[42] such persons would but consider what the holy scripture itself saith on this behalf;—how Paul (Rom. XII. 1) calleth the service which Christians are to exhibit unto God a rational or reasonable service. And Peter (1 Ep. III. 15) saith, “ Be ready always to make an apology unto every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” Which passage clearly intimateth, that as there is no incongruity for others to require a reason of our hope in Christ, so we Christians are, above all other professors whatsoever, obliged to be very rational; —for to make an apology or defence in the behalf of so abstruse and sublime a doctrine as ours is, requireth a more than ordinary improvement of reason.This being so, it may seem strange why so great a number even of Protestant ministers should make reason a common theme to disclaim against, giving to it (without warrant of scripture) the name of corrupt reason and carnal reason, and other the like eulogies. But the truth is, they themselves hold many absurd, unreasonable opinions; and so know right well, that if men once begin to make use of their reason, and bring the doctrines that are commonly taught to the touchstone of the scripture, explained and managed in a rational way, their tenets and reputation with the people will soon be laid in the dust. Let such ministers henceforward either leave off clamouring against reason, or no more open their mouths against Papists, and their opinion about transubstantiation; for whosoever shall sift the controversy between Papists and Protestants concerning it, shall find, that the principal, if not
