Woman. This he performs too in the Ch. 3. following Verfes, which you may confult. Nor is it undeferving our particular Notice, that Mystery is here made the diftinguishing Mark of the falfe or Antichriftian Church. Mystery is a Name written on her Forehead; that is, all her Religion confifts in Mystery, fhe openly owns, fhe enjoins the Belief of Myfteries. And, no doubt on't, as far as any Church allows of Myfteries, fo far it is ANTICHRISTIAN, and may with a great deal of Juftice, tho little Honour, claim Kindred with the fearlet Whore. The only remaining Text is in chap, 10.5, 6, 7. And the Angel which I faw ftand upon the Sea and upon the Earth,lifted up his Hand to Heaven, and fwore by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created Heaven and the things that therein are, and the Earth and the things that therein are, and the Sea and the things which are therein, that there fhould be Time no longer; but that in the Days of the Voice of the feventh Angel, when he shall begin to found,the MYSTE RT of God would be finifb'd: that is, that all the things figuratively deliver'd in this Prophecy concerning the Gospel

Sect.3. (which was fhewn above to fignify the fame with the Mystery of God) fhould have their final Accomplishment, and fo end with this Globe and all therein contain❜d.

35. I appeal now to all equitable Perfons whether it be not evident to any that can read, that Mystery inthe whole New Teftament is never put for any thing inconceivable in it self, or not to be judg'd of by our ordinary Notions and Faculties, however clearly reveal'd: And whether, on the contrary, it do's not always fignify fome things naturally intelligible enough; but either fo vail'd by figurative Words and Rites, or so Lodg'din God's fole Knowledg and Decree, that they could not be discover'd without Special Revelation. Whoever retains any real Veneration for the Scripture, and fincerely believes it to be the Word of God, must be ever concluded by its Authority,and render himself,in fpight" of all Prejudices, to its Evidence. He that fays the Gospel is his only Rule of Faith, and yet believes any thing not warranted by it, he is an arrant Hypocrite,and do's but flily banter all the World.

36. Nor

36. Nor can a more favourable Opi- Ch. 3. nion be harbour'd of those, who, inftead of Submiffion to the Dictates of Scripture and Reason, ftraight have Recourse to fuch Perfons as they fpecially follow or admire, and are ready to receive or refuse an Opinion,as these fhall please to direct them. Pray, Doctor, fays one of his Parishioners, what think you of fuch a Book? it feems to make things plain. Ah! dear Sir, answers the Doctor, it is a very bad Book; he's a dangerous Man that wrote it; he's for believing nothing but what agrees with his own purblind, proud and carnal Reafon. P. Say you fo, Doctor? then I'm refolv'd to read no more of it, for I heard you often preach against Human Reafon; I'm forry, truly, it fhould unhappily fall into my Hands, but I'll take care that none of our Family fet their Eyes upon't. D. You'll do very well, Sir: befides, this Book is ftill worfe than I told you, for it deftroys a great many Points which we teach; and should this Doctrine take,(which God forbid) moft of the good Books you have at home, and which coft you no lefs Pains

to

to read than Money to purchase,would
fignify not a Straw, and ferve only for
Wafte-Paper to put under Pies, or for
other mean Ufes. P. Blefs me, good
Doctor, I pray God forgive me read-
ing fuch a vile Treatife; he's an abo-
minable Man that could write it; bur
what? my
Books worth nothing, fay
you? Dr. H's Sermons, and Mr. C's
Difcourfes Wafte-Paper? I'll never be-
lieve it, let who will fay the contrary ;
Lord, why don't you excommunicate
the Author and feize upon his Books?
D. Ay, Sir, Time was, but now
it feems a Man may believe according
to his own Senfe, and not as the Church
directs; there's a Toleration establish'd,
know. P. That Toleration, Do-
tor, will. D. Whift, Sir, fay
no more of it; I am as much con-
cern'd as you can be; but it is not fafe
nor expedient at this time of day to
find Faults.

you

There are others far from this 37. Simplicity, but as firmly refolv'd to stand faft by their old Syftems. When they tell us of Myfteries we must believe them, and there's no Remedy for it. It is not the Force of Reafoning

that

that makes thefe for Mysteries, but Ch. fome by-Intereft; and they'll be fure to applaud and defend any Author that writes in favour of their Cause, whether he supports it with Reafon or not. But I'm not half fo angry

with these Men as with a fort of People that will not be at the Pains of examining any thing, left they fhould become more clear-fighted or better inform'd, and fo be tempted to take up a new Road. Such Perfons muft needs be very indifferent indeed, or they make Religion come into their Scutcheons.

38. The mention of Scutcheons naturally puts me in mind of those who are little mov'd with any Reasons, when the Judgment of the Primitive Church comes in competition. The Fathers (as they love to fpeak) are to them the best Interpreters of the Words of Scripture; " And what "those honest Men, fays a very in

66

genious* Perfon, could not make "good themselves by fufficient Rea"fons, is now prov'd by their fole "Authority. If the Fathers forefaw

"this

M. de Fontenelle, dans fon Hiftoire des Oracles.

3.