The Practical Divinity of the Papists Discovered to be Destructive, Discourse · Introduction
Introduction.
THe danger of Popery in points of Faith hath been ſufficiently diſcovered to the world, by the Divines of the Reformation; but their Doctrine which concerns Life and Practice, hath not been ſo much inſiſted on. And yet there is as much occaſion for this; for here the miſchief is as great; an unchriſtian heart and life being at leaſt as damning as erronious belief: and hereby the great Apoſtacy and degeneracy of the Papal Church is as apparent: and herein they have proceeded with as much diſregard of Chriſt, and the ſouls of men. Their deſign in this, ſeems to have been, not the promoting of Chriſts intereſt (for that is manifeſtly proſtituted;) but the ſecuring and greatning of a Faction, which under the profeſſion of Chriſtianity, might be falſe to all its realities. And their rule is the corrupt inclinations of depraved nature, to which they have throughly conformed their practical Divinity; which eaſeth it of the duties for which it hath an averſation, how much ſoever enjoyned; and clears its way to thoſe ſins, to which it is diſpoſed, as though there were no need to avoid them. This Rule ſerves their deſign with great advantage, but ſouls are more endangered hereby, and their principles become more pernitious, becauſe they are ſo taking. Perſwade a man, that he may ſafely neglect the duties, which he owes to God, his own ſoul, and others; and may gratify the luſts he is addicted to; and give him the maximes of Religion, and the Authority and Concluſions of Divines, and the Teachers whom he truſts, for it: and he will like that Religion, becauſe he loves his ſin, and is in danger to follow both, though he periſh for it eternally. And indeed this is it which makes the condition of Papiſts deplorable, for though the principles of their belief, as it is Popiſh, be mortally poyſonous; yet there might be ſome Antidote in the practicalls of Chriſtianity, retained, and followed, by thoſe who are unavoidably ignorant of the danger of their more ſpeculative errours; and ſo ſome hopes of ſuch: but their Practical Doctrine being no leſs corrupted, the remedy it ſelf becomes poyſon, and their condition, who freely let it down, hopeleſs. Whether their errours in matters of Faith be directly fundamental, hath been, with ſome of their Oppoſers, a queſtion; but thoſe who well view their practical Doctrine, may diſcern, that it ſtrikes through the heart of Chriſtianity, caſting off the vitalls of it as ſuperfluities, and cuts of thoſe who will believe and follow it, from the way of life: not onelyonly by encouraging them, with ſecurity to live and die in all ſorts of wickedneſs; but alſo by obliging them to neglect, as needleſs, the greateſt, and moſt important concerns of Chriſtians, without which God cannot be honoured by us, nor Salvation attained. This will be apparent, by obſerving what is determined in that Church, by thoſe who have the conduct of their lives and Conſciences, concerning the Worſhipping of God, Chriſtian knowledge, Love to God, Faith in Chriſt, Repentance from dead works, and Holineſs of life; as to the Exerciſe of Chriſtian Vertues, the Abandoning of ſin, and the Practice of good works; of all which in particular the following diſcourſe gives an account.