apt to be wrought upon, and gulled in this kind, prone without
either examination or due consideration (for they take up religion a trust,
as at mercers' they do their wares) to believe anything. And the best means
they have to broach first, or to maintain it when they have done, is to
keep them still in ignorance: for "ignorance is the mother of devotion," as
all the world knows, and these times can amply witness. This hath been the
devil's practice, and his infernal ministers in all ages; not as our
Saviour by a few silly fishermen, to confound the wisdom of the world, to
save publicans and sinners, but to make advantage of their ignorance, to
convert them and their associates; and that they may better effect what
they intend, they begin, as I say, with poor, [6441]stupid, illiterate
persons. So Mahomet did when he published his Alcoran, which is a piece of
work (saith [6442]Bredenbachius) "full of nonsense, barbarism, confusion,
without rhyme, reason, or any good composition, first published to a
company of rude rustics, hog-rubbers, that had no discretion, judgment,
art, or understanding, and is so still maintained." For it is a part of
their policy to let no man comment, dare to dispute or call in question to
this day any part of it, be it never so absurd, incredible, ridiculous,
fabulous as it is, must be believed _implicite_, upon pain of death no man
must dare to contradict it, "God and the emperor," &c. What else do our
papists, but by keeping the people in ignorance vent and broach all their
new ceremonies and traditions, when they conceal the scripture, read it in
Latin, and to some few alone, feeding the slavish people in the meantime
with tales out of legends, and such like fabulous narrations? Whom do they
begin with but collapsed ladies, some few tradesmen, superstitious old
folks, illiterate persons, weak women, discontent, rude, silly companions,
or sooner circumvent? So do all our schismatics and heretics. Marcus and
Valentinian heretics, in [6443]Irenaeus, seduced first I know not how many
women, and made them believe they were prophets. [6444]Friar Cornelius of
Dort seduced a company of silly women. What are all our Anabaptists,
Brownists, Barrowists, familists, but a company of rude, illiterate,
capricious, base fellows? What are most of our papists, but stupid,
ignorant and blind bayards? how should they otherwise be, when as they are
brought up and kept still in darkness? [6445]"If their pastors" (sa