the beft, and much to the Advantage of his own Soul: But while he forfakes the moft agreeable Comments of Antiquity, and expofes the wild Caprices of his own Brain for the genuine Senfe of Scripture, it would be the moft unreasonable Thing in the World, fhould he condemn thofe, who not having the fame Apprehenfions of Things, as he had, fhould upon the fame Principle, go beyond him in the Bufinefs of Reformation. And it is a Thing juftly to be expected, that other Men, as well as he we have been speaking of, taking the fame Liberty, and being unlearned and unftable, fhould wreft the Word of God with as good Authority, and it is well, if it prove not as deftructively as himself. We generally obferve, that the moft ignorant Chriftians are apt to be the most stubborn and ungovernable; as if their Knowledge were equal to theirs, who are of the moft exalted Intellectuals. And therefore fuch, who can't comprehend fo much as the plaineft Principles of Religion, will frequently be framing to themfelves new Bodies of Divinity; and every Melancholick Dream they are poffefs'd with, fhall immediately pafs for Infpiration. Now when fuch poor fenfelefs Creatures come to fet up a Religion for themselves of their own coining, what ridiculous Things muft we expect from them? As what wretched Stuff have George Fox and Muggleton, and their Followers, furnifh'd the World with? And yet whatever the Mifcarriages of fuch are; they owe them all to the unhappy Examples of thofe unfettled Tempers, who have made ufe of their nobler Accomplishments only to diftract the Church. I know very well, that it is an Argument put into the Mouths of our Diffenters, by the bufy Emiffaries of the Roman Synagogue, that fince the Guides and Governours of the Church of England make no Pretences to Infallibility, they can have no juft Reafon to find Fault with any of thofe who fall off from their Communion. It is eafy enough to dif cern, for what Purpose. that Objection is fuggeftel For if we are not obliged to adhere to that Church, whofe Covernors own themfelves fallible, then we must have Recourse to the Church of Rome, who fets up for Infallibi lity, or elfe we must continue unfettled for \ ever. And our Diffenters yet are fo obftinately, or rather fo penally blind that they will not fee this. We who are at prefent more difinterefted, as being neither Papifts nor Separatifts, can eafily obferve the Net, in which the poor unthinking People entangle themselves: For if Infallibility be indeed neceffary in the Bifhops or Governors of the Church of Chrift; either thofe who object the Want of it to us, muft clofe entirely with thofe very Papifts, against whom they cry cut fo much, and fo effectually fubmit themselves to him who calls himself the univerfal Bishop; or else this Weapon must be turn'd upon themselves, and the Matter seriously enquir'd into, by what Ligaments or Bonds their Teachers hold their Congregations together? And I make no Queftion, but that ere long thofe of the Roman Communion, who now make ufe of them as Inftruments to deftroy the Church of England; will by that very Argument, by which they impeach us now, prove them all to be a Com pany the beft, and much to the Advantage of his own Soul: But while he forfakes the moft agreeable Comments of Antiquity, and expofes the wild Caprices of his own Brain for the genuine Senfe of Scripture, it would be the moft unreasonable Thing in the World, fhould he condemn thofe, who not having the fame Apprehenfions of Things, as he had, fhould upon the fame Principle, go beyond him in the Bufinefs of Reformation. And it is a Thing juftly to be expected, that other Men, as well as he we have been speaking of, taking the fame Liberty, and being unlearned and unftable, fhould wreft the Word of God with as good Authority, and it is well, if it prove not as deftructively as himself. We generally obferve, that the moft ignorant Chriftians are apt to be the most stubborn and ungovernable; as if their Knowledge were equal to theirs, who are of the most exalted Intellectuals. And therefore fuch, who can't comprehend fo much as the plaineft Principles of Religion, will frequently be framing to themfelves new Bodies of Divinity; and every Melancholick Dream they are poffefs'd with, fhall immediately pafs for Infpiration. Now when fuch poor fenfelefs Creatures come to fet up a Religion for themselves of their own coining, what ridiculous Things muft we expect from, them? As what wretched Stuff have George Fox and Muggleton, and their Followers, furnifh'd the World with? And yet whatever the Miscarriages of fuch are; they owe them all to the unhappy Examples of thofe unfettled Tempers, who have made ufe of their nobler Accomplishments only to diftract the Church." I know very well, that it is an Argument put into the Mouths of our Diffenters, by the bufy Emiffaries of the Roman Synagogue, that fince the Guides and Governours of the Church of England make no Pretences to Infallibility, they can have no juft Reason, to find Fault with any of thofe who fall off from their Communion. It is eafy enough to dif cern, for what Purpose. that Objection is fuggeftel: For if we are not obliged to adhere to that Church, whofe Covernors own themfelves fallible, then we must have Recourse to the Church of Rome, who fets up for Infallibi lity, or else we must continue unfettled for ever. And our Diffenters yet are fo obftinately, or rather fo penally blind that they will not fee this. We who are at prefent more difinterefted, as being neither Papifts nor Separatifs, can eafily obferve the Net, in which the poor unthinking People entangle themselves: For if Infallibility be indeed neceffary in the Bifhops or Governors of the Church of Chrift; either thofe who object the Want of it to us, muft clofe entirely with thofe very Papifts, against whom they cry out fo much, and fo effectually fubmit themselves to him who calls himself the univerfal Bishop, or else this Weapon must be turn'd upon themselves, and the Matter ferioufly enquir'd into, by what Ligaments or Bonds their Teachers hold their Congregations together? And I make no Queftion, but that ere long thofe of the Roman Communion, who now make use of them as Inftruments to deftroy the Church of England; will by that very Argument, by which they impeach us now, prove them all to be a Com pany pany of Cheats and Impoftors, not fit to be tolerated in any Chriftian Community. But with refpect to our establish'd Church, the Argument is eafily refuted by a fhort Reflection upon God's Appointments in the Jewish Church and State. We find nothing in Scripture to prove either the High-Prieft, or the principal Judge or King to have been infallible but we find enough there to prove the contrary: For had they been infallible, it had been impoffible for Idolatry, and Opinions admitting it, to have prevail'd upon both, as we read it did. The Laws of God were laid before them in the plainest Terms: And in thofe Laws they were commanded, from the higheft to the lowest, to read, to ftudy, and to meditate upon them continually. The Reafon of which Command was, that they might know, and fo perform the Will of God. Now, it is very hard to believe, that the Wit and Understanding of every few, was of the fame Extent and Reach. If then fome among them were more acute and apprehenfive, and fome more dull and carelefs; it will neceffarily follow, that their Apprehenfions and Interpretations of the Meaning of God's Law, muft have been as different, and it may be, fcarce ordinarily reconcileable to one another. In thefe Cafes, and upon Account of thefe Differences, they were directed to the Prieft: For the Priest's Lips Should keep Knowledge, and they should feek the Law at his Month, for he was the Meffenger of the Lord of Hofts. This being God's pofitive Command, (when God threatens, as he did Ezek. 7. by Ezekiel, that Mischief should come upon Mif Mal. 2.7. 26. chief, |