hope to see the face of God if he pertinaciously refuse to believe do approve or avoid any one least thing taught or commanded by the Church as necessary to salvation to be believed done approved or avoided although in Scripture not mentioned and die in that state of soule 3. If both be it the part or share of each in the office is to be set out and certainly known by every creature that they may have recourse to each for that which pertaines to its office to the Scripture for its to the Church for its §. 4. The Protestants Tenet in it In the answer to this Question you and we as near as some imagine the two religions to be one to the other differ extreamly For albeit you grant that Christ left a Church to continue for ever in some office of teaching religion and that office of hers proper and in some respects sufficient and necessary yet you will not allow it to be either simply necessary or sufficient or any other then a meer ministery to the Scripture or so much as that with divine authority Consequently your Tenet is Christ left or appointed the Scripture for the meanes to teach us his Gospell This is the prime and maine principle of your religion in proper or as it is distinguished against ours by the name of Protestant or Reformed upon the truth therefore and certainty whereof depends in fine the whole truth and certainty of your religion and consequently of your hope of salvation in or by it as the firmnesse of any whole building does upon the firmnesse of its foundation § 5. What Catholicks acknowledge to H. Scripture We are as forward as any of you can be to give unto H. Scripture what is its Namely 1. That some of the Apostles wrote the New Testament which and the Old make up that holy book called the Scripture or Bible 2. That it is all and every word of it given by inspiration of God and therefore the very word of God of truth most infalible of authority most supreme as to all creatures even the Church her selfe yea in quality and degree of the authority superiour to that of the Church and the only divine written rule now being or ever to be 3. That they left it unto or with the Church as a sacred depositum in the nature following Viz. 1. A rule which she is bound to have an eye unto in all her doctrines and lawes and not only that they be not repugnant to it in more or lesse either by adding to or taking from either the words sense or law of it any one least tittle for supposing that possible and her a Church all of Apostles or heavenly Angels she were instantly to be detested by all as a Synagogue of Satan and all such her doctrines and lawes to be abhorred as will-worship and traditions of men but that they be consonant to it as neer as she may judge of the sense or intent of the H. Ghost as we find the Apostles had such an eye to it in theirs Acts 1.20 15.15 And in acknowledgement hereof in all her Generall Councels she placeth it in the most sumptuous throne at the uppermost end of the assembly above Pope and all as that which is to have the chiefest regard and swaying vote in all her debates and resolutions 2. A meanes excellent proper yea the incomparably principall in the sort and order of inanimate instruments as it is unto the ends for which it was ordained Namely 1. To corroborate by its concurring testimony the authority and doctrine of the Church and our faith to it 2. To preserve in way of a record a world of most admirable truths rules examples admonitions exhortations motives histories genealogies prophecies formes of prayer c. perteining to faith and holines In respect whereof it is a meanes profitable superlatively beyond all that can be said of it by tongues of men or Angels to furnish the man of God or Divine perfectly for doctrine yea of faith for reproof of the adversaries for correction for instruction in righteousnesse and for every other good work proper or perteining to his function 2. Tim. 3.16 And therefore not only doe our Divines give diligent attendance to the reading and study of it and make use of it incomparably for above any other meanes to all these ends yea and to the instructing and guiding themselves for and in the knowledge of truth and resolving cases of conscience and our Bishops in and for the making lawes or determining causes Ecclesiasticall but the Church her self in all General Councells makes her first and chief repaire to it for light and direction nay all her debate and search into former Councells Fathers Schoolmen tradition practice and sense of the Church is to no other end generally speaking then the better to find out and determine its true sense or intent 3. A meanes not only as in the hand of the man of God but as in the hand of every Christian rightly principled firme in faith 2. Pet. 3.16 and reading it in obedience to them that are over him in the Lord Heb. 13.7 with the humble spirit of the Eunuch Acts 8.31 unto the ends for which it was ordeined if ordeined as to him to wit to confirm advance and perfect himself in faith Joh. 20.31 saving wisedome 2. Tim. 3.15 hope Rom. 15.4 charity 1. Th. 4.9 and other Christian vertues singularly proper unto those ends as having from its divine author speciall force and vertue beyond all possible enditings of humane brain to inlighten the eyes and convert the heart of the simple And therefore speaking of it per se or as in the hands of such a one blessed is he that reades and meditates in it day and night Ps 1.1 and makes it a lanthorne to his feet and a light unto his paths Ps 119.105 4. A meanes since its writing necessary unto the Church as by which God will guide her into the truths there recorded without it when it may be had not 5. A meanes perfectly sufficient unto the ends for which it was ordained which is all the perfection of an instrument 6. A record conteining all that man is to believe doe or avoid to the obteining eternall salvation and expresly all the principall In regard of which many and admirable properties and uses of it it is the same in a manner to us as the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night was to the Israelites guiding Moses in the way to Canaan and by him them In a word it deserves to be called by way of excellency the Word Law doctrine oracles or Gospell of God Christ salvation c. the guide of faith the rule of religion the light of the world c. §. 6. The Catholick tenett But then we deny it to be either a proper principall necessary or sufficient meanes to teach religion And so to give unto the Church also what is hers our tenett is that The Church was
to the Church in publishing and dispersing her decrees and to their doctrine that it was by her approved 16.4 4. As they went through the Churches they delivered them the decrees of the Councell for to keep Act. 16.4 which was more then we finde they did any book of Scripture 5. When the good Christians heard what the Councell had decreed they rejoyced for the consolation of being certain now what was true doctrine in that point 15.31 6. And thus were the Churches established in the saith 16.5 8 Proofe Act. 20.20 27 32. 1. The Apostles by word of mouth committed unto the Church all things needfull nay but profitable only for them to know for the full discharge of their office unto salvation of themselves and their flock And so made her the depositary of what Christ had committed to them 2. That which they thus committed by word of mouth to the Church was in simple sense the word of grace nay expressely the whole counsell of God 3. This forme of doctrine thus taught by tradition was left and expressely recommended by the Apostles unto rhe Church for her sufficient rule and guide And now brethren I commend you to the word of Gods grace which is able to establish you c. v. 32. 4. And this at their death or as good as their death when they were never like to see one anothers faces more in this world I know that after my departure c. 5. So at their deaths they left the Church to continue for ever in all the same office and authority for feeding and ruling the flock of Christ wherein they then were or had been at any time afore and namely afore the writing of the New Testament Take heed to your selves and to the flock over the which the H. Ghost hath made you Bishops or as yours prophanely overseers to feed the Church c. CHAP. V. Proving it from the Epistles TO the practice and proceedings of the Apostles in their History accord the rules instructions exhortations and admonitions in their Epistles all setting forth and recommending unto us the Church for our guide and her teaching for our rule in such manner as if there were no such book as Scripture nor to be To name a few of the principal for instance 1 Proofe Rom. 1.1 Gal. 6.6 Eph. 1.13 Heb. 5.12 Iude 3.2 Io. 9. 1. It is their ordinary language to call the Churche's doctrine the word doctrine oracles Gospell c. of God Christ life salvation c. the faith the truth c. in simple sense 2. And not that preached by the Apostles only but by the Pastors among whom it was by accident if any were an Apostle Rom. 10.8 17. Heb. 13.7 Iam. 1.21 3. Nay that which was preached by Pastors of whom the Apostles none for certaine Col. 1.5 3.16 Nor can you say it was so called because it was the Scripture preached or in regard of its consonancy to it For 1. The Old Testament could give neither the matter nor rule for Evangelicall doctrine and very little of the New was written when S. Paul called it so in the first Epistle by him written 1 Th. 2.13 and S. Peter in the first that was written 1 Pet. 1.12 25. 2.2 2. Many Evangelicall doctrines then revealed were not written then to wit those mentioned in S. Iohn's Gospells and Epistles more then are in the other namely the institution of the Sacrament of Priestly absolution Ioh. 20.21 Christ's committing his flock to S. Peter Ioh. 21.15 3. The Epistles themselves expressly require all Traditions to be held unwritten as well as written and not those onely taught by the Apostles but by their Pastors Timothy Silvanus c. among whom it was by accident that S. Paul was one Hold the traditions which you have been taught whether by word or our Epistle 2 Thess 2.15 2. Proof Ro. 1.16 12.6 Eph. 6.16 1 Tim. 3.9 6.20 2 Tim. 1.13 2.2 Tit. 1.9 Iam. 1.21 Iude 23. The Churches teaching or doctrine by her taught is called also in simple sense the power i.e. powerful instrument of God unto salvation of all that believe it the rule or as you call it proportion of faith the sword of the Spirit the mysterie of faith the good thing depositum or treasure of heavenly truth the form of sound words or doctrine committed by the Apostles to the Church the faith once delivered to the Saints the faithful word able to save the souls of all that follow it 3. Proof Rom. 10.14 17. The Apostle expressely averrs he knows no means wherby men may come to faith but the word preached and thereupon concludes absolutely Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God As much as to say the ordinary means of faith is hearing the word preached 4. Proof Rom. 12.6 1 Tim. 1.3 3.9 2 Tim. 1.13 3.14 Tit. 1.7 9. The rule of teaching to the Pastors was the doctrine they had received And it was the rule even to Prophets to If any man prophecy according to the analogie rule or as you render it proportion of faith Rom. 12.6 that is the known doctrine of the Church For that it could not mean the Scripture see the reasons given sup pag. 59. 5. Proof Ro. 16.17 2 Th. 3.6 Heb. 13.7 17. Iud. 3.1 Ioh. 2.24 4.2 6. 2 Ioh. 6 9. The rule of belief and holy practice to the people was the doctrine wherein they had been Catechised called by S. Iohn the unction of the H. Ghost 1 Ioh. 2.20 and generally the doctrine or institutes of the Church Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error He that knows God hears us he that is not of God heareth not us 1 Ioh. 4.6 This doctrine of our Catechisme is given unto all Christians supposed catechised by a lawfull Pastor as the Galatians were as a rule of that supream authority and infallible certainty as by it we are to try the spirits of Prophets 1 Thes 5.21 yea even of Apostles or heavenly Angels Gal. 1.8 if possible for them to teach repugnant to it And if a rule whereby to judge of the Apostles preaching of their writing also it being as impossible for them to write as to preach repugnantly to it and their writing being of no greater authority then their preaching Consequently this text Gal. 1.8 which your men use to urge against Traditions gives so great authority to them as it implicitely warnes us on perill of our soul not to beleive or receive any text of H. Scripture it self in any sense repugnant if possible for it to have any as it is not to the doctrine of our Catechisme suppose it given by a lawfull Pastor Nor can you say that this subsists not with what we teach that any particular Pastor yea Pope and all as such may teach false doctrine for we will not say that any lawfull Pastor can doe it which who is we shall see in next Treatise 6 Proofe 1 Cor. 4.1
New Testament written straglinglie some in one Countrie some in another 500 miles asunder into some one volume c. § 5. From the Gospels n. 1. That our B. Lord ever spake word touching H. Scripture unto anie Christian more then to bring proofs out of it to his incredulous Disciples Luke 24.27 44. or as to anie use wherein it was to be after his ascension Argu. S. Ioh. 5.39 Search the Scripture Was not that spoken to Christians Answer No but to Infidel-Iews and as such as appears by the words immediately afore and after you believe not in me you will not come to me and by the end for which he sent them to Scripture namely to bring them to faith Consequently neither spoken nor meant to any properly or necessarily but infidel Iews n. 2. That he ever intended or foresaw otherwise then as he was God that any one tittle of his Gospel should ever be written And pray note this well §. 6. From the Acts. That any Apostle wrote or intended or knew of or foresaw the writing of any one syllable of the Gospel §. 7. From the Epistles n. 1. That any Apostle at his death knew there was any tittle of the Gospel then written more then by himself except that S. Peter knew of some of S. Pauls Epistles 2 Pet. 3.15 or to be written Argu. 2 Cor. 8.18 S. Paul speaks of S. Luke as famous then for his Gospel throughout Christendom Answer It is certain he spake not of and perhaps meant not either S. Luke or his Gospel or any written Gospel but some companion of his Silas Barnabas or some other famous for his zeal and painfulness in preaching n. 2. That he that dyed last of them S. Iohn left at his death any such volume as is now called the Bible or New Testament or any two Books of the New Testament in one volume yea or in one Countrey except where two Eptstles were written to one Church or person or any original yea or perfectly authentical copy of any one book of Old or New Testament If you can prove none of these you cannot but see how far you are from any hope or likelihood of proving any such thing as your principle THE FOVRTH PART Confuting the Protestant Tenet CHAP. I. Vrging the first argument The silence of Scripture I Hope you see how far the Scripture is from affirming your tenet Which you wil not wonder at when you shal see how much may be said out of it against it which is my next and last work I say then it is against reason to think Scripture was left for the means of teaching the Gospel My reasons are six The first because as appears by the former part it affirmes no such thing touching it self For though a negative argument from it not in Scripture therefore not true be not alwayes good it s always good against you who use it as good against us and in such a tenet as this of yours condemned by the Church and in such a point as this the most fundamental in Religion This silence if it be well considered will appear so strange to any rational man as he cannot imagine it possible had your tenet been true Considerations aggravating the silence §. 1. Of the Prophets First the silence of the Prophets is very strange For 1. There is not any eminent particular pertaining to the exterior form of the Church but we may finde it foretold in some one or other of them and some very plainly and in divers of them this touching the means of teaching the Gospel according to our opinion in almost every one of them and to some minute circumstances when it was to begin in what City in what part of the City in what manner and by what means to spread over the world how long to continue c. strange if Scripture were to be it it should never be so much as mentioned 2. And yet how many how just occasions were there for mentioning it if to be as you say namely when they name the School the master the word or Law of God yea the Gospel though by your Translators rendred profanely good tidings Esa 40.9 compared with Rom. 10.15 when Ieremy came so near the Scripture as to promise the writing of the new Law and to name by whom with and in what it was to be written But then indeed he saith it was not to be by any creature or with ink or in any material tables much less stony ones as the old was but in a more excellent way befitting a more excellent Law by God himself with grace in the hearts of the Pastors teaching it from hand to hand of the people believing it Ier. 31.31 3. Again Ezekiel in his eight last Chapters describing at large the beauty and perfection of the Church whose glory was to exceed that of the Synagogue Agg. 2.9 names all the eminent particulars wherein it was to consist under the name of their types in the Temple of Solomon and among the rest her Pastors very largely and particularly under the name of Sadoc and his sons Ezek. 44.15 c. But upon all the list we finde not the tables of Moses Law albeit that was one of the preciousest jewels of the Temple 1 King 8.9 and the proper type of the New Testament §. 2. Of the Gospels More strange is the silence of our B. Saviour in the Gospels 1. When the Law was to be written good God! what care taken 1. For its writing The principal part of it written by an Angel representing God's person Exo. 24.12 The residue by his special command by Moses 2. For its custody Layed up in the Ark the sacredst Cabinet the world ever saw there kept under the wings of the same Cherubins as kept Paradise Deut. 10.5 3. For the giving copies of it to whom c. Deut. 17.28 4. For the reading of it to the people and at what times necessarily Deut. 31.9 And all these thought fit to be recorded and within the book it self And yet that was to be the law but of that one Nation to endure but a short while to be but a small part of their Scripture was â—either necessary nor available to justifie the observers Rom. 3.20 and beside it they were to have not onely a constant race of Teachers divinely authorized but Prophets all along until the Messiah's coming Mat. 11.13 Christ's Law was to oblige every creature to endure to world's end to be necessary sufficient to justification And can it then be thought in reason he would go hence and leave it to be committed to writing and that writing to be after the Apostles death the onely means as you say of teaching it with authority and never speak any syllable concerning it 2. Nor can his silence touching it be imputed to accident or incogitancy for he could wel remember to take care for the preaching of it who were to preach it to whom what was to be taught c.
his Exposition warranted evidently to sense and reason from God Almighty by the token of miracles beyond all that appeared then in the Synagogue Acts 2.22 10.38 And without that signe he desired not any one much less vvould he oblige him to believe him or his Interpretation of Scripture Iohn 5.31 15.24 Consequently for all the same reasons it is as improper at this day to decide any controversie or resolve any case of conscience c. but in the hand of one credited for an Interpreter of it by the same token from God Almighty either in his person as he was if he pretend to mission extraordinary or Prophetical or in the Church that sends him if he pretend to ordinary mission And I pray mark this well CHAP. V. Vrging the fift Argument Scripture not simply necessary MY fift Reason is Because neither was it written of any necessity nor since its writing is it necessary to the teaching of faith where by not written of any necessity I mean not to exclude the necessity of command for the writing some few pieces in the Old and the Apocalypse in the New Testament For 1. There were as great believers and holy Saints afore Scripture was Heb. 11 4 c. as any were after 2. After Moses Law was written we finde not it was read either by or so much as to the people in 700. years together Nor was there for the first 1000. years any more then one copy of it and that too once lost and God knows for how many years together 2 Chron. 34.14 and yet the people were taught the good knowledge of the Lord 2 Chro. 30.22 3. In the Church there were as great believers and holy Saints afore any new Scripture was Acts 2.46 4.32 9.36 c. as any since 4. After its writing you cannot finde it was ever read by or so much as to the people or intended it should be more then some epistles once to the particular Church they were written to and one neighbour-Church 1 Thess 5.27 Col. 4.16 5. The Church was compleatly settled in all her form essential of doctrine worship discipline c. and in the means for preserving that form uncorrupt unto world's end divers years afore any tittle of the New Testament was written and neer 70. afore it was all written vid. sup par 1. c. 4 5. 6. The writers of it expressely say they wrote what they did not of any command but of their own charity prudence or discretion because it seemed good or meet to them Lu. 1.3 2 Pet. 1.13 upon particular occasions reasons or motives hapning as it were by accident 1 Tim. 3.15 2 Pet. 3.1 1 Ioh. 5.13 Iud. 3. Nay S. Iohn saith plainly He had many things to write which he would not 2 Ioh. 12. 3. Ioh. 13. Sure then both he wrote at his own discretion and what he wrote was not necessary to be written 7. When S. Paul wrote to the Corinthians there were two Gospels of S. Mathew and Mark extant and had been twelve or thirteen years afore yet he being to urge to them the words used by our Saviour in the institution of the B. Eucharist would not urge them out of either of those Gospels but onely from tradition 1 Cor. 11.23 By that example giving all Christians for ever to understand how it suffices to their faith and practice in the highest mysteries of Religion if they hear from their Pastor I have received from the Lord what I deliver or have delivered unto you Nor is the case different as to substance because they cannot mean receiving it from Christ immediately For 1. Perhaps neither did he For though he received some doctrines by inspiration Gal. 11.2 yet not all perhaps and namely not those of the Catechism as this was he being taught them by the ordinary means and as is like by Ananias afore he was baptized Act. 9.6 at least afore he had any vision or revelation 2 Cor. 12.1 2. Grant he meant it as received immediately as Pastors succeed to him in the office of teaching with divine authority so their receiving their doctrine from Christ by the mouth of his Church which H. Scripture sometimes calls Christ 1 Cor. 1.13 12.12 succeeds to his receiving it by inspiration 8. For ought appears 1. Seven of the Apostles were not able to write 2. If they were left nothing in writing with the Churches of their planting which was a very considerable part of Christendom 3. Nor did any of those that wrote dedicate their writings unto the whole Church but unto particular persons or Churches only or at most the faithful indefinitely and without any intimation of intent or desire to those they wrote to to disperse or impart them to other Churches So as at the Apostles death the New Testament was not extant or perhaps heard of but in a small part of Christendome in which the two chief Apostles laboured viz. in the lesser Asia from Ierusalem westward and in the South of Europe from Rome eastward Rom. 15.19 1 Pet. 1.1 9. It hath ever been and now is subject to all sorts of casualties as all other books are I mean not the parts onely but the whole which could not be if it simply necessary For 1. The Book of the Law and it 's probable all the copy then was of it was lost for divers years 2 Chron. 34.14 2. All the copy that was of a considerable part of Ieremie's Prophecy was burnt by Iehoiakim Ier. 36.23 3. So were all the copies of the Old Testament that could be found by Antiochus 1 Mac. 1.50 4. Divers pieces of the Old Canon are utterly lost that we know of 1 Sam. 10.25 2 Chron. 9.29 26.22 c. and perhaps that Prophet quoted by S. Mathew Mat. 2.23 5. So are divers of the New namely a former Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 5.9 Ephesians Ephes 3.3 Philippians Phil. 3.1 that from Laodicea Col. 4.16 and of S. Iohn to some Church in Asia 3 Ioh. 9. 6. There is not for ought I can hear at this present in the world any original yea or perhaps perfectly authentical copy of any one sacred Book 10. Finally it self assures us that the new Ierusalem shall have no need of Sun or Moon any created means of light though naturally incorruptible because the Lamb is to be her light according to his promise Mat. 28.20 Apoc. 21.23 And that to believe and follow what is taught us by our Pastors is sufficient to any ones salvation Lu. 11.28 Act. 11.14 Rom. 1.16 1 Tim. 4.20 Iam. 1.21 CHAP. VI. Vrging the last Argument Scripture not sufficient c. MY sixth and last Reason is Because it contains not expressely every particular of the Gospel For 1. It contains not every particular 1. Of the things commanded by our Saviour to his Apostles to be taught all creatures as his Gospel Mat. 28.20 Mar. 16.15 2. Much less of those he reserved the teaching of unto the
H. Ghost after his Ascension Ioh. 16.12 2. It contains not every particular of the form of Doctrine VVorship c. taught and settled in the Primitive Church by the Apostles Act. 2.42 and committed by them viva voce to the Pastors to teach and observe and commit in like manner viva voce to others Acts 20.20 27. 2 Tim. 1.13 2.2 c. If you say it does it will lye upon you to shew where 1. By making a Catalogue of all the particulars 2. Proving it to be a perfect one 3. Naming where every of them is contain'd I say it will lie upon you because presumption of reason is against it for two reasons chiefly 1. Because in those places where it was most proper to have named the particulars if it had been intended none are named except one or two of the chief but all wrapped up in generals Teach the Gospel Mar. 16.15 Teach all things I have commanded you Mat. 28.20 They continved in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayer Act. 2.42 Hold the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me c. 2 Tim. 1.13 Preach the word c. 2 Tim. 4.2 2. Because in some places they warn the people to whom they wrote to hold fast all they had taught them whether by word or writing 2 Thess 2.15 And refer the ordering of some things pertaining to the administration of discipline until their coming of which no more is said afterward 1 Cor. 11.24 Nay expressely left power with the Church to set in order the things that were wanting Tit. 1.5 Nay S. Iohn who wrote last and perhaps in the last piece he wrote had many things to write which he reserved to word of mouth 2 Ioh. 12. 3. It contains not those writings that are lost named sup c. 5. arg 9. § 4 5. 4. To put it beyond all gain-saying it contains not any express rule for resolving these questions viz. 1. What a Sacrament is 2. How many Sacraments Christ ordained in his Church 3. What water and action is necessary and sufficient to the matter what person to the Minister and what words to the form of Baptism 4. Whether baptizing Infants be pious or necessary or available to their salvation 5. What and which is the Church 6. Who is a lawful Pastor 7. What is meant by these names Presbyter Bishop Deacon 8. Whether anointing the sick with oyl Iam. 5.14 be an obsolete Law 9. Whether abstaining from things strangled and from blood Acts 15.19 be an obsolete Law 10. Whether that speech This is my body were proper or figurative 11. What proving 1 Cor. 11.28 is necessary and sufficient to worthy receiving 12. VVhat is the sin against the H. Ghost and whether it may be repented of and if so whether remissible or not to the penitent 13. VVhat is justifying faith 14. What is justification 15. In case of contest or doubt who are to be judged the higher powers 16. Whether the Law of the Sabboth and namely that part of it as concerns rest from servile work was by Christ abrogated or transferred onely to another day which soever it were whether in whole or in part onely and if the later in what part at most and least It were easie to name a thousand more of the like sort and the least of them importing mankinde to salvation But these are enough for instance Conclusion of the First Treatise ANd now dear Reader think sadly with your self what reason you have any longer to believe as now you do that the Scripture was left for your Guide and Rule 1. Is it because you have been ever taught so That is no reason unless your Teachers have been sent Rom. 10.14 which there is not one of them Independents Presbyterians or Prelatical hath any more authority to teach you then you to teach them as will be demonstrated in the next Treatise 2. Is it because you have read or heard so much in Scripture it self you cannot but see unless you shut your eyes it saith no such thing but the direct contrary in a hundred places 3 Is it because it speaks touching it self very great things you will not find any thing said of it but the same or something more excellent is said of the Church or her teaching For instance 1. Is it called the VVord Law Doctrine Oracles or Gospel c. of God Christ Salvation c. Her teaching is more to wit 1. The word of God and all other these attributes in simple sense whereas it is onely the written Word Law c. and so her doctrine includes the other as a part of it For a-among other grounds of Religion taught us in our catechising that is one There is a Book given by inspiration of God this is it c. And for that reason alone because she teacheth it we believe it at first And for that reason alone supremely or finally we believe it ever after for else she were not the ground of truth 2. The word of God in proper sense because at this present spoken by her as his mouth or Angel unto our ears Mal. 2.7 Luk. 1.70 and spoken to me and you and every creature in several or in his particular person Mar. 16.16 by an instrument indued with sense and reason and thereby able to explicate both her terms and doctrine and by applying her instruction and direction to every one according to his capacity need state c. to set and guide him in such a plain high-way as the way faring men though fools or children of five years old shall not erre therein Isa 35.8 And so hers is that word elsewhere also promised by Esay to the elect under the Gospel The people shall dwell in Zion c. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity c. yet shall not thy Teachers be removed into a corner any more as you say the Church may be sometime invisible to the eye of sense but thine eyes shall see thy Teachers and thine ears shall hear from their lips a word behind thee because at first by nature and afterward by actual sin we are all going in a wrong path toward hell with our backs toward God Almighty and his holy habitation and so he is fain to follow after us with his good inspirations saying This is the way walk in it or that you are to walk in Esa 30.19 A word therefore far more useful and beneficial to us then the other seeing there are multitudes of people yea Nations in the world who cannot read and of them that can none able to understand Scripture without some other interpreter then it self And so it is but a mute word properly speaking without her 2. Is it a light She is the light 3. Was it written for our learning She was given for our Teacher 4. Is it the Book of truth She is the ground of truth 5. Is its teaching of or with divine authority So is hers
hand of the people yea it's more like Divines all that he saith of it is so far from encouraging or directing them unto it as their guide or rule as it is rather to the contrary 2 Pet. 3.16 in a word to leave that of which it is certain out of Scripture's own mouth that it is most proper by it self alone to teach every creature every thing pertaining to the Gospel for that which is not proper by it self alone to teach any creature any thing Suppose God Almighty should do you the favour he did S. Stephen to let you see the heavens open and Iesus sitting at his right hand and teaching some person standing by and you should hear him say to that party Teach this man meaning you what I have taught you If he believe he shall be saved if not damned and anon after you should see him deliver to him a book saying to him I give thee this that thou maist teach it to him Exod. 24.12 and afterward some one should snatch that book from him and give it to you saying Do not believe him further then is here written he will teach you errors read this your self and guide your self and judge of his doctrine by it c. would you not think it a brainsick act to follow such counsel Sure you would in reason Such very same Counsel is that of your Ministers Neglect the Church follow the Scripture Nay it is more certain to you that Christ spake those words to her concerning you from that record of them Preach the Gospel to every creature Mar. 16.15 then if you should hear or see it now in such a vision by how much the word of Scriture is a more sure word then any sensible vision can be Lu. 16.31 2 Pet. 1.19 Nor therefore may you think or hope God Alm. will upon your prayer to him though never so humble never so fervent by his Spirit direct or inlighten you in the right understanding of Scripture sufficiently to your salvation without the Churche's ministery For he having placed that office in her in the same maner as the office of baptizing Teach all baptizing them Mat. 28.19 he will no more give you the one grace without her ministery then he will the other and therefore to begg of him to teach you himselfe would be an act of as damnable presumption as to begg of him to baptise you himselfe And therefore when S. Paul not knowing then who els he was to goe to begged it of him he sent him to the Church for that grace Act. 9.6 See the reason sup p. 8. VVhat needs any more to be said to such a good soul as I suppose you to be Let it suffice you have hitherto embraced this false principle out of ignorance and beguiling of hereticall Teachers After this admonition you have great cause to fear God will not wink at your ignorance any longer but expects from you exact obedience to this his commandement or ordinance Mal. 2.4 of hearing and following the Church as your Guide in Religion This doing you will soon finde that Rest of soul the Title of this Book promised If you neglect it neither this Book nor the Church will have need to accuse you to your Iudge at the dreadful day there are others to accuse you Moses Mathew Paul c. in whom you trust for had you believed them as you ought you would have believed her for they write of her and much more plainly then any Prophet did of Christ Ioh. 5.45 Nor may you flatter your self with hope upon your faith baptism innocency or holiness great and sensible particular favours of God to you as may seem to you in interior lights consolations assurances of your being one of his c. for unless you be an humble child or scholar of his Church no hope can be built upon them And two reasons among many other might be given are 1. Because without divine faith it is not possible to please God Heb. 11.6 Now your faith cannot be supposed divine because not grounded finally on the Church the ground of all truth and if of all truth of all faith also 2. Because not to hear or believe the Churche's teaching is a mortal sin Mat. 18.17 Mar. 16.16 and consequently inconsistent with holiness without which no man shall see God Heb. 12.14 See more places if you please to the same purpose Mat. 10.14 Lu. 10.16 Acts 2.47 13.48 Gal. 5.20 Heresies Apoc. 21.24 And therefore you may be certain the spirit that guids you to a neglect of her and flatters and comforts in you in it is not God's but the evil spirit 2 Cor. 4.3 What remains then but as you desire to see the blissful face of God and avoid eternal torments you in the first place seriously search the Scriptures or otherwise enquire and resolve your self well touching this first Question VVhat Christ left for your Guide That done to enquire VVhich is she That having found her you may seek his Law at her mouth that if you find they whom you learned your first principles from was not she you may learn them anew of her that is And then you will have some competent rule whereby to judge aright of doctrines and teachers and of the true sense of Scripture which not only you now want but in stead of it use a false one God Alm. of his goodness open your eyes to see in this your day this truth which belongs so much unto your peace The next Treatise by Gods help shall follow as soon as I am able ERRATA Pag. l. read 122 12 barely 127 25 presignified 141 8 that 143 1 think 145 1 c. 1. 147 17 admonish 160 11 duely 166 8 box 171 1 forme 179 19 insinuate 140 12 left 143 27 some 150 4 it 157 7 that hath 160 25 would 163 12 for 166 25 and that 170 1 are 183 15 Joh. 9.16 Pag. 3.20 del 1 King 17 24 pag. 32. lin 26. del unto these words if any c.