A winding-sheet for popery. By Richard Baxter, CatholicA winding-sheet for popery. By Richard Baxter, Catholick

Reason 18. Moreover, Popery is a way of darkness: They fly the light, like Bats and Owls; and therefore it cannot be of God. Their public prayers and praises of God are performed in a tongue which the people understand not. Their writers call it the Original of all Heresies to translate the Scriptures into a known tongue. And now they are forced at last to do it themselves; they dissuade the common people from the reading of it. Yea they suffer no man to read such a translated Bible, but by a License from the Ordinary, which any man may know is not ordinarily granted, in their own Dominions. Many a man have they burnt to ashes, for reading the Bible in a known tongue. And how much they befriend the peoples ignorance in many other ways, their writings and sad experience tell us.

Reason 18. Moreover, Popery is a way of darkness: They flie the light, like Bats and Owls; and therefore it cannot be of God. Their publick prayers and praises of God are performed in a tongue which the people understand not. Their writers call it the Original of all Heresies to translate the Scriptures into a known tongue. And now they are forced at last to do it themselves; they disswade the common people from the reading of it. Yea they suffer no man to read such a translated Bible, but by a License from the Ordinary, which any man may know is not ordinarily granted, in their own Dominions. Many a man have they burnt to ashes, for reading the Bible in a known tongue. And how much they befriend the peoples ignorance in many other waies, their writings and sad experience tell us.

Reason 19. Yea, their profession is contrary to the light: They presume to contradict the very Word of God: Paul hath written a whole Chapter, 1 Cor. 14. against public praying or prophesying in an unknown tongue: And yet they will use it, and make the silly people believe, that Paul meaneth no such matter as he speaks. How many and many times, is the worshipping use of Images forbidden; And yet they will use them, say God what he will? How plainly hath Christ instituted the Lords Supper in both kinds, and how oft is it recited; and they confess it was so used by the ancient Church, for many an hundred years. And yet they will presume to alter all, and to forbid the Cup, even because they will do it. Abundance of such instances may be given of their contradicting Scriptures.