2. The obstinacy wherewith they cleave to them: Nothing will reclaim them; not Scripture, nor reason, nor evidence of truth, but they still cry the opinion of the Church, and the Faith of their Forefathers, and will invent any paltry shift and distinction; rather recede from any thing than once admit that the Church hath erred. Like the obstinate Jews in Christs time, that denied apparent matter of fact, Joh. 8.33. We were never in bondage to any man, though they were in Egypt and Babylon, and were now under servitude, ⟨p. 214⟩and the power of the Romans. Though we prove they have erred and do err still, the Church cannot err; or rather like the Elder Jews in the Prophet Jeremiahs time, Jer. 44.16, 17, 18, 19. As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken to thee, but we will certainly do whatsoever goeth out of our own mouth: To burn incense unto the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings to her, as we have done; we, and our Fathers, and our Kings, and our Princes, for then we had plenty of Victuals, and were well, and saw no evil: But since we have left off burning incense to the Queen of Heaven, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the Sword and the Famine. Such sottish obstinacy is there in men, that dote upon their own invented Superstitious and Idolatrous Services. Custom, Antiquity, practice of their Ancestors, the Authority and usage of their great ones, their Rulers, the generality of observance. This is their knot of Arguments, by which they confirm themselves; just as the Papists plead for their Superstitions at this day; and to make the Mess more complete, they add the plenty and prosperity they enjoyed; what a merry World it was before the new Gospel came in: when they had nothing but Mass and Matins. And all the Calamities that have fallen out, they impute not to their own sins, but to the Gospel. Now when a people ⟨p. 215⟩are thus obstinate, and measure Religion not by reasons of Conscience, but the interests of the Belly, it is a sign that they are under the power of delusion; and error hath more efficacy with such corrupt minds than the truth.
2. The obstinacy wherewith they cleave to them: Nothing will reclaim them; not Scripture, nor reason, nor evidence of truth, but they still cry the opinion of the Church, and the Faith of their Forefathers, and will invent any paltry shift and distinction; rather recede from any thing than once admit that the Church hath erred. Like the obstinate Jews in Christs time, that denied apparent matter of fact, Joh. 8.33. We were never in bondage to any man, though they were in Egypt and Babylon, and were now under servitude, ⟨p. 214⟩and the power of the Romans. Though we prove they have erred and do err still, the Church cannot err; or rather like the Elder Jews in the Prophet Ieremiahs time, Ier. 44.16, 17, 18, 19. As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken to thee, but we will certainly do whatsoever goeth out of our own mouth: To burn incense unto the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings to her, as we have done; we, and our Fathers, and our Kings, and our Princes, for then we had plenty of Victuals, and were well, and saw no evil: But since we have left off burning incense to the Queen of Heaven, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the Sword and the Famine. Such sottish obstinacy is there in men, that doat upon their own invented Superstitious and Idolatrous Services. Custom, Antiquity, practice of their Ancestors, the Authority and usage of their great ones, their Rulers, the generality of observance. This is their knot of Arguments, by which they confirm themselves; just as the Papists plead for their Superstitions at this day; and to make the Mess more compleat, they add the plenty and prosperity they enjoyed; what a merry World it was before the new Gospel came in: when they had nothing but Mass and Mattins. And all the Calamities that have faln out, they impute not to their own sins, but to the Gospel. Now when a people ⟨p. 215⟩are thus obstinate, and measure Religion not by reasons of Conscience, but the interests of the Belly, it is a sign that they are under the power of delusion; and error hath more efficacy with such corrupt minds than the truth.
