the Scriptures expounded in our Churches we have many excellent Catechisms and other Books within our reach and yet how ignorant still We are so far from being able to give a satisfactory Account of our Religion in its several Branches that there are many amongst us who do not know so much as what Religion means what Christianity is who Christ was what he hath done or what he requires from us Certainly if such persons do take upon them the profession of any Religion they must needs doe it upon Trust and how that 's done we may see in 3 Particulars 1. There are some persons who take up their Religion barely upon the Trust and Credit of their Parents and Progenitours who owned such and such a Profession and continued therein perhaps to their very dying-day And the truth is the very highest Account that many an one can give for his Faith and Worship is but this It was the old Religion of his Family it was the Faith and Worship of his Fathers and therefore his too insomuch that persons generally are not made but born Christians as well as men and do commonly receive their Faith as well as their Flesh ex Traduce barely by Propagation 'T is true Christianity which certainly is the Religion of God is that which we all profess but in the mean time there are but few amongst us that examine the Principles upon which this Religion stands nor do we consider the Designs to which this Religion tends onely we take it up from our Fore-fathers as if it were barely bequeathed us amongst other Legacies or left us as a part of our Inheritance It must be confessed that true Religion preserved for us and transmitted to us by the Care and Piety of our Progenitours is a blessed Inheritance indeed such an Inheritance so great and so glorious that we are concerned if in any case much more in this to prove our Father's Will and to consider how sutable it is to both the Testaments of that better Father which is in Heaven 2. There are some persons who take up their Religion barely upon the Trust and Credit of vulgar and publick Examples What Religion we find established in the Kingdom exercised in the Church and commonly professed throughout the Neighbourhood that we do not stand to examine but immediately embrace We make our Faith a matter not of Election and Choice but barely of Imitation Doubtless there 's many a Soul amongst us that professeth himself to be a Christian not because he knoweth the Truth Reasonableness and Excellence of Christianity but because he had the good fortune to be bred and live in Christendome Suppose a man bred among the Persians this man adores the Sun and makes that his Deity take a man bred amongst the Turks this man's Bible is the Alcoran and that Impostour Mahomet little less then his God Suppose a man bred up in Spain France or Italy this man forsooth though he knows not why proves a Roman Catholick he owns the Pope let him be who he will to be his Grand-father and that Church or if you will that Whore to be his Grand-mother too Well give me a man bred up in England 't is ten to one but this man proves a Protestant But why all this Why alas we take up our Religion not from the Convictions of our own Judgments but barely from the force of Examples and the meer power of Education 3. There are some persons who take up their Religion upon the Trust Credit or Commands of Princes Certainly man who is a wise knowing and noble Creature of the very next degree to Angels may easily convince himself how unreasonable a thing it is that he should adore and worship any thing that is so far from being a Deity that he evidently seeth and certainly knoweth that it is his own Inferiour and much below himself And yet notwithstanding if Jeroboam set up his Calves if Nebuchadnezzar erect his Image and command their Subjects to adore them who almost disputes it But alas we need not look back so far as the times of the Jewish Church for pregnant Instances our own Chronicles will tell us that whilest the Kings of England were Slaves to the Pope so dull and sottish so easie and pliable were the People as to be so too and since our Princes have justly shook off the Roman Yoke the Subjects have generally been if not so Religious yet so Conformable as to become Protestants too Tell me Sirs if the Roman Religion be good why did the People of England cast it off but if the Roman Religion be stark naught as certainly 't is why did the People of England ever own it Doubtless these General and sudden Turns of Religion these Vniversal and Epidemical Changes of our Faith and Worship which do not arise from any mature Deliberation and new Convictions are evident Demonstrations that men take up or lay down their Religion just as they do their Fashion 't is this or that according as the Court thinks fit to alter as if to believe as the King believes and to doe as the King doeth were a part of that Allegeance which we owe him But is this indeed to obey the great Command in my Text Prove all things 'T is sure the Kings of England do not pretend like that Vsurper at Rome that they cannot erre nor is it imagined by any that there is any more Infallibility annexed to the Prince's Throne then to the Pope's Chair No we are required and deeply concerned too to examine the Grounds of that Religion which the King's Laws do establish and if we find as upon strict Search we certainly shall that the present Religion of our Church commended to us by the King 's own Example and confirmed by his Laws is warranted by the Word of God by the Canons of Ancient Councils by the joint Testimony of the Primitive Fathers and many received Confessions of Faith let us then bless our God that we have as yet a Prince who styles himself really is and declares his resolution