THE
CHUECH OF ROME NO SAFE GUIDE.
The foundation of the small ensuing discourse shall be laid in a position wherein, as I suppose, persons of all sorts who are concerned in the things treated about are agreed, — namely, that it is the duty of every man who taketli care of his own eternal salvation, to betake himself unto some guide or conduct that may safely lead him unto the knowledge of the truth, and the practice of Christian obedience. The nature of religion, the state of our own minds in this world, with the eternal importance of a safe, unerring guidance in things spiritual and sujiernatural, do require that the utmost of our diligence and prudence be used in the discharge of this duty, in the choice of this guide. No man of liimself is sufficient, by his own reason alone, to be his own guide. They who, thinking themselves wise, have attempted so to be, " have waxed vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts have been darkened," Rom. i. 21. The warning and instruc- tion given by Solomon do principally respect this case: "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool ; but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered," Pro v. xxviii. 26. But the knowledge of and adherence unto such a guide are eminently necessary when there are great differences and divisions amongst men about religion, especially if they are managed in ways and by means not only scandalous unto religion itself, but pernicious unto human society in their consequence. When men not only say and contend that " Here is Christ, and lo, there is Christ," Matt. xxiv. 23, but also, on the account of these differences, engage into ways and practices ruinous unto the souls of men, and destructive unto all that is praiseworthy in this world, those who are not careful to choose and adhere unto a faithful guide and conduct are no less defective in wisdom than negligent in their duty. Were a man in a wilderness where are a multitude of cross paths all pretending to lead unto an inhabited city, whither he must go or perish ; if he see men not only contending some for one way, some for another, but killing and destroying one another about the prefer- ence of the several ways they esteem best and safest, he deserves to
48 G THE CHURCH OF ROME NO SAFE GUIDE.
wauder and perish if he refuse a guide that is tendered unto him with sufficient evidence of his truth and faithfulness. That there is such a one ready in our present case shall be immediately evinced.
The differences in religion that are at present among us are of two sorts: — First, Such as, comparatively, are of small moment as unto the principal ends of the life of God. The measure of these differences is, that which way soever they are determined in the minds of men, they neither overthrow the foundation nor obstruct the due exercise of faith and love; for this is our great duty, with res]3ect unto doctrines in religion, that we " hold fast the fomi of sound words, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus," 2 Tim. i. 13. And if any of them are so small as that it cannot be pretended that they overthrow the foundations of faith and love, yet if they hinder them in their operations and due exercise according unto the ride of the gospel, they are pernicious unto the souls of them in whom they have that effect. But such differences which comply with this mea- sure tend unto nothing in themselves that is obstructive unto the glory or power of religion, whatever they may be pressed and wrested unto by the lusts, prejudices, and carnal interests of men; for there is no ground to be taken from them for severe thoughts concerning the state and condition of them who so differ, as unto their interest in present grace and future glory. To live in a neglect of love, in all the effects and fruits of it, towards such on any pretences, to de- sign their hurt and evil, is to live in open contradiction unto all the rules of the gospel.
Such severe thoughts are the principal causes and occasion of all pernicious evils in religion, especially those which are most scanda- lous unto it, and most inconsistent with that good of mankind which Christian religion is designed to promote ; for things are come to that pass among the generality of Christians, that when once persons be- gin to damn others in their minds for their dissent from them, they judge themselves at liberty, and count that it is their duty, to do them all the mischief they can in this world. They first make themselves their judges that they must go to hell, and then would be their executioners, to send them thither as fast as they 'can. Whether this be a representation of Christ or of the devil is not hard to determine. Sure I am, it is not compliant with the advice given unto all guides of the church, of an attendance whereunto they must give an account, 2 Tim. ii. 24-26: " And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness in- structing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknoAvledging of the truth ; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."