Examination of those Plausible Appearances in the Romish Church, Chapter 2
CHAP. II. That this imperfection of iudgement, proceeding from passion, is discouered principally in the cause of Religion.
IT may be that in the civill part of mans life where (if the worst come to the worst) it toucheth but the temporall good: this affected winking of the vnderstanding is not altogether hurtfull. But in Religion it fareth otherwise, the danger here is dreadful, and the losse beyond recovery: when all here is embarked, and carried away, the body & the soule, not to be no more, which would be at least a forlorne kinde of happinesse, but to be everlastingly miserable, which is the wofull complement of all vnhappinesse.
And yet for all that this mischieuous quality hath so encroached vponupon our nature, and insinuated it selfe into such good footing, that it's never more domineering, and peremptory, then when the question is concerning Religion, the salvation of the soule, and the worship which God requireth of vsus. aVid. epist. de progress. Rel. Christian, ap. Jndos.The poore Indians so long as they are shewed braue ensigne, or curious picture (because the imbroderie, and painting ravish the sense, and man is naturally idolatrous) runne to them like birds to the fowlers crye, even to adore them, as if they enshrined some Deity. But otherwise, let o…e tell them of their errours, of the errours of their fore-fa…hers, they will demand (bMunsler in, Cosm. descrip. F…is. as did the Prince of Frisland) What is become of their progenitors, and friends, formerly dead in their errours? And if one answere them, that they are in hell, they will reply, that they will goe thither also, secretly giuing vsus to vnderstand, that there is no likelyhood they should be there, The louelove which they beare towards them maketh them mistake this sad truth for a lye, because it implieth the condemnation of those whom nature, or acquaintance hath most indeared to them.
If by reasons so sensible, that meere sense might comprehend them, it be strongly endeauored to make the folly of the Turkish Religion visible vntounto a Turke, all this while the Sunne is but shewed to a beetle, the Turke sees not a whit: not as if that had impaired his senses, but it being an irksome businesse to acknowledge the horrid absurdities of his superstition, his passions grow furious, & either besot his vnderstanding, or divert it from a discontenting speculation of such a truth, which being assented to, would force him to pronounce sentence of condemnation vponupon his country-men, his Sultan, his friends, and kindred. This is so torturing a griefe vntounto him, that nature will not suffer him to beleeue it, and so it remaineth as incredible vntounto him, as it is vnpleasant, vnlesse God worke aboue nature.
Let vsus accuse the obstinate Iewes of blasphemy, by testimonies of Scripture, wee shall stop their mouths, we shall convince them, but yet for all that not convert them. cRom. 1….2.An inconsiderate zeale without knowledge (as the Apostle hath obserued it) dGal. 1.14.a superstitious reverence of the traditions of their fathers, eRom. 10.3.a sottish doting vponupon their owne righteousnesse, fIoh. 6.15. Act. 1.6.a desire of the restauration of their state, of their restablishment in the land of promise;g2. Cor. 3.16. overspread their eyes, as it were, with a vaile, so that they cannot behold the glory of God in the face of Christ; hMat. 15.3 6. Marc. 7.8.9 & 13.who nullifieth their traditions; iLuc. 18.9.8.teareth from them the false covert of righteousnesse; kIoh. 6.15. Act. 1.7.who confoundeth their hope of an earthly kingdome, and prosperity; lIoh. 18.36.who frustrateth their expectation of a King, a Messias triumphing in secular pompe: mMat. 11.29.who bindeth them to the taking vp of his Crosse, n1. Cor. 1.23.presenting himselfe to them crucified, oAct. 2.23.and in his Crosse the shame, & horrour of the rebellion of their Ancestors.
All this is thus, and more harsh to the naturall apprehension of the Iew: and therefore hee is no lesse blockish, and backward to beleeue it. In as much as he considereth not, neither alloweth the true, & full poise to those meanes whereby this truth should be proued vntounto him. It is then from his passion that this his Ioh, 9.39. & 49.affected, voluntary, and in consequence malicious ignorance proceedeth.