and carrying it Captive into the Schools, they have made it suffer Banishment from its proper Place: And they have withal thereby very much corrupted the Substance of their own Knowledge: They have done as the Philistines by seizing on the Ark; who by the same Action depriv'd the People of God of their Religion, and also brought a Plague amongst themselves.
Sect. XIX. Experiments will not hinder the Practice of ReligionThus far I trust it will be confess'd, that Experiments are unblameable. But yet there is much more behind, of which many pious Men are wont to express their Jealousy. For though they shall be brought to allow, that all these Doctrines, which I have named, may seem to remain safe amidst the Studies of Natural Things: Yet they still whisper, that they may chance by degrees, to make the Sincerity of Devotion appear ridiculous, and to bring the Strictness of holy Life out of Fashion: And that so they will silently, and by Piece-meals, demolish Religion, which they dare not openly encounter. I will therefore next endeavour the Removal of these Scruples, though I sufficiently understand, that it is a very difficult Work, to confute such popular and plausible Errors, which have the Pretence of the Cause of God to confirm them.
The chief Substance of real and sober Piety, is contain'd in the devout Observation of all those Ways whereby God has been pleas'd to manifest his Will; and in a right Separation of our Minds from the Lusts and Desires of the World. The most remarkable Means, whereby he has made known his Pleasure, are those which have been fix'd and reveal'd in his Word, or else the extraordinary Signs of his Authority, and Command.
Con-
