Y naT u. SERMON XVI, 213 and to bring in rites and ceremonies into their worship according to their own invention 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 scripture to be read bythe common people, that they may not learn the truth of the gospel, but may take all for gospel which they teach them, and be con- tent with it. Whereas the protestant has nothing else but his bibleto have recourse to for the conclusion of all controversies ; and heencourages every man to use his bible, and to judge for himself concerning the sense .and 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 gospel, but they put the bible into his hand, andbid him search and seeWhether 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 thou- sand things.in popery, which the protestants utterly disown, be- cause they disown the power of the pope, or church, to stamp new articles of faith, or inventnew forms of worship. Objection. But it it may be said still, there are so many different sects and parties among the protestants themselves, as encourages the deist to maintain his charge and accusation. " 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 give you so plain and certain a knowled,re of it ! ' I answer, That almost all those things wherein protestants differ, are but of smaller importance in religion, in comparison of those many andgreat thingswherein they agree. The chief and most important ,points of christianity are written with so much plainness and evidence in the word of God, as would lead all humble, honest, sincere and diligent enquirers into a beliefof them, and consent in them. Now it is not necessary that the lesser matters of christianity should be written down so express- ly in scripture : For the all-wise God thought it proper to leave many of these articles of less importance more dubious and ob- scure, both to awaken the diligence of men to study his word, and to leave amongst them some ,occasions for the exercise of their mutual charity and forbearance. Our blessed Lord has thought it proper to put the universal love which he requires amongst his followers, to this test or trial, to seewhether they will cultivate peace and charity to one another amidst their various and divided ppinions in things of less concernment.
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