powers, who notwithſtanding have cleared themſelves by diſliking the publiſhing, and queſtioning the publiſhers thereof; but for the danger, I will deliver in theſe enſuing Propoſitions my opinion, yet with ſubmiſſion to wiſer judgments.
1. Though it may be dangerous to ſuch as like reedes are ſhaken, and like empty clouds carried about with every winde of doctrin, yet to ſtaid and ſolid Chriſtians, the reading of Mahomets Hereſies will be no more dangerous, then the reading of thoſe errors which are recorded in Scripture, for in them are mentioned many damnable errors and abominations of the Egyptians, Cananites, Hittites, Sidonians, and other Gentiles, and of the Hebrews themſelves, of the Sadduces who denied Spirits, Angels, and the Reſurrection.
2. Is there more danger in reading the Alcoran, then in reading the Errors of ancient and modern Hereticks? ſurely Tertulian, Ireneus, Epiphanius, Auſtin, and other Fathers were not of this opinion, who have left upon record of poſterity, the damnable hereſies of Arians, Eutychians, Neſtorians, Macedonians, and others: and in the Alcoran there are not ſuch dangerous errors as among the Tetratheits, Angelites, and Theodoſians, who held there were four Gods, or the Tritheites, who affirmed there were three, or the Gnoſticks, Manicheans, Cerdonians, Marcionites, who maintained there were two contrary gods, the one good, the other bad, whereas the Alcoran ſets down there is but one true God; and although it denieth with Arius, the Divinity of Chriſt, yet it holds him a great Prophet; nor doth it ſpeak ſo blaſphemousſly of Chriſt as the Simonians, who held Simon Magus, or the Ophites, and Manicheans, who ſaid, the Serpent was Chriſt, or Menander, who affirmed himſelf to be Chriſt, and the Saviour of the world. Beſides; are not the damnable Hereſies of the modern Familiſts, who deny Chriſts Divinity, making as many Chriſts as there be illuminated Elders in their Congregations? are not alſo the Hereſies of the Socinians, Antitrinitarians, Adamites, Serverntians, Anti-ſabbatarians, and many others expoſed to the view of all that will read them? why then may not the Alcoran? Beſides, are men debarred from reading the Greek and Latine Poets? nay, are not many of them tranſlated into our Engliſh tongue? as alſo the mo-
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