Tenth Observation.

Tenth Observation.

Error being conscious to it self of its own weakness, and the strong assaults that will ⟨p. 23⟩be made upon it, evermore labours to defend and secure it self under the wings of Antiquity, Reason, Scripture, and high pretensions to Reformation and Piety.

Error being conscious to it self of its own weakness, and the strong assaults that will ⟨p. 23⟩be made upon it, evermore labours to defend and seeure it self under the wings of Antiquity, Reason, Scripture, and high pretensions to Reformation and Piety.

Antiquity is a venerable word, but ill used, when made a cloak for Error. Truth must needs be elder than Error, as the Rule must necessarily be, before the aberration from it. The grey hairs of Opinions are then only Beauty, and a Crown, when found in the way of Righteousness. Copper (saith Learned Dumoulin) will never become Gold by Age. A Lye will be a Lye, let it be never so ancient. We dispute not by Years, but by Reasons drawn from Scripture. That which is now called an Ancient Opinion, if it be not a true Opinion, was once but a new Error. When you can tell us how many years are required to turn an Error into Truth, then we will give more heed to Antiquity, when pressed in the service of Error, than we now think due to it.

Antiquity is a venerable word, but ill used, when made a cloak for Error. Truth must needs be elder than Error, as the Rule must necessarily be, before the ab•rration from it. The gray hairs of Opinions are then only Beauty, and a Crown, when found in the way of Righteousness. Copper (saith Learned Dumoulin) will never become Gold by Age. A Lye will be a Lye, let it be never so ancient. We dispute not by Years, but by Reasons drawn from Scripture. That which is now call'd an Ancient Opinion, if it be not a true Opinion, was once but a new Error. When you can tell us how many years are required to turn an Error into Truth, then we will give more heed to Antiquity, when press'd in the service of Error, than we now think due to it.