Examination of those Plausible Appearances in the Romish Church, Chapter 5
CHAP: V: That to be throughly assured of the truth of a Religion, it is necessary to examine the nature of the reasons, vponupon which it is grounded.
SEing that such is the inclination of our nature, it concerneth him who desireth to bee throughly setled in the assurance of the truth of his Religion, narrowly to consider, whether they are bare prejudices, plausible pretences, respects meerely carnall which make it pleasing vntounto him, or whithe… the truth of it be so cleere, and evident, that the conscience remaines convinced with it, the soule satisfied, the minde resolued and content. This disquisition, this meditation will be of excellent vse in making way for the discerning in matter of Religion, of truth from errour, superstition from piety, of the abuse from that which is legitimate, custome from law. For it will furnish vsus with proofes, not drawne from the circumstances of the accessory, and that which is meerely accidentall: but such as are grounded vponupon the principall, and which result from the nature, & essence of the thing it selfe. Proofes infallible, and inforcing a necessary conclusion, whereas the other either conclude not at all, or if they doe, the most the conclusion can doe, is to make the cause for which the proofes were produced plausible, and g…acious, the contrarie suspected, and odious, being nothing else (if we esteem of them as they are) but likely-hoods of truth, prettie conjectures. Now is it not well knowne that the most plausible, and gracious causes, are not alwaies of their ranke, which being not commended but by their own proper right, hauehave that for the only ground, & reason not of the favour, but of the justice they demande? And those which by reason either of the ignorance, or partiality of men are suspected, and hated, hauehave they not oft-times the lawes, and equity on their side? Certes the most pure, and (as I may say) the most innocent innocencie would be punishable, were it enough to make one guilty, to be thought so.
But we may proceede farther, and affirme that the suspition of falsity, is a calamitie ordinary to truth. VnderUnder an vncomely maske, their may be hid an admirable beauty. Should the diamond lose it's invincible solidity, or the inward fountaine of its bright, and sparkling luster if sometimes it be found so outwardly discoloured, that at the first view, it can hardly be knowne for a diamond?
In the Courts of Iustice it's ordained that accusers should bring in their inditement of the largest, that the court may be fully informed concerning the accused parties: yet this is not called condemnation, but it only presupposeth a suspition. Let then preiudices, exceptions, and pretences be imployed to the vttermost, to make a religion suspected, so that vponupon them without more adoe the accusers ground not its condemnation, so that they tarrie vponupon tearmes of suspition vntill they proceede orderly to a larger enquiry, and a stricter examination, so that the question be not a whit spared, nor if it be possible, the most vigorous proofe. If a rich diamond suspected of bastardy had sence, it would call for the touchstone, and desire to be admitted to a triall. Truth also being suspected, reioiceth and presuming vponupon victory, triumpheth already, if shee be put to a serious examination, and her last triall. The decree which imposeth this vponupon her, is not against her, but for her, this disgraceth her not but helpeth her to the only meanes by which shee may redeeme her credit. This is that shee most earnestly desireth as beeing a passage, and introduction to her glory. It is her affliction to be suspected, but she maketh not that her complaint, this is not the subiect of her grievances, custome hath sweetned this vntounto her, and made it tolerable. Her complaint and greife which she cannot so easily disgest is that shee seeth her selfe condemned vponupon surmises, her cause not being sifted to the bottome, where lieth the maine point of her defence, and where shee hath reserued all her strength. For other wise by reason of by matters in the forme of proceeding, circumstances, appearances, coniectures, she would be quite lost, & ofttimes borne downe by a lie. Is it not too well knowne that by such meanes the better causes are lost? That by such trickes bad causes almost commonly in corrupt times seeke and obtaine the victory? Excellently then to this purpose spake Tertullian. Apolog cap. 1.Truth entreateth not to hauehave her cause favoured because shee wondreth not at her condition. Shee knoweth that shee is a stranger vponupon earth, and that amongst strangers shee easily meeteth with enimies. But shee hath her kindred, residence, hope, and dignity in the heavē. One thing yet she affectionatly beggeth, that she may not be condemned vnheard. What can the lawes loose here where they hauehave absolute authority, if she be vouch safed a hearing? Shall not their power be with more credit increased, if they condemne her euen hauing heard her. But if they condemne her without hearing her, beside the hatred of manifest vniustice, they will incurre also the suspicion of a bad conscience, in that they would not heare that which hauing heard they could not hauehave condemned.