Aphorisms of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of…Aphorismes of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of…

2. Others there are of much like understanding and ends as the former, who yet take the contrary means to obtain those ends. They know no such way to be the only men, as magisterially to silence all contradictors: If it were only for apparent and weighty truths, I should commend their zeal: But the mischief is, that they will be Creed-makers themselves, or put their Commentaries into the Text, or so conjoin them, as the Rhemists, that the Text may not walk in the day-light ⟨image 5⟩alone: And so the Creed of many, who have a quick and easy faith is swelled as big almost as Aquinas Sums. If one of the Primitive Martyrs were alive among us, and professed but what was in his ancient Creed, he would scarce be taken by many for a Christian. I am not all so narrow in my Creed, as Doctor Taylor urgeth: but I have observed more of this sort of men contemn his arguments, then are able to answer them. These men themselves believe so much (fide humana) that they know but little; and yet they would have no body know more then they, or no body speak that saith not as they. They would have nothing said but what is said already; and then it is better (in print) say nothing. They think it a reproach to change our opinions, or hold them with reserves: Pudet haec opprobria nobis, &c. But O that these men could tell us how to remedy it! To cry down that ignorance which dwelleth in me, is more to the credit of Knowledge then of me. But these men are like many superficial Scholars, who when they have spent many years in the Universities, have no way to prove themselves proficients, but to extol Learning, and cry down the unlearned, that so they may cast the suspicion from themselves upon others: Even so do these in crying down errors. I know this small Tract will not relish well with these mens palates, neither is it ambitious of their favour, or yet so quarrelsome as purposely to provoke them; though some words may not be cut meet to their conceits. As I abhor the project of Julian to destroy the Christian Faith, by giving all Sects a liberty of contending; so am I loath that any such monster should be produced by nature who should be a professed enemy to the advancement of Reason; or should presume to bound that sea of Knowledge which God hath promised shall cover the earth; and to say, hitherto shalt thou go, and no further:

2. Others there are of much like understanding and ends as the former, who yet take the contrary meanes to obtaine those ends. They know no such way to be the onely men, as magisterially to silence all contradictors: If it were onely for apparent and weighty truths, I should commend their zeale: But the mischiefe is, that they will bee Creed-makers themselves, or put their Commentaries into the Text, or so conjoyne them, as the Rhemists, that the Text may not walk in the day-light