§. 17.
Now, Sir, consider how agreeable to Gods goodness and wis∣dom, how suitable to humane capacities, how helpful to mens neces∣sities is this way of grounding our Faith on Gods Word as interpreted by the Catholic Church. The far greatest part of Christians are too weak to maintain Disputes: yet God loves the Poor and Ignorant, at least, as well as he does the Rich and Learned; and takes care to bring them to Happiness without Learning, sharpness of wit, curiosi∣ty, and study of knowledg. Consequently he has chalked out a way to Heaven, in which the Ignorant and Simple may walk securely: And in what other way can these walk, but in that of obedience to Au∣thority? This doubtless is that way foretold by the Prophet, Isa. 35. 8. saying in Christs Kingdom, There shall be a high way—and it shall be called a holy way. No polluted person shall pass through it. This shall be [to Christians] a streight way, so that Fools shall not err in it.
Now have Sectaries found out this streight way in which Fools cannot err? Sectaries, I say, who have framed a confused Labyrinth, in which there are a thousand cross paths and windings, where every one wan∣ders, as it were, with a dark Lanthorn in his hand, and either stumbles into, or phantastically chuses such a path as at the present pleases him best, and leaves it also when he thinks good, not taking direction from any other, or not much caring for such directions. By this means we see how that not only Fools and Ignorant, but even the most Judicious a∣mongst Sectaries, following their own light, do walk all their lives, in quite contrary ways, yet all believing that God by the Scripture directs them.