The Kindling of a Torch at the Altar, and then Robbing the Church by the
Light on’t, is an Old Invention contriv’d betwixt the World, the Flesh
and the Devil; and will never be out of Date, so long as we hold any
Intelligence with the Common Enemies of Mankind. There’s nothing cuts
Religion, like Religion it self: Texts are put up against Texts, and
one Scripture made to fight against another; insomuch, that the Rule of
Faith is Perverted into a Doctrin of Heresie and Schism; and the Gospel
of Peace is made a Voucher for Sedition and Rebellion. There’s nothing
commoner then to cite Holy Writ for the Overturning of Religion, and
to Over-rule one Divine Authority with another; nay, and when all is
done, to Justifie the Sacrilege of Seizing and Employing the Revenues
of the Church to Prophane Uses. And whence comes this Confusion and
Self-Contradiction all this while? but that the Manage of Holy Matters
falls many times into the Hands of Men of more Polite Curiosity and
Skill, then Evangelical Zeal and Affection. The School-men have spun
the Thread too fine, and made _Christianity_ look liker a Course of
_Philosophy_, then a _System_ of _Faith_ and _Supernatural Revelation_:
So that the Spirit of it Evaporates into Niceties and Exercises of the
Brain; and the Contention is not for Truth, but Victory. The whole
Business in fine, is sour’d into Altercation and Cavil; but all must be
Remitted to the Judgment of the Great Day, when every Man shall receive
according to his Works: And Wo be then to the _Church Robbers_ that shall
be found among them that serve at the _Altar_. But ’tis no New Thing for
Men that call themselves _Professors_ and _Disciples_, to _Sell_ and to
_Betray_ their _Lord and Master_; For Men that wear the Livery of the
Church, and Eat the Bread on’t, to offer Sacrilegious Violence to their
Holy Mother. And this is the case of _Jupiter’s Altar Robb’d_ by the
Light of his own Torch: When the House of God is Rifl’d and Dishonour’d
by his own Domesticks; that is to say, when the Sacrilege is Countenanc’d
by the Authority of a Holy Character, and the Violence supported by a
Text.