( 296 ) ntichrills, Spirits, andfalfe Teachers, that is, all forts ofHereticks, Herefies and Errors, i Joh. chap. 2. 3. &c. That People, who even in following Ages, adhered unto the. Faithand the Orthodox Profetlion ofit, when almoft all their Bifhops were become Arian Hereticks ; and kept their private Conventicles in oppofition unto them, at conJantinople, Antioch, Alexandria and other places, and who were fo many of them burned here in England by their own BJbops on the Judgement they made ofErrors and Heretics. And if the prefent Peo- ple with whom the Dr. is acquainted be altogether un- meet for the Difcharge ofany of thefe Duties, it is the fault offorce body elfe, betide their own. This Principle ofthe Reformation, in Vindicationof the Rights, Liberties, and Priviledges ofthe Chrifiian People, to judge and choofe for themfelves in Matters of Religion, to joyn freely in thofe Church Duties which are required of them, without which the work of it had never been carried on, we do abide by and maintain. Yea we meet withnoOppofition more fierce, than upon the Account of our Afferting the Liberties and Right ofthe People in reference unto Church Or- der and Worthip. But I (hall not be afraid to fay, that as the Reformationwas begun and carried on, on this Principle, fo when this People {hall through an Appre- henfion of their Ignorance, Weaknefs, and Unmeetnefs, to difeern and judge in Matters of Religion for them- felves and their own Duty, be kept and debarred from it; or when through their own Sloth, Negligence and Vitioufnefs, they thall be really uncapable tomannage their own Intereft in Church Affairs, as being fit only to be governed, if not as brute Creatures, yet as Mute `Perms
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