The church of Rome, no safe guide, or, Reasons to prove that no rational man, who takes due care of his own eternal salvation, can give himself up unto the conduct of that church in matters of religion by John Owen ...

PREFACE.

THE Ensuing Discourse was the Subject and Sub∣stance of two Sermons Preached unto a Private Congregation. The Author of them had no de∣sign or purpose ever to have made them Publick. The im∣portunity of many, who judged they might be of use unto o∣thers, because they found them so unto themselves, gave occa∣sion unto this Publication of them. Yet had they not so pre∣vailed, but that he judged it was neither unmeet for him, nor unseasonable for others. In publico discrimine omnis homo miles est; No man is to be forbidden to bring his Bucket to help allay the flames of a raging Fire. And it is the Pretence of the Church of Rome to be the only Guide of all Christians in Religion, which is here examined; a work which a concurrence of all sorts of circumstances renders seasonable. For as this Pretence is the sole Foundation of the whole Pa∣pacy, with all the Power and secular Advantages that it hath obtained unto it self; so it is that alone which gives counte∣nance and warranty unto the Factors and Agents of that Church, to design and prepetrate such things as are destru∣ctive of all that is praise-worthy or desireable among Man∣kind,

and unspeakably scandalous unto Christian Religion. Re∣move the sand or rubbish hereof, and the whole Fabrick will dissolve of it self, and fall to the ground. This small Discourse is an Attempt unto that end, whose success is humbly recom∣mended unto the care of God over his Church. If there seem to be any severities of expression used towards some of the Church of Rome, the Reader is to consider that hard things cannot well be represented in soft and pliant words. And if there be nothing of this nature found, but what hath the appearance of severity, from the things themselves which are expressed, there is no blameable excess. However the Au∣thor is one who heartily desires and prayes for the outward Peace and Tranquility of all men in this world, whose Prin∣ciples will allow them to live peaceably with others.