herefies is true, not only in our church, but also in any other: even in doctrines heretical there will be fuper-herefies, and Arians not only divided from their church, but also among themselves; for heads that are difpofed unto fchifm, and complexionally propenfe to innovation, are naturally disposed for a community, nor will ever be confined unto the order or economy of one body; and therefore when they fcparate from others, they knit but loofely among themselves; nor con- nat tented with a general breach or dichotomy with their church, do fnbdivide and mince themselves almoft into atoms. 'Tis true, that men of fingular parts and humours have not been free from fingular opinions and conceits in all ages; retaining famething not only befide the opinion of his own church or any other, but alfo any particular author; which notwithstanding a fober und fober judgment may do without SECT. IX. luding As for those winged myfteries in u gradivinity, and airy fubtilties in religion, which have unhinged the brains of better heads, they never ftretched the Pia Mater of mine; methinks there are not impoffibili- . ties enough in religion for an active faith; the deepeft myfteries ours contains have not only been illuftrated, but maintained by fyllogifm, and the rule of reafon: I love to lofe myself in a mystery, to pursue my O reafon to an altitudo. 'Tis my folitary recreation to pofe my apτεπεα πτερόεντα caprehenfion of the rainbow flying when we pursue irritant animum Jemissa per aures qua sunt oculis subjecta fidelibus RELIGIO MEDICI. 21 vol.3.p.4. Boswelli Johnson prehenfion with thofe involved æ- lion allied bless myself, and am thankful that I lived not in the days of miracles, to bil Effect of Не деним that I never faw Chrift nor his dif then had me, nor fhould I enjoy that greater 2nd Series Tales of my Landlord lieve v. 2. p. 160. Caleb William', vol. 2. p. 158 D. Zer Butlers Analogy - Part 2 Ch lieve and faw not. 'Tis an easy and necessary belief to credit what our eye and sense hath examined: I be-' lieve he was dead, and buried, and rofe again; and defire to see him in his glory, rather than to contemplate him in his cenotaphe, or fepulchre. Nor is this much to be-lieve; as we have reason, we owe this faith unto hiftory: they only. had the advantage of a bold and noble faith, who lived before his coming, who, upon obfcure prophecies and myftical types, could raise a belief, and expect apparent impoffibilities. SECT. X. 'Tis true, there is an edge in all firm belief, and with an eafy metaphor we may fay the fword of faith; but in these obfcurities I rather use it in the adjunct the Apostle gives it, a buckler; under which I conceive a wary combatant may a may ly invulnerable. Since I was of understanding to know we knew nothing, my reafon hath been more pliable to the will of faith; I am now content to understand a mystery, without a rigid definition, in an eafy and platonick defcription. That allegorical description of Hermes pleaseth me beyond all the metaphyfical definitions of divines; where I cannot fatisfy my reafon, I love to humour my fancy; *I'd as foon chufe you would tell me that anima eft angelus hominis, eft corpus Dei, as Entelechia; Lux est umbra Dei, as actus perfpicui: where there is an obscurity too deep for our reafon, 'tis good to fit down with a description, periphrafis, or adumbration; for by acquainting our reason how unable explain it is to difplay the vifible and obvious effects of nature, it becomes more humble and fubmiffive unto a the Sphæra cujus centrum ubique, circumferentia nullibi. |