But do what we can for the sake of Peace, as too much cannot be done for it, with the safety of Truth; it cannot be denied but that the Doctrine of Justification as it works effectually in the Church of Rome, is the Foundation of many Enormities among them both in Judgment and Practice. They do not continue I acknowledge, in that visible predominancy and rage as formerly; nor are the Generality of the people in so much slavish Bondage unto them as they were. But the streams of them do still issue from this corrupt Fountain, unto the dangerous Infection of the Souls of men. For Missatical Expiatory Sacrifices for the living and the dead, the necessity ⟨p. 89⟩of Auricular Confession with Authoritative Absolution, Penances, Pilgrimages, Sacramentals, Indulgences, Commutations, Works Satisfactory and Supererogatory, the Merit and Intercession of Saints departed, with especial Devotions and Applications to this or that particular Saint or Angel, Purgatory, yea on the matter the whole of Monastic Devotion, do depend thereon. They are all nothing but ways invented to pacify the Consciences of men, or divert them from attending to the Charge which is given in against them by the Law of God; sorry supplies they are of a Righteousness of their own, for them who know not how to submit themselves to the Righteousness of God. And if the Doctrine of free Justification by the Blood of Christ were once again exploded, or corrupted and made unintelligible; unto these things as absurd and foolish as now unto some they seem to be, or what is not one jot better, men must and will again betake themselves. For if once they are diverted from putting their Trust in the Righteousness of Christ and Grace of God alone, and do practically thereon follow after, take up with, or rest in that which is their own, the first impressions of a sense of sin which shall befall their Consciences, will drive them from their present hold, to seek for shelter in any thing that tenders unto them the least Appearance of Relief. Men may talk and dispute what they please whilst they are at peace in their own minds without a real sense either of sin or Righteousness; yea and scoff at them who are not under the power of the same security. But when they shall be awakened with other Apprehensions of things then yet they are aware of, they will be put on new Resolutions.
But do what we can for the sake of Peace, as too much cannot be done for it, with the safety of Truth; it cannot be denied but that the Doctrine of Justification as it works effectually in the Church of Rome, is the Foundation of many Enormities among them both in Judgment and Practice. They do not continue I acknowledge, in that visible predominancy and rage as formerly; nor are the Generality of the people in so much slavish Bondage unto them as they were. But the streams of them do still issue from this corrupt Fountain, unto the dangerous Infection of the Souls of men. For Missatical Expiatory Sacrifices for the living and the dead, the necessity ⟨p. 89⟩of Auricular Confession with Authoritative Absolution, Penances, Pilgrimages, Sacramentals, Indulgences, Commutations, Works Satisfactory and Supererogatory, the Merit and Intercession of Saints departed, with especial Devotions and Applications to this or that particular Saint or Angel, Purgatory, yea on the matter the whole of Monastick Devotion, do depend thereon. They are all nothing but ways invented to pacifie the Consciences of men, or divert them from attending to the Charge which is given in against them by the Law of God; sorry supplies they are of a Righteousness of their own, for them who know not how to submit themselves to the Righteousness of God. And if the Doctrine of free Justification by the Blood of Christ were once again exploded, or corrupted and made unintelligible; unto these things as absurd and foolish as now unto some they seem to be, or what is not one jot better, men must and will again betake themselves. For if once they are diverted from putting their Trust in the Righteousness of Christ and Grace of God alone, and do practically thereon follow after, take up with, or rest in that which is their own, the first impressions of a sense of sin which shall befall their Consciences, will drive them from their present hold, to seek for shelter in any thing that tenders unto them the least Appearance of Relief. Men may talk and dispute what they please whilst they are at peace in their own minds without a real sense either of sin or Righteousness; yea and scoff at them who are not under the power of the same security. But when they shall be awakened with other Apprehensions of things then yet they are aware of, they will be put on new Resolutions.
