First Sentence

"IT cannot but be lamented to fee what Temptations many Men have been laid under, by the great Enemy of Truth, in every Age of the World, in their fierce oppofition againft one or another bleffed Ordi- nance and Inftitution of Jefus Chrift; and this not only by bad Men, but alfo by Men fearing God: All which, no doubt, arifes, either from their Ignorance, or elfe from that Prejudice there is in their Hearts againft it; from a fond Conceit that it can't be a Truth of Chrift, becaufe they never looked upon it fo to be, (nor fome wifer than they); nor are they willing to believe it to be a Truth, fince fome (who have not fuch Light and Knowledg in other bleffed Truths) do practife it: as if, becaufe fome Men, who hold and maintain fome grofs Errors and Falfities, can hold and practife no Truths at all; whereas `tis evident, the Church of Rome, which is Mystical Babylon, are found in the Doctrine of the Trinity, as far as I can gather, and poffibly in fome other Points alfo: For they believe the Refurrection of the Body, and the Eternal Judgment, and that Chrift died without the Gate of Jerufalem: but I am afraid fraid fome Men have a Fancy they know all the whole Mind of Chrift, and that they need not be taught any other Truths, than thofo which they have received: notwithftanding can't but now, the Church is but newly come out of the Wildernefs, or Popifh Darknefs; and not fo fully neither, as to be as clear as the Sun, as in due time fhe fhall."