point; then in any one particular point. And fo, if we allow debates, and enquiries, in any ; there is no remedy: We are obliged, in confcience, to allow them in all.

If the whole proteftant caufe be fo entirely built upon this, that it would never have fubfifted in the world, but by calling all private perfons to the Scriptures themselves; and perfuading them to labour after a right underftanding of them: How can this fame cause poffibly be defended, without the fame allowance in all cafes equally, of an appeal to them, about the true meaning of the. fame Scriptures? Or, was that method only a sort of scaffolding in religion; to be pulled down again, as foon as the fabric was erected to our mind?

If the Scripture be the rule of faith, in all things; then, all chriftians have a right to confult and debate about the true meaning of this rule, in any particular point. And, if fo; then, what is it to except any particular point out of the number; and to declare that, about this, there fhall be no farther debates, but all fhall acquiefce in the fettled interpretation of the texts that relate to it: What, is this, I fay, but to fay that the Scripture is not the rule of faith to private perfons in this particular point?

If it be constantly objected against the Romanists, as the greatest evil, that they shut up the Scriptures from their people; and only difh out to them fuch doctrines as themselves please : How shall we ever be able to object this again; or to infift upon the wickedness of it; if we ourfelves, as to this one point, do the very fame? I fay, the very fame. For, what is it to fupprefs all debates about the true meaning of the texts, relating to one article; but, in truth, to shut up thofe particular texts, as effectually, as if they were not in being? And what is it to jhut up any particular texts, but to declare in effect that we have a right to fhut up all, whenever we see fit?

When texts of Scripture are in words propofed to us, with such a particular interpretation affixed to them; and fuch a particular doctrine deduced from them; and no allowance for debates about them: Can they be faid, any more properly, to be texts of Scripture for our ufe; than if thefe interpretations, or doctrines, were given out to us, without them? And, do not the words of Scripture, in this method, become only a form, for decency and ceremony fake?

If

4

If the papifs decree you fhall not debate the meaning of thofe words, this is my body; but take them according to the determinatio-s of their church, to fignify a change into Chri's natural body, without any farther enquiries; and the proteftants declare this to be unchriftian and unwarrantable: With what grace can they themselves afterwards decree, that tho' this be fo unchriftian, in this point, or any other that we ourselves do not admit; yet, in the dctrine of the trinity, it is very juft, and right, and very chriftian, to ordain, that no one fhall dispute about any particular text relating to this; either, whether it be found in any manufcript; or, fuppofing it genuine, what is the true meaning of it? Let the things be placed together in the light of comparison; And then, let the difference of procedure be found out, if poffible?

Is it truth, or falfhood, we defire to preserve! If it be truth; it ftands not in need of fuch methods. If fulfhood, it ought not to be taken care of.

Is it truth, or falfhood, we defire to guard againft? If falfhood; this method is rather likely to make it pafs for truth, when it is not permitted to fhew itself. are felf-condemned.

If truth; then we Or rather, remove all debates;

bates; and truth and fallood, are only fo many fillables put together, fignifying no more than established, and not flab ifhed.

If it be said, that it is reasonable to fuppofe Such points well fettled after fo many years poffeffion; the papists must have the advantage, in this argument; who have fo much greater length of time, to juftify their most abfurd tenets befides that they must be now, true or falfe, juft what they were at the beginning of the reformation, when they were settled: unlefs time can alter those two properties; or turn fallible men into infallible. It is allowed that no one interpretation of any text, or doctrine drawn from it, can be fettled infallibly. And therefore, whatever it be, it may be falfe: and therefore, it is always certain, it may and ought to be examined. Efpecially, this muft hold good in all points of a nice and extraordinary nature, fettled all at once, before there could be opportunity for exact and diffufive enquiries.

Is it all at last to be refolved into peace, and quiet? This removes truth or falfhool, out of the question. And, if this be a good argument for civil difcouragements, and prohibitions; then bleffed be the inquifition, which most effectually keeps all things quiet: and blessed be that

Stupidity

Дupidity and ignorance, which flourisheth under fuch discipline. Let us recall these into the world and all will be as filent, as defolation itself. But, indeed, we know how to give a fubftantial answer to this, when the papists urge this. We can reply to them, "This is a falfe "notion of the peace of the church: which "consists not in the unity of profeffion, but the "unity of affection. God requires of us, to "search into his truths: and we are to be. "judged at laft, by our own judgments. We "have a right to be borne with, in our diffe"rences of opinion from one another. For "the event; we leave it to God. But we "think nothing can preferve a true peace, but "the allowance of mutual debates; and the "exercife of mutual forbearance. This ends in "charity. The other method, befides the "making truth and falfhood, and all religions

equal, promotes peace only by promoting "ignorance; and confults quiet, at beft, no "otherwise, than as the destroying all civil "liberty, prevents tumults. The remedy, be"fides the fcandal to religion, is worse than "the defeafe. Nay, it is but a partial unequal

remedy. It could not prevent the reformation, (which was a terrible breach of the peace of the church, in the Romanifts opi"nion ;) nor many other leffer efforts. It

"falls