Micah Clarke

With the home influences which I have described, it may be readily imagined that myyoung mind turned very much upon the subject of religion, the more so as my father andmother took different views upon it. The old Puritan soldier held that the bible alonecontained all things essential to salvation, and that though it might be advisable that thosewho were gifted with wisdom or eloquence should expound the Scriptures to theirbrethren, it was by no means necessary, but rather hurtful and degrading, that anyorganised body of ministers or of bishops should claim special prerogatives, or take theplace of mediators between the creature and the Creator. For the wealthy dignitaries of theChurch, rolling in their carriages to their cathedrals, in order to preach the doctrines oftheir Master, who wore His sandals out in tramping over the countryside, he professed themost bitter contempt; nor was he more lenient to those poorer members of the clergy whowinked at the vices of their patrons that they might secure a seat at their table, and whowould sit through a long evening of profanity rather than bid good-bye to the cheesecakesand the wine flask. That such men represented religious truth was abhorrent to his mind, nor would he even give his adhesion to that form of church government dear to thePresbyterians, where a general council of the ministers directed the affairs of their church.Every man was, in his opinion, equal in the eyes of the Almighty, and none had a right toclaim any precedence over his neighbour in matters of religion. The book was written forall, and all were equally able to read it, provided that their minds were enlightened by theHoly Spirit