. It is but reasonable, therefore, for any man, before he make choice of this guide, to ask of himself or others thesB few questions : — Is there any thing in the gospel which gives countenance unto this way of imposing a giiide in religion on the minds and consciences of men ? Was there any thing like it in the practices of our Lord Jesus Christ, his apostles, or the primitive churches ? Doth this way make a just representation of the spirit, the meekness, the holiness, the love, the ]3atience of our Lord Jesus Christ ? Is it consistent with the genius of the doctrine of the gospel, the religion taught therein, as unto its nature and ends, concerning our deportment in tliis world, and our tendency unto another ? Can any man think without hoiTor that our Lord Jesus Christ should be the author of this way ; that he hath VOL. XIV. S3
514 THE CHUECH OF EOME NO SAFE GUIDE.
appointed that all men should be starved, or hanged, or burned, or otherwise slaughtered, who would not submit unto the doctrine or rule of this or any church, as some of the worst of men shall please to state them ? Is not this that which, among other things, gives us assurance that the doctrine and superstition of Mohammed were from hell, from the old murderer, in that it is a prime dictate of them that those who will not submit unto them are to be destroyed with fire and sword? By that time a man hath a little weighed these inqui- ries, with such other of the same nature that may be added unto them, if he be not forsaken of all sense of the glory of Christ, of the honour of the gospel, of the reputation of Christian religion, and all care of the salvation of his own soul, he will make a long stand before he give up himself absolutely unto the conduct of this church.
Seventhly, I cannot but mention, in the next place, that which, because it is commonly pleaded, I shall but mention. And this is, that many important 'principles and practices of the religion which this pretended guide would impose upon us are evidently suited unto the carnal interests and lusts of them wdio have the conduct of it. Such are purgatory, papal pardons, sacrifices for the dead, auri- cular confession, with priestly absolution thereon. Many have already declared how the notion and superstition of these things did both raise and do maintain then- revenues, and are otherwise made use of to make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof And ther§ lieth no encouragement herein to engage wise men to give up them- selves unto its conduct. But, —
Eighthly, Considerate men will be afraid of that conduct under which Christian religion hath lost all its native beauty, simplicity, spiritual glory, and power. How are these things represented unto us in the gospel ? How were they exemplified unto us in the lives of the apostles and of all the sincere primitive converts? The church was through them " a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelt righteousness." The whole of religion, as it was at first professed, was nothing but a representation of the wisdom, truth, holiness, love, and compassion of Christ; an evident and glorious means to recover mankind from its apostasy from God, and to re-introduce his image on the souls of men; a blessed way continually to exercise the power of love, goodness, charity, bounty, zeal, and delight in God; a testi- mony given unto the truth, reality, and substance of things spiritual, invisible, and eternal, with their preference above all earthly things. Under their conduct is this beauty, this glory of Christian religion, lost and defaced. We may say, with the prophet of old, " How is the faithful city become an harlot ! righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers," Isa. i. 21. The church is the temple of God. Could
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we have looked into it of old, we might by faith have seen Christ sitting on his throne, the train of his light, holiness, love, and grace, filling the whole temple; — look into it under their conduct, and there is the dreadful appearance of the " lawless person," the Man of Sin, sitting in the temple of God, showing himself to be God, to our horror and amazement. Look into the primitive assemblies of Christians, 2 Cor. iii. 8-11, you shall see meekness, humility, and the glorious ministration of the Spirit in outward simplicity; — look into those of this guide, and you shall see them like the house of Micah, Judges xvii. 5, a house of gods, with molten images, graven images, ephods, and teraphims, multiplied instruments of superstition and idolatry. Look on their conversation of old in the world, and it was humble, peaceable, useful, profitable unto mankind, with a contempt of earthly things in comparison of those that are eternal ; — but under the conduct of this guide, ambition, pride, sensuality, and profaneness have covered the nations of its communion; in all things have they lost and defaced the native beauty and glory of Christian religion. It will be of no advantage unto any voluntarily to come in into a participation in this woful apostasy.