That Heathenish Fables ought not to Prejudice divine Truth.
1 NOthing more usual to men, wise enough in their generation, then for the varietie or multitude of false reports concerning any Subject to discredit All that are extant of the same. And all inclination unto dif∣fidence or distrust is not alwayes to be misliked; but onely when it swayes too far, or extends is self beyond the limits of its proper Circumference, that is, matters of Bargain or secular Commerce. As this diffident temper is most common in the cunning managers of such affaires: so the first degree or pro∣pension to it were not much amiss in them, did they not Transcendere à genere ad genus; that is, were not their Mistrust commonly too generally rigid and stiff. For most men of great dealings in the world, finding many slipperie companions, hold it no sin to be at the least suspitious of all: Others, being often cozened by such as have had the name and reputation of Honest men, be∣gin to doubt whether there be any such thing indeed, as that which men call Honestie; and from this doubting about the real nature of Honestie in the Ab∣stract, they resolve undoubtedly, That if any man in these dayes do not d•…•… ill with others, it is onely for want of sit opportunitie to do himself any great good. But as Facilitie in yielding Assent, unless it be moderated by discretion, is an infallible Consequent of too great simplicitie, and layes a man open to a∣buse and wrong in matters of this life: so General Mistrust is the certain forerun∣ner of Insidelity, and makes a man apt enough to cozen himself, without a tem∣pter, in matters of the life to come; though otherwise this is the very disposi∣tion which the great Tempter works most upon: who for this reason, when any notable truth of greater moment fals out, labours by all means to fil the world with reports of like events, but such as upon examination he foresees wil prove false: for he knows well, that the Belief of most pregnant truths may be this means be much impaired, as honest men are usually mistrusted when the world is full of knaves. And to speak the Truth, It is but a very short Cut be∣twixt general and rigid Mistrust in worldly dealings, and Infidelity in spiritual matters; which indeed is but a kind of diffidence or mistrust: and he that from the experience of often cozenage comes once to this point, That he will trust none in worldly affairs but upon strong securitie or legal assurance, may easily be transported by the varietie or multitude of reports, in spiritual matters, notoriously false, to Believe nothing but upon the sure pledge and Evidence of his own Sense or natural Reason. This is one main fountain of Atheism; of which (God willing) in the Article of the Godhead. In this place I onely desire to give the Reader notice of Satans Policy, and to advertise him withall, that as there is a kind of Ingenuous Simplicity, which if it match with sob••ie••ie and serious meditation, doth prepare our Hearts to Christian Belief; so there is a kinde of Suspition, by which we may out-reach the old Serpent in his subtiltie, and prevent his former Method of deceit. So, whilest we read or hear varietie of reports concerning any notable Event, or many Writers beat∣ing