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Sanctity to certain Times, Places, Per- Ch. 6. fons, or Actions. They feem'd almost w a different and more divine Species of Creatures,diftinguishing themselves from other Men in their Garb, in their manner of living by Tithes and Donations,in their feparate Places at Church, and feveral other ways. By this means the Clergy were able to do any thing; they engrofs'd at length the fole Right of interpreting Scripture, and with it claim'd Infallibility, to their Body,

95. This is the true Origin and Progrefs of the Chriftian Myfteries; and we may obferve how great a fhare of their Establishment is owing to Ceremonies. These never fail to take off the Mind from the Subftance of Religion, and lead Men into dangerous Miftakes: for Ceremonies being eafily obferv'd, every one thinks himself religious enough that exactly performs them. But there is nothing fo naturally oppofite as CEREMONT and CHRISTIA NITY. The latter discovers Religion naked to all the World, and the former delivers it under myftical Reprefentations of a meerly arbitrary Signification. 96. It

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96. It is vifible then that Ceremo nies perplex inftead of explaining; but fuppofing they made things eafter, then that would be the beft Religion which had most of them, for they are generally, and may all be made, equally fignificative. A Candle put into the Hands of the Baptized, to denote the Light of the Gospel, is every whit as good a Ceremony as to make the Sign of the Cross upon their Fore-heads, in token of owning Chrift for their Mafter and Saviour. Wine, Milk, and Honey fignify fpiritual Nourishment, Strength, and Gladness, as well as ftanding at the Gospel betokens our Readiness to hear or profefs it.

97. In fhort, there's no degree of Enthufiafm higher than placing Religion in fuch Fooleries; nor any thing fo base as by these fraudulent Arts to make the Gospel of no effect, unless as far as it ferves a Perty. But I fhall have a better Occafion of exhaufting the Subject of Ceremonies elsewhere, I treat of 'em here only as they made up the Gentile Myfteries, and were afterwards brought in to conftitute thofe of the Chriftians. But as the

vaft multitudes of the latter quickly ren- Ch. 6. der'd all fecret Rites almost impoffible, fo to preferve the Mystery, things were purposely made downright unintelligible, or very perplex'd. In this Point our pretended Chriftians outdid all the Mysteries of the Heathens; for the Honour of these might be deftroy'd by Discovery, or the babling Tongue of any initiated Perfon: But the new Myfteries were thus fecurely plac'd above the Reach of all Senfe and Reafon. Nay, fo jealous were the CLERGY of their own Order, left any of 'em fhould irreligiously unfold thofe fublime Myfteries to the profanely inquifitive L'AITY, that they thought fit to put it as much out of the Power of the Holy Tribe it self, as out of ours, to understand them; and fo it continues, in a great measure, to this day.

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HUS I have endeavour'd to fhew others, what I'm fully convinc'd of my self, that

there is no MYSTERY in CHRI STIANITY, or the most perfect Religion; and that by Consequence nothing contradictory or inconceivable, however made an Article of Faith, can be contain❜d in the Gospel, if it be really the Word of God: for I have hitherto argu'd only upon this Suppofition, for the Reasons to be feen towards the end of the Preface.

Notwithstanding all Pretences that may be made to the contrary, it is evident that no particular Inftances or Doctrines of any fort can serve for a proper Anfwer to this DISCOURSE; for, as long as the Reasons of it hold good, whatever Inftance can be alledg'd muft either be found not myfterious, or, if it prove a

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MYSTERY, not divinely reveal'd. There is no middle way, that I can see. When thofe Paffages of Scripture I have cited for my Affertion, are either reconcil'd to fuch as any would bring againft me, or prov'd not to be underftood by me; when my Arguments against all inconceivable Mysteries, and the abfurdity of God's revealing any fuch Myfteries, are confuted, 'tis time enough then for others to produce Examples, or for me to confider 'em. And tho by convincing People that all the Parts of their RELIGION muft not only be in themfelves, but to them alfo must appear, found and intelligible, I might juftly leave every one to dif cover to himself the Reasonableness or Unreasonableness of his Religion (which is no difficult Bufinefs, when once Men are perfwaded that they have a right to do it ;) yet the Duties I ow GOD and the World oblige me to proceed further according as I enjoy Health or Leifure, without limit ing my felf as to any time, that being a thing in no Man's Power to command at his Pleasure.

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