it was in the Apostles time We have said enough to shew how Tradition which they so much commend and magnifie may fail and so prove no infallible Testimony And who were our Forefathers from whom we learnt our faith we have shewed already and now shall name some of them viz. The Reformers in the last ages and Jo. Hu and Hiâ—…rome of Prague and before them Wickliff and before him the Waldenses and all that protested against the Churches corruptions in all ages upward as might be shewed if it were pertinent Jo. Whites Way p. 336. § 45. 337. Digress 48. 2. Tradition being the Testimony of the Church let Papists first ascertain us which is the true Church whose Testimony we must believe For our parts we know none upon earth that pretend to Christianity that do not account themselves the true Church and that avow not themselves to have the true faith which the Apostles delivered Now there being so many pretenders we are at as great a loss wich Tradition as without it since all say they hold the Apostolick faith and yet extreamly differ one from another not in few matters or small at least some of them And it is said and granted on all hands that there are dissenters and of these some are ignorant and some obstinate and some Scepticks and we know too many professing Christians who are in their wayes and doings no better then Infidels Now may not any or all of these question Tradition as well as Scripture upon this pretence that they know not which is the Church whose Testimony they are obliged to believe If it be said as it hath been by some that there is no Christian but knows the Church It may be justly replyed that there is no Christian but knows the Scripture as well For all that own not Scripture we may justly disown them as being no Christians A man may be a Christian it is confessed though he never saw a Bible if he have heard the doctrine of Christ as many Gentiles yea all for ought I know did in the first times of the Church when the Gospel was first preached to them by the Apostles But to be a Christian and not know the doctrine of Christ is a pure contradiction Now how we shall know which Church gives the truest testimony to the doctrine of Christ if not by Scripture let Papists resolve us for we know not what to answer We think among so many pretenders there will be differences such as â—â—â—â—adition will no better reconcile then Scripture and that as Protestants cannot agree about the sense of Scripture but some interpret it one way and some another so they and others will agree no better about the Church and its Tradition For as I have said there are many Churches and those hugely differing in some things and yet all pretend to the Apostolick faith Therefore we have need of somewhat to ascertain us of that Church which hath preserved and delivered down all along the same faith which the Apostles taught For the true Catholick Church we believe it hath been faithfull in its testimony to the truth in all ages But we Protestants cannot own the Church of Rome as such though we know there was there one sound part of the Catholick Church in the Apostles times Papists indeed pretend and boast great things of their Church but what is that to us who can well distinguish between a Roman-Catholick and a Catholick Christian. Here then we Protestants resolve to believe the Church for the Scripture and not the Scripture for the Church And yet we allow what that ancient Father saith of himself That he had not believed Scripture but for the Church For we know that after he came once to learn the Scriptures he then believed it not upon account of the Churches authority but it s own only The Church we grant may at first perswade Infidels to attend and heed the Scripture as the Word of God even as the woman perswaded her neighbours to come and see Christ. But as they when they had heard him themselves believed not because of her saying but because of his own word even so is â—…in the case that now is in question The Church of Christ hath the office of ministry to hold out the light that others who are in darkeness may see it But this will never prove the Church to have such an authority as Papists plead for and much less that their Church is the Catholick Church which only holds the Apostolick faith And when they have said all they can they say no more then any Church never so corrupt will say for it self viz. That it hath the doctrine of Christ which the Apostles taught Hence we say again that Tradition leaves us at an irrecoverable loss and that we must have somewhat more certain then the Churches testimony which any company of never so corrupt principles may pretend unto as well as the Church of Rome 3. We desire to be satisfied whether the doctrine delivered down be true because the Church hath delivered it or that the Church hath delivered it because it is the truth For we think the Church ought to receive and believe the truth only and to deliver that and nothing else to be believed by others and if it received other then the truth it was deceived and if it delivered other it was not only deceived but deceived others also The Church can make nothing to be true but what is such before of it self and all it can do is to declare the truth which it hath received and perswade others to believe it Therefore when Papists press us as they do about our being assured of Scripture we say that we believe it upon account of its own authority because it speaks it self the Word of God For as when a place of trust and honor is conferred upon a person by his Prince and assured to him under the Great Seal though the messenger that brings the Patent may avow it to be the Princes act yet that which gives assurance to the person of his interest in that office and honour is the Patent it self and the Seal annext So we know the voice of God speaking to us in his Word and even so hath the true Church in all ages received Scripture as the true Word of God and commended it to others for such as a Patent sealed from Heaven 4. We desire to know when the Church first resolved the Case in Question and determined what is the doctrine of Christ. For the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Councils we count them of a latter date and but of yesterday in comparison For our part we think under correction of better judgments that the Canon was agreed upon very early because two eminent ones among the Ancients â—…counted upon the same number of Canonical Books which we now do and one of them saith that the Canonicall authority of the old and new Testament was confirmed in the Apostles times And that
it was so agreed very early we have reason to think because Coâ—…stantine in the first Nicene Council would not else have perswaded the Fathers assembled to examine and try all questions and controversies by the Canon of Scripture For had it been otherwise it had been rational to move them first to resolve what the Canon was Once we know the Christian Church had need to be resolved of a Rule of faith even from the beginning at least so soon as the Apostles had departed this life For if any thing surely this is of concernment to the Church viz. To have the Rule of faith stated as the standard whereby all doctrines are to be weighed and measured And this we think was done even from the Apostles times and that upon the determination which they had made so as there was no such Question of old about the Rule of faith such as Papists have made of late That some have questioned the authority of some Books of the New Testament we know but we say they were only some and not the whole Church Besides to question the authority of some few Books is not to question the authority of the whole Scripture And indeed this question was never made till of latter times when Papists could no more defend their Tenets by this Rule of faith 5. We would know how the Church came to know all the mysteries of Christian Religion And this we have reason to question because Papists make so much of the Churches Testimony as if Scripture had no authority as to us at least without it Whatâ—… did the Church devise the whole model of the Christian faith out of her own heart No certainly this will never be said by any that are sober What then Questionless she was taught it of God and in this I hope we all agree Well And how was she taught it was it not by the Revelation of Jesus Christ And where is this Revelation if it be not in Scripture But I proceed and say the Christian Church learnt the doctrine of Christ from Scripture the Spirit working with the Word For the Apostles did not in preaching the Gospel bring to light what had never been heard of or thought on before But they only declared to the world the performance of what God had foretold and promised in the old Testament concerning his Son made of a woman and made under the Law when once the fulness of time was come And so the Apostle avows Acts 26. 22. that his doctrine was no other then what Moses and the Prophets had signified before And did not Christ come to fulfill the promises made to the Fathers which promises were recorded in the old Testament Yea and Christ himself expounded the Scriptures concerning himself Lukâ—… 24. 27. And vers 25. he up 〈◊〉 he two Disciples with their not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what the Prophets had spoken 〈◊〉 iâ—… the Church in all ages 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 themselves knew the 〈◊〉 of Christ by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is enough to shew us 〈◊〉 is the only Rule of faith Once 〈◊〉 If Scripture be not the Rule 〈◊〉 let Papists tell us what it serve â—…or Truly we are so ignorant as if it be not the Rule of our faith we know no use of it And if that be granted which our Adversaries plead for why may we not hearken to the Church and her Tradition and never look on Scripture more For they have of late framed a Rule of faith that is all-sufficient and tell us plainly Scripture is not so Surely if we thus let go the Word and take up Tradition we had best let God go also and content our selves with the Church But there are some Questions to be answered and till this be done we talk to no purpose whatever we say of Scripture or against Tradition For how know we 1. Whether the Originals be entire and the same with those which were first ponned by the Prophets and Apostles 2. What Books of Scripture are Canonical and what not 3. Whether the Originals are rightly translated into the English and other vulgar languages 4. Whether they are truly senâ—…'d and interpreted c. and what not These and such like are pressed upon us to enervate the sorce of Scriptures authority and prove it no Rule of faith For the Rule of faith say Papists must be easie to be understood of all and it must evidence it self so as we may be ascertained of it that it is the Word of God and how can the vulgar be sure of this when the wisest and most learned are not well agreed about it What shall become of the unlearned and such as make any doubts about these things And there are many such whereof some are Rational and others Sceptical and others no question are Atheistical to an high degree To all these we count our selves bound to answer and our answer in general is I. That if Scripture were never so plain and certain there will be some doubters and dissenters and enemies to it also There are too many who question and some who deny the Existence of God Is there no certainty therefore of Gods Existence Or hath not God sufficiently shewed himself to be known as he is so did Christ give evidence enough of himself though the blind Pharisee could nor or rather would not see him to be what he was We know there are many in the world who are dissenters to the Rules of common honesty and righteousness and yet they are plain enough and Papists I am confident think so It is abundantly sufficient if Scripture prove it self so far as all honest sober and uninterested persons may be satisfied These I am sure will be contented with such proofs as the matter in question will bear And who that is reasonable will expect arguments in this case to prove more then a moral certainty alwayes excepting that inward assurance which a gracious soul hath by the seal of Gods Spirit 2. We answer That the Rule may be easie though all men do not understand it And such is Scripture easie we say to be understood by all that will use means for that end What! do our Adversaries think it may be known by dreaming of it or shall we think that God hath not sufficiently provided for our souls because we cannot come to the knowledge of the Truth and Salvation by it without pains-taking This is to say no more unreasonable What can be learnt without using means and taking pains 3. We may justly look on these Queries about Scripture as if a man should ask another How do you know light from darkness white from black sowre from sweet For Scripture gives as clear a discovery of it self as things white and black sowre and sweet shew their taste and colour But I shall endeavour to answer particulars as they lye in order To the first Question about the Originals we answer 1. That we know them to be entire and not defective and the same with those that
were penned by the Prophets and Apostles as well as any such thing can be known These Records are very ancient some of them of some thousand years standing And must we now prove every particular as if we had been eye-witnesses Is it not enough if we have more certainty of these then can be had of any others that bear the same date or somewhat near Not to say that that this Question seems to strike at the force of all ancient Records and evidences For it may be said by any concerned How are we sure that these are the Authentick Copies or transcribed exactly to a letter 2. We are certainly assured in this Case as well as they that question us seeing they pretend only to Tradition for their Security and we know no certainty of that more then of Scripture 3. We know the Original Old Testament by the consent of our Bibles and those which the Jews preserve to this day as we think by a speciall providence What better evidence can there be in such a case then this They had the honour to have the lively Oracles committed to them and we never heard they could be justly blamed for being â—…alse to their trust thus far And these Infidels still retain the old Testament as it was though the Christians make use of it to justifie the Christian faith against them And if they had attempted any alteration they could never have effected it as was shewed before Now while their Copies and ours agree so well together as we have no difference with them about this have we not good reason to perswade our selves that our Original Bibles are as at first 4. We know it by as good evidences as our Adversaries know it viz. by the consent of all Ages bearing witness to it We do not indeed plead the authority of the Churches Testimony as Papists do nor have we need seeing the Testimony may be valid through its truth without any such authority We give as much as we ought to the Church when we say it hath been all along an external instrument or Medium to declare and testifiâ—… concerning the doctrine of Christ in Scripture And so it hath testified the Originals to be as at first I have yet more to say for clearing this Question only I must needs insert that we cannot think our selves so fairly dealt withall in such a question For we lay our claim by prescription and therefore think our adversaries should rather prove the contrary by undeniable arguments then pick quarrels with us by captious questions such as they can no better answer then we But we know the design and shall say no more of it 5. It is enough if the Originals be in the matter and substance of them the same as at first That they may have some alterations as to letters or words in the transcribing and printing of them who questions since the Transcribers and Printers had no infallible Spirit that we ever heard of But this being granted we have no cause to doubt Scriptures authority any whit the more What though no Original Copie now extant be so absolutely pure as no mixture can possibly be found in it as to words and letters yet Scripture ceases not to be a sufficient Rule so long as there is in it no violation mutilation or falsification through the ignorance negligence or malice of men as disables it for teaching all men what to believe and do in order to their salvation For this is it which we contend for That all the doctrine of Christ necessary to be known unto salvation we have in our present Bibles and this doctrine the very same that was delivered by the Prophets and Apostles It lies still however on our adversaries to prove any alteration so much as in any words Hence we say further that Books made of inke and parchment or paper are things that are perishable yea and will come to nothing But dare Papists say that God hath not given his Laws in writing dare they say that there never was such a man as Moses who at Gods command delivered a Law to Israel and after it was written caused it to be read in the audience of all the people or dare they say there never were such men as the Prophets and Apostles and that they never wrote any such Books as are now called the holy Scriptures We do not know and therefore dare not say that they have hiâ—…herto said any such thing and we have so much charity as to believe they will never say it What mean they then by such quirks and quibles as these viz. That we cannot be assured now that the Scriptures are not altered from what they were at first c. What thoughts have they of God Almighty was he not wise enough to foresee what might be objected in after times so as to provide against it and prevent all such questions as they now make about the written word This we know and they too that the only wise God thought it best to have the lively Oracles committed to writing though he could not but know that in process of time there might be some alteration in those writings and that the outside materials as parchment c. are such as wast and wear out Yea this way of writing was as I may say consecrated at first by the finger of God who wrote the ten Commandments in two Tâ—…bles of sione And those two tables were soon broken and the others afterwards prepared at Gods command and kept along time are yet long since gone so as none can give any account of them Notwithstanding we are not to seek of the Ten Commandments nor we hope will any say these are not the same that God wrote at first or we cannot be sure that they are so Alas to argue in this manner is to bring Heaven and Earth together Then farewell all the credit of all ancient Records that ever have been preserved in the World Yea then let the Scriptures which are the most ancient Records in the world go too upon the same account And this we think some would have or they would no more trouble the world with such frivolous Queries as these How say they can we be sure that the Originals are the same that were first penned what pitie it is that these men stood not by when God commanded a Law to be written for his people and the same to continue unto all genera ions they could have prompted God and told him what was to be considered of viz. That those Books might decay in time and the Copies be corrupted in the transcribing of them or they might be lost and hid aside For so they were in Josiahs time when one Copy was lighted on by chance and counted as a Jewel for its rarity And that in after ages there might be much questioning about them whether they had not under the revolutions of many ages been altered from what they were at first by his