the understanding of difficult Scriptures by the Assistence of those Councils and Fathers to whom he is but a stranger And this is the case of those poor people who are bred up under the Tyranny of the Roman Church they cannot obey the Command in my Text because they are kept in Ignorance they cannot doe what Saint John requires they cannot try the spirits because that onely Touchstone is denied them they are in no capacity to weigh the matters of their Religion because they are not suffered so much as once to touch the Scales But alas this gross Ignorance which is their sad Calamity is our grievous Crime that utter Inability of obeying God and proving all things which ariseth from their invincible Necessity springs from our Carelesness and Choice 'T is sure enough that we have sufficient means to inform our selves of our Religion we have Bibles to reade in our families we have the Scriptures expounded in our Churches we have many excellent Catechisms and other Books within our reach and yet how ignorant still We are so far from being able to give a satisfactory Account of our Religion in its several Branches that there are many amongst us who do not know so much as what Religion means what Christianity is who Christ was what he hath done or what he requires from us Certainly if such persons do take upon them the profession of any Religion they must needs doe it upon Trust and how that 's done we may see in 3 Particulars 1. There are some persons who take up their Religion barely upon the Trust and Credit of their Parents and Progenitours who owned such and such a Profession and continued therein perhaps to their very dying-day And the truth is the very highest Account that many an one can give for his Faith and Worship is but this It was the old Religion of his Family it was the Faith and Worship of his Fathers and therefore his too insomuch that persons generally are not made but born Christians as well as men and do commonly receive their Faith as well as their Flesh ex Traduce barely by Propagation 'T is true Christianity which certainly is the Religion of God is that which we all profess but in the mean time there are but few amongst us that examine the Principles upon which this Religion stands nor do we consider the Designs to which this Religion tends onely we take it up from our Fore-fathers as if it were barely bequeathed us amongst other Legacies or left us as a part of our Inheritance It must be confessed that true Religion preserved for us and transmitted to us by the Care and Piety of our Progenitours is a blessed Inheritance indeed such an Inheritance so great and so glorious that we are concerned if in any case much more in this to prove our Father's Will and to consider how sutable it is to both the Testaments of that better Father which is in Heaven 2. There are some persons who take up their Religion barely upon the Trust and Credit of vulgar and publick Examples What Religion we find established in the Kingdom exercised in the Church and commonly professed throughout the Neighbourhood that we do not stand to examine but immediately embrace We make our Faith a matter not of Election and Choice but barely of Imitation Doubtless there 's many a Soul amongst us that professeth himself to be a Christian not because he knoweth the Truth Reasonableness and Excellence of Christianity but because he had the good fortune to be bred and live in Christendome Suppose a man bred among the Persians this man adores the Sun and makes that his Deity take a man bred amongst the Turks this man's Bible is the Alcoran and that Impostour Mahomet little less then his God Suppose a man bred up in Spain France or Italy this man forsooth though he knows not why proves a Roman Catholick he owns the Pope let him be who he will to be his Grand-father and that Church or if you will that Whore to be his Grand-mother too Well give me a man bred up in England 't is ten to one but this man proves a Protestant But why all this Why alas we take up our Religion not from the Convictions of our own Judgments but barely from the force of Examples and the meer power of Education 3. There are some persons who take up their Religion upon the Trust Credit or Commands of Princes Certainly man who is a wise knowing and noble Creature of the very next degree to Angels may easily convince himself how unreasonable a thing it is that he should adore and worship any thing that is so far from being a Deity that he evidently seeth and certainly knoweth that it is his own Inferiour and much below himself And yet notwithstanding if Jeroboam set up his Calves if Nebuchadnezzar erect his Image and command their Subjects to adore them who almost disputes it But alas we need not look back so far as the times of the Jewish Church for pregnant Instances our own Chronicles will tell us that whilest the Kings of England were Slaves to the Pope so dull and sottish so easie and pliable were the People as to be so too and since our Princes have justly shook off the Roman Yoke the Subjects have generally been if not so Religious yet so Conformable as to become Protestants too Tell me Sirs if the Roman Religion be good why did the People of England cast it off but if the Roman Religion be stark naught as certainly 't is why did the People of England ever own it Doubtless these General and sudden Turns of Religion these Vniversal and Epidemical Changes of our Faith and Worship which do not arise from any mature Deliberation and new Convictions are evident Demonstrations that men take up or lay down their Religion just as they do their Fashion 't is this or that according as the Court thinks fit to alter as if to believe as the King believes and to doe as the King doeth were a part of that Allegeance which we owe him But is this indeed to obey the great Command in my Text Prove all things 'T is sure the Kings of England do not pretend like that Vsurper at Rome that they cannot erre nor is it imagined by any that there is any more Infallibility annexed to the Prince's Throne then to the Pope's Chair No we are required and deeply concerned too to examine the Grounds of that Religion which the King's Laws do establish and if we find as upon strict Search we certainly shall that the present Religion of our Church commended to us by the King 's own Example and confirmed by his Laws is warranted by the Word of God by the Canons of Ancient Councils by the joint Testimony of the Primitive Fathers and many received Confessions of Faith let us then bless our God that we have as yet a Prince who styles himself really is and declares his resolution
or a swine a lamb or a dog what Acceptance can he look for If a man be doubtfull whether he offer up to his Maker incense or snuffe sacrifice or sin how doth he know whether he doth please his God or provoke him The Scriptures tell us Rom. 14.23 Whatsoever is not of faith is sin And if so that person who dares perform such and such an act at a venture whether right or wrong hath cause enough to expect from God a Frown rather then a Smile and a Check rather then a Commendation Wherefore if ever we desire to feel the Comforts of Divine Worship if ever we desire to taste the pleasures of God's Service it must be our care and 't is our Concern to secure our selves by infallible Arguments that our Religion is such indeed as our God requires likes and blesseth 2. That person who doth but onely suspect and doubt the truth of his Religion though peradventure it may be sound and right yet notwithstanding he will be easily moved to renounce and leave it if not through perswasions and flatteries yet at least through cowardise and fear of suffering Indeed that prudent and pious Christian who hath throughly examined the nature of his Religion and is fully convinced and satisfied that it is indeed the Religion of God dares not part with it upon easie nor indeed upon any terms whatsoever but that uncertain and wavering Soul who having never tasted the matchless Pleasures of Religion doth still lie under suspence and jealousies whether that Profession which he yet owneth be right or wrong how easily will he quit it If perhaps some other Religion be recommended to him by such and such persons whom he loves how quickly will he yield If such and such a Profession be urged upon him by such and such plausible Arguments which perhaps he cannot answer how soon will he be perswaded If perhaps he be fairly invited to embrace such and such Doctrines by Promises and Hopes of advantage how soon will he give his consent Or if perhaps he be pressed to own such and such Practices by Threats and Menaces how suddenly will he condescend True it is we are commanded and that under the pain of eternal death if need be to suffer for our Religion a Gaol a Dungeon a Gibbet Fire and sword whatever Devils can invent or Tyrants inflict must be endured if God so please and Times should so require But tell me will that man doe this that questions whether his Religion be true or not Can we think that he who doubts will die too Is it imaginable that he who is not throughly satisfied that such and such Doctrines are certainly of God will ever confirm and seal them with his bloud Every man will tell you that Estates Liberties and Lives are things of greater value then to be thrown away upon bare Peradventures and Possibilities 't is not credible that any man will lose what he counts so dear in the defence of his Religion except he be first convinced that this Religion of his is so good so holy so Divine that the Vindication thereof will infallibly turn his bloud into a Sacrifice and his death into a Martyrdom Thus Saint Paul 2 Tim. 1.12 For this cause I suffer these things What things doth he mean Persecutions reproaches bonds imprisonments and indeed what not But why all this Himself tells us in the self-same Verse I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded c. When a man knoweth his Faith is right when he is fully perswaded that his Religion will certainly bear him out and make up all his losses O with what alacrity and chearfulness may he suffer But on the other hand if we are not acquainted with the goodness and excellence of our Profession but continue strangers to it how easily shall we shake hands with it and in stead of being noble and faithfull Martyrs become so many unworthy Renegadoes and prove like Julian false and base Apostates 2. That person who takes no care to inform and satisfie himself concerning the matters of his Religion but takes it up as he finds it may very easily be mistaken and close with a wrong in stead of a right So great is the variety of Religions in the world so politick is the Devil so plausible is the Heretick so subtle smooth and insinuating is the Jesuit that if we have not a watchful eye and a discerning spirit if we are not the more carefull to enquire of God and good men 't is like enough that their fair and specious Pretences may deceive us 'T is very possible that Vice and Vertue Truth and Errour the Counterfeit and the Pearl may look so like to another that there is none but an Artist who hath a prudent Head and a piercing Eye that can readily apprehend and see the difference That severall persons are most miserably trepanned and sadly deluded the Scriptures tell us Thus the Evangelist John 16.2 Whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God good service Here 's Murther took to be Religion and innocent bloud thought to be a Sacrifice Saint Paul himself was thus deceived Acts 26.9 I verily thought with my self that I ought to doe many things contrary to the name of Jesus but what made him think so he tells us elsewhere sin deceived me Rom. 7.11 And certainly if Saint Paul that eminent and learned man were thus mistaken if such an one as he took Persecution to be Devotion Sin to be Service and an high Trespass to be a Duty how then are we concerned to take heed lest we take up something for Religion which indeed is not so lest we close with such and such Superstitions and Vanities and yet count our selves devout in doing so O remember how easie and usual it is to be mistaken If we take up our Religion as it seems Jacob did his wife upon trust and in the dark 't is like enough that we may be cheated 't is like enough that in stead of being that beautiful Rachel which we expected it may prove no better then a blear-eyed Leah And if so what grand Inconveniences are like to follow give me leave to shew you though but in 2 Particulars 1. That person who is mistaken in the choice of his Religion if he be what Religious persons should be devout and zealous in his way is in great danger to run himself upon the commission of the greatest sin except perhaps he can plead an invincible Ignorance for its extenuation Doubtless whosoever he be that makes Religion the main business of his life will think himself concerned to promote that Religion which he owns and takes to be true and that with vehemence and zeal 'T is the nature of Religion whether true or false to propagate spread and establish it self and that it may so doe it becomes importunate and restless till it have removed by force or argument what-ever seems to stand in its way and be its Rival And if so
to continue the Defender of that Faith which past all per adventure is truly Ancient and Apostolicall II. Consider what abundant cause we have to be jealous of that Religion which will by no means submit to this great Command in the Text which fears to be examined and dares not stand the Test Certainly we have all the reason in the world to suspect that Religion which doth so manifestly suspect it self 'T is a great Argument that a man doth doubt his Cause and question its merit when he sheweth himself exceeding loath to come to a Trial and 't is a shrewd sign that Wares are corrupt and naught when they are produced and shewed onely in the dark What our Blessed Saviour Joh. 3.21 saith of Persons may fitly be said of Religions too He that doeth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest The man that is honest vertuous and learned doth rather hope then fear to be searched into but he that constantly lurks in corners and walks under a disguise doth give the world sufficient ground to suspect that he is some broken Bankrupt or Knave 'T is thus with Religions too That Religion which dares appeal to the Tribunal of God and man that Religion which desires to be examined by Scriptures Councils and Fathers that Religion which doth publickly expose all its Doctrines and doth not onely allow all its friends but provokes its utmost enemies to fift and try them 't is easie to think that such a Religion is sound right and true 't is full weight that fears not the Scales and right metall that doth not dread the Touchstone But now if there be such a Religion found within the Church that is jealous of it self that fears its own Proselytes that dares not endure the Scrutiny no not of its own friends have we not a sufficient reason to suspect it Now shall I tell you such is the Religion of the Roman Church which dares not suffer its own Members so much as once to peep into the Bible lest perhaps that clear and Sacred Glass should immediately represent even to vulgar eyes those foul and by them as yet undiscerned Spots which that corrupt and scabby Religion hath upon its Face I remember Chemnitius who hath somewhat narrowly enquired into the Council of Trent and discovered to the world the nakedness of their Decrees is for that very Reason styled not a Saucy fellow but a down-right Heretick and so for making some considerable Inquisition into their Religion was thought to deserve at least their Great one As for the Religion of the Reformed Church 't is otherwise with us the examination of our Doctrines is not onely allowed but required too we put the Scales into your hands and bid you weigh them we set the Touchstone before your eye and bid you try them we translate we print we put the Bible into your bosom and bid you thence examine what our Church doth hold what our Ministers do preach and what you your selves must believe and doe I can tell you this fair dealing is not to be found at Rome no there the Holy Bible that dangerous Book must be withheld And the truth is though there be Sin and Sacrilege in their so doing yet there is a great deal of Craft and Policy too for where the Cause is naught if there be some material Witness whose Testimony will certainly overthrow it if he cannot be bribed 't is great Prudence to remove him out of the way And this course takes the Roman Church 't is that miserable Shift which a bad Cause drives them to what ever comes of it the Scriptures must be withdrawn for should they permit their people to peruse them they have just cause to fear that at first sight they would dislike such and such gainfull Doctrines and upon a serious review abjure them quite And upon this score do they find themselves necessitated as to withdraw the Bible so likewise basely to corrupt the most Ancient Councils and Fathers acting methinks like some knavish Merchant who sells bad Wares and that by false Weights and Measures and therefore is concerned to see that there be no Standard near him What is the great Axiome of the Roman Church Estius a Friend Champion and Son of theirs doth thus inform us 2. Thes 5.21 Tenendum quod tenet Ecclesia What the Church believes what the Church requires i. e. whatever the Pope and his Council thinks fit that and onely that without more adoe must be believed and done 'T is evident that they require little more of their Proselytes then a bare implicit Faith and a blind Obedience And that they ground upon this fond Presumption and rotten Principle That their Councils at least if confirmed by the Pope cannot erre how vicious soever the Pope may be in his Conversation yet when he sits in Cathedra in his Chair he must be Infallible in his Judgment still as if the Golden Mitre and triple Crown which adorn his Head must needs inspire it too But if these things be so indeed what need they fear the severest Trial If Councils cannot erre what need they fear the strictest Search If the Pope be really Infallible what need he dread the closest Scrutiny Search the Scriptures saith Christ himself to all his Hearers Search not the Scriptures saith his pretended Vicar and yet Infallible Try the spirits saith the Apostle Try not the spirits saith the Roman Bishop and yet Infallible Prove all things saith Saint Paul Prove nothing saith the Successour of Saint Peter and yet Infallible No they manage a bad Cause that are afraid to see it opened 'T is not Religion and Conscience but Craft Guilt and Fear that make them withdraw the Bible and so decline a Trial for had but the poor people that live under the Tyranny of Rome liberty means and knowledge to examine those Doctrines which now they are constrained to take up upon Trust and were but the Princes of Europe whom the Pope hath sometimes used and still accounts as his Slaves and Vassals were they but once at leisure to mind the things of God and the Concerns of his Church would they but once impartially and throughly examine matters of Religion and bring them to the Rule we should quickly see the Pope unmasked Kings undeceived and the whole Christian world become Protestant And as this should be the subject of our earnest Prayers so must the Duty required in the Text be the matter of our Obedience too what the Protestant asserts what the Papist pretends examine both The Grand difference betwixt us and them lieth in their affirming and our denying the Doctrines of Infallibility Transubstantiation Purgatory Indulgencies Invocation of Saints Adoration of Images works of Merit and Supererogation c. Now if any of these or the like Doctrines shall be commended to you by the plausible Insinuations of some subtle Jesuit O remember what my Text commands Prove all things bring them to your Bibles