that of our Lord Jefus Chrift in all thefe refpects, tho' it pretends in every one of them to adhere to it. The papists profess indeed to acknowledge one only living and true God: yet at the fame time 'tis notorious, that they pay more real worship and adoration to angels and faints, and even to images, than to him. And to keep up this practice, fuch thoughts are fuggested to the people's minds concerning the divine being, as are altogether unworthy of him, and inconfiftent with the honour of the one and only mediator, in whofe name we are directed to addrefs him. Nay the multiplicity of the prayers themselves, which are addreffed to faints and angels, begging for their interceffion, tends to make the people think concerning the kindeft and most benevolent being in the world, that he is almost inexorable, and that nothing but continual importunity will prevail with him for any favour: whereas the mediation of Chrift, as ftated in the new teftament, teaches no fuch thing; but encourages us, finners as we are, to go directly to God in his name, in whom he has declared himfelf to be well pleafed. But this one mediator is by the church of Rome overlooked, in a croud of others of her own making.

Then, instead of a strict regard to righteousness, and sobriety; the doctrines of indulgences and purgatory, and fo likewise that of absolution, upon confeffion and fatisfaction at the will and pleasure of the priest, encourage all manner of vice and wickedness: fince, according to these doctrines, a man may buy off any punishment,

if

if he furvives the wicked actions he refolves upon or, at the worst, can have them bought off when he is dead, if he has but money enough to leave behind him.

As to forbearance and brotherly kindness; the church of Rome is a fworn enemy to these chriftian virtues. She will not bear the leaft deviation from her own traditions, decrees and canons. She makes them all neceffary to falvation, both in this life, and that which is to come: prefumptuously denouncing eternal damnation to those who do not punctually obferve and obey them; and cruelly destroying fuch of them as he can get into her own power.

What good pretenfions the church of Rome has to be the church of Christ, the fhews by setting up another head over the church befides Chrift, inconfiftently with his legislative authority, and contrary to his own exprefs direction.

How little value fhe has for the fcripture, fhe fhews by fetting up her own traditions upon an equal foot with it. And by the fame means, and by claiming the fole authority of interpreting fcripture, the prevents, as much as in her lies, its being of any ufe to the people, even when they can get a fight of their bibles, which for the most part is forbidden. She will not fuffer them to exercise their reafon in judging of that revelation, which he tells them God has given for their direction. No: if you will be a true member of this church, you must give up your reason, and even the teftimony of your fenfes too; as appears notorioufly in the affair of tranfubftantiation. And yet it is evident, that our

bleffed Lord himself frequently appealed to the judgment and confcience of his hearers, concerning the goodness and divine original of his doctrine; and always to their fenfes, as often as he wrought any miracles.

How deftructive to all the views of true religion is the stress which popery lays upon external fervices, to the neglect of what is inward and pertaining to the confcience; and how fatally this tends to harden men in their fins, and to make them refolve against the irksome work of fubduing ill habits, and labouring after those which are truly good; is too vifible to need a demonftration.

How abfolutely this corrupt church is refolved upon maintaining a dominion over mens confciences, and what cruel meafures fhe takes for that purpose, has been fufficiently fhewn. How contrary this domineering and cruel fpirit is to the humble and peaceful fpirit of christianity, needs no proof, to those who have any acquaintance with the books of the new teftament. And how inconfiftent it is with the peace of civil government, and even with the fafety of thofe, whether governors or people, who refuse to put themselves intirely into the priests power; is not only evident in the nature of the thing, but notorious from hiftory, in all those cases where the priefts have thought it worth their while to try their strength.

May we be defended from the corruptions with which this church is over-run, and from falling into the hands of her agents, whofe tender mercies are cruelties. May we wifely improve the great

benefit

benefit of having the fcripture in our own hands; by diligently attending to the mind of God therein made known, and obeying it in the tenor of our actions. May God in his mercy open the eyes of the deluded; and turn the hearts of those who lead them aftray. And may there be no other contention among those who profefs christianity, than who shall beft anfwer the defign of it, in the pious and peaceable and beneficent course of their lives. Amen.

FINI S

ERRAT A.

PAGE 19. line 14. r. assurance. pag. 54. lin. 2. r. the people.

pag. 60. lin. antepen. for cap. 6. г. cap. 2. pag. 91. lin. ult. r. 1566.

pag. 92. lin. 11. dele, towards the end.

ibid. lin. 12, &c. r. I beseech thee, that in the holy, tremendous and terrible judgment, in the fight of thy only begotten fon, to whom the Father gave all judgment, thou wouldest ibid. lin. 26. r. Te deprecor---- ut in fancto, tremendo ac terribili judicio, in confpectu unigeniti filii tui, cui Pater dedit omne judicium, me, &c.

pag. 94. lin. 18. after help, r. and to my counfel.