to the Reader, xiii world ; being obvioufly liable to thefe following (befide others) great and grofs abfurdities ; i. That private Chriftian fubje&s are not at all to trouble them - felves,or to he at the pains to fearch the fcriptures in order to the information of their confciences, and bringing themfelves to be fully perfwaded in their mind or con- fcience (which they are exprefly commanded to do, fohn 5. 39. and Rom, 14. 5.) of the warrantablenefs of what they do, or are enjoined to do in religion, and ita the worfhip of God. if it be not againfl the law of natures which may be eafily difcerned ; (for,fays Mr. Hobbs, It is born with every man, and engraven on every man's heart) he is in all fuck things to acquiefce, without debate or de- mur, in the determination of the publick confcience ; and if he (hall endeavour to have his confcience informed, the more he doth fo, he but puts his own confcience the more upon the rack, and to the torture. If he muft,not-' withftanding the cleareft information and belt grounded perfwafion of his own judgment and confcience, ftand to, and acquiefce in the refolre of the publick confcience ;. as he mutt do according to this do&rine ; if he fin not, (as bath not hitherto been doubted by any man of con- fcience) in countera&ing his own light, and well- inform- ed confcience ; at leaft,he.cannot but be more difquieted, that he was, according to the command of God, at f© much pains in the duty of feeking to have his confcience fo well informed ; which God never made a juft ground of difquiet to the minds of bis people ; And his acquief- cence in the determination of the publick confcience, or of the law of the land, mutt be as to many, or molt, if not all divine pot tives in religion, and the worthip of God For, faith Mr. Hobbs, p. 249. 2 hey to whom God bath not fpoken immediately, are to receive commands from the fove reign ; and confequently in every common - wealth, they wb® have no fupernatural revelation to the contrary, ought t® obey the laws of their own fovereign in the external atgs and profefflon of religion ; which draws dreadfully deep, . as will further appear from fome of his inffanceso If (lays he, p. 271.) it be asked, What if we be commanded by our lawful prince to fay with our tongue, We believe not in Ghrifß (he may as well add, We believe not that there is
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