A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

So when Errors are Epidemical, it is the wisdom of every Christian to fence himself against them. And though we do not say, that every private Believer is bound to be a School-divine, to be exact in all the niceties and Controversies which may arise about matters of Religion; (a Man may be saved that never read Aquinas, nor Scotus) yet sure every one that is capable of it should labour so to understand the Doctrine of Religion, as to be able to know what is Truth, and what is Error; and to be so established in the belief of the truth, as that, though he cannot answer all the Quirks, and Captions of a wrangling Sophister, yet he may see a reason (as before) for what he believes, and for his firmly adhering to it. As if a subtle disputer should bring an Argument to prove that the Sun is not up at noon day, though a Man were not able presently to discover the fallacy, yet he would not lightly believe a thing so contrary to his very sense. It is good (I am sure) for Christians to be so established against reigning errors, as that though an Angel from Heaven should labour to propagate them, yet to be pertinacious, and graciously obstinate in rejecting them.

So vvhen Errors are Epidemical, it is the vvisdom of every Christian to fence himself against them. And though vve do not say, that every private Believer is bound to be a School-divine, to be exact in all the niceties and Controversies which may arise about matters of Religion; (a Man may be saved that never read Aquinas, nor Scotus) yet sure every one that is capable of it should labour so to understand the Doctrine of Religion, as to be able to know what is Truth, and what is Error; and to be so established in the belief of the truth, as that, though he cannot answer all the Quirks, and Captions of a wrangling Sophister, yet he may see a reason (as before) for vvhat he believes, and for his firmly adhering to it. As if a subtle disputer should bring an Argument to prove that the Sun is not up at noon day, though a Man were not able presently to discover the fallacy, yet he would not lightly believe a thing so contrary to his very sense. It is good (I am sure) for Christians to be so established against reigning errors, as that though an Angel from Heaven should labour to propagate them, yet to be pertinacious, and graciously obstinate in rejecting them.