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

Sect. 4. The ground of all this, is, that they judge the knowledge of the Scriptures unnecessary, in a manner to all sorts; yea count it necessary to keep as many as they can possibly from acquaintance therewith. They are highly concerned for this, even as much as those who have villainous designs, and would accomplish them without observance and control, are concerned to shun the light. They know full well ⟨p. 77⟩the Scripture condemns Popery, we may well say they know it, when themselves confess ^(x)that both their worship and their doctrine is contrary and repugnant to Scripture, and allege this as the Reason, why they would have as little of the Scripture, as can be, known to any. From their own mouths we have the reason, why they would never have suffered the Bible to be exposed in a vulgar Tongue, if it could have been avoided. The Protestants Translations made that impossible, and the Papists among them, who had a mind to look into the word of God, might have made use of these, if no other had been provided: to prevent which, they were forced to translate it, and yet their own Translations (which are so strange a disguise of Scripture) they dare not trust to the common view; they are in the Index of forbidden Books, put out by Pius the fourth, and an unpardonable sin they make it for any to read them, but such as can procure a Licence for it from a Bishop or Inquisitor; that is, none but those who, they are confident, will not be moved by what they meet with there against Popery: and yet (as if so great restraint were too much liberty for so dangerous a thing as the Word of God) in the after Edition ^(*)of the Index, by Clement the Eight, he declares, That no new faculty is granted to Bishops or Inquisitors to grant any Licence for reading the Bible; since by the Mandate and usage of the Church of Rome, and the Universal Inquisition, all power of granting such Licences is taken away. So far are they from thinking the knowledge of the Scriptures needful for the people; that they count it Heresy to affirm, the Scripture ought to be in a Language which they know (how can it be less than Heresy to think that needful to be known, though it be the Revelation of God which discovers Popery to be an Imposture?)

Sect. 4. The ground of all this, is, that they judge the knowledge of the Scriptures unnecessary, in a manner to all sorts; yea count it necessary to keep as many as they can possibly from acquaintance therewith. They are highly concerned for this, even as much as those who have villanous designes, and would accomplish them without observance and controul, are concerned to shun the light. They know full well