POPERY A SYSTEM OF PRIESTCRAFT. X$j What do all such things mean, but obscuring thenative simplicity of Christianity, whereas it, being represented intelligible to all men, would derogate from that high admirationwhich these men pretend to from their peculiar and profound wisdom? And what would men spend for these toys, if they understood they might be good Chris- tians and get to heaven without them? What does all that pomp of religion serve for, but for ostentation of the dignity of those who administer it? It may be pretended for the honour of religion, but it really conduces to the glory of the priesthood, who shine in those pageantries. Why is monkery (although so very different from that which was in the ancient times) so cried up as a superlative state of perfection, but that it fills all places with swarms of lusty people, whoare vowed servants to him, and have little else to do but to advance that autho- rity by which they subsist in that dronish way of life? In fine, perusing the controversies of Bellarmine, or any other champion of Romanism, do but consider the nature and scope of each doctrine maintained by them, and you may easily discern that scarce any of them but tends to advance the interest of the pope or of his sworn vassals: Whereas, indeed, our Lord had never any such design, to set up a sort of men in such distance above their brethren, to perk over them, and suck themof theirgoods by tricks. It onlycharged people to allow their pastors a competent maintenance for a sober lite, with a moderate respect, as was needful for the common benefit of God's people, whom they were, with humility and meekness, to instruct and guide in the plain and simple way of piety. This is a grievous inconvenience, there being nothing wherein the church is more concerned than in thepreservationof its doctrine pure and incorrupt from the leaven of hurtful errors, influential on practice. 4. The errors in doctrine and miscarriages in practice which this authority, in favour to itself, would introduce, would be established immovably, to the irrecoverable oppression of truth and piety, any reformation becoming impossible while it stands, or so far as it shall be able to oppose and obstruct it. While particular churches retain their liberty, and pastors their original co-ordination in any measure, if any church 'or bishop shall offer to broach any novel doctrine or practice of bad import, the others may endeavour to stop the settlement or progress of them; each church, at least, may keep itself sound from contagion. But when all churches and bishops are reduced into subjection to on'e head, supported by the guards of his authority, who will dare to contest, or be able to withstand, what he shall say or do? It will
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