Light in the way to Paradise with other occasionals / by Dvdley the 2d late Ld. North.

CHAP. V. Of Prejudicacy.

MANY other impediments there are within our selves, which hinder a choice of the right way, but I shall content my self with a specification of those two. The chief hindrance arising from others is Prejudice or Prejudicacy, not easie to be avoided, for we receive it by education and quo semel est im∣buta recens servabit odorem testa diu, and full vessels are uncapable of receiving addition. An honest well meaning Gentleman of my Kin∣dred would frequently say, I was born a Pro∣testant, and by the grace of God I will dye in that profession. The expression of such reso∣lution is unusual, but the thing very common. Our Roman Catholique must not hear any ar∣gument tending to a change of his Profession; and the Mahometans are said to be directed by their Alcoran, to draw Sword upon any man, who shall perswade them to forsake their Pro∣phet. As for my self, I am so far from shut∣ting my eyes to keep out truth, as I am wil∣ling to hear all, and when I am really con∣vinced in judgment as to matters of Faith, I hold my self bound to profess the same out∣wardly. This seemeth favourable to our new lights, and to argue levity, but I believe my

self to be so well grounded in matters of Re∣ligion, as it will be very hard to change me; and whatsoever I have said, I shall never be so injurious to the profession whereunto I stand yet engaged, as to change without a full hear∣ing, and perpending, of that which can be said by the most eminent professors of the Doctrine which is assaulted. And this was my practice being very young, for in Italy I was in continual disturbance by a Gentleman of our own Nation, who laboured very much to win me to the Romish profession, and would not desist, till I assured him that I would ne∣ver forsake the Religion wherein I was trained up, without a full hearing what would be said by our Divines, which was impossible to be effected there. By that which hath been said, you may see, what it is to be prepossessed by education. But, as I conceive, the hold is no less firm, when a person forsakes his first principles after long consideration. As it was with a Minister's wife in the days of King James, whose husband having been misled, some Jews perverted his wife also, with whom the new Doctrine took so fast hold, as her husband returning afterwards to his first grounds, could never by all his best arguments recover his wife, who continued her infidelity. Considering the husband's return home, I acknowledge that this may very properly be imputed to the per∣tinacy of that Sex, and if it be true, which some have observed, that upon Marriage be∣tween

persons of different profession in Reli∣gion, the Wife for the most part draweth the Husband to hers. It may very fitly stigma∣tize the Male sex, which should have the commanding reason, as it hath command otherwise. The government of our judge∣ment in the way of Religion is attempted by all Sects, and having gained Proselytes they justifie a separation by this Tenet. That the Conscience is obliged against a communica∣ting in Sacris with those of the Religion pub∣liquely professed, which they conceive to be overcome with error, and the chief Standard∣bearers with us are the Roman Catholiques, and the Non-conformists. There was living in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the Progeni∣tor of a very honourable and potent Family now in being, who having been bred a Soul∣dier, and not taking matters of Religion into very serious consideration, was accustomed to say, that there are two ways leading to Hea∣ven, one by Rome, and the other by Geneva, whereof either might serve the turn. But either he spake in jest, or considered not, that the Professors of these are resolved upon an opposition in lines so parallel, as they can ne∣ver meet in any one point, and therefore will not lead to the same place. By these differ∣ent ways and the prejudicacy wherein they en∣gage people, it appears that some guide is ne∣cessary, but as to the choice, we must refer it to the Chapters following, where there will be more place for it.