A rational method for proving the truth of the Christian religion, as it is professed in the Church of England in answer to A rational compendious way to convince without dispute all persons whatsoever dissenting from the true religion, by J.K. / by Gilbert Burnet.
         Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.
      
       
         
           1675
        
      
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             A rational method for proving the truth of the Christian religion, as it is professed in the Church of England in answer to A rational compendious way to convince without dispute all persons whatsoever dissenting from the true religion, by J.K. / by Gilbert Burnet.
             Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.
          
           [12], 98, [2] p.
           
             Printed for Richard Royston ...,
             London :
             MDCLXXV [1675]
          
           
             Reproduction of original in the Bodleian Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Keynes, John, 1625?-1697. -- A rational compendious way to convince without dispute all persons whatsoever.
           Church of England -- Apologetic works.
           Theology, Doctrinal -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           RATIONAL
           METHOD
           For
           proving
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           
             CHRISTIAN
             RELIGION
             ,
          
           As
           it
           is
           Professed
           in
           the
           
             Church
          
           of
           
             England
             .
          
        
         
           In
           Answer
           to
           A
           Rational
           Compendious
           Way
           to
           Convince
           without
           Dispute
           all
           persons
           whatsoever
           Dissenting
           from
           the
           true
           Religion
           ,
           By
           
             I.
             K.
             
          
        
         
           By
           
             Gilbert
             Burnet
             .
          
        
         
           
             LONDON
             ,
          
           Printed
           for
           
             Richard
             Royston
             ,
          
           Bookseller
           to
           His
           most
           Excellent
           Majesty
           ,
           M
           DC
           LXXV
           .
        
      
       
         
         
         
           To
           
             I.
             K.
             
          
        
         
           
             SIR
             ,
          
        
         
           ABout
           two
           or
           three
           months
           ago
           a
           Noble
           Lady
           gave
           me
           your
           Book
           with
           a
           Letter
           that
           addressed
           it
           to
           me
           ,
           wherein
           after
           some
           civilities
           I
           was
           desired
           to
           peruse
           the
           Book
           ,
           and
           made
           hope
           I
           should
           reap
           great
           advantages
           from
           it
           ;
           and
           indeed
           if
           I
           had
           not
           learned
           from
           the
           Inspired
           Preacher
           that
           
             there
             is
             nothing
             new
             under
             the
             Sun
             ,
          
           or
           had
           been
           easily
           catched
           to
           believe
           Novelties
           ,
           a
           Title
           and
           Preface
           that
           promised
           so
           much
           should
           have
           made
           me
           apprehend
           I
           had
           got
           sent
           me
           the
           Philosophers
           stone
           in
           Divinity
           ;
           and
           truly
           so
           short
           ,
           so
           sure
           ,
           so
           easie
           and
           so
           general
           a
           Method
           as
           you
           think
           you
           offer
           for
           curing
           and
           preventing
           all
           distempers
           about
           Religion
           ,
           deserved
           to
           be
           entertained
           with
           equal
           degrees
           of
           Joy
           and
           Astonishment
           .
           What
           a
           happiness
           were
           it
           to
           Mankind
           after
           all
           the
           expence
           
           of
           Bloud
           ,
           all
           the
           toyl
           and
           sweat
           of
           Care
           ,
           all
           the
           Speculations
           and
           Labours
           of
           the
           Learned
           ,
           and
           the
           Industry
           and
           endeavours
           of
           Statesmen
           for
           resolving
           the
           doubts
           and
           difficulties
           about
           Religion
           ,
           to
           find
           a
           shorter
           and
           a
           safer
           way
           to
           get
           out
           of
           that
           trouble
           ?
           But
           as
           the
           high
           pretences
           and
           promises
           of
           the
           Spagiricks
           make
           sober
           people
           afraid
           to
           meddle
           with
           them
           ,
           and
           do
           oft
           bring
           disesteem
           and
           neglect
           on
           the
           Medicines
           ,
           because
           they
           are
           overvalued
           :
           so
           I
           am
           afraid
           your
           Book
           shall
           have
           the
           same
           fate
           with
           clearer
           and
           unpossessed
           minds
           .
        
         
           And
           I
           must
           confess
           my self
           strongly
           prejudiced
           against
           these
           hudling
           Methods
           ,
           so
           that
           I
           always
           apprehend
           some
           Legerdemain
           from
           them
           .
           And
           the
           Title
           of
           your
           Book
           did
           very
           naturally
           lead
           me
           to
           this
           thought
           ,
           it
           being
           a
           form
           of
           Speech
           we
           in
           
             England
          
           call
           a
           
             Bull
             ,
             A
             Rational
             way
             to
             convince
             without
             any
             Dispute
             ,
          
           for
           a
           Rational
           way
           of
           Conviction
           is
           when
           upon
           a
           full
           hearing
           and
           considering
           all
           can
           be
           said
           on
           both
           sides
           of
           any
           debate
           ,
           the
           evidence
           of
           Reason
           determines
           our
           perswasion
           .
           And
           to
           form
           an
           
           opinion
           after
           we
           have
           only
           considered
           the
           grounds
           of
           one
           side
           ,
           is
           as
           unequal
           and
           unjust
           ,
           as
           for
           a
           Judge
           to
           pass
           sentence
           when
           he
           has
           heard
           but
           one
           party
           .
           Now
           Disputing
           is
           only
           the
           considering
           with
           an
           even
           ballance
           what
           all
           parties
           say
           ,
           and
           the
           suspending
           our
           Verdict
           till
           they
           have
           finished
           their
           Evidence
           .
           It
           is
           therefore
           no
           Rational
           way
           but
           a
           blind
           and
           unreasonable
           one
           that
           bars
           Disputing
           ;
           nor
           can
           it
           be
           a
           Conviction
           ,
           but
           only
           a
           prepossession
           when
           we
           are
           led
           into
           any
           Opinion
           ,
           before
           all
           that
           can
           in
           reason
           be
           said
           hath
           been
           examined
           by
           us
           .
           But
           I
           suppose
           by
           Dispute
           you
           meant
           the
           eager
           and
           hot
           contests
           of
           wrangling
           Disputants
           ,
           who
           espousing
           a
           party
           do
           with
           all
           the
           tricks
           and
           disingenuities
           of
           Sophistry
           and
           the
           petulant
           Incivilities
           of
           rude
           treatment
           ,
           manage
           debates
           as
           persons
           more
           concerned
           for
           glory
           and
           victory
           than
           for
           truth
           ;
           and
           rather
           than
           confess
           an
           escape
           and
           disclaim
           an
           error
           ,
           will
           with
           all
           the
           trifling
           arts
           of
           their
           embased
           Logick
           ,
           defend
           every
           thing
           which
           either
           they
           themselves
           have
           once
           said
           ,
           or
           that
           party
           they
           adhere
           to
           has
           maintained
           .
        
         
         
           But
           as
           I
           passed
           from
           your
           Title
           through
           your
           Preface
           to
           your
           Book
           ,
           I
           must
           freely
           confess
           I
           did
           not
           find
           in
           it
           such
           fair
           and
           clear
           Reasoning
           as
           you
           promised
           ;
           and
           I
           saw
           you
           had
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           reason
           to
           avoid
           Disputing
           :
           for
           nothing
           but
           a
           blind
           easie
           yielding
           to
           what
           you
           delivered
           could
           save
           your
           Book
           from
           being
           rejected
           .
           And
           this
           seemed
           to
           me
           so
           obvious
           ,
           that
           I
           judged
           it
           needless
           to
           engage
           in
           any
           Answer
           to
           it
           ,
           and
           so
           laid
           it
           aside
           .
           But
           a
           few
           days
           ago
           a
           worthy
           and
           learned
           friend
           of
           mine
           told
           me
           many
           wished
           some
           would
           be
           at
           the
           pains
           to
           Answer
           it
           ,
           and
           desired
           me
           to
           do
           it
           ;
           and
           when
           I
           told
           him
           how
           it
           was
           brought
           to
           my
           hands
           ,
           he
           thought
           I
           was
           under
           some
           obligation
           to
           send
           you
           the
           reasons
           that
           lay
           in
           my
           way
           and
           kept
           me
           from
           yielding
           to
           this
           new
           Method
           of
           Conviction
           .
           I
           was
           the
           more
           easily
           perswaded
           to
           it
           ,
           that
           my
           present
           circumstances
           did
           leave
           me
           at
           a
           greater
           freedom
           of
           disposing
           of
           my
           time
           than
           I
           have
           enjoyed
           for
           some
           years
           .
        
         
           The
           starched
           formality
           of
           Dedications
           is
           as
           much
           out
           of
           esteem
           with
           me
           ,
           as
           out
           of
           date
           in
           this
           freer
           age
           ;
           but
           it
           was
           
           natural
           to
           address
           this
           to
           your self
           though
           utterly
           unknown
           to
           me
           ,
           by
           any
           other
           Character
           than
           what
           your
           Book
           gives
           of
           you
           ,
           and
           so
           I
           am
           in
           no
           hazard
           of
           making
           personal
           reflections
           .
           I
           shall
           first
           give
           you
           my
           sense
           of
           your
           Method
           in
           all
           the
           Six
           points
           you
           go
           through
           ,
           before
           I
           take
           any
           notice
           of
           what
           is
           in
           your
           Preface
           ,
           which
           I
           shall
           consider
           last
           of
           all
           ,
           and
           with
           the
           same
           breath
           shall
           offer
           a
           Rational
           way
           of
           managing
           all
           Disputes
           about
           Religion
           so
           ,
           that
           after
           a
           full
           hearing
           of
           what
           may
           be
           said
           we
           may
           arrive
           at
           a
           clear
           and
           well
           grounded
           Conviction
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           .
           I
           hope
           you
           will
           consider
           what
           I
           go
           to
           lay
           before
           you
           with
           a
           mind
           calm
           and
           undisturbed
           ,
           and
           believe
           that
           in
           this
           I
           am
           acting
           the
           part
           of
           one
           who
           is
           sincerely
        
         
           
             Your
             Friend
             and
             Servant
             ,
             Gilbert
             Burnet
             .
          
        
      
       
         
           IMPRIMATUR
           ,
        
         
           
             Guliel
             .
             Wigan
             .
          
           
             
               Feb.
               27.
               1674
               
               /
               5.
               
            
          
        
      
       
         
         
           THE
           CONTENTS
           .
        
         
           
             
               CHap.
               I.
            
             It
             is
             considered
             if
             
               J.
               K.
            
             does
             prove
             convincingly
             that
             there
             is
             a
             God.
             
               Page
               1.
               
            
          
           
             
               Chap.
               II.
            
             It
             is
             considered
             if
             
               J.
               K.
            
             proves
             convincingly
             that
             there
             must
             be
             some
             true
             Religion
             .
             
               p.
               11.
               
            
          
           
             
               Chap.
               III.
            
             It
             is
             considered
             if
             
               J.
               K.
            
             proves
             convincingly
             that
             there
             must
             be
             some
             true
             Revealed
             Religion
             .
             
               p.
               17.
               
            
          
           
             
               Chap.
               IV.
            
             It
             is
             considered
             if
             
               J.
               K.
            
             hath
             proved
             convincingly
             the
             truth
             of
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             .
             
               p.
               23.
               
            
          
           
             
               Chap.
               V.
            
             It
             is
             considered
             if
             
               J.
               K.
            
             proves
             convincingly
             that
             the
             Roman
             Catholick
             Religion
             is
             true
             .
             
               p.
               33.
               
            
          
           
             
               Chap.
               VI.
            
             It
             is
             considered
             if
             
               J.
               K.
            
             proves
             convincingly
             that
             every
             thing
             the
             Roman
             Church
             teaches
             as
             an
             Article
             of
             Faith
             ,
             must
             be
             true
             .
             
               p.
               57.
               
            
          
           
             
               Chap.
               VII
               .
            
             Of
             the
             supposed
             inconveniences
             
               J.
               K.
            
             imagines
             in
             the
             want
             of
             a
             true
             Church
             to
             judge
             Infallibly
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             right
             methods
             of
             finding
             truth
             
               p.
               65.
               
            
          
        
      
       
         
         
           THE
           INTRODUCTION
           .
        
         
           NOthing
           doth
           give
           both
           occasion
           and
           nourishment
           to
           Error
           and
           Mistake
           more
           than
           the
           being
           prevailed
           on
           by
           the
           heats
           of
           fancy
           without
           bringing
           them
           under
           the
           severer
           tryal
           of
           Reason
           ;
           nor
           do
           our
           Imaginative
           powers
           in
           any
           case
           more
           certainly
           impose
           upon
           us
           ,
           than
           when
           they
           present
           Notions
           to
           us
           which
           do
           at
           once
           surprise
           with
           their
           novelty
           ,
           and
           delight
           with
           their
           apparent
           usefulness
           :
           and
           none
           are
           sooner
           catch'd
           with
           such
           a
           bait
           than
           men
           of
           Speculative
           heads
           ,
           accustomed
           to
           Disputes
           and
           to
           the
           little
           tricks
           of
           Logick
           ;
           for
           they
           being
           habituated
           to
           so
           many
           Axioms
           which
           pass
           among
           them
           for
           sacred
           Truths
           ,
           think
           ,
           if
           they
           can
           found
           a
           discourse
           on
           some
           received
           Maxim
           ,
           all
           is
           sure
           work
           ,
           and
           have
           not
           distinguished
           aright
           betwixt
           the
           Colours
           of
           Truth
           which
           Wit
           ,
           Eloquence
           and
           Sophistry
           can
           by
           a
           
           deceiving
           Perspective
           cast
           on
           the
           falsest
           Propositions
           ,
           and
           the
           close
           Contextures
           of
           Reason
           derived
           from
           the
           common
           Notices
           of
           Truth
           which
           dwell
           on
           the
           minds
           of
           all
           men
           .
        
         
           The
           subtleties
           of
           the
           Schoolmen
           did
           well
           enou●h
           in
           an
           Age
           that
           questioned
           nothing
           ;
           but
           n●w
           that
           men
           are
           throughly
           awake
           ,
           and
           having
           thrown
           off
           the
           prejudices
           of
           Custome
           and
           Education
           call
           for
           a
           fuller
           Evidence
           ,
           they
           are
           not
           the
           proper
           men
           to
           deal
           with
           this
           Age
           :
           their
           ignorance
           of
           mankind
           makes
           them
           offer
           many
           things
           as
           demonstrations
           ,
           which
           some
           even
           of
           the
           most
           trifling
           pretenders
           to
           Wit
           can
           undo
           and
           bl●w
           away
           ;
           and
           their
           being
           accustomed
           to
           their
           own
           Topicks
           ,
           not
           knowing
           how
           much
           they
           are
           rejected
           by
           men
           of
           severer
           and
           more
           searching
           Understandings
           ,
           makes
           them
           often
           beg
           the
           one
           half
           of
           the
           question
           to
           prove
           the
           other
           .
           Therefore
           whoever
           would
           deal
           with
           our
           Hectors
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           ,
           must
           know
           men
           as
           well
           as
           Noti●n●
           and
           Books
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           of
           〈◊〉
           
             Plato
          
           thought
           the
           Study
           of
           Geometry
           a
           necessary
           preparation
           to
           
           the
           understanding
           the
           higher
           Mysteries
           of
           his
           Philosophy
           :
           So
           I
           have
           often
           judged
           an
           acquaintance
           with
           Mathematical
           Arts
           and
           Sciences
           a
           fit
           and
           almost
           necessary
           preparation
           for
           a
           right
           understanding
           and
           managing
           Theological
           debates
           ;
           since
           these
           teach
           us
           to
           distinguish
           Critically
           betwixt
           truth
           and
           falshood
           ,
           and
           practise
           a
           man
           into
           an
           exact
           considering
           of
           every
           thing
           that
           is
           proposed
           to
           him
           .
        
         
           The
           want
           of
           this
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           a
           great
           overliness
           in
           it
           appears
           in
           
             J.
          
           K's
           late
           Book
           ,
           wherein
           he
           thinks
           he
           leads
           his
           Reader
           in
           a
           Mathematical
           method
           through
           a
           great
           many
           Propositions
           ,
           every
           one
           of
           which
           he
           imagines
           he
           has
           proved
           ,
           beginning
           from
           a
           very
           plain
           unquestioned
           one
           ,
           That
           something
           is
           True
           ,
           and
           ending
           it
           in
           a
           very
           fruitful
           one
           ,
           That
           every
           thing
           the
           
             Roman
          
           Church
           teaches
           as
           an
           Article
           of
           Faith
           must
           certainly
           be
           True.
           Undoubtedly
           if
           his
           method
           be
           good
           ,
           that
           Church
           is
           infinitely
           beholding
           to
           him
           for
           its
           support
           ,
           having
           offered
           an
           easier
           and
           clearer
           method
           for
           bringing
           the
           world
           under
           her
           Authority
           than
           any
           yet
           thought
           on
           .
           This
           he
           concludes
           as
           firm
           and
           sure
           of
           all
           sides
           ;
           and
           by
           
           a
           clear
           way
           of
           Analyticks
           offers
           a
           Resolution
           of
           any
           Theorem
           or
           Problem
           in
           Divinity
           even
           to
           the
           giving
           the
           Quadrature
           of
           that
           Circle
           their
           Church
           is
           forc'd
           to
           run
           round
           in
           ,
           proving
           her
           own
           Authority
           from
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           from
           her
           own
           Testimony
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           without
           any
           further
           Introduction
           enter
           into
           a
           survey
           of
           the
           Six
           Points
           proposed
           by
           
             J.
             K.
          
           to
           be
           proved
           ,
           without
           examining
           the
           unwariness
           of
           his
           expressions
           in
           any
           of
           them
           ;
           in
           which
           though
           he
           lies
           often
           open
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           of
           so
           little
           importance
           to
           quarrel
           about
           Words
           or
           forms
           of
           Speech
           ,
           that
           I
           shall
           not
           stand
           upon
           them
           :
           being
           also
           careful
           to
           avoid
           the
           engaging
           in
           any
           debate
           that
           may
           be
           personal
           betwixt
           him
           and
           me
           ,
           and
           therefore
           shall
           confine
           my
           discourse
           to
           the
           Six
           Points
           he
           has
           gone
           through
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           
             CHAP.
             I.
          
           It
           is
           considered
           ,
           if
           
             J.
             K.
          
           does
           prove
           convincingly
           that
           there
           is
           a
           God.
           
        
         
           J
           .
           K.
           thinks
           he
           hath
           proved
           the
           being
           of
           a
           God
           ,
           by
           this
           progression
           of
           Reason
           ,
           
             If
             something
             be
             true
             ,
             then
             this
             is
             true
             ,
             That
             there
             is
             something
             better
             than
             another
             ;
             which
             if
             any
             man
             deny
             he
             denies
             himself
             better
             than
             an
             Ass
             or
             a
             Block
             ,
             and
             so
             is
             either
             a
             mad
             man
             or
             a
             fool
             .
             Now
             if
             something
             be
             better
             than
             other
             ,
             then
             there
             is
             a
             best
             of
             all
             things
             ;
             and
             every
             thing
             is
             better
             as
             it
             comes
             nearer
             that
             which
             is
             best
             ,
             and
             this
             best
             of
             all
             things
             is
             God.
             
          
        
         
           
             Des
             Cartes
          
           is
           blamed
           by
           many
           for
           having
           left
           out
           all
           other
           Arguments
           for
           the
           proof
           of
           a
           Deity
           ,
           setting
           up
           only
           One
           ,
           which
           how
           strong
           soever
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           great
           injury
           to
           the
           Cause
           he
           maintains
           to
           seem
           to
           slight
           all
           other
           proofs
           may
           be
           brought
           for
           so
           sacred
           and
           fundamental
           a
           truth
           :
           Yet
           his
           establishing
           that
           upon
           a
           good
           and
           solid
           Foundation
           doth
           very
           much
           
           qualifie
           any
           guilt
           ,
           which
           is
           rather
           to
           be
           imputed
           to
           the
           over-valuing
           his
           own
           Notions
           than
           a
           designed
           betraying
           the
           Cause
           he
           undertook
           .
           But
           upon
           this
           occasion
           the
           Reader
           may
           be
           tempted
           to
           sever●r
           C●●sure
           ,
           when
           the
           Foundations
           of
           so
           great
           a
           Su●●●structure
           are
           so
           ill
           laid
           ,
           and
           both
           the
           Antecedent
           and
           Consequent
           of
           this
           Argument
           prove
           equally
           weak
           .
        
         
           And
           in
           the
           first
           place
           ,
           how
           is
           it
           proved
           ,
           that
           some
           things
           are
           better
           than
           other
           things
           ?
           or
           does
           any
           imagine
           the
           Atheists
           will
           admit
           that
           ?
           On
           the
           contrary
           they
           deny
           there
           is
           any
           thing
           morally
           good
           or
           evil
           ,
           and
           ascribe
           all
           the
           Notions
           of
           good
           and
           evil
           to
           Education
           ,
           Custom
           ,
           the
           several
           tempers
           and
           interests
           of
           men
           .
           And
           indeed
           did
           they
           acknowledge
           the
           Morality
           of
           Actions
           ,
           they
           should
           yield
           the
           full
           half
           of
           the
           Debate
           ,
           that
           men
           ought
           to
           be
           good
           ;
           which
           would
           clearly
           make
           way
           for
           proving
           all
           the
           rest
           .
           And
           these
           men
           ,
           will
           without
           any
           hesitation
           acknowledge
           themselves
           no
           better
           than
           Beasts
           or
           Blocks
           ,
           as
           to
           any
           moral
           goodness
           .
           They
           will
           not
           deny
           but
           Matter
           is
           more
           refined
           in
           a
           man
           ,
           the
           Contexture
           better
           and
           the
           Usefulness
           greater
           than
           in
           other
           Animals
           :
           but
           as
           to
           any
           moral
           goodness
           they
           plainly
           disclaim
           it
           .
           As
           though
           Wood
           be
           never
           so
           neatly
           wrought
           in
           a
           fi●e
           and
           useful
           Cabinet
           ,
           yet
           is
           no
           better
           so
           than
           when
           it
           was
           an
           undressed
           Plank
           as
           to
           any
           moral
           goodness
           .
        
         
         
           Thus
           it
           appears
           that
           
             I.
          
           K's
           ignorance
           of
           men
           makes
           him
           stumble
           in
           his
           first
           attempt
           ,
           nor
           is
           his
           next
           more
           successful
           ;
           for
           though
           some
           things
           be
           better
           ,
           it
           will
           not
           follow
           there
           is
           a
           best
           :
           for
           of
           every
           sort
           of
           Beings
           there
           are
           some
           Individuals
           better
           than
           other
           ;
           but
           from
           that
           it
           does
           not
           follow
           there
           must
           be
           a
           best
           of
           that
           rank
           or
           order
           of
           Creatures
           :
           because
           one
           Horse
           is
           swifter
           ,
           one
           Dog
           better
           scented
           ,
           one
           Lyon
           stronger
           ,
           therefore
           must
           there
           be
           a
           Horse
           swifter
           than
           all
           others
           ,
           a
           Dog
           the
           best
           scented
           of
           any
           ,
           and
           a
           Lyon
           stronger
           than
           any
           other
           Lyon
           ?
           This
           may
           be
           applied
           to
           all
           the
           Species
           of
           Creatures
           :
           for
           all
           the
           goodness
           these
           people
           admit
           ,
           being
           only
           a
           better
           temper
           of
           more
           nimbly
           agitated
           Matter
           ,
           though
           one
           thing
           excel
           another
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           because
           it
           comes
           nearer
           the
           best
           of
           all
           Beings
           ,
           nor
           because
           it
           recedes
           further
           from
           the
           worst
           of
           all
           Beings
           ,
           but
           because
           it
           is
           more
           wieldy
           ,
           more
           apt
           to
           serve
           the
           several
           uses
           and
           interests
           of
           men
           ;
           without
           rising
           higher
           to
           consider
           any
           Or●ginal
           and
           Standart
           goodness
           .
           Nor
           w●ll
           this
           any
           more
           prove
           the
           being
           of
           one
           that
           is
           〈◊〉
           all
           ,
           than
           because
           some
           men
           are
           sharper
           sighted
           ,
           others
           stronger
           limb●d
           ,
           others
           of
           a
           better
           digestion
           ,
           and
           others
           of
           a
           better
           tempered
           health
           ;
           that
           therefore
           there
           must
           be
           one
           that
           h●●
           the
           sharpest
           sight
           of
           all
           men
           ,
           the
           strongest
           limbs
           ,
           the
           best
           d●gestion
           and
           the
           most
           constant
           health
           .
        
         
         
           Besides
           ,
           though
           an
           Atheist
           did
           admit
           there
           were
           some
           beings
           Morally
           better
           and
           worse
           ,
           this
           does
           not
           prove
           there
           must
           be
           a
           best
           of
           all
           Beings
           ;
           for
           he
           may
           say
           that
           as
           naturally
           as
           Colours
           fit
           the
           eye
           and
           Sounds
           the
           ear
           ,
           so
           some
           Notions
           of
           good
           are
           suitable
           to
           the
           minds
           of
           men
           ,
           and
           their
           being
           better
           and
           worse
           is
           nothing
           but
           their
           keeping
           more
           close
           to
           these
           Notions
           ,
           discerning
           them
           more
           truly
           and
           following
           them
           more
           constantly
           :
           so
           that
           as
           a
           man
           sees
           well
           when
           his
           eye
           does
           present
           objects
           to
           him
           in
           their
           due
           Colours
           and
           distances
           ,
           yet
           this
           proves
           no
           Deity
           ;
           in
           like
           manner
           a
           man
           is
           better
           or
           worse
           as
           he
           discerns
           and
           follows
           these
           common
           Notices
           more
           or
           less
           exactly
           .
        
         
           Thus
           far
           I
           have
           considered
           this
           Argument
           ,
           and
           have
           found
           it
           so
           weak
           on
           all
           sides
           ,
           that
           no
           weight
           is
           to
           be
           laid
           on
           it
           at
           all
           .
           But
           all
           this
           while
           I
           have
           been
           put
           to
           act
           a
           very
           unpleasant
           part
           ,
           when
           I
           did
           but
           seem
           to
           defend
           Atheism
           from
           any
           objection
           is
           brought
           against
           it
           ;
           but
           I
           know
           nothing
           that
           does
           more
           prejudice
           a
           good
           cause
           ,
           than
           when
           it
           is
           maintained
           by
           arguments
           palpably
           weak
           and
           unconcluding
           ;
           for
           it
           makes
           many
           overly
           considerers
           ,
           and
           more
           particularly
           those
           that
           are
           already
           byassed
           and
           partial
           ,
           imagine
           it
           has
           no
           more
           strength
           in
           it
           than
           what
           it
           receives
           from
           the
           Arguments
           by
           which
           it
           was
           proved
           ▪
           since
           no
           conclusion
           (
           as
           such
           )
           can
           have
           more
           truth
           in
           it
           than
           was
           in
           the
           premises
           from
           which
           it
           was
           deduced
           .
           If
           therefore
           
           the
           proving
           of
           a
           Deity
           be
           made
           good
           ,
           by
           an
           Argument
           so
           fallacious
           that
           it
           must
           needs
           appear
           such
           at
           first
           view
           ,
           one
           that
           is
           wickedly
           partial
           may
           from
           that
           be
           sortified
           in
           his
           accursed
           hopes
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           none
           ,
           because
           he
           finds
           that
           so
           much
           feared
           truth
           is
           so
           weakly
           asserted
           .
           But
           that
           I
           do
           not
           leave
           the
           Atheists
           in
           a
           vain
           triumph
           ,
           or
           seem
           to
           weaken
           so
           good
           a
           Cause
           ,
           by
           blowing
           away
           any
           reasons
           brought
           for
           it
           without
           substituting
           other
           and
           better
           ones
           in
           their
           room
           ,
           I
           shall
           here
           say
           a
           little
           for
           the
           conviction
           of
           an
           Atheist
           .
        
         
           First
           then
           ,
           all
           men
           are
           desired
           to
           consider
           there
           is
           no
           Argument
           that
           can
           so
           much
           as
           pretend
           to
           prove
           there
           is
           no
           God
           ,
           or
           that
           a
           supreme
           being
           infinitely
           perfect
           is
           impossible
           ;
           for
           all
           the
           Atheists
           offer
           at
           ,
           is
           only
           to
           weaken
           those
           Reasons
           from
           which
           the
           belief
           of
           a
           Deity
           is
           inferred
           :
           so
           that
           still
           it
           is
           possible
           there
           may
           be
           a
           God.
           And
           from
           this
           every
           man
           will
           see
           cause
           to
           retire
           his
           thoughts
           inwards
           to
           consider
           what
           danger
           he
           is
           in
           ,
           if
           there
           be
           a
           God
           and
           he
           continue
           to
           deny
           and
           despise
           him
           ;
           and
           if
           it
           be
           possible
           there
           be
           a
           God
           ,
           for
           ought
           he
           knows
           there
           may
           be
           one
           ,
           since
           he
           has
           no
           reason
           to
           be
           assured
           of
           the
           contrary
           .
        
         
           If
           upon
           this
           he
           yield
           so
           far
           as
           seriously
           and
           with
           even
           ballances
           to
           weigh
           what
           shall
           be
           offered
           to
           him
           ,
           he
           is
           next
           desired
           to
           consider
           if
           he
           find
           not
           within
           himself
           the
           secret
           apprehensions
           
           of
           a
           Supreme
           invisible
           being
           ,
           if
           the
           fears
           of
           offending
           him
           ,
           the
           desire
           of
           his
           assistance
           ,
           the
           joy
           in
           the
           opinion
           of
           being
           acceptable
           to
           him
           ,
           do
           not
           often
           spring
           up
           in
           his
           mind
           ,
           and
           this
           even
           after
           all
           attempts
           to
           stifle
           and
           repress
           them
           .
           Nor
           can
           this
           be
           only
           the
           effect
           of
           Education
           ,
           for
           every
           man
           finds
           by
           experience
           that
           all
           other
           things
           which
           he
           sucked
           from
           his
           breeding
           can
           by
           a
           little
           care
           and
           attention
           be
           so
           quite
           forsaken
           ,
           that
           no
           visage
           of
           the
           first
           impression
           shall
           remain
           .
           Since
           therefore
           these
           thoughts
           stick
           closer
           ,
           there
           must
           be
           somewhat
           more
           than
           Education
           in
           the
           case
           .
        
         
           But
           this
           will
           appear
           stronger
           if
           a
           man
           compare
           the
           thoughts
           and
           common
           sentiments
           of
           all
           Nations
           and
           Ages
           as
           far
           as
           either
           History
           or
           writings
           can
           lead
           us
           up
           ,
           with
           these
           stirring
           within
           his
           own
           breast
           ;
           where
           finding
           that
           all
           mankind
           have
           agreed
           in
           the
           belief
           of
           a
           Deity
           ,
           he
           must
           needs
           be
           convinced
           there
           is
           some
           proportion
           betwixt
           his
           Soul
           and
           these
           thoughts
           from
           which
           he
           is
           not
           to
           be
           shaken
           ,
           though
           he
           meet
           with
           some
           few
           in
           this
           or
           former
           Ages
           who
           have
           denied
           or
           doubted
           this
           truth
           ,
           for
           these
           can
           never
           be
           set
           up
           against
           such
           vast
           numbers
           as
           have
           agreed
           in
           this
           belief
           ,
           who
           have
           been
           always
           the
           most
           sober
           ,
           most
           serious
           and
           considering
           persons
           ,
           who
           have
           cultivated
           all
           Arts
           and
           Sciences
           ,
           and
           advanced
           the
           good
           of
           Mankind
           more
           than
           the
           whole
           Tribe
           of
           Libertines
           and
           Ruffians
           ,
           who
           having
           abandoned
           
           themselves
           to
           their
           sensual
           appetites
           and
           pleasures
           ,
           and
           neglected
           the
           improving
           their
           minds
           in
           any
           thing
           that
           is
           either
           Great
           or
           Good
           ,
           are
           not
           to
           be
           put
           in
           the
           ballance
           with
           the
           Religious
           .
           What
           have
           they
           ever
           done
           to
           better
           Mankind
           ?
           On
           the
           contrary
           their
           Maxims
           dissolve
           all
           the
           Nerves
           of
           Government
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           duties
           we
           owe
           one
           another
           ;
           and
           they
           being
           buried
           in
           their
           brutal
           lusts
           ,
           have
           lost
           that
           clearness
           of
           discerning
           which
           men
           of
           more
           sober
           tempers
           have
           :
           nor
           do
           they
           ever
           converse
           with
           their
           own
           minds
           ,
           but
           study
           to
           guard
           against
           serious
           Thoughts
           ,
           as
           effects
           of
           the
           Spleen
           and
           Melancholy
           ;
           and
           the
           dissoluteness
           of
           their
           Lives
           as
           it
           depraves
           their
           Understandings
           ,
           so
           it
           makes
           them
           partial
           to
           those
           Notions
           ,
           that
           may
           give
           them
           ease
           and
           sleep
           in
           their
           licentious
           practises
           .
           And
           thus
           he
           that
           consults
           his
           own
           thoughts
           and
           the
           common
           verdict
           of
           all
           Mankind
           ,
           will
           be
           made
           acknowledge
           a
           Deity
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           he
           open
           his
           eyes
           to
           look
           on
           the
           visible
           world
           ,
           this
           will
           furnish
           him
           with
           many
           Reasons
           to
           believe
           an
           invisible
           power
           that
           made
           it
           .
           If
           we
           consider
           the
           Revolutions
           of
           the
           heavens
           ,
           the
           interchanges
           of
           day
           and
           night
           ,
           summer
           and
           winter
           ,
           the
           figure
           of
           the
           earth
           ,
           its
           division
           into
           Sea
           and
           Land
           ,
           by
           which
           all
           Nations
           communicate
           what
           they
           abound
           in
           to
           others
           ,
           the
           inequalities
           of
           Hills
           and
           Valleys
           ,
           the
           Lakes
           and
           Rivers
           that
           moisten
           the
           earth
           ,
           and
           give
           drink
           to
           Anim●●●
           ,
           the
           many
           product●o●s
           of
           
           the
           Earth
           ,
           the
           great
           variety
           of
           Plants
           and
           Vegetables
           with
           their
           several
           uses
           ,
           besides
           the
           more
           inward
           riches
           of
           the
           Earth
           ,
           Mines
           and
           Minerals
           :
           what
           man
           of
           common
           sense
           can
           ascribe
           all
           this
           to
           Fate
           or
           Chance
           ?
           But
           the
           Structure
           of
           Animals
           ,
           the
           Organs
           of
           Sense
           ,
           the
           Vessels
           of
           Concoctions
           ,
           the
           various
           Ferments
           ,
           and
           the
           skilfully
           disposed
           Channels
           for
           conveying
           nourishment
           to
           all
           the
           parts
           of
           the
           Body
           ,
           raises
           our
           wonder
           higher
           which
           ,
           is
           at
           its
           full
           height
           when
           we
           examine
           the
           parts
           of
           mans
           Body
           ,
           which
           amazed
           
             Galen
             ,
          
           and
           made
           him
           sing
           a
           Hymn
           to
           his
           Maker
           ,
           upon
           so
           astonishing
           a
           Meditation
           .
           If
           the
           Brain
           and
           seat
           of
           Memory
           and
           Imagination
           be
           considered
           ,
           what
           a
           surprizing
           thing
           is
           it
           to
           find
           such
           a
           substance
           the
           Receptacle
           of
           so
           many
           various
           Impressions
           as
           make
           up
           all
           the
           words
           of
           every
           Language
           we
           speak
           ,
           the
           figures
           of
           all
           persons
           ,
           places
           and
           things
           we
           have
           seen
           or
           considered
           ,
           and
           that
           all
           these
           be
           so
           well
           disposed
           that
           we
           can
           draw
           them
           out
           when
           we
           please
           in
           so
           ready
           and
           natural
           an
           order
           ,
           and
           also
           that
           all
           words
           flow
           so
           easily
           through
           our
           Mouths
           ?
        
         
           Now
           this
           must
           either
           be
           the
           effect
           of
           Fate
           ,
           or
           Chance
           ,
           or
           of
           an
           intelligent
           wise
           Being
           .
           Not
           of
           Fate
           ,
           for
           beside
           that
           they
           cannot
           explain
           what
           that
           Fate
           should
           be
           ,
           every
           thing
           that
           flows
           from
           a
           Natural
           Cause
           must
           always
           operate
           the
           〈◊〉
           way
           ;
           but
           the
           great
           diversities
           of
           mens
           Tem●ers
           ,
           Apprehensions
           and
           Judgments
           ,
           the
           
           difference
           of
           their
           Faces
           ,
           Eyes
           ,
           way
           of
           Speaking
           ,
           Writing
           and
           Walking
           shew
           that
           they
           are
           not
           the
           effects
           of
           Fate
           .
           Nor
           can
           so
           much
           Regularity
           and
           parts
           so
           useful
           and
           well
           ▪
           disposed
           ,
           have
           run
           so
           together
           by
           Chance
           ,
           which
           must
           needs
           be
           unequal
           and
           unconstant
           .
           So
           that
           mans
           Formation
           must
           owe
           its
           Original
           to
           a
           wise
           Being
           ;
           and
           that
           this
           is
           not
           the
           wisdom
           of
           the
           Father
           and
           Mother
           ,
           every
           one
           knows
           :
           therefore
           there
           must
           be
           some
           unseen
           wise
           Being
           that
           created
           the
           Universe
           ,
           and
           did
           not
           only
           at
           first
           set
           the
           several
           parts
           of
           it
           in
           those
           Channels
           wherein
           they
           still
           run
           ,
           but
           does
           continue
           to
           mould
           this
           Matter
           according
           to
           the
           designs
           of
           his
           Eternal
           mind
           .
        
         
           All
           this
           receives
           a
           further
           Confirmation
           from
           the
           many
           sudden
           changes
           of
           the
           Course
           of
           Nature
           at
           the
           command
           of
           some
           extraordinary
           persons
           who
           have
           forced
           her
           out
           of
           her
           common
           Methods
           and
           Operations
           ,
           which
           is
           an
           evident
           demonstration
           there
           is
           somewhat
           Superior
           to
           Matter
           and
           Motion
           ,
           which
           can
           over-rule
           and
           govern
           it
           .
           This
           having
           appeared
           often
           in
           the
           sight
           of
           many
           thousands
           of
           discerning
           and
           impartial
           witnesses
           ,
           who
           have
           both
           confessed
           and
           attested
           the
           truth
           of
           what
           they
           saw
           and
           heard
           ,
           we
           have
           no
           reason
           to
           doubt
           the
           matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           and
           as
           little
           to
           question
           the
           being
           of
           a
           Deity
           who
           is
           Master
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           can
           do
           in
           it
           and
           with
           it
           what
           he
           will.
           
        
         
         
           Thus
           far
           have
           I
           considered
           upon
           what
           true
           and
           solid
           grounds
           the
           belief
           of
           a
           Deity
           must
           rest
           ,
           which
           are
           indeed
           such
           that
           we
           need
           not
           the
           help
           of
           any
           little
           piece
           of
           Sophistry
           to
           maintain
           them
           ;
           they
           require
           only
           a
           serious
           and
           thinking
           temper
           to
           examine
           and
           weigh
           things
           in
           a
           fair
           and
           Rational
           way
           ,
           without
           either
           the
           prejudices
           of
           Education
           or
           the
           partialities
           of
           lust
           and
           interest
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           
             CHAP.
             II.
          
           It
           is
           considered
           ,
           if
           
             J.
             K.
          
           proves
           convincingly
           that
           there
           must
           be
           some
           true
           Religion
           .
        
         
           THE
           next
           step
           
             I.
             K.
          
           makes
           ,
           is
           to
           prove
           that
           there
           must
           be
           a
           true
           Religion
           ,
           which
           he
           defines
           ,
           
             A
             Doctrine
             that
             teaches
             men
             in
             what
             manner
             God
             will
             be
             worshipped
             by
             them
             ,
             and
             in
             what
             matters
             he
             will
             be
             obeyed
             by
             them
             .
          
           Now
           he
           proves
           this
           ,
           
             for
             if
             there
             be
             a
             true
             God
             ,
             we
             ought
             to
             worship
             him
             in
             what
             manner
             he
             will
             be
             worshiped
             by
             ,
             and
             obey
             him
             in
             what
             matters
             he
             will
             be
             obeyed
             by
             us
             ,
             as
             subjects
             and
             servants
             reverence
             and
             ●bey
             their
             Soveraigns
             and
             Masters
             .
             Therefore
             if
             God
             be
             the
             best
             and
             greatest
             of
             all
             things
             ,
             we
             are
             his
             subjects
             and
             servants
             ,
             for
             certainly
             he
             is
          
           the
           
             supreme
             Governour
             of
             the
             Universe
             ;
          
           and
           this
           he
           thinks
           none
           
             who
             grant
             a
             true
             God
             can
             deny
             ,
             and
             this
             way
             of
             Worship
             must
             be
             assigned
             by
             God
             and
             men
             must
             know
             it
             .
          
        
         
           This
           is
           the
           substance
           of
           what
           
             I.
             K.
          
           says
           on
           this
           head
           ,
           which
           is
           so
           extremely
           weak
           and
           ill
           proved
           that
           I
           am
           amazed
           he
           did
           not
           see
           it
           .
           For
           he
           must
           remember
           he
           only
           pretended
           there
           was
           a
           Being
           best
           of
           all
           others
           .
           Now
           though
           that
           were
           true
           ,
           it
           will
           not
           follow
           from
           that
           ,
           
           that
           I
           must
           Worship
           or
           Obey
           God
           ,
           much
           less
           that
           I
           am
           his
           subject
           and
           servant
           :
           all
           that
           will
           follow
           being
           only
           ,
           that
           I
           ought
           to
           esteem
           him
           the
           best
           of
           all
           Beings
           ;
           but
           why
           Adore
           or
           Obey
           him
           ,
           and
           why
           am
           I
           his
           servant
           or
           subject
           ?
        
         
           Adoration
           and
           Obedience
           can
           only
           be
           exacted
           as
           acts
           either
           of
           Justice
           ,
           Gratitude
           or
           Interest
           .
           If
           any
           have
           a
           right
           to
           my
           Worship
           or
           Obedience
           ,
           they
           are
           due
           to
           him
           in
           Justice
           ;
           or
           if
           he
           have
           put
           such
           Obligations
           on
           me
           that
           these
           are
           but
           a
           proportioned
           return
           and
           acknowledgment
           of
           them
           ,
           then
           they
           are
           due
           in
           Gratitude
           ;
           or
           if
           he
           be
           able
           to
           confer
           extraordinary
           favours
           ,
           or
           inflict
           most
           severe
           punishments
           ,
           then
           the
           avoiding
           his
           displeasure
           and
           the
           procuring
           his
           favour
           are
           necessary
           on
           the
           account
           of
           my
           own
           Interest
           ,
           and
           so
           I
           must
           study
           to
           please
           him
           by
           Worship
           and
           Obedience
           :
           but
           nothing
           of
           all
           this
           will
           follow
           if
           it
           be
           only
           proved
           that
           there
           is
           a
           best
           of
           Beings
           ,
           which
           is
           all
           
             I.
             K.
          
           attempted
           .
        
         
           And
           hence
           it
           was
           that
           though
           the
           
             Epicureans
          
           acknowledged
           such
           a
           Deity
           as
           he
           thinks
           he
           has
           proved
           ,
           yet
           they
           denying
           both
           Creation
           ,
           Providence
           and
           another
           State
           ,
           did
           throw
           off
           the
           care
           and
           thoughts
           of
           Religion
           as
           the
           effects
           of
           fear
           and
           superstition
           .
           And
           
             I.
             K.
          
           defining
           Religion
           to
           be
           
             a
             Doctrine
             teaching
             us
             to
             worship
             and
             obey
             God
             so
             as
             he
             will
             have
             us
             do
             ,
             goes
             to
             prove
             there
             must
             be
             a
             Religion
             ,
             because
             if
             there
             be
             a
          
           
           
             God
             ,
             he
             must
             be
             Worshipped
             and
             Obeyed
             so
             as
             pleases
             him
             .
          
           Now
           this
           being
           his
           definition
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           by
           consequence
           all
           one
           with
           it
           ,
           he
           proves
           that
           
             if
             there
             be
             a
             God
             ,
             there
             must
             be
             a
             Religion
             ,
          
           thus
           :
           
             if
             there
             be
             a
             true
             God
             ,
             there
             must
             be
             a
             true
             Religion
             .
          
           And
           how
           Sophistical
           a
           way
           of
           procedure
           this
           is
           ,
           common
           sense
           ,
           not
           to
           say
           Logick
           ,
           does
           make
           appear
           .
           And
           thus
           he
           is
           again
           unhappy
           in
           this
           his
           second
           step
           .
        
         
           But
           as
           in
           the
           former
           Section
           I
           judged
           it
           ne-necessary
           to
           substitute
           some
           better
           proofs
           of
           a
           Deity
           than
           he
           gave
           ;
           so
           I
           shall
           now
           offer
           ●ome
           stronger
           Arguments
           to
           prove
           there
           must
           be
           a
           Religion
           .
           And
           first
           ,
           if
           God
           be
           the
           Creator
           of
           all
           things
           and
           the
           Author
           of
           our
           beings
           ,
           as
           was
           already
           proved
           ;
           then
           we
           are
           his
           subjects
           by
           that
           right
           of
           Creation
           and
           owe
           our
           Nature
           ,
           Reason
           and
           Life
           wholly
           to
           him
           .
           Therefore
           as
           in
           justice
           we
           ought
           to
           acknowledge
           this
           by
           our
           thankful
           Praises
           and
           Adorations
           ;
           so
           we
           ought
           by
           the
           same
           justice
           to
           give
           our selves
           up
           to
           him
           ,
           and
           do
           and
           suffer
           what
           he
           will
           have
           us
           do
           and
           suffer
           .
           And
           this
           is
           confirmed
           by
           those
           impressions
           of
           Awe
           and
           Reverence
           which
           ,
           as
           was
           before
           proved
           ,
           the
           greatest
           and
           best
           ,
           nay
           and
           often
           the
           worst
           part
           of
           Mankind
           feel
           on
           their
           hearts
           .
           Which
           with
           the
           checks
           and
           pangs
           of
           Conscience
           for
           sins
           ,
           shews
           how
           Religion
           is
           natural
           to
           the
           Soul
           ,
           and
           proportioned
           to
           our
           faculties
           .
           Again
           ,
           if
           God
           created
           the
           world
           and
           all
           things
           in
           it
           ,
           he
           must
           uphold
           ,
           preserve
           
           and
           govern
           his
           own
           workmanship
           ,
           which
           the
           regular
           course
           of
           Nature
           ,
           with
           the
           dayly
           productions
           of
           it
           ,
           do
           demonstrate
           .
           And
           it
           is
           no
           less
           clear
           from
           the
           extraordinary
           and
           miraculous
           interruptions
           and
           changes
           ,
           which
           by
           his
           great
           power
           are
           given
           to
           the
           common
           course
           of
           Second
           causes
           .
           Now
           if
           there
           be
           a
           supreme
           Providence
           that
           watcheth
           over
           all
           humane
           things
           ,
           and
           from
           whose
           care
           all
           the
           blessings
           o●
           this
           life
           flow
           upon
           us
           ;
           then
           we
           ought
           to
           make
           returns
           sutable
           to
           such
           favours
           ,
           and
           likewise
           implore
           the
           continuance
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           Finally
           ,
           if
           there
           be
           a
           God
           that
           made
           and
           governs
           all
           things
           ,
           ●e
           must
           be
           both
           so
           good
           and
           so
           just
           as
           to
           protect
           and
           reward
           all
           who
           trust
           in
           him
           and
           serve
           him
           ,
           this
           being
           the
           natural
           result
           of
           justice
           and
           goodness
           ;
           and
           there
           must
           be
           some
           discrimination
           between
           those
           that
           worship
           and
           obey
           him
           ,
           and
           those
           that
           do
           not
           so
           .
           Now
           this
           is
           not
           done
           in
           this
           life
           ;
           for
           often
           those
           who
           Fear
           and
           Love
           him
           are
           in
           great
           Miseries
           ▪
           Pains
           and
           Troubles
           ,
           and
           live
           and
           die
           most
           uncomfortably
           ,
           whereas
           those
           who
           dishonour
           and
           disobey
           him
           ▪
           are
           often
           in
           great
           honour
           and
           esteem
           ,
           and
           abound
           in
           all
           outward
           advantages
           ;
           nor
           is
           there
           any
           visible
           discrimination
           in
           this
           Life
           :
           yet
           that
           being
           inseparable
           from
           the
           notion
           of
           justice
           and
           goodness
           ,
           it
           must
           certainly
           be
           done
           at
           some
           time
           or
           other
           .
           Since
           therefore
           it
           is
           not
           in
           this
           Life
           ,
           it
           must
           be
           in
           another
           ,
           therefore
           we
           must
           believe
           our
           Souls
           
           shall
           outlive
           this
           state
           .
           When
           likewise
           we
           consider
           ,
           that
           Matter
           in
           all
           its
           subtilest
           refinings
           and
           nimblest
           motions
           gives
           no
           discoveries
           of
           Sense
           or
           Cogitation
           ,
           and
           yet
           we
           feel
           a
           Thinking
           being
           within
           us
           ,
           which
           we
           plainly
           perceive
           to
           be
           a
           Being
           different
           from
           Matter
           both
           in
           its
           actings
           and
           nature
           ,
           we
           conclude
           there
           is
           a
           principle
           in
           us
           that
           must
           not
           necessarily
           die
           at
           the
           dissolution
           of
           this
           life
           .
           Which
           is
           confirmed
           from
           innumerable
           stories
           of
           the
           Apparitions
           of
           some
           Rational
           beings
           separated
           from
           Bodies
           which
           in
           all
           Ages
           and
           places
           of
           the
           world
           have
           abounded
           ,
           and
           are
           as
           certainly
           attested
           as
           ever
           any
           matter
           of
           Fact
           hath
           been
           .
           Which
           shews
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           Beings
           distinct
           from
           Matter
           ;
           and
           that
           our
           Souls
           are
           such
           ,
           their
           subtle
           reasonings
           both
           Metaphysical
           and
           Mathematical
           do
           demonstrate
           .
        
         
           Their
           surviving
           this
           Body
           is
           also
           gathered
           from
           their
           frequent
           ascent
           above
           material
           Figures
           and
           Phantasms
           in
           their
           Conceptions
           and
           Inferences
           ;
           which
           shews
           ,
           they
           do
           not
           so
           much
           depend
           on
           matter
           as
           not
           to
           outlive
           their
           union
           with
           it
           .
           In
           fine
           ;
           The
           common
           apprehensions
           which
           all
           Thinking
           men
           ,
           in
           all
           Ages
           ,
           have
           owned
           ,
           and
           which
           appears
           in
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           all
           both
           good
           and
           bad
           at
           their
           death
           ,
           shews
           the
           belief
           of
           this
           is
           among
           those
           common
           Notices
           of
           truth
           which
           are
           born
           with
           the
           Soul.
           
        
         
         
           From
           all
           which
           I
           may
           fairly
           assume
           ,
           That
           there
           is
           another
           state
           in
           which
           our
           Souls
           surviving
           their
           union
           with
           our
           Bodies
           shall
           be
           rewarded
           or
           punished
           as
           they
           have
           deserved
           well
           or
           ill
           at
           the
           hands
           of
           the
           great
           Creator
           and
           Judge
           of
           all
           men
           .
           And
           therefore
           if
           our
           own
           interests
           touch
           us
           or
           prevail
           upon
           us
           ,
           and
           the
           apprehensions
           of
           future
           rewards
           or
           punishments
           work
           on
           our
           fears
           or
           hopes
           ,
           we
           must
           carefully
           avoid
           all
           dishonouring
           ,
           disobeying
           or
           offending
           this
           God
           ;
           and
           with
           the
           same
           care
           we
           must
           study
           to
           acknowledge
           our
           beings
           are
           of
           him
           and
           for
           him
           ,
           and
           that
           all
           the
           blessings
           of
           this
           Life
           are
           the
           effects
           of
           his
           Bounty
           ,
           for
           which
           we
           must
           thank
           him
           ;
           and
           adoring
           his
           blessed
           Attributes
           and
           Perfections
           we
           must
           dedicate
           our
           whole
           Lives
           to
           his
           service
           :
           that
           so
           we
           may
           still
           enjoy
           his
           favour
           here
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           next
           life
           receive
           the
           rewards
           of
           good
           and
           faithful
           servants
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           upon
           good
           and
           solid
           foundations
           I
           have
           built
           up
           this
           proposition
           ,
           That
           there
           must
           be
           some
           true
           Religion
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           
             CHAP
             III.
          
           It
           is
           considered
           if
           
             J.
             K.
          
           proves
           convincingly
           that
           there
           must
           be
           some
           true
           Revealed
           Religion
           .
        
         
           J.
           K.
           goes
           on
           to
           prove
           this
           Religion
           must
           be
           Revealed
           ,
           which
           he
           performs
           thus
           :
           
             How
             can
             we
             know
             Gods
             will
             unless
             he
             Reveal
             it
             to
             us
             either
             immediately
             or
             mediately
             ?
             For
             natural
             Religion
             teaches
             only
             in
             general
             that
             we
             ought
             to
             Worship
             and
             Obey
             God
             ,
             but
             does
             not
             teach
             the
             particular
             manner
             or
             matters
             of
             this
             Worship
             and
             Obedience
             :
             therefore
             there
             is
             a
             necessity
             of
             this
             Revelation
             .
             Yea
             ,
             if
             God
             had
             left
             this
             to
             the
             Choice
             of
             every
             one
             ,
             yet
             at
             least
             that
             must
             be
             revealed
             .
          
        
         
           In
           this
           Reasoning
           
             I.
             K.
          
           hath
           forgot
           a
           very
           necessary
           distinction
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           into
           that
           which
           is
           communicated
           naturally
           to
           the
           Soul
           ,
           and
           that
           which
           is
           superadded
           by
           some
           extraordinary
           manifestation
           or
           inspiration
           .
           In
           the
           former
           sence
           it
           cannot
           be
           denyed
           ,
           but
           it
           is
           necessary
           there
           be
           a
           Revelation
           of
           Religion
           :
           but
           that
           is
           not
           what
           
             I.
             K.
          
           drives
           at
           .
           Now
           he
           must
           be
           very
           ignorant
           if
           he
           does
           not
           know
           that
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           the
           Philosophers
           believed
           there
           were
           on
           the
           Souls
           of
           all
           men
           such
           inscriptions
           
           of
           Truth
           ,
           that
           if
           all
           should
           purifie
           their
           minds
           from
           the
           defilements
           Lust
           superinduced
           upon
           them
           ,
           they
           should
           then
           clearly
           discern
           every
           thing
           that
           the
           Deity
           enjoyned
           them
           ;
           and
           therefore
           they
           looked
           upon
           Inspiration
           as
           a
           degree
           of
           madness
           ,
           which
           was
           only
           incident
           to
           weaker
           minds
           ,
           whose
           imaginative
           powers
           were
           too
           hard
           for
           their
           reasons
           .
           And
           indeed
           they
           knew
           so
           much
           of
           the
           juglings
           of
           their
           Oracles
           ,
           that
           no
           wonder
           they
           studied
           to
           detract
           from
           their
           Authority
           all
           they
           could
           .
           Now
           I
           desire
           
             I.
             K.
          
           will
           review
           his
           discourse
           ,
           and
           see
           what
           strong
           or
           good
           reasons
           it
           offers
           for
           the
           conviction
           of
           those
           of
           this
           perswasion
           .
           So
           that
           his
           Argument
           proving
           only
           that
           God
           must
           reveal
           how
           he
           will
           be
           Worshipped
           and
           Obeyed
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           replyed
           that
           it
           is
           done
           to
           all
           men
           by
           those
           common
           Notices
           of
           Truth
           that
           are
           born
           with
           their
           Souls
           ,
           he
           hath
           furnished
           us
           with
           nothing
           to
           prove
           a
           further
           Revelation
           necessary
           .
        
         
           To
           make
           good
           this
           therefore
           against
           the
           Philosophers
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           to
           be
           denied
           but
           if
           mankind
           had
           continued
           in
           the
           purity
           wherein
           God
           did
           create
           our
           Natures
           ,
           their
           Reasons
           were
           strong
           ,
           but
           they
           themselves
           complained
           of
           a
           great
           depravation
           of
           their
           Natures
           ,
           which
           they
           found
           were
           much
           prevailed
           on
           by
           Senses
           and
           sensible
           objects
           ,
           by
           Education
           ,
           Custome
           ,
           Corporeal
           pleasure
           ,
           and
           the
           power
           of
           Fancy
           .
           And
           for
           clearing
           of
           this
           they
           apprehended
           another
           Prior
           state
           wherein
           our
           Souls
           for
           some
           
           trespass
           had
           lost
           their
           wings
           and
           plumes
           ,
           and
           so
           were
           degraded
           into
           Bodies
           .
           This
           shews
           they
           found
           some
           corruption
           on
           their
           Nature
           from
           which
           they
           studied
           to
           emerge
           ;
           and
           did
           indeed
           attempt
           most
           gloriously
           the
           recovering
           themselves
           to
           their
           first
           original
           .
           This
           being
           then
           confessed
           that
           our
           minds
           are
           much
           darkned
           ,
           and
           that
           our
           bodies
           ,
           appetites
           and
           fancies
           are
           too
           strong
           for
           them
           ,
           it
           will
           thence
           very
           naturally
           follow
           ,
           that
           as
           our
           reasons
           cannot
           discover
           all
           things
           to
           us
           ,
           so
           that
           our
           way
           of
           apprehending
           of
           divine
           things
           may
           carry
           along
           with
           it
           much
           of
           a
           body
           and
           gross
           phantasms
           .
        
         
           This
           was
           evidently
           demonstrated
           in
           that
           numberless
           variety
           of
           Opinions
           into
           which
           all
           Nations
           were
           divided
           about
           Religion
           ;
           a
           great
           mixture
           of
           bodily
           phantasms
           ,
           and
           gross
           pleasures
           appearing
           both
           in
           their
           opinions
           and
           practises
           about
           Religion
           .
           Nor
           was
           this
           only
           the
           fate
           of
           the
           Rabble
           ,
           but
           both
           
             Tully
          
           and
           
             Varro
          
           have
           given
           us
           an
           account
           of
           the
           great
           diversity
           was
           among
           Philosophers
           about
           the
           very
           Notion
           and
           Nature
           of
           a
           Deity
           .
           And
           if
           they
           differed
           so
           much
           in
           their
           thoughts
           of
           that
           primitive
           and
           first
           Truth
           ,
           into
           how
           many
           divisions
           may
           we
           imagine
           they
           must
           have
           run
           about
           the
           other
           Truths
           to
           be
           deduced
           from
           that
           ?
        
         
           Since
           therefore
           men
           did
           so
           grope
           after
           all
           the
           disputes
           and
           speculations
           of
           Philosophers
           in
           which
           there
           was
           no
           certainty
           ,
           nor
           had
           any
           
           of
           them
           such
           plenary
           Authority
           as
           to
           oblige
           others
           to
           submit
           to
           their
           decision
           ;
           thence
           I
           infer
           the
           necessity
           of
           some
           clear
           and
           certain
           way
           for
           satisfying
           all
           mankind
           in
           things
           of
           so
           great
           and
           universal
           concern
           .
           The
           Speculations
           of
           Philosophers
           were
           neither
           certain
           nor
           (
           such
           as
           they
           were
           )
           evident
           to
           men
           of
           weaker
           understandings
           ;
           the
           only
           way
           therefore
           to
           avoid
           this
           ,
           was
           either
           to
           make
           such
           plain
           and
           glorious
           Manifestations
           of
           God's
           presence
           and
           pleasure
           as
           the
           
             Iews
          
           had
           on
           mount
           
             Sinai
          
           and
           in
           their
           most
           holy
           place
           ,
           or
           to
           authorize
           some
           men
           by
           divine
           Inspirations
           to
           reveal
           God's
           will
           to
           mankind
           Now
           there
           is
           no
           impossibility
           in
           the
           notion
           of
           an
           
             Inspiration
             .
          
           For
           if
           we
           make
           known
           our
           thoughts
           to
           one
           another
           ,
           either
           by
           forming
           such
           a
           ●ound
           ,
           or
           writing
           such
           Characters
           as
           shall
           convey
           into
           the
           ears
           or
           eyes
           of
           others
           Corporeal
           Impressions
           from
           which
           they
           may
           judge
           of
           our
           thoughts
           ,
           which
           is
           a
           great
           way
           about
           and
           much
           more
           unintelligible
           (
           though
           we
           are
           very
           sure
           it
           is
           true
           )
           then
           that
           a
           spirit
           shall
           communicate
           its
           thoughts
           to
           our
           understandings
           ,
           which
           it
           may
           either
           do
           by
           such
           outward
           impressions
           on
           our
           senses
           as
           bring
           the
           thoughts
           of
           other
           men
           to
           our
           knowledge
           ,
           or
           without
           these
           outward
           objects
           may
           make
           the
           same
           Impressions
           on
           our
           Brain
           .
           And
           like
           to
           this
           ,
           are
           the
           impressions
           made
           on
           us
           in
           sleep
           ,
           in
           which
           we
           imagine
           we
           converse
           with
           the
           objects
           of
           sense
           .
           Or
           finally
           ,
           without
           the
           means
           of
           any
           Corporeal
           phantasms
           ,
           a
           spirit
           ,
           especiaally
           
           the
           supreme
           and
           soveraign
           spirit
           ,
           may
           immediately
           convey
           to
           our
           understanding
           its
           pleasure
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           our
           understandings
           do
           receive
           hints
           from
           gross
           phantasms
           ,
           which
           is
           a
           great
           deal
           harder
           to
           conceive
           than
           this
           .
        
         
           Thus
           the
           Atheist
           can
           propose
           nothing
           that
           will
           prove
           there
           can
           be
           no
           Inspiration
           :
           but
           there
           is
           great
           necessity
           of
           guarding
           this
           both
           from
           the
           juglings
           of
           Impostors
           and
           the
           more
           innocent
           though
           no
           less
           hurtful
           deceits
           of
           our
           heated
           fancies
           ,
           which
           may
           obtrude
           their
           Notions
           on
           us
           as
           Divine
           ;
           especially
           in
           some
           in
           whom
           the
           Spleen
           or
           hysterical
           distempers
           may
           produce
           strange
           effects
           :
           therefore
           this
           must
           be
           well
           proved
           ,
           and
           warranted
           before
           others
           are
           bound
           to
           acknowledge
           or
           submit
           to
           it
           ,
           nor
           must
           the
           great
           heats
           and
           divine
           Raptures
           of
           the
           inspired
           person
           ingage
           our
           belief
           .
           We
           know
           how
           the
           
             Sibylls
          
           were
           said
           to
           be
           inspired
           ,
           and
           with
           what
           Bacchick
           fury
           many
           heathen
           Priests
           delivered
           some
           of
           their
           Impostures
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           dayly
           seen
           what
           strange
           appearances
           of
           inspiration
           are
           in
           hysterical
           persons
           .
           Therefore
           it
           must
           be
           accompanied
           with
           such
           other
           extraordinary
           Characters
           as
           can
           neither
           be
           the
           forgeries
           of
           Juglers
           nor
           the
           vapours
           of
           the
           Spleen
           or
           Mother
           ;
           and
           these
           are
           Miracles
           or
           Prophecies
           which
           are
           certain
           indications
           of
           some
           extraordinary
           and
           supernatural
           presence
           with
           the
           inspired
           persons
           .
        
         
         
           And
           thus
           far
           I
           have
           helped
           
             I.
             K.
          
           to
           prove
           the
           necessity
           of
           Revelation
           for
           the
           ascertaining
           mankind
           of
           the
           Worship
           and
           Obedience
           that
           God
           requires
           ,
           and
           have
           met
           with
           the
           great
           objections
           which
           Deists
           and
           other
           enemies
           to
           Revelation
           bring
           against
           it
           .
           But
           I
           now
           follow
           him
           to
           his
           fourth
           proposition
           about
           the
           truth
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           
             CHAP.
             IV.
          
           It
           is
           considered
           if
           
             J.
             K.
          
           hath
           proved
           convincingly
           the
           truth
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           .
        
         
           J.
           K.
           goes
           on
           in
           his
           Series
           of
           truths
           ,
           and
           his
           next
           attempt
           is
           to
           prove
           the
           truth
           of
           Christian
           Religion
           .
           And
           indeed
           the
           Atheism
           that
           hath
           of
           late
           broke
           out
           in
           the
           world
           and
           in
           upon
           us
           ,
           hath
           engaged
           so
           many
           excellent
           pens
           of
           all
           the
           parties
           and
           divisions
           of
           Christendom
           to
           stand
           up
           in
           vindication
           of
           our
           most
           holy
           Faith
           with
           so
           much
           closeness
           of
           Reason
           ,
           that
           it
           may
           be
           justly
           a
           problem
           ,
           whether
           that
           pestiferous
           contagion
           hath
           not
           occasioned
           as
           much
           good
           to
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           by
           the
           many
           admirable
           Treatises
           have
           been
           writ
           for
           it
           upon
           that
           account
           ,
           as
           it
           hath
           done
           hurt
           by
           its
           own
           venome
           .
           But
           to
           see
           
             I.
             K.
          
           manage
           so
           glorious
           a
           Cause
           so
           poorly
           and
           so
           faintly
           ,
           after
           all
           that
           light
           which
           these
           Books
           offer
           ,
           does
           justly
           raise
           Indignation
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           plain
           he
           was
           afraid
           to
           bring
           out
           the
           strongest
           proofs
           for
           it
           ,
           lest
           it
           should
           appear
           there
           was
           much
           more
           to
           be
           said
           for
           the
           Verity
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           than
           can
           be
           for
           the
           Roman
           :
           but
           
             I.
             K.
          
           being
           resolved
           to
           prove
           there
           was
           no
           more
           to
           be
           said
           for
           the
           one
           than
           for
           the
           other
           ,
           and
           therefore
           would
           manage
           this
           Cause
           faintly
           ,
           that
           he
           might
           maintain
           the
           other
           more
           strongly
           ,
           and
           so
           it
           seems
           cares
           not
           with
           how
           slender
           Evidence
           
           ●e
           assert
           the
           truth
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           so
           that
           the
           truth
           of
           the
           Roman
           Religion
           be
           but
           as
           undisputed
           .
        
         
           His
           great
           Argument
           for
           its
           truth
           is
           ,
           
             That
             it
             hath
             been
             miraculously
             propagated
             ,
             which
             could
             not
             have
             been
             without
             true
             and
             real
             Miracles
             ,
             and
             these
             are
             manifest
             proofs
             of
             that
             truth
             which
             they
             confirm
             .
             Now
             since
             Christian
             Religion
             ,
             though
             it
             contains
             Mysteries
             far
             above
             the
             reach
             of
             humane
             reason
             ,
             and
             severities
             contrary
             to
             humane
             Inclinations
             ,
             yet
             has
             been
             propagated
             without
             the
             help
             of
             Arms
             or
             humane
             enticements
             ,
             by
             men
             of
             themselves
             unfit
             for
             so
             great
             a
             work
             ,
             and
             hath
             overcome
             other
             Religions
             which
             were
             both
             well
             established
             and
             preached
             liberty
             and
             pleasures
             .
          
        
         
           
             Then
             this
             was
             either
             done
             with
             Miracles
             or
             without
             them
             ;
             if
             with
             them
             ,
             it
             is
             confessed
             there
             were
             Miracles
             ;
             if
             without
             them
             ,
             such
             a
             propagation
             must
             be
             confessed
             to
             be
             a
             Miracle
             .
          
           This
           is
           the
           substance
           of
           what
           
             I.
             K.
          
           brings
           for
           the
           proof
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           .
        
         
           But
           this
           alone
           cannot
           satisfie
           a
           considering
           mind
           .
           For
           it
           is
           acknowledged
           by
           all
           who
           believe
           any
           Religion
           ,
           that
           the
           power
           of
           evil
           spirits
           is
           very
           great
           ,
           and
           far
           above
           ours
           ;
           so
           that
           Miracles
           cannot
           determine
           my
           belief
           ,
           since
           there
           must
           go
           somewhat
           previous
           to
           that
           .
           Therefore
           
             Moses
          
           told
           the
           people
           of
           
             Israel
             ,
          
           that
           though
           a
           Prophet
           
           
           by
           a
           Sign
           or
           wonder
           did
           amuse
           them
           ,
           and
           upon
           that
           perswaded
           them
           to
           go
           after
           other
           gods
           ,
           they
           should
           not
           hearken
           to
           that
           Prophet
           ,
           but
           put
           him
           to
           Death
           .
           And
           S.
           
             Paul
          
           tells
           us
           ,
           that
           if
           an
           Angel
           from
           
           heaven
           should
           preach
           another
           Gospel
           ,
           he
           must
           be
           anathematized
           .
           So
           that
           Miracles
           or
           other
           extraordinary
           apparitions
           do
           not
           prove
           a
           Prophet
           .
        
         
           Therefore
           the
           first
           and
           great
           Argument
           for
           the
           proof
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           is
           ,
           the
           purity
           of
           the
           Doctrine
           ,
           and
           the
           holiness
           of
           its
           precepts
           ,
           which
           are
           all
           so
           congruous
           to
           the
           common
           Impressions
           of
           nature
           and
           reason
           ;
           and
           this
           must
           prove
           ,
           (
           as
           our
           Saviour
           himself
           taught
           us
           )
           that
           his
           Miracles
           were
           true
           ones
           ,
           and
           not
           wrought
           by
           the
           Prince
           of
           Devils
           ,
           since
           his
           Doctrine
           
           is
           opposite
           and
           destructive
           of
           his
           Interest
           and
           Kingdom
           .
           And
           our
           Saviour
           also
           asserts
           the
           truth
           of
           what
           he
           said
           ,
           most
           commonly
           from
           this
           Topick
           ,
           that
           he
           came
           not
           to
           do
           his
           own
           will
           but
           the
           will
           of
           him
           that
           sent
           him
           ,
           that
           he
           sought
           not
           himself
           nor
           his
           own
           honour
           ,
           but
           his
           Father's
           .
        
         
           Again
           our
           Saviour
           asserts
           his
           authority
           from
           the
           Prophecies
           of
           
             Moses
          
           and
           the
           other
           inspired
           persons
           of
           that
           Dispensation
           ,
           whose
           predictions
           of
           the
           
             Messias
          
           did
           all
           agree
           to
           him
           and
           receive
           completion
           in
           him
           .
           And
           from
           these
           our
           Saviour
           
           often
           silenced
           the
           
             Iews
             ;
          
           and
           this
           is
           to
           us
           still
           a
           strong
           Argument
           ,
           that
           these
           Books
           which
           the
           enemies
           and
           blasphemers
           of
           our
           Religion
           have
           still
           kept
           as
           sacred
           ,
           and
           had
           among
           them
           for
           some
           thousands
           of
           years
           ,
           do
           give
           such
           clear
           and
           evident
           Characters
           of
           our
           Saviour
           as
           their
           
             Messias
             ,
          
           as
           must
           needs
           convince
           every
           serious
           and
           sober
           enquirer
           .
        
         
           These
           are
           the
           chief
           and
           great
           proofs
           of
           the
           authority
           of
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           by
           which
           we
           are
           assured
           that
           all
           the
           mighty
           works
           he
           did
           ,
           were
           by
           the
           presence
           and
           wonderful
           assistance
           of
           a
           Divine
           spirit
           .
           And
           for
           the
           Miracles
           themselves
           
             I.
             K.
          
           would
           resolve
           all
           our
           certainty
           concerning
           them
           into
           a
           miraculous
           propagation
           of
           Christianity
           .
           So
           that
           if
           there
           be
           no
           other
           certain
           way
           to
           prove
           them
           ,
           then
           if
           Christian
           Religion
           had
           not
           been
           so
           propagated
           as
           it
           was
           ,
           it
           could
           not
           have
           been
           made
           out
           that
           it
           was
           true
           ;
           and
           if
           so
           ,
           what
           must
           have
           been
           the
           strong
           Arguments
           used
           for
           it
           before
           it
           was
           so
           propagated
           ?
           Either
           these
           were
           convincing
           or
           not
           ;
           if
           they
           were
           not
           convincing
           ,
           then
           it
           being
           propagated
           by
           weak
           and
           unconcluding
           Arguments
           ,
           we
           cannot
           be
           bound
           to
           submit
           to
           it
           or
           believe
           it
           ;
           if
           these
           Arguments
           were
           convincing
           ,
           we
           either
           know
           them
           ,
           or
           we
           know
           them
           not
           ;
           if
           we
           know
           them
           not
           ,
           how
           can
           we
           judge
           they
           were
           convincing
           ?
           if
           we
           know
           them
           ,
           then
           we
           may
           be
           as
           well
           convinced
           by
           them
           as
           those
           were
           to
           whom
           they
           were
           at
           first
           proposed
           .
        
         
         
           The
           great
           Argument
           the
           Apostles
           offered
           was
           ,
           that
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           wrought
           many
           Miracles
           in
           the
           sight
           of
           the
           
             Iews
             ,
          
           and
           that
           he
           being
           dead
           and
           laid
           in
           the
           grave
           was
           raised
           from
           the
           dead
           ,
           and
           after
           a
           long
           stay
           with
           them
           on
           earth
           they
           saw
           him
           ascend
           with
           great
           glory
           to
           Heaven
           ;
           of
           all
           which
           they
           were
           witnesses
           .
           Now
           these
           being
           matters
           of
           Fact
           so
           positively
           attested
           by
           so
           many
           eye-witnesses
           who
           were
           men
           of
           great
           probity
           ,
           (
           that
           could
           not
           be
           cast
           on
           the
           pretence
           of
           their
           being
           hired
           or
           bribed
           ,
           there
           being
           no
           interest
           could
           lead
           them
           to
           give
           that
           testimony
           but
           only
           truth
           ,
           all
           other
           considerations
           deterring
           them
           from
           it
           )
           there
           was
           good
           reason
           then
           ,
           and
           remains
           so
           still
           to
           believe
           this
           true
           ,
           whether
           the
           world
           had
           embraced
           it
           or
           not
           .
           And
           I
           will
           ask
           
             I.
             K.
          
           what
           if
           the
           
             Gentiles
          
           had
           rejected
           their
           testimony
           as
           well
           as
           the
           
             Iews
          
           did
           ?
           yet
           if
           these
           sacred
           writings
           had
           been
           with
           a
           most
           Religious
           care
           conveyed
           down
           to
           us
           ,
           had
           we
           not
           been
           bound
           to
           believe
           the
           Gospel
           ?
           certainly
           we
           had
           ,
           for
           the
           Apostles
           were
           men
           ,
           who
           upon
           the
           strictest
           tryal
           of
           Law
           must
           be
           admitted
           as
           competent
           witnesses
           ;
           they
           were
           well
           informed
           of
           what
           they
           heard
           ,
           and
           saw
           for
           a
           tract
           of
           three
           or
           four
           years
           ;
           they
           were
           plain
           simple
           men
           who
           could
           not
           in
           reason
           be
           suspect
           of
           deep
           designs
           or
           contrivances
           ;
           they
           in
           the
           testimonies
           they
           gave
           do
           not
           only
           vouch
           private
           stories
           that
           were
           transacted
           in
           corners
           ,
           but
           publick
           matters
           seen
           and
           
           known
           of
           many
           hundreds
           ;
           they
           all
           agreed
           in
           their
           testimony
           ,
           so
           that
           the
           fumes
           of
           melancholy
           could
           not
           lead
           so
           many
           into
           such
           an
           agreement
           of
           mistakes
           .
           Their
           testimonies
           if
           false
           might
           have
           been
           easily
           disproved
           ,
           the
           chief
           power
           being
           in
           the
           hands
           of
           their
           enemies
           ,
           who
           neither
           wanted
           power
           ,
           cunning
           nor
           malice
           .
           And
           in
           fine
           ,
           the
           truth
           of
           their
           testimony
           appears
           in
           their
           constant
           adhering
           to
           it
           ,
           from
           which
           neither
           imprisonments
           ,
           whippings
           ,
           tortures
           ,
           no
           not
           death
           it self
           could
           divert
           them
           .
        
         
           From
           all
           which
           it
           is
           as
           evident
           as
           is
           possible
           any
           matter
           of
           Fact
           can
           be
           ,
           that
           their
           testimony
           was
           true
           ,
           and
           this
           discourse
           must
           hold
           good
           whether
           the
           world
           had
           received
           and
           believed
           their
           report
           or
           not
           .
           Which
           was
           the
           more
           fully
           confirmed
           by
           the
           miraculous
           operations
           of
           the
           Apostles
           in
           the
           name
           of
           Christ
           ,
           by
           which
           they
           did
           cast
           out
           Devils
           and
           cure
           all
           manner
           of
           diseases
           ;
           and
           to
           this
           they
           appeal
           in
           their
           Epistles
           and
           Acts
           which
           were
           published
           at
           that
           time
           wherein
           had
           the
           matter
           of
           Fact
           not
           been
           true
           ,
           they
           had
           been
           branded
           as
           bold
           and
           impudent
           Impostors
           .
        
         
           We
           have
           also
           a
           Series
           of
           Books
           in
           all
           Ages
           citing
           the
           Writings
           wherein
           these
           Testimonies
           are
           contained
           ;
           by
           which
           we
           know
           they
           were
           written
           at
           that
           very
           time
           .
           And
           the
           Apologists
           for
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           in
           their
           Apologies
           appeal
           to
           the
           wonders
           that
           were
           still
           wrought
           for
           
           confirmation
           of
           the
           Faith
           ;
           nor
           can
           we
           imagine
           ,
           that
           men
           of
           common
           sense
           ,
           not
           to
           say
           Modesty
           and
           Ingenuity
           ,
           would
           have
           appealed
           to
           proofs
           that
           were
           slender
           and
           false
           in
           matter
           of
           Fact.
           
        
         
           Thus
           we
           see
           that
           great
           confirmation
           of
           our
           Saviour
           from
           his
           Miracles
           is
           made
           good
           by
           another
           way
           of
           proof
           than
           by
           the
           propagation
           of
           it
           ,
           which
           I
           do
           not
           deny
           doth
           very
           strongly
           make
           out
           the
           truth
           of
           all
           ,
           yet
           is
           rather
           a
           consequent
           confirmation
           of
           what
           hath
           been
           said
           ,
           than
           an
           antecedent
           argument
           for
           proving
           it
           .
           So
           though
           it
           be
           far
           from
           my
           thoughts
           to
           weaken
           this
           way
           of
           confirming
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           plain
           that
           an
           extraordinary
           propagation
           will
           not
           infer
           the
           truth
           of
           the
           Doctrine
           ,
           though
           it
           be
           allowed
           it
           was
           done
           by
           Miracles
           ;
           since
           we
           cannot
           be
           assured
           these
           Miracles
           are
           wrought
           by
           a
           good
           Spirit
           till
           we
           first
           consider
           the
           Doctrines
           they
           confirm
           ,
           whether
           they
           be
           good
           or
           not
           .
           It
           doth
           also
           appear
           that
           the
           truth
           of
           these
           Miracles
           is
           made
           out
           abundantly
           to
           us
           ,
           abstracting
           from
           the
           way
           of
           propagating
           them
           .
        
         
           But
           in
           end
           we
           must
           a
           little
           examine
           what
           this
           way
           of
           propagating
           them
           was
           ,
           and
           we
           shall
           find
           that
           notwithstanding
           all
           the
           calumnies
           and
           lesser
           persecutions
           of
           the
           
             Iews
             ,
          
           of
           the
           derision
           of
           the
           Philosophers
           ,
           of
           the
           prejudice
           carnal
           lusts
           and
           appetites
           laid
           in
           the
           way
           ;
           and
           above
           all
           ,
           of
           the
           violent
           oppositions
           given
           it
           
           by
           the
           Roman
           Emperors
           who
           spared
           no
           cruelty
           for
           a
           Succession
           of
           three
           Ages
           and
           ten
           Persecutions
           that
           hell
           or
           hellish
           men
           could
           devise
           for
           destroying
           it
           :
           yet
           it
           prevailed
           ,
           and
           in
           a
           few
           years
           did
           spread
           to
           the
           astonishment
           of
           the
           world
           ;
           and
           all
           other
           Religions
           were
           not
           only
           overthrown
           by
           the
           many
           Converts
           were
           daily
           flocking
           in
           to
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           but
           by
           the
           ruine
           of
           these
           very
           Religions
           .
           Judaism
           fell
           to
           the
           ground
           by
           the
           subversion
           of
           their
           Temple
           ,
           and
           the
           total
           ruine
           and
           dispersion
           of
           their
           State
           begun
           by
           
             Vespasian
          
           and
           
             Titus
             ,
          
           and
           compleated
           by
           
             Trajan
          
           and
           
             Hadrian
             ;
          
           nor
           could
           their
           attempts
           though
           cherished
           by
           an
           apostate
           Emperour
           succeed
           for
           the
           rebuilding
           their
           Temple
           ,
           Heaven
           and
           Earth
           combining
           to
           break
           off
           the
           work
           .
           Heathenism
           did
           also
           receive
           a
           mortal
           blow
           ,
           by
           the
           silencing
           the
           Oracles
           upon
           the
           beginnings
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           which
           were
           the
           great
           supports
           of
           that
           Religion
           with
           the
           vulgar
           .
           And
           the
           exemplary
           lives
           ,
           the
           heavenly
           Doctrines
           ,
           the
           mutual
           Charity
           ,
           and
           the
           noble
           Constancy
           of
           the
           first
           Witnesses
           and
           Martyrs
           of
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           ,
           wrought
           not
           a
           little
           on
           all
           that
           beheld
           th●m
           ,
           even
           on
           such
           as
           were
           very
           partial
           and
           byassed
           against
           them
           .
           And
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           being
           thus
           universally
           received
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           a
           very
           full
           demonstration
           that
           these
           Miracles
           were
           no
           forgeries
           ,
           but
           known
           and
           approved
           truths
           :
           So
           also
           it
           confirms
           in
           us
           a
           belief
           ,
           that
           there
           was
           an
           extraordinary
           presence
           of
           God
           in
           these
           beginnings
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           
           assisting
           and
           animating
           those
           Converts
           of
           all
           Ages
           ,
           Sexes
           and
           Qualities
           to
           adhere
           to
           it
           under
           all
           the
           discouragements
           and
           sufferings
           they
           were
           to
           pass
           through
           ,
           whether
           occasioned
           by
           the
           irregular
           appetites
           of
           their
           own
           carnal
           lusts
           ,
           or
           by
           the
           outward
           oppositions
           they
           met
           with
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           far
           I
           have
           considered
           how
           the
           truth
           of
           Christian
           Religion
           can
           be
           made
           out
           against
           the
           opposition
           of
           Atheists
           ,
           Infidels
           or
           Deists
           .
           Hitherto
           I
           have
           waited
           on
           
             I.
             K.
          
           in
           the
           survey
           of
           these
           Truths
           about
           which
           we
           are
           agreed
           ,
           and
           I
           hope
           ,
           upon
           a
           review
           of
           what
           we
           have
           both
           performed
           ,
           he
           will
           not
           deny
           but
           I
           have
           strengthened
           his
           Positions
           with
           the
           accession
           of
           many
           more
           ,
           and
           better
           Arguments
           than
           any
           he
           brought
           .
           So
           that
           if
           he
           be
           in
           earnest
           zealous
           for
           these
           four
           great
           Truths
           ,
           he
           will
           rejoyce
           to
           see
           such
           a
           supplement
           ,
           to
           what
           he
           had
           so
           scantly
           proposed
           .
           But
           I
           am
           afraid
           (
           and
           perhaps
           not
           without
           reason
           )
           that
           he
           knowing
           how
           weak
           his
           Arguments
           must
           needs
           be
           for
           the
           two
           positions
           that
           follow
           ,
           and
           yet
           designing
           to
           impose
           on
           the
           Reader
           all
           the
           Six
           as
           equally
           certain
           ,
           he
           would
           needs
           disguise
           the
           first
           Four
           ,
           and
           propose
           them
           so
           weakly
           guarded
           ,
           that
           the
           proofs
           of
           all
           the
           Six
           might
           be
           of
           a
           piece
           .
           But
           I
           have
           hitherto
           helped
           
             I.
             K.
          
           henceforth
           I
           quit
           that
           part
           ,
           and
           go
           to
           enter
           in
           a
           down-right
           opposition
           to
           him
           in
           what
           remains
           .
        
      
       
         
         
         
           
             CHAP
             ▪
             V.
          
           It
           is
           considered
           ,
           if
           
             J.
             K.
          
           proves
           convincingly
           that
           the
           Roman
           Catholick
           Religion
           is
           true
           .
        
         
           J.
           
             K.
          
           now
           comes
           to
           that
           which
           he
           drove
           at
           all
           along
           and
           proves
           it
           thus
           :
           
             If
             Christian
             Religion
             be
             true
             ,
             then
             that
             Religion
             which
             has
             the
             same
             proofs
             that
             it
             hath
             ,
             at
             least
             any
             of
             them
             that
             are
             solid
             ,
             must
             needs
             be
             true
             .
             Since
             then
             the
             miraculous
             propagation
             of
             Christianity
             is
             a
             common
             ,
             solid
             and
             evident
             proof
             of
             its
             truth
             ,
             therefore
             the
             Roman
             Catholick
             Religion
             must
             be
             true
             since
             it
             is
             solidly
             proved
             by
             the
             like
             propagation
             ;
             for
             though
             it
             contains
             very
             hard
             Mysteries
             in
             it
             above
             the
             reach
             of
             humane
             reason
             ,
             as
             Transubstantiation
             ,
             and
             some
             very
             hard
             Precepts
             and
             Counsells
             ,
             as
             Vows
             ,
             Fasts
             ,
             Confession
             ,
             prohibition
             for
             Priests
             to
             marry
             ,
          
           &c.
           
             yet
             it
             hath
             been
             propagated
             over
             a
             great
             part
             of
             the
             world
             without
             the
             help
             of
             Arms
             or
             humane
             Enticements
             ,
             by
             strangers
             who
             have
             converted
             Nations
             from
             Paganism
             to
             embrace
             the
             Christian
             Faith
             ,
             as
             S.
          
           Austin
           
             the
             Monk
             did
             in
          
           England
           ,
           
             and
          
           Xaverius
           
             in
             the
          
           Indies
           ,
           
             and
             many
             others
             in
             other
             places
             ,
             which
             can
             be
             manifestly
             proved
             from
             History
             ,
             nor
             can
             any
             exception
             be
             made
             against
             it
             ,
             which
             the
             enemies
             of
             Christianity
             may
             not
             make
             against
             the
          
           
           
             same
             pro●f
             brought
             for
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             .
             And
             to
             use
             S.
          
           Austin's
           
             dilemma
             ,
             This
             propagation
             of
             Roman
             Catholick
             Religion
             was
             either
             with
             or
             without
             Miracles
             :
             if
             with
             Miracles
             ,
             it
             must
             be
             true
             ,
             since
             confirmed
             by
             Miracles
             ;
             if
             without
             them
             ,
             then
             no
             Miracle
             is
             greater
             than
             this
             propagation
             .
             By
             which
             it
             appears
             ,
             we
             have
             as
             good
             ground
             to
             be
             Roman
             Catholicks
             ,
             as
             we
             have
             to
             be
             Christians
             .
          
        
         
           By
           this
           time
           I
           suppose
           it
           is
           clear
           enough
           why
           
             I.
             K.
          
           would
           bring
           no
           better
           proofs
           for
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ;
           and
           now
           he
           thinks
           he
           has
           gained
           his
           design
           :
           but
           what
           I
           said
           in
           the
           former
           Section
           has
           undermined
           this
           Fabrick
           ,
           since
           it
           is
           made
           out
           that
           the
           miraculous
           propagation
           is
           neither
           the
           only
           nor
           the
           chief
           proof
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           but
           that
           before
           we
           believe
           even
           the
           Miracles
           of
           our
           Saviour
           to
           be
           of
           God
           ,
           two
           things
           were
           to
           be
           made
           out
           ;
           the
           one
           that
           his
           Doctrine
           was
           all
           holy
           and
           such
           as
           tended
           to
           the
           glory
           of
           God
           ;
           the
           other
           was
           ,
           that
           all
           he
           said
           and
           delivered
           agreed
           with
           the
           Prophecies
           had
           gone
           before
           .
           So
           by
           the
           same
           rule
           of
           proceeding
           we
           must
           first
           see
           that
           all
           the
           parts
           of
           the
           Roman
           Religion
           are
           holy
           and
           such
           as
           tend
           to
           the
           glory
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           then
           ,
           that
           they
           〈◊〉
           as
           fully
           with
           both
           the
           Testaments
           ,
           as
           our
           Saviours
           Doctrine
           did
           with
           
             〈◊〉
          
           and
           the
           Prophets
           .
        
         
         
           If
           this
           Method
           be
           taken
           I
           am
           afraid
           
             I.
             K.
          
           will
           find
           it
           a
           hard
           task
           to
           prove
           the
           holin●●s
           of
           all
           the
           Roman
           Doctrines
           .
           What
           a
           Sanctuary
           for
           all
           manner
           of
           Vice
           and
           Impiety
           is
           the
           〈◊〉
           ▪
           power
           of
           Dispensing
           ,
           Pardoning
           and
           giving
           Indulgences
           for
           all
           sins
           upon
           such
           trifling
           accounts
           ?
           Witness
           the
           present
           year
           with
           all
           the
           favours
           and
           Indulgences
           to
           such
           as
           go
           to
           the
           thresholds
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ?
           What
           a
           patrociny
           to
           impenitence
           is
           their
           Opinion
           ,
           of
           a
           simple
           Attrition
           being
           sufficient
           for
           the
           Sacrament
           ?
           And
           the
           whole
           trade
           of
           their
           penances
           and
           absolutions
           looks
           like
           a
           design
           to
           quiet
           all
           mens
           Consciences
           ,
           let
           them
           lead
           as
           bad
           lives
           as
           they
           will.
           Besides
           ,
           who
           can
           believe
           that
           to
           be
           a
           true
           Religion
           ,
           that
           has
           tolerated
           a
           great
           many
           Casuists
           who
           have
           found
           out
           distinctions
           to
           excuse
           men
           from
           all
           the
           duties
           they
           owe
           God
           and
           their
           Neighbour
           ?
           and
           have
           studied
           to
           satisfie
           men
           in
           the
           most
           impious
           and
           immoral
           practises
           ?
           A
           woman
           that
           entertains
           common
           and
           avowed
           Prostitutes
           will
           never
           be
           thought
           an
           honest
           woman
           ,
           though
           none
           could
           prove
           her self
           guilty
           of
           any
           base
           act
           .
           So
           that
           Church
           that
           not
           only
           entertains
           but
           cherishes
           those
           who
           have
           studied
           to
           discharge
           mankind
           of
           all
           sense
           of
           Religion
           and
           Vertue
           ,
           can
           never
           pass
           for
           a
           pure
           Church
           .
           Nor
           does
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           that
           Church
           tend
           wholly
           to
           the
           glory
           of
           God
           as
           our
           Saviours
           did
           ;
           for
           what
           greater
           dishonour
           can
           be
           done
           him
           than
           to
           Worship
           him
           in
           a
           way
           which
           himself
           
           has
           so
           often
           condemned
           ,
           and
           never
           since
           allowed
           ,
           by
           the
           representations
           of
           Pictures
           and
           Images
           ?
           And
           that
           instead
           of
           addressing
           their
           Adorations
           and
           Prayers
           to
           him
           by
           his
           Son
           ,
           have
           found
           out
           a
           great
           many
           other
           Mediators
           both
           Angels
           and
           Saints
           and
           the
           Blessed
           Virgin
           ?
           Surely
           this
           is
           highly
           to
           the
           dishonour
           of
           God
           ,
           when
           the
           Souls
           of
           people
           are
           turned
           off
           from
           their
           Faith
           ,
           and
           dependence
           on
           him
           and
           his
           blessed
           Son
           into
           a
           trusting
           to
           and
           calling
           on
           Creatures
           ;
           and
           when
           instead
           of
           that
           plain
           simple
           and
           rational
           Worship
           that
           is
           sutable
           to
           the
           Divine
           nature
           and
           pleasing
           to
           him
           ,
           the
           mimical
           pageantry
           of
           a
           Thousand
           little
           apish
           practises
           and
           an
           unknown
           Worship
           are
           brought
           into
           his
           Church
           .
        
         
           If
           we
           likewise
           consider
           and
           measure
           the
           Roman
           Religion
           by
           the
           second
           great
           Topick
           by
           which
           our
           Saviour
           cleared
           himself
           ,
           which
           was
           his
           appealing
           to
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           we
           will
           quickly
           find
           good
           reason
           to
           suspect
           them
           guilty
           there
           ,
           since
           they
           study
           nothing
           more
           than
           the
           suppressing
           and
           concealing
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           by
           all
           means
           labour
           to
           prove
           it
           an
           incompetent
           rule
           to
           decide
           Controversies
           by
           :
           And
           yet
           I
           am
           sure
           ,
           
             I.
             K.
          
           will
           give
           me
           no
           reason
           to
           prove
           the
           Scriptures
           an
           unproper
           rule
           for
           deciding
           Controversies
           ,
           and
           that
           we
           must
           submit
           to
           the
           verdict
           and
           decree
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           that
           might
           not
           with
           more
           strength
           been
           made
           use
           of
           by
           the
           
             Iews
          
           against
           our
           Saviour
           .
           And
           if
           I
           carry
           
           this
           consideration
           as
           far
           as
           it
           will
           go
           ,
           it
           must
           necessarily
           lead
           me
           to
           compare
           all
           the
           Doctrines
           of
           the
           Roman
           Religion
           with
           the
           Scriptures
           ;
           And
           as
           if
           our
           Saviours
           Doctrine
           had
           been
           contrary
           to
           the
           Law
           of
           
             Moses
             ,
          
           there
           had
           been
           no
           reason
           to
           have
           believed
           him
           for
           all
           his
           mighty
           deeds
           ,
           which
           in
           that
           case
           might
           justly
           have
           been
           imputed
           to
           evil
           spirits
           ;
           so
           now
           should
           an
           Angel
           from
           heaven
           teach
           any
           thing
           contrary
           to
           this
           Doctrine
           and
           Gospel
           ,
           he
           must
           be
           anathematized
           ,
           even
           though
           he
           wrought
           mighty
           wonders
           .
           Therefore
           we
           are
           with
           the
           
             Bereans
          
           to
           examine
           all
           new
           Doctrines
           ,
           by
           their
           conformity
           to
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           till
           that
           appear
           ,
           we
           are
           not
           to
           look
           on
           any
           thing
           they
           do
           as
           miraculous
           .
           And
           thus
           far
           ,
           I
           hope
           ,
           I
           have
           said
           enough
           to
           convince
           
             I.
             K.
          
           that
           though
           what
           he
           says
           of
           the
           miraculous
           propagation
           of
           the
           Roman
           Religion
           were
           true
           ,
           it
           does
           not
           from
           that
           follow
           that
           the
           Religion
           it self
           must
           be
           true
           .
           But
           I
           go
           next
           to
           convince
           him
           how
           much
           he
           mistook
           himself
           in
           his
           account
           ,
           when
           he
           asserted
           that
           the
           Christian
           and
           the
           Roman
           Religion
           were
           propagated
           in
           the
           same
           manner
           ,
           and
           shall
           first
           examine
           his
           grounds
           .
        
         
           His
           first
           Branch
           of
           the
           Comparison
           is
           ,
           that
           as
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           contains
           some
           high
           Mysteries
           in
           it
           above
           the
           reach
           of
           humane
           Reason
           ,
           so
           does
           the
           Roman
           Religion
           in
           holding
           Transubstantiation
           .
           He
           did
           well
           to
           distinguish
           this
           from
           the
           Mysteries
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           
           for
           it
           is
           indeed
           none
           of
           them
           ;
           nor
           is
           it
           above
           humane
           Reason
           as
           he
           calls
           it
           ,
           but
           contrary
           to
           it
           and
           not
           at
           all
           to
           be
           compared
           to
           the
           Mysteries
           of
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           as
           the
           Trinity
           ,
           the
           Incarnation
           and
           the
           Resurrection
           .
           The
           last
           of
           these
           contains
           nothing
           in
           it
           that
           may
           not
           be
           Rationally
           enough
           conceived
           as
           very
           possible
           and
           easy
           to
           Divine
           Omnipotence
           ;
           for
           the
           other
           Mysteries
           that
           concern
           God
           ,
           it
           is
           no
           wonder
           those
           be
           above
           our
           understandings
           ,
           since
           the
           divine
           Nature
           is
           so
           vastly
           exalted
           above
           all
           our
           depressed
           Notions
           of
           things
           ,
           and
           therefore
           is
           not
           a
           proper
           object
           for
           our
           Faculties
           .
           So
           no
           wonder
           we
           cannot
           frame
           such
           clear
           conceptions
           of
           his
           Nature
           ,
           as
           to
           give
           a
           distinct
           account
           of
           it
           to
           our
           Reasons
           .
           But
           a
           material
           object
           proposed
           to
           our
           senses
           ,
           is
           proportioned
           to
           our
           Faculties
           .
           And
           therefore
           we
           must
           either
           believe
           the
           clear
           evidence
           our
           Faculties
           give
           us
           of
           the
           Bread
           and
           of
           the
           Wine
           ,
           after
           the
           Consecration
           ,
           or
           turn
           Scepticks
           for
           ever
           ,
           since
           full
           evidence
           to
           our
           Faculties
           is
           all
           can
           possibly
           be
           offered
           for
           our
           conviction
           ;
           and
           if
           that
           in
           any
           case
           fail
           ,
           it
           is
           in
           no
           case
           certain
           .
           So
           that
           if
           our
           Senses
           fail
           in
           this
           ,
           we
           have
           no
           reason
           to
           receive
           any
           thing
           upon
           their
           Testimony
           ;
           for
           a
           noted
           Liar
           in
           one
           thing
           is
           to
           be
           believed
           in
           nothing
           ,
           even
           though
           his
           lie
           had
           been
           discovered
           by
           a
           divine
           Revelation
           .
           Now
           if
           we
           weaken
           the
           evidence
           of
           Sense
           ,
           all
           the
           authority
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           which
           it
           received
           from
           the
           Miracles
           will
           be
           weakned
           ,
           for
           these
           were
           only
           known
           
           by
           the
           Senses
           of
           the
           spectators
           .
           And
           so
           far
           of
           the
           first
           branch
           of
           the
           parallel
           .
        
         
           The
           Second
           branch
           of
           the
           parallel
           is
           ,
           that
           as
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           enjoyns
           diverse
           severities
           ,
           to
           embrace
           Crosses
           ,
           to
           Love
           our
           enemies
           ,
           and
           to
           Mortifie
           our
           passions
           ;
           so
           also
           the
           Roman
           teaches
           very
           hard
           precepts
           and
           Counsels
           ,
           as
           Vows
           ,
           Fasts
           ,
           Confession
           ,
           prohibition
           for
           Priests
           to
           Marry
           ,
           to
           which
           
             I.
             K.
          
           adds
           an
           
             &c.
             
          
           The
           Christian
           Religion
           does
           indeed
           command
           diverse
           duties
           contrary
           to
           our
           natural
           appetites
           ,
           but
           those
           are
           things
           of
           themselves
           Morally
           good
           and
           such
           as
           do
           highly
           perfect
           our
           Natures
           :
           But
           the
           Roman
           Religion
           has
           made
           a
           shift
           to
           find
           means
           for
           voiding
           all
           these
           Sacred
           obligations
           ,
           and
           to
           set
           a
           great
           many
           little
           trifling
           performances
           instead
           of
           them
           which
           have
           no
           tendency
           to
           the
           purifying
           of
           our
           Natures
           or
           the
           bettering
           of
           Mankind
           .
           How
           much
           they
           have
           detracted
           from
           the
           obligation
           to
           all
           the
           severer
           ,
           and
           unalterably
           Moral
           Duties
           of
           Christianity
           hath
           been
           already
           (
           and
           shall
           be
           more
           fully
           )
           laid
           open
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           called
           for
           ,
           though
           that
           be
           needless
           ,
           it
           being
           so
           clearly
           done
           by
           many
           better
           Pens
           ;
           but
           for
           those
           they
           have
           substituted
           in
           their
           room
           ,
           let
           us
           a
           little
           consider
           these
           
             I.
             K.
          
           mentions
           ,
           and
           to
           begin
           with
           Vows
           .
        
         
           We
           do
           not
           deny
           that
           the
           first
           design
           of
           Monasteries
           in
           the
           primitive
           Church
           was
           excellent
           ,
           
           but
           it
           quickly
           began
           to
           degenerate
           into
           idleness
           and
           superstition
           ,
           which
           S.
           
             Ierome
          
           though
           inclined
           enough
           to
           the
           severities
           of
           that
           course
           of
           Life
           ,
           hath
           fully
           told
           us
           .
           But
           how
           they
           did
           afterwards
           sink
           into
           all
           the
           Corruptions
           imaginable
           ,
           all
           Histories
           inform
           us
           .
           And
           whatever
           may
           be
           said
           for
           such
           Houses
           ,
           as
           either
           Seminaries
           for
           the
           Church
           ,
           or
           Sanctuaries
           for
           those
           that
           are
           no
           more
           able
           to
           labour
           in
           it
           ;
           yet
           certainly
           the
           entanglements
           of
           Vows
           is
           a
           yoke
           which
           none
           can
           be
           assured
           he
           shall
           be
           able
           to
           bear
           .
           We
           ought
           to
           Vow
           and
           pay
           our
           Vows
           unto
           God
           ,
           and
           therefore
           should
           be
           sure
           to
           Vow
           nothing
           but
           that
           whereof
           the
           execution
           is
           in
           our
           power
           .
           Now
           when
           we
           Vow
           to
           serve
           God
           ,
           which
           we
           do
           in
           the
           Sacraments
           ,
           we
           are
           assured
           of
           the
           aid
           of
           the
           Divine
           Grace
           to
           assist
           us
           in
           the
           performance
           .
           But
           to
           Vow
           things
           which
           we
           are
           not
           sure
           to
           perform
           ,
           our
           tempers
           being
           so
           liable
           to
           Change
           ,
           that
           what
           agrees
           with
           them
           at
           one
           time
           ,
           becomes
           an
           intolerable
           burden
           and
           snare
           at
           another
           ,
           is
           certainly
           to
           cast
           our selves
           headlong
           into
           many
           temptations
           .
           And
           what
           unnatural
           and
           brutal
           lusts
           have
           abounded
           in
           these
           Houses
           ,
           we
           read
           a
           great
           deal
           more
           than
           I
           am
           willing
           to
           repeat
           .
           What
           a
           cheat
           is
           the
           pretence
           to
           poverty
           in
           those
           Orders
           which
           have
           got
           such
           vast
           Riches
           that
           they
           are
           become
           the
           envy
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           as
           the
           
             Benedictine
             ,
          
           the
           
             Ca●●husians
             ,
          
           and
           the
           
             Iesuits
             ?
          
           And
           for
           the
           beg●ing
           Orders
           ,
           it
           is
           both
           against
           the
           rules
           of
           Chris●i●n
           Religion
           and
           all
           good
           
           Government
           to
           allow
           ,
           much
           more
           to
           encourage
           such
           swarms
           of
           idle
           fellows
           ,
           who
           shall
           always
           go
           rambling
           and
           begging
           about
           ,
           and
           do
           not
           work
           
           that
           they
           may
           eat
           .
           And
           for
           
           their
           obedience
           what
           a
           rack
           it
           may
           be
           under
           a
           Tyrannical
           Superiour
           ,
           and
           what
           an
           engine
           it
           may
           prove
           for
           Sedition
           and
           disturbance
           ,
           I
           leave
           to
           all
           to
           judge
           .
        
         
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           all
           such
           severities
           as
           tend
           to
           the
           subduing
           our
           lusts
           and
           passions
           are
           good
           and
           sutable
           to
           the
           spirit
           of
           Christianity
           ;
           but
           for
           overcharging
           men
           with
           new
           burdens
           (
           which
           signifie
           nothing
           but
           to
           create
           a
           perpetual
           trouble
           and
           constant
           scrupulosity
           )
           is
           to
           abridge
           them
           of
           their
           Christian
           liberty
           without
           cause
           ,
           and
           tends
           to
           swell
           them
           up
           with
           pride
           ,
           and
           a
           lofty
           opinion
           of
           their
           meriting
           by
           such
           practises
           and
           a
           contempt
           of
           others
           ,
           who
           though
           they
           bear
           none
           of
           these
           voluntary
           assumed
           burdens
           ,
           yet
           are
           more
           meek
           ,
           more
           humble
           ,
           and
           more
           charitable
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           things
           more
           conformable
           to
           the
           life
           and
           doctrine
           of
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           .
           And
           if
           voluntary
           severities
           be
           a
           character
           of
           a
           true
           Religion
           ,
           the
           Priests
           of
           
             Baal
             ,
          
           the
           worshippers
           of
           
             Diana
             Taurica
             ,
          
           the
           
             Ebionites
             ,
          
           the
           
             Montanists
             ,
          
           the
           
             E●cratites
             ,
          
           and
           many
           other
           heresies
           might
           have
           put
           in
           a
           fair
           claim
           since
           they
           abounded
           in
           them
        
         
         
           From
           your
           Vows
           I
           go
           to
           your
           Fasts
           .
           God
           forbid
           we
           should
           disclaim
           Fasting
           which
           our
           Saviour
           did
           so
           much
           recommend
           ,
           both
           by
           his
           example
           and
           Commands
           :
           we
           acknowledge
           it
           a
           powerful
           mean
           ,
           both
           for
           mortifying
           all
           bodily
           lusts
           ,
           and
           for
           disposing
           the
           mind
           to
           prayer
           ,
           and
           all
           other
           spiritual
           exercises
           ;
           and
           therefore
           we
           do
           not
           allow
           these
           to
           the
           Roman
           Church
           as
           peculiar
           to
           them
           .
           And
           I
           do
           not
           believe
           any
           of
           them
           will
           justifie
           the
           corruptions
           they
           are
           palpably
           guilty
           of
           in
           the
           observance
           of
           their
           Fasts
           ,
           which
           are
           generally
           only
           a
           change
           of
           diet
           ,
           wherein
           no
           severity
           nor
           strictness
           is
           to
           be
           seen
           .
           Wine
           is
           liberally
           drunk
           ,
           the
           most
           delicate
           Fishes
           with
           the
           most
           exquisite
           way
           of
           dressing
           them
           are
           sought
           for
           ,
           and
           no
           other
           mixtures
           of
           higher
           Devotion
           appear
           on
           these
           weekly
           or
           annual
           returns
           .
        
         
           For
           Confession
           ,
           I
           know
           no
           Christians
           that
           deny
           the
           usefulness
           of
           it
           ;
           but
           the
           setting
           up
           the
           necessity
           of
           Auricular
           Confession
           ,
           as
           it
           hath
           driven
           out
           of
           their
           Church
           the
           primitive
           and
           publick
           Confession
           with
           all
           the
           ancient
           discipline
           which
           was
           indeed
           the
           great
           glory
           of
           those
           Ages
           ,
           and
           the
           chief
           preservative
           of
           Piety
           ,
           and
           good
           manners
           ;
           so
           ,
           as
           they
           have
           it
           among
           them
           ,
           it
           hath
           been
           one
           of
           the
           greatest
           engines
           of
           Hell
           for
           driving
           out
           of
           the
           minds
           of
           men
           all
           sense
           of
           the
           duties
           of
           a
           holy
           and
           good
           life
           .
           I
           do
           not
           deny
           but
           some
           Priests
           among
           them
           make
           
           good
           use
           of
           it
           ;
           but
           those
           being
           very
           few
           ,
           it
           does
           give
           but
           a
           small
           allay
           to
           the
           gross
           corruptions
           which
           even
           many
           grave
           and
           pious
           Writers
           of
           their
           own
           Communion
           complain
           of
           and
           condemn
           .
           Shall
           I
           here
           mention
           the
           giving
           Absolution
           ,
           and
           admitting
           to
           the
           Sacrament
           upon
           Confession
           before
           any
           part
           of
           the
           Penance
           be
           performed
           ,
           the
           trifling
           Penances
           are
           often
           enjoyned
           ,
           the
           taking
           Confessions
           from
           persons
           unknown
           ,
           the
           receiving
           it
           when
           it
           is
           apparent
           they
           are
           only
           reciting
           their
           sins
           without
           any
           Compunction
           ?
           And
           for
           Contrition
           they
           confess
           it
           is
           not
           necessary
           .
           Now
           the
           generality
           of
           that
           Church
           being
           perswaded
           that
           if
           they
           Confess
           with
           a
           little
           Attrition
           ,
           and
           be
           Absolved
           and
           receive
           the
           Sacrament
           ,
           they
           stand
           clear
           and
           innocent
           in
           the
           presence
           of
           God
           ▪
           whatever
           their
           former
           life
           have
           been
           ,
           or
           their
           present
           temper
           may
           be
           ;
           Is
           not
           here
           a
           very
           sure
           way
           to
           defeat
           the
           whole
           design
           of
           Religion
           and
           Holiness
           ,
           when
           men
           are
           taught
           so
           ea●ie
           a
           way
           of
           getting
           into
           the
           favour
           of
           God
           without
           repenting
           of
           and
           forsaking
           their
           sins
           ?
           And
           thus
           it
           appears
           that
           in
           the
           Roman
           Church
           Confession
           is
           no
           severity
           ,
           but
           a
           thing
           very
           grateful
           to
           flesh
           and
           blood
           .
        
         
           The
           last
           particular
           
             I.
             K.
          
           instances
           ,
           is
           the
           prohibition
           of
           Priests
           to
           Marry
           .
           Truly
           if
           to
           reckon
           that
           impure
           ,
           which
           the
           holy
           Spirit
           of
           God
           hath
           declared
           honourable
           in
           all
           without
           exception
           ,
           be
           a
           great
           sublimity
           ,
           they
           may
           well
           
           glory
           in
           it
           .
           Our
           Saviour
           recommended
           Cellbate
           only
           to
           those
           who
           were
           able
           to
           receive
           it
           ;
           but
           the
           Roman
           Church
           will
           force
           all
           in
           Orders
           to
           receive
           it
           whether
           they
           can
           or
           not
           .
           And
           though
           S.
           
             Paul
          
           makes
           it
           one
           of
           the
           Characters
           of
           a
           person
           fit
           to
           be
           a
           Bishop
           ,
           that
           he
           has
           been
           married
           and
           educated
           his
           children
           well
           (
           which
           I
           shall
           not
           stretch
           so
           far
           as
           either
           the
           
             Greek
          
           or
           the
           
             Russian
          
           Churches
           do
           now
           )
           and
           does
           not
           at
           all
           command
           him
           to
           abandon
           her
           ,
           and
           has
           elsewhere
           condemned
           that
           in
           all
           persons
           without
           exception
           ,
           
             except
             it
             be
             for
             a
             time
             in
             order
             to
             fasting
             and
             prayer
             ,
          
           
           and
           conform
           to
           this
           the
           primitive
           Church
           did
           not
           require
           the
           Clergy
           to
           abandon
           their
           wives
           ,
           but
           on
           the
           contrary
           did
           condemn
           such
           as
           did
           :
           yet
           the
           Roman
           Church
           has
           most
           tyrannically
           imposed
           this
           on
           all
           the
           Clergy
           .
           And
           although
           we
           read
           that
           God
           will
           judge
           Whoremongers
           and
           Adulterers
           ,
           but
           no
           where
           that
           he
           will
           judge
           the
           Married
           ;
           yet
           they
           have
           been
           very
           gentle
           to
           these
           crying
           scandals
           which
           continue
           to
           this
           day
           ,
           and
           have
           allowed
           the
           Concubinate
           when
           they
           condemned
           the
           Marriage
           of
           the
           Clergy
           .
           By
           which
           they
           shew
           they
           prefer
           the
           Traditions
           of
           men
           to
           the
           Command
           of
           God.
           And
           thus
           far
           I
           have
           examined
           this
           Branch
           of
           the
           parallel
           
             I.
             K.
          
           makes
           between
           the
           Roman
           and
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           wherein
           I
           have
           been
           longer
           than
           I
           intended
           ,
           but
           as
           short
           as
           the
           particulars
           he
           named
           did
           allow
           .
           When
           he
           brings
           the
           rest
           of
           his
           
             &c.
             
          
           I
           
           doubt
           not
           it
           shall
           appear
           they
           are
           a
           sequel
           of
           such
           things
           which
           the
           same
           or
           the
           like
           considerations
           will
           clear
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           must
           follow
           his
           next
           step
           ,
           that
           the
           Roman
           Religion
           hath
           been
           propagated
           over
           a
           great
           part
           of
           the
           world
           without
           the
           help
           of
           Arms
           or
           humane
           enticements
           ,
           by
           strangers
           who
           converted
           many
           from
           Paganism
           (
           that
           allowed
           liberty
           )
           to
           their
           Religion
           ,
           that
           teaches
           Severities
           and
           Mortification
           .
        
         
           To
           all
           which
           I
           reply
           ,
           That
           since
           the
           Roman
           Church
           is
           still
           Christian
           ,
           I
           deny
           not
           but
           God
           may
           bless
           the
           honest
           endeavours
           of
           a
           great
           many
           of
           that
           Communion
           ,
           so
           that
           their
           labours
           may
           have
           great
           success
           on
           Infidels
           in
           converting
           them
           to
           Christianity
           ;
           herein
           God
           blessing
           them
           as
           he
           did
           the
           Hebrew
           Midwives
           whose
           charitable
           tender
           hearts
           God
           rewarded
           ,
           building
           them
           Houses
           ,
           passing
           over
           their
           lie
           .
           But
           
             I.
             K.
          
           must
           not
           insist
           on
           this
           as
           a
           good
           Argument
           ,
           otherways
           he
           will
           be
           driven
           into
           great
           absurdities
           .
        
         
           Did
           not
           the
           
             Arrians
          
           by
           
             Ulphilas
          
           his
           means
           who
           was
           a
           stranger
           to
           the
           
             Goths
          
           (
           that
           were
           a
           barbarous
           cruel
           and
           yet
           vastly
           numerous
           people
           )
           convert
           them
           both
           to
           Christianity
           and
           Arrianism
           at
           once
           ?
           From
           whence
           we
           find
           the
           whole
           Roman
           Empire
           very
           soon
           overrun
           by
           Arrianism
           upon
           the
           Incursion
           of
           the
           
             Goths
             ,
             Vandals
             ,
          
           
           and
           
             Longobards
             .
             Philostorgius
          
           does
           also
           inform
           us
           that
           
             Theophilus
          
           an
           
             Arrian
          
           converted
           the
           
             Indians
          
           to
           the
           Christian
           Faith.
           Did
           not
           the
           Greek
           Church
           when
           it
           was
           broke
           from
           the
           Roman
           ,
           convert
           many
           Nations
           ,
           the
           
             Bulgars
             ,
          
           the
           
             Muscovites
          
           and
           many
           other
           northern
           Kingdoms
           ?
        
         
           In
           fine
           ,
           what
           will
           
             I.
             K.
          
           answer
           according
           to
           his
           own
           Argument
           to
           the
           great
           progress
           of
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           
             Luther
          
           and
           
             Zuinglius
             ,
          
           who
           notwithstanding
           all
           the
           opposition
           they
           met
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           persecutions
           their
           followers
           suffered
           ,
           yet
           did
           so
           strangely
           propagate
           their
           Doctrine
           ,
           that
           before
           half
           an
           Age
           went
           about
           ,
           the
           greater
           half
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           fell
           off
           from
           the
           Obedience
           of
           that
           See
           ,
           to
           their
           Doctrine
           which
           holds
           all
           the
           Mysteries
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           and
           there
           was
           no
           need
           of
           more
           ,
           and
           instead
           of
           all
           the
           Juglings
           the
           Roman
           Priests
           had
           brought
           in
           ,
           teaching
           men
           an
           easie
           way
           to
           Heaven
           ,
           did
           preach
           all
           the
           severities
           of
           a
           holy
           Life
           which
           our
           Saviour
           and
           his
           Apostles
           taught
           ?
           And
           as
           they
           taught
           a
           severer
           course
           of
           Life
           to
           all
           Christians
           (
           I
           do
           not
           speak
           of
           the
           particular
           severities
           of
           some
           Orders
           in
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ,
           but
           what
           must
           be
           the
           necessary
           conditions
           upon
           which
           all
           may
           hope
           for
           Salvation
           )
           so
           they
           advanced
           this
           without
           Arms
           ▪
           and
           under
           great
           Persecutions
           .
           And
           here
           
             I.
             K.
          
           must
           think
           how
           he
           will
           answer
           his
           own
           Dilemma
           ,
           That
           either
           this
           was
           done
           with
           Miracles
           ,
           or
           without
           them
           :
           
           if
           with
           them
           ,
           the
           Doctrine
           must
           be
           true
           that
           was
           confirmed
           by
           Miracles
           ;
           if
           without
           them
           ,
           that
           propagation
           was
           a
           great
           Miracle
           :
           and
           thus
           
             I.
             K.
          
           will
           find
           it
           hard
           to
           avoid
           the
           dint
           of
           his
           own
           Argument
           .
        
         
           Besides
           when
           
             I.
             K.
          
           speaks
           of
           the
           propagation
           of
           the
           Roman
           Religion
           ,
           he
           must
           not
           prove
           that
           from
           the
           propagation
           of
           Christianity
           by
           persons
           of
           that
           Religion
           ,
           though
           the
           same
           Instruments
           might
           at
           the
           same
           time
           have
           engaged
           their
           new
           Converts
           to
           the
           particular
           conceits
           of
           that
           Church
           .
           For
           (
           as
           it
           was
           observed
           before
           )
           God
           blessing
           the
           sincerity
           of
           their
           Labours
           so
           that
           they
           made
           Converts
           to
           the
           Christian
           Doctrine
           ,
           that
           has
           so
           much
           to
           be
           said
           for
           it
           that
           it
           is
           a
           wonder
           all
           the
           world
           did
           not
           receive
           it
           ,
           it
           was
           not
           strange
           if
           those
           so
           converted
           seeing
           the
           foundation
           of
           the
           Divine
           Mission
           of
           
             Iesus
             Christ
          
           to
           be
           true
           ,
           did
           either
           in
           humble
           gratitude
           to
           their
           charitable
           Instructors
           pay
           them
           all
           the
           returns
           of
           acknowledgment
           and
           Obedience
           ,
           or
           being
           ignorant
           of
           that
           Doctrine
           which
           was
           wholly
           new
           to
           them
           ,
           did
           easily
           receive
           and
           imbibe
           any
           particular
           Opinions
           they
           might
           infuse
           in
           them
           ,
           and
           so
           at
           the
           same
           time
           became
           Votaries
           to
           
             Christ
          
           and
           to
           
             Rome
             .
          
        
         
           But
           if
           
             I.
             K.
          
           will
           deal
           fairly
           and
           satisfyingly
           ,
           he
           must
           shew
           us
           how
           their
           Religion
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           distinct
           from
           the
           commonly
           received
           truths
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           was
           so
           miraculously
           propagated
           ,
           
           and
           that
           in
           the
           points
           which
           we
           chiefly
           challenge
           ,
           as
           the
           Supremacy
           of
           the
           Bishop
           of
           
             Rome
             ,
          
           with
           his
           being
           the
           Universal
           Bishop
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           the
           forbidding
           the
           use
           of
           the
           Scripture
           to
           the
           Laicks
           ,
           and
           the
           Worship
           in
           an
           unknown
           tongue
           ,
           the
           use
           of
           Images
           in
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           ,
           the
           Invocating
           of
           Saints
           and
           Angels
           ,
           the
           belief
           of
           Transubstantiation
           ,
           the
           Sacrifice
           of
           the
           Mass
           and
           the
           taking
           the
           Chalice
           from
           the
           people
           ,
           the
           belief
           of
           Purgatory
           ,
           the
           Treasure
           of
           the
           Church
           and
           Indulgences
           ,
           with
           a
           long
           
             &c.
             I.
             K.
          
           knows
           well
           that
           many
           have
           given
           very
           particular
           and
           full
           Histories
           of
           the
           rise
           and
           progress
           of
           these
           abuses
           with
           which
           we
           charge
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ,
           and
           for
           which
           she
           having
           obstinately
           refused
           to
           reform
           them
           ,
           on
           the
           contrary
           binding
           them
           on
           the
           Consciences
           of
           all
           with
           new
           and
           heavier
           Anathema's
           ,
           we
           have
           separated
           our selves
           from
           her
           Communion
           .
           That
           those
           are
           not
           in
           the
           Scripture
           it
           is
           plain
           enough
           ,
           and
           we
           will
           not
           decline
           a
           tryal
           upon
           all
           hazards
           by
           the
           verdict
           of
           the
           first
           four
           Ages
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           true
           ,
           in
           the
           fifth
           Century
           the
           Incursion
           of
           the
           
             Goths
          
           and
           
             Vandals
          
           did
           very
           much
           change
           the
           face
           of
           things
           ,
           and
           bring
           on
           a
           black
           night
           of
           ignorance
           on
           the
           greater
           part
           of
           Christendom
           ,
           which
           made
           way
           for
           gross
           Superstition
           ,
           and
           the
           bold
           pretences
           of
           the
           Bishops
           of
           
             Rome
             :
          
           And
           
             I.
             K.
          
           is
           very
           much
           out
           in
           his
           accounts
           ,
           that
           says
           the
           propagation
           of
           the
           Roman
           Religion
           was
           without
           Arms.
           Was
           not
           that
           dearest
           
           part
           of
           it
           ,
           the
           authority
           of
           the
           Popes
           ,
           the
           occasion
           of
           many
           long
           and
           bloody
           wars
           in
           
             Germany
          
           and
           
             Italy
             ?
          
           And
           for
           their
           conversion
           of
           Hereticks
           ,
           the
           third
           Decree
           of
           the
           Council
           of
           
             Lateran
             ,
          
           and
           the
           practises
           of
           the
           Inquisitions
           were
           the
           surest
           means
           of
           effectuating
           it
           .
           And
           what
           humane
           enticements
           were
           wanting
           to
           draw
           men
           into
           their
           Religion
           ?
           The
           cherishing
           of
           such
           Kings
           as
           were
           firm
           to
           them
           ,
           and
           the
           making
           over
           to
           them
           the
           Rights
           of
           their
           Neighbouring
           
             Princes
             ,
          
           were
           pretty
           enticing
           baits
           .
           Witness
           their
           getting
           
             Pipin
          
           into
           the
           Throne
           of
           
             France
             ,
          
           their
           inviting
           him
           and
           his
           Son
           to
           the
           Conquest
           of
           the
           
             Lombards
             ,
          
           with
           many
           other
           Instances
           .
           And
           was
           there
           ever
           found
           out
           such
           an
           enticement
           for
           men
           of
           carnal
           tempers
           ,
           who
           yet
           retained
           some
           belief
           of
           Religion
           ,
           as
           the
           power
           of
           pardoning
           ,
           indulging
           and
           exchanging
           of
           penances
           ?
           So
           that
           this
           whole
           account
           of
           
             I.
          
           K's
           fails
           him
           when
           put
           to
           the
           issue
           of
           a
           severe
           tryal
           ,
           though
           it
           looked
           pretty
           smooth
           and
           fair
           to
           an
           overly
           considerer
           .
           But
           in
           end
           I
           will
           add
           a
           few
           considerations
           of
           the
           methods
           of
           the
           first
           propagation
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           and
           from
           these
           it
           will
           appear
           how
           different
           those
           were
           from
           any
           thing
           the
           Roman
           Church
           can
           pretend
           to
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           the
           Propagators
           of
           Christianity
           went
           witnessing
           the
           truth
           of
           what
           was
           publickly
           seen
           and
           known
           without
           any
           other
           design
           of
           their
           own
           ,
           either
           to
           engross
           power
           or
           riches
           .
           Now
           
           whether
           this
           be
           the
           method
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           I
           refer
           it
           even
           to
           their
           own
           Histories
           ,
           if
           their
           great
           care
           hath
           not
           always
           been
           to
           get
           Ambassadors
           sent
           to
           
             Rome
          
           with
           the
           offer
           of
           their
           obedience
           and
           great
           submissions
           ,
           of
           which
           nothing
           appears
           in
           the
           first
           conversion
           of
           the
           world
           to
           Christianity
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           the
           first
           Converters
           of
           the
           world
           studied
           to
           draw
           Mankind
           to
           a
           great
           acknowledgement
           of
           the
           inestimable
           Blessings
           we
           received
           by
           
             Iesus
             Christ
             ,
          
           and
           to
           the
           making
           sutable
           returns
           by
           addressing
           our selves
           to
           the
           Father
           by
           him
           and
           living
           according
           to
           his
           Gospel
           .
           Now
           the
           greatest
           care
           of
           most
           of
           the
           Apostles
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           was
           to
           propagare
           the
           worship
           of
           Creatures
           ,
           to
           give
           Patrons
           to
           whole
           Nations
           ,
           and
           teach
           them
           to
           build
           Churches
           to
           those
           ,
           and
           above
           all
           to
           the
           blessed
           Virgin
           ,
           of
           which
           no
           footsteps
           appear
           in
           the
           first
           Conversion
           to
           Christianity
           :
           And
           instead
           of
           the
           strictness
           of
           a
           holy
           life
           and
           an
           humble
           charitable
           temper
           ,
           they
           have
           set
           up
           a
           vast
           multitude
           of
           little
           observances
           ,
           which
           may
           be
           received
           ,
           and
           yet
           the
           life
           of
           sin
           remain
           still
           strong
           and
           in
           vigour
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           the
           first
           Propagators
           of
           Christianity
           studied
           by
           all
           possible
           means
           to
           wean
           people
           from
           all
           kind
           of
           Idolatry
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           the●
           serve
           the
           living
           God
           ,
           and
           worship
           him
           in
           Spirit
           and
           in
           Truth
           .
           Now
           how
           far
           the
           
           Roman
           Church
           hath
           declined
           from
           this
           is
           apparent
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           have
           studied
           rather
           to
           change
           than
           overthrow
           their
           Idolatry
           ,
           giving
           them
           little
           Pictures
           ,
           Medals
           and
           
             Agnus
             Dei's
          
           and
           Reliques
           for
           their
           worship
           .
        
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           those
           that
           laboured
           first
           to
           convert
           the
           world
           to
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           studied
           to
           make
           all
           understand
           what
           they
           taught
           them
           ,
           gave
           them
           the
           Scriptures
           in
           their
           own
           tongue
           ,
           and
           forms
           of
           Worship
           which
           they
           understood
           and
           could
           well
           make
           use
           of
           :
           But
           the
           Emissaries
           of
           
             Rome
          
           deny
           their
           Converts
           these
           helps
           ,
           and
           so
           would
           hood
           them
           into
           a
           blind
           receiving
           of
           all
           they
           shall
           propose
           to
           them
           ,
           and
           keep
           them
           still
           under
           their
           Authority
           ,
           and
           so
           teach
           them
           Prayers
           in
           a
           tongue
           they
           do
           not
           understand
           .
        
         
           Fifthly
           ,
           those
           that
           first
           converted
           the
           world
           did
           by
           many
           Miracles
           wrought
           in
           the
           sight
           of
           all
           convince
           and
           convert
           them
           to
           the
           Faith
           ,
           and
           these
           Miracles
           were
           grave
           useful
           actions
           ,
           as
           the
           curing
           of
           diseases
           ,
           the
           casting
           out
           of
           devils
           ,
           the
           procuring
           them
           good
           seasons
           and
           other
           temporal
           blessings
           ,
           and
           all
           this
           was
           done
           in
           the
           name
           and
           to
           the
           honour
           of
           Jesus
           Christ.
           But
           the
           Roman
           Agents
           wanting
           these
           real
           Miracles
           have
           betaken
           themselves
           to
           the
           shameful
           forgeries
           of
           strange
           Visions
           and
           Apparitions
           ,
           and
           of
           ridiculous
           Miracles
           ,
           with
           so
           vast
           a
           superfetation
           of
           them
           ,
           that
           few
           even
           of
           their
           own
           Communion
           
           can
           read
           these
           Legends
           of
           their
           grand
           Apostles
           ●ithout
           a
           just
           disdain
           at
           such
           palp●●●●
           impostures
           .
        
         
           ●●xthly
           ,
           the
           first
           propagation
           of
           Christianity
           was
           when
           there
           was
           no
           Secular
           power
           to
           support
           it
           or
           those
           who
           laboured
           in
           it
           ;
           so
           that
           they
           exposed
           themselves
           to
           all
           the
           dangers
           of
           hunger
           and
           cold
           ,
           of
           scorn
           and
           reproach
           ;
           being
           assured
           of
           no
           supply
           not
           assistance
           from
           men
           :
           and
           yet
           God
           appeared
           so
           ●xtraordinarily
           with
           them
           ,
           that
           their
           success
           was
           plainly
           the
           work
           of
           Heaven
           .
           But
           the
           Bishops
           of
           
             Rome
          
           becoming
           great
           Princes
           ,
           sent
           out
           Agents
           to
           make
           new
           Conquests
           well
           furnished
           and
           powerfully
           supported
           ,
           so
           that
           they
           went
           like
           Ambassadors
           from
           one
           Prince
           to
           another
           to
           treat
           an
           Alliance
           ,
           wherein
           there
           was
           little
           hazard
           and
           great
           hope
           of
           success
           by
           the
           advantageous
           terms
           were
           offered
           on
           both
           sides
           .
           And
           therefore
           after
           
             Charles
          
           the
           great
           had
           conquered
           
             Germany
             ,
          
           and
           was
           become
           a
           terror
           to
           the
           Northern
           Kings
           ,
           the
           Bishops
           of
           
             Rome
          
           sent
           their
           Agents
           to
           labour
           in
           their
           Conversion
           ,
           which
           was
           an
           easie
           matter
           and
           had
           no
           difficulty
           in
           it
           .
        
         
           And
           Seventhly
           ,
           the
           first
           Conversion
           of
           the
           world
           to
           Christianity
           was
           signally
           the
           finger
           of
           God
           ;
           since
           though
           it
           met
           with
           the
           greatest
           Opposition
           from
           the
           Secular
           powers
           and
           was
           persecuted
           every
           where
           and
           for
           many
           Ages
           ,
           yet
           it
           prevailed
           :
           and
           though
           the
           first
           Converts
           
           were
           poor
           mechanical
           and
           simple
           persons
           ,
           yet
           great
           wisdom
           and
           constancy
           appeared
           in
           them
           ,
           to
           the
           amazement
           of
           the
           Philosophers
           and
           other
           persons
           of
           Eminence
           and
           Authority
           .
           But
           this
           hath
           not
           been
           the
           method
           of
           the
           Roman
           Conversions
           which
           begun
           in
           a
           kind
           of
           Alliance
           with
           the
           Prince
           ,
           who
           being
           convinced
           of
           his
           advantage
           in
           the
           Change
           did
           upon
           that
           oblige
           his
           subjects
           to
           it
           ,
           not
           without
           severely
           punishing
           sometimes
           such
           as
           refused
           it
           ;
           so
           far
           were
           they
           from
           being
           persecuted
           for
           it
           .
           If
           any
           one
           were
           by
           a
           fury
           or
           tumult
           killed
           ,
           that
           does
           not
           alter
           the
           case
           nor
           make
           it
           a
           persecution
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           it
           is
           apparent
           that
           for
           all
           the
           noise
           the
           Roman
           Church
           makes
           of
           their
           Conversions
           ,
           they
           have
           managed
           them
           in
           a
           method
           very
           different
           from
           the
           way
           of
           the
           primitive
           Christians
           .
           How
           basely
           and
           barbarously
           it
           hath
           been
           carried
           on
           in
           the
           West
           
             Indies
          
           the
           Bishop
           of
           
             Guatimala
          
           did
           inform
           the
           world
           ;
           and
           the
           Bishop
           of
           
             Angelopolis
          
           did
           within
           these
           few
           years
           inform
           the
           Pope
           how
           wretchedly
           the
           Jesuits
           continue
           to
           manage
           it
           to
           this
           day
           .
           And
           though
           we
           have
           little
           reason
           to
           believe
           the
           accounts
           given
           us
           from
           the
           
             Indies
             ,
          
           since
           we
           see
           those
           who
           publish
           them
           are
           guilty
           of
           such
           Impostures
           in
           things
           nearer
           us
           and
           easily
           discovered
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           no
           reason
           to
           credit
           them
           in
           things
           at
           so
           great
           a
           distance
           where
           the
           forgeries
           of
           their
           account
           cannot
           be
           found
           out
           ;
           yet
           even
           from
           these
           a
           great
           many
           of
           the
           observations
           
           made
           upon
           the
           methods
           of
           the
           Emissaries
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           may
           be
           proved
           .
        
         
           But
           as
           for
           
             Austin
          
           the
           Monk
           
             I.
             K.
          
           cannot
           sure
           be
           so
           ignorant
           as
           to
           think
           we
           owe
           our
           Conversion
           to
           him
           ;
           for
           whatever
           truth
           may
           be
           in
           the
           story
           of
           
             Glastenbury
             ,
          
           it
           is
           undoubted
           we
           received
           the
           Faith
           at
           farthest
           in
           the
           second
           Century
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           did
           overrun
           our
           Island
           farther
           than
           the
           Roman
           Conquest
           
             Tertullian
          
           witnesses
           .
           The
           Rites
           of
           our
           observing
           
             Easter
          
           do
           also
           prove
           we
           had
           not
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           by
           any
           sent
           from
           
             Rome
             ;
          
           so
           that
           long
           before
           the
           time
           of
           
             Avstin
          
           the
           Monk
           this
           Island
           was
           converted
           .
           And
           that
           famed
           story
           of
           the
           Monks
           of
           
             Bangor
          
           as
           it
           proves
           what
           footing
           Christianity
           had
           then
           ,
           so
           it
           shews
           how
           proud
           and
           insolently
           cruel
           that
           pretended
           Apostle
           was
           .
           And
           it
           is
           apparent
           he
           was
           a
           man
           of
           an
           Ambitious
           temper
           ,
           his
           great
           design
           on
           those
           of
           
             Bangor
          
           being
           to
           engage
           them
           to
           a
           subjection
           to
           the
           Pope
           and
           to
           comply
           with
           their
           Rites
           in
           the
           observation
           of
           
             Easter
             .
          
           But
           if
           what
           is
           delivered
           by
           ancient
           Historians
           of
           his
           setting
           on
           the
           King
           of
           the
           
             Northumberlands
          
           to
           destroy
           these
           Monks
           be
           true
           ,
           he
           is
           to
           be
           looked
           on
           as
           an
           Emissary
           of
           Hell
           rather
           than
           an
           Apostle
           of
           Christ.
           Besides
           ,
           the
           King
           of
           
             Kent
          
           to
           whom
           he
           came
           was
           so
           favourable
           to
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           ,
           that
           as
           he
           had
           married
           a
           Christian
           Queen
           ,
           so
           he
           allowed
           the
           Christians
           a
           Church
           near
           
             Canterbury
             .
          
           And
           so
           it
           is
           no
           wonder
           if
           a
           Prince
           so
           prepared
           was
           
           soon
           prevailed
           on
           .
           But
           
             Austins
          
           first
           coming
           to
           him
           with
           all
           that
           pomp
           of
           Crosses
           carried
           before
           him
           ,
           has
           nothing
           primitive
           in
           it
           ,
           and
           the
           fabulous
           Legends
           of
           the
           Monks
           are
           little
           to
           be
           credited
           .
        
         
           Thus
           far
           I
           have
           examined
           
             I.
          
           K's
           proofs
           for
           the
           truth
           of
           the
           Roman
           Religion
           ;
           and
           I
           doubt
           not
           upon
           a
           sober
           review
           of
           what
           hath
           been
           said
           ,
           he
           himself
           will
           acknowledge
           he
           must
           see
           for
           other
           and
           better
           Arguments
           ,
           before
           he
           can
           oblige
           any
           to
           believe
           the
           Roman
           Religion
           to
           be
           the
           true
           Catholick
           and
           Apostolical
           Religion
           .
        
      
       
         
         
         
           
             CHAP
             VI.
          
           It
           is
           considered
           if
           
             J.
             K.
          
           proves
           convincingly
           that
           every
           thing
           the
           Roman
           Church
           teaches
           as
           an
           Article
           of
           Faith
           ,
           must
           be
           true
           .
        
         
           J.
           
             K.
          
           advances
           to
           his
           last
           attempt
           which
           is
           the
           finishing
           of
           the
           whole
           contrivance
           to
           perswade
           the
           belief
           of
           every
           thing
           the
           Roman
           Church
           delivers
           as
           an
           Article
           of
           Faith
           ;
           for
           
             if
             that
             Religion
             be
             a
             true
             Religion
             ,
             then
             it
             is
             free
             from
             all
             fundamental
             errors
             ,
             and
             does
             erre
             against
             no
             fundamental
             point
             of
             Religion
             :
             and
             if
             that
             be
             acknowledged
             ▪
             then
             it
             does
             not
             erre
             against
             this
             point
             that
             God
             is
             not
             the
             Author
             of
             any
             error
             or
             corruption
             whatsoever
             ,
             that
             being
             unquestionably
             a
             fundament●l
             point
             .
             Now
             if
             the
             Roman
             Religion
             does
             not
             e●re
             against
             this
             ,
             it
             does
             not
             teach
             that
             God
             is
             the
             Author
             of
             any
             error
             or
             corruption
             ;
             and
             if
             it
             do
             not
             that
             ,
             then
             it
             teaches
             nothing
             as
             an
             Article
             of
             Faith
             which
             is
             either
             error
             or
             corruption
             :
             for
             whatever
             it
             teaches
             as
             an
             Article
             of
             Faith
             ,
             is
             teaches
             as
             that
             which
             hath
             been
             delivered
             by
             God.
             This
             then
             may
             be
             applied
             to
             every
             particular
             Article
             of
             Faith
             which
             the
             Roman
             Church
             teacheth
             ;
             for
             if
             that
             be
             either
             error
             or
             corruption
             ,
             it
             teaching
             God
             to
             be
             the
             Author
             of
             it
             ,
             makes
             him
             to
             be
             the
             Author
          
           
           
             of
             error
             or
             corruption
             ,
             which
             is
             to
             erre
             against
             a
             fundamental
             point
             ,
             and
             by
             consequence
             that
             Religion
             shall
             be
             no
             true
             Religion
             .
          
        
         
           If
           by
           true
           Religion
           
             I.
             K.
          
           understands
           a
           Religion
           that
           has
           no
           mixture
           of
           error
           or
           corruption
           in
           it
           ,
           then
           it
           is
           needless
           to
           prove
           that
           if
           the
           Roman
           Religion
           be
           true
           it
           hath
           neither
           error
           or
           corruption
           in
           it
           ;
           for
           the
           proving
           it
           a
           true
           Religion
           must
           carry
           the
           other
           along
           with
           it
           .
           But
           if
           by
           true
           Religion
           be
           only
           meant
           a
           Religion
           that
           holds
           all
           the
           fundamentals
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           so
           that
           Salvation
           may
           be
           had
           in
           its
           Communion
           ;
           then
           it
           is
           a
           most
           wretched
           Inference
           that
           it
           must
           be
           true
           in
           all
           it●
           ▪
           definitions
           of
           Faith.
           And
           to
           confute
           this
           I
           shall
           for
           once
           turn
           the
           Tables
           on
           
             I.
             K.
          
           and
           become
           an
           Advocate
           for
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ,
           to
           shew
           they
           may
           be
           still
           a
           true
           Church
           and
           a
           true
           Religion
           ,
           though
           they
           have
           a
           large
           mixture
           of
           errors
           and
           corruptions
           .
           And
           this
           I
           do
           not
           so
           much
           out
           of
           love
           to
           them
           ,
           but
           from
           a
           general
           principle
           of
           charity
           to
           overthrow
           this
           unmerciful
           Opinion
           that
           damns
           all
           men
           ,
           as
           erring
           fundamentally
           ,
           for
           believing
           any
           error
           in
           a
           matter
           of
           Faith.
           
        
         
           And
           let
           me
           first
           ask
           
             I.
             K.
          
           whether
           he
           takes
           the
           Church
           of
           
             Corinth
          
           to
           have
           had
           a
           true
           Religion
           when
           S.
           
             Paul
          
           wrote
           to
           ▪
           it
           ?
           This
           sure
           he
           cannot
           deny
           if
           he
           read
           but
           S.
           
             Pauls
          
           first
           salutation
           ;
           and
           yet
           in
           that
           Church
           there
           were
           various
           parties
           ,
           some
           for
           
             Cephas
             ,
          
           some
           for
           
           
             Apollo
             ,
          
           some
           for
           
             Paul
          
           and
           some
           for
           
             Christ
             ,
          
           and
           great
           difference
           of
           opinion
           there
           was
           whether
           
             Moses
          
           Law
           did
           oblige
           or
           not
           .
           Now
           these
           questions
           concerning
           Circumcision
           and
           the
           Law
           were
           matters
           of
           Faith
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           contradictory
           opinions
           one
           must
           be
           true
           ,
           another
           false
           ;
           those
           therefore
           that
           were
           of
           the
           false
           side
           must
           by
           
             I.
          
           K's
           doctrine
           be
           all
           irrecoverably
           lost
           ,
           as
           being
           in
           a
           fundamental
           error
           ,
           for
           each
           side
           believed
           his
           Opinion
           was
           of
           God.
           But
           S.
           
             Paul
          
           taught
           another
           doctrine
           ,
           that
           whoso
           builds
           on
           the
           foundation
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           shall
           be
           saved
           ,
           though
           he
           build
           upon
           it
           wood
           ,
           hay
           and
           stubble
           .
           And
           the
           distinction
           he
           there
           makes
           between
           those
           who
           build
           Gold
           ,
           Silver
           and
           precious
           stones
           ,
           and
           wood
           ,
           hay
           and
           stubble
           ,
           can
           only
           relate
           to
           sound
           and
           unsound
           Doctors
           ,
           the
           one
           building
           good
           and
           useful
           Superstructures
           upon
           the
           foundation
           ,
           the
           other
           teaching
           trifling
           Doctrines
           that
           will
           not
           bear
           the
           Tryal
           ;
           and
           yet
           that
           both
           may
           be
           saved
           ,
           is
           a
           plain
           demonstration
           against
           
             I.
             K.
             
          
        
         
           The
           same
           Apostle
           also
           tells
           us
           that
           neither
           Circumcision
           nor
           uncircumcision
           availed
           any
           thing
           ,
           and
           that
           in
           the
           new
           Creature
           there
           was
           neither
           Circumcision
           nor
           uncircumcision
           but
           Christ
           was
           all
           in
           all
           ,
           and
           that
           one
           God
           did
           both
           justifie
           the
           Circumcision
           by
           Faith
           and
           the
           uncircumcision
           through
           Faith
           ;
           from
           all
           which
           it
           is
           evident
           that
           those
           of
           the
           Circumcision
           might
           be
           saved
           ,
           and
           by
           consequence
           that
           their
           
           Religion
           was
           a
           true
           Religion
           ;
           and
           yet
           that
           their
           doctrine
           of
           Circumcision
           was
           an
           error
           ,
           can
           be
           disputed
           by
           none
           who
           read
           the
           Epistles
           of
           S.
           
             Paul
             ;
          
           And
           it
           is
           no
           less
           clear
           that
           they
           held
           it
           an
           Article
           of
           Faith
           delivered
           to
           
             Abraham
          
           by
           God.
           So
           here
           it
           is
           plain
           that
           S.
           
             Paul
          
           in
           one
           breath
           both
           condemns
           this
           Opinion
           as
           erroneous
           ,
           and
           yet
           allows
           Salvation
           to
           such
           as
           believed
           it
           .
           With
           how
           many
           errors
           doth
           S.
           
             Iohn
          
           charge
           some
           of
           the
           seven
           Churches
           ?
           yet
           they
           were
           still
           the
           Churches
           of
           Christ.
           
        
         
           The
           Church
           in
           the
           second
           Century
           did
           generally
           believe
           the
           
             Millennium
          
           as
           a
           thing
           revealed
           by
           God
           ,
           which
           the
           Roman
           Church
           now
           calls
           an
           error
           ;
           yet
           I
           hope
           
             I.
             K.
          
           will
           not
           condemn
           that
           Church
           as
           holding
           a
           false
           Religion
           .
           The
           
             African
          
           Churches
           held
           it
           necessary
           for
           Infants
           to
           receive
           the
           Eucharist
           ,
           from
           these
           words
           ,
           
             Except
             you
             eat
             the
             flesh
             and
             drink
             the
             blood
             of
             the
             Son
             of
             man
             ,
             you
             have
             no
             life
             in
             you
             ,
          
           and
           this
           was
           approved
           by
           P.
           
             Innocent
             ,
          
           and
           was
           continued
           many
           Ages
           in
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ,
           as
           appears
           from
           the
           
             Ordo
             Romanus
             ,
          
           and
           yet
           that
           Church
           has
           declared
           that
           not
           to
           be
           necessary
           ,
           by
           which
           the
           Opinion
           the
           former
           Ages
           had
           of
           its
           necessity
           is
           declared
           an
           error
           :
           But
           it
           were
           a
           strange
           thing
           from
           that
           to
           condemn
           these
           as
           holding
           a
           false
           Religion
           .
           The
           
             Franciscans
             ,
          
           and
           
             Dominicans
          
           had
           hot
           contests
           about
           the
           Immaculate
           Conception
           of
           the
           Blessed
           Virgin
           ,
           and
           both
           pretended
           Divine
           authority
           and
           Revelations
           ,
           so
           
           that
           one
           of
           those
           must
           have
           held
           an
           error
           .
           The
           
             Dominicans
          
           and
           
             Iansenists
          
           believe
           Predestination
           and
           Grace
           efficacious
           of
           it self
           ,
           this
           the
           
             Molinists
          
           deny
           ;
           both
           vouch
           Scriptures
           and
           the
           definitions
           of
           the
           Church
           .
           The
           
             Canonists
          
           Courtiers
           of
           
             Rome
          
           and
           
             Iesuits
          
           have
           asserted
           the
           Popes
           Infallibility
           from
           Scripture
           and
           Councils
           ,
           the
           
             Sorbon
          
           hath
           always
           rejected
           this
           .
           Now
           of
           all
           these
           different
           Opinions
           the
           one
           must
           be
           true
           and
           the
           other
           false
           ,
           since
           they
           stand
           in
           the
           terms
           of
           a
           contradiction
           ;
           and
           they
           have
           all
           vouched
           God
           and
           Scriptures
           for
           them
           :
           therefore
           those
           who
           hold
           the
           false
           side
           of
           the
           contradiction
           according
           to
           
             I.
          
           K's
           reasoning
           must
           be
           of
           a
           false
           Religion
           ;
           which
           I
           believe
           when
           he
           considers
           more
           maturely
           ,
           he
           will
           find
           he
           mistook
           his
           measures
           in
           this
           .
        
         
           And
           in
           fine
           ,
           his
           Argument
           will
           also
           hold
           as
           strong
           to
           prove
           that
           every
           Individual
           of
           a
           true
           Religion
           must
           be
           exempt
           from
           all
           errors
           in
           every
           Opinion
           whereof
           he
           takes
           God
           to
           be
           the
           Author
           ;
           For
           
             I.
          
           K's
           Argument
           will
           be
           as
           strong
           for
           every
           thing
           whereof
           God
           is
           believed
           the
           Author
           ,
           as
           for
           Articles
           of
           Faith.
           So
           that
           every
           mistaken
           sense
           of
           Scripture
           will
           turn
           one
           to
           be
           of
           a
           false
           Religion
           ,
           since
           every
           mistaken
           exposition
           is
           an
           error
           ;
           and
           yet
           that
           being
           thought
           the
           meaning
           of
           the
           place
           ,
           God
           is
           believed
           the
           author
           of
           that
           meaning
           ,
           and
           by
           
             I.
          
           K's
           consequence
           of
           the
           error
           it self
           .
           From
           all
           which
           I
           may
           (
           I
           hope
           even
           by
           
             I.
          
           K's
           leave
           )
           
           infer
           the
           necessary
           distinction
           between
           things
           that
           are
           believed
           to
           be
           errors
           ,
           and
           those
           that
           are
           believed
           to
           be
           Truths
           .
           For
           the
           former
           ,
           to
           vouch
           God
           the
           Author
           of
           what
           we
           know
           to
           be
           an
           error
           and
           corruption
           ,
           is
           certainly
           so
           criminal
           that
           none
           of
           the
           true
           Religion
           can
           be
           guilty
           of
           it
           .
           But
           there
           be
           many
           things
           which
           (
           though
           errors
           ,
           yet
           )
           any
           one
           may
           very
           innocently
           mistake
           for
           truths
           .
           I
           do
           not
           say
           the
           mistake
           does
           quite
           excuse
           the
           error
           ;
           if
           the
           error
           be
           fundamental
           the
           mistake
           must
           be
           so
           too
           :
           But
           if
           the
           error
           be
           in
           a
           lesser
           matter
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           lesser
           error
           ;
           and
           it
           will
           never
           be
           made
           out
           ,
           That
           ,
           if
           one
           apprehending
           an
           Opinion
           true
           ,
           embrace
           it
           ,
           as
           come
           from
           God
           ,
           and
           as
           an
           Article
           of
           Faith
           ,
           if
           he
           is
           mistaken
           ,
           in
           that
           he
           strikes
           at
           the
           divine
           veracity
           :
           for
           among
           men
           ,
           who
           thinks
           that
           any
           wronged
           his
           veracity
           if
           another
           mistook
           his
           meaning
           ,
           and
           understood
           his
           words
           in
           a
           different
           sense
           from
           what
           he
           intended
           and
           expressed
           ?
           Certainly
           he
           who
           so
           mistakes
           ,
           after
           the
           true
           meaning
           is
           cleared
           ,
           cannot
           be
           understood
           to
           have
           fastned
           any
           reproach
           upon
           the
           Candor
           of
           him
           whose
           words
           he
           mistook
           ,
           all
           the
           blame
           being
           to
           be
           cast
           only
           on
           his
           want
           of
           right
           understanding
           .
           This
           were
           indeed
           a
           hard
           case
           if
           all
           our
           mistakings
           of
           divine
           Revelations
           did
           infer
           a
           charging
           God
           with
           error
           or
           corruption
           .
           But
           the
           thing
           is
           so
           clear
           that
           I
           am
           afraid
           I
           have
           spent
           too
           many
           words
           about
           it
           ,
           and
           this
           Argument
           of
           
             I.
          
           K's
           cannot
           but
           upon
           first
           reading
           appear
           to
           all
           that
           are
           accustomed
           
           to
           weigh
           and
           examine
           truth
           ▪
           to
           be
           a
           piece
           of
           crude
           ill
           digested
           and
           ill
           palliated
           Sophistry
           .
        
         
           Thus
           far
           have
           I
           followed
           
             I.
             K.
          
           through
           those
           six
           points
           he
           imagines
           he
           has
           demonstrated
           ,
           and
           have
           shewed
           how
           true
           the
           first
           four
           were
           ,
           but
           how
           little
           reason
           there
           was
           to
           account
           them
           such
           for
           any
           thing
           he
           said
           for
           their
           proof
           ,
           and
           how
           false
           the
           other
           two
           are
           .
           And
           I
           suppose
           he
           will
           acknowledge
           that
           if
           what
           is
           already
           set
           down
           hold
           true
           and
           be
           founded
           on
           good
           reason
           ,
           I
           need
           not
           follow
           him
           through
           the
           rest
           of
           his
           Book
           ,
           it
           being
           only
           a
           direction
           to
           his
           gentle
           courteous
           Reader
           how
           to
           manage
           this
           method
           of
           arguing
           so
           as
           to
           convince
           all
           persons
           that
           dissent
           from
           the
           true
           Religion
           ,
           which
           he
           thinks
           is
           a
           Mathematical
           and
           sure
           way
           of
           proceeding
           ,
           and
           such
           as
           no
           man
           can
           decline
           or
           avoid
           ,
           and
           in
           end
           must
           be
           either
           convinced
           by
           it
           ,
           or
           be
           forced
           to
           confess
           himself
           no
           better
           than
           an
           Ass
           or
           a
           block
           ,
           which
           concludes
           him
           a
           mad
           man.
           I
           will
           not
           follow
           this
           with
           a
           railery
           that
           is
           as
           obvious
           as
           severe
           ;
           but
           I
           love
           not
           to
           mix
           matters
           of
           sport
           with
           such
           serious
           purposes
           :
           therefore
           I
           follow
           
             I.
             K.
          
           no
           more
           through
           the
           rest
           of
           his
           Book
           .
        
         
           But
           come
           next
           to
           consider
           the
           great
           support
           of
           that
           cause
           which
           he
           manages
           both
           in
           his
           Preface
           and
           through
           the
           rest
           of
           his
           Book
           ,
           that
           there
           can
           be
           no
           certainty
           neither
           about
           the
           true
           books
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           the
           Decrees
           of
           Councils
           
           or
           writings
           of
           Fathers
           ,
           without
           there
           be
           a
           true
           Church
           and
           Religion
           agreed
           on
           ,
           which
           shall
           both
           declare
           to
           us
           what
           Books
           are
           true
           and
           what
           not
           ,
           and
           shall
           deliver
           their
           true
           meaning
           to
           us
           :
           otherwise
           endless
           confusions
           must
           follow
           ,
           which
           plainly
           appears
           in
           the
           many
           divisions
           of
           the
           Protestants
           and
           the
           uncertainties
           they
           are
           in
           about
           all
           Controverted
           points
           .
           From
           which
           the
           necessity
           of
           a
           true
           Church
           appears
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           in
           a
           well
           ordered
           State
           there
           is
           not
           only
           a
           necessity
           of
           clear
           and
           good
           Laws
           ,
           but
           of
           Judges
           to
           expound
           them
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           
             CHAP.
             VII
             .
          
           Of
           the
           supposed
           Inconveniencies
           
             J.
             K.
          
           imagines
           in
           the
           want
           of
           a
           true
           Church
           to
           Iudge
           Infallibly
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           right
           methods
           of
           finding
           Truth
           .
        
         
           THere
           is
           nothing
           about
           which
           those
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           make
           more
           noise
           than
           the
           necessity
           of
           an
           Infallible
           Judge
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           great
           and
           visible
           inconveniencies
           that
           appear
           from
           the
           want
           of
           it
           in
           those
           Churches
           that
           have
           departed
           from
           the
           Roman
           Communion
           .
           I
           have
           not
           long
           ago
           proposed
           a
           great
           many
           Queries
           to
           one
           of
           
             I.
          
           K's
           brethren
           ,
           in
           which
           I
           have
           set
           before
           him
           ,
           the
           many
           difficulties
           they
           must
           needs
           be
           involved
           in
           by
           clearing
           who
           this
           Infallible
           Judge
           must
           be
           ;
           and
           I
           shall
           here
           repeat
           nothing
           of
           what
           I
           said
           then
           ,
           but
           shall
           go
           on
           to
           shew
           upon
           what
           clear
           and
           certain
           grounds
           we
           may
           rest
           our
           perswasions
           about
           Articles
           of
           Faith
           and
           divine
           Truths
           .
        
         
           All
           Arts
           and
           Sciences
           must
           be
           acquired
           by
           some
           rules
           and
           methods
           by
           which
           a
           progress
           may
           be
           made
           from
           plainer
           things
           to
           those
           that
           are
           more
           involved
           and
           difficult
           ;
           and
           if
           any
           would
           desire
           to
           understand
           any
           Theorem
           or
           Problem
           in
           Geometry
           without
           beginning
           at
           
           the
           Elements
           and
           advancing
           by
           
             Euclid
          
           or
           some
           other
           such
           methods
           ,
           he
           labours
           in
           vain
           :
           So
           also
           if
           any
           would
           without
           more
           ado
           study
           to
           know
           a
           secret
           in
           Chymistry
           having
           neither
           learned
           to
           know
           the
           terms
           of
           Art
           nor
           the
           course
           of
           a
           process
           ,
           he
           shall
           not
           be
           the
           wiser
           though
           one
           deliver
           him
           their
           best
           secrets
           .
           In
           like
           manner
           if
           a
           man
           will
           enter
           into
           the
           knowledge
           of
           Divine
           truth
           without
           any
           of
           those
           preparations
           which
           are
           necessary
           ,
           he
           is
           in
           a
           wrong
           way
           ;
           and
           the
           further
           he
           engages
           ,
           he
           is
           the
           more
           out
           of
           the
           way
           ;
           nor
           can
           he
           be
           ever
           in
           the
           right
           way
           till
           he
           begin
           afresh
           .
        
         
           It
           may
           justly
           seem
           strange
           that
           Christian
           Religion
           was
           so
           plain
           a
           thing
           when
           the
           Apostles
           first
           delivered
           it
           ;
           that
           mean
           simple
           people
           ,
           poor
           women
           ,
           and
           an
           illiterate
           company
           should
           have
           understood
           it
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           subdued
           a
           great
           part
           of
           the
           Roman
           Empire
           ,
           before
           men
           of
           great
           Learning
           were
           Converted
           to
           the
           belief
           of
           it
           :
           and
           all
           the
           knowledge
           they
           then
           had
           of
           it
           was
           by
           the
           Sermons
           and
           Epistles
           of
           the
           holy
           Apostles
           which
           remain
           to
           this
           day
           .
           And
           though
           at
           this
           distance
           from
           that
           time
           ,
           we
           may
           have
           lost
           the
           true
           meaning
           of
           some
           phrases
           ,
           and
           we
           have
           not
           so
           particular
           a
           History
           of
           the
           state
           of
           the
           first
           Churches
           as
           might
           help
           us
           to
           understand
           many
           passages
           that
           seem
           very
           dark
           to
           us
           :
           yet
           for
           the
           main
           of
           those
           Books
           they
           seem
           very
           easie
           and
           plain
           .
           We
           have
           also
           still
           so
           perfect
           a
           knowledge
           of
           the
           Greek
           tongue
           as
           clearly
           to
           
           understand
           them
           .
           But
           after
           all
           this
           ,
           Christian
           Religion
           is
           now
           become
           such
           a
           strange
           kind
           of
           secret
           ,
           that
           men
           with
           all
           their
           Learning
           and
           Study
           can
           scarce
           understand
           it
           .
           Certainly
           we
           must
           have
           either
           changed
           Religion
           from
           what
           it
           was
           at
           first
           ,
           so
           that
           it
           hath
           now
           put
           on
           a
           new
           face
           ;
           or
           we
           are
           much
           mistaken
           in
           our
           methods
           of
           enquiring
           into
           it
           ,
           and
           examining
           what
           things
           are
           revealed
           to
           us
           by
           God.
           
        
         
           S.
           
             Paul
          
           tells
           us
           ,
           
             the
             Natural
             man
             receives
             not
             the
             things
             of
             God
             ,
             neither
             indeed
             can
             be
             for
             they
             are
             spiritually
             discerned
             .
          
           From
           which
           it
           appears
           that
           a
           Renovation
           of
           the
           mind
           from
           its
           natural
           mould
           ,
           and
           its
           being
           transformed
           into
           a
           spiritual
           temper
           are
           necessary
           ,
           as
           well
           for
           the
           understanding
           and
           discerning
           ,
           as
           the
           obeying
           the
           things
           of
           God.
           Now
           all
           natural
           men
           may
           be
           divided
           into
           three
           Classes
           ;
           either
           they
           are
           so
           immersed
           in
           senses
           and
           sensible
           things
           ,
           that
           all
           their
           apprehensions
           are
           tinctured
           with
           the
           figures
           and
           phantasms
           which
           their
           senses
           and
           imaginations
           present
           to
           them
           ,
           or
           they
           rise
           a
           little
           above
           this
           ,
           but
           are
           so
           governed
           by
           the
           heats
           of
           nature
           and
           passion
           ,
           that
           either
           their
           minds
           are
           rendred
           quite
           incapable
           of
           all
           serious
           thoughts
           ,
           or
           so
           distorted
           in
           them
           that
           they
           do
           not
           discern
           them
           truly
           .
           But
           the
           highest
           elevation
           of
           the
           natural
           man
           is
           Reason
           ,
           which
           hath
           a
           fairer
           appearance
           ,
           and
           if
           rightly
           managed
           would
           certainly
           advance
           him
           to
           a
           spiritual
           temper
           :
           but
           being
           fed
           only
           with
           dry
           Notions
           and
           
           trying
           them
           by
           a
           false
           touchstone
           ,
           does
           strenghthen
           our
           errors
           ,
           fortifie
           our
           prejudices
           and
           swell
           us
           with
           pride
           ,
           and
           fret
           us
           with
           the
           itch
           of
           an
           unsatisfiable
           and
           useless
           curiosity
           .
        
         
           Now
           it
           will
           not
           be
           ungrateful
           ,
           it
           is
           hoped
           ,
           to
           propose
           the
           great
           hinderances
           all
           these
           several
           Modifications
           of
           the
           Natural
           man
           have
           given
           to
           the
           right
           understanding
           Divine
           truths
           ,
           and
           to
           begin
           with
           those
           of
           the
           lowest
           form
           .
        
         
           One
           whose
           mind
           is
           immersed
           in
           sense
           ,
           either
           believes
           nothing
           but
           what
           his
           senses
           propose
           to
           him
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           tinctures
           all
           his
           Notions
           with
           sensible
           objects
           .
           Thus
           the
           Atheist
           believes
           no
           God
           ,
           because
           he
           cannot
           see
           him
           ;
           and
           those
           of
           the
           heathens
           over
           whom
           the
           power
           of
           their
           senses
           was
           strong
           ,
           yet
           not
           such
           as
           to
           overcome
           the
           Impressions
           of
           a
           Deity
           left
           on
           their
           Souls
           ,
           did
           believe
           the
           Sun
           ,
           Moon
           and
           Stars
           were
           Gods
           ,
           being
           both
           dazled
           with
           the
           brighter
           splendor
           of
           the
           day
           and
           delighted
           with
           the
           fainter
           shinings
           of
           the
           night
           .
           And
           finding
           both
           the
           pleasant
           Lightsomness
           ,
           the
           warm
           Benignity
           and
           fruitful
           usefulness
           of
           their
           Beams
           ,
           they
           did
           adore
           them
           as
           gods
           ,
           and
           seeing
           strange
           effects
           answering
           some
           of
           their
           positions
           and
           aspects
           ,
           they
           came
           to
           imagine
           all
           humane
           things
           were
           governed
           by
           them
           ,
           and
           so
           framed
           an
           entire
           Theory
           (
           if
           so
           ill
           grounded
           a
           thing
           can
           deserve
           that
           name
           )
           of
           Astrology
           .
           Others
           much
           taken
           with
           the
           greatness
           and
           glory
           of
           brave
           Commanders
           
           and
           Princes
           ,
           and
           having
           some
           Notion
           of
           the
           Souls
           Immortality
           on
           their
           minds
           ,
           did
           think
           that
           after
           their
           death
           they
           governed
           this
           inferiour
           world
           ;
           and
           to
           those
           Heroes
           they
           assigned
           Stars
           to
           dwell
           in
           ,
           and
           those
           gods
           they
           represented
           either
           by
           some
           ▪
           Symbols
           ,
           the
           chief
           whereof
           was
           Fire
           ,
           or
           by
           some
           Statues
           ,
           Pillars
           or
           other
           pieces
           of
           Sculpture
           ,
           which
           at
           least
           represented
           that
           Deity
           to
           their
           Senses
           ,
           if
           it
           had
           not
           some
           strangely
           Magical
           and
           Divine
           influence
           united
           or
           affixed
           to
           it
           .
           They
           did
           also
           prognosticate
           all
           future
           things
           either
           by
           the
           flight
           or
           feeding
           of
           Birds
           ,
           or
           by
           the
           inwards
           of
           Animals
           .
        
         
           Here
           then
           a
           Religion
           entirely
           framed
           from
           the
           Conceptions
           of
           the
           Natural
           man
           ,
           in
           its
           lowest
           depression
           ;
           and
           their
           gross
           Notions
           of
           Religion
           made
           them
           both
           prejudiced
           against
           the
           
             Iews
          
           who
           worshipped
           nothing
           but
           a
           Celestial
           Deity
           ,
           and
           more
           against
           the
           Christians
           whom
           they
           called
           Atheists
           because
           they
           had
           none
           of
           those
           sensible
           representations
           or
           ways
           of
           Worship
           ,
           but
           their
           Faith
           was
           plain
           and
           simple
           .
        
         
           But
           as
           the
           Natural
           man
           did
           thus
           corrupt
           the
           notices
           of
           natural
           Religion
           ,
           it
           did
           no
           less
           embase
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           .
           When
           many
           natural
           men
           were
           engaged
           in
           the
           profession
           of
           it
           ,
           either
           by
           
             Education
             ,
          
           Custom
           or
           Interest
           ,
           who
           loathing
           its
           simple
           purity
           did
           study
           so
           to
           dress
           it
           up
           that
           it
           might
           gratifie
           their
           natural
           minds
           by
           bringing
           in
           the
           worship
           of
           deceased
           men
           ,
           and
           
           by
           worshipping
           them
           by
           Images
           ,
           Pictures
           ,
           Reliques
           ,
           and
           at
           length
           making
           Pictures
           for
           the
           Deity
           it self
           ,
           and
           by
           dressing
           up
           all
           the
           parts
           of
           Religious
           Worship
           so
           as
           to
           amuse
           and
           delight
           the
           senses
           ,
           by
           affecting
           an
           outward
           grandeur
           in
           Processions
           and
           other
           Festivals
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           greatness
           of
           their
           Priests
           ,
           chiefly
           of
           their
           high
           Priest
           :
           all
           which
           were
           visibly
           the
           effects
           of
           minds
           deeply
           engaged
           in
           sensible
           things
           ,
           to
           whom
           nothing
           appeared
           sacred
           or
           solemn
           without
           it
           had
           been
           adorned
           with
           all
           the
           exquisite
           deckings
           of
           Art
           and
           Industry
           ;
           and
           judging
           of
           piety
           by
           some
           heats
           which
           were
           raised
           in
           the
           fancy
           by
           outward
           objects
           presented
           to
           it
           ,
           studied
           to
           fill
           all
           the
           parts
           of
           Worship
           with
           such
           rites
           as
           might
           make
           either
           a
           glorious
           shew
           for
           amusing
           the
           worshippers
           ,
           or
           some
           melting
           tender
           impressions
           for
           cozening
           them
           into
           an
           opinion
           of
           their
           being
           divinely
           elevated
           .
        
         
           But
           after
           that
           by
           the
           blessed
           providence
           of
           God
           Religion
           was
           in
           many
           parts
           of
           the
           world
           refined
           from
           that
           dross
           ,
           yet
           the
           sensitive
           part
           of
           the
           natural
           man
           did
           not
           give
           over
           its
           attempts
           for
           embasing
           Religion
           ;
           many
           still
           continued
           to
           place
           all
           their
           Religion
           in
           forms
           ,
           and
           bestowed
           that
           Zeal
           which
           should
           have
           gone
           to
           the
           advancing
           true
           piety
           ,
           holiness
           of
           life
           and
           Brotherly
           Charity
           ,
           to
           the
           adorning
           and
           maintaining
           those
           .
           Others
           thought
           they
           had
           pretty
           well
           escaped
           this
           whole
           danger
           ,
           being
           got
           into
           an
           extream
           very
           opposite
           to
           it
           of
           vilifying
           all
           
           forms
           ;
           but
           the
           Natural
           man
           did
           act
           in
           their
           sensitive
           powers
           though
           in
           another
           method
           :
           for
           though
           they
           had
           emerged
           out
           of
           the
           Dominion
           or
           Influence
           of
           their
           outward
           senses
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           ,
           yet
           their
           inward
           senses
           and
           imaginations
           ,
           (
           which
           are
           the
           rebound
           of
           sensible
           impressions
           upon
           the
           understanding
           )
           prevailed
           much
           on
           them
           .
           These
           therefore
           came
           to
           think
           a
           voluble
           way
           of
           pouring
           out
           soft
           words
           with
           great
           heavings
           of
           the
           natural
           mind
           ,
           was
           a
           mighty
           thing
           ,
           and
           gave
           themselves
           wholly
           to
           this
           ,
           so
           that
           the
           conceiving
           and
           hearing
           long
           Prayers
           and
           Sermons
           ,
           especially
           if
           accompanied
           with
           tenderness
           in
           the
           thoughts
           and
           great
           meltings
           in
           the
           fancy
           ,
           was
           thought
           the
           highest
           feat
           and
           elevation
           of
           Religion
           :
           though
           it
           plainly
           appears
           to
           a
           man
           of
           a
           severe
           and
           discerning
           Reason
           ,
           that
           all
           this
           is
           but
           an
           illusion
           of
           the
           fancy
           heated
           by
           some
           fervours
           of
           the
           mind
           .
           And
           yet
           they
           upon
           these
           deceits
           of
           their
           fanciful
           thoughts
           have
           separated
           themselves
           from
           all
           regular
           forms
           of
           Worship
           ,
           because
           that
           gratification
           of
           new
           words
           was
           necessary
           to
           feed
           their
           devotion
           .
        
         
           Another
           great
           mischief
           of
           this
           distemper
           is
           ,
           that
           such
           persons
           judge
           that
           as
           long
           as
           they
           enjoy
           these
           heats
           ,
           all
           is
           as
           they
           would
           have
           it
           ;
           and
           this
           will
           readily
           continue
           as
           long
           as
           they
           are
           put
           to
           do
           nothing
           displeasing
           to
           them
           :
           so
           that
           whatever
           they
           do
           ,
           be
           it
           never
           so
           contrary
           to
           the
           Laws
           of
           Religion
           ;
           yet
           if
           with
           that
           they
           
           can
           but
           keep
           up
           these
           heats
           ,
           they
           judge
           either
           that
           what
           they
           do
           ,
           is
           not
           at
           all
           a
           sin
           ,
           or
           at
           most
           such
           a
           sin
           as
           being
           a
           branch
           of
           necessary
           infirmity
           ,
           may
           consist
           well
           enough
           with
           Grace
           ,
           because
           it
           can
           live
           with
           those
           fervours
           ;
           and
           if
           any
           thing
           quench
           them
           ,
           (
           which
           it
           is
           like
           every
           thing
           that
           displeases
           them
           may
           do
           )
           then
           they
           throw
           it
           off
           as
           carnal
           .
           Thus
           they
           measure
           all
           things
           by
           these
           fluctuating
           and
           inconstant
           motions
           ,
           and
           as
           that
           temper
           is
           volatile
           and
           of
           all
           others
           the
           most
           subject
           to
           change
           ;
           so
           the
           inequalities
           they
           are
           in
           ,
           are
           looked
           on
           as
           the
           flowings
           and
           ebbings
           of
           the
           divine
           Spirit
           ;
           and
           the
           heats
           they
           feel
           sometimes
           being
           ascribed
           to
           the
           divine
           Spirit
           ,
           every
           thought
           which
           drops
           into
           their
           minds
           when
           under
           these
           actuations
           is
           taken
           for
           a
           divine
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           followed
           and
           given
           out
           for
           such
           ;
           and
           the
           coldness
           and
           dulness
           which
           must
           of
           necessity
           follow
           these
           heats
           ,
           is
           thought
           a
           withdrawing
           and
           desertion
           of
           the
           divine
           Spirit
           .
           Whence
           follow
           sad
           melancholy
           and
           perplexing
           scrupulosities
           ,
           which
           do
           often
           mightily
           afflict
           some
           devout
           but
           weak
           minds
           ,
           and
           bring
           up
           an
           ill
           report
           on
           Religion
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           were
           sullen
           and
           morose
           ,
           and
           led
           men
           into
           dejection
           ,
           and
           perpetual
           anxiety
           .
           And
           this
           humor
           as
           it
           swells
           up
           the
           mind
           into
           a
           mighty
           conceit
           of
           its
           own
           eminent
           and
           exalted
           piety
           and
           to
           a
           contempt
           of
           others
           ,
           so
           it
           doth
           often
           carry
           on
           those
           who
           are
           imposed
           on
           by
           it
           ,
           into
           strange
           conceits
           ,
           making
           them
           apprehend
           they
           are
           obliged
           to
           nothing
           but
           as
           they
           are
           inwardly
           
           moved
           to
           it
           .
           And
           thus
           they
           would
           supersede
           Reason
           and
           give
           themselves
           up
           to
           their
           fancies
           under
           a
           conceit
           that
           they
           are
           acted
           by
           a
           divine
           Spirit
           ;
           whereas
           it
           is
           but
           an
           impulse
           of
           some
           vapours
           of
           the
           grosser
           and
           more
           terrene
           parts
           of
           the
           natural
           man
           rarified
           by
           the
           heats
           of
           the
           Brain
           ,
           and
           the
           fumes
           of
           Melancholy
           into
           a
           thin
           and
           nimble
           agitation
           .
        
         
           The
           next
           power
           of
           the
           Natural
           man
           ,
           is
           in
           his
           passions
           and
           appetites
           ,
           which
           being
           suited
           to
           the
           contexture
           of
           his
           Bloud
           ,
           Brain
           and
           Spirits
           ,
           have
           a
           mighty
           influence
           on
           all
           his
           thoughts
           ,
           and
           chiefly
           on
           those
           that
           relate
           to
           Religion
           .
           And
           first
           these
           carrying
           him
           with
           a
           strong
           impetus
           to
           many
           irregular
           desires
           to
           which
           Religion
           if
           believed
           must
           give
           a
           stop
           ,
           he
           is
           from
           that
           made
           first
           to
           question
           ,
           then
           to
           doubt
           ,
           and
           at
           last
           to
           deny
           there
           is
           a
           God
           ,
           because
           his
           appetites
           are
           too
           dear
           to
           forgoe
           them
           for
           the
           belief
           of
           a
           superiour
           power
           or
           the
           hopes
           of
           another
           state
           .
           And
           it
           is
           an
           easie
           thing
           for
           any
           man
           to
           bribe
           his
           Reason
           to
           believe
           what
           he
           has
           a
           great
           mind
           to
           perswade
           himself
           of
           ,
           either
           by
           diverting
           his
           thoughts
           from
           seriously
           considering
           the
           thing
           proposed
           ,
           or
           by
           looking
           only
           at
           the
           oppositions
           may
           be
           made
           to
           this
           belief
           without
           examining
           what
           may
           be
           said
           for
           it
           ,
           and
           by
           living
           in
           a
           perpetual
           disorder
           ,
           which
           both
           darkens
           the
           mind
           and
           keeps
           out
           all
           serious
           thoughts
           from
           it
           ;
           upon
           all
           which
           there
           may
           by
           the
           just
           judgment
           of
           God
           follow
           a
           searing
           of
           the
           Conscience
           and
           a
           blinding
           of
           the
           mind
        
         
         
           But
           if
           the
           power
           of
           Religion
           and
           the
           witness
           God
           hath
           in
           our
           Breast
           ,
           prove
           too
           hard
           for
           all
           this
           opposition
           ,
           then
           the
           next
           attempt
           of
           passion
           and
           lust
           is
           to
           misshape
           these
           notices
           of
           truth
           into
           such
           a
           figure
           as
           may
           best
           agree
           with
           their
           desires
           .
           And
           thus
           the
           Heathens
           corrupted
           all
           the
           evidences
           of
           natural
           Religion
           ,
           and
           set
           up
           such
           Deities
           as
           were
           guilty
           of
           the
           most
           furious
           passions
           ,
           and
           the
           most
           ungoverned
           lusts
           of
           all
           sorts
           ;
           and
           this
           being
           once
           done
           ,
           no
           wonder
           the
           worship
           of
           those
           gods
           was
           of
           a
           piece
           with
           the
           opinions
           they
           had
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           devised
           such
           Sacrifices
           and
           services
           as
           might
           agree
           best
           with
           those
           Deities
           .
           It
           was
           also
           a
           very
           natural
           result
           of
           this
           opinion
           that
           they
           should
           conform
           their
           lives
           to
           their
           gods
           ,
           and
           so
           they
           were
           secure
           of
           patrociny
           and
           protection
           when
           they
           were
           to
           commit
           the
           basest
           villanies
           .
           And
           no
           wonder
           this
           prejudiced
           them
           at
           Christianity
           which
           they
           saw
           taught
           all
           its
           Converts
           to
           be
           severely
           vertuous
           and
           pious
           ;
           and
           therefore
           they
           complained
           that
           Christians
           came
           to
           disgrace
           their
           gods
           ,
           and
           to
           turn
           them
           from
           the
           Religion
           they
           had
           received
           from
           their
           Fathers
           .
        
         
           But
           afterwards
           when
           the
           world
           rushed
           into
           the
           Church
           ,
           the
           passionate
           and
           lustful
           parts
           of
           the
           natural
           man
           finding
           nothing
           in
           that
           Faith
           for
           their
           shelter
           ,
           yet
           studied
           to
           doe
           the
           best
           they
           could
           for
           their
           own
           preservation
           .
           Therefore
           
           insensibly
           men
           were
           turned
           from
           minding
           the
           great
           things
           for
           which
           Christ
           died
           ,
           and
           rose
           again
           to
           place
           all
           their
           care
           on
           other
           thing●
           which
           might
           well
           be
           maintained
           without
           overcoming
           a
           passion
           or
           mortifying
           a
           lust
           .
           Some
           did
           set
           up
           highly
           for
           opinions
           ,
           others
           for
           forms
           ,
           and
           by
           a
           curious
           improving
           those
           hoped
           that
           their
           other
           faults
           should
           be
           more
           easily
           forgiven
           ,
           both
           by
           God
           and
           man.
           Afterwards
           a
           great
           many
           notions
           were
           found
           out
           ,
           if
           not
           for
           a
           direct
           defence
           of
           those
           disorders
           ,
           yet
           for
           palliating
           them
           ,
           and
           allaying
           the
           grief
           for
           them
           .
           A
           devotion
           to
           Saints
           was
           one
           great
           Engine
           ;
           the
           opinion
           of
           many
           sins
           being
           expiated
           in
           Purgatory
           ,
           together
           with
           the
           belief
           of
           the
           Popes
           power
           of
           Redeeming
           from
           it
           ,
           was
           an
           universal
           Medicine
           for
           all
           diseases
           of
           Conscience
           .
           Then
           the
           dispensing
           with
           Vowes
           ,
           Covenants
           ,
           and
           most
           of
           all
           Duties
           was
           a
           great
           ease
           to
           the
           natural
           man.
           There
           were
           also
           some
           new
           coined
           duties
           of
           Religion
           which
           did
           agree
           well
           with
           their
           passions
           ,
           such
           as
           fighting
           for
           Religion
           against
           Infidels
           ,
           Hereticks
           and
           others
           that
           were
           excommunicated
           by
           the
           Pope
           ,
           and
           a
           violent
           persecuting
           of
           all
           ,
           who
           in
           any
           point
           departed
           from
           the
           received
           Opinions
           :
           And
           their
           Auricular
           Confessions
           ,
           easie
           Penances
           ,
           and
           ready
           Absolutions
           were
           sure
           and
           Infallible
           means
           to
           reconcile
           them
           to
           Religion
           after
           it
           was
           so
           debased
           as
           to
           meet
           them
           more
           than
           half
           way
           .
        
         
         
           But
           when
           a
           great
           part
           of
           
             Europe
          
           was
           delivered
           from
           those
           more
           apparent
           Impostures
           ,
           the
           natural
           man
           did
           not
           for
           all
           that
           give
           over
           his
           practising
           upon
           Religion
           to
           frame
           it
           to
           his
           own
           taste
           ;
           and
           a
           fondness
           on
           some
           reformed
           Opinions
           ,
           with
           a
           Reverence
           for
           the
           Persons
           of
           the
           Teachers
           ,
           came
           to
           be
           set
           up
           by
           many
           as
           all
           they
           drave
           at
           .
           But
           cunninger
           Arts
           were
           also
           found
           out
           and
           some
           sacred
           truths
           did
           insensibly
           become
           so
           abused
           as
           to
           be
           made
           the
           excuses
           of
           sins
           ,
           especially
           as
           they
           were
           stretched
           by
           the
           corruptions
           of
           men
           ,
           which
           were
           much
           encouraged
           by
           many
           unwary
           expressions
           of
           some
           hot
           Divines
           ,
           who
           in
           the
           eagerness
           of
           dispute
           had
           said
           many
           things
           that
           were
           not
           to
           be
           justified
           .
           Hence
           it
           was
           that
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Christs
           dying
           for
           sinners
           ,
           and
           being
           their
           Sacrifice
           ,
           by
           which
           the
           guilt
           of
           their
           sins
           was
           expiated
           and
           they
           reconciled
           to
           God
           ,
           was
           used
           by
           many
           for
           a
           security
           for
           men
           to
           sin
           as
           pleased
           them
           ,
           so
           they
           but
           trusted
           to
           Christ
           ;
           and
           because
           perfection
           was
           not
           attained
           in
           this
           life
           ,
           it
           was
           held
           unattainable
           and
           sin
           insuperable
           .
           Nor
           could
           men
           be
           much
           afflicted
           for
           sin
           nor
           guard
           diligently
           against
           it
           ,
           who
           believed
           they
           were
           inevitably
           led
           and
           determined
           to
           it
           ,
           especially
           when
           that
           was
           thought
           done
           by
           God
           himself
           ;
           and
           fighting
           for
           Religion
           against
           the
           supream
           Authority
           was
           also
           by
           many
           made
           a
           great
           demonstration
           of
           their
           zeal
           for
           God
           and
           Religion
           ,
           and
           a
           surious
           bitter
           zeal
           against
           all
           
           who
           departed
           from
           their
           Opinions
           whether
           to
           the
           one
           hand
           or
           to
           the
           other
           ,
           was
           looked
           on
           as
           a
           great
           evidence
           of
           Grace
           and
           Love
           to
           God.
           And
           it
           is
           plain
           in
           many
           persons
           Religion
           does
           not
           so
           much
           mortifie
           their
           passions
           and
           lusts
           as
           palliate
           and
           disguise
           them
           ,
           or
           at
           most
           change
           their
           object
           but
           not
           their
           nature
           .
           Men
           of
           Cholerick
           dispositions
           placing
           all
           Religion
           in
           an
           eager
           ,
           violent
           ,
           yea
           and
           if
           need
           be
           ,
           a
           bloody
           maintaining
           all
           their
           Opinions
           about
           matters
           of
           Faith.
           The
           melancholy
           men
           put
           it
           all
           in
           abstraction
           and
           recluseness
           ,
           valuing
           themselves
           much
           upon
           it
           ,
           and
           undervaluing
           others
           that
           were
           not
           so
           retired
           .
           Others
           of
           a
           more
           sanguine
           Complexion
           finding
           either
           great
           excuses
           for
           all
           their
           levities
           and
           follies
           ,
           or
           if
           more
           serious
           ,
           turning
           all
           their
           thoughts
           to
           the
           dressing
           up
           some
           pretty
           Notion
           .
           And
           thus
           men
           not
           forming
           their
           minds
           by
           the
           dictates
           and
           precepts
           of
           Religion
           ,
           but
           framing
           it
           according
           to
           their
           own
           tempers
           ,
           so
           as
           might
           best
           suit
           their
           inclinations
           ,
           did
           hold
           the
           truth
           in
           unrighteousness
           .
           And
           thus
           again
           the
           natural
           man
           did
           adulterate
           the
           notions
           of
           Religion
           which
           are
           spiritually
           discerned
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           last
           and
           greatest
           (
           because
           both
           strongest
           and
           subtilest
           )
           assault
           that
           Nature
           made
           upon
           Religion
           was
           by
           the
           misguidings
           of
           ill
           directed
           and
           ill
           managed
           Reason
           .
           The
           former
           prejudices
           were
           more
           visible
           and
           could
           not
           be
           so
           well
           defended
           ;
           but
           this
           was
           managed
           with
           a
           
           deeper
           cunning
           .
           And
           first
           the
           great
           value
           that
           the
           Masters
           and
           pretenders
           to
           Learning
           and
           Reason
           had
           of
           themselves
           ,
           made
           them
           scornfully
           reject
           all
           Instruction
           ,
           stiffly
           maintain
           all
           they
           had
           once
           asserted
           ,
           and
           despise
           every
           one
           that
           differed
           from
           them
           .
           Hence
           it
           was
           that
           the
           Philosophers
           broke
           into
           so
           many
           divisions
           ,
           being
           as
           is
           apparent
           mightily
           swelled
           in
           self-conceit
           ,
           so
           that
           they
           scorned
           to
           yield
           to
           one
           another
           ,
           but
           employed
           all
           their
           wit
           and
           eloquence
           to
           justifie
           their
           own
           Notions
           ,
           how
           absurd
           soever
           .
           Now
           this
           is
           the
           temper
           in
           the
           world
           the
           most
           incapable
           of
           instruction
           ;
           and
           this
           their
           pride
           they
           carried
           higher
           ,
           laughing
           at
           all
           Inspiration
           as
           a
           kind
           of
           madness
           ,
           which
           therefore
           they
           despised
           and
           thought
           that
           their
           Reason
           was
           able
           to
           penetrate
           into
           the
           deepest
           and
           secretest
           mysteries
           .
           And
           as
           this
           occasioned
           a
           numberless
           variety
           of
           opinions
           ,
           so
           it
           made
           them
           despise
           the
           first
           preachings
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           in
           which
           as
           there
           was
           none
           of
           their
           Metaphysical
           canting
           ;
           so
           poor
           illiterate
           men
           delivering
           it
           ,
           they
           who
           valued
           themselves
           on
           their
           Learning
           and
           their
           noble
           generous
           tempers
           ,
           rejected
           it
           with
           scorn
           ,
           which
           was
           fed
           with
           the
           contempt
           they
           had
           for
           the
           first
           Converts
           ,
           who
           were
           either
           such
           as
           they
           called
           Barbarians
           ,
           or
           men
           of
           mean
           Education
           and
           Employments
           .
        
         
           But
           after
           an
           Age
           or
           two
           many
           of
           those
           were
           by
           the
           prevailing
           progress
           of
           Christianity
           Converted
           to
           the
           Faith
           ,
           and
           did
           for
           some
           Ages
           
           very
           good
           service
           to
           it
           .
           But
           diverse
           of
           their
           Successors
           retaining
           the
           old
           temper
           of
           the
           Philosophers
           ,
           the
           debates
           about
           Religion
           begun
           to
           be
           managed
           with
           an
           unyielding
           ambition
           ,
           and
           Anathema's
           were
           the
           common
           sanctions
           with
           which
           they
           imposed
           their
           Opinions
           .
           And
           at
           length
           one
           of
           the
           Bishops
           assumed
           to
           himself
           and
           Successors
           the
           absolute
           authority
           of
           judging
           and
           deciding
           all
           Controversies
           ,
           which
           (
           though
           the
           most
           unreasonable
           opinion
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           that
           which
           destroys
           the
           free
           and
           right
           use
           of
           Reason
           :
           yet
           )
           was
           brought
           in
           on
           the
           highest
           pretences
           of
           Reason
           ,
           as
           the
           only
           mean
           to
           end
           all
           disputes
           .
        
         
           And
           when
           a
           great
           many
           errors
           were
           visibly
           got
           into
           their
           Church
           ,
           and
           some
           rose
           who
           with
           all
           the
           evidence
           of
           Reason
           imaginable
           laid
           open
           these
           and
           pressed
           them
           to
           disown
           and
           reform
           them
           ,
           they
           continued
           in
           their
           stubborness
           ,
           multiplied
           their
           Anathema's
           ,
           and
           wreathed
           all
           their
           errors
           in
           one
           Chain
           ,
           as
           S.
           
             Iames
          
           had
           done
           the
           Law
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           imposed
           all
           without
           mercy
           .
           And
           for
           doing
           this
           they
           brought
           their
           Janizaries
           ,
           whom
           they
           had
           educated
           in
           Nurseries
           at
           fencing
           ,
           cudgelling
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           discipline
           of
           Pen-slaughter
           and
           Ink-shed
           .
           These
           Schoolmen
           who
           had
           been
           well
           trained
           to
           dispute
           about
           every
           thing
           ,
           and
           stubbornly
           to
           maintain
           every
           position
           how
           trifling
           or
           how
           false
           soever
           with
           all
           confidence
           and
           earnestness
           ,
           were
           brought
           to
           give
           Battel
           ,
           and
           they
           as
           Mercenaries
           who
           
           expected
           good
           preferments
           did
           fight
           it
           out
           most
           obstinately
           ;
           nothing
           was
           too
           disingenious
           for
           their
           confidence
           ,
           no
           Author
           was
           so
           spurious
           but
           they
           would
           vouch
           his
           testimony
           ,
           no
           place
           of
           Scripture
           sounded
           favourably
           to
           their
           Opinions
           but
           (
           though
           it
           had
           been
           never
           so
           plain
           that
           it
           was
           to
           be
           understood
           in
           a
           different
           sence
           )
           was
           brought
           as
           a
           certain
           proof
           ,
           no
           maxim
           of
           the
           Schools
           ,
           no
           old
           fustian
           distinction
           was
           left
           out
           to
           maintain
           the
           Fight
           ;
           and
           as
           some
           after
           the
           greatest
           defeats
           have
           impudence
           enough
           to
           pretend
           a
           Victory
           ,
           so
           that
           art
           was
           not
           omitted
           by
           them
           ,
           but
           loud
           acclamations
           of
           Victory
           were
           made
           ,
           when
           all
           free
           discerners
           saw
           they
           were
           quite
           routed
           ;
           and
           the
           rudeness
           they
           had
           learned
           in
           their
           Cells
           was
           brought
           out
           with
           them
           ,
           for
           they
           managed
           their
           disputes
           with
           all
           the
           roughness
           of
           expression
           ,
           the
           most
           petulant
           insultings
           and
           the
           most
           barbarous
           railings
           .
        
         
           Nor
           does
           this
           charge
           fall
           only
           on
           one
           side
           of
           Christendom
           ,
           though
           one
           Church
           be
           most
           notoriously
           guilty
           ;
           but
           the
           Disputants
           of
           all
           sides
           have
           for
           the
           greatest
           part
           managed
           their
           debates
           with
           that
           acrimony
           of
           stile
           ,
           those
           severe
           invectives
           and
           the
           catching
           up
           some
           escapes
           of
           inconsiderate
           Pens
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           were
           more
           concerned
           for
           Glory
           than
           for
           Truth
           .
           Besides
           that
           every
           one
           swallows
           down
           an
           entire
           system
           of
           that
           party
           to
           which
           he
           hath
           offered
           up
           himself
           ;
           and
           all
           must
           be
           defended
           without
           that
           ingenuity
           which
           becomes
           inquirers
           into
           divine
           
           truth
           .
           Nor
           do
           most
           men
           take
           their
           opinions
           from
           the
           sacred
           Oracles
           ,
           but
           from
           their
           Educations
           ,
           and
           the
           Catechisms
           and
           Confessions
           they
           have
           been
           accustomed
           to
           ;
           and
           being
           thus
           prepossessed
           go
           to
           the
           Scriptures
           to
           seek
           proofs
           for
           their
           opinions
           ,
           being
           resolved
           before-hand
           to
           defend
           them
           and
           to
           make
           the
           Scriptures
           serve
           their
           turns
           ;
           which
           if
           they
           will
           not
           do
           easily
           ,
           they
           will
           so
           stretch
           them
           upon
           the
           rack
           by
           their
           forced
           Criticisms
           or
           consequences
           ,
           as
           to
           make
           them
           confess
           any
           thing
           though
           never
           so
           plainly
           contrary
           to
           the
           clear
           meaning
           of
           the
           words
           .
           And
           it
           is
           evident
           that
           men
           thus
           blown
           up
           with
           pride
           are
           resolved
           to
           justifie
           all
           they
           have
           ever
           said
           ,
           though
           to
           the
           cost
           of
           throwing
           off
           all
           candid
           and
           fair
           dealing
           ,
           saying
           things
           that
           no
           man
           of
           common
           sense
           would
           say
           if
           he
           were
           not
           strangely
           byassed
           .
           And
           indeed
           we
           dayly
           see
           things
           brought
           for
           the
           proof
           of
           many
           opinions
           which
           are
           so
           visibly
           weak
           and
           unconcluding
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           scarce
           possible
           to
           think
           those
           believed
           them
           that
           said
           them
           ;
           but
           that
           being
           resolved
           to
           stand
           to
           what
           they
           once
           asserted
           ,
           some
           mist
           must
           be
           raised
           for
           keeping
           up
           their
           reputation
           ,
           and
           imposing
           on
           weaker
           and
           more
           credulous
           Disciples
           .
           And
           thus
           it
           must
           continue
           as
           long
           as
           men
           are
           led
           by
           their
           pride
           to
           be
           stubborn
           in
           all
           their
           reasonings
           about
           Religion
           .
        
         
           Another
           great
           abuse
           of
           Reason
           is
           a
           needless
           curiosity
           about
           things
           that
           either
           are
           of
           no
           
           great
           importance
           ,
           or
           are
           wrapped
           in
           mysterious
           darkness
           ;
           into
           which
           if
           men
           will
           penetrate
           ,
           their
           Conjectures
           and
           Discourses
           must
           turn
           to
           impertinent
           Cantings
           and
           Nonsense
           .
           Thus
           the
           Philosophers
           disputing
           about
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           Deity
           and
           of
           the
           Soul
           ,
           do
           fall
           into
           unintelligible
           niceties
           and
           Cabalistical
           conceits
           of
           Numbers
           ,
           of
           which
           no
           account
           can
           be
           given
           ,
           but
           that
           they
           would
           seem
           to
           say
           somewhat
           where
           they
           could
           say
           nothing
           .
           And
           this
           curious
           subtilising
           carried
           along
           another
           mischief
           with
           it
           ,
           that
           they
           rejected
           every
           thing
           of
           which
           they
           could
           not
           give
           a
           distinct
           account
           ,
           and
           therefore
           called
           S.
           
             Paul
          
           a
           babler
           when
           he
           told
           them
           of
           the
           Resurrection
           .
        
         
           But
           when
           some
           of
           the
           Philosophers
           became
           Converts
           to
           Christianity
           ,
           both
           these
           effects
           of
           this
           curiosity
           did
           appear
           ;
           some
           studying
           to
           make
           out
           the
           high
           Mysteries
           of
           the
           Faith
           from
           their
           Metaphysicks
           ,
           and
           to
           reconcile
           them
           to
           the
           Platonical
           Notions
           ,
           in
           which
           any
           discerning
           Reader
           will
           see
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           needless
           and
           very
           ill
           proved
           and
           worse
           applyed
           curiosity
           .
           This
           appearing
           both
           too
           curious
           and
           ill
           grounded
           to
           others
           ,
           was
           no
           small
           occasion
           of
           their
           rejecting
           those
           Mysteries
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           framing
           them
           so
           as
           to
           agree
           with
           their
           Conceptions
           of
           things
           ;
           and
           both
           seem
           to
           have
           had
           too
           la●g●
           a
           share
           of
           this
           oversearching
           humour
           ,
           and
           of
           not
           believing
           any
           thing
           but
           what
           was
           made
           out
           to
           their
           Reasons
           :
           the
           one
           party
           
           pretending
           they
           did
           understand
           the
           Mysteries
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           denying
           them
           because
           they
           could
           not
           understand
           them
           .
        
         
           What
           subtleties
           were
           used
           in
           explaining
           those
           incomprehensible
           doctrines
           any
           that
           hath
           conversed
           in
           those
           writings
           must
           needs
           know
           ,
           and
           how
           they
           were
           opposed
           with
           the
           like
           subtleties
           .
           Whereas
           had
           all
           sides
           adored
           the
           divine
           Revelations
           without
           engaging
           into
           these
           discantings
           ,
           they
           had
           held
           the
           simplicity
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           and
           acted
           more
           like
           true
           Christian
           Philosophers
           ;
           since
           it
           agrees
           with
           the
           strictest
           reason
           to
           acknowledge
           our
           faculties
           are
           limited
           ,
           and
           so
           not
           fit
           to
           comprehend
           the
           divine
           Nature
           ,
           nor
           the
           operations
           or
           the
           communications
           of
           that
           Supream
           being
           ;
           and
           therefore
           we
           must
           believe
           with
           all
           humility
           what
           himself
           hath
           been
           pleased
           to
           reveal
           to
           us
           concerning
           himself
           ,
           without
           either
           doubting
           the
           truth
           because
           we
           understand
           not
           what
           is
           so
           far
           above
           us
           ,
           or
           engaging
           into
           over
           curious
           searching
           into
           that
           which
           it
           appears
           from
           our
           limited
           understandings
           ,
           and
           the
           general
           terms
           of
           Revelation
           God
           intended
           should
           be
           still
           a
           Mystery
           to
           us
           .
           But
           indeed
           the
           Schoolmen
           have
           thought
           it
           below
           the
           height
           of
           their
           ●ouring
           minds
           and
           great
           Learnings
           to
           stick
           at
           the
           explaining
           all
           Mysteries
           ,
           and
           as
           far
           as
           hard
           words
           and
           unconceivable
           niceties
           will
           go
           ,
           they
           have
           given
           us
           a
           very
           satisfying
           account
           of
           all
           Mysteries
           ,
           by
           which
           we
           know
           neither
           more
           nor
           less
           than
           
           we
           do
           without
           them
           .
           Whether
           this
           may
           not
           have
           led
           many
           over
           curio●s
           enquirers
           into
           the
           contrary
           extream
           ,
           I
           shall
           not
           determine
           ,
           but
           this
           is
           plainly
           an
           abuse
           of
           Reason
           on
           both
           hands
           .
        
         
           The
           humour
           of
           enquiring
           into
           all
           subtleties
           did
           quickly
           bring
           into
           the
           Church
           a
           superfetation
           of
           unconceivable
           Mysteries
           .
           For
           every
           bold
           conceit
           that
           any
           (
           who
           had
           so
           much
           authority
           as
           to
           be
           well
           followed
           )
           took
           up
           was
           presently
           given
           out
           for
           a
           Mystery
           ,
           and
           then
           it
           was
           sacred
           and
           must
           not
           be
           touched
           ;
           and
           if
           any
           did
           offer
           to
           examine
           it
           ,
           he
           was
           scared
           with
           the
           bugbear
           of
           a
           Mystery
           .
           So
           that
           Transubstantiation
           ,
           the
           treasure
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           the
           way
           of
           the
           Popes
           Infallibility
           ,
           together
           with
           a
           thousand
           devised
           Mysteries
           in
           all
           the
           pieces
           of
           Divine
           Worship
           ,
           were
           cramm'd
           down
           the
           throats
           of
           all
           Christians
           ,
           and
           many
           being
           justly
           provoked
           by
           these
           pretended
           Mysteries
           ,
           and
           seeing
           the
           other
           great
           Mysteries
           made
           the
           engines
           of
           obtruding
           these
           on
           the
           world
           ,
           were
           thereupon
           by
           an
           unjustifiable
           and
           an
           immoderate
           use
           of
           the
           Counterpoise
           led
           to
           the
           other
           extream
           of
           denying
           all
        
         
           And
           with
           how
           great
           nicety
           of
           Argument
           have
           even
           the
           Reformed
           managed
           many
           high
           mysterious
           points
           ,
           as
           the
           derivation
           of
           
           Adam's
           sin
           ,
           the
           Order
           o
           the
           Divine
           decrees
           ,
           with
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           aids
           and
           assistances
           of
           Grace
           ,
           
           which
           have
           been
           canvassed
           with
           a
           very
           searching
           curiosity
           ?
           and
           as
           dark
           as
           these
           must
           be
           confessed
           to
           be
           ,
           yet
           they
           are
           delivered
           with
           as
           much
           dictating
           and
           imperious
           authority
           ,
           as
           if
           these
           Authors
           had
           been
           caught
           up
           to
           the
           third
           Heavens
           .
           Many
           other
           niceties
           are
           also
           found
           out
           to
           exercise
           their
           curiosity
           ;
           yet
           if
           it
           rested
           there
           the
           hazard
           were
           not
           so
           great
           ,
           but
           these
           are
           all
           made
           Articles
           of
           Faith
           ,
           and
           all
           who
           are
           not
           satisfied
           about
           them
           ,
           are
           barred
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           so
           no
           wonder
           there
           be
           endless
           heats
           and
           debates
           .
        
         
           The
           occasion
           of
           this
           curiosity
           and
           itch
           of
           disputing
           may
           be
           perhaps
           not
           unjustly
           derived
           from
           the
           contentions
           and
           endless
           wranglings
           of
           the
           Schools
           in
           matters
           of
           Philosophy
           ;
           in
           which
           men
           being
           accustomed
           to
           that
           game
           of
           disputing
           and
           subtilising
           about
           nothing
           ,
           and
           going
           from
           those
           studies
           to
           Divinity
           ,
           and
           carrying
           that
           same
           temper
           ,
           and
           fiery
           edge
           along
           with
           them
           ,
           they
           made
           all
           that
           work
           about
           it
           which
           hath
           now
           so
           long
           divided
           the
           world
           .
           They
           being
           also
           by
           a
           long
           practice
           habituated
           to
           many
           Maxims
           and
           Axioms
           which
           were
           laid
           down
           for
           rules
           not
           to
           be
           enquired
           into
           or
           denyed
           ,
           came
           really
           to
           believe
           those
           were
           true
           ,
           and
           to
           carry
           them
           along
           with
           them
           to
           all
           their
           Theological
           debates
           .
           All
           which
           will
           appear
           very
           evident
           to
           any
           that
           compares
           their
           Philosophical
           and
           Theological
           works
           ,
           from
           which
           many
           of
           their
           strange
           inferences
           and
           positions
           did
           take
           their
           
           rise
           ,
           and
           I
           am
           afraid
           do
           still
           receive
           their
           nourishment
           .
        
         
           Thus
           far
           I
           have
           discoursed
           of
           the
           several
           prejudices
           the
           powers
           of
           the
           natural
           man
           do
           lay
           in
           the
           way
           of
           our
           apprehending
           and
           judging
           aright
           of
           Divine
           truths
           ;
           and
           the
           common
           notions
           of
           the
           moral
           Philosophy
           will
           concur
           to
           teach
           all
           men
           that
           before
           their
           minds
           can
           be
           rightly
           qualified
           for
           the
           understanding
           any
           intellectual
           truth
           ,
           but
           most
           chiefly
           Divine
           truth
           ,
           we
           must
           abstract
           from
           all
           those
           figures
           of
           things
           ,
           which
           our
           senses
           present
           to
           us
           ,
           and
           rise
           above
           all
           grosser
           phantasms
           .
           It
           is
           no
           less
           necessary
           that
           our
           thoughts
           be
           serene
           ,
           and
           free
           of
           passion
           ,
           that
           we
           may
           freely
           and
           at
           leisure
           consider
           what
           lies
           before
           us
           ,
           without
           the
           Byass
           of
           preconceived
           opinions
           or
           interests
           .
           And
           it
           is
           equally
           rational
           with
           these
           that
           we
           have
           modest
           minds
           not
           vainly
           puffed
           up
           with
           an
           opinion
           of
           our
           own
           knowledge
           ,
           but
           tractable
           and
           docile
           ,
           such
           as
           will
           not
           stick
           after
           clear
           conviction
           ,
           to
           confess
           and
           retract
           an
           error
           ,
           and
           that
           we
           proceed
           in
           our
           reasonings
           closely
           and
           on
           sure
           grounds
           ,
           not
           on
           vain
           conjectures
           and
           maxims
           taken
           up
           meerly
           on
           trust
           ,
           but
           by
           a
           clear
           progress
           advance
           from
           one
           truth
           to
           another
           as
           the
           Series
           of
           them
           shall
           lead
           .
        
         
           A
           man
           who
           is
           thus
           prepared
           must
           next
           consider
           all
           was
           said
           in
           the
           first
           four
           Sections
           ,
           with
           a
           great
           deal
           more
           to
           the
           same
           purpose
           ;
           That
           
           he
           be
           on
           good
           grounds
           perswaded
           there
           is
           a
           God
           ;
           that
           there
           is
           a
           true
           revealed
           Religion
           ,
           &
           that
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           is
           the
           true
           Religion
           .
           These
           things
           being
           laid
           down
           he
           is
           in
           the
           first
           place
           by
           earnest
           Prayers
           to
           beg
           God's
           direction
           to
           go
           along
           with
           him
           in
           all
           his
           enquiries
           ,
           which
           certainly
           will
           not
           be
           wanting
           if
           he
           bring
           with
           him
           a
           sincere
           &
           well
           prepared
           mind
           ,
           not
           byassed
           nor
           prepossessed
           ;
           and
           of
           this
           we
           may
           be
           well
           assured
           both
           from
           the
           Divine
           goodness
           and
           veracity
           .
           For
           as
           he
           hath
           promised
           that
           whoso
           seek
           shall
           find
           ;
           so
           it
           is
           a
           necessary
           consequent
           of
           infinite
           goodness
           to
           assist
           all
           that
           sincerely
           seek
           after
           life
           and
           happiness
           :
           but
           if
           any
           come
           to
           this
           study
           without
           he
           be
           duly
           prepared
           ,
           he
           has
           himself
           to
           thank
           if
           he
           fall
           into
           errors
           and
           mistakes
           .
        
         
           The
           next
           thing
           an
           exact
           searcher
           into
           Religion
           must
           labour
           in
           ,
           is
           once
           to
           observe
           the
           nature
           of
           Christianity
           and
           the
           great
           designs
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           in
           this
           he
           is
           not
           to
           follow
           the
           small
           game
           of
           some
           particular
           and
           obscure
           passages
           ,
           but
           to
           observe
           through
           the
           whole
           New
           Testament
           what
           was
           the
           great
           end
           of
           all
           our
           Saviour
           spoke
           and
           did
           ,
           and
           his
           disciples
           testified
           and
           wrote
           .
           If
           once
           we
           comprehend
           this
           a
           right
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           a
           thread
           to
           carry
           us
           through
           particular
           disquisitions
           .
           For
           as
           there
           be
           many
           natural
           truths
           of
           which
           we
           are
           well
           assured
           ,
           though
           Philosophy
           offers
           us
           some
           Arguments
           against
           them
           ,
           in
           the
           answering
           which
           we
           are
           
           not
           able
           to
           satisfie
           our
           Reasons
           ;
           so
           there
           may
           be
           some
           divine
           truths
           very
           certainly
           made
           out
           to
           us
           ,
           and
           yet
           there
           may
           be
           places
           of
           Scripture
           which
           seem
           so
           to
           contradict
           those
           truths
           that
           they
           cannot
           be
           well
           answered
           .
        
         
           Again
           ,
           a
           serious
           Enquirer
           will
           see
           good
           reason
           to
           believe
           the
           Scriptures
           must
           be
           plain
           ,
           evident
           and
           clear
           ,
           since
           they
           were
           at
           first
           directed
           to
           men
           of
           very
           ordinary
           parts
           and
           of
           no
           profound
           understandings
           and
           learning
           ;
           therefore
           he
           may
           well
           conclude
           those
           strange
           Superstructures
           some
           have
           reared
           up
           for
           amusing
           the
           world
           ,
           can
           be
           none
           of
           the
           Articles
           of
           Faith
           necessary
           to
           be
           believed
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           the
           first
           Converts
           were
           honest
           simple
           men
           ,
           so
           our
           Saviour
           and
           the
           Apostles
           spoke
           in
           a
           plain
           easie
           stile
           ,
           therefore
           all
           these
           forced
           Criticisms
           and
           Inferences
           by
           which
           some
           more
           ingenious
           than
           candid
           Writers
           would
           expound
           them
           in
           a
           sence
           favourable
           to
           their
           Opinions
           ,
           a●e
           not
           to
           be
           received
           ,
           since
           these
           do
           often
           represent
           the
           divine
           discourses
           rather
           like
           the
           little
           tricks
           of
           double-dealing
           and
           Sophistry
           for
           which
           an
           honest
           Tutor
           would
           severely
           chide
           his
           Pupil
           :
           words
           are
           to
           be
           understood
           in
           their
           plain
           meaning
           ,
           and
           not
           as
           Logick
           or
           a
           nicety
           of
           Criticism
           may
           distort
           and
           throw
           them
           .
        
         
           If
           then
           a
           man
           will
           in
           this
           method
           (
           which
           no
           honest
           man
           can
           except
           against
           )
           go
           to
           the
           
           search
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           with
           a
           mind
           prepared
           ,
           as
           hath
           been
           already
           said
           ,
           he
           cannot
           fail
           of
           finding
           out
           all
           that
           is
           necessary
           for
           his
           Salvation
           .
           Nor
           is
           he
           to
           be
           doubtfully
           anxious
           concerning
           the
           true
           Books
           ;
           for
           none
           denies
           but
           the
           Churches
           care
           in
           all
           Ages
           hath
           been
           the
           great
           conveyance
           of
           this
           ;
           the
           many
           various
           Translations
           of
           all
           Ages
           and
           Languages
           (
           nay
           and
           different
           Religions
           )
           agreeing
           in
           all
           material
           points
           ,
           and
           the
           Citations
           out
           of
           those
           Books
           which
           we
           find
           in
           a
           Series
           of
           Authors
           who
           have
           lived
           in
           the
           several
           Ages
           since
           they
           were
           written
           agreeing
           likewise
           with
           the
           Books
           themselves
           ,
           together
           with
           many
           ancient
           Manuscripts
           which
           do
           yet
           remain
           of
           a
           great
           many
           Languages
           ,
           may
           abundantly
           satisfie
           even
           the
           most
           severe
           Inquirer
           ,
           that
           these
           be
           the
           very
           Books
           which
           the
           Apostles
           delivered
           and
           were
           universally
           received
           by
           all
           Christians
           .
        
         
           The
           matter
           of
           Fact
           being
           thus
           cleared
           without
           any
           necessity
           of
           running
           to
           the
           authority
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           all
           those
           scruples
           which
           
             I.
             K.
          
           with
           the
           rest
           of
           his
           Brethren
           would
           needs
           raise
           ,
           do
           vanish
           ,
           since
           they
           never
           distinguish
           exactly
           between
           a
           Witness
           and
           a
           Judge
           .
           For
           the
           former
           nothing
           is
           required
           but
           honesty
           and
           good
           information
           ,
           and
           we
           have
           the
           agreeing
           suffrages
           of
           many
           witnesses
           that
           do
           all
           agree
           in
           their
           Testimony
           of
           these
           Books
           ,
           who
           though
           they
           differed
           very
           much
           in
           their
           Expositions
           
           of
           them
           ,
           yet
           concurred
           in
           their
           verdict
           about
           the
           Books
           ,
           and
           were
           checks
           on
           one
           another
           in
           the
           faithful
           preserving
           and
           transcribing
           them
           .
           In
           this
           sence
           we
           do
           receive
           the
           Churches
           Testimony
           as
           the
           necessary
           means
           of
           conveying
           these
           Books
           to
           us
           .
           But
           an
           Authority
           Sacred
           and
           Solemnly
           declared
           is
           required
           in
           a
           Judge
           ,
           and
           this
           no
           Church
           can
           so
           much
           as
           pretend
           to
           but
           from
           the
           Scriptures
           .
           Therefore
           the
           Scriptures
           being
           received
           as
           Divine
           cannot
           depend
           on
           the
           sentence
           of
           the
           Church
           as
           a
           Judge
           ,
           since
           all
           its
           Jurisdiction
           is
           derived
           from
           Scripture
           ,
           which
           therefore
           must
           be
           acknowledged
           before
           it
           can
           be
           believed
           .
        
         
           But
           because
           there
           be
           persons
           of
           a
           meaner
           Condition
           and
           not
           Educated
           so
           as
           to
           make
           all
           the
           inquiry
           which
           is
           necessary
           in
           so
           important
           a
           Business
           ,
           there
           is
           therefore
           a
           shorter
           method
           for
           such
           ,
           which
           yet
           is
           as
           morally
           certain
           as
           any
           thing
           can
           be
           .
           Let
           then
           the
           simplest
           man
           in
           
             England
          
           provide
           himself
           of
           two
           New
           Testaments
           ,
           one
           published
           by
           the
           Church
           of
           
             England
             ,
          
           another
           by
           the
           Church
           of
           
             Rome
          
           as
           was
           that
           of
           
             Rheims
             :
          
           Now
           he
           knows
           well
           what
           animosities
           be
           betwixt
           the
           Divines
           of
           these
           Churches
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           are
           engaged
           so
           hotly
           one
           against
           another
           ,
           that
           they
           agree
           in
           nothing
           ,
           but
           where
           the
           Evidence
           of
           truth
           especially
           in
           matters
           of
           Fact
           does
           bind
           them
           .
           And
           yet
           he
           comparing
           these
           New
           Testaments
           will
           find
           ,
           that
           though
           the
           phrase
           ,
           the
           position
           
           of
           words
           ,
           and
           in
           some
           few
           places
           perhaps
           the
           sence
           varies
           ,
           but
           upon
           a
           survey
           of
           the
           whole
           he
           finds
           that
           they
           do
           plainly
           agree
           in
           all
           matters
           of
           moment
           .
           So
           that
           from
           this
           he
           is
           perswaded
           that
           both
           have
           the
           same
           true
           Book
           which
           the
           Apostles
           did
           deliver
           to
           the
           Church
           ;
           and
           the
           
             Iews
          
           agreeing
           with
           us
           as
           to
           the
           Old
           Testament
           ,
           is
           the
           same
           Evidence
           to
           him
           that
           we
           have
           those
           very
           Books
           which
           were
           held
           Sacred
           by
           the
           
             Iews
          
           in
           our
           Saviour's
           time
           .
           And
           thus
           by
           
             I.
          
           K's
           leave
           a
           man
           may
           be
           satisfied
           what
           be
           the
           true
           Books
           ,
           without
           being
           assured
           which
           is
           the
           true
           Church
           or
           the
           true
           Religion
           .
        
         
           Being
           then
           assured
           about
           the
           Books
           and
           studying
           them
           in
           the
           method
           already
           set
           down
           ,
           he
           shall
           be
           certainly
           directed
           by
           God
           to
           find
           out
           every
           thing
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           ;
           and
           this
           is
           far
           from
           setting
           up
           a
           private
           Spirit
           to
           lead
           us
           Enthusiastically
           ,
           but
           is
           an
           appeal
           to
           the
           Reason
           and
           ingenuity
           that
           is
           common
           to
           all
           men
           .
           For
           let
           me
           ask
           
             I.
             K.
          
           how
           the
           Decrees
           and
           Canons
           of
           the
           Council
           of
           
             Trent
          
           are
           to
           be
           understood
           ?
           He
           himself
           says
           ,
           the
           meaning
           of
           those
           is
           plainly
           and
           certainly
           to
           be
           known
           ,
           yet
           every
           Reader
           must
           expound
           them
           to
           himself
           in
           that
           easie
           and
           clear
           sence
           which
           best
           agrees
           with
           the
           words
           .
           Is
           this
           therefore
           to
           set
           up
           a
           private
           spirit
           to
           enterpret
           these
           Canons
           ?
           I
           know
           he
           will
           say
           (
           and
           with
           good
           reason
           
           too
           )
           that
           it
           is
           far
           from
           it
           ;
           and
           with
           the
           same
           warrant
           do
           I
           assert
           that
           the
           considering
           of
           Scripture
           according
           to
           the
           method
           proposed
           ,
           is
           not
           to
           interpret
           it
           by
           a
           private
           Spirit
           ,
           but
           by
           the
           clear
           conduct
           of
           our
           understandings
           directed
           by
           the
           divine
           Grace
           which
           is
           freely
           given
           to
           all
           that
           ask
           it
           .
        
         
           If
           after
           all
           this
           it
           be
           replyed
           ,
           How
           is
           it
           then
           that
           there
           are
           such
           different
           Expositors
           and
           Expositions
           of
           Scripture
           ?
           the
           Answer
           is
           plain
           ,
           by
           sending
           back
           the
           Reader
           to
           what
           hath
           been
           said
           of
           the
           corruption
           of
           mens
           minds
           ;
           and
           as
           long
           as
           men
           live
           so
           ill
           as
           they
           do
           ,
           it
           is
           to
           no
           purpose
           to
           expect
           they
           shall
           think
           or
           understand
           aright
           .
           Besides
           ,
           there
           be
           a
           great
           many
           things
           in
           the
           Scriptures
           which
           are
           not
           Articles
           of
           Faith
           ,
           which
           every
           man
           is
           not
           bound
           to
           know
           and
           conceive
           aright
           under
           the
           hazard
           of
           Damnation
           ,
           and
           about
           which
           there
           may
           be
           disputings
           and
           different
           Opinions
           without
           any
           hazard
           .
           If
           any
           set
           up
           particular
           Opinions
           in
           matters
           justly
           controvertible
           and
           of
           less
           moment
           ,
           and
           impose
           these
           on
           all
           with
           severe
           Sanctions
           ,
           and
           if
           he
           have
           Authority
           to
           cast
           all
           out
           of
           the
           Church
           Society
           that
           do
           not
           agree
           with
           him
           ,
           or
           if
           he
           have
           not
           that
           Authority
           ,
           if
           he
           do
           separate
           from
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Church
           because
           they
           will
           not
           receive
           or
           hearken
           to
           his
           conceits
           ,
           he
           is
           a
           Schismatick
           ;
           for
           a
           dogmatizing
           and
           dictating
           spirit
           ,
           if
           strengthned
           
           with
           power
           ,
           doth
           always
           lead
           to
           persecution
           ,
           and
           if
           it
           want
           it
           ,
           to
           separation
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           I
           think
           enough
           is
           said
           for
           proving
           that
           the
           way
           to
           Salvation
           is
           not
           at
           all
           uncertain
           in
           our
           Church
           ,
           since
           it
           is
           no
           other
           but
           that
           new
           and
           living
           way
           which
           our
           Saviour
           did
           Consecrate
           through
           his
           flesh
           .
           But
           in
           this
           we
           are
           strongly
           confirmed
           ,
           when
           we
           find
           the
           ancient
           Martyrs
           ,
           Fathers
           and
           Doctors
           of
           the
           Church
           going
           in
           the
           same
           Method
           ,
           and
           by
           it
           Converting
           the
           Nations
           ,
           enduring
           Martyrdome
           and
           giving
           glory
           to
           their
           most
           holy
           Faith
           and
           to
           its
           most
           holy
           Author
           ,
           whose
           Decrees
           ,
           when
           met
           in
           Councils
           ,
           and
           Doctrines
           delivered
           in
           their
           writings
           do
           so
           agree
           with
           Ours
           in
           all
           matters
           of
           Faith
           ,
           that
           we
           decline
           not
           to
           put
           the
           whole
           debates
           between
           us
           and
           them
           to
           this
           Tryal
           .
           
             I.
             K.
          
           thinks
           we
           cannot
           know
           what
           Fathers
           or
           what
           Councils
           to
           receive
           ,
           but
           by
           first
           acknowledging
           a
           true
           Church
           which
           must
           tell
           what
           Fathers
           and
           Councils
           to
           receive
           .
           But
           this
           being
           a
           matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           we
           are
           to
           judge
           of
           it
           as
           of
           all
           matters
           of
           Fact
           that
           were
           transacted
           some
           Ages
           ago
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           evidence
           of
           Testimonies
           are
           to
           find
           out
           the
           truth
           concerning
           the
           Fathers
           and
           Councils
           ,
           and
           their
           Writings
           and
           Decrees
           .
           We
           have
           good
           reason
           to
           decline
           the
           writers
           of
           the
           latter
           Ages
           ,
           since
           we
           plainly
           see
           that
           upon
           the
           overthrow
           
           of
           the
           Western
           Empire
           by
           the
           
             Goths
          
           and
           
             Vandals
          
           and
           other
           Northern
           Nations
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Eastern
           Empire
           by
           the
           
             Saracens
          
           and
           other
           
             Mahometans
             ,
          
           Religion
           and
           Learning
           were
           quickly
           brought
           under
           sad
           and
           lasting
           decays
           ,
           which
           is
           confest
           by
           writers
           on
           all
           sides
           .
        
         
           And
           what
           
             I.
             K.
          
           says
           ,
           That
           we
           may
           as
           well
           expect
           the
           whole
           Gospel
           in
           the
           first
           Chapter
           of
           S.
           
             Matthew
             ,
          
           as
           all
           Faith
           of
           the
           Church
           in
           the
           first
           four
           General
           Councils
           ,
           is
           very
           impertinently
           alledged
           .
           Did
           we
           ask
           for
           all
           the
           definitions
           of
           the
           Church
           in
           the
           first
           Canon
           of
           
             Nice
             ,
          
           his
           comparison
           might
           well
           take
           place
           ;
           but
           it
           cannot
           be
           fitly
           used
           in
           our
           case
           who
           say
           we
           are
           the
           true
           Catholick
           Apostolick
           Christians
           ,
           because
           we
           in
           all
           things
           agree
           with
           the
           Churches
           of
           God
           ,
           as
           they
           were
           during
           their
           greatest
           purity
           both
           in
           the
           persecutions
           ,
           and
           after
           those
           for
           two
           Ages
           .
           Certainly
           if
           we
           hold
           all
           that
           Faith
           they
           then
           held
           ,
           and
           if
           they
           were
           saved
           ,
           we
           may
           be
           so
           too
           ;
           and
           you
           cannot
           pass
           a
           severe
           sentence
           on
           us
           which
           will
           not
           likewise
           take
           hold
           of
           them
           .
           
             I.
             K.
          
           cannot
           deny
           but
           they
           stated
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           in
           very
           formal
           Creeds
           ,
           and
           one
           of
           them
           expresly
           decreed
           That
           no
           new
           addition
           should
           be
           made
           to
           the
           Creed
           ;
           and
           so
           we
           who
           receive
           that
           Creed
           ,
           though
           at
           all
           this
           distance
           from
           them
           ,
           are
           really
           in
           Communion
           with
           them
           ,
           
           from
           which
           those
           have
           departed
           ,
           who
           have
           made
           such
           vast
           additions
           to
           the
           Creed
           .
           And
           thus
           it
           appears
           we
           are
           in
           the
           same
           way
           which
           our
           Saviour
           first
           opened
           and
           in
           which
           that
           glorious
           cloud
           of
           witnesses
           followed
           him
           ,
           and
           are
           still
           in
           Communion
           with
           
             Rome
          
           as
           she
           was
           when
           her
           Faith
           was
           spoken
           of
           through
           the
           whole
           world
           ,
           and
           therefore
           we
           are
           in
           a
           safe
           way
           to
           Salvation
           .
        
         
           But
           because
           Christians
           must
           live
           together
           in
           Unity
           and
           Charity
           ,
           and
           in
           order
           to
           that
           end
           must
           associate
           together
           in
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           in
           mutual
           Councils
           and
           other
           necessary
           parts
           of
           Government
           and
           some
           External
           rites
           for
           maintaining
           the
           visible
           acknowledgment
           of
           the
           Faith
           ,
           therefore
           we
           have
           rules
           given
           in
           Scripture
           no
           less
           express
           for
           obeying
           the
           Civil
           powers
           in
           all
           their
           Commands
           that
           are
           not
           plainly
           contrary
           either
           to
           Natural
           or
           revealed
           Religion
           ,
           which
           is
           a
           clear
           and
           constant
           rule
           by
           which
           we
           may
           be
           satisfied
           if
           our
           minds
           be
           right
           prepared
           and
           qualified
           ,
           as
           was
           before
           set
           down
           .
           And
           if
           by
           the
           disorder
           of
           our
           understandings
           ,
           through
           the
           corruptions
           of
           the
           natural
           man
           ,
           we
           be
           brought
           under
           Errors
           ,
           we
           have
           our selves
           to
           blame
           .
           Next
           to
           this
           we
           are
           to
           associate
           our selves
           with
           all
           who
           Worship
           God
           as
           long
           as
           there
           is
           not
           some
           great
           corruption
           in
           it
           ,
           so
           that
           we
           can
           no
           longer
           continue
           in
           it
           without
           sin
           .
           If
           others
           be
           
           formal
           or
           guilty
           in
           it
           ,
           that
           is
           none
           of
           our
           fault
           ,
           and
           can
           never
           warrant
           our
           departure
           from
           that
           Communion
           of
           Saints
           in
           worship
           .
           Therefore
           the
           particular
           Forms
           of
           Worship
           are
           to
           be
           agreed
           on
           by
           the
           Guides
           and
           Pastors
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           which
           must
           still
           be
           received
           by
           all
           till
           they
           put
           us
           to
           act
           or
           assist
           in
           somewhat
           that
           is
           evil
           ,
           or
           be
           defective
           in
           some
           necessary
           part
           of
           Divine
           worship
           .
           And
           the
           great
           rule
           by
           which
           the
           Guides
           of
           the
           Church
           ought
           to
           compose
           these
           Forms
           ,
           is
           the
           constant
           and
           universal
           practice
           of
           the
           Churches
           of
           God
           in
           their
           best
           times
           ;
           Calculating
           these
           as
           near
           as
           may
           be
           to
           the
           present
           Constitutions
           and
           tempers
           of
           men
           ,
           so
           as
           to
           avoid
           all
           unnecessary
           scandal
           ,
           and
           to
           edifie
           the
           people
           by
           them
           .
        
         
           Therefore
           we
           dare
           appeal
           to
           all
           just
           and
           impartial
           Judges
           ,
           if
           our
           Church
           have
           not
           observed
           this
           rule
           in
           all
           the
           parts
           of
           our
           Worship
           ,
           to
           bring
           things
           as
           near
           as
           could
           be
           to
           the
           Primitive
           Forms
           ;
           and
           if
           in
           some
           particulars
           we
           have
           departed
           from
           them
           ,
           such
           as
           the
           not
           Commemorating
           expresly
           the
           dead
           ,
           or
           receiving
           gifts
           in
           their
           Names
           in
           the
           holy
           Communion
           ,
           the
           not
           using
           the
           Chrism
           in
           Confirmation
           ,
           nor
           the
           sign
           of
           the
           Cross
           on
           all
           occasions
           ,
           or
           if
           we
           kneel
           in
           Churches
           on
           Sundays
           ,
           and
           betwixt
           Easter
           and
           Pentecost
           ,
           which
           are
           the
           most
           considerable
           things
           that
           now
           occurr
           to
           me
           ,
           in
           which
           we
           are
           not
           exactly
           
           conform
           to
           the
           Primitive
           Church
           ;
           these
           are
           both
           things
           of
           less
           importance
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           following
           Superstition
           and
           other
           abuses
           were
           very
           much
           corrupted
           .
           And
           it
           is
           certain
           that
           all
           things
           not
           Necessary
           when
           much
           abused
           ,
           how
           innocent
           ,
           nay
           how
           useful
           soever
           they
           may
           be
           ,
           yet
           may
           very
           reasonably
           be
           left
           out
           and
           laid
           aside
           as
           the
           Pastors
           of
           the
           Church
           see
           cause
           .
           If
           after
           all
           this
           Evidence
           there
           be
           great
           divisions
           among
           us
           ,
           we
           owe
           these
           ,
           next
           to
           the
           corruption
           or
           manners
           ,
           to
           the
           daily
           practises
           of
           such
           as
           
             I.
             K.
          
           who
           (
           as
           is
           offered
           to
           be
           made
           out
           by
           many
           )
           have
           under
           all
           disguises
           laboured
           the
           renting
           us
           to
           pieces
           ,
           and
           our
           sins
           are
           such
           that
           these
           wicked
           designs
           prove
           daily
           but
           too
           successful
           .
        
         
           But
           after
           all
           the
           mist
           and
           dust
           any
           may
           study
           to
           raise
           ,
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           to
           serious
           considerers
           it
           will
           appear
           ,
           that
           we
           of
           this
           Church
           are
           in
           a
           clear
           and
           safe
           way
           ,
           and
           that
           our
           doctrine
           is
           no
           other
           than
           what
           our
           Saviour
           and
           his
           Apostles
           delivered
           ,
           and
           what
           the
           first
           Christians
           and
           their
           Successors
           for
           many
           Ages
           believed
           ;
           and
           that
           we
           are
           in
           the
           same
           Method
           of
           finding
           out
           the
           true
           Faith
           which
           they
           followed
           :
           all
           which
           I
           shall
           conclude
           with
           these
           excellent
           and
           divinely
           Charitable
           Versicles
           of
           our
           Litany
           :
        
         
           
             That
             it
             may
             please
             thee
             to
             give
             to
             all
             thy
             people
             increase
             of
             Grace
             ,
             to
             hear
             meekly
             thy
          
           
           
             Word
             ,
             and
             to
             receive
             it
             with
             pure
             affection
             ,
             and
             to
             bring
             forth
             the
             fruits
             of
             the
             Spirit
             .
          
        
         
           
             That
             it
             may
             please
             thee
             to
             bring
             into
             the
             way
             of
             truth
             all
             such
             as
             have
             erred
             and
             are
             deceived
             ,
             and
             that
             it
             may
             please
             thee
             to
             have
             mercy
             upon
             all
             men
             .
          
        
         
           We
           beseech
           thee
           to
           hear
           us
           good
           Lord.
           
        
      
       
         THE
         END
         .
      
    
     
       
         
         
           A
           Brief
           Catalogue
           of
           Books
           newly
           Printed
           and
           Reprinted
           for
           
             R.
             Royston
             ,
          
           Bookseller
           to
           his
           Most
           Sacred
           Majesty
           .
        
         
           THE
           Works
           of
           the
           Reverend
           and
           Learned
           
             Henry
             Hammond
             ,
          
           D.
           D.
           containing
           a
           Collection
           of
           Discourses
           chiefly
           Practical
           ,
           with
           many
           Additions
           and
           Corrections
           from
           the
           
           Author
           's
           own
           hand
           ;
           together
           with
           the
           Life
           of
           the
           
             Author
          
           enlarged
           ,
           by
           the
           Reverend
           Dr.
           
             Fell
             ,
          
           Dean
           of
           
             Christ-Church
          
           in
           
             Oxford
             .
          
           In
           large
           
             Folio
             .
          
        
         
           A
           Paraphrase
           and
           Annotations
           upon
           all
           the
           Books
           of
           the
           New
           Testament
           ,
           Briefly
           explaining
           all
           the
           difficult
           Places
           thereof
           .
           The
           Fourth
           Edition
           corrected
           .
           By
           
             H.
             Hammond
             ,
          
           D.
           D.
           In
           
             Folio
             .
          
        
         
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           Or
           ,
           a
           Collection
           of
           Polemical
           Discourses
           addressed
           against
           the
           Enemies
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           
             England
             ,
          
           both
           Papists
           and
           Fanaticks
           ,
           in
           large
           
             Folio
             ,
          
           by
           
             Ier.
             Taylor
             ,
          
           Chaplain
           in
           Ordinary
           to
           K.
           
             Charles
          
           the
           First
           of
           Blessed
           Memory
           ,
           and
           late
           Lord
           Bishop
           of
           
             Down
          
           and
           
             Conner
             .
          
        
         
           
             Antiquitates
             Christianae
             ,
          
           or
           ,
           The
           History
           of
           the
           Life
           and
           Death
           of
           the
           Holy
           Jesus
           ,
           as
           also
           ,
           The
           Lives
           ,
           Acts
           ,
           and
           Martyrdoms
           of
           his
           Apostles
           .
           In
           two
           parts
           ,
           The
           first
           part
           containing
           the
           Life
           of
           Christ
           ,
           Written
           by
           
             Ieremy
             Taylor
             ,
          
           late
           Lord
           Bishop
           of
           
             Down
          
           and
           
             Conner
             .
          
           The
           second
           ,
           containing
           the
           Lives
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           by
           
             William
             Cave
             ,
          
           D.
           D.
           Chaplain
           in
           ordinary
           to
           his
           Majesty
           .
        
         
         
           The
           Second
           Part
           of
           the
           Practical
           Christian
           ,
           consisting
           of
           Meditations
           and
           Psalms
           illustrated
           with
           Notes
           ,
           or
           Paraphrased
           ;
           relating
           to
           the
           Hours
           of
           Prayer
           ,
           the
           ordinary
           Actions
           of
           Day
           and
           Night
           ,
           and
           several
           Dispositions
           of
           Men.
           By
           
             R.
             Sherlock
             ,
          
           D.
           D.
           Rector
           of
           
             Winwick
          
        
         
           The
           Royal
           Martyr
           ,
           and
           the
           Dutiful
           Subject
           ,
           in
           two
           Sermons
           :
           By
           
             Gilbert
             Burnet
             .
          
           New.
           
        
         
           The
           
             Christian
             Sacrifice
             ,
          
           a
           Treatise
           shewing
           the
           Necessity
           ,
           End
           and
           Manner
           of
           Receiving
           the
           Holy
           Communion
           ,
           
             &c.
             
          
        
         
           The
           
             Devout
             Christian
          
           instructed
           how
           to
           Pray
           and
           give
           Thanks
           to
           God
           :
           or
           ,
           a
           Book
           of
           Devotions
           ,
           
             &c.
             
          
           Both
           written
           by
           the
           Reverend
           
             S.
             Patrick
             ,
          
           D.
           D.
           in
           12.
           
        
         
           A
           
             Serious
          
           and
           
             Compassionate
             Enquiry
          
           into
           the
           Causes
           of
           the
           present
           Neglect
           and
           Contempt
           of
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           and
           Church
           of
           
             England
             ,
             &c.
             
          
        
         
           Considerations
           concerning
           
             Comprehension
             ,
             Toleration
             ,
          
           and
           the
           Renouncing
           the
           
             Covenant
             .
          
           In
           
             Octavo
          
           New.
           
        
         
           Animadversions
           upon
           a
           Book
           ,
           Entituled
           ,
           
             Fanaticism
          
           Fanatically
           imputed
           to
           the
           
             Catholick
             Church
             :
          
           by
           Dr.
           
             Stillingfleet
             ,
          
           and
           the
           Imputation
           Refuted
           and
           Retorted
           by
           
             S.
             C.
          
           The
           Second
           Edition
           .
           By
           a
           Person
           of
           Honour
           .
           In
           
             Octavo
             .
          
        
         
           Reflections
           upon
           the
           
             Devotions
          
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Church
             .
          
           With
           the
           
             Prayers
             ,
             Hymns
          
           and
           
             Lessons
          
           themselves
           ,
           taken
           out
           of
           their
           
             Authentick
             Authors
             .
          
           In
           Three
           Parts
           .
           In
           
             Octavo
             .
          
        
         
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A30400-e1450
           
             Deut.
             13
             1.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             1.
             8
             ,
             9.
             
          
           
             
               S.
            
             Mat.
             12.
             24
             ,
             to
             31.
             
          
        
         
           Notes for div A30400-e1900
           
             1
             Thess.
             2.
             11.
             
          
           
             2
             Thess.
             3.
             10.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             7.
             4
             ,
             5.