Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/396

 will both be strengthen'd by the same Benefits, and weaken'd by the same Mischiefs.

What I have then to add concerning our Church, shall be compriz'd in these Particulars: That it can never be prejudiced by the Light of Reason, nor by the Improvements of Knowledge, nor by the Advancement of the Works of Mens Hands.

For the proof of the First, it will be sufficient to consider its True Design, what Opinions it principally encounters, and by what Arguments it ought to defend itself.

The true and certain Interest of our Church is to derive its Doctrine from the plain and unquestion'd parts of the Word of God, and to keep itself in a due Submission to the Civil Magistrate. The Extremes which it opposes, are implicit Faith, and Enthusiasm: And it is a great Mistake, if Men think it cannot be maintain'd against these, but by the mutual Arguments of its Enemies; that it cannot withstand the Separatists, but by the Authority of the Church of Rome; nor dissent from the Church of Rome, but on the Tenents of the Separatists. The Grounds on which it proceeds are different from both; and they arc no other but the Rights of the Civil Power, the Imitation of the first uncorrupt Churches, and the Scripture expounded by Reason: From whence may be concluded, that we cannot make War against Reason, without undermining our own Strength, seeing it is the constant Weapon we ought to employ.

From this I will farther urge, That the Church of England will not only be safe amidst the Consequences of a Rational Age, but amidst all the Improvements of Knowledge, and the Subversion of old Opinions about Nature, and Introduction of new ways of Rh