SECT. XVII. An answer to time objection drawn from the many controversies amongst Christians.

BUT the answer to this is evident: there are scarce any arts but the same thing happens to them, partly through the weakness of human nature, and partly because men’s judgment is hindered by prejudices: but, for the most part, this variety of opinion is limited within certain bounds, in which men are agreed, and whereby they determine doubts: as in the mathematics, it is a dispute whether the circle can 111be squared or no; but whether, if you take equals from equals, the remainder will be equal, this admits of no dispute: and thus it is in natural philosophy, physic, and other arts. So the difference of opinions that is amongst Christians cannot hinder their agreement in the principal things; that is, those commands by which we have now recommended the Christian religion:³³³³³³   We may add also in those opinions that are necessary, and upon which the observation of commands depends; such as are mentioned in the most ancient creeds which are extant, in Irenæus and Tertullian, and what we now call the apostles’ creed, as I have somewhat more fully shewn in that little piece annexed hereto, concerning the choice of our opinion, &c. sect. iv. Le Clerc. and the certainty of these appears from hence, that those who, being highly enraged against one another, have sought for matter of disagreement, never ventured to go so far as to deny that these were the precepts of Christ; no, not even they who would not direct their lives according to this rule. And if any should attempt to contradict these, he ought to be looked upon to be like those philosophers who denied that snow was white. For as these were confuted by their senses, so are they by the consent of all Christian nations, and by those books which were wrote by the first Christians; and those after them, who were followed by learned men; and such who bore testimony to the faith of Christ by their death. For that which all these acknowledge to be the doctrine of Christ, ought to be accounted so, by all fair and equal judges; for the same reason that we believe Plato, Xenophon, and other disciples of Socrates, concerning the opinions of Socrates; and the schools of the stoics, for what Zeno delivered.