The indispensable necessity of the knowledge of the Holy Scripture in order to man's eternal salvation and ignorance therein, the mother of idolatry and superstition asserted in a sermon / preached by John Tillotson ...
         Tillotson, John, 1630-1694.
      
       
         
           1687
        
      
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             The indispensable necessity of the knowledge of the Holy Scripture in order to man's eternal salvation and ignorance therein, the mother of idolatry and superstition asserted in a sermon / preached by John Tillotson ...
             Tillotson, John, 1630-1694.
          
           [2], 22 p.
           
             Printed for Will. Norris ...,
             London :
             1687.
          
           
             "Imprimatur, C.A. Nov. 17. 1685."
             Reproduction of original in the Harvard University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Freedom of religion -- Sermons.
        
      
    
     
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           THE
           Indispensable
           Necessity
           OF
           THE
           KNOWLEDGE
           OF
           THE
           HOLY
           SCRIPTURE
           ,
           IN
           ORDER
           To
           MAN's
           Eternal
           Salvation
           and
           Ignorance
           therein
           ;
           The
           Mother
           of
           Idolatry
           and
           Superstition
           Asserted
           IN
           A
           SERMON
           ,
           PREACHED
           by
           
             JOHN
             TILLOTSON
          
           D.
           D.
           and
           Dean
           of
           Canterbury
           .
        
         
           
             MATTHEW
             .
             xxiii
             .
             13
             .
          
           
             ●o
             unto
             you
             Scribes
             and
             Pharisees
             ,
             Hypocrites
             ;
             for
             ye
             shut
             up
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Heaven
             against
             Men
             ,
             and
             ye
             neither
             go
             in
             your selves
             ,
             neither
             suffer
             ye
             them
             that
             are
             entring
             to
             go
             in
             .
          
        
         
           Imprimatur
           ,
           C.
           A.
           Nov.
           17.
           1685.
           
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           ●●inted
           for
           
             Will.
             Norris
          
           at
           the
           Maiden-head
           in
           Holbourn
           ,
           1687.
           
           Price
           Stitched
           three
           pence
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             MATTHEW
             xxiii
             .
             13
             .
          
           
             Woe
             unto
             you
             Scribes
             and
             Pharisees
             ,
             Hypocrites
             ;
             for
             ye
             shut
             up
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Heaven
             against
             Men
             ;
             and
             ye
             neither
             go
             in
             your selves
             ,
             nor
             suffer
             ye
             them
             that
             are
             entring
             in
             .
          
        
         
           THE
           Scribes
           so
           often
           mentioned
           in
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           were
           the
           great
           Doctors
           among
           the
           Jews
           ,
           the
           Teachers
           and
           Interpreters
           of
           the
           Law
           of
           God.
           And
           because
           many
           of
           them
           were
           of
           the
           Sect
           of
           the
           Pharisees
           ,
           which
           above
           all
           others
           pretended
           to
           ●kill
           and
           knowledge
           in
           the
           Law
           ,
           therefore
           it
           is
           our
           blessed
           Saviour
           does
           so
           often
           put
           the
           Scribes
           and
           Pha●isees
           together
           .
           And
           these
           were
           the
           Men
           of
           Chief
           Au●hority
           in
           the
           Jewish
           Church
           ;
           Who
           equalled
           their
           ●wn
           Unwritten
           Word
           and
           Traditions
           with
           the
           Law
           ●f
           God
           :
           Nay
           ,
           our
           Saviour
           tells
           us
           ,
           
             they
             made
             the
             Commandments
             of
             God
             of
             none
             effect
             by
             their
             Traditions
             .
          
           They
           did
           in
           effect
           assume
           to
           themselves
           infallibility
           ;
           ●nd
           all
           that
           opposed
           and
           contradicted
           them
           ,
           they
           brand●d
           with
           the
           Odious
           Name
           of
           Hereticks
           .
           Against
           these
           ●ur
           Saviour
           denounceth
           this
           Woe
           here
           in
           the
           Text
           ,
           Woe
           
             ●nto
             you
             Scribes
             and
          
           Pharisees
           ,
           Hypocrites
           ,
           
             for
             ye
             shut
             up
             ●●e
             Kingdom
             of
             Heaven
             against
             Men
             ,
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           All
           the
           Difficulty
           in
           the
           Words
           is
           ,
           what
           is
           here
           ●eant
           by
           
             shutting
             up
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Heaven
             against
             Men
             :
          
           ●
           .
           Luke
           expresseth
           it
           more
           plainly
           ,
           
             ye
             have
             taken
             away
             ●●e
             key
             of
             Knowledge
             ,
             ye
             entred
             not
             into
             your selves
             ,
             and
             ●●em
             that
             were
             entring
             in
             ,
             ye
             hindred
             .
          
           By
           putting
           these
           ●●o
           Expressions
           together
           ,
           we
           shall
           the
           more
           easily
           ●●me
           at
           the
           meaning
           of
           the
           
             Text.
             Ye
             have
             taken
             away
             〈◊〉
             key
             of
             Knowledge
             ,
             and
             have
             shut
             up
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             ●●aven
             against
             Men.
          
           This
           Metaphor
           of
           
             the
             〈…〉
             
             Knowledge
          
           is
           undoubtedly
           an
           Allusion
           to
           that
           known
           Custom
           among
           the
           Jews
           in
           the
           admission
           of
           their
           Doctors
           .
           For
           to
           whomsoever
           they
           gave
           Authority
           to
           interpret
           the
           Law
           and
           the
           Prophets
           ,
           they
           were
           solemnly
           admitted
           into
           that
           Office
           by
           delivering
           to
           them
           a
           Key
           and
           a
           Table-book
           .
           So
           that
           by
           the
           
             key
             of
             knowledge
          
           is
           here
           meant
           the
           Interpretation
           and
           understanding
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ;
           and
           by
           
             taking
             away
             the
             key
             of
             Knowledge
             ,
          
           not
           only
           that
           they
           arrogated
           to
           themselves
           alone
           the
           Understanding
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           but
           likewise
           that
           they
           had
           Conveyed
           away
           this
           key
           of
           Knowledge
           ,
           and
           as
           it
           were
           hid
           it
           out
           of
           the
           way
           ,
           neither
           using
           it
           themselves
           as
           they
           ought
           ,
           nor
           suffering
           Others
           to
           make
           use
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           they
           
             Shut
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Heaven
             against
             Men
             :
          
           which
           is
           very
           fitly
           said
           of
           those
           who
           have
           lock-the
           Door
           against
           them
           that
           were
           going
           in
           ,
           and
           have
           taken
           away
           the
           key
           .
           By
           all
           which
           it
           appears
           that
           the
           Plain
           meaning
           of
           our
           Saviour
           in
           these
           Metaphorical
           Expressions
           is
           ,
           that
           the
           Scribes
           and
           Teachers
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           under
           a
           Pretence
           of
           Interpreting
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           had
           perverted
           them
           and
           kept
           the
           true
           Knowledge
           of
           them
           from
           the
           People
           :
           Especially
           those
           Old
           Prophecies
           〈◊〉
           the
           
             Old
             Testamant
          
           which
           concerned
           the
           Messias
           .
           An●
           by
           this
           means
           the
           Kingdom
           of
           Heaven
           was
           shut
           again●●
           Men
           :
           And
           they
           not
           only
           rejected
           the
           Truth
           themselves
           but
           by
           keeping
           Men
           in
           Ignorance
           of
           the
           true
           meanin●
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           they
           hindered
           Many
           from
           embracin●
           our
           
           Saviour's
           Doctrine
           ,
           and
           entering
           into
           the
           Kingdo●
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           who
           were
           ot●erwise
           well
           enough
           dispose●
           for
           it
           .
        
         
           Having
           thus
           Explained
           the
           Words
           ,
           I
           shall
           from
           th●
           main
           Scope
           and
           Design
           of
           them
           observe
           to
           you
           thes●
           two
           things
           .
        
         
           I.
           The
           necessity
           of
           the
           Knowledge
           of
           the
           holy
           Scriptures
           in
           order
           to
           our
           Eternal
           Salvation
           .
           It
           is
           called
           b●
           our
           Saviour
           the
           
             key
             of
             Knowledge
          
           ,
           that
           which
           lets
           Me●
           into
           the
           Kingdom
           of
           Heaven
           .
        
         
           II.
           The
           great
           and
           inexcusable
           fault
           of
           those
           who
           deprive
           the
           People
           of
           the
           Knowledge
           of
           the
           Holy
           Scri●●tures
           .
           They
           
             shut
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Heaven
             against
             Me●
          
           
           and
           do
           what
           in
           them
           lies
           to
           hinder
           their
           Eternal
           Salvation
           ;
           and
           therefore
           our
           Saviour
           denounceth
           so
           heavy
           a
           Woe
           against
           them
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           speak
           briefly
           to
           these
           two
           Observations
           ;
           and
           then
           apply
           them
           to
           those
           who
           are
           principally
           concerned
           in
           them
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           
             First
             ,
             I
             observe
             hence
             the
             Necessity
             of
             the
          
           knowledge
           of
           the
           holy
           Scriptures
           in
           order
           to
           our
           Eternal
           Salvation
           .
           This
           is
           by
           our
           Saviour
           called
           
             the
             key
             of
             knowledge
          
           ,
           that
           which
           lets
           Men
           into
           the
           Kingdom
           of
           Heaven
           .
        
         
           Knowledge
           is
           necessary
           to
           Religion
           :
           It
           is
           necessary
           to
           the
           being
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           necessary
           to
           the
           life
           and
           practice
           of
           it
           .
           
             Without
             Faith
          
           (
           says
           the
           
             Apostle
             )
             it
             is
             impossible
             to
             please
             God
             :
          
           Because
           Faith
           is
           an
           act
           of
           the
           Understanding
           ,
           and
           does
           necessarily
           suppose
           some
           knowledge
           and
           apprehension
           of
           what
           we
           believe
           .
           To
           all
           acts
           of
           Religion
           there
           is
           necessarily
           req●ired
           some
           act
           of
           the
           Understanding
           ;
           so
           that
           without
           Knowledge
           there
           can
           be
           no
           Devotion
           in
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           ,
           no
           Obedience
           to
           his
           Laws
           .
           Religion
           begins
           in
           the
           Understanding
           ,
           and
           from
           thence
           descends
           upon
           the
           heart
           and
           life
           ,
           
             If
             ye
             know
             these
             things
          
           ,
           (
           says
           our
           
             Saviour
             )
             happy
             are
             ye
             if
             ye
             do
             them
             .
          
           We
           must
           first
           know
           God
           before
           we
           can
           worship
           him
           ;
           and
           understand
           what
           is
           his
           Will
           ,
           before
           we
           can
           do
           it
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           so
           very
           evident
           ,
           that
           one
           would
           think
           there
           needed
           no
           Discourse
           about
           it
           :
           And
           yet
           there
           are
           some
           in
           the
           World
           that
           cry
           up
           Ignorance
           as
           the
           Mother
           of
           Devotion
           .
           And
           to
           shew
           that
           we
           do
           not
           wrong
           them
           in
           this
           matter
           ,
           Mr.
           Rushworth
           in
           his
           Dialogues
           (
           a
           Book
           in
           great
           vogue
           among
           the
           Papists
           here
           in
           England
           )
           does
           expresly
           reckon
           up
           Ignorance
           among
           
             the
             Parents
             of
             Religion
          
           .
           And
           can
           any
           thing
           be
           said
           more
           absurdly
           and
           more
           to
           the
           Disparagement
           of
           Religion
           ,
           than
           to
           derive
           the
           Pedigree
           of
           the
           most
           excellent
           thing
           in
           the
           World
           ;
           from
           so
           obscure
           and
           ignoble
           an
           Original
           ;
           and
           to
           make
           that
           which
           the
           Scripture
           calls
           
             the
             beginning
             of
             Wisdom
          
           ,
           and
           
             the
             Excellency
             of
             Knowledge
          
           ,
           to
           be
           the
           Off-spring
           of
           Ignorance
           ,
           and
           a
           Child
           of
           Darkness
           ?
           Ignorance
           indeed
           may
           be
           the
           cause
           of
           Wonder
           and
           Admiration
           ,
           and
           the
           Mother
           of
           Folly
           and
           Superstition
           :
           
           But
           surely
           Religion
           is
           of
           a
           nobler
           Extraction
           ▪
           and
           is
           the
           Issue
           and
           Result
           of
           the
           best
           Wisdom
           and
           Knowledge
           ;
           and
           descends
           from
           above
           ,
           from
           the
           giver
           of
           every
           good
           and
           perfect
           Gift
           ,
           even
           the
           Father
           of
           Lights
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           Knowledge
           in
           general
           is
           necessary
           to
           Religion
           ,
           so
           more
           particularly
           ,
           the
           knowledge
           of
           the
           
             Holy
             Scriptures
          
           is
           necessary
           to
           our
           Eternal
           Salvation
           .
           Because
           these
           are
           the
           great
           and
           standing
           Revelations
           of
           God
           to
           Mankind
           ;
           wherein
           the
           Nature
           of
           God
           and
           his
           Will
           concerning
           our
           Duty
           ,
           and
           the
           Terms
           and
           Conditions
           of
           our
           Eternal
           Happiness
           in
           another
           World
           ,
           are
           fully
           and
           plainly
           declared
           to
           us
           .
        
         
           The
           Scriptures
           are
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ;
           and
           from
           whence
           can
           we
           learn
           the
           Will
           of
           God
           so
           well
           as
           from
           his
           own
           Mouth
           ?
           They
           are
           the
           great
           Instruments
           of
           our
           Salvation
           ;
           and
           should
           not
           every
           Man
           be
           acquainted
           with
           that
           ,
           which
           alone
           can
           perfectly
           instruct
           him
           what
           he
           must
           believe
           ,
           and
           what
           he
           must
           do
           that
           h●
           may
           be
           saved
           ?
           This
           is
           the
           Testimony
           which
           the
           Scripture
           gives
           of
           it self
           ,
           
             that
             it
             is
             able
             to
             make
             Men
             wis●
             unto
             Salvation
          
           ;
           and
           is
           it
           not
           very
           fit
           that
           every
           Man
           should
           have
           this
           Wisdom
           ,
           and
           in
           order
           thereunto
           the
           free
           use
           of
           that
           Book
           from
           whence
           this
           Wisdom
           is
           to
           be
           learned
           ?
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           I
           observe
           the
           great
           and
           inexcusable
           fault
           of
           those
           who
           keep
           Men
           in
           Ignorance
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           take
           away
           from
           them
           so
           excellent
           and
           necessary
           a
           means
           of
           Divine
           Knowledge
           ,
           as
           the
           
             Holy
             Scriptures
          
           are
           ▪
           This
           our
           Saviour
           calls
           
             taking
             away
             the
             Key
             of
             Knowledge
             ,
             and
             shutting
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Heav'n
             against
             Men
          
           ▪
           That
           is
           ,
           doing
           what
           in
           them
           lies
           to
           render
           it
           impossible
           for
           Men
           to
           be
           saved
           .
           For
           this
           he
           denounceth
           a
           terrible
           woe
           against
           the
           Teachers
           of
           the
           Jewish
           Church
           ▪
           though
           they
           did
           not
           proceed
           so
           far
           as
           to
           deprive
           Me●
           of
           the
           use
           of
           the
           
             Holy
             Scriptures
          
           ,
           but
           only
           of
           the
           righ●
           Knowledge
           and
           Understanding
           of
           them
           .
           This
           alone
           i●
           a
           horrible
           Impiety
           ,
           to
           lead
           Men
           into
           a
           false
           sense
           and
           interpretation
           of
           Scripture
           ;
           but
           much
           greater
           to
           forbi●
           them
           the
           reading
           of
           it
           .
           This
           is
           a
           stop
           to
           knowledg●
           
           at
           the
           very
           fountain
           head
           ;
           and
           not
           only
           to
           lead
           Men
           into
           Errour
           ,
           but
           to
           take
           away
           from
           them
           all
           possibility
           of
           rectifying
           their
           mistakes
           .
           And
           can
           there
           be
           a
           greater
           Sacriledge
           ,
           than
           to
           rob
           Men
           of
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           the
           best
           means
           in
           the
           World
           of
           acquainting
           them
           with
           the
           Will
           of
           God
           and
           their
           Duty
           ,
           and
           the
           way
           to
           Eternal
           Happiness
           ?
           To
           keep
           the
           People
           in
           Ignorance
           of
           that
           which
           is
           necessary
           to
           save
           them
           ,
           
             is
             to
             judge
             them
             unworthy
             of
             Eternal
             Life
             ,
          
           and
           to
           declare
           it
           does
           not
           belong
           to
           them
           ,
           and
           maliciously
           to
           contrive
           the
           Eternal
           ruine
           and
           destruction
           of
           their
           Souls
           .
        
         
           To
           lock
           up
           the
           Scriptures
           and
           the
           
             Service
             of
             God
          
           from
           the
           People
           in
           an
           Unknown
           Tongue
           ,
           what
           is
           this
           but
           in
           effect
           to
           forbid
           Men
           to
           know
           God
           ,
           and
           to
           serve
           him
           ;
           to
           render
           them
           incapable
           of
           knowing
           what
           
             is
             the
             good
             and
             acceptable
             Will
             of
             God
          
           ;
           of
           joyning
           in
           his
           Worship
           ,
           or
           performing
           any
           Part
           of
           it
           ,
           or
           receiving
           any
           Benefit
           or
           Edification
           from
           it
           ?
           And
           what
           is
           ,
           if
           this
           be
           not
           ,
           
             to
             shut
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Heaven
             against
             Men
             ?
          
           This
           is
           so
           outragious
           a
           Cruelty
           to
           the
           Souls
           of
           Men
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           not
           to
           be
           excused
           upon
           any
           Pretence
           whatsoever
           :
           This
           is
           to
           take
           the
           surest
           and
           most
           effectual
           way
           in
           the
           World
           
             to
             destroy
             those
             for
             whom
          
           Christ
           dyed
           ,
           and
           directly
           to
           thwart
           the
           Great
           Design
           of
           God
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           
             Who
             would
             have
             all
             Men
             to
             be
             Saved
             ,
             and
             to
             come
             to
             the
             Knowledge
             of
             the
             Truth
             .
          
           Men
           may
           miscarry
           with
           their
           Knowledge
           ,
           but
           they
           are
           sure
           to
           perish
           for
           the
           want
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           The
           best
           things
           in
           the
           World
           have
           their
           inconveniences
           attending
           them
           ,
           and
           are
           liable
           to
           be
           abused
           ;
           but
           surely
           Men
           are
           not
           to
           be
           ruined
           and
           damned
           for
           fear
           of
           abusing
           their
           Knowledge
           ,
           or
           for
           the
           Prevention
           of
           any
           other
           inconvenience
           whatsoever
           .
           Besides
           ,
           this
           is
           to
           cross
           the
           very
           end
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           the
           design
           of
           God
           in
           inspiring
           Men
           to
           write
           them
           .
           Can
           any
           Man
           think
           that
           God
           should
           send
           this
           great
           Light
           of
           his
           Word
           ,
           into
           the
           World
           ,
           for
           the
           Priests
           
             to
             hide
             it
             under
             a
             Bushel
          
           ;
           and
           not
           rather
           that
           it
           should
           be
           set
           up
           to
           the
           greatest
           advantage
           for
           the
           Enlightning
           of
           the
           World
           ?
           St.
           Paul
           tells
           us
           ,
           Rom.
           15.4
           .
           That
           
             whatsoever
             things
             
             were
             written
             ;
             were
             Written
             for
             our
             Learning
             ,
             that
             we
             through
             Patience
             and
             Comfort
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             might
             have
             hope
             .
          
           And
           2
           Tim.
           3.16
           .
           
             That
             all
             Scripture
             is
             given
             by
             the
             Inspiration
             of
             God
             ;
             and
             is
             profitable
             for
             Doctrine
             ,
             for
             Reproof
             ,
             for
             Correction
             ,
             for
             Instruction
             in
             Righteousness
             .
          
           And
           if
           the
           Scriptures
           were
           Written
           for
           these
           Ends
           ,
           can
           any
           Man
           have
           the
           face
           to
           pretend
           that
           they
           do
           not
           concern
           the
           People
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           their
           Teachers
           .
           Nay
           St.
           Paul
           expresly
           tells
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           Written
           for
           their
           Learning
           ,
           however
           it
           happens
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           not
           now
           permitted
           to
           make
           use
           of
           them
           .
           Are
           the
           Scriptures
           so
           useful
           and
           profitable
           for
           Doctrine
           ,
           for
           Reproof
           ,
           for
           Instruction
           in
           Righteousness
           ?
           And
           why
           may
           they
           not
           be
           used
           by
           the
           People
           for
           those
           Ends
           for
           which
           they
           were
           given
           ?
           'T
           is
           true
           indeed
           they
           are
           fit
           for
           the
           mos●
           Knowing
           and
           Learned
           ,
           and
           sufficient
           to
           make
           
             the
             Ma●
             of
             God
             Perfect
             ,
             and
             throughly
             furnished
             to
             every
             good
             Wor●
          
           (
           as
           the
           Apostle
           there
           tells
           us
           .
           )
           But
           does
           this
           exclud●
           their
           being
           profitable
           also
           to
           the
           People
           ;
           who
           may
           reasonably
           be
           presumed
           to
           stand
           much
           more
           in
           nee●
           of
           all
           means
           and
           helps
           of
           Instruction
           than
           their
           Teachers
           :
           And
           though
           there
           be
           many
           difficulties
           and
           obscurities
           in
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           enough
           to
           exercise
           the
           Skill
           and
           Will
           of
           the
           Learned
           ,
           yet
           are
           they
           not
           therefore
           eithe●
           useless
           or
           dangerous
           to
           the
           People
           .
           The
           Ancient
           Fathers
           of
           the
           Church
           were
           of
           another
           mind
           ,
           St.
           Chrysostome
           tells
           us
           that
           ,
           
             Whatever
             things
             are
             necessary
             ,
             are
             manifest
             in
             the
             Scriptures
             .
             And
             St.
          
           Austin
           ,
           
             that
             all
             things
             ar●
             plain
             in
             the
             Scripture
             ,
             which
             concerns
             Faith
             and
             a
             good
             Life
             and
             that
             th●se
             things
             which
             are
             necessary
             to
             the
             Salvation
             〈◊〉
             Men
             ,
             are
             not
             so
             hard
             to
             become
             at
             ,
             but
             that
             as
             to
             those
             thing●
             which
             the
             Scripture
             plainly
             contains
             ,
             it
             speaks
             without
             disguise
             like
             a
             familiar
             friend
             to
             the
             hearts
             of
             the
             Learned
             an●
             Vnlearned
             .
          
           And
           upon
           these
           and
           such
           like
           considerations
           ,
           the
           Fathers
           did
           every
           where
           in
           their
           Orations
           an●
           Homilies
           charge
           and
           exhort
           the
           People
           to
           be
           conversant
           in
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           ,
           to
           read
           them
           dayly
           an●
           diligently
           ,
           and
           attentively
           .
           And
           I
           challenge
           our
           A●●versaries
           ,
           to
           shew
           me
           where
           any
           of
           the
           ancient
           Father●
           do
           discourage
           the
           People
           from
           reading
           the
           Scripture●
           
           much
           less
           forbid
           them
           so
           to
           do
           .
           So
           that
           they
           who
           do
           it
           now
           have
           no
           cloak
           for
           their
           Sin
           :
           And
           they
           who
           pretend
           so
           confidently
           to
           Antiquity
           in
           other
           cases
           ,
           are
           by
           the
           Evidence
           of
           Truth
           forced
           to
           acknowledge
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           against
           them
           in
           this
           .
           Though
           they
           have
           Ten
           Thousand
           Schoolmen
           on
           their
           side
           ,
           yet
           have
           they
           not
           one
           Father
           ,
           not
           the
           least
           pretence
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           or
           rag
           of
           Antiquity
           to
           cover
           their
           nakedness
           in
           this
           Point
           .
        
         
           With
           great
           reason
           then
           does
           our
           Saviour
           denounce
           so
           heavy
           a
           Woe
           against
           such
           Teachers
           ;
           of
           old
           in
           the
           like
           case
           God
           by
           his
           Prophets
           severely
           threatens
           the
           Priests
           of
           the
           Jewish
           Church
           ,
           for
           not
           instructing
           the
           People
           in
           the
           Knowledge
           of
           God
           ,
           Hosea
           ▪
           4.6
           .
           
             My
             People
             are
             destroyed
             for
             lack
             of
             Knowledge
             ;
             because
             thou
             hast
             rejected
             Knowledge
             ,
             I
             will
             also
             reject
             thee
             ;
             thou
             shalt
             be
             no
             more
             a
             Priest
             to
             me
             :
             Seeing
             thou
             hast
             forgotten
             the
             Law
             of
             thy
             God
             ,
             I
             will
             also
             forget
             thy
             Children
             .
          
           God
           ,
           you
           see
           ,
           lays
           the
           ruine
           of
           so
           many
           Souls
           at
           their
           Doors
           ,
           and
           will
           require
           their
           Blood
           at
           their
           hands
           .
           So
           many
           as
           perish
           for
           want
           of
           Knowledge
           ,
           and
           Eternally
           miscarry
           by
           being
           deprived
           of
           the
           necessary
           means
           of
           Salvation
           ,
           their
           Destruction
           shall
           be
           charged
           upon
           those
           who
           
             have
             taken
             away
             the
             Key
             of
             Knowledge
             ,
             and
             shut
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Heaven
             against
             Men.
             
          
        
         
           And
           it
           is
           just
           with
           God
           to
           punish
           such
           Persons
           not
           only
           as
           the
           Occasion
           ,
           but
           as
           the
           Authors
           of
           this
           Ruine
           .
           For
           who
           can
           judge
           otherwise
           ,
           but
           that
           they
           who
           deprive
           Men
           of
           the
           necessary
           means
           to
           any
           End
           ,
           do
           purposely
           design
           to
           hinder
           them
           of
           attaining
           that
           End.
           And
           whatever
           may
           be
           pretended
           in
           this
           Case
           ;
           to
           deprive
           Men
           of
           the
           
             Holy
             Scriptures
          
           ,
           and
           to
           keep
           them
           ignorant
           of
           the
           service
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           yet
           while
           they
           do
           so
           ,
           to
           make
           a
           shew
           of
           an
           earnest
           desire
           of
           their
           Salvation
           ,
           is
           just
           such
           a
           mockery
           ,
           as
           if
           one
           of
           you
           that
           is
           a
           Master
           ,
           should
           tell
           his
           Apprentice
           how
           much
           you
           desire
           he
           should
           thrive
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           be
           a
           Rich
           Man
           ;
           but
           all
           the
           while
           keeps
           him
           ignorant
           of
           his
           Trade
           in
           order
           to
           his
           being
           Rich
           ;
           and
           with
           the
           strictest
           care
           imaginable
           ,
           conceals
           from
           him
           the
           best
           means
           of
           Learning
           ,
           that
           whereby
           alone
           he
           is
           likely
           to
           thrive
           and
           get
           an
           
           Estate
           .
           
             Woe
             unto
             you
          
           Scribes
           ,
           Pharisees
           ,
           and
           Hypocrites
           .
        
         
           By
           what
           hath
           been
           discoursed
           upon
           this
           Argument
           ,
           you
           will
           easily
           perceive
           where
           the
           Application
           is
           like
           to
           fall
           .
           For
           the
           Woe
           denounced
           by
           our
           Saviour
           here
           in
           the
           Text
           against
           the
           Scribes
           and
           Pharisees
           ,
           falls
           every
           whit
           as
           heavy
           upon
           the
           Pastours
           and
           Teachers
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           .
           They
           have
           taken
           away
           the
           Key
           of
           Knowledge
           with
           a
           Witness
           ;
           not
           only
           depriving
           the
           People
           of
           the
           right
           Understanding
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           but
           of
           the
           very
           use
           of
           them
           :
           As
           if
           they
           were
           afraid
           they
           should
           understand
           them
           ,
           that
           they
           dare
           not
           suffer
           them
           so
           much
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           acquainted
           with
           them
           .
        
         
           This
           Tyranny
           that
           Church
           hath
           Exercised
           over
           those
           of
           her
           Communion
           for
           several
           Hundreds
           of
           Years
           .
           It
           grew
           upon
           them
           indeed
           by
           degrees
           ,
           for
           as
           by
           the
           Inundation
           of
           Barbarous
           Nations
           upon
           the
           Roman
           Empire
           ,
           the
           Romans
           bought
           their
           Language
           by
           degrees
           ,
           so
           the
           Governours
           of
           that
           Church
           still
           kept
           up
           the
           Scriptures
           and
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           in
           the
           
             Latin
             Tongue
          
           ,
           which
           at
           last
           was
           wholly
           unknown
           to
           the
           Common
           People
           .
           And
           about
           the
           Ninth
           and
           
             Tenth
             Centuries
          
           ,
           when
           by
           the
           general
           Consent
           of
           all
           their
           own
           Historians
           ,
           gross
           Darkness
           and
           Ignorance
           covered
           this
           part
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           the
           Pope
           and
           the
           Priests
           took
           away
           
             the
             Key
             of
             Knowledge
          
           ,
           and
           did
           (
           as
           I
           may
           so
           say
           )
           put
           it
           under
           the
           Door
           for
           several
           Ages
           ;
           till
           the
           Reformation
           fetcht
           it
           out
           again
           ,
           and
           rubbed
           off
           the
           Rust
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           And
           I
           profess
           seriously
           ,
           that
           hardly
           any
           thing
           in
           the
           World
           was
           ever
           to
           me
           more
           astonishing
           ,
           than
           this
           Uncharitable
           and
           Cruel
           usage
           of
           the
           People
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           .
           And
           I
           cannot
           tell
           which
           to
           wonder
           at
           most
           ,
           the
           Insolence
           of
           their
           Governours
           in
           imposing
           upon
           Men
           this
           sensless
           way
           of
           serving
           God
           ,
           or
           the
           patience
           shall
           I
           call
           it
           ,
           or
           rather
           stupidity
           of
           the
           People
           in
           enduring
           to
           be
           so
           intollerably
           abused
           .
           Why
           should
           reasonable
           Creatures
           be
           treated
           at
           this
           rude
           and
           barbarous
           rate
           ?
           As
           if
           they
           were
           Unworthy
           to
           be
           acquainted
           with
           the
           Will
           of
           God
           ;
           and
           as
           if
           that
           which
           every
           Man
           ought
           to
           do
           ,
           were
           not
           fit
           for
           every
           Man
           to
           know
           :
           As
           if
           the
           Common
           
           People
           had
           only
           Bodies
           to
           be
           present
           at
           the
           service
           of
           God
           ,
           but
           no
           Souls
           ;
           or
           as
           if
           they
           were
           all
           distracted
           and
           out
           of
           their
           Wits
           ,
           and
           it
           were
           a
           dangerous
           thing
           to
           let
           in
           the
           Lights
           upon
           them
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           speak
           more
           distinctly
           .
           There
           are
           two
           things
           we
           charge
           them
           withal
           ,
           and
           which
           they
           are
           not
           able
           to
           deny
           .
           Their
           performing
           
             the
             Publick
             Service
             of
             God
          
           in
           an
           Unknown
           Tongue
           ;
           and
           depriving
           the
           People
           of
           the
           use
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           .
           And
           I
           shall
           first
           tell
           you
           what
           we
           have
           to
           say
           against
           these
           things
           ,
           and
           then
           consider
           what
           they
           pretend
           for
           them
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           As
           for
           their
           performing
           the
           service
           of
           God
           in
           a
           Tongue
           Unknown
           to
           the
           People
           .
           And
           I
           begin
           with
           St.
           Paul
           ,
           who
           in
           his
           first
           Epistle
           to
           the
           Corinthians
           hath
           a
           whole
           Chapter
           on
           purpose
           to
           shew
           the
           unreasonableness
           of
           this
           thing
           ,
           and
           how
           contrary
           it
           is
           to
           the
           Edification
           of
           Christians
           .
           His
           Discourse
           is
           so
           plain
           and
           so
           well
           known
           ,
           that
           I
           shall
           not
           particularly
           insist
           upon
           it
           .
           Erasmus
           in
           his
           Annotations
           upon
           this
           Chapter
           ,
           breaks
           out
           (
           as
           well
           he
           might
           )
           into
           admiration
           at
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           in
           his
           time
           .
           
             Hâc
             in
             re
             mirum
             quam
             mutata
             sit
             Ecclesiae
             consuetudo
             :
             It
             is
             Wonderful
             ,
          
           (
           says
           he
           )
           
             how
             the
             Custom
             of
             the
             Church
             is
             altered
             in
             this
             matter
             .
             St.
          
           Paul
           
             had
             rather
             speak
             five
             Words
             with
             Vnderstanding
             ,
             and
             so
             as
             to
             teach
             others
             ,
             than
             Ten
             Thousand
             in
             an
             Vnknown
             Tongue
             .
          
           Why
           does
           the
           Church
           doubt
           to
           follow
           so
           great
           an
           Authority
           ,
           or
           rather
           how
           dares
           she
           to
           dissent
           from
           it
           ?
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           practice
           of
           the
           Ancient
           Church
           ,
           let
           Origen
           bear
           Witness
           ,
           The
           Grecians
           
             (
             saith
             he
             )
             in
             their
             Prayers
             use
             the
          
           Greek
           ,
           
             and
             the
          
           Romans
           the
           Latin
           
             Tongue
             ;
             and
             so
             every
             one
             according
             to
             his
             Language
             prayeth
             unto
             God
             ,
             and
             praiseth
             him
             as
             he
             is
             able
             .
          
        
         
           And
           not
           only
           in
           
           Origen's
           time
           ,
           but
           for
           more
           than
           Six
           Hundred
           Years
           ,
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           was
           always
           performed
           in
           a
           known
           Tongue
           .
           And
           this
           the
           Learned
           Men
           of
           their
           own
           Church
           do
           not
           deny
           .
           And
           Cardinal
           Caietan
           (
           as
           Cassander
           tells
           us
           )
           said
           it
           was
           much
           better
           this
           custom
           were
           restored
           ;
           and
           being
           reproved
           for
           saying
           so
           ,
           he
           said
           ,
           he
           Learned
           it
           from
           St.
           Paul.
           And
           Bellarmine
           himself
           confesseth
           that
           the
           
             Armenians
             ,
             Aegyptians
             ,
             
             Aethiopians
             ,
             Russians
             ,
          
           and
           others
           do
           use
           their
           own
           Language
           in
           their
           Liturgies
           at
           this
           day
           .
        
         
           But
           it
           is
           otherwise
           now
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           and
           hath
           been
           for
           several
           Ages
           .
           And
           it
           seems
           they
           lay
           great
           stress
           upon
           it
           ,
           not
           only
           as
           a
           thing
           of
           great
           use
           ,
           but
           necessity
           .
           For
           Pope
           Gregory
           the
           Seventh
           ,
           forbids
           the
           Prince
           of
           Bohemia
           ,
           to
           permit
           to
           the
           People
           the
           Celebration
           of
           Divine
           Offices
           in
           the
           Sclavonian
           Tongue
           ;
           and
           commands
           him
           to
           oppose
           them
           herein
           with
           all
           his
           forces
           .
           It
           seems
           he
           thought
           it
           a
           Cause
           worthy
           the
           fighting
           for
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           were
           much
           better
           the
           People
           should
           be
           Killed
           ,
           than
           suffered
           to
           understand
           their
           Prayers
           .
        
         
           But
           let
           us
           reason
           this
           matter
           a
           little
           calmly
           with
           them
           .
           Is
           it
           necessary
           for
           Men
           to
           understand
           any
           thing
           they
           do
           in
           Religion
           ?
           And
           is
           not
           Prayer
           one
           of
           the
           most
           solemn
           Parts
           of
           Religion
           :
           And
           why
           then
           should
           not
           Men
           understand
           their
           P●ayers
           as
           well
           as
           any
           thing
           else
           they
           do
           in
           Religion
           ?
           Is
           it
           good
           that
           People
           should
           understand
           their
           private
           Prayers
           ?
           that
           (
           we
           thank
           them
           )
           they
           allow
           ,
           and
           why
           not
           the
           publick
           as
           well
           ?
           Is
           there
           less
           of
           Religion
           in
           publick
           Prayers
           ?
           Is
           God
           less
           honoured
           by
           them
           ?
           Or
           are
           we
           not
           as
           capable
           of
           being
           Edified
           and
           of
           having
           our
           hearts
           and
           affections
           moved
           and
           incited
           by
           them
           ?
           Where
           then
           lies
           the
           Difference
           ?
           The
           more
           I
           consider
           it
           ,
           the
           more
           I
           am
           at
           a
           loss
           what
           tolerable
           reason
           any
           Man
           can
           give
           why
           People
           should
           not
           understand
           their
           publick
           Devotions
           as
           well
           as
           their
           private
           .
           If
           Men
           cannot
           heartily
           and
           devoutly
           pray
           alone
           ,
           without
           understanding
           what
           they
           ask
           of
           God
           ,
           no
           more
           (
           say
           I
           )
           can
           they
           heartily
           and
           devoutly
           join
           in
           the
           publick
           Prayers
           which
           are
           made
           by
           the
           Priest
           wi●hout
           understanding
           what
           they
           are
           .
           If
           it
           be
           enough
           for
           the
           Priest
           to
           understand
           them
           ,
           why
           should
           not
           the
           Priest
           only
           be
           present
           at
           them
           ?
           Unless
           the
           People
           do
           not
           meet
           to
           worship
           God
           ,
           but
           only
           to
           wait
           upon
           the
           Priest.
           But
           by
           saying
           that
           the
           Priest
           understands
           'em
           ,
           it
           seems
           it
           is
           better
           that
           some
           body
           should
           understand
           them
           than
           not
           ;
           and
           why
           is
           not
           that
           which
           is
           good
           for
           the
           Priest
           good
           for
           the
           P●ople
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           the
           true
           state
           of
           the
           Controversy
           is
           ,
           whether
           it
           
           be
           fit
           that
           the
           People
           should
           be
           Edified
           in
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           ;
           and
           whether
           it
           be
           fit
           that
           the
           Church
           should
           order
           things
           contrary
           to
           Edification
           ?
           For
           it
           is
           plain
           that
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           in
           an
           unknown
           Tongue
           ,
           is
           useless
           and
           unprofitable
           to
           the
           People
           :
           Nay
           ,
           it
           is
           evidently
           no
           publick
           Service
           of
           God
           when
           the
           Priest
           only
           understands
           it
           .
           For
           how
           can
           they
           be
           said
           to
           be
           publick
           Prayers
           if
           the
           People
           do
           not
           join
           in
           them
           ?
           and
           how
           can
           they
           join
           in
           that
           they
           do
           not
           understand
           ?
           and
           to
           what
           purpose
           are
           Lessons
           of
           Scripture
           read
           ,
           if
           People
           are
           to
           learn
           nothing
           by
           them
           ?
           and
           how
           should
           they
           learn
           when
           they
           do
           not
           understand
           ?
           This
           is
           as
           if
           one
           should
           pretend
           to
           teach
           a
           Man
           Greek
           by
           reading
           him
           Lectures
           every
           day
           out
           of
           an
           Arabick
           and
           Persian
           Book
           ,
           of
           which
           he
           understands
           not
           one
           syllable
           .
        
         
           As
           to
           their
           depriving
           the
           People
           of
           the
           use
           of
           the
           
             Holy
             Scriptures
          
           ;
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           exhorts
           the
           Jews
           
             to
             search
             the
             Scriptures
          
           :
           And
           St.
           Paul
           chargeth
           the
           Christians
           that
           
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             should
             dwell
             richly
             in
             them
             .
          
           And
           the
           ancient
           Fathers
           of
           the
           Church
           do
           most
           frequently
           and
           earnestly
           recommend
           to
           the
           People
           the
           reading
           and
           study
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           .
           How
           comes
           the
           Case
           now
           to
           be
           so
           altered
           ?
           Sure
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           is
           not
           changed
           ,
           that
           certainly
           abides
           and
           continues
           the
           same
           for
           ever
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           by
           and
           by
           examine
           what
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           pretends
           in
           excuse
           of
           this
           Sacriledge
           .
           In
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           see
           what
           considerable
           Objections
           can
           be
           made
           against
           the
           reading
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           which
           would
           not
           have
           held
           as
           well
           against
           the
           writing
           and
           publishing
           them
           in
           a
           Language
           understood
           by
           the
           People
           ;
           as
           the
           
             Old
             Testament
          
           was
           by
           the
           Jews
           ,
           and
           the
           Epistles
           of
           the
           Apostles
           by
           the
           Churches
           to
           whom
           they
           were
           written
           ;
           and
           the
           Gospel
           both
           by
           Jews
           and
           Greeks
           .
           Were
           there
           no
           difficulties
           and
           obscurities
           then
           in
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           capable
           of
           being
           wrested
           by
           the
           Unstable
           and
           unlearned
           ?
           Were
           not
           People
           then
           liable
           to
           Errour
           ,
           and
           was
           there
           no
           danger
           of
           Heresy
           in
           those
           Times
           ?
           And
           yet
           these
           are
           their
           great
           Objections
           against
           putting
           the
           Scriptures
           into
           the
           
           hands
           of
           the
           People
           ;
           which
           is
           just
           like
           their
           arguing
           against
           giuing
           the
           Cup
           to
           the
           Laity
           from
           the
           inconveniency
           of
           their
           Beards
           ,
           least
           some
           of
           the
           Consecrated
           Wine
           should
           be
           spilt
           upon
           them
           :
           As
           if
           Errours
           and
           Beards
           were
           Inconveniences
           lately
           sprung
           up
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           which
           Mankind
           were
           not
           liable
           to
           in
           the
           first
           Ages
           of
           Christianity
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           there
           were
           the
           same
           dangers
           and
           inconveniences
           in
           all
           Ages
           ,
           this
           Reason
           makes
           against
           the
           Publishing
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           to
           the
           People
           at
           first
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           against
           permitting
           them
           the
           use
           of
           them
           now
           .
           And
           in
           truth
           ,
           all
           these
           Objections
           are
           against
           the
           Scripture
           it self
           :
           and
           that
           which
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           would
           find
           fault
           with
           if
           they
           durst
           ,
           is
           ,
           that
           there
           should
           be
           any
           such
           Book
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           should
           be
           in
           any
           bodies
           hands
           ,
           learned
           or
           unlearned
           ;
           for
           if
           it
           be
           dangerous
           to
           any
           ,
           none
           are
           so
           capable
           of
           doing
           mischief
           with
           it
           as
           Men
           of
           Wit
           and
           Learning
           .
           So
           that
           at
           the
           bottom
           ,
           if
           they
           would
           speak
           out
           ,
           the
           Quarrel
           is
           against
           the
           Scriptures
           themselves
           .
           This
           is
           too
           evident
           by
           the
           Counsel
           given
           to
           Pope
           Julius
           the
           Third
           by
           the
           Bishops
           met
           at
           Bononia
           to
           consult
           about
           the
           Establishment
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             See
          
           ;
           where
           ,
           among
           other
           things
           ,
           they
           give
           this
           as
           their
           last
           advice
           ,
           and
           as
           the
           greatest
           and
           weightiest
           of
           all
           ,
           
             That
             by
             all
             means
             ,
             as
             little
             of
             the
             Gospel
             as
             might
             be
             ,
             especially
             in
             the
             vulgar
             Tongue
             ,
             should
             be
             read
             to
             the
             People
             ,
             and
          
           that
           little
           
             which
             was
             in
             the
          
           Mass
           
             ought
             to
             be
             sufficient
             ;
             neither
             should
             it
             be
             permitted
             to
             any
             Mortal
             to
             read
             more
             .
             For
             so
             long
          
           (
           say
           they
           )
           
             as
             Men
             were
             contented
             with
             that
             little
             ,
             all
             things
             went
             well
             with
             them
             ,
             but
             quite
             otherwise
             since
             more
             was
             commonly
             read
             .
          
           And
           speaking
           of
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           they
           give
           this
           remarkable
           testimony
           and
           commendation
           of
           it
           ;
           
             This
             in
             short
             is
             that
          
           Book
           ,
           
             which
             above
             all
             others
             ,
             hath
             raised
             those
             Tempests
             and
             Whirlwinds
             which
             we
             were
             almost
             carried
             away
             with
             .
             And
             in
             truth
             ,
             if
             any
             one
             diligently
             considers
             it
             ,
             and
             compares
             it
             with
             what
             is
             done
             in
             our
             Church
             ,
             he
             will
             find
             them
             very
             contrary
             to
             each
             other
             ,
             and
             our
             Doctrine
             not
             only
             to
             be
             very
             different
             from
             it
             ,
             but
             repugnant
             to
             it
             .
          
           If
           this
           be
           the
           Case
           ,
           they
           do
           like
           the
           
           rest
           of
           the
           Children
           of
           this
           World
           ,
           prudently
           enough
           in
           their
           Generation
           :
           Can
           we
           blame
           them
           for
           being
           against
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           when
           the
           Scriptures
           are
           acknowledged
           to
           be
           so
           clearly
           against
           them
           ?
           But
           surely
           no
           body
           that
           considereth
           these
           things
           ,
           would
           be
           of
           that
           Church
           ,
           which
           is
           brought
           by
           the
           undeniable
           evidence
           of
           the
           things
           themselves
           to
           this
           shameful
           Confession
           ,
           that
           several
           of
           their
           Doctrines
           and
           Practices
           are
           very
           contrary
           to
           the
           Word
           of
           God.
           
        
         
           Much
           more
           might
           have
           been
           said
           against
           the
           Practice
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           in
           these
           two
           particulars
           ,
           but
           this
           is
           sufficient
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           in
           the
           second
           place
           consider
           what
           is
           pretended
           for
           them
           :
           And
           indeed
           ,
           what
           can
           be
           pretended
           in
           justification
           of
           so
           contumelious
           an
           affront
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           so
           great
           a
           tyranny
           and
           cruelty
           to
           the
           Souls
           of
           Men
           ?
           Hath
           God
           forbidden
           the
           People
           to
           look
           into
           the
           Scriptures
           ?
           No
           ,
           quite
           contrary
           :
           Was
           it
           the
           Practice
           of
           the
           Antient
           Church
           to
           lay
           this
           restraint
           upon
           Men
           ,
           or
           to
           celebrate
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           in
           an
           unknown
           Tongue
           ?
           Our
           Adversaries
           themselves
           have
           not
           the
           face
           to
           pretend
           this
           .
           I
           shall
           truly
           represent
           the
           substance
           of
           what
           they
           say
           in
           these
           two
           points
           .
        
         
           As
           to
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           in
           an
           unknown
           Tongue
           ,
           they
           say
           these
           four
           things
           for
           themselves
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           That
           the
           People
           do
           exercise
           a
           general
           Devotion
           ,
           and
           come
           with
           an
           intention
           to
           serve
           God
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           accepted
           ,
           though
           they
           do
           not
           particularly
           understand
           the
           Prayers
           that
           are
           made
           ,
           and
           the
           Lessons
           that
           are
           read
           .
        
         
           But
           is
           this
           all
           that
           is
           intended
           in
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           ?
           does
           not
           St.
           Paul
           expresly
           require
           more
           ?
           
             That
             the
             Vnderstanding
             of
             the
             People
             should
             be
             Edified
             by
             the
             particular
             Service
             that
             is
             performed
             :
          
           And
           if
           what
           is
           done
           be
           not
           particularly
           understood
           ,
           he
           tells
           us
           the
           People
           are
           not
           Edified
           ,
           nor
           can
           say
           Amen
           to
           the
           Prayers
           and
           Thanksgivings
           that
           are
           put
           up
           to
           God
           :
           And
           that
           any
           Man
           that
           should
           come
           in
           and
           find
           People
           serving
           of
           God
           in
           this
           unprofitable
           and
           unreasonable
           manner
           ,
           would
           conclude
           that
           they
           were
           mad
           .
        
         
         
           And
           if
           there
           be
           any
           general
           Devotion
           in
           the
           People
           ▪
           it
           is
           because
           they
           understand
           in
           general
           what
           they
           are
           about
           ;
           and
           why
           may
           they
           not
           as
           well
           understand
           the
           particular
           Service
           that
           is
           performed
           ,
           that
           so
           they
           might
           exercise
           a
           particular
           Devotion
           .
           So
           that
           they
           are
           devout
           no
           further
           than
           they
           understand
           ;
           and
           consequently
           ,
           as
           to
           what
           they
           do
           not
           understand
           ,
           had
           every
           whit
           as
           good
           be
           absent
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           They
           say
           ,
           the
           Prayers
           are
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           he
           understands
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           enough
           .
        
         
           But
           what
           harm
           were
           it
           ,
           if
           all
           they
           that
           pray
           understood
           it
           also
           :
           Or
           indeed
           ,
           how
           can
           men
           pray
           to
           God
           without
           understanding
           what
           they
           ask
           of
           him
           ?
           Is
           not
           Prayer
           a
           part
           of
           the
           Christian
           Worship
           ?
           and
           is
           any
           Service
           reasonable
           that
           is
           not
           directed
           by
           our
           Understandings
           ,
           and
           accompanied
           with
           our
           Hearts
           and
           Affections
           ?
        
         
           But
           then
           what
           say
           they
           to
           the
           Lessons
           and
           Exhortations
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           which
           are
           likewise
           read
           to
           the
           People
           in
           an
           unknown
           Tongue
           ?
           Are
           these
           directed
           to
           God
           ,
           or
           to
           the
           People
           only
           ?
           And
           are
           they
           not
           designed
           by
           God
           for
           their
           Instruction
           ,
           and
           read
           either
           to
           that
           purpose
           ,
           or
           to
           none
           ?
           And
           is
           it
           possible
           to
           instruct
           Men
           by
           what
           they
           do
           not
           understand
           ?
           This
           is
           a
           new
           and
           wonderful
           way
           of
           Teaching
           ,
           by
           concealing
           from
           the
           People
           the
           things
           which
           they
           should
           learn.
           Is
           it
           not
           all
           one
           ,
           as
           to
           all
           purposes
           of
           Edification
           ,
           as
           if
           the
           Scriptures
           were
           not
           read
           ,
           or
           any
           thing
           else
           in
           the
           place
           of
           them
           ?
           As
           they
           many
           times
           do
           their
           Legends
           ,
           which
           the
           wiser
           sort
           among
           them
           do
           not
           believe
           when
           they
           read
           them
           .
           For
           all
           things
           are
           alike
           to
           them
           that
           understand
           none
           ,
           as
           all
           things
           are
           of
           a
           colour
           in
           the
           dark
           .
           Ignorance
           knows
           no
           difference
           of
           things
           ,
           it
           is
           only
           Knowledge
           that
           can
           distinguish
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           They
           say
           that
           some
           do
           ,
           at
           least
           in
           some
           measure
           ,
           understand
           the
           particular
           Prayers
           .
        
         
           If
           they
           do
           ,
           that
           is
           no
           thanks
           to
           them
           :
           It
           is
           by
           accident
           if
           they
           are
           more
           knowing
           than
           the
           rest
           ,
           and
           ●ore
           than
           the
           Church
           either
           desires
           or
           intends
           .
           For
           ,
           
           if
           they
           desired
           it
           ,
           they
           might
           order
           their
           Service
           so
           as
           every
           man
           might
           understand
           it
           .
        
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           They
           say
           that
           't
           is
           convenient
           that
           God
           should
           be
           served
           and
           worshipped
           in
           the
           same
           Language
           all
           the
           World
           over
           .
        
         
           Convenient
           for
           them
           ,
           for
           God
           ,
           or
           for
           the
           People
           ?
           Not
           for
           God
           surely
           ,
           for
           he
           understands
           all
           other
           Languages
           as
           well
           as
           Latin
           ;
           and
           for
           any
           thing
           we
           know
           to
           the
           contrary
           ,
           likes
           them
           as
           well
           .
           And
           certainly
           it
           cannot
           be
           so
           convenient
           for
           the
           People
           ,
           because
           they
           generally
           understand
           no
           Language
           but
           their
           own
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           very
           inconvenient
           they
           should
           not
           understand
           what
           they
           do
           in
           the
           Service
           of
           God.
           But
           perhaps
           they
           mean
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           convenient
           for
           the
           
             Roman
             Church
          
           to
           have
           it
           so
           ;
           because
           this
           will
           look
           like
           an
           Argument
           that
           they
           are
           the
           Catholick
           or
           
             Vniversal
             Church
          
           ,
           when
           the
           Language
           which
           was
           originally
           theirs
           ,
           shall
           be
           the
           universal
           Language
           in
           which
           all
           Nations
           shall
           serve
           God
           ;
           and
           by
           this
           means
           also
           they
           may
           bring
           all
           Nations
           to
           be
           of
           their
           Religion
           ,
           and
           yet
           make
           them
           never
           the
           wiser
           :
           And
           this
           is
           a
           very
           great
           Convenience
           ,
           because
           Knowledge
           is
           a
           troublesome
           thing
           ,
           and
           Ignorance
           very
           quier
           and
           peaceable
           ,
           rendring
           Men
           fit
           to
           be
           governed
           ,
           and
           unfit
           to
           dispute
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           As
           to
           their
           depriving
           the
           People
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           the
           summ
           of
           what
           they
           say
           may
           be
           reduced
           to
           these
           three
           Heads
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           That
           the
           Church
           can
           give
           men
           leave
           to
           read
           the
           Scriptures
           ;
           but
           this
           not
           without
           great
           trouble
           and
           difficulty
           ,
           there
           must
           be
           a
           License
           for
           it
           under
           the
           hand
           of
           the
           Bishop
           or
           Inquisitor
           ,
           by
           the
           advice
           of
           the
           Priest
           and
           Confessor
           concerning
           the
           fitness
           of
           the
           Person
           that
           desires
           this
           Priviledge
           .
           And
           we
           may
           be
           sure
           they
           will
           think
           none
           fit
           but
           those
           of
           whom
           they
           have
           the
           greatest
           confidence
           and
           security
           ;
           and
           whoever
           presumes
           to
           do
           it
           otherwise
           ,
           is
           to
           bt
           denied
           Absolution
           ;
           which
           is
           as
           much
           as
           in
           them
           lies
           ,
           to
           damn
           Men
           for
           presuming
           to
           read
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           without
           their
           leave
           .
        
         
         
           And
           whatever
           they
           may
           allow
           here
           in
           England
           ,
           where
           they
           hold
           their
           People
           upon
           more
           slippery
           Terms
           ,
           yet
           this
           Priviledge
           is
           very
           rarely
           granted
           where
           they
           are
           in
           full
           possession
           of
           their
           Power
           ,
           and
           have
           the
           People
           perfectly
           under
           their
           Yoke
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           They
           tell
           us
           they
           instruct
           the
           People
           otherwise
           .
           This
           indeed
           were
           something
           if
           they
           did
           it
           to
           purpose
           ,
           but
           generally
           they
           do
           it
           very
           sparingly
           and
           slightly
           .
           Their
           Sermons
           are
           commonly
           made
           up
           of
           feigned
           Stories
           and
           Miracles
           of
           Saints
           ,
           and
           exhortations
           to
           the
           Worship
           of
           them
           (
           and
           especially
           of
           the
           Blessed
           Virgin
           )
           and
           of
           their
           Images
           and
           Relicks
           .
           And
           for
           the
           Truth
           of
           this
           I
           appeal
           to
           the
           innumerable
           Volumes
           of
           their
           Sermons
           and
           Postils
           in
           Print
           ;
           which
           I
           suppose
           are
           none
           of
           their
           worst
           .
           I
           am
           sure
           Erasmus
           says
           ,
           that
           in
           his
           time
           ,
           in
           several
           Countries
           ,
           the
           People
           did
           scarce
           once
           in
           half
           a
           Year
           hear
           a
           profitable
           Sermon
           to
           exhort
           them
           to
           true
           Piety
           .
           Indeed
           they
           allow
           the
           People
           some
           Catechisms
           and
           Manuals
           of
           Devotion
           ;
           and
           yer
           in
           many
           of
           them
           they
           have
           the
           confidence
           and
           the
           conscience
           to
           
             steal
             away
             the
             Second
             Commandment
          
           in
           the
           face
           of
           the
           Eighth
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           bring
           the
           matter
           to
           a
           point
           ,
           if
           those
           helps
           of
           Instruction
           are
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           why
           are
           they
           so
           afraid
           the
           People
           should
           read
           the
           Scriptures
           ?
           If
           they
           are
           not
           ,
           why
           do
           they
           deceive
           and
           delude
           them
           ?
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           They
           say
           ,
           That
           People
           are
           apt
           to
           wrest
           the
           Scriptures
           to
           their
           own
           destruction
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           promiscuous
           use
           of
           them
           hath
           been
           the
           great
           occasion
           of
           Heresies
           .
           It
           cannot
           be
           denied
           to
           be
           the
           condition
           of
           the
           very
           best
           things
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           liable
           to
           be
           abused
           ;
           Health
           ,
           Light
           ,
           and
           Liberty
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           Knowledge
           :
           But
           must
           all
           those
           be
           therefore
           taken
           away
           ?
           This
           very
           Inconvenience
           of
           Peoples
           wresting
           the
           Scriptures
           to
           their
           own
           Ruine
           ,
           St.
           Peter
           takes
           notice
           of
           in
           his
           days
           :
           But
           he
           does
           not
           therefore
           forbid
           Men
           the
           reading
           of
           them
           as
           his
           more
           prudent
           Successors
           have
           done
           since
           .
           Suppose
           the
           reading
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           hath
           been
           the
           occasion
           
           of
           Heresies
           ,
           were
           there
           ever
           more
           than
           in
           the
           first
           Ages
           of
           Christianity
           ?
           And
           yet
           neither
           the
           Apostles
           nor
           their
           Successors
           ever
           prescribed
           this
           Remedy
           .
           But
           are
           they
           in
           earnest
           ?
           Must
           not
           Men
           know
           the
           Truth
           for
           fear
           of
           falling
           into
           Errour
           ?
           Because
           Men
           may
           possibly
           miss
           their
           way
           at
           Noon-day
           ,
           must
           they
           never
           travel
           but
           in
           the
           Night
           when
           they
           are
           sure
           to
           lose
           it
           .
        
         
           And
           when
           all
           is
           done
           ,
           this
           is
           not
           true
           ,
           that
           Heresies
           have
           sprung
           from
           this
           Cause
           .
           They
           have
           generally
           been
           broached
           by
           the
           Learned
           ,
           from
           whom
           the
           Scriptures
           neither
           were
           nor
           could
           be
           concealed
           .
           And
           for
           this
           I
           appeal
           to
           the
           History
           and
           Experience
           of
           all
           Ages
           .
           I
           am
           well
           assured
           the
           ancient
           Fathers
           were
           of
           another
           mind
           .
           St.
           Chrysostome
           says
           ,
           
             if
             Men
             would
             be
             Conversant
             in
             the
             Scriptures
             ,
             and
             attend
             to
             them
             ,
             they
             would
             not
             only
             not
             fall
             into
             Errors
             themselves
             ,
             but
             rescue
             those
             that
             are
             deceived
             :
          
           And
           St.
           Hierome
           more
           expresly
           to
           our
           purpose
           .
           Thus
           
             infinite
             Evils
             arise
             from
             the
             Ignorance
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             ;
             and
             that
             from
             that
             Cause
             the
             most
             part
             of
             most
             part
             of
             Heresies
             have
             come
             .
          
        
         
           But
           if
           what
           they
           say
           were
           true
           ,
           is
           not
           this
           to
           lay
           the
           blame
           of
           all
           the
           ancient
           Heresies
           uyon
           the
           ill
           management
           of
           things
           by
           our
           Saviour
           and
           his
           Apostles
           ,
           and
           the
           Holy
           Fathers
           of
           the
           Church
           for
           so
           many
           Ages
           ,
           and
           their
           imprudent
           dispensing
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           to
           the
           People
           .
           This
           indeed
           is
           to
           charge
           the
           matter
           home
           ;
           and
           yet
           this
           Consequence
           is
           unavoidable
           .
           For
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           cannot
           justify
           the
           Piety
           and
           Prudence
           of
           their
           present
           Practices
           ,
           without
           accusing
           all
           these
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           thing
           which
           they
           mainly
           rely
           upon
           as
           to
           both
           these
           practices
           in
           this
           .
           That
           though
           these
           things
           were
           otherwise
           in
           the
           Apostles
           times
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           
             Ancient
             Church
          
           ,
           yet
           the
           Church
           hath
           power
           to
           alter
           them
           according
           to
           the
           Exigence
           and
           Circumstances
           of
           times
           .
           I
           have
           purposely
           reserved
           this
           for
           the
           last
           place
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           their
           last
           refuge
           ;
           and
           if
           this
           fail
           them
           they
           are
           gone
           .
        
         
           To
           shew
           the
           Weakness
           of
           this
           Pretence
           ,
           we
           will
           ,
           if
           they
           please
           ,
           take
           it
           for
           granted
           ,
           that
           the
           Governors
           of
           
           the
           Church
           have
           in
           no
           Age
           more
           Power
           ,
           than
           the
           Apostles
           had
           in
           theirs
           .
           Now
           St.
           Paul
           tels
           us
           ,
           2
           Cor.
           10.8
           .
           that
           the
           Authority
           which
           the
           Apostles
           had
           given
           them
           from
           the
           Lord
           ,
           was
           only
           
             for
             Edification
             ,
             but
             not
             for
             Destruction
             :
          
           And
           the
           same
           St.
           Paul
           makes
           it
           the
           business
           of
           a
           whole
           Chapter
           to
           shew
           that
           the
           performing
           the
           Publick
           service
           of
           God
           and
           particularly
           praying
           in
           an
           unknown
           Tongue
           ,
           are
           contrary
           to
           Edification
           ;
           from
           which
           premises
           the
           Conclusion
           is
           plain
           ,
           that
           the
           Apostles
           themselves
           had
           no
           Authority
           to
           appoint
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           to
           be
           performed
           in
           an
           unknown
           Tongue
           ;
           and
           surely
           it
           is
           Arrogance
           for
           the
           Church
           in
           any
           Age
           to
           pretend
           to
           greater
           Authority
           than
           the
           Apostles
           had
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           the
           Summ
           of
           what
           our
           Adversaries
           say
           in
           justification
           of
           themselves
           in
           these
           Points
           .
           And
           there
           is
           no
           doubt
           ,
           but
           that
           Men
           of
           Wit
           and
           Confidence
           will
           always
           make
           a
           shift
           to
           say
           something
           for
           any
           thing
           ;
           and
           some
           way
           or
           other
           blanch
           over
           the
           blackest
           and
           most
           absurd
           things
           in
           the
           World.
           But
           I
           leave
           it
           to
           the
           Judgement
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           whether
           any
           thing
           be
           more
           unreasonable
           than
           to
           tell
           Men
           in
           effect
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           fit
           they
           should
           understand
           as
           little
           of
           Religion
           as
           is
           poshble
           ;
           that
           God
           hath
           published
           a
           very
           dangerous
           Book
           ,
           with
           which
           it
           is
           not
           safe
           for
           the
           People
           to
           be
           familiarly
           acquainted
           ;
           that
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           and
           his
           Apostles
           and
           the
           ancient
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           for
           more
           than
           Six
           hundred
           Years
           ,
           were
           not
           wise
           Managers
           of
           Religion
           ,
           nor
           prudent
           Dispensers
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           but
           like
           fond
           and
           foolish
           Fathers
           put
           a
           Knife
           and
           a
           Sword
           into
           the
           hands
           of
           their
           Children
           ,
           with
           which
           they
           might
           have
           easily
           fore-seen
           what
           mischief
           they
           would
           do
           to
           themselves
           and
           others
           .
           And
           who
           would
           not
           chuse
           to
           be
           of
           such
           a
           Church
           which
           is
           provided
           of
           such
           excellent
           and
           effectual
           means
           of
           Ignorance
           ,
           such
           wise
           and
           infallible
           Methods
           for
           the
           prevention
           of
           Knowledge
           in
           the
           People
           ,
           and
           such
           variety
           of
           close
           Shutters
           to
           keep
           out
           the
           Light.
           
        
         
           I
           have
           chosen
           to
           insist
           upon
           this
           Argument
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           so
           very
           plain
           ,
           that
           the
           most
           ordinary
           Capacity
           may
           judge
           of
           this
           usage
           and
           dealing
           with
           the
           Souls
           of
           Men
           :
           
           Which
           is
           so
           very
           gross
           that
           every
           Man
           must
           needs
           be
           sensible
           of
           it
           ;
           because
           it
           toucheth
           Men
           in
           the
           common
           Rights
           of
           humane
           Nature
           ,
           which
           belong
           to
           them
           as
           much
           as
           the
           Light
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           the
           Air
           we
           breath
           in
           .
        
         
           It
           requires
           no
           subtilty
           of
           Wit
           ,
           no
           skill
           in
           Antiquity
           ,
           to
           understand
           these
           Controversies
           between
           us
           and
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           .
           For
           there
           are
           no
           Fathers
           to
           be
           pretended
           on
           both
           sides
           in
           these
           Questions
           :
           They
           yield
           we
           have
           Antiquity
           on
           ours
           :
           And
           we
           refer
           it
           to
           the
           common
           Sense
           of
           Manking
           ,
           which
           Church
           ,
           that
           of
           Rome
           ,
           or
           Ours
           ,
           hath
           all
           the
           Right
           or
           Reason
           in
           the
           World
           on
           her
           side
           in
           these
           Debates
           ?
           And
           ,
           who
           they
           are
           that
           tyrannize
           over
           Christians
           ,
           the
           Governours
           of
           their
           Church
           or
           ours
           ;
           Who
           use
           the
           People
           like
           Sons
           and
           Freemen
           ,
           and
           who
           like
           Slaves
           ;
           Who
           feed
           the
           Flock
           of
           Christ
           committed
           to
           them
           ,
           and
           who
           take
           the
           Childrens
           bread
           from
           them
           ?
           Who
           they
           are
           ,
           that
           when
           their
           Children
           ask
           bread
           ,
           for
           Bread
           give
           them
           a
           Stone
           ,
           and
           for
           an
           Egg
           a
           Serpent
           ;
           I
           mean
           the
           Legends
           of
           their
           Saints
           instead
           of
           the
           holy
           Scriptures
           ,
           which
           are
           able
           to
           make
           Men
           wise
           unto
           Salvation
           :
           And
           who
           they
           are
           that
           lie
           most
           justly
           under
           the
           suspicion
           of
           Errors
           and
           Corruptions
           ,
           they
           who
           bring
           their
           Doctrine
           and
           Practices
           into
           the
           open
           Light
           ,
           and
           are
           willing
           to
           have
           them
           tried
           by
           the
           true
           Touchstone
           ,
           the
           
             Word
             of
             God
          
           ;
           or
           they
           who
           shun
           the
           Light
           ,
           and
           decline
           all
           manner
           of
           Trial
           and
           Examination
           ?
           And
           who
           are
           most
           likely
           to
           carry
           on
           a
           Worldly
           Design
           ,
           they
           who
           drive
           a
           Trade
           of
           such
           mighty
           gain
           ,
           and
           advantage
           under
           pretence
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           make
           such
           markets
           of
           the
           Ignorance
           and
           Sins
           of
           the
           People
           ;
           or
           we
           whom
           Malice
           it self
           cannot
           charge
           with
           serving
           any
           Worldly
           Design
           by
           any
           allowed
           Doctrine
           or
           Practice
           of
           our
           Religion
           ?
           For
           we
           make
           no
           Money
           of
           the
           mistakes
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           nor
           do
           we
           fill
           their
           heads
           with
           vain
           fears
           of
           New
           Places
           of
           Torment
           to
           make
           them
           willing
           to
           empty
           their
           Purses
           in
           a
           vainer
           hope
           of
           being
           delivered
           out
           of
           them
           .
           We
           do
           not
           like
           them
           pretend
           a
           mighty
           banck
           of
           Treasure
           and
           Merits
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           which
           they
           sell
           to
           the
           People
           for
           ready
           
           money
           ,
           giving
           them
           Bills
           of
           Exchange
           from
           the
           Pope
           to
           Purgatory
           ;
           When
           they
           who
           grant
           them
           ,
           have
           no
           reason
           to
           believe
           they
           will
           avail
           them
           ,
           or
           be
           accepted
           in
           the
           other
           World.
           
        
         
           For
           our
           parts
           we
           have
           no
           fear
           that
           our
           People
           should
           understand
           Religion
           too
           well
           :
           We
           could
           wish
           ,
           with
           
             Moses
             ,
             that
             all
             the
             Lord's
             People
             were
             Prophets
          
           :
           We
           should
           be
           heartily
           glad
           the
           People
           would
           read
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           more
           diligently
           ,
           being
           sufficiently
           assured
           that
           it
           is
           their
           own
           fault
           if
           they
           learn
           any
           thing
           but
           what
           is
           good
           from
           thence
           :
           We
           have
           no
           Doctrines
           or
           Practices
           contrary
           to
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           consequently
           no
           occasion
           to
           keep
           it
           close
           from
           the
           sight
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           or
           to
           hide
           any
           of
           the
           Commandments
           of
           God
           from
           them
           :
           We
           leave
           these
           mean
           Arts
           to
           those
           who
           stand
           in
           need
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           there
           is
           nothing
           which
           God
           hath
           said
           to
           Men
           ,
           which
           we
           desire
           should
           be
           concealed
           from
           them
           :
           Nay
           ,
           we
           are
           willing
           the
           People
           should
           examine
           what
           we
           teach
           ,
           and
           bring
           all
           our
           Doctrines
           
             to
             the
             Law
             and
             to
             the
             Testimony
          
           ;
           that
           if
           they
           be
           not
           according
           to
           
             this
             Rule
          
           ,
           they
           may
           neither
           believe
           them
           nor
           us
           .
           'T
           is
           only
           things
           false
           and
           adulterate
           which
           shun
           the
           Light
           and
           fear
           the
           Touchstone
           .
           We
           have
           that
           security
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           agreeableness
           of
           it
           to
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ;
           that
           honest
           Confidence
           of
           the
           Goodness
           of
           our
           Cause
           ,
           that
           we
           do
           not
           forbid
           the
           People
           to
           read
           the
           best
           Books
           our
           Adversaries
           can
           write
           against
           it
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           let
           any
           Impartial
           Man
           judge
           whether
           this
           be
           not
           a
           better
           Argument
           of
           a
           good
           Cause
           ,
           to
           leave
           Men
           at
           liberty
           to
           try
           the
           Grounds
           of
           their
           Religion
           ,
           than
           the
           Courses
           which
           are
           taken
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           to
           awe
           Men
           with
           an
           Inquisition
           ;
           and
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           is
           possible
           ,
           to
           keep
           the
           common
           People
           in
           Ignorance
           ,
           not
           only
           of
           what
           their
           late
           Adversaries
           ,
           the
           Protestants
           ,
           but
           their
           chief
           and
           ancient
           Adversary
           ,
           the
           Scriptures
           have
           to
           say
           against
           them
           .
        
         
           A
           Man
           had
           need
           of
           more
           than
           common
           Security
           of
           the
           Skill
           and
           Integrity
           of
           those
           to
           whom
           he
           perfectly
           resigns
           his
           Understanding
           ;
           this
           is
           too
           great
           a
           Trust
           to
           be
           reposed
           in
           humane
           frailty
           ,
           and
           too
           strong
           a
           Temptation
           
           to
           others
           to
           impose
           upon
           us
           ;
           to
           abuse
           our
           Blindness
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           their
           own
           ends
           of
           our
           voluntary
           Ignorance
           and
           easie
           Credulity
           .
           This
           is
           such
           a
           folly
           as
           if
           a
           Rich
           Man
           should
           make
           his
           Physician
           his
           Heir
           ;
           which
           is
           to
           tempt
           him
           either
           to
           destroy
           him
           or
           to
           let
           him
           dye
           ,
           for
           his
           own
           Interest
           .
           So
           he
           that
           trusts
           the
           care
           of
           his
           Soul
           with
           other
           Men
           ,
           and
           at
           the
           same
           time
           by
           
             irrecoverable
             Deed
          
           settles
           his
           Understanding
           upon
           them
           ,
           lays
           too
           great
           a
           Temptation
           before
           them
           to
           seduce
           and
           damn
           him
           for
           their
           own
           ends
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           to
           reflect
           a
           little
           upon
           our selves
           .
           What
           cause
           have
           we
           to
           bless
           God
           who
           are
           so
           happily
           rescued
           from
           that
           more
           than
           Aegyptian
           Darkness
           and
           Bondage
           ,
           wherein
           this
           Nation
           was
           detained
           for
           several
           Ages
           ;
           Who
           are
           delivered
           out
           of
           the
           hands
           of
           those
           Cruel
           Task-masters
           ,
           who
           required
           Brick
           without
           Straw
           ;
           that
           Men
           should
           be
           Religious
           without
           competent
           Understanding
           ,
           and
           work
           out
           their
           own
           Salvation
           while
           they
           denied
           them
           the
           means
           of
           all
           others
           the
           most
           necessary
           to
           it
           .
           Who
           are
           so
           uncharitable
           as
           to
           allow
           us
           no
           Salvation
           out
           of
           their
           Church
           ,
           and
           yet
           so
           unreasonable
           as
           to
           deny
           us
           the
           very
           best
           means
           of
           Salvation
           when
           we
           are
           in
           it
           ?
        
         
           Our
           Forefathers
           thought
           it
           a
           mighty
           Priviledge
           to
           have
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           restored
           to
           them
           ,
           and
           the
           publick
           Prayers
           and
           Service
           of
           God
           celebrated
           in
           a
           known
           Tongue
           :
           Let
           us
           use
           this
           inestimable
           Priviledge
           with
           great
           modesty
           and
           humility
           ;
           not
           to
           the
           nourishing
           of
           Pride
           and
           Self-conceit
           ,
           of
           Division
           and
           Faction
           ;
           but
           as
           the
           Apostle
           exhorts
           ,
           
             Let
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             dwell
             richly
             in
             you
             ,
             in
             all
             Wisdom
             ;
             and
             let
             the
             Peace
             of
             God
             rule
             in
             your
             hearts
             ,
             unto
             which
             ye
             are
             called
             in
             one
             body
             ;
             and
             be
             ye
             thankful
             .
          
        
         
           It
           concerns
           us
           mightily
           (
           with
           which
           Admonition
           I
           conclude
           )
           both
           for
           the
           Honour
           and
           Support
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           to
           be
           at
           better
           Union
           among
           our selves
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           divide
           about
           lesser
           things
           :
           And
           so
           to
           demean
           our selves
           ,
           as
           to
           take
           from
           our
           Adversaries
           all
           those
           Pretences
           whereby
           they
           would
           justify
           themselves
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           Extenuate
           the
           Guilt
           of
           that
           heavy
           Charge
           ,
           which
           
           falls
           every
           whit
           as
           justly
           upon
           them
           as
           ever
           it
           did
           upon
           the
           
             Scribes
             and
             Pharisees
          
           ,
           of
           
             taking
             away
             the
             key
             of
             Knowledge
             ,
             and
             shutting
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Heaven
             against
             Men
             ;
             neither
             going
             in
             themselves
             ,
             nor
             suffering
             those
             that
             are
             entring
             to
             go
             in
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .