Of Chr fiian Liberty. 109 its very frame. For inftead of the original S E fimplicity and purity of the gofpel, a quite I --v- -+ different form of religion hath been intro- duced into the chriftian church. What I mean is the whole fcheme of po- pery, which if we view it at its height, and grown up to its full maturity, is perhaps the molt monftrous appearance that ever was in the moral world, being, under the name of the chriftian church and conftitution, the very reverie of chriftianity in all impor- tant refpeEts. At its head there is a tyrani- cal human power over the confciences of men, pretending to be the vicar of Chrift, really fet up in oppofition to him, and in- ftead of worfhip in fpirit and truth, which Jefus Chrift came to eftablifh, a heavy load of new abfurd opinions, under the names of religious doarines and outward ceremo- nies as terms of communion; enjoined by mere ecclefiaftic authority, and enforced by the molt fevere temporal penalties, as well as threatenings of eternal damnation. One important claim of this fpiritual tyranny, which is one of its principal fupports, and compleateth the fervitude of thofe who are under it, is a pretended infallibility and fo- vereign authority in interpreting the doctrines and laws of Chrift, which are alledged to be
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