The infallibility of the Church of Rome examined and confuted in a letter to a Roman priest / by Gilbert Burnet.
         Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.
      
       
         
           1680
        
      
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             The infallibility of the Church of Rome examined and confuted in a letter to a Roman priest / by Gilbert Burnet.
             Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.
          
           [3], 35 p.
           
             Printed by M. Clark, and are to be sold by H. Brome and B. Tooke ...,
             London :
             1680.
          
           
             Errata: p. 35.
             Reproduction of original in Cambridge University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Catholic Church -- Infallibility.
           Catholic Church -- Controversial literature.
        
      
    
     
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           THE
           Infallibility
           OF
           THE
           CHURCH
           OF
           ROME
           Examined
           and
           Confuted
           .
        
         
           IN
           A
           LETTER
           TO
           A
           
             Roman
             Priest
             ,
          
        
         
           By
           
             GILBERT
             BURNET
             .
          
        
         
           
             LONDON
             :
          
           Printed
           by
           
             M.
             Clark
             ,
          
           and
           are
           to
           be
           Sold
           by
           
             H.
             Brome
          
           and
           
             B.
             Tooke
          
           in
           S.
           
           Paul's
           Churchyard
           .
           1680.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           A
           Letter
           to
           a
           Priest
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Church
             ,
          
           wherein
           the
           Grounds
           of
           their
           pretended
           
             Infallibilities
          
           are
           called
           for
           and
           examined
           ,
           in
           some
           Queries
           .
        
         
           
             SIR
             ,
          
        
         
           WHatever
           our
           differences
           be
           in
           many
           points
           of
           Religion
           ,
           we
           agree
           in
           this
           ,
           
             That
             it
             is
             the
             great
             concern
             of
             Mankind
             to
             examin
             well
             the
             grounds
             that
             lead
             him
             to
             his
             belief
             in
             matters
             of
             so
             high
             a
             nature
             .
          
           You
           always
           tell
           me
           ,
           
             That
             out
             of
             the
             true
             Catholick
             Church
             there
             is
             no
             salvation
             ;
          
           adding
           ,
           
             That
             this
             Catholick
             Church
             is
             the
             Roman
             :
          
           though
           this
           seems
           to
           be
           a
           Bull
           as
           plainly
           as
           a
           general
           particular
           .
           Indeed
           so
           severe
           a
           Certificate
           makes
           me
           look
           to
           my self
           :
           I
           confess
           this
           method
           of
           dealing
           with
           me
           seems
           not
           so
           fair
           nor
           rational
           .
           For
           if
           any
           man
           study
           to
           draw
           me
           into
           a
           design
           ,
           by
           telling
           me
           ,
           
             That
             as
             I
             must
             ingage
             in
             it
             all
             I
             am
             Master
             of
             ;
             so
             I
             must
             surrender
             up
             the
             conduct
             of
             it
             to
             others
             ,
             of
             whose
             honesty
             ,
             industry
             ,
             and
             discretion
             I
             must
             not
             doubt
             ;
          
           I
           presently
           apprehend
           a
           trappan
           ,
           and
           you
           will
           not
           dispute
           it
           much
           that
           he
           deserves
           to
           be
           cosened
           ,
           who
           suffers
           himself
           to
           be
           imposed
           upon
           so
           grosly
           .
           But
           certainly
           if
           my
           soul
           be
           more
           valuable
           than
           my
           estate
           ,
           and
           if
           eternity
           be
           preferrable
           to
           the
           vanishing
           shadows
           here
           below
           ,
           then
           I
           have
           great
           reason
           to
           be
           strongly
           prejudiced
           against
           those
           ,
           who
           would
           oblige
           me
           to
           hazard
           my
           soul
           in
           a
           tame
           and
           blind
           
           subjection
           to
           the
           Dictates
           of
           any
           man
           ,
           or
           Society
           of
           men
           ;
           Reason
           being
           the
           only
           part
           of
           our
           Nature
           that
           was
           born
           to
           Liberty
           ,
           and
           can
           defie
           all
           the
           severe
           rigours
           of
           Tyranny
           .
           You
           will
           easily
           believe
           I
           cannot
           be
           induced
           on
           slight
           grounds
           to
           forgo
           this
           dearest
           and
           most
           essential
           piece
           of
           my
           brother-right
           .
           And
           believe
           me
           it
           was
           enough
           that
           the
           Roman
           Church
           for
           a
           Succession
           of
           some
           Ages
           was
           Mistris
           of
           the
           Crowns
           and
           Empires
           of
           her
           Vassals
           ,
           and
           had
           the
           dispose
           of
           the
           Lives
           and
           Goods
           of
           the
           better
           part
           of
           
             Europe
             .
          
           This
           was
           highly
           severe
           though
           Conscience
           had
           been
           left
           free
           .
           The
           Law
           makes
           my
           House
           my
           Sanctuary
           ,
           but
           if
           I
           stir
           abroad
           I
           must
           be
           at
           my
           hazard
           :
           So
           whatever
           Power
           the
           Civil
           Magistrates
           ,
           or
           the
           Guides
           of
           the
           Church
           may
           have
           over
           my
           Actions
           ,
           or
           profession
           of
           my
           Faith
           ,
           yet
           as
           long
           as
           it
           keeps
           within
           my
           head
           and
           breast
           ,
           its
           natural
           dwelling
           place
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           violation
           of
           the
           sacredness
           of
           that
           Sanctuary
           to
           invade
           it
           there
           ,
           or
           make
           it
           prisoner
           .
           And
           when
           I
           further
           consider
           that
           Reason
           is
           nothing
           but
           a
           communication
           of
           Divine
           Light
           ,
           to
           make
           me
           understand
           those
           Propositions
           ,
           of
           which
           some
           hints
           were
           born
           with
           my
           Soul
           ,
           and
           the
           rest
           are
           offered
           to
           me
           in
           Sacred
           Writings
           ;
           if
           I
           throw
           off
           this
           ,
           and
           betake
           my self
           to
           the
           Dictates
           of
           others
           ,
           I
           exchange
           the
           Sun
           for
           the
           Moon
           ,
           and
           the
           Day
           for
           the
           Twilight
           ;
           and
           renounce
           the
           liberty
           of
           the
           servants
           of
           God
           for
           a
           bondage
           that
           excludes
           the
           freedom
           of
           a
           thought
           .
           And
           ,
           at
           least
           ,
           if
           I
           were
           to
           come
           under
           so
           heavy
           a
           yoke
           ,
           I
           must
           before-hand
           be
           well
           assured
           of
           the
           sacredness
           of
           the
           Masters
           of
           my
           Faith.
           No
           man
           can
           be
           wheedled
           to
           trust
           himself
           to
           any
           ,
           of
           whose
           fidelity
           and
           good
           conduct
           he
           is
           not
           well
           assured
           ;
           but
           he
           that
           commits
           himself
           to
           noted
           and
           known
           Impostors
           ,
           is
           the
           object
           of
           all
           mens
           scorn
           .
           He
           must
           therefore
           have
           a
           
           great
           opinion
           of
           his
           own
           Rhethorick
           ,
           and
           of
           my
           easiness
           that
           attempts
           to
           perswade
           me
           to
           subject
           my
           belief
           to
           the
           Verdict
           of
           a
           Succession
           of
           men
           ,
           who
           do
           not
           so
           much
           as
           pretend
           to
           high
           learning
           ,
           much
           less
           to
           be
           eminent
           Saints
           ;
           and
           in
           whom
           I
           can
           discern
           no
           great
           Characters
           ,
           but
           of
           Temporal
           Authority
           ,
           and
           high
           pretensions
           to
           an
           uncontrouled
           Jurisdiction
           ;
           and
           neither
           of
           these
           can
           with
           any
           reason
           determine
           my
           belief
           for
           one
           unerring
           Judg.
           But
           since
           I
           observe
           both
           from
           my
           own
           knowledg
           ,
           and
           what
           I
           hear
           by
           others
           ,
           that
           you
           of
           the
           Mission
           place
           your
           greatest
           strength
           in
           the
           Authority
           and
           Infallibility
           of
           your
           Church
           ,
           and
           ply
           every
           body
           most
           with
           it
           ,
           I
           have
           therefore
           considered
           this
           with
           all
           the
           application
           of
           mind
           I
           am
           Master
           of
           ,
           as
           the
           fundamental
           Article
           of
           your
           belief
           .
           For
           if
           your
           Church
           be
           priviledged
           from
           error
           ,
           all
           her
           Decrees
           must
           certainly
           pass
           for
           Oracles
           ,
           and
           there
           is
           no
           disputing
           them
           :
           but
           if
           she
           be
           subject
           to
           error
           ,
           she
           is
           the
           boldest
           Imposturess
           that
           ever
           appeared
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           who
           dares
           pretend
           to
           an
           unerring
           assistance
           in
           all
           her
           decisions
           ,
           without
           good
           ground
           .
           Suffer
           me
           therefore
           to
           offer
           you
           a
           few
           Queries
           ,
           of
           which
           when
           I
           am
           satisfyingly
           resolved
           ,
           I
           will
           be
           brought
           so
           much
           nearer
           a
           belief
           ,
           from
           which
           as
           long
           as
           these
           difficulties
           lie
           in
           my
           way
           ,
           I
           must
           confess
           my self
           at
           a
           great
           distance
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           And
           first
           let
           me
           ask
           you
           ,
           
             What
             necessity
             there
             is
             of
             an
             Infallible
             Iudg
             ,
             to
             whose
             Decrees
             all
             must
             yield
             absolute
             obedience
             ?
          
           If
           you
           convince
           me
           this
           is
           necessary
           ,
           I
           shall
           without
           difficulty
           yield
           to
           you
           that
           there
           is
           such
           a
           Judicatory
           ,
           since
           I
           am
           perswaded
           our
           blessed
           Saviour
           who
           loved
           his
           Church
           so
           dearly
           as
           to
           die
           for
           her
           ,
           would
           certainly
           provide
           her
           with
           all
           that
           was
           necessary
           for
           her
           preservation
           .
           But
           here
           I
           know
           you
           triumph
           in
           the
           
           supposed
           necessity
           of
           such
           a
           Judg
           ,
           without
           whom
           there
           is
           no
           preserving
           either
           Truth
           or
           Peace
           :
           For
           if
           there
           be
           not
           a
           Court
           to
           whose
           Award
           all
           must
           stand
           ,
           then
           every
           man
           is
           at
           liberty
           to
           believe
           as
           he
           will
           ,
           and
           there
           is
           no
           end
           of
           errors
           :
           Which
           appears
           plainly
           in
           the
           Churches
           that
           have
           thrown
           oft
           the
           
             Roman
          
           Authority
           ,
           but
           are
           subdivided
           into
           many
           fractions
           ,
           which
           are
           the
           natural
           results
           of
           their
           opinions
           ;
           for
           if
           every
           man
           must
           search
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           believe
           what
           he
           thinks
           is
           the
           sense
           of
           them
           ,
           then
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           variety
           of
           mens
           complexions
           ,
           educations
           ,
           or
           inclinations
           ,
           there
           shall
           be
           a
           numberless
           variety
           of
           opinions
           .
           And
           if
           none
           have
           authority
           over
           the
           perswasions
           of
           others
           ,
           they
           cannot
           be
           blamed
           ,
           much
           less
           condemned
           for
           their
           opinions
           .
           This
           seems
           such
           an
           inconvenience
           ,
           that
           the
           Church
           must
           be
           in
           a
           very
           bad
           condition
           ,
           if
           there
           be
           no
           remedy
           for
           it
           .
           This
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           I
           suppose
           is
           in
           short
           the
           strength
           of
           all
           you
           will
           alledge
           on
           this
           head
           :
           but
           all
           this
           does
           not
           prevail
           with
           me
           to
           acknowledge
           an
           
             Infallible
             Iudicatory
             :
          
           for
           to
           live
           well
           is
           the
           chief
           end
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           to
           think
           and
           believe
           aright
           is
           a
           necessary
           mean
           for
           that
           end
           :
           from
           which
           I
           infer
           ,
           That
           if
           there
           be
           no
           necessity
           of
           an
           
             Infallible
             Power
          
           to
           make
           men
           live
           well
           ,
           neither
           is
           there
           any
           for
           making
           us
           think
           aright
           ;
           and
           certainly
           vice
           and
           immorality
           is
           as
           opposite
           to
           the
           designs
           of
           the
           Gospel
           as
           error
           :
           now
           it
           is
           confessed
           there
           are
           no
           certain
           and
           infallible
           ways
           of
           restraining
           vice
           .
           And
           if
           it
           must
           needs
           be
           a
           defect
           in
           the
           Constitution
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           if
           there
           be
           no
           infallible
           means
           to
           restrain
           error
           ,
           what
           must
           I
           conclude
           if
           there
           be
           no
           infallible
           restraint
           on
           vice
           ;
           but
           that
           the
           Church
           wants
           a
           main
           and
           necessary
           complement
           ,
           without
           which
           she
           cannot
           be
           perfect
           ,
           and
           well
           secured
           ;
           and
           you
           know
           St.
           
             Paul
          
           reckons
           
           Heresies
           among
           the
           works
           of
           the
           Flesh.
           Now
           what
           reason
           is
           it
           ,
           that
           of
           all
           the
           works
           of
           the
           flesh
           ,
           provision
           should
           only
           be
           against
           Heresie
           ?
           Therefore
           I
           freely
           acknowledge
           ,
           that
           as
           God
           has
           left
           the
           Will
           at
           liberty
           ,
           that
           so
           the
           glory
           of
           his
           Saints
           might
           be
           the
           greater
           ,
           serving
           him
           not
           by
           constraint
           ,
           but
           willingly
           ;
           so
           he
           hath
           also
           left
           our
           Reasons
           free
           to
           judge
           of
           things
           proposed
           to
           us
           ,
           whether
           they
           be
           true
           or
           false
           .
           Nor
           indeed
           can
           we
           believe
           but
           as
           our
           Reasons
           are
           convinced
           ,
           for
           we
           cannot
           put
           a
           force
           on
           our
           perswasion
           .
           And
           since
           our
           Saviour
           told
           us
           it
           was
           impossible
           but
           that
           Offences
           must
           come
           ,
           so
           I
           allow
           it
           impossible
           but
           that
           Errors
           should
           come
           for
           the
           greater
           trial
           of
           sound
           and
           true
           Believers
           .
           And
           I
           must
           add
           ,
           that
           Religion
           consists
           in
           a
           few
           plain
           things
           ,
           in
           which
           if
           a
           man
           bring
           along
           with
           him
           a
           sincere
           and
           pure
           mind
           ,
           he
           is
           sure
           not
           to
           err
           mortally
           .
           He
           may
           be
           mistaken
           in
           some
           particular
           opinions
           ,
           which
           though
           they
           pass
           for
           matters
           of
           Religion
           ,
           yet
           are
           as
           extrinsick
           to
           it
           as
           the
           various
           Hypatheses
           in
           Philosophy
           are
           .
           I
           acknowledge
           every
           body
           ought
           to
           have
           that
           humble
           mistrust
           of
           themselves
           ,
           and
           reverence
           to
           the
           Church
           wherein
           they
           were
           born
           ,
           as
           not
           to
           be
           easily
           engaged
           in
           new
           opinions
           ,
           and
           ought
           to
           be
           very
           well
           assured
           both
           of
           the
           truth
           and
           importance
           of
           any
           new
           Doctrine
           ,
           before
           they
           receive
           it
           ;
           and
           much
           more
           before
           they
           broach
           and
           vent
           it
           ,
           to
           the
           disturbance
           of
           the
           peace
           of
           the
           Society
           they
           live
           in
           .
           And
           who
           so
           without
           a
           very
           clear
           assurance
           ,
           after
           the
           diligent
           application
           of
           his
           thoughts
           ,
           having
           purified
           his
           mind
           in
           the
           exercise
           of
           mortification
           and
           self
           denial
           ,
           doth
           obtrude
           new
           Doctrines
           on
           the
           World
           is
           highly
           guilty
           in
           the
           sight
           of
           God
           ,
           for
           renting
           the
           body
           ,
           and
           breaking
           the
           unity
           of
           the
           Church
           :
           But
           if
           one
           after
           a
           severe
           inquiry
           ,
           and
           
           all
           due
           preparation
           be
           clearly
           convinced
           of
           any
           truth
           ,
           how
           generally
           soever
           it
           be
           either
           unknown
           ,
           or
           derived
           ,
           he
           may
           ,
           nay
           ,
           cannot
           chuse
           but
           must
           believe
           it
           .
           But
           though
           this
           assurance
           may
           warrant
           his
           private
           departing
           from
           the
           received
           opinion
           ,
           yet
           his
           assurance
           must
           be
           full
           ,
           and
           his
           Call
           clear
           before
           he
           offer
           his
           opinion
           to
           others
           .
           But
           in
           that
           case
           I
           acknowledge
           the
           Guides
           of
           the
           Church
           may
           ,
           and
           ought
           to
           consider
           such
           opinions
           ,
           and
           pass
           a
           Censure
           on
           them
           according
           to
           the
           Scriptures
           ;
           which
           (
           flowing
           from
           persons
           whose
           Character
           makes
           them
           both
           more
           particularly
           devoted
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           more
           conversant
           in
           Sacred
           Writings
           ;
           and
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           to
           be
           supposed
           ,
           are
           by
           the
           purity
           of
           their
           minds
           qualified
           for
           a
           higher
           sense
           of
           divine
           truth
           ,
           and
           by
           their
           exemplary
           lives
           are
           possessed
           of
           the
           esteem
           of
           those
           over
           whom
           they
           are
           set
           )
           will
           undoubtedly
           have
           great
           influence
           on
           all
           serious
           and
           sober
           persons
           ,
           yet
           such
           as
           are
           convinced
           that
           their
           decisions
           are
           contrary
           to
           the
           Scriptures
           must
           still
           believe
           God
           rather
           than
           man.
           But
           in
           that
           case
           the
           Magistrate
           may
           secure
           the
           peace
           of
           the
           Society
           ,
           by
           obliging
           them
           either
           to
           rest
           quiet
           with
           their
           Opinions
           ,
           or
           to
           go
           out
           of
           his
           Dominions
           .
           The
           Church
           may
           also
           by
           excommunicating
           them
           preserve
           others
           from
           being
           infected
           by
           their
           misperswasions
           .
           And
           thus
           ,
           except
           you
           give
           me
           better
           proof
           ,
           I
           am
           not
           convinced
           there
           is
           a
           necessity
           of
           any
           
             Infallible
             Iudge
          
           for
           deciding
           Controversies
           ;
           and
           neither
           for
           the
           salvation
           of
           souls
           ,
           nor
           for
           the
           peace
           of
           the
           Society
           of
           Christians
           .
           Not
           for
           the
           first
           ,
           since
           no
           Proposition
           is
           clearer
           than
           this
           ,
           That
           every
           Christian
           who
           studies
           to
           be
           well
           informed
           in
           divine
           matters
           ,
           and
           sincerely
           follows
           his
           Conscience
           ,
           shall
           certainly
           be
           saved
           .
           Nor
           is
           this
           
             Infallible
             Iudge
          
           necessary
           for
           the
           
           Society
           since
           those
           who
           have
           the
           Legislative
           Power
           ,
           whether
           Civil
           ,
           or
           Ecclesiastick
           ,
           may
           govern
           a
           Society
           well
           though
           they
           be
           not
           Infallible
           ,
           so
           that
           the
           Church
           may
           have
           an
           Authority
           ,
           though
           not
           infallible
           ,
           and
           yet
           sufficient
           to
           secure
           her
           peace
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           My
           second
           Question
           shall
           be
           ,
           
             Whether
             there
             be
             really
             such
             an
             Infallible
             Iudge
             on
             Earth
             ?
          
           For
           though
           this
           be
           not
           necessary
           ,
           yet
           I
           shall
           not
           deny
           but
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           according
           to
           that
           overflowing
           love
           he
           bears
           his
           Church
           ,
           may
           have
           provided
           Her
           with
           this
           security
           against
           Error
           .
           But
           herein
           I
           must
           crave
           your
           pardon
           to
           tell
           you
           ,
           I
           am
           very
           apt
           to
           think
           there
           is
           no
           such
           Court
           on
           Earth
           ,
           for
           in
           all
           extraordinary
           things
           ,
           to
           which
           our
           assent
           is
           craved
           ,
           the
           means
           of
           conveying
           ,
           or
           rather
           imposing
           ,
           such
           belief
           (
           since
           no
           man
           of
           a
           strong
           mind
           will
           easily
           credit
           an
           extraordinary
           thing
           ,
           especially
           that
           which
           subjects
           to
           it
           the
           very
           freedom
           of
           his
           thoughts
           )
           must
           have
           an
           Evidence
           and
           Authority
           proportioned
           to
           the
           Greatness
           and
           Importance
           of
           that
           they
           recommend
           to
           our
           Faith.
           And
           therefore
           when
           God
           sent
           
             Moses
          
           to
           deliver
           his
           People
           ,
           and
           be
           their
           Guide
           ,
           he
           gave
           him
           a
           power
           of
           working
           such
           mighty
           Works
           ,
           which
           ,
           being
           done
           in
           the
           sight
           of
           both
           
             Egyptians
          
           and
           
             Israelites
             ,
          
           might
           convince
           both
           one
           and
           t'other
           that
           there
           was
           an
           extraordinary
           Authority
           communicated
           to
           him
           ,
           he
           also
           told
           the
           
             Israelites
          
           to
           demand
           a
           Sign
           or
           Wonder
           from
           every
           pretender
           to
           Prophesie
           ,
           or
           Divine
           Mission
           ;
           And
           because
           the
           power
           of
           evil
           Spirits
           is
           undoubtedly
           far
           beyond
           ours
           ;
           so
           that
           many
           extraordinary
           things
           may
           be
           performed
           by
           Magick
           and
           evil
           Arts
           ,
           therefore
           
             Moses
          
           (
           
             Deut.
          
           xiii
           .
           )
           allows
           even
           the
           People
           of
           
             Israel
          
           a
           previous
           judgment
           of
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           any
           Pretender
           to
           Prophesie
           ,
           before
           they
           acknowledged
           his
           Authority
           ,
           
           or
           were
           wrought
           on
           by
           his
           Sign
           or
           Wonder
           .
           We
           find
           also
           the
           Prophets
           ,
           either
           by
           Miracles
           or
           Predictions
           ,
           proving
           their
           Divine
           Authority
           .
           And
           though
           the
           History
           of
           all
           the
           Prophets
           is
           not
           so
           full
           ,
           as
           to
           give
           us
           an
           account
           of
           the
           Signs
           or
           Wonders
           of
           each
           of
           them
           ,
           yet
           we
           have
           no
           reason
           to
           doubt
           but
           they
           did
           follow
           the
           Rule
           prescribed
           by
           
             Moses
             ,
          
           which
           indeed
           natural
           Religion
           teacheth
           all
           men
           .
           Therefore
           when
           our
           Saviour
           appeared
           ,
           as
           he
           proved
           himself
           the
           
             Messias
             ,
          
           by
           the
           completion
           of
           the
           Prophesies
           in
           his
           Person
           ,
           he
           made
           it
           also
           appear
           by
           the
           purity
           of
           his
           Doctrine
           ,
           and
           the
           Authority
           of
           his
           Miracles
           ,
           wrought
           in
           the
           sight
           of
           his
           Enemies
           as
           well
           as
           Followers
           .
           The
           same
           Method
           was
           observed
           by
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           as
           appeared
           from
           their
           Acts
           and
           Epistles
           .
           And
           it
           is
           certain
           that
           as
           no
           man
           can
           be
           witness
           in
           his
           own
           cause
           ,
           so
           no
           mans
           ,
           or
           company
           of
           mens
           pretence
           to
           an
           infallible
           Jurisdiction
           ,
           must
           engage
           me
           to
           believe
           it
           ,
           otherwise
           there
           were
           no
           end
           of
           Impostors
           .
           Therefore
           I
           must
           conclude
           ,
           That
           except
           you
           can
           shew
           me
           a
           Succession
           of
           men
           who
           ,
           by
           some
           clear
           demonstrations
           of
           an
           unerring
           Spirit
           and
           divine
           Authority
           ,
           prove
           themselves
           Infallibly
           directed
           ,
           and
           uncontroulably
           assisted
           by
           God
           ,
           I
           am
           not
           obliged
           to
           submit
           my self
           to
           any
           as
           such
           .
           Nor
           is
           it
           to
           any
           good
           purpose
           to
           say
           ,
           That
           because
           there
           was
           a
           Succession
           of
           High
           Priests
           under
           
             Moses
          
           Law
           ,
           who
           ,
           by
           the
           Oracle
           in
           the
           Pectoral
           ,
           did
           authoritatively
           decide
           all
           Controversies
           ,
           therefore
           we
           may
           be
           well
           assured
           that
           under
           the
           clearer
           illumination
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           we
           are
           not
           left
           to
           the
           uncertainties
           of
           our
           own
           conjectures
           .
           But
           there
           must
           be
           a
           great
           High
           Priest
           of
           Christendom
           for
           judging
           all
           Controversies
           .
           But
           if
           this
           be
           well
           considered
           it
           will
           not
           advance
           your
           pretences
           a
           whit
           ;
           for
           the
           Jews
           were
           
           in
           all
           their
           Political
           Affairs
           ,
           in
           their
           Commerce
           and
           Treaties
           with
           Foreiners
           ,
           in
           their
           Government
           at
           home
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           matters
           of
           Peace
           and
           War
           ,
           to
           be
           determined
           by
           the
           Judiciary
           Laws
           
             Moses
          
           gave
           them
           ;
           and
           as
           they
           enjoyed
           the
           Land
           of
           
             Canaan
          
           by
           that
           Law
           ,
           which
           was
           then
           
             Magna
             Charta
             ,
          
           so
           they
           were
           in
           all
           Civil
           matters
           to
           be
           judged
           by
           the
           Law
           of
           
             Moses
             .
          
           Now
           since
           no
           Law
           can
           give
           provisions
           for
           all
           emergents
           ,
           there
           was
           a
           necessity
           of
           a
           constant
           Exposition
           of
           that
           Law
           in
           all
           dubious
           cases
           .
           And
           therefore
           God
           was
           pleased
           to
           continue
           this
           among
           them
           by
           the
           
             Urim
          
           and
           
             Thummim
             .
          
           Their
           Worship
           was
           also
           made
           up
           of
           a
           multitude
           of
           particular
           Rites
           ,
           and
           many
           cases
           occurring
           in
           these
           of
           great
           intricacy
           ,
           God
           continued
           that
           extraordinary
           Presence
           among
           them
           .
           But
           nothing
           of
           this
           was
           necessary
           under
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           in
           which
           the
           policy
           of
           the
           several
           States
           is
           left
           to
           be
           determined
           according
           to
           the
           Laws
           of
           Nature
           ,
           and
           the
           several
           Humors
           ,
           Customs
           and
           Interests
           of
           Nations
           .
           Our
           Belief
           is
           also
           plain
           ,
           and
           our
           Worship
           simple
           ,
           so
           that
           none
           of
           these
           things
           remain
           that
           made
           an
           Infallible
           decision
           necessary
           under
           the
           Old
           Testament
           .
           And
           besides
           ,
           the
           mysteriousness
           of
           the
           Communication
           ,
           and
           the
           plain
           express
           words
           of
           the
           Institution
           ,
           do
           shew
           the
           difference
           betwixt
           that
           ,
           and
           any
           thing
           can
           be
           pretended
           to
           under
           this
           new
           and
           more
           perfect
           dispensation
           .
           
             Moses
          
           plainly
           told
           them
           what
           that
           series
           of
           men
           should
           be
           ,
           and
           of
           whom
           descended
           ;
           he
           also
           declared
           how
           they
           were
           to
           inquire
           Counsel
           from
           God
           ,
           and
           how
           all
           must
           submit
           to
           their
           Sentence
           .
           Nor
           was
           the
           High
           Priest
           by
           his
           Character
           vested
           with
           this
           Authority
           ,
           but
           when
           he
           put
           on
           the
           Ephod
           ,
           and
           went
           in
           before
           the
           cloud
           of
           glory
           ,
           and
           brought
           back
           the
           sacred
           response
           .
           Now
           the
           exactness
           
             Moses
          
           observed
           in
           delivering
           ,
           
           that
           seems
           convincing
           ,
           that
           when
           God
           intended
           to
           bring
           any
           part
           of
           mankind
           under
           that
           subjection
           ,
           he
           delivered
           his
           Commission
           to
           these
           so
           impowred
           ,
           in
           so
           formal
           and
           solemn
           a
           manner
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           not
           to
           be
           disputed
           but
           by
           one
           that
           rejected
           the
           Law
           of
           
             Moses
             .
          
           From
           which
           I
           presume
           I
           may
           infer
           ,
           That
           if
           God
           had
           set
           up
           such
           Anthority
           in
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           the
           Institution
           had
           been
           express
           ,
           the
           persons
           clearly
           designed
           their
           Succession
           as
           plainly
           pointed
           out
           ,
           to
           have
           put
           so
           great
           a
           matter
           beyond
           dispute
           .
           So
           that
           the
           manner
           of
           the
           divine
           emanations
           of
           unerring
           direction
           had
           been
           as
           clear
           as
           it
           was
           of
           old
           .
           Now
           since
           I
           meet
           nothing
           of
           this
           in
           the
           whole
           New
           Testament
           ,
           I
           see
           no
           reason
           to
           make
           me
           believe
           it
           is
           as
           you
           pretend
           :
           For
           what
           you
           infer
           from
           our
           Saviours
           words
           to
           St.
           
             Peter
          
           from
           his
           saying
           ,
           
             Tell
             the
             Church
             ,
          
           and
           from
           his
           promises
           of
           the
           
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
          
           will
           never
           conclude
           that
           you
           pretend
           to
           :
           For
           before
           you
           can
           oblige
           me
           to
           believe
           any
           thing
           from
           these
           Premises
           ,
           you
           must
           allow
           me
           to
           acknowledge
           the
           sacredness
           of
           the
           Books
           wherein
           these
           words
           are
           ,
           so
           that
           my
           belief
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           shall
           not
           depend
           on
           the
           decision
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           but
           shall
           rather
           lead
           me
           to
           acknowledge
           its
           Authority
           .
           You
           must
           also
           allow
           me
           to
           believe
           these
           Scriptures
           are
           to
           be
           so
           expounded
           ,
           before
           I
           own
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Church
           to
           be
           absolute
           ;
           since
           from
           them
           you
           bind
           me
           to
           believe
           it
           .
           Therefore
           I
           must
           expound
           them
           so
           as
           may
           agree
           best
           both
           with
           the
           plain
           literal
           sense
           of
           the
           words
           ,
           and
           the
           design
           on
           which
           they
           are
           set
           down
           ,
           by
           all
           which
           you
           allow
           me
           the
           Exposition
           of
           Scripture
           .
           Now
           if
           I
           may
           expound
           it
           in
           some
           places
           ,
           why
           not
           in
           all
           that
           is
           indispensably
           necessary
           to
           salvation
           ?
           And
           your
           Churches
           claiming
           that
           Authority
           to
           her self
           must
           not
           oblige
           me
           
           to
           believe
           it
           a
           whit
           the
           more
           ,
           unless
           by
           some
           other
           cogent
           reasons
           I
           be
           bound
           to
           it
           :
           for
           none
           must
           be
           both
           Judg
           and
           Party
           ,
           and
           no
           mans
           assertion
           must
           pass
           for
           proof
           in
           his
           own
           case
           ;
           and
           yet
           the
           very
           places
           you
           alledg
           come
           far
           short
           of
           what
           seems
           requisite
           on
           such
           an
           occasion
           :
           for
           whatever
           may
           be
           said
           of
           St.
           
             Peter
             ,
          
           which
           I
           shall
           not
           now
           inquire
           into
           ,
           where
           have
           we
           any
           formal
           account
           who
           shall
           be
           his
           Successors
           ,
           what
           shall
           be
           necessary
           to
           make
           any
           such
           ,
           and
           by
           what
           means
           they
           shall
           come
           by
           these
           infallible
           directions
           .
           And
           indeed
           I
           can
           see
           no
           reason
           to
           think
           that
           had
           there
           been
           such
           an
           Institution
           in
           the
           Gosspel
           ,
           the
           same
           goodness
           which
           moved
           our
           blessed
           Saviour
           to
           provide
           so
           well
           for
           his
           Church
           ,
           should
           not
           likewise
           have
           drawn
           from
           him
           such
           an
           explicit
           account
           of
           it
           in
           all
           circumstances
           ,
           as
           was
           necessary
           for
           setting
           the
           thing
           beyond
           dispute
           ,
           and
           securing
           any
           such
           Court
           in
           their
           Authority
           by
           an
           express
           constitution
           of
           it
           in
           its
           Members
           ,
           and
           a
           Declaration
           of
           their
           power
           ,
           such
           as
           
             Moses
          
           gave
           the
           People
           of
           Israel
           in
           the
           obedience
           due
           to
           the
           responses
           of
           
             Urim
          
           and
           
             Thummim
             .
          
        
         
           3.
           
           My
           third
           Question
           shall
           be
           ,
           supposing
           an
           Infallible
           Church
           ,
           
             How
             shall
             I
             be
             directed
             in
             my
             search
             for
             it
             ,
             so
             as
             to
             find
             it
             out
             ?
          
           For
           the
           several
           Societies
           that
           name
           the
           name
           of
           Christ
           ,
           being
           so
           broken
           off
           from
           one
           another
           ,
           to
           which
           of
           all
           these
           must
           I
           address
           my self
           for
           a
           decision
           in
           all
           Articles
           of
           Faith
           ?
           When
           I
           consider
           the
           beginings
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           that
           it
           first
           arose
           in
           
             Ierusalem
             ,
          
           and
           did
           spread
           most
           in
           the
           East
           :
           when
           I
           also
           consider
           that
           the
           Eastern
           Churches
           had
           most
           Confessors
           and
           Martyrs
           in
           the
           Ages
           of
           persecution
           ;
           
           and
           had
           also
           the
           greatest
           interest
           in
           the
           four
           first
           and
           best
           General
           Councils
           ,
           as
           appears
           from
           the
           Subscriptions
           ,
           where
           the
           Western
           Bishops
           were
           scarce
           the
           twentieth
           part
           .
           When
           I
           add
           to
           this
           how
           undisputed
           their
           Succession
           is
           ,
           and
           how
           long
           they
           have
           kept
           the
           prosession
           of
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           ,
           amidst
           all
           the
           severities
           and
           cruelties
           of
           the
           Saracens
           and
           Mahometans
           ,
           under
           whose
           bondage
           they
           continue
           to
           this
           day
           ,
           I
           am
           tempted
           to
           seek
           this
           Judge
           there
           :
           but
           when
           I
           see
           in
           what
           ignorance
           they
           live
           ,
           and
           how
           the
           pressures
           they
           groan
           under
           ,
           though
           they
           have
           not
           prevailed
           on
           them
           to
           renounce
           the
           name
           of
           Christ
           ,
           yet
           have
           brought
           them
           to
           a
           degenerate
           means
           ,
           which
           I
           love
           not
           to
           dwell
           on
           ,
           nor
           aggravate
           ,
           since
           the
           circumstances
           they
           are
           in
           plead
           pity
           rather
           than
           scorn
           or
           disdain
           ;
           I
           am
           forced
           to
           turn
           away
           from
           them
           :
           but
           if
           I
           look
           Western
           ,
           I
           see
           a
           Church
           triumphing
           indeed
           in
           outward
           splendor
           ,
           their
           Worship
           is
           solemn
           and
           magnificent
           ,
           their
           Priest
           in
           great
           esteem
           ,
           and
           their
           High
           Priest
           culminates
           in
           Glory
           and
           Power
           ;
           but
           after
           all
           this
           I
           cannot
           see
           what
           must
           oblige
           me
           to
           an
           implicit
           belief
           to
           every
           thing
           this
           Church
           imposes
           on
           me
           ,
           since
           the
           Piety
           to
           which
           she
           pretends
           ,
           is
           either
           immured
           in
           her
           Cloysters
           ,
           or
           appears
           only
           in
           faces
           and
           outward
           postures
           of
           devotion
           :
           but
           after
           my
           most
           impartial
           inquiries
           ,
           I
           can
           see
           no
           reason
           to
           esteem
           the
           Head
           of
           this
           Church
           a
           Saint
           ,
           or
           such
           a
           Clerk
           ,
           that
           I
           must
           adore
           his
           person
           ,
           and
           submit
           to
           his
           Decrees
           .
           And
           if
           there
           be
           not
           some
           strange
           charm
           in
           his
           Chair
           ,
           I
           cannot
           force
           on
           my self
           a
           belief
           of
           his
           being
           inspired
           .
           How
           then
           I
           must
           be
           directed
           to
           find
           this
           infallible
           Umpire
           of
           all
           differences
           ?
           If
           you
           
           send
           me
           to
           a
           Succession
           ,
           you
           give
           me
           a
           hard
           task
           to
           labour
           in
           ,
           and
           when
           I
           have
           found
           it
           ,
           it
           is
           no
           more
           but
           what
           all
           must
           allow
           to
           be
           in
           the
           
             Greek
          
           Church
           .
           And
           I
           cannot
           see
           any
           thing
           in
           the
           Scriptures
           of
           the
           Bishops
           of
           
             Rome
             :
          
           so
           I
           am
           at
           a
           loss
           for
           want
           of
           some
           good
           directions
           and
           clear
           characters
           of
           this
           
             Infallible
             Iudge
             .
          
        
         
           4.
           
           My
           fourth
           question
           is
           ,
           
             In
             what
             person
             or
             persons
             of
             the
          
           Roman
           Church
           
             this
          
           Infallibility
           
             doth
             rest
             ?
          
           If
           you
           tell
           me
           in
           a
           Council
           ,
           then
           I
           must
           ask
           you
           ,
           Where
           this
           Council
           is
           to
           be
           found
           ?
           for
           all
           your
           arguments
           perswade
           the
           necessity
           of
           a
           living
           speaking
           Judg
           ;
           therefore
           I
           would
           gladly
           be
           satisfied
           in
           what
           City
           or
           corner
           of
           the
           World
           this
           Council
           sits
           ;
           for
           if
           you
           send
           me
           to
           the
           Decrees
           of
           the
           Councils
           ,
           this
           overthrows
           all
           your
           own
           grounds
           ,
           from
           which
           you
           plead
           against
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           ;
           and
           if
           I
           go
           to
           any
           Writings
           ,
           why
           not
           to
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           rather
           than
           the
           Decrees
           of
           Councils
           :
           for
           every
           one
           that
           has
           compared
           them
           will
           find
           a
           plain
           simplicity
           in
           the
           one
           ,
           and
           much
           of
           the
           subtlety
           of
           Metaphysicks
           ,
           and
           the
           nicety
           of
           School
           terms
           in
           the
           other
           .
        
         
           5.
           
           My
           fifth
           Question
           is
           ,
           
             What
             grounds
             there
             are
             for
             believing
             this
             supposed
             Infallibility
             ,
             tied
             to
             the
             collective
             Body
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             and
             that
             it
             is
             not
             rather
             spread
             over
             the
             whole
             diffusive
             Body
             of
             the
             Christian
             World
             ?
          
           For
           if
           the
           Church
           be
           only
           infallible
           when
           gathered
           in
           a
           Council
           ,
           then
           as
           there
           was
           no
           Infallibility
           in
           the
           Church
           for
           three
           Ages
           ,
           so
           it
           was
           afterwards
           subject
           to
           the
           pleasure
           of
           the
           Emperors
           ,
           who
           called
           Councils
           when
           they
           would
           ,
           and
           is
           now
           wholly
           in
           the
           Popes
           hands
           :
           And
           as
           it
           was
           in
           the
           power
           of
           the
           Emperor
           ,
           so
           it
           is
           
           now
           in
           the
           Popes
           ,
           to
           suppress
           this
           infallible
           Authority
           ,
           which
           is
           thus
           subject
           to
           outward
           accidents
           ;
           and
           must
           live
           or
           die
           at
           the
           pleasure
           of
           the
           Popes
           and
           Emperors
           .
           And
           indeed
           the
           Popes
           have
           taken
           up
           such
           jealousies
           of
           general
           Councils
           ,
           that
           the
           World
           is
           not
           like
           to
           be
           troubled
           with
           more
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           6.
           
           
             If
             this
             Infallibility
             be
             spread
             among
             all
             Christians
             ,
             I
             am
             not
             a
             whit
             nearer
             the
             resolution
             I
             desire
             ;
             for
             when
             they
             differ
             in
             so
             many
             opinions
             ,
             how
             shall
             I
             know
             which
             of
             them
             are
             in
             the
             right
             ?
             must
             I
             travel
             all
             the
             Christian
             World
             over
             to
             examine
             of
             which
             side
             the
             greatest
             number
             is
             ?
          
           This
           is
           our
           endless
           labour
           ,
           therefore
           I
           must
           have
           a
           shorter
           way
           to
           work
           .
        
         
           7.
           
           
             Who
             of
             all
             the
             Societies
             of
             Christians
             must
             have
             the
             interest
             to
             meet
             and
             give
             vote
             in
             a
             Council
             ?
             must
             all
             the
             Lays
             be
             excluded
             ,
             and
             only
             the
             Clergy
             be
             admitted
             ?
          
           I
           must
           tell
           you
           I
           see
           no
           reason
           for
           throwing
           out
           the
           Laity
           .
           You
           know
           the
           Epistles
           wherein
           St.
           
             Paul
          
           gives
           the
           Rules
           for
           the
           Order
           and
           Government
           of
           the
           Churches
           ,
           are
           directed
           to
           all
           the
           Saints
           and
           faithful
           in
           the
           Churches
           :
           by
           which
           it
           seems
           they
           were
           to
           have
           an
           interest
           in
           the
           Government
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           their
           Pastors
           .
           We
           are
           sure
           among
           the
           Jews
           the
           Sanhedrim
           that
           judged
           in
           all
           things
           Civil
           and
           Ecclesiastical
           ,
           was
           not
           only
           made
           up
           of
           Priests
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           High-Priest
           himself
           was
           no
           Member
           of
           it
           by
           his
           Office
           ,
           unless
           he
           were
           chosen
           to
           be
           of
           the
           number
           :
           nor
           can
           I
           find
           any
           thing
           in
           the
           New
           Testament
           ,
           that
           excludes
           the
           Laity
           .
           On
           the
           contrary
           ,
           the
           Promises
           of
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           are
           made
           to
           all
           that
           believe
           without
           exception
           ,
           and
           all
           Christians
           are
           called
           a
           Royal
           Priesthood
           :
           and
           in
           the
           first
           Council
           at
           
             Ierusalem
             ,
          
           the
           Brethren
           concur'd
           in
           the
           
           Decision
           and
           Synodal
           Epistle
           ,
           with
           the
           Apostles
           and
           Elders
           .
        
         
           8.
           
           Supposing
           none
           but
           these
           in
           Orders
           be
           admitted
           to
           a
           General
           Council
           ,
           then
           what
           interest
           must
           they
           have
           there
           ,
           shall
           all
           be
           alike
           ,
           or
           must
           the
           Bishops
           only
           have
           a
           Suffrage
           ?
           You
           must
           give
           good
           authority
           for
           this
           before
           all
           must
           submit
           to
           it
           .
           It
           is
           not
           determined
           in
           Scriptures
           ,
           in
           the
           Council
           of
           
             Ierusalem
          
           the
           Presbyters
           had
           a
           Suffrage
           ;
           so
           it
           continued
           in
           the
           first
           Ages
           of
           the
           Church
           .
           We
           find
           the
           Presbyters
           subscribing
           in
           many
           Provincial
           and
           National
           Councils
           :
           Why
           must
           they
           be
           allowed
           there
           ,
           and
           excluded
           in
           a
           General
           Council
           ,
           it
           being
           only
           an
           Assembly
           of
           all
           National
           Councils
           ?
           But
           if
           Bishops
           only
           must
           vote
           in
           Councils
           ,
           by
           what
           warrant
           do
           Cardinals
           as
           such
           vote
           in
           your
           General
           Councils
           ,
           since
           as
           Cardinals
           they
           are
           only
           the
           Presbyters
           and
           Deacons
           of
           
             Rome
             .
          
           Abbots
           also
           ,
           though
           but
           Priests
           ,
           get
           a
           Vote
           in
           the
           Western
           Councils
           :
           for
           as
           Abbots
           they
           cannot
           pretend
           to
           a
           Divine
           Character
           or
           institution
           ,
           and
           if
           as
           Priests
           they
           vote
           in
           your
           Councils
           ,
           why
           are
           not
           all
           Priests
           allowed
           the
           same
           privilege
           .
        
         
           9.
           
           How
           shall
           I
           be
           assured
           a
           Council
           thus
           constituted
           is
           infallible
           ,
           especially
           if
           I
           see
           or
           be
           told
           by
           the
           Historians
           of
           both
           sides
           ,
           that
           all
           things
           are
           managed
           in
           this
           Council
           by
           factious
           Parties
           and
           intrigues
           ?
           each
           Party
           studying
           to
           wait
           opportunities
           when
           they
           may
           carry
           a
           Vote
           ,
           and
           bringing
           all
           of
           their
           faction
           to
           the
           Council
           .
           This
           was
           plainly
           the
           case
           at
           
             Trent
             ,
          
           as
           even
           
             Pallavicini
          
           represents
           it
           .
           And
           you
           will
           hardly
           prevail
           on
           any
           who
           has
           considered
           a
           little
           what
           the
           direction
           of
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           is
           ,
           to
           make
           him
           believe
           
           that
           in
           a
           packt
           Meeting
           ,
           where
           all
           is
           full
           of
           cunning
           and
           design
           ,
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           must
           be
           ever
           ready
           to
           direct
           them
           when
           they
           go
           to
           the
           Vote
           ,
           and
           that
           this
           shall
           only
           be
           when
           the
           Bishops
           are
           in
           their
           Formalities
           at
           a
           Session
           ,
           and
           not
           in
           a
           Congregation
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           Council
           resolved
           in
           a
           Grand
           Committee
           .
           I
           know
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           our
           House
           of
           Commons
           understands
           this
           distinction
           ;
           but
           what
           grounds
           have
           you
           to
           pretend
           to
           it
           ,
           where
           all
           are
           acted
           by
           an
           infallible
           direction
           .
        
         
           10.
           
           
             Whether
             must
             the
             whole
             Council
             agree
             in
             a
             Decision
             ,
             or
             the
             major
             part
             determine
             ?
          
           I
           know
           you
           choose
           the
           latter
           ;
           but
           it
           is
           not
           easie
           to
           make
           any
           body
           hope
           that
           the
           greater
           part
           of
           any
           Assembly
           must
           be
           the
           better
           and
           wiser
           part
           ,
           since
           we
           see
           it
           is
           most
           commonly
           otherwise
           .
           I
           know
           this
           must
           be
           the
           rule
           in
           a
           Court
           ,
           that
           determines
           any
           thing
           by
           equal
           Suffrages
           ;
           but
           if
           a
           Jury
           must
           all
           agree
           in
           the
           disposal
           of
           my
           life
           ,
           it
           were
           but
           reason
           that
           all
           should
           also
           agree
           in
           the
           determining
           my
           faith
           ,
           which
           upon
           the
           matter
           is
           the
           disposal
           of
           my
           soul.
           And
           I
           know
           no
           reason
           to
           believe
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           will
           certainly
           assist
           the
           major
           part
           more
           than
           that
           he
           will
           assist
           every
           person
           that
           is
           allowed
           a
           Suffrage
           in
           the
           Council
           .
        
         
           11.
           
           How
           shall
           I
           know
           what
           is
           a
           General
           Council
           ,
           what
           not
           ?
           for
           I
           find
           great
           numbers
           of
           Bishops
           have
           run
           together
           ,
           and
           flatly
           contradicted
           one
           another
           .
           The
           
             Nicene
          
           Council
           decreed
           ,
           the
           Son
           was
           of
           the
           same
           substance
           with
           the
           Father
           :
           this
           was
           rejected
           by
           many
           other
           Councils
           ,
           some
           decreeing
           he
           was
           of
           a
           like
           substance
           with
           the
           Father
           ,
           others
           that
           he
           was
           of
           a
           different
           substance
           from
           the
           Father
           ;
           how
           shall
           I
           
           know
           to
           which
           of
           these
           Decisions
           I
           must
           submit
           my self
           .
           The
           Histories
           give
           account
           of
           these
           Councils
           as
           called
           by
           the
           same
           Authority
           ,
           for
           all
           were
           summoned
           by
           the
           Emperors
           Writ
           ,
           all
           are
           represented
           to
           have
           been
           General
           Councils
           ,
           and
           we
           are
           told
           of
           a
           greater
           appearance
           of
           Bishops
           in
           some
           of
           them
           than
           were
           at
           
             Nice
             :
          
           which
           of
           these
           must
           therefore
           determin
           my
           faith
           ?
        
         
           12.
           
           What
           reason
           have
           I
           to
           believe
           any
           Council
           is
           general
           ,
           from
           which
           all
           the
           
             Greek
          
           and
           
             Eastern
          
           Bishops
           are
           excluded
           upon
           so
           slight
           a
           pretence
           ,
           as
           that
           they
           believe
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           proceeds
           from
           the
           Father
           by
           the
           Son
           ,
           and
           not
           from
           the
           Father
           and
           the
           Son
           ,
           and
           that
           in
           their
           rooms
           then
           are
           substituted
           a
           great
           many
           mock
           Bishops
           ,
           who
           are
           neither
           Canonically
           elected
           for
           these
           places
           ,
           nor
           perform
           any
           part
           of
           the
           Pastoral
           charge
           in
           their
           pretended
           Diocesses
           ,
           but
           are
           onely
           named
           by
           the
           Popes
           ,
           and
           brought
           to
           Councils
           to
           make
           so
           many
           Votes
           ?
        
         
           13.
           
           Suppose
           the
           Pope
           give
           out
           a
           general
           summons
           for
           all
           Bishops
           ,
           can
           this
           be
           more
           than
           a
           Meeting
           of
           all
           within
           his
           Patriarchate
           ?
           for
           on
           what
           grounds
           can
           he
           pretend
           a
           right
           to
           summon
           his
           fellow
           Patriarchs
           ,
           who
           by
           the
           Councils
           of
           
             Nice
             ,
             Constantinople
             ,
          
           and
           
             Chalcedon
          
           are
           declared
           equal
           to
           him
           :
           and
           therefore
           since
           the
           Emperors
           in
           the
           primitive
           times
           summoned
           their
           whole
           Empire
           to
           a
           General
           Council
           ,
           they
           did
           it
           by
           their
           own
           Authority
           ,
           as
           appears
           by
           all
           the
           Acts
           and
           Synodal
           Epistles
           of
           the
           first
           General
           Councils
           .
           What
           power
           then
           hath
           the
           Pope
           to
           call
           this
           great
           Meeting
           of
           the
           Church
           .
           And
           even
           these
           General
           Councils
           the
           Emperors
           called
           seem
           onely
           
           to
           have
           been
           the
           Councils
           of
           the
           
             Roman
          
           Empire
           ,
           called
           Oecumeneal
           ,
           as
           the
           
             Romans
          
           called
           their
           Empire
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           For
           the
           Christians
           of
           
             India
             ,
          
           and
           the
           more
           remote
           parts
           of
           
             Asia
          
           were
           called
           to
           none
           of
           these
           Councils
           ,
           nor
           could
           the
           Emperours
           Writ
           reach
           them
           .
        
         
           14.
           
           Suppose
           the
           Popes
           Writ
           goes
           over
           all
           Christendom
           ,
           must
           all
           the
           Bishops
           come
           to
           the
           Council
           or
           not
           ?
           Or
           what
           number
           is
           necessary
           ?
           If
           we
           examine
           the
           Subscriptions
           of
           the
           first
           Councils
           ,
           what
           ever
           reverence
           we
           justly
           have
           for
           their
           decisions
           ,
           we
           cannot
           call
           them
           Oecumenical
           ,
           since
           there
           were
           so
           few
           Bishops
           from
           the
           Western
           Churches
           in
           them
           .
           Nor
           do
           I
           see
           a
           reason
           to
           convince
           me
           that
           a
           whole
           Province
           or
           Nation
           can
           depute
           a
           few
           to
           represent
           them
           ;
           such
           Plenipotentiaries
           may
           do
           well
           in
           Political
           matters
           ,
           but
           in
           a
           Judicatory
           that
           pretends
           to
           Infallibility
           ,
           you
           must
           give
           me
           a
           good
           Warrant
           before
           I
           believe
           such
           a
           deputation
           can
           inspire
           one
           with
           more
           degrees
           of
           Infallibility
           .
           The
           Bishops
           of
           a
           
             Province
          
           can
           indeed
           send
           their
           decisions
           by
           any
           of
           their
           number
           ,
           but
           this
           is
           not
           the
           method
           of
           Councils
           ,
           where
           every
           Bishop
           hath
           but
           one
           suffrage
           ,
           though
           but
           one
           from
           a
           Nation
           ,
           though
           another
           Method
           was
           used
           at
           
             Basil.
          
           But
           in
           the
           case
           that
           a
           Prince
           is
           so
           dissatisfied
           with
           the
           Pope
           ,
           that
           he
           will
           suffer
           none
           of
           his
           Bishops
           to
           appear
           at
           the
           Council
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           in
           the
           Translation
           of
           the
           Council
           of
           
             Trent
          
           to
           
             Bologna
             ,
          
           to
           which
           the
           Emperour
           would
           suffer
           none
           of
           his
           Bishops
           to
           go
           ;
           and
           after
           that
           in
           the
           next
           Session
           at
           
             Trent
             ,
          
           to
           which
           the
           French
           King
           would
           permit
           none
           of
           his
           Bishops
           to
           go
           ;
           Whether
           can
           such
           a
           meeting
           be
           called
           a
           general
           Council
           ,
           or
           
           not
           ?
           No
           man
           can
           be
           obliged
           to
           that
           which
           is
           not
           in
           his
           power
           ,
           and
           he
           cannot
           forfeit
           his
           right
           because
           of
           a
           force
           on
           his
           Person
           :
           Nor
           can
           it
           be
           a
           free
           Council
           to
           which
           all
           have
           not
           free
           access
           .
           Those
           also
           who
           live
           at
           a
           great
           distance
           from
           the
           place
           where
           the
           Council
           sits
           ,
           and
           either
           through
           Infirmity
           ,
           or
           Poverty
           ,
           cannot
           perform
           the
           Journey
           ,
           are
           in
           a
           hard
           case
           :
           For
           that
           which
           is
           morally
           impossible
           cannot
           be
           overcome
           .
           If
           then
           the
           meeting
           must
           be
           of
           all
           the
           Bishops
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           see
           such
           a
           Constitution
           is
           practicable
           ,
           or
           how
           all
           the
           Bishops
           can
           be
           brought
           together
           .
           And
           if
           the
           Infallibility
           be
           spread
           among
           all
           ,
           no
           reason
           can
           perswade
           me
           that
           a
           packt
           Meeting
           can
           have
           the
           power
           of
           the
           whole
           because
           the
           Writ
           was
           general
           .
        
         
           15.
           
           The
           Bishops
           in
           their
           decisions
           either
           go
           upon
           immediate
           Inspiration
           ,
           or
           judge
           ,
           as
           men
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Premises
           laid
           before
           them
           .
           I
           know
           you
           do
           not
           pretend
           to
           the
           former
           ,
           but
           if
           you
           did
           ,
           I
           would
           ask
           you
           what
           grounds
           there
           were
           to
           believe
           this
           ?
           For
           if
           you
           gave
           any
           good
           ones
           I
           should
           submit
           to
           the
           suffrage
           of
           every
           single
           Bishop
           ,
           since
           every
           person
           Inspired
           must
           be
           Master
           of
           my
           belief
           .
           And
           why
           should
           this
           Inspiration
           rest
           on
           some
           ,
           and
           not
           on
           all
           ,
           since
           all
           bear
           the
           same
           Character
           ?
           But
           I
           insist
           no
           longer
           on
           this
           ,
           because
           I
           know
           you
           reject
           it
           .
           If
           then
           they
           judge
           as
           rational
           men
           from
           the
           reasons
           that
           are
           laid
           before
           them
           ,
           why
           may
           not
           other
           persons
           examine
           those
           Reasons
           as
           well
           as
           they
           ?
           If
           an
           Inspired
           person
           speak
           to
           me
           in
           the
           name
           of
           God
           ,
           I
           must
           submit
           to
           him
           ▪
           but
           if
           he
           speak
           not
           by
           Commandment
           ,
           but
           by
           permission
           ,
           then
           it
           is
           not
           the
           Lord
           ,
           but
           
           he
           that
           speaks
           :
           And
           though
           I
           owe
           great
           reverence
           to
           him
           ,
           as
           to
           one
           that
           has
           obtained
           grace
           to
           be
           faithful
           ,
           yet
           I
           may
           examine
           what
           he
           says
           in
           that
           stile
           .
           Therefore
           if
           they
           proceed
           according
           to
           the
           Rules
           of
           Discourse
           and
           Reason
           ,
           I
           presume
           I
           may
           make
           bold
           to
           examine
           both
           the
           truth
           of
           the
           Premises
           ,
           and
           the
           Conclusions
           they
           drew
           from
           them
           :
           Since
           as
           there
           can
           be
           no
           more
           strength
           in
           the
           Conclusion
           than
           was
           in
           the
           Premises
           ,
           so
           the
           light
           of
           Nature
           and
           Reason
           directs
           me
           to
           know
           what
           is
           a
           well
           deduced
           Conclusion
           .
        
         
           16.
           
           Whether
           can
           that
           be
           called
           a
           free
           Council
           where
           the
           Bishops
           have
           sworn
           obedience
           to
           the
           Bishops
           of
           
             Rome
             ,
          
           contrary
           to
           their
           Liberties
           ,
           and
           the
           Primitive
           practice
           ?
           In
           which
           time
           all
           the
           Bishops
           pretended
           an
           equality
           in
           their
           Character
           ,
           and
           called
           the
           Bishops
           of
           
             Rome
          
           their
           Colleagues
           ,
           their
           Brethren
           ,
           and
           fellow-Bishops
           ,
           and
           treated
           them
           as
           Equals
           in
           their
           freedom
           with
           them
           ,
           as
           appears
           from
           the
           Instances
           of
           
             Irenius
             ,
             Cyprian
             ,
          
           and
           the
           Contest
           of
           the
           
             Affrican
          
           Bishops
           concerning
           Appeals
           to
           the
           See
           of
           
             Rome
             .
          
           Nor
           did
           they
           yield
           him
           any
           other
           subjection
           but
           what
           practice
           had
           brought
           in
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           eminence
           of
           that
           City
           ,
           which
           was
           then
           Mistris
           of
           the
           World
           ;
           and
           because
           they
           also
           believed
           St.
           
             Peter
          
           and
           St.
           
             Paul
          
           had
           founded
           it
           with
           their
           Labours
           and
           Bloud
           .
           But
           these
           Bishops
           who
           have
           so
           sordidly
           and
           meanly
           given
           up
           their
           rights
           to
           that
           high
           Pretender
           ,
           and
           have
           sworn
           obedience
           to
           him
           ,
           cannot
           be
           the
           proper
           Judges
           and
           Representatives
           of
           a
           Church
           ,
           whose
           Liberties
           they
           have
           abandoned
           ,
           I
           had
           almost
           said
           betrayed
           .
        
         
         
           17.
           
           Whether
           must
           I
           believe
           the
           Decrees
           of
           a
           General
           Council
           before
           they
           are
           approved
           by
           the
           Pope
           ,
           or
           not
           ?
           If
           the
           Council
           be
           infallible
           in
           her
           Decrees
           ,
           then
           I
           am
           bound
           to
           submit
           to
           them
           ,
           for
           all
           the
           Popes
           rejecting
           them
           :
           But
           if
           the
           Council
           be
           fallible
           ,
           then
           the
           Popes
           ratification
           cannot
           make
           the
           Decrees
           of
           the
           Council
           Infallible
           .
           For
           things
           cannot
           change
           their
           natures
           ,
           and
           if
           the
           Vote
           of
           the
           Council
           was
           by
           an
           Infallible
           direction
           ,
           then
           there
           is
           no
           absolute
           necessity
           of
           a
           ratification
           ;
           and
           if
           it
           was
           fallible
           ,
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Decree
           must
           be
           resolved
           simply
           into
           the
           Popes
           insallibility
           .
           For
           the
           ratification
           that
           is
           subsequent
           to
           the
           Councils
           Vote
           puts
           no
           more
           authority
           in
           the
           Council
           than
           it
           had
           when
           it
           passed
           the
           Vote
           .
           It
           is
           true
           in
           matters
           of
           Policy
           I
           know
           there
           be
           such
           Constitutions
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           case
           of
           the
           Votes
           of
           our
           two
           Houses
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           that
           have
           no
           force
           without
           the
           
             Le
             Roy
             le
             veut
             ;
          
           but
           if
           the
           Council
           be
           infallibly
           directed
           ,
           then
           it
           is
           not
           in
           the
           Popes
           power
           to
           reject
           their
           Decisions
           .
           And
           if
           the
           Council
           be
           fallible
           ,
           then
           the
           Infallibility
           rests
           in
           the
           Pope
           alone
           ,
           and
           who
           shall
           expect
           I
           can
           think
           the
           Council
           of
           
             Constance
          
           infallible
           in
           taking
           the
           Chalice
           from
           the
           Laity
           ,
           and
           fallible
           in
           subjecting
           the
           Pope
           to
           the
           Council
           .
           Certainly
           ,
           the
           Authority
           was
           the
           same
           in
           both
           ,
           but
           because
           the
           Pope
           was
           a
           party
           in
           the
           one
           particular
           ,
           he
           was
           sure
           not
           to
           ratifie
           it
           .
        
         
           18.
           
           Who
           must
           be
           the
           Infallible
           Expounder
           of
           the
           Decrees
           of
           Councils
           ?
           If
           you
           will
           leave
           this
           to
           every
           private
           person
           ,
           then
           all
           these
           inconveniences
           will
           follow
           that
           you
           object
           against
           private
           persons
           expounding
           Scripture
           .
           For
           they
           may
           be
           drawn
           to
           several
           
           meanings
           and
           opinions
           .
           And
           we
           know
           that
           at
           
             Trent
             ,
          
           when
           the
           Divines
           differed
           in
           many
           Points
           of
           Religion
           ,
           the
           great
           business
           was
           to
           find
           a
           temper
           ,
           and
           to
           contrive
           the
           Decree
           in
           such
           general
           terms
           ,
           as
           might
           displease
           neither
           Party
           .
           And
           thence
           it
           was
           that
           two
           of
           the
           Divines
           that
           were
           in
           the
           Council
           ,
           and
           disputed
           in
           the
           Points
           defined
           ,
           but
           differed
           in
           their
           Opinions
           ,
           after
           the
           Council
           had
           passed
           the
           Decree
           ,
           did
           publish
           Treatises
           for
           their
           Opinions
           ,
           both
           of
           them
           pretending
           the
           Council
           decreed
           of
           his
           side
           :
           And
           though
           this
           was
           done
           before
           the
           dissolution
           of
           the
           Council
           ,
           yet
           the
           Council
           took
           no
           notice
           of
           it
           .
           By
           which
           it
           seems
           they
           designed
           their
           Decrees
           should
           be
           Oracles
           ,
           as
           well
           for
           their
           misterious
           Ambiguity
           ,
           as
           for
           their
           Authority
           .
           Where
           then
           shall
           we
           find
           a
           Judge
           of
           Controversies
           concerning
           the
           true
           meaning
           of
           the
           Decrees
           of
           Councils
           ?
           If
           you
           put
           this
           in
           the
           Popes
           hands
           ,
           you
           give
           all
           up
           to
           him
           ,
           and
           so
           the
           Decrees
           of
           the
           Council
           shall
           signifie
           no
           more
           than
           he
           is
           pleased
           to
           allow
           them
           .
        
         
           19.
           
           When
           new
           Controversies
           arise
           among
           Christians
           ,
           to
           whom
           must
           they
           go
           for
           decision
           ?
           Must
           they
           rest
           on
           the
           Popes
           definition
           ?
           Then
           all
           the
           power
           is
           in
           his
           Person
           .
           Or
           must
           they
           stay
           for
           a
           decision
           from
           the
           Council
           ?
           If
           this
           last
           be
           setled
           on
           ,
           then
           I
           am
           afraid
           you
           Romanists
           are
           in
           as
           great
           a
           hazard
           as
           we
           are
           to
           have
           your
           Controversies
           endless
           .
           For
           ever
           since
           the
           Council
           of
           
             Constance
          
           the
           Popes
           have
           such
           mortal
           jealousies
           of
           Councils
           ,
           that
           the
           World
           is
           not
           like
           to
           see
           more
           of
           them
           .
           We
           have
           seen
           none
           now
           above
           a
           hundred
           years
           ,
           and
           the
           very
           thoughts
           of
           one
           are
           laid
           to
           sleep
           ;
           and
           yet
           this
           is
           not
           for
           want
           of
           reason
           
           to
           call
           a
           Council
           :
           For
           there
           be
           great
           Controversies
           that
           do
           very
           much
           divide
           you
           ,
           but
           in
           these
           you
           must
           not
           expect
           a
           decision
           .
           As
           whether
           the
           Infallibility
           rest
           in
           the
           diffusive
           Church
           ,
           or
           in
           the
           Council
           ,
           or
           in
           the
           Pope
           ,
           which
           is
           a
           great
           thing
           to
           be
           resolved
           in
           ,
           and
           hot
           Contests
           have
           been
           about
           it
           .
           It
           is
           also
           of
           great
           concern
           whether
           Grace
           be
           efficacious
           of
           it self
           ,
           or
           only
           when
           the
           Will
           chuses
           to
           make
           good
           use
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           about
           this
           there
           have
           been
           sharp
           disputes
           .
           Great
           complaints
           are
           also
           made
           by
           men
           of
           much
           learning
           and
           worth
           in
           your
           Church
           ,
           against
           a
           corruption
           of
           Morals
           ,
           and
           all
           Political
           Government
           ,
           which
           approved
           Doctors
           and
           Casuists
           in
           your
           Church
           have
           publickly
           taught
           and
           printed
           ,
           with
           licence
           :
           which
           deserves
           to
           be
           condemned
           by
           publick
           authority
           as
           well
           as
           confuted
           by
           private
           Doctors
           ,
           and
           Censured
           by
           some
           Civil
           Judicatories
           .
           But
           for
           all
           these
           reasons
           we
           are
           not
           like
           to
           see
           another
           general
           Council
           in
           this
           Age.
           Suffer
           me
           therefore
           to
           ask
           you
           in
           this
           long
           interval
           of
           Councils
           ,
           whether
           there
           be
           any
           Infallible
           Judge
           of
           Controversies
           ,
           or
           not
           ?
           If
           not
           ,
           then
           all
           your
           high
           pretences
           vanish
           ;
           if
           there
           be
           one
           ,
           he
           can
           be
           no
           other
           than
           the
           Pope
           ,
           and
           if
           you
           make
           the
           Popes
           Infallible
           in
           the
           interval
           of
           Councils
           ,
           as
           there
           is
           no
           necessity
           of
           them
           ,
           since
           we
           have
           already
           an
           Infallible
           Judge
           ,
           so
           it
           were
           an
           inexcusable
           folly
           in
           the
           Popes
           to
           call
           a
           Council
           if
           the
           world
           acknowledge
           them
           Infallible
           .
        
         
           20.
           
           I
           must
           ask
           one
           Question
           more
           about
           this
           general
           Council
           :
           you
           tell
           me
           ,
           
             None
             but
             Bishops
             have
             a
             decissive
             Vote
             in
             it
             ;
          
           How
           then
           shall
           I
           know
           when
           there
           is
           a
           general
           Council
           ?
           For
           the
           Intention
           of
           the
           Priest
           
           is
           by
           your
           Doctrines
           necessary
           to
           the
           Sacrament
           ,
           how
           then
           shall
           I
           know
           if
           the
           pretended
           Bishops
           were
           baptized
           by
           one
           that
           intended
           to
           do
           it
           ,
           or
           not
           ?
           And
           how
           shall
           I
           know
           that
           they
           received
           Orders
           from
           one
           that
           gave
           them
           with
           a
           right
           Intention
           ?
           And
           yet
           all
           this
           is
           necessary
           before
           I
           can
           acknowledge
           them
           Bishops
           :
           Nor
           must
           this
           be
           known
           only
           in
           this
           one
           Instance
           ,
           though
           even
           that
           depending
           on
           the
           sacred
           thoughts
           of
           the
           Priest
           ,
           which
           are
           known
           to
           God
           alone
           ,
           is
           a
           thing
           wherein
           I
           can
           never
           hope
           to
           arrive
           at
           any
           certainty
           ;
           but
           I
           must
           drive
           up
           the
           same
           question
           through
           the
           whole
           succession
           to
           the
           very
           days
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           for
           if
           one
           Link
           of
           the
           Chain
           fails
           ,
           the
           whole
           falls
           asunder
           :
           Since
           any
           one
           that
           was
           either
           baptized
           ,
           or
           had
           orders
           from
           any
           who
           did
           not
           intend
           it
           is
           neither
           a
           Christian
           ,
           nor
           a
           Bishop
           ,
           by
           your
           Doctrines
           .
           And
           all
           who
           are
           either
           baptized
           ,
           or
           ordained
           ,
           by
           one
           who
           is
           neither
           Christian
           ,
           nor
           Bishop
           ,
           are
           neither
           Christians
           nor
           Clergy
           men
           .
           Here
           is
           a
           difficulty
           in
           my
           way
           ,
           that
           were
           all
           the
           other
           removed
           ,
           I
           cannot
           see
           how
           it
           can
           possibly
           be
           cleared
           .
        
         
           21.
           
           Having
           now
           tried
           your
           patience
           with
           some
           troublesome
           questions
           about
           your
           Church
           in
           general
           ,
           I
           came
           to
           be
           satisfied
           in
           some
           particulars
           that
           stick
           with
           me
           concerning
           the
           Pope
           ,
           to
           whom
           I
           see
           you
           must
           either
           yield
           an
           absolute
           Authority
           ,
           or
           be
           without
           an
           Infallible
           Judge
           of
           Controversies
           .
           And
           let
           me
           first
           apply
           my
           last
           Question
           to
           the
           Pope
           ,
           and
           ask
           how
           you
           know
           that
           all
           your
           Popes
           have
           been
           Christians
           ,
           Priests
           ,
           and
           Bishops
           ?
           Since
           this
           depends
           on
           the
           Intention
           .
           So
           that
           for
           ought
           appears
           to
           me
           you
           
           may
           acknowledge
           for
           the
           head
           of
           your
           Church
           ,
           one
           who
           is
           neither
           a
           Christian
           ,
           nor
           in
           Orders
           .
           If
           then
           my
           Faith
           must
           be
           resolved
           into
           the
           Popes
           Authority
           I
           am
           sure
           it
           rests
           on
           a
           sandy
           foundation
           ,
           since
           I
           cannot
           be
           assured
           he
           is
           truly
           Pope
           .
           And
           let
           me
           ask
           you
           ,
           Do
           you
           think
           that
           with
           any
           colour
           of
           reason
           it
           can
           be
           doubted
           ,
           that
           there
           was
           never
           an
           Atheistical
           Priest
           or
           Bishop
           in
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           whose
           Intention
           went
           not
           along
           with
           the
           Sacrament
           ?
           I
           am
           told
           that
           in
           
             Spain
          
           many
           pretended
           Priests
           are
           discovered
           to
           be
           Jews
           ;
           and
           sure
           these
           when
           they
           baptise
           will
           be
           far
           from
           joyning
           their
           Intention
           with
           that
           Sacrament
           .
           So
           here
           I
           stick
           in
           the
           first
           step
           ,
           and
           must
           do
           so
           still
           except
           you
           can
           help
           me
           forward
           .
        
         
           22.
           
           How
           shall
           I
           know
           who
           is
           Canonically
           Elected
           ?
           The
           Canon
           Law
           declares
           all
           Symoniacal
           Ordinations
           to
           be
           null
           ;
           and
           Pope
           
             Iulius
          
           the
           Second
           ,
           by
           a
           Bull
           
             de
             symoniaca
             Papae
             Electione
             ,
          
           declares
           him
           no
           Pope
           that
           is
           so
           elected
           .
           How
           then
           shall
           I
           know
           that
           in
           the
           Elections
           there
           was
           no
           Symony
           ?
           For
           except
           I
           be
           sure
           there
           was
           none
           ,
           I
           cannot
           be
           sure
           the
           Pope
           is
           Canonically
           elected
           .
           Now
           the
           secret
           transactions
           of
           the
           Conclave
           cannot
           be
           so
           clearly
           known
           as
           to
           free
           all
           people
           from
           scruples
           in
           this
           particular
           .
           On
           the
           contrary
           ,
           we
           have
           the
           shrewdest
           grounds
           can
           be
           ,
           for
           suspecting
           foul
           dealings
           in
           these
           Elections
           .
           Does
           not
           all
           the
           world
           know
           what
           interest
           the
           Factions
           of
           the
           two
           Crowns
           ,
           of
           the
           Nephews
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Squadrone
             Volante
          
           have
           in
           the
           Election
           of
           the
           Popes
           ?
           And
           all
           have
           seen
           the
           Intrigue
           of
           that
           Affair
           ,
           so
           that
           the
           very
           pretence
           of
           any
           Infallibility
           after
           such
           an
           
           Election
           is
           baffled
           out
           of
           the
           World.
           Shall
           any
           body
           that
           understands
           mankind
           imagine
           these
           Elections
           go
           upon
           any
           other
           grounds
           but
           Interest
           ,
           Faction
           ,
           Expectation
           ,
           or
           some
           such
           base
           thing
           ?
           And
           that
           after
           the
           Pope
           is
           thus
           chosen
           ,
           to
           imagine
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           is
           tied
           to
           all
           his
           Decrees
           ,
           is
           such
           a
           monstrous
           piece
           of
           Impudence
           that
           I
           cannot
           have
           so
           little
           charity
           for
           you
           as
           to
           think
           any
           of
           you
           believe
           it
           .
        
         
           23.
           
           How
           shall
           I
           know
           in
           the
           case
           of
           a
           Schism
           who
           is
           Canonically
           Elected
           ?
           Many
           of
           those
           Schisms
           there
           have
           been
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Pretenders
           have
           put
           in
           a
           fair
           plea
           for
           themselves
           .
           How
           then
           shall
           I
           be
           satisfied
           to
           which
           of
           them
           I
           must
           offer
           up
           my
           obedience
           ?
           And
           you
           know
           there
           are
           not
           three
           Ages
           past
           since
           for
           above
           forty
           years
           the
           Church
           of
           
             Rome
          
           was
           a
           Monster
           of
           two
           or
           three
           heads
           .
           The
           several
           States
           of
           
             Europe
          
           being
           as
           divided
           in
           their
           Obedience
           ,
           as
           the
           Cardinals
           were
           in
           their
           Elections
           .
           And
           it
           is
           little
           to
           be
           doubted
           but
           in
           many
           other
           Counter
           Elections
           ,
           had
           the
           Anti
           Popes
           been
           as
           strongly
           supported
           as
           the
           Popes
           at
           
             Avignon
          
           were
           ,
           they
           had
           been
           longer
           lived
           than
           they
           were
           .
           Let
           me
           also
           ask
           you
           ,
           What
           right
           have
           the
           Cardinals
           to
           the
           Election
           of
           the
           Pope
           ?
           Which
           by
           the
           Primitive
           Constitution
           should
           belong
           to
           the
           Presbiters
           of
           
             Rome
             ,
          
           and
           the
           Bishops
           of
           the
           Province
           .
           But
           that
           Bishops
           of
           other
           Nations
           shall
           be
           made
           Titulars
           to
           the
           Churches
           of
           
             Rome
             ,
          
           and
           so
           carry
           the
           Election
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           a
           very
           recent
           Constitution
           ,
           so
           can
           it
           pretend
           to
           no
           Divine
           Warrant
           .
           And
           if
           the
           Election
           belong
           to
           the
           Cardinals
           ,
           you
           can
           give
           no
           reason
           why
           two
           thirds
           are
           necessary
           to
           make
           a
           Pope
           ;
           for
           in
           such
           cases
           either
           the
           whole
           
           must
           agree
           ,
           or
           the
           major
           Vote
           carry
           it
           ;
           and
           if
           the
           last
           be
           true
           ,
           then
           many
           a
           Pope
           is
           cast
           who
           is
           canonically
           elected
           ,
           having
           the
           majority
           of
           the
           Votes
           for
           him
           .
           I
           confess
           in
           Political
           Constitutions
           men
           may
           mould
           matters
           as
           they
           will
           ;
           but
           in
           Divine
           things
           ,
           especially
           in
           choosing
           the
           Head
           of
           the
           Church
           and
           the
           Infallible
           Judg
           ,
           I
           must
           expect
           a
           better
           warrant
           .
        
         
           24.
           
           The
           Popes
           ,
           if
           infallible
           ,
           must
           either
           be
           such
           by
           immediate
           Inspiration
           ,
           or
           by
           a
           direction
           of
           the
           Divine
           Grace
           ,
           in
           considering
           what
           is
           proposed
           to
           them
           .
           To
           the
           former
           they
           do
           not
           pretend
           ,
           nor
           do
           they
           wait
           for
           Enthusiasms
           ,
           but
           proceed
           as
           other
           men
           upon
           all
           emergents
           .
           Now
           how
           can
           I
           be
           perswaded
           that
           a
           man
           who
           is
           wholly
           possest
           with
           affairs
           of
           State
           ,
           who
           minds
           nothing
           more
           than
           intrigues
           ,
           who
           has
           no
           education
           in
           any
           part
           of
           litterature
           ,
           but
           the
           Canon
           Law
           ,
           can
           upon
           a
           slight
           hearing
           a
           Controversie
           ,
           which
           puzles
           the
           most
           refined
           speculative
           heads
           ,
           judg
           exactly
           and
           truly
           ,
           when
           I
           plainly
           see
           he
           does
           not
           understand
           the
           points
           in
           debate
           .
           And
           that
           this
           must
           be
           expected
           at
           
             Rome
             ,
          
           I
           remit
           to
           all
           who
           know
           that
           Court
           :
           and
           it
           was
           truly
           the
           case
           of
           the
           Propositions
           of
           
             Iansenius
             ,
          
           which
           
             P.
             Innocent
          
           condemned
           ,
           though
           he
           confessed
           he
           understood
           not
           the
           matter
           ,
           and
           never
           gave
           the
           
             Iansenists
          
           a
           hearing
           but
           once
           :
           nor
           can
           any
           body
           read
           the
           Bulls
           of
           the
           Popes
           ,
           but
           he
           must
           see
           the
           grossest
           misapplications
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           the
           falsest
           conclusions
           ,
           and
           the
           weakest
           reasons
           imaginable
           .
           It
           were
           easie
           to
           instance
           this
           in
           a
           thousand
           particulars
           ,
           which
           must
           needs
           occur
           to
           every
           one
           that
           reads
           them
           .
           Now
           a
           man
           may
           as
           soon
           believe
           
           day
           is
           night
           ,
           and
           night
           day
           ,
           as
           think
           that
           man
           infallible
           in
           his
           Decisions
           ,
           whom
           he
           finds
           plainly
           mistaken
           in
           many
           easie
           obvious
           things
           .
        
         
           25.
           
           What
           reason
           have
           I
           to
           think
           he
           has
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           certainly
           going
           along
           in
           all
           his
           Decrees
           ,
           who
           seems
           plainly
           to
           have
           little
           or
           no
           sense
           of
           piety
           or
           vertue
           in
           all
           his
           actions
           and
           whole
           deportment
           .
           The
           Divine
           Spirit
           purifies
           as
           well
           as
           enlightens
           :
           it
           is
           true
           in
           immediate
           Inspirations
           this
           is
           not
           a
           constant
           Maxime
           ;
           but
           in
           one
           who
           expects
           the
           direction
           of
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           by
           Prayers
           ,
           Fastings
           ,
           Applications
           of
           mind
           ,
           and
           other
           such
           means
           ,
           which
           is
           acknowledged
           to
           be
           the
           Popes
           case
           ,
           he
           must
           have
           prepared
           his
           mind
           to
           a
           right
           sense
           of
           Divine
           things
           by
           the
           previous
           purifying
           his
           soul
           ,
           otherwise
           a
           false
           Judgment
           is
           to
           be
           expected
           from
           a
           corrupt
           mind
           .
           And
           the
           Prayers
           of
           the
           wicked
           and
           their
           Fastings
           too
           are
           abomination
           to
           God.
           Now
           what
           men
           many
           of
           your
           Popes
           have
           been
           ,
           I
           rather
           refer
           you
           to
           your
           own
           Historians
           than
           rake
           such
           a
           puddle
           :
           and
           since
           it
           is
           not
           to
           be
           disputed
           ,
           but
           vices
           of
           all
           sorts
           have
           been
           eminently
           lodged
           in
           the
           persons
           of
           not
           a
           few
           Popes
           ,
           who
           can
           force
           himself
           to
           think
           them
           a
           race
           of
           men
           that
           hold
           so
           near
           and
           close
           correspondence
           with
           Almighty
           God
           ,
           as
           to
           have
           his
           Spirit
           alway
           at
           command
           ,
           and
           yet
           have
           not
           by
           all
           that
           intimacy
           learned
           to
           escape
           the
           grosser
           and
           more
           common
           pollutions
           of
           the
           flesh
           .
           Though
           St.
           
             Peter
          
           tells
           us
           that
           is
           the
           way
           to
           become
           partakers
           of
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           .
        
         
           26.
           
           How
           can
           I
           think
           the
           Popes
           infallible
           ,
           when
           it
           is
           certain
           ,
           if
           any
           thing
           in
           History
           be
           so
           ,
           that
           
           many
           of
           them
           have
           been
           guilty
           of
           opinions
           which
           General
           Councils
           have
           condemned
           and
           anathematised
           ?
           The
           Stories
           of
           
             Liberius
          
           and
           
             Honorius
          
           are
           too
           well
           known
           to
           be
           much
           contested
           ,
           the
           one
           having
           consented
           to
           semi-Arrianism
           against
           the
           
             Nicene
          
           Creed
           ,
           the
           other
           being
           anathematised
           by
           a
           General
           Council
           (
           where
           another
           Popes
           Legats
           were
           consenting
           )
           for
           a
           Heretick
           .
           I
           suppose
           you
           are
           acquainted
           with
           the
           History
           ,
           and
           therefore
           give
           but
           a
           hint
           of
           these
           passages
           ,
           which
           are
           well
           known
           to
           learned
           men
           .
           I
           name
           not
           many
           other
           Popes
           whom
           Historians
           accuse
           of
           Heresie
           ,
           but
           stand
           upon
           these
           two
           as
           more
           noted
           and
           signal
           :
           And
           if
           one
           Pope
           be
           a
           Heretick
           the
           whole
           
             Infallibility
          
           falls
           to
           the
           ground
           :
           and
           when
           I
           see
           Pope
           
             Innocent
          
           the
           First
           ,
           and
           Pope
           
             Innocent
          
           the
           Tenth
           differing
           so
           widely
           in
           their
           Decrees
           ,
           the
           one
           confirming
           St.
           
           Austin's
           Doctrin
           in
           the
           matter
           of
           grace
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           condemning
           Propositions
           ,
           which
           all
           who
           ever
           read
           St.
           
             Austin
             ,
          
           and
           are
           ingenious
           ,
           must
           see
           to
           be
           plainly
           consonant
           to
           his
           opinions
           ;
           I
           cannot
           forbear
           thinking
           neither
           one
           nor
           the
           other
           infallible
           ;
           for
           of
           two
           that
           contradict
           other
           ,
           I
           am
           sure
           one
           is
           in
           the
           wrong
           ,
           and
           if
           either
           of
           them
           be
           in
           the
           wrong
           ,
           neither
           of
           them
           is
           infallible
           .
        
         
           27.
           
           Is
           the
           Pope
           infallible
           in
           all
           he
           says
           ,
           or
           onely
           when
           he
           gives
           out
           of
           his
           Chair
           his
           Decision
           of
           Controversies
           ?
           I
           know
           you
           choose
           the
           latter
           :
           but
           then
           let
           me
           ask
           you
           what
           is
           necessary
           to
           put
           him
           in
           his
           Chair
           ,
           Must
           the
           Cardinals
           concur
           ,
           then
           you
           share
           the
           
             Infallibility
          
           among
           them
           ,
           without
           any
           colours
           either
           from
           Scripture
           or
           Antiquity
           :
           Nor
           do
           I
           believe
           your
           Popes
           will
           allow
           this
           in
           their
           Decisions
           ,
           what
           
           ever
           they
           may
           do
           in
           the
           Political
           Government
           of
           the
           Ecclesiastical
           State
           :
           By
           what
           means
           therefore
           shall
           I
           be
           assured
           the
           Pope
           speaks
           from
           his
           Chair
           ,
           that
           so
           I
           may
           acknowledg
           him
           infallible
           :
           and
           if
           in
           any
           thing
           I
           must
           submit
           to
           his
           sentence
           ,
           then
           most
           especially
           when
           he
           according
           to
           the
           Decree
           of
           a
           Council
           ,
           takes
           care
           to
           publish
           a
           Bible
           ,
           which
           must
           be
           by
           all
           Christians
           submitted
           to
           as
           the
           Rule
           of
           Faith
           ,
           and
           set
           up
           as
           the
           Standard
           by
           which
           all
           other
           Translations
           ,
           Copies
           ,
           nay
           ,
           and
           the
           Originals
           of
           the
           Hebrew
           and
           Greek
           are
           to
           be
           compared
           .
           This
           is
           a
           weighty
           and
           considerable
           business
           as
           any
           can
           be
           ,
           and
           yet
           we
           have
           seen
           
             Sixtus
          
           the
           Fifth
           publish
           a
           Bible
           with
           all
           the
           assurances
           could
           be
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           an
           authentical
           and
           true
           Edition
           ,
           requiring
           all
           Christians
           to
           receive
           it
           as
           the
           Rule
           of
           their
           Faith
           ;
           but
           upon
           this
           he
           dies
           ,
           and
           his
           Successor
           
             Clement
          
           the
           Eighth
           gives
           the
           World
           another
           Edition
           of
           the
           Bible
           ,
           and
           imposes
           it
           with
           the
           same
           Authority
           
             Sixtus
          
           did
           ,
           and
           took
           all
           care
           to
           suppress
           the
           Copies
           of
           the
           former
           Edition
           ,
           yet
           some
           escaped
           his
           industry
           .
           The
           difference
           of
           those
           two
           Editions
           is
           such
           ,
           that
           the
           Catalogue
           of
           them
           makes
           up
           a
           Book
           ;
           and
           any
           that
           has
           compared
           them
           will
           find
           that
           in
           many
           places
           the
           whole
           sense
           is
           varied
           in
           these
           Editions
           .
           This
           is
           as
           clear
           an
           evidence
           as
           may
           be
           ,
           that
           the
           Chair
           cannot
           make
           them
           infallible
           ,
           who
           do
           so
           flatly
           contradict
           one
           another
           ,
           and
           that
           in
           a
           matter
           of
           so
           high
           and
           so
           general
           concern
           .
        
         
           28.
           
           What
           reason
           have
           I
           to
           believe
           the
           Bishops
           of
           
             Rome
          
           infallible
           ,
           or
           that
           they
           have
           an
           absolute
           Jurisdiction
           over
           Christendom
           ,
           since
           I
           can
           find
           no
           traces
           of
           this
           in
           the
           beginning
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           though
           
           the
           defining
           it
           was
           then
           of
           great
           necessity
           ?
           I
           find
           the
           Apostles
           all
           acting
           by
           an
           equal
           Commission
           ,
           as
           indeed
           it
           must
           be
           where
           all
           were
           inspired
           with
           
             infallible
             Illumination
             :
          
           And
           why
           must
           I
           think
           that
           St.
           
             Peter
          
           left
           none
           of
           this
           
             Infallibility
          
           at
           
             Antioch
             ,
          
           or
           
             Alexandria
             ,
          
           but
           brought
           it
           all
           entire
           with
           him
           to
           
             Rome
             ?
          
           And
           why
           was
           he
           so
           sullen
           as
           not
           to
           name
           his
           Successor
           ,
           when
           our
           Saviour
           shewed
           him
           that
           he
           was
           to
           put
           off
           his
           Tabernacle
           shortly
           ?
           Certainly
           it
           is
           hard
           to
           imagine
           that
           when
           he
           was
           writing
           his
           second
           Epistle
           as
           his
           last
           Will
           and
           Testament
           ,
           that
           though
           he
           had
           concealed
           till
           then
           who
           must
           succeed
           him
           ,
           he
           should
           not
           then
           have
           named
           him
           .
           I
           deny
           not
           but
           the
           Faith
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Church
          
           was
           spoken
           of
           throughout
           the
           whole
           World
           ,
           and
           that
           a
           Series
           of
           blessed
           and
           glorious
           Martyrs
           governed
           that
           See
           ;
           yet
           even
           then
           ,
           what
           ever
           reverence
           the
           eminence
           of
           the
           Imperial
           City
           ,
           and
           their
           own
           more
           eminent
           qualities
           ,
           procured
           them
           ,
           the
           absolute
           submitting
           all
           things
           to
           their
           Decision
           ,
           was
           not
           thought
           of
           .
           It
           is
           true
           the
           Fathers
           gloried
           much
           in
           the
           first
           Founders
           of
           that
           See
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           worthy
           succession
           derived
           down
           from
           them
           ,
           but
           thought
           of
           nothing
           less
           then
           subjecting
           Christendom
           to
           their
           Authority
           :
           Nor
           did
           the
           other
           Patriarchs
           pay
           any
           homage
           or
           subjection
           to
           them
           ,
           but
           still
           pleaded
           an
           equality
           of
           Jurisdiction
           ,
           yielding
           them
           nothing
           but
           a
           bare
           precedence
           .
           It
           is
           a
           thing
           I
           will
           not
           here
           attempt
           to
           shew
           by
           what
           steps
           that
           See
           did
           degenerate
           from
           its
           first
           purity
           ▪
           nor
           how
           it
           mounted
           to
           that
           height
           of
           Authority
           in
           which
           it
           glories
           at
           present
           :
           but
           any
           who
           is
           acquainted
           with
           the
           Histories
           and
           Writings
           of
           the
           first
           six
           
           Ages
           ,
           must
           needs
           confess
           that
           the
           Scene
           of
           the
           Church
           is
           quite
           altered
           from
           what
           it
           was
           then
           in
           this
           obedience
           which
           the
           World
           does
           now
           pay
           the
           Bishops
           of
           
             Rome
             .
          
        
         
           29.
           
           What
           reverence
           can
           I
           pay
           a
           Succession
           of
           men
           who
           have
           plainly
           trampled
           on
           all
           Laws
           Divine
           and
           Humane
           ?
           Who
           have
           pretended
           to
           an
           absolute
           Temporal
           Power
           ,
           who
           have
           deposed
           as
           well
           as
           excommunicated
           Emperours
           ,
           Kings
           ,
           and
           other
           Princes
           ,
           who
           have
           animated
           their
           Subjects
           to
           rebel
           against
           them
           ,
           who
           have
           set
           on
           their
           neighbouring
           Princes
           to
           invade
           their
           Dominions
           ,
           which
           they
           had
           rent
           by
           Civil
           Wars
           and
           Rebellions
           ,
           and
           did
           for
           a
           Succession
           of
           many
           Ages
           fill
           Christendom
           with
           war
           ,
           and
           cover
           it
           with
           blood
           ?
           Nor
           are
           these
           excesses
           to
           be
           onely
           charged
           on
           some
           particular
           Popes
           as
           their
           personal
           faults
           ,
           but
           they
           founding
           them
           on
           a
           pretence
           to
           an
           absolute
           Temporal
           Authority
           to
           which
           they
           laid
           claim
           ,
           either
           they
           erred
           in
           that
           Decision
           ,
           or
           not
           ;
           if
           they
           erred
           ,
           then
           they
           are
           not
           infallible
           ;
           if
           they
           erred
           not
           ,
           then
           though
           the
           Reformation
           has
           made
           them
           a
           little
           more
           cautious
           ,
           yet
           still
           they
           are
           vested
           with
           the
           same
           power
           ,
           and
           all
           these
           Decretals
           of
           Pope
           
             Gregory
          
           the
           Seventh
           are
           still
           in
           force
           ,
           so
           that
           the
           Princes
           of
           Cristendome
           are
           at
           the
           Popes
           mercy
           for
           their
           Crowns
           and
           Dominions
           ,
           and
           are
           more
           obliged
           to
           the
           Reformation
           than
           they
           apprehend
           or
           acknowledg
           for
           the
           peaceable
           possession
           of
           their
           rights
           .
           But
           it
           is
           apparent
           the
           Popes
           still
           retain
           the
           same
           high
           thoughts
           ,
           and
           onely
           wait
           an
           opportunity
           of
           executing
           them
           ,
           as
           appear'd
           from
           the
           attempts
           of
           Pope
           
             Paul
          
           the
           Fifth
           on
           the
           State
           of
           
             Venice
             .
          
        
         
         
           30.
           
           In
           the
           interval
           of
           the
           
             Sede
             vacante
             ,
          
           who
           is
           Head
           of
           the
           Church
           ?
           Is
           it
           a
           dead
           body
           without
           a
           head
           ,
           or
           is
           it
           a
           Monster
           of
           many
           heads
           ?
           Does
           the
           Authority
           li
           edivided
           among
           the
           Cardinals
           ,
           or
           have
           they
           none
           at
           all
           ?
           You
           know
           the
           Conclave
           have
           been
           sometimes
           very
           tedious
           in
           their
           Elections
           ,
           the
           last
           continued
           divers
           months
           ,
           and
           others
           have
           been
           shut
           up
           much
           longer
           ;
           pray
           then
           satisfie
           me
           who
           has
           the
           Supreme
           Power
           of
           the
           Church
           all
           that
           while
           ?
           If
           you
           vest
           the
           Cardinals
           with
           it
           ,
           then
           you
           set
           up
           a
           Presbytery
           to
           govern
           the
           Church
           :
           For
           the
           Cardinals
           as
           such
           are
           the
           Presbyters
           of
           
             Rome
             :
          
           and
           thus
           before
           we
           are
           aware
           
             Geneve
          
           is
           translated
           to
           
             Rome
             ,
          
           and
           the
           
             Scottish
          
           Presbytery
           culminates
           in
           the
           
             Vatican
             ,
          
           and
           governs
           the
           whole
           World.
           
        
         
           31.
           
           If
           after
           these
           difficulties
           about
           the
           Authority
           of
           Pope
           and
           Council
           ,
           you
           tell
           me
           the
           Infallibility
           of
           the
           Church
           rests
           in
           the
           whole
           body
           ,
           and
           is
           to
           be
           taken
           from
           the
           universally
           received
           Opinions
           ,
           then
           what
           had
           become
           of
           me
           if
           I
           had
           lived
           when
           the
           whole
           World
           was
           become
           
             Arrian
             ,
          
           and
           
             Athanasius
          
           alone
           withstood
           the
           stream
           ?
           Certainly
           ,
           I
           must
           have
           run
           with
           the
           Current
           ,
           and
           may
           be
           should
           not
           have
           known
           what
           to
           have
           answered
           those
           who
           should
           have
           asked
           me
           ,
           Where
           was
           your
           Faith
           before
           
             Alexander
          
           and
           
             Athanasius
             ?
          
        
         
           32.
           
           But
           upon
           the
           whole
           matter
           how
           shall
           I
           know
           what
           is
           either
           decreed
           by
           Councils
           ,
           or
           Popes
           ,
           or
           received
           by
           the
           body
           of
           Christians
           ?
           It
           is
           not
           to
           be
           expected
           I
           can
           go
           over
           the
           World
           to
           examine
           the
           belief
           of
           all
           Christians
           :
           Nor
           can
           I
           examine
           all
           the
           Canons
           and
           Decrees
           of
           Councils
           ,
           much
           less
           all
           the
           
           Popes
           Decretals
           :
           Into
           what
           therefore
           must
           I
           resolve
           my
           Faith
           ?
           You
           tell
           me
           ,
           a
           living
           speaking
           Judge
           is
           necessary
           :
           but
           such
           a
           one
           is
           not
           to
           be
           had
           in
           every
           part
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           therefore
           I
           must
           languish
           under
           great
           and
           constant
           uncertainties
           ;
           otherwise
           I
           must
           resolve
           my
           faith
           into
           the
           Testimony
           of
           my
           Priest
           and
           Confessor
           .
           And
           thus
           all
           these
           pompous
           high
           sounding
           expressions
           of
           the
           
             Infallible
             Catholick
             Church
          
           do
           at
           length
           dwindle
           into
           this
           ,
           that
           every
           one
           of
           your
           Communion
           must
           in
           all
           things
           believe
           what
           their
           Priest
           tells
           them
           ,
           without
           inquiry
           .
           And
           in
           what
           a
           perplexity
           must
           they
           be
           when
           one
           Priest
           assures
           them
           one
           Opinion
           is
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           another
           tells
           them
           the
           plain
           contrary
           is
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Church
           .
           And
           this
           has
           fallen
           out
           in
           not
           a
           few
           cases
           betwixt
           the
           
             Molinists
          
           and
           
             Iansenists
             .
          
           So
           that
           upon
           the
           whole
           I
           cannot
           see
           how
           private
           persons
           can
           be
           satisfied
           what
           is
           the
           belief
           of
           the
           Church
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           after
           I
           have
           led
           you
           through
           a
           great
           many
           Thickets
           and
           Inclosures
           ,
           I
           am
           afraid
           I
           leave
           you
           in
           a
           labyrinth
           ,
           out
           of
           which
           I
           protest
           I
           cannot
           help
           you
           ,
           but
           by
           advising
           you
           to
           break
           through
           or
           leap
           over
           these
           banks
           and
           hedges
           within
           which
           you
           have
           intangled
           your self
           .
           And
           therefore
           you
           must
           forgive
           me
           if
           I
           cannot
           follow
           you
           ,
           unless
           I
           see
           you
           furnished
           with
           some
           thread
           to
           lead
           you
           out
           of
           that
           intricate
           Maze
           of
           difficulties
           ,
           that
           must
           follow
           on
           your
           Opinions
           in
           these
           particulars
           .
           And
           I
           choose
           rather
           than
           ingage
           in
           so
           dangerous
           a
           passage
           to
           take
           the
           sacred
           Writings
           which
           you
           and
           I
           both
           acknowledge
           to
           be
           divine
           ,
           and
           ▪
           peruse
           them
           with
           all
           serious
           care
           ,
           hoping
           that
           God
           will
           so
           direct
           
           me
           ,
           that
           if
           I
           be
           not
           wanting
           to
           my self
           ,
           I
           shall
           not
           err
           in
           any
           matter
           of
           salvation
           .
           You
           will
           find
           I
           have
           treated
           these
           Opinions
           I
           have
           considered
           with
           all
           possible
           fairness
           and
           modesty
           of
           Stile
           ;
           and
           indeed
           ,
           the
           sad
           prospect
           I
           have
           of
           Christendom
           ,
           which
           is
           abused
           by
           such
           colours
           into
           so
           many
           and
           great
           mistakes
           ,
           raises
           in
           me
           thoughts
           full
           of
           pity
           and
           commiseration
           ,
           and
           not
           of
           insulting
           and
           scorn
           .
           If
           you
           send
           me
           any
           return
           to
           this
           ,
           I
           shall
           expect
           the
           like
           fair
           dealing
           from
           you
           ;
           and
           if
           you
           give
           me
           satisfying
           answers
           to
           these
           difficulties
           ,
           you
           shall
           find
           that
           you
           deal
           with
           one
           over
           whom
           reason
           hath
           more
           Power
           ,
           than
           either
           Education
           ,
           Humour
           ,
           or
           Interest
           .
           And
           so
           I
           bid
           you
           farewell
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
           Errata
           .
        
         
           Page
           1.
           line
           3.
           read
           
             Infallibility
             .
          
           pag.
           2.
           l.
           6.
           
             birth
             ▪
             right
             .
          
           pag.
           3.
           l.
           9.
           for
           
             one
          
           r.
           
             an
             .
          
           pag.
           6.
           l.
           3.
           for
           
             derided
          
           r.
           
             decried
             .
          
           pag.
           9.
           l.
           6.
           for
           
             then
          
           r.
           
             their
             .
          
           pag.
           12.
           l.
           13.
           for
           
             means
          
           r.
           
             meanness
             ;
          
           l.
           17.
           r.
           
             Westward
             .
          
           l.
           19.
           r.
           
             Priests
             .
          
           p.
           24.
           l.
           8.
           for
           
             sacred
          
           r.
           
             secret
             .
          
           l.
           25.
           r.
           
             come
             .