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MADAM,
I Am Sorry Mrs. D. is so Despairingly Me∣lancholy as not to be Comforted, and I am the more Sorry that the Ground of her Des∣pair is the Bible and Ignorant Interpreters, such as rather Confound the Cleer Expressions there∣in, than Clear the Dark and Mystical. But ma∣ny Pious persons have fall'n into the same Di∣stemper, through want of Deep Capacities, Cleer Understandings, and Sound Judgments,
to Interprete the Scripture, or to Conceive the Spiritual Inspections and Elevations of the Purity of Christian Religion, and all the several Opinions therein. The Church of England is the Purest, but yet it hath suffer'd the Scripture to be Read too Commonly, which hath caused much Disturbance, not only to Particular Per∣sons, but in the Church it self, and hath lost much of the Dignity belonging to Church-men, nay, it hath so Discomposed the Church-Government, as it is a wonder it should settle in its Centre again. But the Church-men say, they give Lay-men Leave for to Read the Scripture, but not to Interprete it, but the Leave of the First gives Leave to the Latter. But, Madam, these Causes are not for our Sex to Discourse of, wherefore we will rather Pray for our Af∣flicted Friend Mrs. D. and so taking my leave of you, I rest,
Madam,
Your faithful Friend and Servant.