10. SO much are they indebted to the Ignorance and blindness of the former times, that as one saith, Many things are often had in great esteem, 1because they were once dedicated to the Service of the Gods. So now we see many things are magnified and applauded by them, not because they judge them worthy of this Esteem; but only because by Custom they ⟨p. 98⟩were once received, and thereby in a sort dedicated to the Service of God. But they pretend that their Church cannot Err. I suppose they speak this in the same sense as the Lacedaemonians were wont to say, there was no such thing as Adultery in their Common-wealth, when in truth they were all Adulterers, and used an uncertain sort of Marriages, and had their Wives in common. Or, as the Hungry Canonists now say of the Pope, that he being Lord of all Benefices, although he sells Bishoprics, Monasteries, and Livings, and suffers nothing to go from him without Money: yet because he claims all these as his own, tho he would, yet he cannot commit Simony: But then how well or rationally this is spoken, we poor Men cannot see or understand; except as the ancient Romans served Victory, 2so they have served Truth, for when she once came flying to them, they clipped her Wings that she might no more sly from them. But what if Jeremiah should tell them, as we have observed above, that these are lying Words? And what again if he should say,3 That many Pastors (who ought to have dressed) have destroyed my Vineyard? What if Christ should say, that those who should have taken the greatest care of the Temple, have made the House of God a D•n of Thieves? 4For if the Church of Rome cannot Err, she is more beholding to her own good Fortune, than to their Prudence or Care; for such are their Lives, Doctrines, and Diligence, that if we are to take our Measures from thence, this Church is not only in danger of falling into error, but of a total Ruin and Destruction: ⟨p. 99⟩And certainly if that Church can err which hath departed from the Word of God, the Commandments of Christ, the Institutions of the Apostles, the Examples of the Primitive Church, and from the Canons and Sanctions of the ancient Fathers and Councils, yea, and from her own too, which will be obliged by neither old nor new Laws, by neither her own nor any others, by neither Divine nor Humane Laws;
10. SO much are they indebted to the Ignorance and blindness of the former times, that as one saith, Many things are often had in great esteem, 1because they were once dedicated to the Service of the Gods. So now we see many things are magnified and applauded by them, not because they judge them worthy of this Esteem; but only because by Custom they ⟨p. 98⟩were once received, and thereby in a sort dedicated to the Service of God. But they pretend that their Church cannot Err. I suppose they speak this in the same sense as the Lacedemonians were wont to say, there was no such thing as Adultery in their Common-wealth, when in truth they were all Adulterers, and used an uncertain sort of Marriages, and had their Wives in common. Or, as the Hungry Canonists now say of the Pope, that he being Lord of all Benefices, altho he sells Bishopricks, Monasteries, and Livings, and suffers nothing to go from him without Money: yet because he claims all these as his own, tho he would, yet he cannot commit Simony: But then how well or rationally this is spoken, we poor Men cannot see or understand; except as the ancient Romans served Victory, 2so they have served Truth, for when she once came flying to them, they clipt her Wings that she might no more sly from them. But what if Jeremias should tell them, as we have observed above, that these are lying Words? And what again if he should say,3 That many Pastors (who ought to have dressed) have destroyed my Vineyard? What if Christ should say, that those who should have taken the greatest care of the Temple, have made the House of God a D•n of Thieves? 4For if the Church of Rome cannot Err, she is more beholding to her own good Fortune, than to their Prudence or Care; for such are their Lives, Doctrines, and Diligence, that if we are to take our Measures from thence, this Church is not only in danger of falling into •rror, but of a total Ruine and Destruction: ⟨p. 99⟩And certainly if that Church can err which hath departed from the Word of God, the Commandments of Christ, the Institutions of the Apostles, the Examples of the Primitive Church, and from the Canons and Sanctions of the ancient Fathers and Councils, yea, and from her own too, which will be obliged by neither old nor new Laws, by neither her own nor any others, by neither Divine nor Humane Laws;
- 1C. Plinius.
- 2Plutarch.
- 3XII. 9.
- 4Mat. XX. 13.
