IN Managing Controversies in Religion, there be two usual Artifices that frequently prove traps to catch the Injudicious Multitude, and sway more with unthinking Men than a Demonstration; one is to insinuate that the impleaded Opinion is contrary to Purity and Holiness; a way to corrupt the Churches and usher in degeneracy: hereby many men of tender Consciences are startled, as if there were a Snake in the Grass; the other is a magnifying of such Authors, as do discountenance, or seem to discountenance that Opinion, as if they were but one degree beneath the Apostles, they have mens Persons in Admiration because of Advantage, which proves like a Charm to many Readers, being ready to swallow all with an implicit Faith. How far Mr. M. hath acted his part in these two Methods, is obvious to any that observe: the latter of them especially is his proper Element. But these are but flourishes, that may raise mens Spirits, but convey no light into their Understandings: they may serve to garnish & adorn either Truth or Error, but strengthen neither of them. Let him but prove his Doctrine to be true, and we will believe it to be a preservative ⟨image ?⟩of the Purity of the Church; let him but confirm his Doctrine from Divine Authority, and we will receive it, whether his Authors, do deserve their high Character or not.
IN Managing Controversies in Religion, there be two usual Artifices that frequently prove traps to catch the Injudicious Multitude, and sway more with unthinking Men than a Demonstration; one is to insinuate that the impleaded Opinion is contrary to Purity and Holiness; a way to corrupt the Churches and usher in degeneracy: hereby many men of tender Consciences are startled, as if there were a Snake in the Grass; the other is a magnifying of such Authors, as do discountenance, or seem to discountenance that Opinion, as if they were but one degree beneath the Apostles, they have mens Persons in Admiration because of Advantage, which proves like a Charm to many Readers, being ready to swallow all with an implicit Faith. How far Mr. M. hath acted his part in these two Methods, is obvious to any that observe: the latter of them especially is his proper Element. But these are but flourishes, that may raise mens Spirits, but convey no light into their Understandings: they may serve to garnish & adorn either Truth or Errour, but strengthen neither of them. Let him but prove his Doctrine to be true, and we will believe it to be a preservative ⟨image ?⟩of the Purity of the Church; let him but confirm his Doctrine from Divine Authority, and we will receive it, whether his Authors, do deserve their high Character or not.
