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person of that man his religion； esteems his associating with him
a sufficient evidence and commendatory of his own piety。 So that
a man may say his religion is now no more within himself； but is
become a dividual movable； and goes and comes near him； according
as that good man frequents the house。 He entertains him； gives him
gifts； feasts him； lodges him； his religion comes home at night；
prays； is liberally supped； and sumptuously laid to sleep； rises；
is saluted； and after the malmsey； or some well…spiced brewage； and
better breakfasted than he whose morning appetite would have gladly
fed on green figs between Bethany and Jerusalem； his religion walks
abroad at eight； and leaves his kind entertainer in the shop
trading all day without his religion。
Another sort there be who； when they hear that all things shall
be ordered； all things regulated and settled； nothing written but
what passes through the custom…house of certain publicans that have
the tonnaging and poundaging of all free…spoken truth； will
straight give themselves up into your hands； make 'em and cut 'em
out what religion ye please： there be delights； there be
recreations and jolly pastimes that will fetch the day about from
sun to sun； and rock the tedious year as in a delightful dream。
What need they torture their heads with that which others have
taken so strictly and so unalterably into their own purveying？
These are the fruits which a dull ease and cessation of our
knowledge will bring forth among the people。 How goodly and how to
be wished were such an obedient unanimity as this； what a fine
conformity would it starch us all into！ Doubtless a staunch and
solid piece of framework； as any January could freeze together。
Nor much better will be the consequence even among the clergy
themselves。 It is no new thing never heard of before； for a
parochial minister； who has his reward and is at his Hercules'
pillars in a warm benefice； to be easily inclinable； if he have
nothing else that may rouse up his studies； to finish his circuit
in an English Concordance and a topic folio； the gatherings and
savings of a sober graduateship； a Harmony and a Catena； treading
the constant round of certain common doctrinal heads； attended with
their uses； motives； marks； and means； out of which； as out of an
alphabet； or sol…fa； by forming and transforming； joining and
disjoining variously； a little bookcraft； and two hours'
meditation； might furnish him unspeakably to the performance of
more than a weekly charge of sermoning： not to reckon up the
infinite helps of interlinearies； breviaries； synopses； and other
loitering gear。 But as for the multitude of sermons ready printed
and piled up； on every text that is not difficult； our London
trading St。 Thomas in his vestry； and add to boot St。 Martin and
St。 Hugh； have not within their hallowed limits more vendible ware
of all sorts ready made： so that penury he never need fear of
pulpit provision； having where so plenteously to refresh his
magazine。 But if his rear and flanks be not impaled； if his back
door be not secured by the rigid licenser； but that a bold book may
now and then issue forth and give the assault to some of his old
collections in their trenches； it will concern him then to keep
waking； to stand in watch； to set good guards and sentinels about
his received opinions； to walk the round and counter…round with his
fellow inspectors； fearing lest any of his flock be seduced； who
also then would be better instructed； better exercised and
disciplined。 And God send that the fear of this diligence； which
must then be used； do not make us affect the laziness of a
licensing Church。
For if we be sure we are in the right； and do not hold the truth
guiltily； which becomes not； if we ourselves condemn not our own
weak and frivolous teaching； and the people for an untaught and
irreligious gadding rout； what can be more fair than when a man
judicious； learned； and of a conscience； for aught we know； as good
as theirs that taught us what we know； shall not privily from house
to house； which is more dangerous； but openly by writing publish to
the world what his opinion is； what his reasons； and wherefore that
which is now thought cannot be sound？ Christ urged it as wherewith
to justify himself； that he preached in public； yet writing is more
public than preaching； and more easy to refutation； if need be；
there being so many whose business and profession merely it is to
be the champions of truth； which if they neglect； what can be
imputed but their sloth； or unability？
Thus much we are hindered and disinured by this course of
licensing； toward the true knowledge of what we seem to know。 For
how much it hurts and hinders the licensers themselves in the
calling of their ministry； more than any secular employment； if
they will discharge that office as they ought； so that of necessity
they must neglect either the one duty or the other； I insist not；
because it is a particular； but leave it to their own conscience；
how they will decide it there。
There is yet behind of what I purposed to lay open； the
incredible loss and detriment that this plot of licensing puts us
to； more than if some enemy at sea should stop up all our havens
and ports and creeks； it hinders and retards the importation of our
richest merchandise； truth； nay； it was first established and put
in practice by Antichristian malice and mystery on set purpose to
extinguish； if it were possible； the light of Reformation； and to
settle falsehood； little differing from that policy wherewith the
Turk upholds his Alcoran； by the prohibition of printing。 'Tis not
denied； but gladly confessed； we are to send our thanks and vows to
Heaven louder than most of nations； for that great measure of truth
which we enjoy； especially in those main points between us and the
Pope； with his appurtenances the prelates： but he who thinks we are
to pitch our tent here； and have attained the utmost prospect of
reformation that the mortal glass wherein we contemplate can show
us； till we come to beatific vision； that man by this very opinion
declares that he is yet far short of truth。
Truth indeed came once into the world with her divine Master； and
was a perfect shape most glorious to look on： but when he ascended；
and his Apostles after him were laid asleep； then straight arose a
wicked race of deceivers； who； as that story goes of the Egyptian
Typhon with his conspirators； how they dealt with the good Osiris；
took the virgin Truth； hewed her lovely form into a thousand
pieces； and scattered them to the four winds。 From that time ever
since； the sad friends of Truth； such as durst appear； imitating
the careful search that Isis made for the mangled body of Osiris；
went up and down gathering up limb by limb； still as they could
find them。 We have not yet found them all； Lords and Commons； nor
ever shall do； till her Master's second coming； he sh