of Christians that when once Persons begin to damn others in their minds for their dissent from them they judge themselves at liberty and count that it is their Duty to do them all the mischief they can in this World They first make themselves their Judges that they must go to Hell and then would be their Executioners to send them thither as fast as they can Whether this be a Representation of Christ or of the Devil is not hard to determine Sure I am it is not compliant with the advice given unto all Guides of the Church of an attendance whereunto they must give an account 2 Tim. 2. 24 25 26. And the Servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach patient In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil who are taken captive by him at his Will Hence it is that those who have a strong inclination to oppress and destroy other men which their Interest prompts them unto do endeavour to make every the least dissent from themselves on one pretence or other by Sophistical arguments and strained consequences to be a fundamental error and such as makes them incapable of Life eternal But no men can give a greater evidence of their disintrest in Christian Religion of their unacquaintedness with the vertues and Powers of it wherein the glories of it do consist and what is of real price with God than those who are so minded Blessed be God that Christ will not leave his seat of Judgment unto such Persons neither here nor hereafter But such differences as those mentioned will probably continue among Christians so long as they continue in this World For although all those among whom these differences are do chuse the same Guide yet they do not in all things equally hear and understand his voice Perfection in Light and Knowledge are required unto a perfect agreement in all the conceptions of our minds about spiritual things Wherefore it is reserved for Heaven where every thing that is imperfect shall be done away Here we have different measures We know but in part and therefore prophesy in part Rom. 13. 9. It is Love or Charity alone that supplies this defect and gives such an Harmony unto the different parts of the Mystical Body of Christ which is the Church as renders them all useful and the whole beautiful 1 Cor. 13. Col. 3. 14. But these are not the differences which at present I intend There are those which in their Nature are of greater Importance such as are about the Fundamentals of Christian Faith Worship and Obedience such as upon whose determination the eternal welfare and misery of the souls of men do depend And not only so but they are such also which on that wretched mannagement of Religious concerns that late ages have embraced have an influence into the Peace or Disturbance of Humane Society the Tranquility the Liberty and Lives of men Yea they are by some promoted and pursued by all waies of fraud and violence with that height of Impiety as is utterly destructive of all Religion Many we have who plead themselves to be Christians which might be allowed them if they pleased themselves would they not do such things as Christian Religion abhorreth But this is the least part of their claim they will also be the only Christians all others who differ from them however falsely so called being only a drove of unbelievers hasting unto Hell Now although this be intollerable presumption yet because they hurt none by it but themselves if they will not be awakened from this pleasing dream they may be suffered to sleep on But they rest not here these Christians who only are so and so alone know truly what is in Christian Religion will do such things under a pretence of it will perpetrate such execrable crimes avowing them to be the dictates and commands of that Religion that if men were not sure that their former pretences are presumptuously false it would be a sufficient warranty for them whereon to question the whole Truth of the Gospel And these things are done in the pursuit of these differences in Religion which abound among us Wherefore if we would not contribute unto that intollerable scandal against the Gospel that the Religion it teacheth is pernicious to the peace of Mankind and all that is praise worthy in the World which must be accounted for if we have any care about our own eternal Salvation we ought to use our utmost diligence to arrive unto a safe conduct through all these difficulties This being our present case there being such differences in and divisions about Religion among us the mannagement of them being grown incurably scandalous and perilous our enquiry is what Guide or Conduct a man that takes care of his own Salvation that would know the Truth and have the benefit of it that would please God here and come unto the eternal Enjoyment of him hereafter ought to betake himself and firmly adhere unto as that which will safely lead and direct him unto all these ends For if the blind lead the blind both will fall into the ditch Two things are pleaded to be this safe and infallible Guide to have that conduct committed unto them which every one who takes care of his Salvation is obliged to betake himself unto The first is the Church of Rome She it is who at this time laies a most vehement claim to be the only Authoritative infallible Guide of all Christians as unto their Faith Worship and Obedience We enquire not after a ministerial Guide and the benefit which we may receive thereby This they regard not as that which leaves men the exercise of their own understandings and use of all Divine Aids and Assistances as unto the Information Direction and Determination of their Minds in all that they are to believe and practise in Religion But such a Guidance as whereunto by vertue of its Authority and Infallibility we are entirely and absolutely to resign our understandings and consciences what ever it leads us unto is that which this Church claimeth and without which she is nothing nor can stand one moment This is that which those who plead the cause of that Church at present do wholly betake themselves unto the promotion of declining what lies in them all other Differences and Controversies between them and us Such a Guide they say there must be of all Christians and this Guide is their Church And they do wisely consult their own Interest therein For if they can once gain this point all other things which they aim at will follow of their own accord and they may satisfy the desires of their hearts on the consciences of men Wherefore this claim of theirs consists of these three parts or may be reduced unto these three Heads 1. That
they and they alone are the Church of Christ All others who are called Christians in the World are Hereticks and Schismaticks who belong not unto it nor have any Interest in it Howbeit if the description given us of the Church of Christ in the Scripture be right and good it is almost impossible there should be any Society or combination of men on a religious account more unlike it than that which is called the Church of Rome This therefore must be taken upon their own credit and vehement Affirmation by them who have a mind so to do 2. That this Church which they alone are is entrusted with Authority over the souls and consciences of all Christians and all that would be so to be their only Guide in all that they are to know believe and do in Religion so that whoever gives not themselves up unto their conduct must perish eternally It were no hard task to manifest that a supposition hereof is destructive unto the Nature of Evangelical Faith and Obedience as also of all the Directions and Precepts given by Christ and his Apostles for the discharge of our Duty with respect unto them But this they must obtain or the whole present Popal Interest falls unto the ground Yet neither will a supposition that there is such a Church secure them their own pretences to be this Church being openly contradictory to the Scripture Nor is the Power claimed herein derived from the Apostles who professed themselves not to be Lords of the Faith of Believers 2 Cor. 1. 24. 1 Pet. 5. 3. 3. They plead that hereon no more is required of any man who takes care of his Salvation but that he give up himself absolutely and entirely unto the conduct of their Church believing what it proposeth and that on this ground alone that it is proposed by it and obeying all its commands whereby they seem to set this pretended Guide in the Temple of God shewing him that he is God This is the claim of the Church of Rome these are the Principles whereinto it is resolved which whether they have any thing in them of Truth or Modesty will immediately be made to appear Secondly The Holy Scripture with the Divine Aids and assistances for the understanding thereof which God hath promised unto all that diligently seek him is pleaded to be the only Rule and Guide that men ought to betake themselves unto in case of those important differences in Religon which are under consideration And the plea on the behalf thereof is reducible unto these five Heads 1. That this Scripture is a Divine supernatural Revelation of God his Mind and his Will This Foundation is unquestionable and will never fail them that build upon it Those of the Roman Religion will propose ensnaring Questions about it unto them on whom they design They will be asking how they know the Scripture to be the Word of God labouring to disprove the evidences they produce to prove it so to be But this bold artifice is of no use in this case for themselves confess it so to be only they prefer the Authority of their Church testifying it so to be as more safely to be rested in and trusted unto than that of God himself which cannot be unto the advantage of their cause with any considerate Persons 2. That it is a Divine Revelation of the whole Mind and Will of God as unto all things that are necessary unto his Glory and our Salvation This it frequently testifieth of it self and on the former supposition of its being such a Divine Revelation its Testimony must be granted to be infallibly true Both these Assertions the Apostle expresly conjoyneth 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. Somewhat they except here in respect of their unwritten Traditions but dare not positively deny that the Scripture is a sufficient Revelation of all things absolutely necessary unto Salvation Indeed to do so will leave no assurance unto any man that he can ever know what is necessary unto salvation But they have a reserve whereunto they betake themselves on a concession hereof namely that whatever be contained in it it cannot be understood but as the sense of it is declared by their Church But this is a bold unproved presumption contrary unto the design of God in giving us his Word and the experience of all who have been exercised in it 3. The Way Manner and Method of this Revelation are such as are suited unto Divine Wisdom and Goodness whether they please men or no. It is with reference unto these things that they expatiate and enlarge themselves in charging the Scripture with obscurity and unfitness thereon to be our only Rule and Guide For the Bible they say is a Book composed of Histories Prophecies Songs Prayers and Epistles and is therefore unmeet for any such use or end But these things are of no consideration in our present case It is thus given out immediately by God himself and therefore every way answers Divine Wisdom and Goodness whether men are pleased with it or no we are not at all concerned He who designed it for the instruction of the Church alone knows what was to be the Method of its composure unto that end And it hath been proved on another occasion that considering the state of the Church in its several Ages the nature of that Faith which is to be wrought and confirmed by this Divine Revelation with the manner of teaching becoming the Authority of God and the holy Scripture could not have been given out unto us in any other Order or Method than that wherein it is disposed 4. On these suppositions there neither is nor can be more required of us in order unto our eternal salvation but that we understand aright firmly believe and yield obedience unto the Revelation of the Mind and Will of God that is made therein The Assurance hereof is so evidently included in the foregoing Assertions that it needs no confirmation Every thought unto the contrary is so injurious unto the Wisdom Goodness Grace and Truth of God so opposite unto all the Notions of the Minds of men on a supposition of Gods speaking unto them that it ought to be rejected with detestation 5. There are efficacious Aids promised and assured means appointed by God himself to help all that diligently seek him unto a certain infallible understanding of his Mind in the Scripture so far as the Knowledge of it is necessary unto our Salvation This also I have lately confirmed in a peculiar discourse These are the Heads whereunto the Plea for the Guidance of the Scripture in all differences and divisions about Religion may be reduced The case being thus plainly stated the enquiry hereon is whether of these Guides a man that takes care of his own eternal Salvation should betake himself and firmly adhere unto to the end In answer unto this Enquiry I shall prove that no wise man who feareth God and is careful of the eternal condition of his own soul
what profit and advantage they make unto themselves by the conduct which they have assumed others according to their proportion shall be sharers therein The Holy Apostles succeeded unto the Personal Ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ as unto this conduct of the souls of men Such Power was committed unto them by him who sent them even as the Father sent him such Assurance was there in their conduct through Infallible Inspiration and the presence of the Holy Ghost with them in an extraordinary manner as that all men were bound to give up themselves unto their Conduct and Guidance Howbeit they judged that there was no Duty more incumbent on them than to make it evident unto all the world that they neither sought nor would accept of any temporal Advantages unto themselves by the Trust reposed in them but were contended that their portion in this world should lye in all the extremities and calamities of it And this they willingly submitted unto that all men might he encouraged to trust them in their everlasting affairs when they saw what loosers they were by it in this World without desire hope or expectation of any better condition The Church of Rome laies claim to the very same Authority over and conduct of the consciences of men in Religion as were committed unto Jesus Christ and his Apostles It is as safe as they pretend for a man to cast off the Authority and Institutions of Christ himself as to dissent from those of the Pope But what in the mean time meaneth this bleating of the Sheep and lowing of the Oxen whence is it that they have mannaged the pretence hereof to the gaining of Power Dominion Wealth and Revenues unto themselves beyond that of the greatest Kings and Princes in this World Let others do as they shall think fit I shall never commit the conduct of my soul unto them who for ought I know would never look after me nor any other were it not for the advantage they make by it unto the service of their earthly desires It may be said that other Churches and Persons do make advantages unto themselves by that conduct of the souls of men which they lay claim unto And if this be sufficient to render such Guides suspected we shall scatter the Churches and leave none to guide them I answer it doth no way follow For the Rules Measures and outward Allowances for and in the name of their Labour and Guidance unto the Ministers of the Gospel are in general so stated in the Scripture as that men cannot mistake therein unto their prejudice But we are not at all concerned in what Advantages men make unto themselves hereby provided that the conduct they pretend unto be such as is accompanied with no dominion over our Faith but is proposed only as an help thereunto Whilst men require not an absolute Resignment of our souls and consciences unto them but leave us unto the perfect libert of our own minds to judge upon and receive what they propose unto us to examine and try all that they instruct us in which we may reject or refuse according as it evidenceth it self to be good or evil unto us there is no great danger in our conduct This I say is sufficient to render this pretended Guide which with so much vehement importunity would impose it self upon us to be so justly suspected unto all men not forsaken as well of common Reason as of all due Reverence unto the Word of God as that they will not readily embrace it 2. As what hath been spoken is sufficient to render this pretended Guide suspected with all sober and considerate Persons so there are cogent reasons why it ought to be absolutely rejected by all who take care of their own eternal Salvation The cause peculiarly under consideration is stated on a double supposition 1. That there are such differences in and about Religion among us as wherein the eternal Salvation of the Souls of men are immediately concerned For some of them consist in Opinions Principles and Practises pernicious and destructive unto Salvation as each side doth acknowledge and contend And it is meet the cause at present should be expresly stated on this supposition because those of the Roman Church design their great advantage from it 2. That in this case we ought diligently to apply our selves unto some safe Guide which may lead and conduct us in the right way wherein we may glorify God and obtain eternal Blessedness unto our own souls This also is not only allowed by them but fiercely contended for as a Foundation of their whole cause Wherefore to determin our Thoughts aright in our enquiry on these suppositions we may consider the things that follow 1. The first Supposition is plainly stated in the Scripture It is plainly affirmed therein that such things were then beginning in the Church that they would fall out in after ages and encrease towards the End Consummation of all things See to this purpose Acts 20. 29 30. 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. 2 Pet. 2. 1 3. 1 John 4. 1 2 3. all in compliance with the holy warnings and predictions of our blessed Saviour himself unto the same purpose Matth. 24 4 5 11 23 24 25 26. In all these places and many other the Cause as stated in our supposition is expresly foretold with the pernicious effects of Opinions and Heresies overthrowing the Foundation of Faith and destroying the souls of men In this cause is a certain Guide necessary in a peculiar manner 2. In no one place either in express words or by direct consequence are Believers or the Disciples of Christ directed in this case to betake themselves unto such a Guidance of the Church of Rome They are not so in any one place where these Divisions are foretold where properly such directions should be expected or no where nor yet in any other place whatever Any one Divine Testimony unto this purpose giving this Direction on that supposition shall for ever determine this Controversie Shall we think that the Lord Jesus Christ foreknowing foretelling and warning all his Disciples of such a dangerous state and condition as from which they cannot escape or be delivered without a Guide that will safely lead and conduct them if there were but one such Guide prepared and appointed by him should no where in any Divine Revelation direct them thereunto Doth a supposition hereof truly represent unto us his love care and compassion towards the Church Can any thing more injurious unto his Wisdom Faithfulness and Honour be once imagined It is impossible therefore that any man in the case supposed should betake himself unto the sole conduct of the Pope or Church of Rome without casting contempt on him and his Authority But 3. Yet there is farther Evidence of his Mind herein in that we are expresly in this case directed unto another Guide without any mention of the Church of Rome which is utterly exclusive of
on any as unto present Peace and eternal Blessedness than that on the Priests alone Woful Practices do follow on these Principles For the minds of men being thus prepared they dispose of them unto such occasions or services for the Interest of the Catholick Cause as their own Nature Inclinations the fierceness or softness of their tempers their outward Greatness Power and Wealth or their Straights Wants and Necessities render them meet unto For now they are ready for such things which if they had not relinquished the care and charge of their own souls if they had not absoluteâ—y resigned them unto others they would never have entertained a thought of without detestation and abhorrency Poor deluded creatures who could sufficiently bewail their condition but that for the most part through the Love of sin and the wages of it they chuse these delusions Some now shall fire Cities some shall murther innocent Persons some shall assassinate Kings and Potentates some shall creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins lead about with divers lusts and some shall prostitute themselves unto the carnal Lusts and Pleasures of others all as they judge conducing unto the Catholick Cause and their own Intrest therein These are they who must answer not only for the blood of them that are murdered but of their murderers also I heartily wish these things were not so that they never had been so but being so it is well that they are known so to be and that they are written in such legible characters in most Nations of Europe especially in this wherein we live as that he who runs may read them I shall not descend unto particular Instances every ones mind and thoughts will suggest them unto them or they may learn them in Westminster Hall It will be said that on a supposition that these things are so yet this is the crime of but a few it may be of a few Jesuites which others especially the Church is not concerned in They are but a few who teach and instruct their Converts unto such purposes but a few that are possessed with those Maxims and Principles which lead unto these Practices Notwithstanding their miscarriages the Church it self may be a Safe Guide unto the souls of men I answer two things 1. That those who have these Principles who teach these Practices are all of them appointed unto their Office and Work imposed on the consciences of men as their only Guides by the Authority of the Church it self No Caution is given by it against them no Rule prescribed whereby they may know them but they come all armed with the Authority of the Church and as such are received by their credulous followers The whole therefore of what they do may justly be ascribed unto the Church it self 2. It may be made to appear that for about an hundred and fifty years past no Plot no Design hath been conceived or perpetrated wherein Kings Princes private Persons were to be murdered or destroyed wherein Nations were to be embroyled in blood and confusion in order unto the promotion of the Catholick Cause but the Church it self was either the Contriver or Approver of it Who approved of the murder of the two Kings in France one after another of the Massacre there of an hundred thousand Protestants who designed and blessed all preparations for the murder of Queen Elizabth with the unjust Invasion of the Nation in 88 who blessed and protected what in them lay the horrible Massacre of Ireland with the slaughters that have been made in other places on the same Principles was it a few Jesuites only was it not the Church it self in its Head the Pope and its Horns the Cardinals at Rome Wherefore although it seem good unto this Church to assume unto it self the sole Conduct of the souls of all men in the matters of Religion which hath thrived in its hands unto an incredible Grandeur in Dominion Power and Wealth yet other men of an ordinary wisdom and capacity who are not yet taken alive by them at their pleasure will be ready to judge especially now the Cave of Cacus is opened that it is necessary for them to take more care of their own souls Some will say that all these things Principles and Practices are separable from their Religion and that they will take sufficient heed unto themselves that they give admittance unto none of them especially such as are against the Light of Nature and the known Rules of common Honesty Both the Goodness of their own natural temper and the Principles of Morality which they will never part withal will give them and others security herein God forbid I should ever charge any Persons with any thing that is Criminal whereof they are not or may not be easily convicted Those who make these Professions shall pass with me at the rate and upon the credit of their Professions As shall all men in this World untill they contradict and disprove themselves by their Actions But even such Persons had need be very careful that they are not deceived herein The Resignation which they are to make of themselves and their Consciences unto the conduct of this Church doth quite change both their Light and Rule for it includes a Renunciation of all Principles and Perswasions in things Divine and Moral that do or may in the least interfere with that Conduct It is true that neither that Church nor any else can change the Nature of things Moral in themselves for although they may call Good Evil and Evil Good Light Darkness and Darkness Light yet they cannot make that which is Good Evil nor that which is Evil Good but they may make a false Representation of the one and other unto the minds of men Hence what was Evil unto them antecedently unto this Resignation of themselves as the Fireing of Cities the Murther of Innocent Persons the Overthrow of Governments and Nations for their own Ends shall be imposed on them by this pretended Infallible Guide as things Good and Meritorious with reference unto their Catholick Ends. These are the two most pernicious Divices in all their Superstition 1. That the Consciences of men are exempted and taken off from an Immediate Dependance on and Subjection unto the Authority of Christ and put in immediate Subjection unto the Priests seeing he neither promiseth any thing unto them nor commands any thing but by the Church 2. That their Commands because they are theirs do regulate their Consciences even as unto Moral Good or Evil. Nor is it safe for these men to trust too much unto the Goodness of their own Natures nor it may be unto others who are concerned in what they shall do For as it is the Glory of the Doctrine and Grace of the Gospel to change the Wolf the Lion and the Leopard Isa. 11. 6 7 8 9. Persons of the Fiercest and most Violent Inclinations unto quiet Associates of Lambs and Children so it is to be feared