246 Reputation of being orthodo, how far- of theChurch,and left your felf-exalting lay you as lowas hell. CHAP. XL V III. .Reputation of being orthodeziox, botvfigr 8. ANother piece of vain-glory to be denied, is, The Repsoht- " tion of -being Orthodox, or ofthe right religion. The thing it felf is in the Effentials ofabfolute neceffity to falvation : But the reputation ofit,is a thing that wemuftmuch denyour felves in. For it commonly fals out in moil of the world, that the thing it felf,and the Reps/talon of it,are inconfiftenuand noman canbe Orthodox and of the right Religion, but he mull be taken to be heterodox and of the wrong Religion : For the wrong is in molt places taken for the right. But through the great Mercyof God, it is not commonly fo in England, nor in the ReformedChurches abroad, in any great andneceffary points. Among us Truth hath the advantage of Reputation ! and fomay it continue while the Sun endureh I But yet there is ufe for this part of felf-denial even with us. We converfe among many Seas and Parties ofvarious Opinions and all of them are-Confident that they are in the right,and that we are Erroneous and againft theTruth fo fay the Papilts., and fo fay theLibertines, and many others. And there is no way to gain the Reputation of being found and orthodox, with any of thefe men, but by turning to them, and forfaking the truth, and ceafing to be Orthodox indeed. In Spain, or Italy, or with Englifh Papifis, you mull be accounted Hereticks, or yield to herefie : you muff either ceafe to be true Catholicks, OT be content to be efteemed no Catholicks : You have your choice whether you will really be ScIifmaticks , or be efteemed and called Schifmaticks. And fo you will be ufed amongmolt Seas who judge of Truth and Error according to their own.. deluded apprehenfions. Yea, and among the Orthodox indeed, becaufe they alfo have their errors, and are not orthodox in all things,youmull look for the fame meafure in thole particulars wherein they are tniflaken. For thinking them-
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