282 A RATIONAL DEFENCE OF TRE GOSPEL. tSERM. XV /. a difference between ,them and the papists, when they lay such different foundations for their faith and practice. 2. Another reason why the protestant and papist differ to much is, because the papist pretends that there is an infal liblejudge among them to determine all controver- sies ; and thattheir popes, and their councils, which they call the church, have authority to appoint what shall be esteemed the truearticles of faith, and tobring in rites and ceremonies into their worship according to their own in- vention and pleasure. And that all the people are bound to believe as the church bids them believe, and to practise in matters of worship whatsoever the church bids them practise And upon this account they forbid the scrip- ture tobe read by the common people, that they may not learn the truthof thegospel, but may take all for gospel which they teach them, and be content with it. Whereas the protestant has nothing else but his bible to have re- course to for the conclusion of all controversies ; and he encourages every man to use his bible, and to judge for himself concerning the senseand meaning of it, using the best helps that he can obtain for this end : The protestant ministers teach him not only what they know of the gos- pel, but they put the bible into his hand, and bid him search and see whether things are so or no, that thence he may learn what are those doctrines and those duties which Christ has required him to believe and practise: Thence it comes to pass, that there are almost a thousand things in _popery, which the protestants utterly disown, becaúse they disown the power of the pope, or church, to stamp new articles of faith, or invent new forms of worship. Objection. But it may be said still, that there are so many different sects and parties among the protestants themselves, as encourages the deist to maintain his charge and accusation. `1 Why do you, saith he, who profess to derive all your religion from the scripture, differ so much among yourselves, both in doctrine, in worship, and in the order of your churches, if the gospel of Christ be so excellent a religion, and if the books that contain it can giveyou so plain and certain a knowledgeof it?" I answer, That almost all those things wherein pro- testants differ, are but of smaller importance in religion in comparison of those many and great things wherein
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