Will any wise man make a Testament that no body shall be able to understand ? Will any good man make a Testament that few or none shall be the better for , nay much the worse ? How then shall we dare to think that the most wise , and just , and gracious God hath done after this fashion ? or which is worse , that he hath indeed made a fair and pleasing Will to all Mankind for salvation , inviting them to Holiness in order thereunto , but hath reserved a secret Will to himself quite contrary , which no body must question , but every body must follow his outward Will , though by the inward Will they are bound up for the generality by an Eternal decree , never to do that Righteousness , nor enjoy that Happiness , which they are exhorted and intreated to do and to enjoy . I say again , If this be fair dealing let the world judge . They talk of handling the word of God deceitfully ; I pray , what shall we call this way of handling it , when they teach that men are decreed to a Number to be good and happy , sinful and miserable inevitably , i. e. against their wills .

2. Another Humour possesseth those of the Church of Rome , That whatsoever the Will of God was from all eternity , some disputing it to be Absolute , others Conditional , few or none take care to preach it . But all their Guides insist upon the Masse and other Sacraments , and urge Austerities and Penances , of Whippings , Pilgrimages , &c. And direct them to pray to Saints departed , Superstition . by ceremonies and offerings to their Shrines , Images and Reliques ; and grant them large Indulgences for mony , and Dirges and Masse for releasing their Souls out of Purgatory . And in these and all other their Heathenish shews and Pageantries , amuse the simple sort with Certainty of salvation upon the implicite Faith of the Church , and the Opus operatum injoyned to merit Heaven by . And so they go away clearly to heaven to rights , without any more ado .

A man would admire that Learned men should be such knaves , to practice and teach such a blind Religion ; and that the Laity should be such slaves , to use no Judgment of their own , but to submit to such unreasonable Fopperies . But let these and such like look to themselves , I shall go another way to work .

The Fathers , Ancient witnesses of the Truth , Men of Renown , have relished of the Eloquence , Philosophy and Superstition of the Heathens amongst whom they were bred , as Origen , Fathers . Tertullian , Cyprian , Ambrose , &c. Others retained much of Judaism as well as Paganism , after their conversion to the Christian Religion . Later men having good wits , did ill employ them in making knots , Schoolmen . in railing and beggarly confutations of adverse parties , tossing the Ball to and fro , disparaging the labours of deserving men , an odious way ; Others flie aloft and hover in the clouds , and lose themselves in Rosicrucian , Rosicrucians . Metaphysical Idea's and speculations . All this while such a dust is raised round about , that the plain truth of Faith and honesty is obscured and groped after : Whereas if the great kindness and love of God were fairly published to the World without tricks or legerdemain , Promises preached . God would be glorified , Souls would embrace the Promises , and be in covenant with their God , and inherit everlasting life . Then would the free people of God be subject to his laws , and not remain in bondage to humane ordinances ; Touch not , Taste not , Handle not ; nor to Will-worship of Saints or Angels ; then would all unnecessary disputes cease , all cases of Consciences be resolved , Pacification . all Sects and Heresies be united , the spiritual worship and power of Godliness advanced , all jealousies removed , and the world would be at peace and quiet . Because the fiery and unquiet spirits of men are tamed and settled by the spirit of the Gospel , and the Lion will feed and couch with the Lamb , and they shall learn no kind of war any more .

This were a rare Attempt , however it should succeed , for God's glory , the Worlds good , and the honour of the Undertakers , though they bring all the proud Disputers of the Schools about their ears . For this purpose I would blow the Trumpet fain , so to rowse up the spirits of learned and meek men for peace , as others have done for war. I am sure in this doing I choose the better part , which shall never be taken away from me . And let God work his will , however I and those of my genius will long for it , and endeavour after it , at least to satisfie and comfort our own Souls , and convince the world , or rather the wiser sort , that such a way and means there is to be used if they would but look after it .

This way and Means , Means to understand Scripture . I take to be the right understanding of the last Will and Testament of God by Jesus Christ .

In order to this way of Pacification , I humbly , under God , apply my self to be a Disciple to the best of men , that labour to know and teach , what things are to be had or done in Rule and Government , in duty and action for Souls , how to make them wise and just ; for Bodies , how to make and keep them safe and sound ; for Estates , how to get , preserve , increase and use them for society of cohabitation and commerce , at home and abroad , in peace and war , for this life and for a better . Which do all the businesses of Souls , Bodies and Estates in Church and State , the rest are but as Cyphers in comparison of them .

Such are our meer Grammarians , Oratours , Criticks , Poets , Musicians , Sophisters , Linguists , &c. that serve for Loves , Complements , Entertainments , Recreations , Revels , Triumphs , Births , Marriages , Instalments , Funerals , Pomps , Dissentions , Interests , Parties and Factions ; by their Panegyricks , Epithalamiums , Elegies , Disputes , &c. while those Sacred Mystae by their braver spirits are raised up to give their attendance at the holy Altars of Religion and Justice , performing all the higher , more serious and profitable services in Church and State , as the Ambassadors of God , the Counsel of Souls , the Priests of Justice and Equity , the Legates of Princes and States , the Guides of Souls in all religious and civil Transactions , by their Preaching , Praying , Praising , Pleading , Judging , Treating and Executing of Laws Divine and Humane .

I have reason therefore , I think , to wave the laziness of such men of good Talents , but not improving them to the best advantage , but staying behind in the enjoyment of Vulgar notions , content themselves with Vulgar errors .

Mercurial Spirits . There are in this latter Age of the world men of Mercurial spirits , that by their labours have advanced all kind of Learning to a higher pitch than ever : No disparagement to our Ancestors at all , who some of them fairly aimed at the same mark , but were unhandsomly cried down and discouraged in their several Ages ; as Trismegistus , Plato , Socrates , Hierocles , Hippocrates , &c. of old ; and Paracelsus , Helmont , Harvy , &c. of late . So for Divines , Clement , Ignatius , Irenaeus , Justin , Hierome , Chrysostome , Basil , Theophylact , &c. of old ; and Cassander , Melancthon , Arminius , Grotius , Hammond , Lushington , Taylor , &c. of late .

This may be granted perhaps in Philosophy , Physick and Mathematicks , and in Mechanick Arts , as of Navigation , &c. but to assert any improvement in Divinity will be thought Heresie , Schism , or Innovation at the least , which is counted dangerous .

Principles sure . As for the Foundations and Principles of Faith , there is no doubt but they alwaies have been , and are , and will be the same ; but for the superstructures and consequences , they are now by Discerning men more clearly drawn out for Spiritual advantages , than ever they were before by a more perfect understanding of the Scriptures , without the mixture of Traditions , or the Doctrines of Men.

Christianity unmixt . The Reason is , because at the first Christianity was compleatly revealed by Christ to his Apostles , who with him taught the purity and perfection of Divine worship , far above the Jewish dispensation , and the Wisdom of the world . But this Treasure after their daies was a little hid , yea , in the Apostles daies this mischief began to work , which was by them wisely observed , especially by St. Paul , who in all his Epistles , especially to the Romans and Galatians , clears up the absolute independent necessity of the Gospel , without Moses and the help of vain Philosophy , against the Jewish and Heathenizing Christians . But in the daies of their Disciples and their Successors , the streams that arose from pure fountains , ran farther through the channels of Judaism and Heathenism : and though they kept themselves in their own nature unmixt , and do still , yet Men of weak Judgments , through Ignorance , and of Corrupt minds , through too much Worldly wisdom , did , and do taste too much of their own muddy waters , and keep the savour of them , as is apparent in their Expressions and Superstitions to this very day .

And why then should not some , if they can , Aspire to perfection . be wiser and honester too than some ? Must we be always Children , dwell always upon beggarly Elements , be always biassed by Parties and Sides for favour and gain ? The older the World is , it should grow the wiser , and not stand at a stay . It is no Solecism to say , We are elder ( in our Generations ) than our Fathers , and have more experience than our Teachers , and our Children and Disciples will be wiser than we : And that Antiquity which we so admire and trust unto , is Junior and Neoterick properly to us . The first Ages are the Youth of the World in their Minority , but we are the Antients and Adult .

We are beholding to them , and they would now , if alive , be beholding to us . Neither are the Truths among them altered at all , but the same far better understood and kept pure by themselves , and enlarged to more profitable uses .

It is a dull thing to fit still like Children , and venture no farther than we have been taught to go . All men have not the same drowzy spirits ; all men will not be so contented ; Some men will put on lively , and try to add something more upon the old stock , and not suffer themselves to be led by the nose : as for those that will be deceived , there is no remedy , let them be deceived .

And they are for the most part of these kinds ; Vain Sciences . Such as for ostentation heap up variety of Learning from vain and unnecessary Logick , Philosophy , History , Tongues , Mathematicks , Antiquities , &c. and little regard Morality for life and action to govern themselves and others . Hence they become Imperious and Magisterial in their Determinations ; though for the most part unprofitable , and too often hurtful to the Publick good .

2. Such as call themselves , and are called Poets and Orators , fine tongued fellows , that can seemingly set off what smattering knowledge they have , the easier to gull themselves and others by false Reasons guilded over by fucous , enticing expressions ; by whom a full , clear , grave and solid style , conveying the digested conceptions of the mind to the ears and minds of men by significant terms , and fit to do business , is derided as rude and barbarous .

These profound Sages with other folks learning , as the Bird with strange feathers , or the Asse with the Lion's skin , are mightily elevated with their great Parts of Memory and Utterance . How they can recite Councils , Fathers , Philosophers , Historians : Pick Hebrew , Greek , and all kind of Roots : Coin subtil Distinctions without difference , and engross all knowledge to themselves . Although all this cry makes but a little wool , all is but borrowed ; nor can they manage the stock of others , but spoil it , mar it in the using . This is meer Pedantry , here 's nothing of Judgment and right Reason of their own , nor a spirit to discern , but to quit the Authorities and Sentences of the Ancients .

Right Reasoning . But where is the true and solid way of Reasoning and Method , which a Piercing man without all these Tawdries principally aims at ?

He that follows his own sound Reason without favour and affection to any extream , and does his work as is pleasing to his own mind , with his own well chosen and disposed materials , shall make a far better structure , than he that busily collects several materials of several mens framing and fashioning , which being all jumbled together must needs be botching .

A man 's own clear Notions , maturely disposed , fully expressed in genuine terms , is his best Wisdom and most flourishing Rhetorick .