Selected quad for the lemma: doctrine_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
doctrine_n	according_a	church_n	discipline_n	2,858	5	9.0169	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33498	The books and divers epistles of the faithful servant of the Lord Josiah Coale collected and published, as it was desired by him the day of his departure out of this life.	Coale, Josiah, 1632?-1668.; Coale, Josiah, 1632?-1668. Collection of the several books of Josiah Coale.; Coale, Josiah, 1632?-1668. Whore unvailed.; Coale, Josiah, 1632?-1668. Vindication of the light within.; Parker, Alexander, 1628-1689.; Whitehead, George, 1636?-1723.; Penn, William, 1644-1718.	1671 (1671)	Wing C4751_PARTIAL; Wing C4760A_PARTIAL_CANCELLED; ESTC R23397	193,793	414

the Knowledge of God the purpose of God was to bring them into a better state which the true Church in the Apostles dayes were Witnesses of for the Apostles said Heb. 11.46 God having provided some better thing for us that they without us could not be made perfect and although some of them had been Idolators and had lived in the pollutions of the World yet they were washed and clensed yea and justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.10 11. and so though they were sometimes ignorant of God yet God caused the Light to shine out of darkness in their hearts to give them the Light of the Knowledge of Gods Glory in the face of Christ who dwelt in them 2 Cor. 4.6 Gal. 2.20 so that both sin and ignorance was done away in them though the power and coming of the Lord Jesus and so they did not always remain in their sin but were freed from them as the Apostle testified Rom. 18. 1.2 Secondly But then Antichrist's Mimisters saith That if they were free from sin why did the Apostle say That if we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us 1 John 1.8 I Answer he did not say so because people could not be made free from sin but he said so that they might not sin 1 John 2.1 and consider who they were that he then wrote to for he sometimes wrote to Children and somtimes to Young-men and sometimes to Fathers in the truth 1 Joh. 2.13 But when be spake those words viz If we say we have no sin c. he then spake to Children for said he my little Children these things I write unto you that you sin not 1 John 2.1 Now if they had been already perfect or fully fully freed from sin then had they attained to the mans state which the Apostle laboured to bring them to Col. 1.28 But they having not attained to that state he would not have them to deceive themselves nor to think more highly of themselves then they ought to think Rom. 12.3 which Children in understanding are subject to do but with these little Children the Apostle Travelled in birth that Christ might be formed in them Gal. 4.19 who is the one offering that perfects for ever all them that are sanctified Heb. 10.14 and he laboured to build them up in the holy Faith which gives Victory through Christ that so they might be borne up to a mans state for said He he that is born of God doth not sin John 3.9 Thirdly But then it may be some will object that the Apostle spake not only of Children but of himself also saying If we say c. To which I Answer that although the Apostle numbred himself with them yet that doth not argue that he was in their state or that he was not set free from sin no more then James his numbring himself amongst the scattered Jews saying with the same mouth curse we men c. Jam. 1.9 doth argue that he was one of them that did curse men for its evident that the Apostle became as weak to them that were weak and to the strong as strong and to them that were under the Law as under the Law and to them that were without the Law as without the Law though not without Law to God and became all things unto all that he thereby might gain some 1 Cor. 9.20 21 22. so although he did condescend to them that were weak as Children or Babes in Christ as to number himself amongst them for the gaining of them to a farther state yet that doth not at all argue that he was as they were for the Apostle Paul himself said that he was set free from the Law of sin and death Rom. 8.2 all which being rightly weighed it manifestly appears that perfection or freedom from sin is attainable according to the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles which by the people called Quakers is preached and continued in as before asserted therefore they are the true Church 4. Again The Order and Discipline of the true Church in the Apostles time was That the Prophets might speak two or three and the rest might judge and if any thing was revealed to another that sate by he might speak and the first was to hold his peace 1 Cor. 14.29 30. and the same order the people called Quakers have in their Assemblies as is known to thousands by which it appears that they are the true Church 5. Again The Ministers of Christ in the true Church in the primitive times who turned people from darkness to light and from Satans power to the Power of God Gal. 1.1 were Ordained and made Ministers not of man nor by man nor of the letter but of the Spirit by the revelation of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 3.6 and so are the Ministers amongst the people called Quakers made Ministers of the Spirit by the revelation of Jesus Christ as the effects of their ministry doth testifie for many are turned from darkness to light and from iniquity to righteousness and the spirits in Prison is by them ministred unto and the dead are raised unto life and the Captives are set at Liberty as thousands can and must bear witness Therefore the people called Quakers are the true Church Sixthly The true Church in the primitive times was taught by the Grace of God that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts they should live soberly and righteously and goodly in this present World Tit. 2.11 12. and the people called Quakers being taught by the same spirit of Grace do deny ungodliness and wordly lusts as many in this Nation well knows and doth live soberly righteously and godly in this present world as thousands can testifie Therefore the people called Quakers are the true Church Thus I might produce many more Arguments to prove the aforesaid people to be the Church of true Christians but much of this kind hath been by several of them already written wherefore I shall not inlarge at present but for any that shall desire any farther satisfaction let them come to the Assemblies of the aforesaid people and hear their Doctrines and behold their Discipline c. and as the Apostle said Try all things and hold fast that which is good 1 Thess 5.21 These following Lines are sent to all Sectaries in Christendom who have been killing and destroying one another about Faith and Worship but especially to the Church of ROME O Babylon the Great who long hast reign'd a Painted Whore And hast Bewitch't the Nations with thy Inchanting Power Into Remembrance thou art come of God the Mighty Lord who 'll do to thee as thou hast done the Saints with one accord Have bent their Bowes against thee strong and mighty men they are They will not spare nor pitty thee in this day o' th Lambs War For it 's the day of veng'ance great of our Almighty God He 'll do to thee as thou

therefore she is infallible I answer He hath not at all confirmed that by any proof neither hath he any farther proof than his own affirmation except he would produee that saying of the Mother of Harlots viz. I sit as a Queen and am no Widdow and shall see no sorrow Rev. 18.7 And indeed that would be a very pittiful Argument to prove the Church of Rome infallible but none other can he produce except he could first prove her to be the true Church which he is never able to do his best Argument by which he hath undertaken it being already confuted Therefore we have no more cause to believe his Affirmation than we have to believe the sayings of the forementioned Mother of Harlots for they are both alike to us and though she said she should see no sorrow yet John who was in the Spirit of the Lord said that in one day her Desolation should come Rev. 18.8 And although A. S. saith That the Church of Rome shall alwayes remain to the end of the World yet I say in the Name of the Lord and by the same Spirit that John was in That the one day of which John spake is already dawned in which the Desolation of that Great Whore the Church of Rome shall come and as surely as when Sodom was overthrown the Cities round about it were overthrown also 2 Pet. 2.9 Jude ver 7. so certainly when this great City Babylon is overthrown and made desolate the Suburbs thereof shall be overthrown and made desolate also The Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it and therefore she must fail in her Prophesies and cease in her Beeing which as A. S. saith the true Church cannot Fourthly And farther the Church of Rome is variable in her Judgments as the diversities of Councels that she hath held concerning matters of Faith beareth witness for the following General Counsel hath oft-times excluded that which was concluded on by the former and surely both cannot be infallible they being quite contradictory one to the other Read the 15th chapter of F. H. his Book entituled THE GLORY OF THE TRUE CHURCH DISCOVERED c. wherein the contradictions of the General Counsels which the Church of Rome hath held are sufficiently made manifest so that I need not trouble my self to insert them here and thereby its evident enough that the Church of Rome is not infallible Fifthly Again if A. S. or any other could prove that the Church of Rome had alwayes remained since Christs time yet as aforesaid that is not a sufficient Argument to prove her infallible or that she cannot fail nor cease For consider the Dragon that old Serpent called the Devil who was a Murtherer from the beginning who gave power to the Beast that carries the Whore that drinks the Saints blood that said she should see no sorrow was before the dayes of Christ's appearance in the flesh yet the Dragon is not infallible But the Church of Rome is upheld by the Murtherer or carried by the Dragons power in the Beast as the Murthers acted by her beareth witness therefore she is no more infallible than the Dragon is Seventhly And as to the 7th part of A. S. his Argument wherein he saith The True Church is inerrable and then saith that the Church of Rome is this inerrable True Church for all the Sectaries Schismaticks and Hereticks in the World saith he could never yet shew wherein she erred nor ever shall Therefore she is inerrable Answ 1. I answer although the Hereticks could not prove that the Church of Rome hath erred yet there are many who are members of the true Church of which Christ is Head and supreme Governour alone that can prove wherein she hath erred and doth still grosly err from the Doctrine Practice and Discipline of the true Church as it stood in the Apostles dayes for the Apostle in his dayes said Let every man be fully perswaded in his own Conscience Rom. 14.5 and did not go about to force People to conform to such things that they were not perswaded of in their consciences nor to compel them by outward Laws to conform thereunto but the Church of Rome doth not admit that every one should walk or act according as they are perswaded in their own Consciences but goes about by outward Laws to compel them to conform to that which she calls her holy Ordinances and Institutions which many for conscience sake towards Gods dare not conform to because they know them to be invented Idolatries and they who cannot for Conscience sake submit to her Impositions or drink of her Cup of Abominations then to be sure she will drink their Blood Witness the Blood she hath drunk for above this thousand years past of them that could not for Conscience sake towards God conform to her Ordinances And therefore she hath erred from that Spirit which was in the true Church and from the Apostles Doctrine and is still in the Error Secondly In the true Church in the Apostles dayes every one as he had received the Gift of the Spirit of God so he might Administer 1 Pet. 4.10 and the Prophets might speak two or three and if any thing was revealed to him that stood by he might speak and the first should be silent 1 Cor. 14.29 30 31. But this is not the order of the Church of Rome as is sufficiently manifested to all Christendom therefore she hath erred from the Apostles Spirit and Order and is still in the Error And thus I might produce many more Arguments to shew wherein the Church of Rome hath erred and doth err only my desire is to be as brief as may be so that satisfaction may be given for which I doubt not but this is sufficient as to that particular 8. And as concerning Miracles in the true Church I do confess and bear witness that there are Miracles wrought in her daily but that all Miracles are an Argument sufficient to prove a people to be the true Church that I do not acknowledge but deny For First the Magicians of Egypt could by their Sorceries or Inchantments imitate those things in the sight of the Egyptians that Moses and Aaron did by the Power of God Exod. 8.7 and the false Prophet he wrought lying Miracles before the Beast that carries the Whore insomuch that he caused fire to come down out of Heaven in the sight of men Rev. 13.13 14. and chap. 19. ver 20. And this the Whore might have said was done in confirmation of her faith doctrines as A. S. doth yet nevertheless it was done by the Dragons power who was a Murderer from the beginning For he gave power to the Beast that carries the Whore to do such things Rev. 13.2 and therefore the Miracles in the Church of Rome if now there be any is no infallible evidence to prove her to be the true Church Well 2. But then it may be some will say that this is harsh judgment and how can you tell but

Hereticks did she Condemn Answ I answer she hath not been in a capacity in her Wilderness-state to hold General Counsels as in the time of her flourishing state yet the mighty God hath alwayes been her wonderful Counsellor Isa 9.6 and the Members of her hath stood in and held to his Counsel according to the manifestation thereof received by them not loving their lives unto death as the Church of Rome well knows who have drunk the blood of many of them or shall know to her sorrow and pangs And as for the true Churches condemning Hereticks the Church of Rome knows that those members of her whose blood she hath drunk did alwayes condemn those Heresies that are healed and the Idolatries acted in the Church of Rome and did always give Testimony against her Superstitious inventions and denied to have Fellowship with her therein and looked upon her as reprobated from the true Faith as Fox his Acts copiously relates and this was a great Condemnation as the Spirit of Christ gave commission to the true Church to pass upon Hereticks Again as to that question viz. What Academies did she erect Answ I answer A people Erecting of Academies is not an Argument sufficient to prove them to be the true Church for what Academies or Universities did the Apostles erect or confirm or attain the Knowledge of God in Was it not the Light that shined in their Hearts that gave them this knowledge 2 Cor. 4.6 And was not this Light the Law that was the Apostles Schoolmaster till Christ Gal. 3.24 And is not the Law which is Light Pro. 6.23 written in the hearts of all people And is it not a sufficient Schoolmaster now to bring people who are taught by it unto the knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ as it did the Apostles then What need then is there of erecting Academies for people cannot attain to the Knowledg of God by natural Learning 1 Cor. 1.21 nor thereby be made true Ministers of Jesus Christ Yet I am not against having an outward School-house or some convenient place for the educating or bringing up of children in Natural Learning which is good in its place but that any can thereby be brought to the Knowledge of God or made true Ministers of Jesus Christ that I cannot own Neither was this way of making Ministers by Natural-Learning or setting of them up by man in being untill people had forsaken the right way and went into Cains way and Balaams and then the envy and murder began amongst the profest Christians and then they could not endure sound Doctrine but heapt up to themselves Teachers according to their own hearts lusts who knew nothing but what they knew naturally as bruit Beasts c. and this the Apostle Paul foresaw and wote of to Timothy 2. Tim. 4.3 and Peter prophesied of them also 2 Pet. 2. and John and Jude saw them come 1 John 2.18 Jude 10.11 so that by natural learning and ordination of man no true Minister of Christ was ever made or sent forth but contrariwise the Apostle Paul was made a Minister viz. not of man nor by men nor yet by natural learning but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ Gal. 1.1 so we do not understand that in the Apostles dayes they did erect Accademies or that they had any need of them and indeed I cannot but look upon it as an Ignorant question to be proposed by A. S. upon this account But to his next Query viz. What Churches and Monasteries did she build Answ I answer this is as Ignorant a question as the former and great foolishness to ask what Churches the Church built however this I say they who were Members of the true Church did build up one another in their most holy faith Jude 20. And as for Monasteries or Monk-houses we hear of such thing that was in being in the Apostles dayes neither do we believe that there is any need of them for we do not read in the holy Scriptures that ever the true Church in any Generation built such places but we know that many such places have been erected and built within the borders of the great City Babylon since the Apostacy began and since the right way was forsaken and many other Superstitious inventions and Idolatries as before hinted hath been set up relating to the Beasts and Dragons worship all which God hath determined to throw down and when the Desolation of all these things cometh and the seven Mountains upon which the Whore sits comes to be laid waste according as hath been prophesied in Ages past Isa 42.15 And when the great Whore comes to drink the Cup of Gods fury which is already filled into the hands of the Saints of the most High to pour out unto her Rev. 12. I say then shall she knows that God hath spoken by me and that I have herein declared the Truth according as I received it from and by the Spirit of the Lord. And thus much as to his Queries But then he speaks of another Clear and Easie Way to find out the True Church te try all Churches by the true Catechism and see which of them all sayes it truly believes it rightly c. and that which doth is the true Answ I answer to try all Churches by their Doctrine and Practice and see which is most agreeable to the Principles Doctrines and Practice of the true Church in the Apostles dayes is indeed a way that I do very well approve of and if all controversies betwixt you and us might be decided after this manner laying aside all carnal Weapons carnal Laws Prisons Fires and the like which hath been the Weapons that the Church of Rome hath defended her self with for many Ages past and doth at this day I say then it would be indeed well and we shall be very willing to engage with you with spiritual Weapons bring the best you can form or find out but for carnal Weapons we are redeemed from them and the Weapons of our warfare are spiritual so I say upon equal terms we shall be very willing to dispute the matters with you that are in controversie betwixt us and they who are found either you or us in Doctrine Life and Practice to be most agreeable to the true Church in the primitive times shall be owned and acknowledged to be the true Church now at this day And they who are detected to be in the Steps Practises and Doctrines of them whom the holy Prophets Christ and his Apostles testified against shall be concluded to be the false Church now at this day and upon these termes as I said before we shall be very ready and willing to joyn issue with you at any time or place that you with us shall agree upon And whereas A. S. saith That all the Schismaticks Sectaries and Hereticks in the World cannot truely say that Prayer that Christ taught his Disciples viz. Our Father which art in Heaven c. or

to betray his Master did afterwards rebuke him for it but then his Ignorance would have somewhat more plainly appeared But it was indeed the same spirit which led Judas into that presumptuous act as to betray his Master that afterwards led him to desperation and to hang himself and that Spirit which let him see his wickedness which he had done and rebuked him for it was Light For whatsoever makes manifest is Light Eph. 5.13 Eleventhly then lastly he saith Thus far have we digressed for the Conversion of Quakers c Answ To which I say that if he hath no better way to convert Quakers nor no better Arguments to produce in order to their Conversion then what he hath made use of in his pretended reconsiler of Religions he were better be silent and save his Labour for I cannot believe that a thousand such Books will ever convert or rather divert one Quaker nay nor convince them neither except it be of his own gross Ignorance or wilful wickedness of which there is enough appears as before manifested Thus having briefly answered the most remarkable Arguments produced by A. S. to prove the Church of Rome the true Church and also the several particulars by which he endeavoured to render the people called Quakers as a people led by a deluding Spirit I find the rest of his Book consists of divers Arguments in which he controverts with Sectaries and their Bibles and Ministers c. whose cause as aforesaid I am not ingaged in therefore it doth not concern me to answer his Charges against them but shall leave them to answer for themselves Although there are indeed many things contained in the remaining part of his Book from which I might lay open much of the deceit and Ignorance of A. S. and the Abominations of the Church of Rome But the generality of people being alreadly so fully satisfied concerning her and the confusion and ignorance of A. S. also being herein so fully manifested already I look upon it as superfluous at present to inlarge on this account and indeed if never a word had been said the very fruits brought forth by the Church of Rome in the view of all Nations are enough to foreware them of adhering to her for can a man touch Pitch and not be defiled A hint towards the discovery of the true Church But for all that hath been said It may be some will say that grand Question propounded by A. S. in the second Chapter of his Book Remains yet unanswered viz Which is the true Church c. First to which I answer that is the true Church and no other whose fruits make manifest that they are govern'd by the invisible head Christ and that continue in the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and that are found in the same order or discipline in their Assemblies that the true Church was in the primitive times and that have the same way of ordaining Ministers that the true Church had and that lives soberly righteously and godly in this present World as the true Church did But the people called Quaekers are such as hereafter I shall prove Therefore the people called Quakers are the true Church Secondly It is manifest by the fruits of the people call'd Quakers that they are governed by the invisible Head Christ for Christ commands his Followers not to swear at all which command the aforesaid people observe and keep as this Nation of England full well knows Again Christ came not to destroy mens lives but to save them and commanded his Followers to love their Enemies And it is manifest that the people called Quakers have the mind of Christ because they seek not the destruction of any but the preservation and good of all and that they love even their Enemies who hate and persecute them because they are ready to assist or be helpfull to them upon all occasions or opportunities in any thing that may tend to their present and future well-being therefore they are governed by the invisible Head Christ Again Christ commanded saying whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you even so do ye unto them Mat. 7.12 which command the aforesaid people observe and keep as thousands can bear witness for them Therefore they are governed by the invisible Head Christ and are the True Church Thirdly Again the people called Quakers continue in the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles for Christ preacht the Doctrine of Perfection saying Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect Math. 5.48 And the Apostle preacht the same Doctrine Heb. 6.1 and Laboured to persent every man perfect in Christ Col. 1.28 having received gifts for that very work Ephes 4.11.12 And the people called Quakers do preach the same Doctrine of Perfection and Labour in the Power and Spirit of the Lord to present people perfect in Christ as the Apostles did as thousands can bear Testimony by which it sufficiently appears that they continue in the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and therefore they are the true Church But this Christian Doctrine is opposed by all the Antichristian Ministers thoughout the whole Christendom or by all Babylons Merchants in every part of her Teritories who ignorantly produce many good words to oppose this Doctrine 1. As First they urge Solomons words viz There is not a just man upon the Earth that doth good and sinneth not Therefore say they people cannot be perfect But alas they do not discern the signs of the times neither do they consider the time and season when these words were spoken for at that time all were gone out of the Way and there was none that did good Psa 14.3 and they had forsaken the Lord and knew not so much of him as the Oxe did of his Owner Isa 1.3 and were in the transgression of Gods Covenant which he made with their Fathers Jer. 31.32 so that although there were none without sin at that time yet it doth not follow the people can never be free from sin no more then their being then ignorant of God doth argue that people should never come to the knowledg of him the contrary of both which may be easily proved by plain Scripture for at that time when Israel were strangers unto God and were all gone out of the way and none amongst them did good c. even then did God promise that the day should come in which he would make a new Covenant with the house of Judah and with the house of Israel who were in the transgression of the first Covenant Jer. 31.31 and that he would finish transgression and make an end of sin Dan. 24. who had hid his face from them and by which they were made Strangers to him Isa 59.2 and that he would remember their Iniquities no more and that they should all know him from the least to the greatest Jer. 31.34 by which it is evident that although in the Prophets days they were all in transgression and had not

the Scripture that he would praise And I have hoped in thy Word Was his Hope in the Scriptures or in Christ as in him that was to come And mine Eyes fail for thy Word Was it the Scriptures that his Eyes fail'd for Surely no the Scripture so much of it as was then written which were chiefly the Books of Moses was obvious enough to him when the Word might be withdrawn out of his sight for a Tryal unto him as David said concerning Joseph Psal 105.18 19. Whose Feet they hurt with Fetters Until the time that his Word came the Word of the Lord try'd him And who dares deny without Presumption but that it was the same Word which David said Was a Light unto his Path and a Lamp unto his Feet So that all J. N s. tearing assunder the Scriptures with his additional Imaginations will not prove that it was the Scriptures David spoke of in this place but was indeed the Word by which David as a Prophet to whom the Word of the Lord came spoke forth that part of the Scriptures And although David did meditate on the Law of God which if I should grant it to be only the outward Law that came by Moses yet that doth not prove that he call'd it the Word nor can it be understood that he meant the Scripture when he so spoke of the Word for the Reasons afore given The Word was precious or scarce in those dayes which came to the Prophets saying So and so and those Sayings are signified or contain'd in the Scriptures But the Scriptures were not more scarce then then at times before though the Word was of which there was a Famine And though the Scriptures may be heard now which contain the Saying of the Word which the Word demonstrated yet all that hear them cannot be said to hear the sound of the Word as they did who heard those sayings demonstrated or sounded out of the Mouthes of the Prophets by the Word that so spoke And although J. N. saith It s plain the Word here is not mean of Christ because the Prophet calls it the Word of God and saith He had sworn to keep it and it cannot in reason be understood that David or any man did ever keep Christ Answ I answer Here J. N. hath wrong'd the Prophet's word for he did not say That he had sworn to keep the Word but He had sworn to keep his Righteous Judgments as if he should have said He would observe the Judgments of the Lord to walk in the Paths thereof or That he would walk according to the Spirit of Judgment Yet notwithstanding this It is but the unreasonableness of J.N. to conclude That David nor any man did never keep Christ for they that keep in subjection to the Spirit of Christ and dwell under his Government may be properly said to keep the Word which is Christ And there were in the Church of Philadelphia those that kept the Word and such deny'd not his Name Rev. 3.8 Mark that He that kept the Word deny'd not his Name which is call'd the Word and in vers 10. he said Because thou hast kept the Word of my Patience I will keep thee c. Now can it reasonably be understood That it was the Scriptures that were here call'd the Word of Patience which they kept or that Scriptures were that Name which they deny'd not who kept the Word Certainly I cannot rationally judge that any should be so blind but if they should the very next verse will sufficiently clear the matter where it is said Hold fast that thou hast that none take away thy Crown Mark He having kept the Word of Patience was exhorted to hold that fast which he had that he might not lose his Crown And can any rationally conclude That the Scripture was his Crown Or else Was it not the Word of Life and of Patience which was in the beginning before the Scriptures were written and would be his Crown when Scriptures should be no more For Paul exhorts Timothy To lay hold on Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6.12 And must he not then lay hold on Christ who is the Word and the Life 1 John 1.1 and John 14.6 And they that had receiv'd him who was the Word and the Life and was to be their Crown as before is shew'd and were to keep or hold fast that which they had receiv'd May it not be properly said That they kept Christ Certainly none can be so ignorant who understand the Scripture to conclude that no Man did ever keep Christ although all his are kept from the hour of Temptation by him who is the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation By all which it plainly appears That the words of the Prophet produc'd by J. N. do not prove nor intend to prove the Scriptures to be the Word of God that the Prophets and Holy Men of God kept although I shall easily confess that they do contain many sayings and words that proceeded from the Mouth of the Lord all which were and are according to the several Dispensations of time to which they relate to be observ'd also The next Scripture produc'd by J. Newman to prove Scripture the Word of God is Isa 28.9 10 13. where the Prophet said Whom shall I teach Knowledge and whom shall I make to understand Doctrine c Precept must be upon Precept Line upon Line c. the Word of the Lord was to his People Precept upon Precept and Line upon Line c. So that saith J. N. its clear the Word of God is that Doctrine Teaching and Precepts that was given at large to God's People c. so its plain c. the Scripture is properly and principally called the Word of God Answ To which I answer This doth not at all prove the Scriptures to be the Word which the Prophet said was Line upon Line and Precept upon Precept unto them for though he said Whom shall I make to understand Doctrine and in order to it said The Word of the Lord must be Precept upon Precept Yet that doth not prove that the Doctrine was the Word but the Doctrine was of the Word and by the Word that came unto the Prophet was the Doctrine demonstrated and they thereby made to understand it And so the Word oft times came unto the Prophets not the Scriptures and bid them go and speak so and so and the Doctrine which they preached could not be properly call'd the Word it self that came to them though the sound of the Word was heard in the delivery of that Doctrine But their Doctrine proceeded from the Word which bid them so speak so that there was the Word the Teacher and the Doctrine thereof the Teachings And this Word so oft coming unto the Prophet to bid him go and speak unto the People it might well be said That the Word of the Lord was Line upon Line unto them so that it plainly appears that this Word here spoken of was

J. N. cannot see but there must of necessity be more then one Christ if by the increase of the Word be understood of Christ so that although he concludeth it must needs be the Doctrine contain'd in the Scriptures intended by the increase of the Word yet here he may see his Ignorance therein Again In pag. 9. 10. J. N. saith That in Acts 19.20 the Preaching and Teaching of Jesus Christ is call'd the Word of God Answ To this I have already answer'd that the preaching of Jesus Christ is the Preaching of the Word for his Name is call'd the Word Yet is doth not follow as J. N. would have it that all the Disputings which the Apostle had for the space of three Moneths was the Word It s true he disputed and perswaded the things of the Kingdom according to the Scriptures of the Prophets by Vertue of the Word that was in him so that all they of Asia heard the Word or the sound thereof when the Doctrine thereof was by it self demonstrated For from you sounded out the Word of the Lord said the Apostle 1 Thes 1.8 But the Apostle did not call his Preachings and Disputings the Word but that which he preached For he preached Christ but his Preachings were not Christ but a Testimony of him as Christ said concerning the Scriptures They are they that testifie of me Joh. 5.39 By which it apprears that Christ was the Word which he preached and which they in Asia heard the sound of according to that Saying of Christ The Hour cometh and now is when the Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son c. And therefore this Argument is but like the rest which make nothing to prove the Scriptures to be principally call d the Word of God Again saith J.N. I should have left prosecuting this Subject but this Truth yet finding more Friends to plead its Cause I am not willing to be a Hinderance c. And then quotes 2 Cor. 4.1 2. where the Apostle said He had not handled the Word of God deceitfully Now saith J.N. what Word of God was this which he had not handled deceitfully but the Ministry he had receiv'd even the Preaching and Teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as is plain in the 3d 4th 5th verses For what he calleth the Ministry in the 1st verse in the 2d the Word of God in the following he calleth it the Gospel and the preaching of Christ according to the Gospel so that its clear by this Witness also that the Preaching and Teaching of Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures of the New Testament c. is properly and principally call'd The Word of God Answ Truly J. N. had need find better Friends or some that speak more pertinent to his business then this which he hath here produced or else he may labour as before he said he should long enough to prove Scripture the Word of God and have all to do when he hath ended For if I should grant that he called his Ministry or that of and from which he ministred the Word yet that doth not prove the Scriptures to be the Word because the Life and Spirit of his Ministry is not contain'd in the Scripture Or if I should acknowledge the Gospel to be the Word yet that doth not prove the Scriptures to be the Word For The Gospel is the Power of God as the Apostle said Rom. 1.16 and so are not the Scriptures and the Gospel is Everlasting but the Scriptures are not so But J.N. would make the Scriptures to be the Word the Gospel the Ministry and all and jumbles all together and then says The Apostle calls it so when the Apostle saith no such thing but speaks of his Ministry and of the Gospel which is the Power of God and of the Word which endureth forever which by the Gospel the Power was preached unto them 1 Pet. 1.25 And as to that Question What Word of God was this that he had not handled Deceitfully Answ I answer It was the Word which was from the beginning as John said 1 Joh. 1.1 Which they had Seen and Handled which were not the Scriptures for they were not from the beginning but the Word was which they had handled and which they handled not deceitfully but in Simplicity declar'd openly what they receiv'd by its secret operation and mighty working in them according as Christ commanded them without adding thereto or diminishing therefrom and hence it was that they said They Handled it not Deceitfully Again saith J. N. The second VVitness that appeareth to countenance this Truth is in Col. 1.25 where the Apostle calleth the Preaching of the Gospel the Word of God but for the better understanding of this VVitness let us see vers 23. where the Apostle useth these words to the Church If you continue in the Faith grounded and settled and not remov'd from the Hope of the Gospel which you have heard and which was preached to every Creature under Heaven Whereof he saith in vers 25. I Paul am made a Minister But what to do He answereth To fulfil the Word of God Now what Word of God was this that Paul did fulfil but only his Ministry in Preaching and Teaching of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel which he here calleth the Word of God So that there is no Truth more plain then this that the Scriptures of the New Testament are properly and principally call'd the Word of God Answ Surely J.N. hath a great Conceit of his blind Affirmations it appears as oft times I have seen it viz. That Ignorance in some is as great a Cause of Confidence as sound Knowledge is in others VVhat Reason hath J. N. from the Scriptures before mention'd to affirm the Scriptures of the New Testament to be properly call'd the Word of God Or the Word there spoken of by the Apostle to be meant the Scriptures which he said were given him to fulfil For in the next verse he declareth what that VVord was viz. The Mystery which hath been hid from Ages and from Generations but now made manifest in his Saints To whom saith the Apostle God would make known what is the Riches of the Glory of his Mystery amongst the Gentiles which is Christ in you the Hope of Glory Mark Reader He saith The VVord which he was to fulfil was the Mystery c. and the Mystery was Christ in them c. So that the VVitness that J. N. produceth testifieth against his Affirmation as absolutely as may be to the utter overthrow of his Cause by which the Ignorance and Blindness of J. N. appears But then he saith in pag. 12. I shall give but one Scripture more for the Proof of this Truth and that is Tit. 2.5 Where the Apostle calleth the Doctrine of Christ the Word of God For saith he let us see what the Apostle saith in the first verse where he giveth Titus a Charge to preach sound Doctrine and layeth down the particulars thereof

what he should preach and the Persons distinctly to whom he should preach and giveth them Instruction in the 5th verse That they should walk to the Doctrine or Teaching answerably and the Reason he gave was this Lest the word of God should be Blasphem'd so that the Doctrine he gave in Charge to Titus with all the particulars of the Doctrine the same in the 5th verse he calls The Word of God Answ That Conclusion is utterly false he doth not say nor in effect say That the Doctrines with all particulars of the Doctrines are the Word Nor can it rationally be concluded That it was the Scripture or the Doctrine that he spoke of when he said Lest the Word of God should be Blasphem'd But rather that worthy Name by which they were call'd which Name they who kept the Word deny'd not as before shew'd For if they should not walk according to the Doctrine of the VVord which they taught the Ignorant that were without or they that watched for Iniquity might be ready to judge that there was a difficiency in the VVord by which they were taught or in the Name which they professed and walked in and so be encourag'd to slight and speak evil of the same and thereby the VVord by which they were taught might be blasphemed through their not walking according to the Doctrine thereof who made a Profession of it so that the Apostle in saying Lest the Word of God should be blasphem'd doth not at all call the Doctrine the VVord nor doth this in the least serve to prove the Scriptures to be properly call'd the Word of God although thereupon J. N. thus concludes That there is nothing more evident then this Glorious and saving Truth That the Scriptures or two Testament c. are properly and principally call'd the Word of God But what the Scriptures offer'd by him with his Arguments thereupon which I have before stated and answer'd do make for his purpose I shall leave to the truly Juditious and Impartial Reader to judge The next thing saith J.N. I shall insist upon are the Reasons for the Confirmation of this Point or gracious Truth that I have asserted c. and I shall labour to shew that all those places that I have brought to prove Scriptures to be the VVord of God will stand firm c. Answ All the Scriptures which he hath brought I have already before examin'd and explain'd and I cannot but look upon it as superfluous to go twice over with one VVork as J. N. hath done for that which is unsound or not right in the Ground Bottom or Foundation can never be made sound or right by Repetitions but the Subject before stated by J.N. is unsound and not true as before prov'd and therefore can never be made sound and true by Repetitions for which cause as also upon consideration that this same Subject hath been already oft stated and answer'd to by several of us as is notoriously evident by several Books now in Print I look upon it as I said before superfluous to go over with the Repetitions of J. N. it being chiefly but a Repetition of the above sited Scriptures paraphaised upon once more by him which I have before examin'd and spoken to And therefore shall omit taking further notice thereof at this time and proceed to his next Subject or Assertion in the 22th and 23th pages of his Book where he speaks as followeth Concerning Scriptures being a Perfect Rule for all Men c. HAving thus prov'd the Scriptures to be the Word c. I shall therefore shew briefly That the Scriptures I have so prov'd to be the Word of God that they are a Perfect Rule for all men to walk by and no other and this saith he is clear from Mat. 28.20 where Christ gives his Disciples Commission to preach the Gospel and saith Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I command you and so likewise in Mark where Christ confirmeth the same Commission c. Mark 16.15 16. Now this was not only to be preached for men to hear the sound of but also to believe and obey the same And this Truth is confirm'd in Acts 3.22 where it s said A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren saith Moses like unto me him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you Observe that Him shall you hear in all things From whence we may learn That Christ gives no Licence to his People to pick and cull his Wayes but to hear and obey him in all things whatsoever he shall say unto them And that the Scriptures are in force as a Perfect Rule see Rom. 16.25 26. where the Apostle doth affirm the Authority thereof and saith The Mystery that was kept secret since the World began is now made manifest by the Scripture of the Prophets according to the Commandment of the Everlasting God and made known unto all Nations for the Obedience of Faith c. Answ Reader I would not be mis-taken in my Intentions as though I went about to under-value the Scriptures of Truth or as though I had slight esteem of them for I do in reallity own them and do acknowledge them to contain many true Testimonies of him whose Name is call'd the Word of God who is the perfect Way to the Father and the alone Guide that leadeth unto Life eternal a Leader and Commander unto his People appointed of the Father I say I own the Scriptures to contain many true Testimonies concerning him and concerning many other things and that they ought to be believ'd c. But that they are therefore a Perfect Rule for all men to walk by and none other I cannot own for they no where testifie of or concerning themselves And if it were certainly so That they were a Perfect Rule and no other as J. N. affirmeth then it must of necessity follow That they who have not the Scriptures are without a Perfect Rule and that before the Scriptures were written the Ancients and Worthies of God as Abraham Isaac Jacob Noah Lot Enoch c. had no Perfect Rule to walk by except he could prove That the Rule by which they walked and by which Abraham was to walk before God and be Perfect was no more to be a Rule after the Scriptures were written the which I no where find recorded in the Scriptures But contrariwise That same Rule by which they walked bore Witness unto the Scripture And the Scriptures offer'd by J. N. do not at all prove that they are a Perfect Rule except it could be prov'd that they contain all things that Christ commanded his Apostles to preach and teach which in reason none can conclude for although the Scriptures be a part of what they preacht and taught yet there is but very little of what they taught and preacht declar'd in them nor indeed little at all of the Preachings and Teachings of the most part of the Apostles