An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

Answ. I confess in Popery they would so exalt their Priestly Office as that all people must be brought into a blind obedience unto them, and the people must receive whatsoever Doctrine they preach; The Priests lips only must preserve knowledge, the people must not so much as examine it, they must obey and not contradict whatsoever is said; It is one of the Popes Canons concerning him,¹ that though he should carry down with him by heaps souls to Hell, yet no mortal man must presume so much as to rebuke him or find fault with him, for he being spiritual as they say (for so they abuse that Scripture) he judgeth all men and no man judgeth him; and in a proportion all their Priests would fain have that power. And this certainly hath been the policy of our Priests of late to bring the people into ignorance that so they might not be able to contend with them let then) do what they will. They cry out there was never such a time when every Taylor and every Shop keeper hath had so much knowledge that they can contradict ⟨p. 83⟩their Minister as now, and try the Doctrine of their Minister. They vex at this that poor men have so much knowledge as to be able to try their Doctrine they preach, they would fain so preach as that you must be led like a company of sheep what way they would lead you and believe what ever they preach. Certainly so many gross errors and doting conceits of Popery could never have prevailed except they had prevailed with people in their blind obedience. Therefore there may be some striving with Ministers and that according to God, though here their striving is forbidden; As thus, Christ requires that his sheep should know the difference between his voice and the voice of a stranger: Yea we know that there is a charge that if any preach any other Doctrine he should be accursed; even people should look upon those that come to them to preach any other Doctrine as accursed; Therefore they are required to know; And they are commanded to try every thing and not to believe every spirit, yea not to bid them good speed that bring other Doctrines; And they are to say to Archeppus, Take heed to thy Ministry which thou hast received that thou fulfil it; so far people have leave. Yet still it must be done in ways of respect to them.

Answ. I confess in Popery they would so exalt their Priestly Office as that all people must be brought into a blind obedience unto them, and the people must receive whatsoever Doctrine they preach; The Priests lips only must preserve knowledg, the people must not so much as examin it, they must obey and not contradict whatsoever is said; It is one of the Popes Canons concerning him,