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

3. How wicked are they? how great is their sin, that keep others from knowledge? Some there be that would persuade men from labouring after it; tell them private persons need not be so knowing; they may be saved with less learning, and less teaching; a little knowledge will carry them to Heaven, if they do but live honestly and do their duty. And is it possible for a man to live honestly without knowledge, or do his duty without understanding his duty, (I add) to believe as he should, without knowing what to believe? can you be religious by instinct? or do the will of God by guess, though you never inquire after it? why do they not as well tell men, that they may be rich enough, if they do but keep to their shops, and sell their goods, though they do not understand their trade? or that they may maintain their health, if they do but eat and drink, though they cannot distinguish between meat and poison? others there be, who, if they cannot persuade men against knowledge, vvill do their best to hinder them from the means of obtaining it. Such are the Popish Clergy, that keep the people from reading the Scriptures; would have God's revealed will kept secret; or known to none but themselves, who never intend to do it; at least, no more of it known, than pleaseth Holy Church, i. e. no more than is for the interest of the Pope's pride, and the Priest's paunches. Knowledge hath already done them no small mischief, and how can that choose but be too much light, which endangers the ruin of the kingdom of darkness? thus those Scribes, or Jewish Lawyers, Luk. 11.52. Took away the key of knowledge; they entered not in themselves into the Kingdom of Heaven, and them that were entering they hindered, and 1 Thes. 2.16. The Jews forbade the Apostles to preach to the Gentiles that they might be saved. And ⟨p. 126⟩how great a sin is it to grudge others the grace of Christ, and the Kingdom of God? to drive a design for the damnation of Souls? It is a wretched thing for Men to build their greatness upon the ruin of others, and rather to let thousands of Souls be damned, than their stakes should not be saved. Doubtless if they considered how little comfort they are like to have in Hell in the society of those they have brought thither, they would at least be content to perish alone.