32 OfConfancy in the Profeffion of the True Religion. Vol. 1,. 'Moment arid Confequence of all other ; and which will concern them to all Eter- nity; namely, to chufe their Religion ? There is indeed one Part of one Religion (which we all know) which Children at Seven Years of Age are fit (I donot fay to judge of, but) to be as fond of, and to pra&ife to as good purpafe, as thofe of ri- per Years; and that is, to worlhip Images, to tell their Beads, to fay their Prayers, and to be prefent at the Service of God in an unknown Tongue; and this they are more likely to chufe at that Age, than thofe who are of riper and more im- ,prov'd Underftandings ; and if they do not chufe it at that time, it is ten to one they will not chufe it afterwards. I fhall fay no more of this, but that it is a very extraordinary Law, and fuch as perhaps was never thought of before, from the beginning ofthe World. Thus much for Children. As for grown Perlons, who are of a very low and mean Capacity of Under- ítanding, and either by reafon of the Weaknefs of their Faculties, or other Dif- advantages which they lie under, are in little or no probability of improving them- felves ; Thefe are always to be confxdered as in the Condition of Children, and Learners, and therefore muff of neceffity, in things which are riot plain and ob- vious to the meaneft Capacities,truft and rely upon the Judgment of others. And it is really much wifer and fafer for them fo to do, than to depend upon their ownJudgments, and to lean to their own Underftandings ; and fuch Perfons, if they be modeft and humble, and prayearneftly to God for his Affiftance and Di- reftion, and are careful to praflife what they know, and to live up to the beft Light and Knowledge which they have, fhall not mìfcarry meerly for want of thofe farther degrees ofKnowledge which they'had no Capacity nor Opportunity to attain ; becaufe their Ignorance, is unavoidable, and God will require no more of them than hebath given them, and will not call them to account for the Im- provementof thofe Talents, which he never committed to them. And ifthey be led into any dangerous Error, by the Negligence or ill Condu& of thofe, under whofe Care and. Inftruftion the Providence of God permitted them to be placed, God will not impute it to themas a Fault ; becaufe in the Circumftances inwhich theywere, they took the belt and wifeft Courfe that they could, to come to the Knowledge of the Truth, by being willing to learn what they could of thofe whom they took to be wifer than themfelves. But for-fuch Perfons, who, by, the Maturity of their Age, and by the natural Strength and Clearnefs oftheir Underftandings, or by the due Exercife and Im- provement of them, are capable of enquiring into, and underftanding the Grounds of their Religion, and difcerning the difference betwixt Truth and Error (I do not mean in unnecelfary Points, and Matters of deepeft Learning and Speculation, but in Matters neceltàry to Salvation) it is certainly very reafonable, that fuch Perfons fhould examine their Religion, and underftand the Reafons and Grounds of ir. And this mull either be granted to be reafonable, or elfe every Man mutt con- tinue in that Religion in which' he happens to he fixed by Education, or for any other Reafon to pitch upon, whenhe comes to Years, and makes his free Choice. For if this be a good Principle, that no Man is to examine his Religion, but take it as it is, and to believe it, and reft fatisfied with it ; Then every Man is to remain in the Religion which he firft lights upon, whether by Choice, or the Chance of his Education. For he ought not to change but upon Reafon;- and Reafon he can have none, unlefs he be allowed to examine his Religion, and to compare it with others, that by the Comparifon he may difcern which is belt, and ought in reafon to be preferred in his Choice. For to him that will not, or is not permitted to fearch into, the Grounds of any Religion, all Religions are alike ; as all things are of the faine Colour to him that is always kept in the dark ; or if he happens to come into the Light, dares not open his Eyes, and make ufe ofthem to difcern the different Colours ofthings. But this is evidently and at firft Sight unreafonable ; becaufe at this rate, every Man that, bath once entertained an Error, and a false Religion, muff for ever continue in it. For if he be not allowed to examine it, he can never have ' Rea- fon to change ; and to make a Change without Reafon, is certainly unreafonable, and meer Vanity and Inconftancy. . And.
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