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
ΛΟΓΟΣ ΑΥΤΟΠΙΣΤΟΣ OR Scriptures Self-Evidence TO PROVE Its Existence Authority Certainty in it Self and Sufficiency in its kind to ascertain others That it is Inspir'd of God to be the Only Rule of Faith PUBLISHED As a Plea for Protestants in the Defence of their Profession and intended only for the use and instruction of the Vulgar sort Isa. 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony John 5. 39. Search the Scriptures c. Canonica autoritas veteris novi Testamenti quae Apostolorum consirmata temporibus per successiones Episcoporum propagationes Ecclesiâ—rum tanquam in sede quâdam sublimitèr constituta est Aug. contr Faust. Ma. 1. 11. c. 5. LONDON Printed for Edward Brewster and are to be sold at Mr. Marriotts a Scrivener over against Hicks-Hall in St. Johns street 1667. TO ALL Well-meaning Protestants Who desire and resolve to hold fast their Profession Especially those who are least able to Dispute Controversies SIRS I Marvel not if you think your selves well grounded in your Religion whiles you are able to give a Reason of the hope that is in you by proving the Articles of your Faith out of Scripture For in this perswasion you are of 〈◊〉 same mind with me whoever you are However I must admonish you that what pleases you and me doth not satisfie all For there are still as of late have been such as will ask you How you are able to prove Scripture to be the word of God and the only Rule of Faith Therefore it concerns you and me too as the times are to bethink our selves what to Answer when we shall be put to the Question And that you may have some what to reply I have in this ensuing Discourse given you some of those thoughts which I have taken up by occasion of this Question that may be put to us I know well That divers Learned both English and Outlandish Divines have bestowed their pains to prove the authority of Scripture such as we account it and that it is the only Rule of Faith But the labours of those Learned men are such either for language or somewhat else as they would be to you if you had them by you as the word of a Book that is sealed I have therefore composed this Discourse in a plain English style and phrase and of no great price to ease your purses that you may have by you somewhat to answer your Adversaries In it I use and urge Scripture very little or nothing at all in a manner because I will cut off occasion from our Adversaries who will else say I prove my Conclusion by that which is the thing in Question How necessary it is for you to be well informed in this Case and to be fortified against the assaults of such as lie in wait to undermine you and turn up the foundations of your Faith I must leave you to be Judges For our Adversaries I am resolved never to draw the Saw against them partly because of mine insufficiency many wayes to enter the Lists with such Giant-like men and especially because there are so many worthies on our side whose great abilities and advantages such as I want cannot but encourage them to what I dare not undertake All my design is to instruct the ignorant whose desire is to learn And to such I offer these weak endeavours of mine in hope they may suggest somewhat that may serve to stay and uphold the weak till they be further established by the help of some more able hand And if this be I have all my design so as God may have all the glory SCRIPTURE THE Only Rule of Faith PRotestants have alwayes counted the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the Inspiration of God and the only Rule of Faith and Manners And that they may abide and increase more and more in this perswasion is and shall be my hearts desire and prayer to God for them But though they hold Scripture for a Principle and Ground-plot of their Faith yet they are called upon somewhat methinks besides the Laws of Science to prove it And this Task I am willing in their behalf to undertake because the Lord hath commanded us to be alwayes ready to give a reason of the hope that is in us For this consideration and nothing else hath emboldned me to let the World know the rational Grounds which Protestants have to perswade them that Scripture is the Word of God and written by his command to be the only Rule of Faith unto all Christians And what I have to say upon this account I shall reduce unto these two particulars 1. I shall alledge some of those rational Grounds by which Protestants are induc'd to believe the Scripture to be divinely inspir'd with the Conclusion which we think must unavoidably follow viz. That it is the only Rule of Faith 2. I shall a little discuss the Queflion wherher Tradition the Churches Testimony or any thing of that nature can be rationally allowed this great Priviledge of being a Rule of Faith and then conclude all with an Answer to the grand Objection of Papists against Scripture because as it is all they can say worth our notice so it is look't on by them as an invincible Achilles and a short but serious admonition to all Protestants who mind the concernments of their souls or may be perswaded to it The former Part Shewing the Rational Grounds upon which Protestants believe Scripture to be inspir'd of God c. SCripture is as it calls it self a Light and therefore is best seen in and by and of it self though there be nothing else to shew it Hence it is that when we have said as much as we can to prove its Divine authority we must â—…i I leave it to be seen in its own Light and to prove it selâ—… the Manitestation of Gods mind and will made to the sons of men And upon due consideration it will appear so to any that are judicious and impartial For how can it be prov'd to be what it is by any argument besides the attestation given it by God and his Spirit and the evident tokens of God speaking in it And so it proves it self just as a Learned man proves himself a Scholar by his learned Exercises when he is called to them or as God proves himself to be what he is by what he saith and doth However we are put to prove our Principles and we are contented so to do as well as we can I say as well as we can because all Scholars know that Principles are most hardly prov'd against such as have impudence enough to deny them And here I must in order to my intended work request the Reader to grant me somewhat which seems very reasonable and I hope will be supposed such by all that are indifferent and impartial 1. That in this Case I can alledge no rational Arguments other then such as Scripture yields and offers to prove it self inspired of
to multiply arguments in this kind as so many evidences of Gods speaking to us in â—…he Scriptures But I shall forbear â—…nd proceed to somewhat that comes nearer to the Question concerning â—…he Rule of Faith It is well known that this Question hath been much disputed between us and our Adversaries for many years and that two things especially have been insisted on by them to prove the Scripture no competent Rule of Faith viz. the obscurity and the imperfection 〈◊〉 it In this dispute they have laboured to puzzle and plunge us by putting us to shew how Scripture proveâ—… it self to be what we account it the Word of God To this we may justly think it 〈◊〉 sufficient answer to say as one yea many have said long since thaâ—… in every profession the Principles aâ—… indemonstrable assented to without discourse and the Scriptures are thâ—… Principles of Christian Religion anâ—… therefore first we must grant them to be the very Word of God and therâ—… say they contain all points needfull to be known And since Scripture avoucheth it self to be the word of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. 2 Pâ—…t 1. 20 21 Luke 1. 70. it is rational in us to believe it Notwithstanding our Adversaries are not satisfied but insisâ—… much on this Question viz. How we know that the Scripture that saith it is the Word of God is so in very deed To this the Protestants have long since answered That they know this first and principally by the illumination of Gods Spirit as the inward means and then by the restimony of the Scriptures themselves as the outward means and lastly by the ministry of the Church inducing us to assent Here we say not that the certainty of the Scripture is written in any particular place or Book of it but the vertue and power that sheweth it self in every line and leaf of the Bible proclaimeth it to be the Word of the eternal God and the sheep of Christ discern the voice and light thereof as men discern light from darkness and as children are known by their faces and favours resembling their parents As the purity and perfection of the matter and many particulars else some of which I have hinted before and whoever will see them more fully may find them in a large and learned discourse of the Divine authority of Scripture which I name the rather because it is a Book which the vulgar may better understand then many others that handle this question Though the grounds I have hinted and others which I have omitted induce us strongly to believe the Scriptures Divine authority and we may count them sufficient to fence us against the cavils of our Adversaries yet it is one thing to answer the arguments of men and another to satisfie the doubts and fears of our own consciences Therefore we stand to this That no man can be effectually perswaded of the Scriptures authority as he ought to be in order to a sound and saving belief of the truths therein contained unless he be taught of God by the teachings of his Spirit which alone teacheth to know spiritual things in a spiritual manner God we say is the best witness to his own Word and his Spirit the best seal that can be put to it In the particulars fore-mentioned and many others we see evident tokens of God speaking to us in the Scriptures But the faith that saves us must have this foundation viz. Gods sealing the truth of Scripture by the special grace of his own Spirit to our souls And when this is done then is a man fully perswaded and confident indeed so as he can say and swear too if there be need the doctrine of Christ in Scripture is that which God hath revealed to lead and guide me to my happiness in the enjoyment of God for ever Then and not before a man hath comfort and peace in believing having not only a grant of eternal life but the great seal of the Kingdom of Heaven put to it Such a man so assured and sealed by the Spirit unless in a fit of temptation never troubles himself about this Question Whether Scripture be the Word of God His trouble is most about his own deceitfull and unbelieving heart that he can trust God no better when he hath so good security for all that is needfull in order to his happiness He never thinks what some have said that the Scriptures have been corrupted and are not what once they were He knows that Gods Word is pure and perfect and is only troubled at the corruption of his own heart Papists to shew what good will and respects they have to Scripture have a long time been quarrelling it as if some part of the Canon were lost and some of ours seem to yield somewhat to this thinking no prejudice to come thereby to it But others conceive that no part or member of Scripture that ever was Canonical is lost buâ—… that we have it as whole and compieat as ever it was Indeed aâ—… one faith if any Book were lost oâ—… those which were commended to the whole Church it must argue a strang conspiâ—…acy of this whole Church iâ—… carelessness and negligence such aâ—… is not lightly incident to this generation of men We grant that some particular Churches and single persons have doubted some parts oâ—… Scripture now generally acknowledged for Canonical But we deny that the whole Church hath ever done any such thing As for the old Testament who can justly suspect â—…he Jews for corrupting them when â—…heir zeal for them even almost to â—…uperstition hath been so notorious â—…n all ages and is so still even to this â—…ay Our Saviour blamed them â—…uch and often for their vain Traâ—…itions but never spake one word â—…out their corrupting the Scripture â—…hich questionless he would have â—…ne had there been cause since was a matter of such high concernent And if any had attempted it had been impossible for them to complish it when there were so any Copies dispersed in all places â—…d Countries which were many â—…erein the Jews dwelt If any â—…ereticks had essayed it since the â—…w Testament was written how â—…uld one party have observed anoâ—…er and so prevenâ—…ed the design â—…d to say no more it is impossible â—…ess we imagine that all and every one who had a Bible should at once with one consent in all places oâ—… the world resolve to corrupt those antient Records commended to mankind as the Word of God To clear this further having inserted it here occasionally The Scriptures have been written in parchment and papeâ—… which are things perishable and ic are subject to the injuries of time But who knows not the difference that is between the Word of God and the paper and parchment anâ—… ink which have been used to preserve and conveigh it to us Gods Woâ—… must and shall stand when all theâ—… parchments and paper Records shâ—… be no more And whatever alteâ—… tion there hath been we stand to iâ—…
to Revelations now adayes And for any other way of knowing these mysteries then by Scripture we know none and therefore resolve it is of God and cannot be of any other How much will this argument be enforc'd when we further consider of many other particulars reveal'd in Scripture which none but God could possibly know As that there are three that bear record in heaven That God was manifested in our flâ—…sh so as the alone Mediatour was God-Man in one Person Could any creature declare these if it were not inspir'd and â—…ht of God Again How could any Creature come to know how â—…he world was made or how could man come to know how himself was first made out of the dust Can the creature remember the time or know the manner of its own Creation And where have we these but in Scripture You will say these and the like are reveal'd in Scripture But how doth the argument hold good that the Scripture is of God because these things are revealed in it The argument is good and cannot be otherwise accounted by any that are not professed Antichristians because they own these Revelations as Divine and Heavenly Truths For I say again seeing we have in Scripture the great concernments of our Eternity and so many things past finding out by any creature we must of necessity own and acknowledge God alone to have written this word Nay Atheists themselves cannot but know that they are dust And now I shall enforce this by shewing further that Scripture cannot be the work or invention of any Creature either Angels or Men good or bad Good men or Angels would never devise such things and say they were of God For that would be such a belying God as we cannot rationally believe them capable of Wicked men and Devils would never attempt any such thing as penning publishing such a Book which tends so much to the exalting of God and the abasing of themselves This would have been to destroy and overthrow all which they labour so much to uphold Hence we make this challenge who it was that composed this Book we call the Bible if God did not If any object that it may be a collection of many things made up out of the monuments of many ages We may justly demand what hands they were that compiled them and when and where they liv'd If they lived in Moses time how could they write of the Kings If in the times of the former Kings how could they give an account of the latter If in the times of the latter how came the dispersed Jews to have so many Copies of the Law of Moses In a word how could any man or men write of so many things done in so many ages so far distant one from another or how could any man give an account of what was done from the very beginning and before man was made If it be said that it is the work of many in several ages we desire to be satisfied How all should agree so exactly together and who were they that compiled our Bibles or how came they all to agree in calling it the Word of God Mahomet indeed compiled a Book which is to Turks and others as the Scripture is to us For those deluded souls count the Alcoran their Rule of faith and manners And Mahomet calls himself a great Prophet and so his followers account of him to this day But what reasonable man sees not a bundle of fallacies and follies in that Book which by its contradictions and ridiculous relations confutes it self without more ado There are many passages in Scripture which seem to contradict one another There are so but they seem only contradictions and are not such indeed And who are they which apprehend such contracictions are they not commonly such as are most ignorant or least affected to the Scripture But the mutual consâ—…ency of all those passages may be soon found out by all that are intelligent and will use their diligence for that end And what is there were some passages to us irreconcilable will it follow they are such in themselves Surely the general consistency of Scripture with it self might be enough to perswade us rather to charge our selves with ignorance then to suspect it of any mistake And here I cannot omit what a learned man hath observed viz. a majestick kind of security as he is pleased to câ—…ll it in the Scriptures under many 〈◊〉 yea maâ—… sâ—…mingly bold and â—…urous contradictions that yâ—… either the honour of their truth nor that unity which they have in and with themselves shall as he saith at all suffer by For reconciling those seeming contradictions it is not my work at present Only I shall give you one consideration which I find in the same Author and it is this That Scriptures do not stand to excuse or purge themselves as if there were any cause to â—…ffect them of any crossâ—… or contrariety unto one another No They speak from place to place what they have a mind to say with that liberty and freedom as if there were nothing said by them elsewhere that either was like to suffer the least prejudice by it or else to cast the least prejudice on it They that have a mind to satisfie themselves further about this consideration may read his Discourse of the Divine Authority of the Scriptures Pag. 55 56 c. I shall adde for a further confirmation of Scriptures Divine Authority That whatever it hath foretold hath been accordingly fulfilled and that not as Stâ—…gazers Prognoflications atrandom and adventure but punctually and precisely in every particular circumstance So the New Testament confirm the Old by shewing how what was foretold many ages and some thousands of years before came to be fulfilled and accomplished in every particular just as it was foretold Many things we know may be foreseen in their causes so as intelligent and observant men may foretell them as more then meer surmises or conjectures and the Devil probably can do very much this way But Scripture foretells those things of which no reason of man can make any probable conjecture because as they are high and heavenly so they are purely contingent depending only on the will and pleasure of God and therefore the exact performance of those things in all particulars is a strong evidence to prove it written by the singer of God And hence it is so often repeated in the New Testament That it might be fulfilled c. But here is no warrant more then Scripture whose authority is the thing that is questioned 1. We have the consent and testimony of an ient Heathen writers who have recorded and hinted many of those particulars Besides none of the Heathens ever contradicted those Prophecies or the fulfilling of them as for instance our Saviours Birth Death Resurrection c. Though questionless they would have done their utmost had they not been silenced by the notoriety
compare all together And let them shew too if they can how the written word should be privy to all their inmost thoughts if it were not penn'd by him that searcheth the hearts and reins The wisest of men could never frame a Law to control more then the overt act But this Law gives a check to mens inward thoughts and lusts when no act appears and spits Hell-fire in their faces for what no creature knows besides themselves To discourse it a little farther where is such another Law as that of the Decalogue or who but God could frame a Law all compriz'd in ten words to order the hearts and lives of all men in all ages to the worlds end A Law that discovers and condemns all offences in thought word and deed and never had nor will have need to be altered in any the least tittle of it And where do we find this Law Is it not in Scripture It is indeed all of it written in every mans hearr â—…nless any please to except one Commandment in it But how doth Scripture explain and clear up those inbred notions of Religion and moral righteousness imprinted in the hearts of men which otherwise would be very obscure and uncertain as they have been in all or most of the Heathens Though nature teach that there is a God and he to be served and worshipped yet Scripture alone teaches the right way of Divine Service And it alone shews us the right way of doing all offices of love to men so as our charity and righteousness may be more then an outside shew of fair dealing when the inside is nothing but hypocrisie and deceir In one word Scripture alone gives us a Law that commands body and sonl and therefore we have cause to believe it a Law which God alone bath made And if any proud and scornfull men shall say they know no such thing I can deny it with more truth then they can affirm it And affirm what they will not be able to deny when they shall find it true by wofull experience on their death-beds or before as others have done I could here to prove Scriptures Divine authority ask the reason why such as are most vicious and abominable in their conversation contrary to the rule of Reason care so little for Scripture If it were the word of a man or any creature what need they be afraid or troubled about it For what were it more to them then a Play-book or a Romance certaâ—…nly 't is not for nothing that the vilest of men care so little for Scripture read or open'd and applyed No Scripture searches thâ—…ir sores even to the bottom and farther by far then they have a mind to be discovered to others or themselves And now let the world be judge if the vâ—…st of men be not mostly the greatest enemies to Scripture This is enough if there were no more to prove Scriptures descent and pedigree as I may say to be from above Let me adde this to all the rest That a man may read a philosiphical discourse or any Book that treats of any civil and worldly matters and nâ—…ver be tempted as men commonly are about Scripture What 's the reason and why should it be thus If I may judge I must proâ—…ess from my heart I can think of none so probable as this That Scripture is of God For certain the Devil is as I may say tooth and naile against it and if it were of men the Devil would cherish as much as he could the belief of it because it were a lye But now when all Books almost are own'd and receiv'd under the names of their respective Authors it shews Scripture to be of God whose name only it bâ—…ars because there is so much ado about the authority of it Another beame of light to shew Scriptures Divine authority is its Antiquity beyond all Records that make the fairest pretence to it as hath been shewed of lare by an emineâ—…t Scholâ—…r in his labours this way The gray hâ—…rs as one saith which are upon the hend of Scripture shew it to be the off-spring of the antient of dayes and this writing hath the preeminency to be in this respect the first born of all its brethren What Book dare to compare with it as to Antiquity And that not only as to the matter and contents which were in the mind of God from eternity but as to the writing which now pastes up and down the world and may be seen and read of all Let the world shew if it can any Book of so long standing as the five Books of Moses Alas The most antient of all the Antients are but novices in comparison and how uncertain and confused any of them are in their discoveries is to be seen at large in the learned Author of Orig. Sâ—…cr abovesaid Hath any given us an account of the worlds Creation and begining such as we have in Moses Surely any that will be at pains to compare all together will soon perceive the difference and vote our Bible as most transcendent To say no more Unumquodque sapit authorem and Scripture in this is a resemblence of God who is call'd the antient of dayes Yea Scripture is in respect of its contents eternal as delivering to us the everlasting counsels of God What Book ever pretended to such discoveries Heathens have talkt ridiculously and absurdly enough of the feats and famous exploits of some of their dunghill Deities But never any dreamt of their counsels Whereas Scripture shews us the only living and true God not only in his effects and properties but also acquaints us with his mind and will as it was from all Eternity Once the long standing of Scripture shews that it bath outstood all tryals whiles the world hath had so much opportunity to enquire into it and prove it unsound and vain if it had not been far otherwise For still it retains and keeps up its reputation though there have been so many in all ages that would gladly if they knew how have fastened on it absurdity vanity or contradiction or any thing else that their wit or malice could devise So we see in it as an experiment how truth is everlasting whiles mens opinions vary and alter much and as the leaves of trees spring and flourish awhile and then fade and fall to the ground So a lye is never long liv'd but as paint or varnish wears out or washes off because it hath no substance to uphold it But great is the truth and shall prevaâ—…le this truth especially when Heaven and Earth shall fall And this argument hath the more force because that Scripture hath met with so much opposition and conquered notwithstanding For what else but an Almighty power coâ—…ld preserve it when all the ungoâ—…ly that ever were could look upon it no otherwise then an Engine fram'd to batter and overthrow all their fleshly and filthy interests And that is indeed the designe of Scripture to throw
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
them And this light is so glorious as those Atocryphals dare not pretend to it but rather seem willing to be in a lower form For this I instance in 2 Mac. 2. 24. where the Author whoever he was consesses that he had taken what he wrote out of Jason of Cyrene and contracted five Books of his into one Volume and whoever pleases to read on in that Chapter may easily perceive that the Spirit of God which spake by the holy Prophets could never frame to speak in such a manner God in Scripture as hath been already said speaks pro imperio as the only most soveraign Lord and never makes Apologies for himself to be excused with those to whom he speaks For why should he seeing they are all his vassals his creatures The distance is so infinitely great between him and them as it cannot be reasonably imagined that he should court them as that Authour doth For the many fictions and tales told in some of those Apocryphals I â—…all not mention them because they are so well known to such as have perused them and may be to others who have a mind to be satisfied What need have we then of Tradition to determine in this Case And whoever hath a mind to be further satisfied may find enough in all our Divines who have maintained Scriptures authority against our adversaries But the great question is about the Scriptures translâ—…ted For our adversaries think we can never prove them to be the Rule of faith The Rule say they must be certain and infallible But Translations are many and various and much different if not in many things contrary to one another And then how shall the vulgar understand which of them doth indeed declare the mind of God Or how shall the unlearned be infallibly sure that this or that Translation doth not erre Now to clear our selves in this puzzling question I say what Papists cannot deny that the whole Canon was at first written in two Languages which very few in comparison for these many Ages have understood better then our common people do But when the Scripture was pen'd these Languages viz. Hebrew and Greek were best known to the Church of any other Hebrew was the Mother tongue of the Jews and Greek was a language very familiar to such of them as were scattered abroad before our Saviours time and then seeing they were called Hellenists or Grecists for using the Greek Translation of the old Testament by the Seventy For the Gentiles unto whom the Gospel came as well as to the Jews many of them had it for their Mother-Tongue and others familiarly used it because the Grecian Monarchy had not long before swayed in all those parts of the World This I thought good to mention that it might appear the more probable that Gods mind was to have his Word understood by all But there were other people who understood neither of those Languages There were and are still such and we do not deny it But this is evident that God was not pleased to cause his Word to be written at first in the Vulgar languages of all Nations For if he had we should not be pozed as now we are with this Question However what I have said and cannot be denied serves to hint this That Gods mind was to have his Word understood by those to whom it came seeing he wrote to the Jews in Hebrew and to the Grecians in Greek True other people could not understand it without a Translation And what shall we say in this Case God did not cause the Scripture to be penned at first in the several Languages of all people and Nations We must here leave out adversaries to question God for it for we cannot deny That the Scripture was penned at first only in two Laguages which many could not possibly understand without a miracle unless it had been translated Only since it was thus we hope our adversaries will not say it ought not to be translated seeing there was a necessity for it in order to the understanding of it which else could never have been without a miracle But how shall the vulgar know whether Translations be according to the Originals And then how can the Scripture translated be a Rule of faith which must be such as a man may be sure that there is no errour in it This is indeed the Question where with they go about to puzzle us For the Scripture say they as translated into the English tongue cannot be the Rule of faith because not infallible And to this we intend to answer though others have answered it long ago* And our answer is that 1. We know of no infallible Spiâ—…it promised or given of God for translating Scripture And this is that which our adversaties think will give the cause wholly on their side For seeing all Translations are liable to mistakes the vulgar and unlearned can never have a Rule of faith in Scripture say they But we shall not quit ouâ—… claime to Scripture for all this For we can distinguish as that learned Divine hath between the doctrine taught in the Scriptu e and the means whereby the doctrine is 〈◊〉 to our capacity as between things and words The Divine truth which is the infallible Word of God is say we the Rule of faith The Translations are only means to shew it us and the vessels wherein it is presented to us And thus in rigour of speech we do not count the English or any other Translation no nor the Greek or Hebrew the Rule because all Language is but a certain form or manner or means whereby it cometh to us But because the doctrine is not made known but by words and languages Therefore the Scripture translated into English is a Divine authority for faith So men believe a Divine truth although delivered by humane voice in pâ—…eaching and just so we have the infallible Doctrine of the Scriptute immediately inspired by the holy Ghost though by an humane Translation it be manifested to us 2. But how do we know that our Translation is right and according to the Originals Or how can our unlearned people be sure of it And if they cannot how can the English Bibles be to them a Rule of Faith Sol. Our English Bible saith our learned White contains in it two things viz. The Doctrine and the Translation The Doctrine was inspired by God and written by men infallibly assisted by the Holy Ghost The Translation was done by the ministry of the Church and industry of certain men who thâ—…ugh they haâ—… no supernatural inspiration yet we know infallibly they have not erred in the mattâ—…r by the same means whereby we know other Truths and discern other Articles of Chriâ—…ian Faith viz. The light of the Doctrine Transl. .ted the testimony of the Spirit the ministry of the Word the rulâ—…s of Art the knowledge of the Tongues c. Obj. Some Translations have erred and how
this Rule Did I consult God and his Word when I undertook such a business Is the way I am now in answerable to what God hath commanded Do not I in such a design or undertaking clash with some Commandment or other O! that so many loose and vitious persons as are now adayes would be perswaded to sit down and seriously question themselves whether their uncleanness excess revellings and riotings cursed Oâ—…ths and blasphemies and many other horrid Impieties be agreeable to the Rule of Gods Word But I must let them alone and leave them till the time come when they 'le be made to know that Gods Word is such a Rule as will over-rule yea and run them down so as they shall never rise more to contradict it as now they do For such as are more civil and sober so as to read the Scripture sometimes which those other likely seldome or never do I heartily wish they will henceforward observe what hath been said before and lay their lives to the Rule and Line which I hope they will do if they heartily believe the word of God to be that Law by which they and all mankind shall one day be judg'd and tri'd How eâ—se can they hope to stand and abide the trial And when shall they do this work of searching and trying their hearts and ways if they set not about it now when they have nothinh else to do but to frame their works and doings unto that which God hath laid out to lead and guide them to their happiness 7ly Let them in reading observe and attend chiefly those things which are often inculcated and most insisted upon in Scripture If any shall ask why I answer Because those to be sure are matters of greatest concernment 'T is a great vanity specially in men of weak parts and small gifts to pry and pore much as some will do upon such passages as have difficulty enough in them to poze and puzzle the wisest And their vanity to say no worse is the more because those difficult passages have for the most part nothing in them but what we may be safely ignorant of And yet some things of greatest concernment may be more obscurely in some places delivered But still I affirm confidently they are otherwhere express'd more fully and plainly so as no man of common sence can doubt or make any question about them And if any shall object against what I have said that we may be safely ignorant of some things declar'd in Scripture I answer That in this I am if I mistake not of the same mind with all Divines in the world who hold some things to be of the foundation so as they are necessary to be known and believ'd in order to salvation and others only superstructive such as ignorance or errour about them is not in it self damnable Who can rationally suppose that ' â—…is of the same consequence to know every passage of Scripture-History as to know and believe that Jesus Christ died for our Sins and rose again for our Justication No question the Lord who never did any thing in vain would never have reveal'd and recorded any the smallest matter but that there was a cause But thereupon 't will never follow that all things reveal'd do alike concern us To instance That the dead shall rise again and come to Judgement is as I take it a fundamental Article of our Faith But that the dead in Christ shall rise first before they who shall be found alive at the last day shall be changed is not I think of so much consequence though this also is a truth of Divine Revelation and therefore to be believed If the dead be not raised our faith is vain 1. Cor. 15. But so long as we believe the Resurrection I suppose we may be saved though we should not know the order that will be in raising the dead and changing them who will be then alive All this however must be so understood and interpreted as I intend it not to allow or countenance any wilfull neglect or affected ignorance of any Scripture-Truths but only to salve the Consciences of such as cannot after all their most carefull enquiry come to know all the mind of God in every particular as Scripture hath it Can any man reasonably think we are bound to mind and remember every descent in all the Genealogies as we are to have in mind the Birth Death Resurrection and Ascention of our Lord Jesus Christ who knows not the dâ—…fference that hath bee among the most learned and still is in reconciling the Genealogy of our Saviour as it is with some difference recorded in two Evangelists And are there not think we many in Heaven who never much studied Christs Pedigree after the flesh To return therefore where we left I say again observe those things especially which are most insisted on because those are of most concernment and the Holy Ghost often repeats them for this reason that we may the better mind and remember them We know and believe that in some one or more Books of Scripture there is revealed so much of Gods mind and will as is necessary to be known in order to Salvation And yet it pleased the Lord to give us his mind in other Books of Scripture about the same things and many others besides that the joynt consent of many might the more confirm our faith and we might in that which so much concerns our Souls have full measure pressed down and running over Witness the Evangelists all recording the History of our Saviour with some variety though no contradiction in the least As also Pauls Epistles so often repeating the doctrine of Salvation by Christ alone through faith in his blood and the duties of all Christians in all their Relations Now I say again observe and attend those things as being of greatest concernment and others also in their order For in so doing we shall be sure to know so much as we need to do In a word Read attentively and that as often as may be with all humility and an earnest sincere desire to know the will of God in order to your doing it alwayes begging the assistance of his grace and spirit who alone teaches us to 〈◊〉 Then will your own experience convince you against all the reasonings of corrupt minds that there is a clear light in Scripture such as may easily be seen of all whose eyes the God of this World hath not blinded lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them 3. Not to rest themselves satisfied in a notional knowledge of 〈◊〉 re-truths 〈◊〉 to labour for and never leave till they come to that which is practical and experimental For then men are indeed grounded and established in the truth when they have tasted of it so as to know it by experience Then they believe Scripture to be the Divine truth as a man believes snow to be white because he sees it or honey
lineal succession but look only after succession in doctrine And this we have reason to do seeing the Heavenly inheritance is entayled only upon those who know and obey the truth And where is this truth if not in Scripture and if we once let go Scriptures verdict in the Cause must we not stand or fall according to the sentence of the Church and what Church can pretend to more then the Church of Rome will pretend unto but let Scripture be judge in the Case and it will soon appear that all is but a vain and empty pretence And why should we not appeal to it alone and leave it to umpire the differences Our adversaries never durst say as yet for ought I have known that it is not the Word of God though some of them have spoken most unworthily of it and reproached it so as none would I think do that seriously believed it to be indeed the Word of God However they say not in terms that it is not the Word of God though that will be the consequence of what they say and that we think unavoidable if all things be duly considered Surely to us it must be so For if it hath no credit as to us without a Certificate under the hands of men it deserves no credit at all such as we must give to it as a Rule of faith and the ground work of all our hopes And this is rational because then we need not go to Scripture since there is somewhat else that is more to be credited then it For no man that is reasonable can be ignorant that what makes any thing to be what it is must be more such if not formally yet virtually or eminently And our adversaries take it so and therefore say plainly that Scripture for many reasons is no competent Rule of faith but Tradition doth the work that is needfull to be done and is a Rule in every respect compleat Now let this be granted and then look about and see what follows They say and think though not truly that they have Tradition by the forepart viz. that all the first ages of the Christian Church held as they do now And for the hinder end they hâ—…ve it fast enough as we all know For we must grant what we cannot without impudence deny 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of these parts of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ward for many of the latter ages And we do not wonder at it because it is no more then what Scripture hath foretold And now if Scripture be thus laid by what will become of all that faith which we have other then what Papists have or how can we refuse whatever they shall impose by their Tradition And shall it be ever said that we have made a separation so long and now turn back again upon no other ground then this viz. that Tradition is the Rule of Faith and Scripture is every way unfit for such a work what is this but to cast dirt in the faces of all that went before us and hazarded all to vindicate and obâ—…ain that liberty which the written Word so long suppressed hath since had amongst us For this was the rise and root of all the disorders and distempers that ever have been since the Apostles times unto this day viz. that men have not contented themselves with a Rule of Gods making but in the pride of their hearts would frame Laws unto themselves And this began in the Apostles times by the workings of Satan in the false Apostles who would then keep up the antient Laws of God intended only till the time of Reformation when according to his will they ought to be laid aside This I say we may justly suspect to have given the first occasion to others afterwards of devising many things besides the only Rule And so it is come to pass by many degrees at last that Scripture is no Rule at all if some men may be credited in what they say And now let us consider what we have been adoing for an hundred years and more Have we all this while believed in vain And have all those who are gone to another world before our eyes died without hope What! have we been in a sweet dream so long and could never be awakened till now Are we now to seek of a Rule of faith Indeed we have then believed to small purpose and so have many others whom we have hitherto thought to be with the Lord. What! have we never received any fruits of the Spirit such as have been a seal to the truths of the written Word so as we can say we know what and whom we have believed were our eyes never opened nor our hearts ever humbled or melted If they have been then consider what doctrine hath been preached to us and by what means we came to be what we are And have we not enough for all intents and purposes we have Jesus Christ evidently set forth to us in Scripture and no where else And have we need of any other Saviour we have the way of holiness in Scripture as no where else and can we go to heaven in any other way Are we in danger of perishing by believing in Christ alone or will the denyal of our selves and all ungodliness and worldly lusts as Scripture commands and requires hazard our souls Nay will not faith in Christ alone such faith I mean as works by love save us then what will become of me and others who never yet learnt any other way of salvation and resolve through Gods help and grace never to think of any other But I shall say no more when I have related one story Darbishire Benners kinsman said to Hawkes the Martyr You will have nothing but your pretty Gods Book No said Hawkes and is not that enough for my salvation Yes said the other but not for your instruction Then said Hawkes God send me the salvation and take you the instruction And of his mind am I and many others too I hope If Scripture be not sufficient to shew and assure us what we are to believe and do in order to our salvation as some would perswade us we are resolved however to leave our souls to Gods free mercy as it is revealed therein and leave others that have a mind to take all the Instruction that is to be had by Tradition FINIS AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER THE late dreadfull Fire kindled by our God-provoking sins and abominations transcending all our Forefathers after so many miracles of mercies and deliverances within three dayes space turned no less than 88 Pariâ—…es and Pâ—…ish-Churches with the Cathedâ—…al Church of the late great and glorious City of London into heaps of ashes and rubbish to the just horror and amazement of all Spectators of their â—…mes and ruines which as it proved extremely prejudicial and destructive to most Companies of the City yet none of them received so grand losses and dammages by that devouring Conflagration as the Company of Stationers most of