even unto such as having lived in sinand ignorance are ready to receive condign punishment for their villanies deceiving them of those few minutes which might be improved in seeking after Evangelical Faith and Repentance But this is the least use they make of it There are in the world among those that are called Protestants Mighty men Nobles men of Dignity and Revenue who live in their sins and are resolved so to do Yet are they not able by any means to secure their consciences from troublesome fears of eternal miseries that will ensue on the course wherein they are By all crafty waies of access and compliance the Factors of this Church do insinuate themselves or by others are introduced into the acquaintance of this sort of Persons And the first thing they offer unto them is absolute security of eternal salvation if they will but relinquish Heresie wherein it is impossible they should ever be saved and betake themselves unto the conduct of the Church of Rome of the change of their lives the Relinquishment of their sins of Repentance from dead works of the Life of God and universal Obedience therein there are no words between them Many of these persons who are resolved beforehand rather to part with all the Religion in the world than with one of their lusts and sins do readily embrace the composition offered For really that which is tendred unto them is a consistency between living in sin and assured going unto Heaven which before they knew not that they could be reconciled For however they shall live for the future suppose in the sins of adultery fornication prophane swearing luxury drunkenness or the like the Church will take care that by Confessions Masses and Purgatory they shall be undoubtedly saved At this door have entred great numbers of unclean beasts unto the encrease of the Herd who often prove the most forward Zealots for the Catholick Cause 3. Secular Interests and advantages accommodated unto all sorts of Persons are another means of their prevalency There are no sorts of Persons from the highest to the lowest that come within their walk and compass or unto whom they can have access with the least probability of success unto whom they have not in a readiness to propose some secular advantages suited unto their State Condition Inclinations and Abilities Great men shall have favour and correspondencies with Potentates abroad besides a principal interest in that alteration in national affairs which they doubt not but they shall introduce Schollers shall be used and preferred at least when they have any eminency in abilities they shall not want steem and advancement Mechanicks shall be employed and the poorest one way or other provided for And for all sorts of discontented Persons who may be of any use unto their Interest they have the refuge of their Monasteries for their entertainment And is it any wonder if in this degenerate age wherein the most of men do openly and visibly declare a predominancy in their minds and affections of things carnal and temporal above those that are spiritual and eternal many be ensnared by these promises which either shall be made good unto them or at least are sufficient to keep them in expectation untill they are ingaged beyond recovery 4. Mâ—ny it is to be feared fall under the dreadful account given of Gods Righteous dealings with those who obstinately 〈…〉 under the Profession of the Truth 2 Thess. 2. 10 11 12. Because they received not the Love of the Truth that they might be saved God shall send them strong Delusions that they should believe a lie that they all might bedamned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness This is that which we have more cause to fear with respect unto this Nation than all the Artifices of of the Roman Church Lastly How powerful and prevalent the last voice of this Church may prove I know not The Motto of some potentates on their great Guns is Vox Vltima Regum the last voice of Kings that of this Church is fire and fagot wherewith I pray and hope that they shall never more be heard to speak in England Allowing them these advantages I shall now prove that no wise or sober man who takes care of his own Salvation can give up himself to the conduct of the Church of Rome in his choice of Religion then when there are the most abounding contests about the Truth and the right way of its Profession which is supposed our present case In my first reason I shall proceed no farther but to render this pretended Guide suspected with all wise and sober men For it will be granted I suppose that we ought throughly to consider who or what that Guide is whereunto we do absolutely resign the disposal of all our spiritual concernments without power of Revocation If any men were to make such an absolute Trust of their Lives Estates aud Liberties into the hand of another man or of other men putting them all absolutely out of their own Power certainly they would think it their Wisdom and Interest to consider aright how and what they are unto whom they do so fully and absolutely resign themselves and all that they have And if they have any just suspicion of their honesty or Faithfulness or that they seek themselves or their own advantage in taking this Trust upon them they will not easily be induced to resign up their all unto them Yea the more earnest they are to perswade them the more will they suspect that there is Knavery in the cause How much more carefull ought we to be in the chusing a Guide into whose power and disposal we must resign all the eternal concernments of our souls which all men do who absolutely give give up the conduct of themselves unto the Church of Rome in all matters of Religion For notwithstanding all their pleas of a sure and safe bank for the consciences of men there are great presumptions that they will break at last and leave them who have entrusted them unto eternal beggary I shall give but one Reason which renders this pretended Guide so justly suspected as that no wise man can commit himself thereunto in things of this importance And this is the prodigious worldly secular advantages which the Church of Rome hath made unto it self by this pretence of being the only Guide of all Christians in matters of Religion For this pretence is the sole foundation of the whole Papacy which when the sand of it is removed must fall to the ground And we may consider both what they have obtained by it and how they use their Acquisition For 1. By vertue of this pretence alone they have erected their Popedom obtained Principalities and Soveraignties possessed themselves of the principal Revenues of most Nations of Europe have heaped up huge Treasures of wealth wherewith they maintain innumerable Persons who have nothing to do but by all Arts to promote their Interest especially that
opposite unto the Way and Means prescribed by God himself unto that end It is so whether we respect the internal Qualifications of our minds or the Duties that he prescribeth or the Aid that he promiseth thereunto For as unto the first he requireth that those who would learn the Truth ought to be meek and lowly and humble for such alone he will teach Psal. 25. 8 9 14. Joh. 6. 45. and if we are not taught of God we learn nothing as we ought or not unto any purpose that they cast out all wickedness and superfluity of naughtiness that so they may receive the ingrafted Word with meekness Jam. 1. 21. Without these things they may be alwaies learning but shall never come unto the Knowledge of the Truth And as unto Means and Duties two things he enjoyns and indispensibly requires of us in order unto this end 1. That we study the Word continually that we meditate upon it and place our delight in it Joh. 1. 8. Deut. 6. 7. Psal. 1. 2. Isa. 8. 20. Joh. 5. 30. 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. Psal. 119. 18. Joh. 16. 13. 1 Joh. 2. 20. 2. Fervent and diligent Prayer that we may be lead into and preserved in the Truth that we may be enabled to receive it and hold it fast against Temptations and Oppositions For our Aid and Assistance herein he commands us to wait for it and expect the Spirit of Wisdâ—m and Revelation to open our eyes to bring us unto the full Assurance of Understanding or to lead us into all Truth Of these things of the necessity of them unto the due Knowledge of the Truth we hear nothing from this pretended Guide She knows well enough that to put the Minds of men into these Waies and the use of these Means whereby they may be taught of God and learn the Truth as it is in Jesus is to loose them from her self for ever Howbeit they are the only Waies and Means prescribed and blessed of God unto this end with those other especial Duties which belong unto them They will say it may be that they do instruct their Converts in these things and press them withal unto higher Acts of Devotion and Mortification than others do But there are two things which deprive them of any advantage by this pretence For 1. We see and know of what sort for the most part their Converts are I shall not give that character of them in words which generally they give of themselves in their works for I have nothing to do with the Persons of men And I should rejoyce to see them give a better evidence of being instructed in these things than as yet they have done But 2. Whatever of this nature they propose and prescribe unto them it is not unto this end that they may learn and know the Truth They require no more of any hereunto but that on their sophistical and frivolous pretences he give up himself unto their Guidance or submit himself unto the Authority of the Pope For hereby he formally becomes a member of the Catholick Church whose Faith whether he know it or no immediately becomes his and for particulars he must wait for the Priests information as occasion shall require This is I confess their great advantage in this World The way they propose to attain the Knowledge of the Truth is easy consistent with the lusts of men exposed equally to the wise and foolish to the sober and intemperate puts men out of all doubts giving them all the quiet assurance which deceit and falsehood can communicate The way of God unto the same end is difficult unto flesh and blood destructive unto the lusts of the flesh of the mind requiring Diligence Humility and Watchfulness in the Exercise of Grace all our Daies which things few are pleased withal Yet is this Way of God so suited unto the Nature of Religion so becoming the importance of this Duty so effectual not only unto the attainment of the Knowledge of Truth but unto all the ends of it in the Life of God is so necessary on the account of the Infinite Greatness and Holiness of God with the Nature of Divine Revelations as that no man who is not blinded with prejudices and corrupt Affections can decline it to embrace the other There are other things yet if it be possible of an higher Abomination to deter all sober Persons from touching with this Guide than those already insisted on And such they are as the present contrivances and practices of our adversaries do unavoidably compel us to plead in this cause and are in themselves sufficient for ever to divest that Church of this great and gainful pretence of being the only Guide of all men in Religion For Fifthly Consider what it is wherein they instruct many of them who betake themselves unto their Conduct and Guidance I mean of the Agents for and in the name of the Church of Rome The first thing which they labour to fix on their mindes and consciences is absolute Obedience unto their immediate Guides with a blind belief of what they propose unto them And this they prevail on them unto by assuming a twofold Authority unto themselves And the first is that of forgiving them all their sins though against the light of Nature and of their own consciences which they confess unto them and this confession they are obliged unto under pain of Damnation Some things indeed they do require of them in order unto a participation of Priestly absolution But they are all in the Power of the Priest to prescribe decline or accept which latter they will not be uneasy unto when it conduceth unto their advantage The issue is that in this pardon of their sins the souls of men may as safely acquiesce as if they were immediately pardoned by Christ himself And if they have occasion for the advantage of the Catholick Cause to put them on things that are openly sinful as Murder and Sedition either by vertue of the Direction Guidance and Commands of the Priests they loose their Nature and become no sins at all or they are so assured of pardon as puts them in their consciences into as good a state and condition as if they had not sinned And 2. They assume unto themselves an Authority to grant especial Priviledges and Rewards in Heaven and Earth to the doing of what tâ—ey command or require whatever it be As unto the Earth so many Prayers so many Masses shall be assigned unto their advantage and in some cases Canoninozation with all the glorious Priviledges of it And as unto Heaven what they so do shall have such a proportion of merit as shall exalt them unto the second third or fourth place of precedency and honour therein among all the Holy Martyrs It is uncredible what Power and Dominion over the consciences of their Proselytes they obtain by these means with other artifices of the like Nanture Hence many of them know of no other dependance
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
can chuse the Church of Rome for this Guide foregoing the other of the Scripture with the Divine Aids promised and given for the understanding thereof The Person of whom I speak I suppose to be a wise man that is one who prefers things eternal unto those that are temporal so as not to be ensnared by earthly Interests and Advantages unto the forfeiture of his Interest in things above and will be careful not to be imposed on by men who design their own Advantage in what they would perswade him unto He who is otherwise minded is a fool He is also one that feareth God and therefore is real and in good earnest in Religion as desiring to please him in all things For there are many who give the world no small disturbance about religious concerns who do on all occasions manifest that they have little or no regard unto God in what they say or do But in the Persons whom I address unto I suppose that they really take care above all other things of the eternal salvation of their souls And I shall not deal with them by abstruse Arguments nor by Testimonies of men that may be bandied up and down on the one side and the other but by such plain Reasonings as are accommodated unto the common understanding of all sober sedate rational Persons who own the Principles of Christian Religion which have their force from the general usage of mankind in things of an alike nature the common natural Principles of mens minds where they are not vitiated and depraved with the experience of what they have found already in any Duties of Religious Worship Indeed if we could but prevail with men to be perswaded that every man must believe for himself and obey for himself and give an account for himself this difference would be at an end For the choice of the Church of Rome to be the Guide enquired after is nothing but the putting of the care of saving our souls unto others who will not be able to answer for us when our Trial shall come And this subject in particular I have chosen at present to insist upon for two Reasons 1. Because as was before observed those who at present do plead the Interest of this Church among us do decline what they can all particular Controversies and under various notions betake themselves to this alone about an Authoritative Guide and Leader of all Christians which they pretend their Church to be They do not in their projection for Proselytes go to them and enter into Disputes about Transubsubstantiation the Sacrifice of the Mass Adoration of Images or the like no nor yet about the Popes Infallibility But supposing themselves to be greatly advantaged by the differences in Religion that are among us which usually they enlarge upon without either truth or modesty under a concealment of greater differences among themselves they insist only on the necessity of such a Guide which they pretend their Church alone to be Hereby have they prevailed on many who on one account or other do think themselves unmeet any longer to take care of their own salvation And when once they have prevailed herein there is nothing so horrid nothing so wicked that they cannot impose on the consciences of their Proselytes They will not now scruple or stick at all at those things which they would have dreaded to have thought of whilst they had the care of themselves in any measure upon them Not one man of a thousand who supposeth that he hath himself and his own soul in charge that he must give an account of and for himself will venture on those waies and practices which they will with great satisfaction rush into under their conduct 2. Because of the strange waies they have lately taken to put this pretence into use and practice and to take us all under their conduct Pretending unto the guidance of our souls in the things of God they have attempted to take us into their power as unto our Lives Liberties Laws and all other our concernments in this world which whosoever doth unlawfully forfeits all his own And a sufficient Indication it is of what Guidance we were like to meet withal when way was to be made unto it by Fire Confusion Blood Massacres and Sedition Should there be a School erected pretending unto an easie certain way of teaching all Sciences Divine and Humane should it pretend a Grant that nothing of this nature should be taught or learned but in and by it yet if I saw the posts of the house hung like Shambles with the limbs of slaughtered person if the ground about it be strewed with the bones and ashes of men burned to death here lying one strangled there another stabbed a third poisoned all for no other cause but either because they would not submit to the teaching thereof or would not learn things foolish and wicked I should avoid such a School and its Power so far as I were able But yet because there hath of late among us a great accession been made really unto this Guidance by persons formerly professing the Protestant Religion I shall a little enquire into the Causes of it or the Means whereby it hath been brought about And I shall not fear to say that as unto the most of them who have relinquished the Protestant Religion they are these that follow 1. A profound Ignorance of the Internal Powers of Religion with an utter want of all experience of them in themselves makes them an easie prey to seducers Persons who have never had any concernment in Religion beyond the out-side solemnity of it with some notions and opinions about the Doctrines of it are easily tossed to and fro from one Religion unto another or unto none at all through the cunning slights of men who lye in wait to deceive When men have only a form of Godliness in the Profession of the Truth but know nothing of the Power of it it is an uncertain Accident whether they persevere in that Profession or no. There are Internal Powers of true Religion which are efficacious on the minds of men to enlighten them to purifie them and give them liberty from the adverse Powers of darkness vanity and bondage unto sin Where men have experience of them in their own hearts there and there alone if a vigorous impression unto the contrary do befall them will they be constant in the Profession of the Truth The success of our Roman Emissaries is confined almost unto that sort of Persons who under the outward Profession of the Protestant Religion have been totally ignorant of the vertue and power of the Truth contained therein 2. Wickedness of Life taking shelter in the Promises of eternal security which that Church with presumptuous confidence tenders unto all that will give up themselves unto her conduct though in the last moment of their lives gains them a multitude of Proselytes This engine they apply unto many when they are leaving the world
this pretence For 1. All Believers are commanded themselves to examine and try all false Teachers Prophets and Spirits that are not of God Doctrines subverting the Faith and endangering the souls of men which is utterly inconsistent with that absolute universal Resignation of themselves unto the Guidance of the Church of Rome which is claimed by it See 1 Joh. 4. 1 2 3. 2. They are directed unto the Way Means and Rule whereby they must make this Trial and come unto the final determination in their own minds Isa. 8. 20. 2 Pet. 1. v. 19. 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. And this also is diametrically opposite unto that Resignation of themselves unto the Church of Rome which it requireth of them 3. They have a Guide promised unto them to give them an understanding of the Rule in the discharge of this Duty and to enable them to make a right and safe Determination thereon Joh 16. 13. 1 Joh. 2 26 27. These things are consistent with a Ministerial Guide such as is found in all true Churches wherein none pretend to be Lords of our Faith but only helpers of our Joy But with a Supreme Authoritative Guide requiring an absolute Resignation of our understandings and consciences unto it self they are altogether inconsistent This is the substance of our case and this is the Determination of it given us by the Holy Ghost Diversities and Divisions in Principles Opinions and Practices in Religion are supposed unto as great an height as they can beat at this day in the World Teachers speaking perverse things departures from the Faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils Teachers not enduring sound Doctrine turning away mens Ears from the Truth and turning them unto Fables false Teachers bringing in damnable Heresies denying the Lord that bought them many following their pernicious waies Spirits of false Prophets going out in the World the Spirit of Antichrist These things I say are all supposed and foretold in the Scripture In this case and state of things that we be not seduced that our souls be not ruined we are commanded our selves to try and examine all those who teach such things whether they be of God or no and by the Scripture we are to try them if we intend not to be deceived and undone for ever Unto the right understanding hereof a sure and faithful Guide is promised unto us to lead us unto all Truth so that no concernment of Religion is more plainly stated and as unto our Duty more expresly determined in the Scripture than this is It is so in a peculiar manner in the first Epistle of John the Apostle Before the end of his daies Divisions Errors Heresies began to abound in Christian Religion This he fully testifieth Chap. 4. 1 2 3 4. And Epist. the 2. 7. According unto his Duty he writes unto Believers to warn them of their danger with reference unto them that seduced them or attempted so to do chap. 2. 26. And he writes unto this purpose unto Fathers young Men and Children or professed Believers of all sorts degrees and endowments ver 12 13. and this not because they did not know the Truth but because they did know it and had experience of its Power ver 21. But in all the Directions he gives them for the discharge of their Duty so as that they might escape the dangers they were exposed unto there is not any one word any intimation that they should betake themselves unto the Guidance of this or that or any Church much less that which is called the Church of Rome But the summe of his Direction is that they should rely on the Vnction they had received from the Holy One or the Aids and Supplies of the Spirit of God to understand the Scripture in the Examination and Trial they were to make of all these things chap. 2. ver 20 27. But to preserve their Interest they tell us that these Precepts and Promises are given unto the Church and not unto individual Believers as though the Church were any thing materially but individual Believers and formally but a disposition of them into a sacred Order for their edification Man was not made for the Sabbath but the Sabbath was made for man Believers were not made for the Church but the Church is made for Believers and is of no use but with respect unto their edification And to deny all individual persons to be the first object of all Gospel Precepts and Promises Churches in what sense soever you take them being so only as they are directive of their Faith and Obedience is to exempt their consciences from the Authority of Christ to turn them into beasts and to overthrow the Gospel Let men now who take care of their own eternal Salvation place themselves in their Thoughts in that condition which the present case and their own circumstances do place them in The World the Place where they live the People whereunto they do belong are filled with different Apprehensions Principles Opinions and Practices in and about Religion Some of these as those between the Papists and the Protestants have immediate influence into their eternal condition of Blessedness or Misery as both parties contend Dreadful disorders and confusions have followed and are like to follow these differences even in this World They will in this case find that it highly concerns them to take care that they be not deceived and thereby ruined eternally as multitudes are that they be not high-minded but fear A Guide is that which they are to look after that may carry them safely through all these difficulties and dangers Two immediately offer themselves unto them tendring the utmost assurance in these things which the nature of man is capable of in this world The one is the Pope or Church of Rome which requires no more of them but a blind submission unto its Guidance a way I confess to extricate themselves and to deliver them from all care about their own souls easie and facile if safe The other is the Holy Scripture with the promised Aids of the Spirit of God to lead us unto the understanding of it and the Truth contained in it But in this way it is required of men that they make use of their own Reason Understanding Judgment Diligence with fervent Prayer for Divine Assistance The present Question is Whether of these two Guides such Persons ought to betake themselves unto I am on the consideration of one directive Reason only others shall be afterwards spoken unto And this is that the Scripture which all acknowledge to be the Word of God to speak in his Name expresly supposing this case and all the circumstances of it before laid down doth thereon frequently direct and command us to make use of this latter Guide if we desire to be saved and doth no where no not once on a supposition of this case send us unto the Guidance of the Church or Pope of Rome or any other Church whatever
Wherefore for men to suffer themselves to be inveagled their souls to be perverted and their Faith overthrown by a few captious Sophystical Reasonings of men of perverse minds pursuing their own secular Interest to turn aside from the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles in so plain evident and indisputable a case and Duty is such a folly in it self such an impiety against God such a contempt of the Lord Christ his Wisdom Authority and Care as must be eternally accounted for Thirdly The things for the most part which this pretended Guide proposeth unto and imposeth on the Consciences Faith and Practice of them who give up themselves unto its conduct are so unreasonable so contrary unto the common sense of Christians and the very first notions of the minds of men any way enlightened with the Doctrine of the Gospel so directly opposite unto the design of God in the Revelation of himself unto us and his commands concerning our Faith and Obedience that it is a thing astonishable how they should attain an access unto them who have any sense of these things But when once men have their eyâ—s bored out as they do it for themselves in the Resignation they make of their understandings and consciences unto the conduct of this Church they must grind whatever is brought unto them I shall briefly instance in some few things of this sort 1. The keeping of the Scripture from their daily and continual use I speak not directly unto them who being brought up from their infancy in that Church know nothing of the Scripture but that the Bible is an obscure dangerous Book unto all Lay-men which Hereticks make use of unto their advantage Such Persons can be contented to want it or be without it all their lives especially seeing it is full of Light and Principles inconsistent with their carnal Lusts and Interest But I speak of such who many of them like Timothy have known the Scriptures from Children and having been conversant in them have had some experience of their Power Unto such as these come Persons in the name and on the behalf of this pretended Guide And a compass of plausible words they will use fit to distract and amuse weak and unstable minds But the plain sense of what they say in this case is cast away this Bible this Book it doth but perplex you and disturb your minds with things that are above you which you cannot understand and is therefore an occasion of almost all the pernicious errors that are in the World Will not any such Person be ready to say hath God given this Book this alone as the only Revelation of his Mind and Will unto us as the Guide and Rule whereby we may come unto the eternal Enjoyment of him which you dare not directly deny hath he commanded me to Read Study Meditate and be conversant in it continually have I found the benefit of the Light counsel and consolation administred by it in my own soul and shall I now forsake it cast it away to betake my self unto your Guidance and direction shall I forsake God and Christ and the Holy Spirit all the Prophets and Apostles who daily speak unto me in and by this word to comply with you The very horror of the Proposal is enough to secure the minds of any who have the least spark of spiritual Light or Grace from a compliance with it Wherefore whether it be reasonable to leave the Word of God which is full of Light shining like the Sun in the Firmament to follow the glimmerings of this wandring Meteor which arose out of an horrible pit and there will end is left unto their consideration who take care of the eternal salvation of their own souls 2. The Solâ—mn Worship of God by the Guides of the Church in a Tongue and Language which the people do not understand is another of their Proposals This they are bound to attend unto on pain of damnation But how any thing can be more contrary unto the common sense of them who know what it is to pray in a due manner no man can conceive As unto them who do not yet is it not hard to convince them where they are not obstinate on other prejudices how irrational this Proposal is how inconsistent with that reasonable service that God requireth of us Others will say that they find hinderances and difficulties enough from and in this Duty from the weakness of their Faith and instability of their Minds the suggestions of Satan with diversions from outward objects if you add thereunto that they shall not understand a word of what is spoken in Prayer and they know well enough they shall never pray at all And the Truth is did we not know whence they took occasion for this strange contrivance so contrary to the nature of all Religion and what advantage they make of it unto themselves it could never be sufficiently admired how such a sensless Imagination should befall their Minds I do not design to shew how contrary it is to Scripture Precepts and Examples to the practice of all the Saints under the Old Testament and the New with that of the Primitive Churches and on all accounts what an abominable Sacriledge it is so to rob the Church of its chiefest Treasure it hath been done by others sufficiently I only give it as an instance how unmeet this pretended Church is to be such a Guide as whereunto we are to make an absolute Resignation of our understandings and consciences in all concerns of Religion And there is nothing that can make them who have any regard unto their own souls to reject its Guidance with more detestation Shall they accept them for their Guide in Religion who under pain of damnation confine them in all the publick Worship of the Church unto the use of a Language that they do not understand That instead of praying with their understandings they must be content with a dumb shew with postures and gestures with Altars and Pictures the antick actings of a Priest and a noise of words whose sense they know not at al If a man would seek for an Infallible Guide to Hell it is hard to find one more likely and better qualified unto that purpose than is this Church of Rome 3. There is at the same instant proposed unto us by this Guide the Doctrine of Transuâ—stantiation with the Sacrifice of the Mass thereon depending This they say we must believe at least avow that we do believe on pain of eternal and temporal destruction also But herein they require of us that on the meer credit of their conduct we must renounce the use of our senses the exercise of our Reason and actings of Faith on Divine Revelations all things whereby we are either Men or Christians that we may become blind Idolaters But they who pretending to be our Guides in Religion do thereon impose this monstrous Imagination on our credulity with the Idolatrous Practice