The
Church of _England_ made a Stop, and fix'd her Faith and Doctrine by
39 Articles; with which the Presbyterians not satisfied, went yet
farther; but being too self-confident to think, that as their Fathers
were mistaken in some Things, they also might be in some others; and
fancying themselves infallible in _their_ Interpretations, they also
ty'd themselves down by the _Westminster Confession_. But has not a
Synod that meets in King GEORGE the Second's Reign, as much Right to
interpret Scripture, as one that met in _Oliver_'s Time? And if any
Doctrine then maintain'd, is, or shall hereafter be found not
altogether orthodox, why must we be for ever confin'd to that, or to
any, _Confession_?
T. _But if the Majority of the Synod be against any Innovation,
they may justly hinder the Innovator from Preaching._
_S._ That is as much as to say, if the Majority of the
Preachers be in the wrong, they may justly hinder any Man from
setting the People right; for a _Majority_ may be in the wrong as
well as the _Minority_, and frequently are. In the beginning of the
Reformation, the _Majority_ was vastly against the Reformers, and
continues so to this Day; and, if, according to your Opinion, they
had a Right to silence the _Minority_, I am sure the _Minority_ ought
to have been silent. But tell me, if the _Presbyterians_ in this
Country, being charitably enclin'd, should send a Missionary into
_Turky_, to propagate the Gospel, would it not be unreasonable in the
_Turks_ to prohibit his Preaching?
T.
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