The Account Audited and Discounted, Exercitation 1 · Section 4 – Section 5
Section, 4. [Superstition then, in this general notion, as an exceſs in Religion, hath as many Species, or kindes, as there are Commandments of the firſt Table. But it is no eaſie matter to diſcover all, &c.]
HEre I am charged with a deſigne, p. 53. n. 1, 2[becoming humble in ſtead of Magiſterial; becauſe I implore the Readers pardon, if I be not ſo Logically accurate, in ſetting down the particular kindes of Superſtition, as I would.] I profeſs ſincerely, againſt all deſignes, but ſearching out of truth; and what may my deſigne be herein? Why this, [To leave the word Superſtition in the Clouds,—that it may be uſeful for him, as a Mormo, to affright men out of their obedience to the Church; and to make ſure of a reſerve, to adde more, when he hath need of them.] Truly to me it ſeemes ſtrange, that I had a deſigne, to cloud the word Superſtition, having, in that afore, been driving away thoſe foggie mists, which himſelf and others, have put upon it: I know no better way, to clear the word or thing then to give the definition of it firſt, and then the diviſion of it, into ſpecies; which is all I have hitherto done: onelyonly confeſſing now, the particulars may be more, then I can eaſily reduce to the four Commandments; wherein that Superſtition may be found. I therefore in this and the following Sections, did enumerate ſuch and ſo many, as I thought ſufficient for my purpoſe: which being proved to be ſo in Theſi, might be as ſo many principles, or propoſitions, to conclude the Doctor in Hypotheſi, to be Superſtitious, in his obſervation of his Feſtival. And now the Doctor hath my full deſigne, in this performance; which belike, he ſuſpecting, is willing to paſs by, no leſs then ten Sections at once; leſt his Reader, p. 54. n. 2.taking notice of thoſe particular inſtances of Superſtition, might be ready to make up the Syllogiſme, and conclude him Superstitious. The Doctor might have done me, and the truth this favour, to ſay to the ſeveral kindes by me alledged, I aſſent, or diſſent, that this is Superſtition; ſome of them indeed, he hath elſewhere ſet down, as exceſſes in Religion, and kindes of Superſtition; but why does he not acknowledge, or deny them here? If I may gueſs, one reaſon, I think, is, becauſe he, having given forth his deſcription of Superſtition, to be clearly, Superſtitum cultus; as if it had no other proper ſenſe, was not willing the Reader ſhould know him ſo imprudent as afterwards, to contradict, or at leaſt countermine himſelf, by giving other kindes thereof. And if Superſtition were no more but the worſhipping of Daemons, he were very injurious, that would charge the Church of England, or himſelf, with this crime of Superſtition. For example, the Doctor grants a Negative Superſtition, Sect. 29. of Superſt. [Placing Piety in the Negative, in not kneeling, &c.] Hence the diligent Reader, would be ready to ſay; this is far from Superſtitum cultus, and yet granted by the Doctor, to be a kind of Superſtition; ergo, his deſcription was too ſhort and narrow: The like may be ſaid of the reſt if they be truly kindes of Superſtition; if not, the Doctor hath by his ſilence conſented to them; why elſe did he not oppoſe them? for they may be of ill conſequence to him, in Hypotheſi. All he ſayes here, is, [What follows in the ten following Sections, I ſhall reſolvedly paſs over, though there be many things fit to be noted, partly becauſe he promiſes they ſhall ſoon recur again, and partly belong to other Tracts, &c. where we ſhall ſure meet with them, &c.] But firſt, I finde no ſuch promiſe of mine, though I knew, I ſhould have uſe of them, in place convenient; nor ſecondly, does he deſire to meet with them; for he waves moſt of them, when he meets them, as ſhall appear.
Section 5.
1. Negative, when men abſtain from ſome thing, under a notion of Religion, &c. And ſo on to the end of the 14. Section.