is deeply guilty, as in many other particulars, ſo moſt eminently in this, That it profeſſes, no man is obliged to receive the ſcriptures as the word of God, or to believe any of it, but from the teſtimony of your church; and to awe men to ſuch a belief, threats of damnation are uſed, as well as the magiſtrates' ſwords, and cruel torments by inquiſitions; and, indeed, it is not done without ground: this is done to hinder prying into their groſs idolatries, errors, and ſuperſtition, derogatory to the ſcriptures, and expreſs command of God.
Deid. Sure you are beſide yourſelf: nor can you prove this; but being fallen from the church, do this only in prejudice and ſpite, to lay a ſtain upon its virgin-innocence.
Gard. No; it is apparent from the word of God, and even from reaſon itſelf, in thoſe that will conſider, and are not blinded with ignorance, which your church, in her ſenſe, truly ſtyles the Mother of Devotion.
Deid. Can any ſuch thing he in a church that is infallible and to prove that it is ſo, it is ſaid to be built upon St. Peter: he is the rock ſpoken of, and this rock doth, together with St. Peter, include his ſucceſſors; and the church built on this rock (united to and built upon the Pope) is infallible, for it is ſaid, 'The gates of hell ſhall not prevail againſt it.'
Gard. Pardon me, lady, if I ſay, there is no agreement among the churchmen about this infallible judge; ſome will have it the Pope, ſome a General Council, and others both; none of your writers have yet concluded on it. However theſe words are perverted; for it is more probable, that not St. Peter's perſon, but his doctrine and confeſſion concerning Chrift, is the rock
