The church of Rome, no safe guide, or, Reasons to prove that no rational…

The case being thus plainly stated, the enquiry hereon is, whether of these Guides, a man that takes care of his own eternal Salvation, should betake himself, and firmly adhere unto, to the end.

In answer unto this Enquiry, I shall prove, that no wise man who feareth God, and is careful of the eternal condition of his own soul, can choose the Church of Rome for this Guide, foregoing the other of the Scripture, with the Divine Aids promised and given for the understanding thereof.

In answer unto this Enquiry, I shall prove, that no wise man who feareth God, and is careful of the eternal condition of his own soul, can chuse the Church of Rome for this Guide, foregoing the other of the Scripture, with the Divine Aids promised and given for the understanding thereof.

The Person of whom I speak I suppose to be a wise man; that is, one who prefers things eternal unto those that are temporal, so as not to be ensnared by earthly Interests and Advantages, unto the forfeiture of his Interest in things above; and will be careful not to be imposed on by men who design their own Advantage in what they would persuade him unto. He who is otherwise minded is a fool. ⟨p. 11⟩He is also one that feareth God, and therefore is real and in good earnest in Religion, as desiring to please him in all things. For there are many who give the world no small disturbance about religious concerns, who do on all occasions manifest that they have little or no regard unto God in what they say or do. But in the Persons whom I address unto, I suppose that they really take care above all other things of the eternal salvation of their souls. And I shall not deal with them by abstruse Arguments, nor by Testimonies of men that may be bandied up and down, on the one side and the other; but by such plain Reasonings as are accommodated unto the common understanding of all sober, sedate, rational Persons, who own the Principles of Christian Religion, which have their force from the general usage of mankind in things of an alike nature, the common natural Principles of mens minds, where they are not vitiated and depraved, with the experience of what they have found already in any Duties of Religious Worship. Indeed if we could but prevail with men to be persuaded that every man must believe for himself, and obey for himself, and give an account for himself, this difference would be at an end. For the choice of the Church of Rome to be the Guide enquired after, is nothing but the putting of the care of saving our souls unto others, who will not be able to answer for us, when our Trial shall come.