The practical divinity of the papists discovered to be destructive of Christianity and mens…

Sect. 3. Thirdly, they need not know what they ought to do; they may be without sin, ignorant of what the Lord hath made their duty. Adrian, Corduba, Herrera determine, and it is the more common and received opinion, that men may be inculpably ignorant of the Law of Nature, ⟨p. 73⟩and the ten Commandments, ^(h)as Sancta Clara informs us. But then, since they need not know the Rule, what have they to follow? why, the direction of their Teachers; and these they must follow blindfold, right or wrong: It is one of the qualifications required in the obedience of others, but especially of the Religious (which they would have us think to be best of all) that it be ⁽ⁱ⁾blind: Nor should Fear of going wrong, move them to open, or use their own eyes; for if they do wander out of the way of God, after such Guides, yet they are right, and do their duty. Those who managed ^(k)the conference for the Romanists at Ratisbon, Anno 1601. maintained that the people are so subjected to the government of their Teachers; that if they err, the people may and ought to err with them. And they are not only excused from all faults, when they thus wander with their Teachers, but their obedience to their Pastors herein, is many times meritorious. This is the judgment not only of Valentia, Angles, Vasquez, but the common determination of their Schools in ^(l)Sancta Clara. It seems a man may deserve eternal life by leaving the way to it; and may come to Heaven meritoriously by wandering from it. What a strange thing is it, that they will not let their Catholics be certain of Salvation, since they cannot miss it, no not by going out of the way that leads to it? When they follow their Guide into the ditch, yet they are safe; but that's a small matter: by being willing to be led by such as see not, or mind not the way, they merit, and spring up to Heaven marvellously, even when they are falling from a precipice, and tumbling headlong after their Leaders.

Sect. 3. Thirdly, they need not know what they ought to do; they may be without sin, ignorant of what the Lord hath made their duty. Adrian, Corduba, Herrera determine, and it is the more common and received opinion, that men may be inculpably ignorant of the Law of Nature,