to continue the Defender of that Faith which past all per adventure is truly Ancient and Apostolicall II. Consider what abundant cause we have to be jealous of that Religion which will by no means submit to this great Command in the Text which fears to be examined and dares not stand the Test Certainly we have all the reason in the world to suspect that Religion which doth so manifestly suspect it self 'T is a great Argument that a man doth doubt his Cause and question its merit when he sheweth himself exceeding loath to come to a Trial and 't is a shrewd sign that Wares are corrupt and naught when they are produced and shewed onely in the dark What our Blessed Saviour Joh. 3.21 saith of Persons may fitly be said of Religions too He that doeth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest The man that is honest vertuous and learned doth rather hope then fear to be searched into but he that constantly lurks in corners and walks under a disguise doth give the world sufficient ground to suspect that he is some broken Bankrupt or Knave 'T is thus with Religions too That Religion which dares appeal to the Tribunal of God and man that Religion which desires to be examined by Scriptures Councils and Fathers that Religion which doth publickly expose all its Doctrines and doth not onely allow all its friends but provokes its utmost enemies to fift and try them 't is easie to think that such a Religion is sound right and true 't is full weight that fears not the Scales and right metall that doth not dread the Touchstone But now if there be such a Religion found within the Church that is jealous of it self that fears its own Proselytes that dares not endure the Scrutiny no not of its own friends have we not a sufficient reason to suspect it Now shall I tell you such is the Religion of the Roman Church which dares not suffer its own Members so much as once to peep into the Bible lest perhaps that clear and Sacred Glass should immediately represent even to vulgar eyes those foul and by them as yet undiscerned Spots which that corrupt and scabby Religion hath upon its Face I remember Chemnitius who hath somewhat narrowly enquired into the Council of Trent and discovered to the world the nakedness of their Decrees is for that very Reason styled not a Saucy fellow but a down-right Heretick and so for making some considerable Inquisition into their Religion was thought to deserve at least their Great one As for the Religion of the Reformed Church 't is otherwise with us the examination of our Doctrines is not onely allowed but required too we put the Scales into your hands and bid you weigh them we set the Touchstone before your eye and bid you try them we translate we print we put the Bible into your bosom and bid you thence examine what our Church doth hold what our Ministers do preach and what you your selves must believe and doe I can tell you this fair dealing is not to be found at Rome no there the Holy Bible that dangerous Book must be withheld And the truth is though there be Sin and Sacrilege in their so doing yet there is a great deal of Craft and Policy too for where the Cause is naught if there be some material Witness whose Testimony will certainly overthrow it if he cannot be bribed 't is great Prudence to remove him out of the way And this course takes the Roman Church 't is that miserable Shift which a bad Cause drives them to what ever comes of it the Scriptures must be withdrawn for should they permit their people to peruse them they have just cause to fear that at first sight they would dislike such and such gainfull Doctrines and upon a serious review abjure them quite And upon this score do they find themselves necessitated as to withdraw the Bible so likewise basely to corrupt the most Ancient Councils and Fathers acting methinks like some knavish Merchant who sells bad Wares and that by false Weights and Measures and therefore is concerned to see that there be no Standard near him What is the great Axiome of the Roman Church Estius a Friend Champion and Son of theirs doth thus inform us 2. Thes 5.21 Tenendum quod tenet Ecclesia What the Church believes what the Church requires i. e. whatever the Pope and his Council thinks fit that and onely that without more adoe must be believed and done 'T is evident that they require little more of their Proselytes then a bare implicit Faith and a blind Obedience And that they ground upon this fond Presumption and rotten Principle That their Councils at least if confirmed by the Pope cannot erre how vicious soever the Pope may be in his Conversation yet when he sits in Cathedra in his Chair he must be Infallible in his Judgment still as if the Golden Mitre and triple Crown which adorn his Head must needs inspire it too But if these things be so indeed what need they fear the severest Trial If Councils cannot erre what need they fear the strictest Search If the Pope be really Infallible what need he dread the closest Scrutiny Search the Scriptures saith Christ himself to all his Hearers Search not the Scriptures saith his pretended Vicar and yet Infallible Try the spirits saith the Apostle Try not the spirits saith the Roman Bishop and yet Infallible Prove all things saith Saint Paul Prove nothing saith the Successour of Saint Peter and yet Infallible No they manage a bad Cause that are afraid to see it opened 'T is not Religion and Conscience but Craft Guilt and Fear that make them withdraw the Bible and so decline a Trial for had but the poor people that live under the Tyranny of Rome liberty means and knowledge to examine those Doctrines which now they are constrained to take up upon Trust and were but the Princes of Europe whom the Pope hath sometimes used and still accounts as his Slaves and Vassals were they but once at leisure to mind the things of God and the Concerns of his Church would they but once impartially and throughly examine matters of Religion and bring them to the Rule we should quickly see the Pope unmasked Kings undeceived and the whole Christian world become Protestant And as this should be the subject of our earnest Prayers so must the Duty required in the Text be the matter of our Obedience too what the Protestant asserts what the Papist pretends examine both The Grand difference betwixt us and them lieth in their affirming and our denying the Doctrines of Infallibility Transubstantiation Purgatory Indulgencies Invocation of Saints Adoration of Images works of Merit and Supererogation c. Now if any of these or the like Doctrines shall be commended to you by the plausible Insinuations of some subtle Jesuit O remember what my Text commands Prove all things bring them to your Bibles
Religion wherein we are to instruct and help our Brother for if not 't is like enough that we may be cheated what we rashly take for the Doctrines of Christ may perhaps upon a review prove the Doctrines of Devils what we unadvisedly take for the Institutions of God may perhaps upon a stricter survey prove nothing else but the Impostures of men and if once we come to propagate these what greater pleasure can we doe the Devil what greater disservice can we doe the Church of God what greater injury can we doe our Neighbour our bosom Friend our darling Child Certain it is we are much engaged to sift the Grounds of that Religion which we are to propagate in the world and teach our Brother lest otherwise through our own mistake and idle confidence we become guilty of cruel Charity and prove instrumental to damn that Soul whom we inâ—end and are obliged to save 3. We are obliged to examine our Religion and see 't is right by all that kind respect which we owe the Church and Nation where we dwell That the Welfare of Kingdomes doth but little depend upon the truth of their Religion may perhaps be objected from that known example of the Turks and some other Nations where Idolatry reigns and yet success power and wealth attends them But surely that such Nations flourish 't is not from any Covenant or Promise but from the general Providence and perhaps the Wrath of God 't is not from the consideration of their Religion but rather from the want of ours Solomon tells us Prov. 14.34 Righteousness exalts a nation Yea where Vertue thrives where true Religion flourisheth 't is sure that Kingdome will do so too We reade that whilest the Jews retained their Religious Worship in its Purity they were a rich and thriving Nation beloved of God and therefore feared of men but when once they suffered Idolatry and Superstition to steal in amongst them 't is very remarkable that this very sin proved the subversion of their State and the ruine of their Church Methinks this dreadfull Instance should make us exceeding wary what Religions we admit amongst us Certainly it will be our wisedom not to permit much less to establish by Law any Doctrine whatever that hath already been not onely suspected but upon mature advice condemned too except we are now fully satisfied by clearer Arguments that it is at least reconcilable to those Divine Truths which our Saviour hath taught and our God approves For if we doe otherwise if our Folly Carelesness Ignorance or Vice shall prove a means to retrive those erroneous Doctrines and superstitious Practices which the wisedom Piety and Zeal of our Fore-fathers have justly banished it we shall reduce those superfluous vain and burthensome Ceremonies of the Roman Church which our noble Progenitours have so deservedly exploded if we shall basely let goe those great and concerning Truths which our heroical Ancestours have derived unto us sealed with their dearest bloud if we shall exchange a good Religion for a bad what can we expect but that our holy God who is so jealous of his great Name should be angry with us even till he hath quite conjumed us It is true God indeed may bear with the Idolatries of poor ignorant Turks and Pagans who neither do nor can know what 's better But as for this Nation of ours we have his Law and his Prophets we have his Evangelists and his Apostles we have the Gospel of his dear Son to confirm and settle us in our most holy Faith and if so should we turn Apostates should we embrace a false Religion and become Idolaters so dreadfull would the Consequences be that we may justly tremble so much as once to name them If therefore we have any bowels of mercy towards the womb that bore us if we have any kindness for the breasts that feed us if we have any compassion for the Nation that warms and cloaths us let us never close with any other Religion except it produce some better warrant then our present Church can shew and that not from a Priest not from a Jesuit not from some pretended forged and abused Father but from a Prophet from an Evangelist from an Apostle one of whom is of more value and greater credit then the whole Romish Conclave and all their Councils though every member thereof were a better man and more Infallible even the best of Popes 4. We are obliged to examine our Religion by all that respect which we owe unto our selves See why in 2 Particulars 1. That man who never troubleth himself to search into the Grounds of his Religion and by infallible Arguments to secure himself that his Faith and Worship is sound and right must needs be in doubt whether it be good or no. For 't is very possible that the Report which he hears concerning it may be false the persons that recommend it to him may be mistaken his Fore-fathers from whom he derives his Religion might be deceived nay that particular Church whereof he is a Member may possibly be in an Errour too For tell me how grosly was the Church of the Jews mistaken though they had all the Prophets to inform them concerning that which they were most obliged to know the Person Doctrine and Miracles of their own Messias and how stifly doth the Church of Rome this day contend for those foul Errours and abominable Superstitions for which there is very little to be pleaded save onely the Practice and Tradition of their Predecessours amongst whom Ambition Pride Avarice Luxury and Ignorance did so prevail that they had little of true Religion left to transmit and bequeath to their Posterity so that to believe as the Church believes is to believe at best but at a venture and he that doth so hath no assurance that his Faith is right Now what Inconveniences will arise from bare Doubts Jealousies and Suspicions of our Religion we may see in 2 Particulars 1. That person who is thus uncertain and doubtfull of his Religion can never expect any great satisfaction comfort pleasure in any of those Religious acts which he doth perform Doubtless that Joy which ariseth to a good man and knowing Christian from the true Service of God is very considerable and exceeding great My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness saith holy David who well knew what he did when he served his God thus and thus And without all controversie there is not so much delight to be found in any thing whatever as there is in the Worship of God The consideration of God's special Presence his favourable Interpretation of our desires his kind Acceptance of our poor endeavours the Smiles of his Countenance the Testimony of his Spirit how do they fill the heart with Joy But withall sure it is that these things cannot be expected by that Soul who is not sure that his Religion is right If a man be uncertain whether he present to God a sheep
O what a dangerous person is every mistaken Zealot Sure it is of all Villains in the world the Religious Villain is the worst As for other Villains who are inwardly convinced that what they doe is naught and wicked they cannot chuse but now and then find some remorse regret and such checks within them as must needs damp their spirits and gall their souls and put some little stop to their Iniquity But as for the Devout and Pious Villain what Trouble can possibly invade his spirit what Pangs of Soul can he feel within him what can make him so much as once demurr and pause in the least when his own Conscience being misinformed and sadly deluded doth so far chear him as to bid him expect a reward for that Sin which it doth not onely represent but commend and applaud as a Duty which God requires and will certainly bless We need no other Instance in this case but that great one of Saint Paul Whilest he believed the old Religion of the Jews to be the onely true one whilest he was possessed with Prejudice against Christianity and took the Gospel to be but a meer Juggle a new Imposture and a false way of worship what strange havock did he make of the Church of Christ and that in the defence of a wrong Religion and the Persecution of a right All the excuse which he pleads for himself is onely this I did it through Ignorance Yea had but Saint Paul's knowledge then been as great as his zeal he would rather have laid himself then others in the Gaol had he but examined matters a right and found Christianity to be indeed the Religion of God he would have been so far from shedding other mens bloud that in the defence thereof he would ten thousand times rather have lost his own But O the direful effects of a mistaken Zeal This is the thing to which we must ascribe the most inhumane actions that the world ever saw From hence proceeded that bloudy Massacre of Paris and that unparallel'd and hellish Powder-Treason from hence hath proceeded the Assassination of Princes the Subversion of Empires and the Ruine of Churches And what if I tell you that misapprehensions of Religion have hung the Son of God upon the Cross and laid his Servants in the flames It cannot be imagined that the Jews would ever have crucified the Saviour of the World and their own Messias too had not an ignorant Zeal inclined them to it Nor can we reasonably conceive that the Papists are such Monsters rather then men that they would ever have burnt so many Martyrs had they not thought that Religion did require it And if so if the Consequences of a mistaken Religion be so dreadfull then surely we are highly concerned to make sure of the Truth of ours lest perhaps an Errour in our choice should put us upon the Commission of those horrid Crimes which none but a Religious and Zealous sinner dares attempt 2. That person who is mistaken in his Religion is very like to lose that which is the blessed fruit reward and end of that Religion which is sound true and right 'T is such a Consideration as methinks should mightily quicken us to the duty in the Text Prove all things But why so why alas a mistake here would utterly undoe us That the Consequences of Religion are of the greatest concern imaginable 't is beyond dispute so great that it cannot be a thing indifferent whether our Religion be right or wrong unless it be a thing indifferent too whether we are blessed or cursed whether we shall to Heaven or Hell That Religion which is right is the onely way through Christ that leads to Heaven and that Religion which is wrong is one of the nearest and quickest ways to Hell I remember the Scriptures mention the Doctrine of God the Doctrine of Christ the Doctrine of the Apostles these being embraced and obeyed will surely make us happy but on the other hand the same Scriptures mention other Doctrines strange Doctrines the Doctrines of men yea and the Doctrines of Devils too which being entertained will surely make us miserable But you 'l say how shall we know them how shall we pass a judgement whether such and such a Doctrine be indeed the Doctrine of God Devils or men I answer 1. All matters of Religion must be examined proved and determined by the written Word of God This is the onely sure Balance to weigh and Touchstone to try all matters of Faith and Worship To this the Prophet directs Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony To this our Saviour sends his hearers Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures and again How readest thou And which is remarkable the Ignorance of Scripture doth he make the onely occasion and ground of Errour in Points of Faith so he tells the Sadducees Ye erre but why not knowing the Scriptures It seems that it is the written Word of God which must be our Guide in matter of Religion 't is this which is the onely infallible Rule and unalterable Standard to measure all the Doctrines and Practices which such or such a Church doth teach recommend or require from us But 2. The Decrees of General Councils those I mean that were convened in the first and purest times before the Superstitions and Idolatries of Rome that crept in by degrees through Carelesness Vice and Ignorance had overspread the Church are of great use in this case too True it is the Scripture is man's onely authentick Rule to walk by and this Rule of ours in the most material and concerning Points of Faith is obvious plain and easie but yet there are some other matters of Religion though not of absolute Necessity yet of considerable Import and moment about which the Scriptures are not so intelligible at least to ordinary Readers but that they want some good Interpreter And who more fit to declare the sense of doubtfull and difficult Texts then the first and best of Councils I reade of the Council of Nicaea called by Constantine the Great against the Heresie of Arrius the Council of Constantinople summoned by Theodosius the first against the Heresie of Macedonius the Council of Ephesus called by Theodosius the second against the Heresy of Nestorius the Council of Chalcedon called by Martian against the Heresy of Eutyches These Councils occasioned by these early Heresies and consisting of some hundred Bishops having the Glory of God in their Hearts the Settlement of the Church in their Eye and the Bible in their Hands did establish several Canons for the extirpation of Errour and the confirmation of the most concerning Truths of our Religion And certainly the Determinations of these Councils whether it be in the great or some less Concerns of our Religion being made up of Persons so exemplary for their Piety and so eminent for their Learning who resolved on nothing but with mature Advice and Deliberation are of as great Authority and afford as much