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BUT leaving the miseries of Mar∣riages, whether first or second, they being enough to fill up whole Volumes: let us betake our selves to the consideration of other matters, which help to compleat mans misery; and as if it were not e∣nough that all other things were full of sorrow and anguish, and yielded us no∣thing
but thorns and thistles, yet we must add and create to our selves more mi∣sery, and which indeed is the greatest and comparatively the only misery of all, I mean, the dissentions and differences in Religion; for, seeing there is but one Verity amongst so many variety of Opi∣nions; and but one way to Happiness, though people have fancied thousands: what do the poor ignorant sort then think, what straits and fears are they in, when they behold wiser than themselves crumbled into as many Sects as Men? nay every little pretender to have gotten the keys of Heaven, and they therefore must come over to them if ever they think to get in there: and upon that account it is we see them flock (poor wretches, be∣ing willing to be happy) to these Mounte∣bancks, who assure no less, than to make them so, and indeed it would make a man think no less, by their sawcy communi∣ons which they pretend to have with the Divinity▪ making as if they were as privy to the inmost Counsels of Heaven, and knew its decrees as perfectly as their own dissimulations; and have power to cen∣sure, if not to damn all that oppose them, though they tell them nothing but that which they will at last certainly find
true; that 'tis not words, nor looks that will make a man a favourite of Heaven, but a vertuous and pious temper; neither can any man judg of his Relation to God, but by his unwearied diligence in making himself like him: and though men of corrupt minds and various interests cry up Religion to be another matter, yet the foundation of God standeth sure, and will do, against all the restless underminings of its adversaries, who for the vain-glorious Epithetes of Guide & Leader, and the keep∣ing up their reputation amongst the sedu∣ced Rabble, will continue to lead them on (notwithstanding the dictates of Piety and Reason) into remediless and endless destruction; who were they really vir∣tuous, and as much lovers of God as they are of their own private humours, the mischiefs arising from the diversity of O∣pinions, would be for the most part, if not altogether extinguished. How easie were it for men, did they love themselves and others, in a real religious respect, to centre altogether in union and concord in this World, and in endless repose and happiness in the next? But alas, men love to be miserable and humoursom, and will prefer the Butterfly of their own private fancy, before the quiet and pre∣servation
of the whole race of Mankind; would men spend half that zeal and emula∣tion in endeavours after Humility, and Charity, and contempt of the World, as they do in opposing Government and Order: Would men be as ready and as willing to gratifie and meet Truth, as they are ready to cry out they are so: Would they be as willing and as ready to hearken to its suggestions, as they are to those of pride and conceitedness: we should then have no cause to complain of Humame miseries upon this account, nor indeed upon any other.