fitted for that great end of bringing mankind to God but for such an universall use herein as to make the simple wise and that the poor may receive the Gospell and yet believe also that it is a masse of dead and unsensed characters untill the Romish Clergy put a just sense theron tho its sense and meaning is the very soul thereof yea thus passe from the whole letter of the same or any certainty of its truth from intrinsick evidences and these marks and characters of its divinity wherby the Christian cause could be maintain'd against Pagans 3. Where he must believe also that these are the words of Christ Joh. 7 17. if any man doe my will he shall know my doctrine whither it be of God or not and that men errs through not knowing the Scripture Math. 22. and yet believe therewith that these sacred fountains of light should be shutt up to keep men from going wrong and that the sole right of understanding the same belongs to a few but not to the multitude who yet can pretend no extraordinare assistance or revelation herein nor will themselves come to these waters of Jealousie to be tryed 4. Where he must needs believe that the Scriptures are the oracles of God committ to the Church to give answer in every darke case Rom. 3 2. the type and forme of sound doctrine Rom. 6.17 unto whose sentence in all matters both of faith and practise we are expressly referred Is. 8.20 and yet believe also that it hath no authority or decisive voice but what is precarious and dependant on the Romish Church and thus consent to have the whole Christian faith visibly unhinged of that foundation of the Scripture and subjected to a supreme visible and infallible judge here in the earth with such a claime of dominion over the faith of the saints as the Apostles of Christ durst never owne but did fully disclaime 2 Cor. 1 24. 5. Where he must believe that Jesus Christ came for this end to save lost man and by one offering hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10 18. and yet joyn in the same faith herewith a human satisfaction for sin so as men may both merit mediate and supererogate above what is needfull for themselves and be thus saved in the same way of life which was by the covenant of works ascribing that only to Christ to give salvation to their merits which yet their own intrinsick value and condignity doth require as a debt 6. He finds not how in the same creed he could possibly hold by one Mediator betwixt God and man where a plurality for this end is admitt and by the reality of Christs human nature and his having a true and finit body which is subjected to have a new created being each time in the Consecrate Hostia or believe the truth of his sufferings as now fully accomplished and to be repeated no more when it is in that dayly sacrifice of the Messe still offered as a propitiatory sacrifice for the liveing and the dead so as on the most severe and impartial inquiry here he cannot find how one holding by these principles should goe a further lenth then Morality or claim another standing then by a covenant of works 7. Nor knows he how to believe at once the truth of the Gospell to be a doctrine of Holinesse and infinite purity and yet joyne in the same faith herewith such an immunity and indulgence for men to sin as money can stand for merit and the rich have the most easy and large entrey to heaven and account it a priviledge to destroy themselves yea where some externall severities and pennance to the flesh like to the lanching and gashing of Baals Priests are reckoned enough to supply the roome of Christian mortification 8. Yea he finds it not posible to believe that sin by the blood of Christ can only be expiate and is his alone worke who hath purged our sin himself Heb. 1 3. or that there are but two ways that lead to a twofold state of men a strait way which leads to a life and a broad unto destruction Math. 7 14. and yet believe that there is a Purgatory after this life where men must be tormented and suffer extream pains there to expiate such venial sins as their prayers and pennances here could not doe yea is here made to wonder how any that believes such a thing can ever have true peace or comfort in the world but doe either take it as a fiction or forget themselves when they are chearfull where the fear of such a place the uncertainty of release and how long a term it may be er this purging worke be compleat when their own writers assigne no lesse time then 10000 Years as needfull to satisfy for some sins and least it prove a reall hell must still be a present terrour nor can he believe that such possibly doe credit themselves herein who assume this power to change the condition of the dead since were it really believed that the keyes of such a prison were here in mens hand and could by the largest dotations to the Romish Church get a safe outgate thence it were not strang to see the temporall state of Cristendome in a short time made over to these and should Judge they were in a strang manner indead priviledged by the whole residue of men who by such a power over the world to come can make so easy a purchase over this also which is present 9. He finds is sure he could never get his reason and conscience brought to such a faith even tho he made a simulate profession herein of that pretended supremacy of Peter as Bishop of Rome on which the whole frame and structure of the papacy leans and the vertue of all the pardons and absolutions founded theron on which so many have adventured into an other world except he would thus build on the sand only but not on the rock 10. He finds also how such an erection of the Gospell Church in her militant state here as the Papacy in its complexe frame is unite in such an head as the Pope who as the sole vicegerent of Christ in the earth is at once invested with a civill Monarchy and universall impire over the Church to impose and judge in the highest transactions that relate to the eternall state and immortall souls of men is a thing that as to matter of right is as forreign to the Scripture and incompatible therwith as Mahumitanisme can be and as to matter of fact is a trust that no created being could ever exerce 11. he sees is sure that he must either lose sight both of the rule and spirit of the Gospell or have a just abhorrence at that way where he should be inevitably involved in a virtual consent and accession to all that cruelty and blood which for so many ages hath been shed therin when it s so clear that this was no exorbitance
and judgment to the same III. To admit no gratification to the most predominant desires and inclinations of men upon any darling sin which according to human wisdome would be judged of an absolute necessity for gaining any acceptance with such yea to give no partial respect to the greatest Princes more then to the meanest IV. To pursue its interest by so plain a discovery of the death and sufferings of our blessed Lord with the whole ignominy thereof when nothing could more evidently control such an end by any rules of human wisdome and policy if there had been a possible accesse to consult flesh and blood herein V. And its sure there could be no designe without an immediate divine power in such a manner to plead the interest of Christianity with men by inserting affliction and the crosse in the first entry as essential to the profession thereof and holding forth the necessity of taking on the yoke of Christ without which none can be his Disciples QU. IV. But wherein doth the evidence of that great demonstration of the Gospel most clearly appear in the love and unity of Christians amonghst themselves which we find Christ doth so specially presse for this end that the world might know and have such a visible seal of his divine mission Joh. 17 21. ANSW The greatnesse of this demonstration may be thus evident to all I. That its so clearly demonstrative of the purity of our Religion which can admitt of no bitternesse strife recrimination or such indecencies of heat and passion which are these fatal effects of discord in the Church and thus lets us see the excellency of the spirit and rule of the Gospel II. That thus also we may know the power and efficacy of the truth thereof which is according to godlinesse upon mens heart in subduing these distempers of the mind and judgment III. That this doth so specially tend to make religion lovely and to draw forth matter of praise and blessing to God from the world when they see such a native effect of Christianity as this to make those who professe the same in that manner shine forth in tendernesse humility and brotherly love so that they become as a publick good and blessing to mankind in the place they are in IV. This appears also from the nature of that union in the Church of Christ and amongst his followers which only a divine power could both frame and make effectual and its sure no human society or constitution could ever claim such an unity therein as this is where not only persons of all nations and languages and of all conditions both high and low but of the most different interests humours and dividing circumstances in other things doe yet in so marvelous an harmony meet in the body of Christ which is his Church here in the earth V. Because herein also doth the glory and honour of our blessed head more eminently appear in securing this unity of his Church under a diversity of light and judgement otherwayes by a spirit of love meeknesse and condescendence amongst his people then by imposing the most severe and absolute uniformity in all things to be the alone condition of Christian communion QU. V. But what strength and evidence doth this demonstration of the Gospel now bear in so divided a state of religion and when the wounds and breaches of the Church this day are like to blood unto death ANSW Whatever just cause be of griefe yet is there none for darkening the truth of this demonstration on these grounds I. That none can deny the perfection of the rule of the Gospel for the most firm and intire unity amonghst all the followers of Christ on the earth II. That no opposition which is made therto but what hath been fortold as one of the greatest tryals of the Church under the New Testament and the Spirit of God doth most expresly point at in these latter times III. Because the furthest opposition thereto can be no more cause for any to stumble or question the truth of this demonstration then that there is a Devil whose greatest designe hath ever been to divide and break Christians amongst themselves IV. Because this union which is chiefly mistical and invisible is much greater oft then what this way may appear to the world and of that kind as is not interrupted by distance of place or any want of local communion V. That such a guard is set by the Lord unto this piece of his glory and to oppose any invasion thereon that there stands an Angel with a flaming sword upon every hand in the commands and threatings of the Gospel to secure this blessed unity of the Saints amonghst themselves so as none can invade the same but on their highest peril of opposing that which is as the apple of Christs eye VI. That its ever found how this demonstration hath some clear evidence amonghst such who are indeed the Disciples of Christ and according to their advance in the life and power of Christianity doth the more brightly shine forth so that the nearer the lines are to the center the nearer also are they amonghst themselves VII That in all times there hath been some tremenduous marke â—f the judgment of God made visible on such who are contentious and have made it their worke to cause division in the Church and sow discord among brethren QU. VI. But what hath the Church now in these latter dayes to compense the want of that great demonstration by miracles and such extraordinare confirmations of the Christian faith as were in the first times ANSW I. That we may see how far that seal of martyrdome which came in the roome of miracles to the Church hath exceeded that which was in the first times of the Gospel II. That there hath been since such innumberable shining examples of holinesse yea these continued to this day whom the world might see did walk in the light and power of Christianity as sure as men walks under the power and vertue of a living soul III. That we now see what a length the course of the Gospel and of the Church militant is come and how far thus the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled which once was so contrare to all human appearence IV. That so sure and exact a performance of the Scripture is now undenyable in the event and of such great and marvelous things which were fortold under the New Testament that in an ordinare way none could have believed what we see with our eyes and now have these things which were in former ages the object of the Churches faith made the object of our sense and its sure this is such a seal and confirmation to our faith in these last times as doth much exceed the greatest miracles which were with the first planting of the Gospel V. Though we may not resolve our faith on any extraordinare providences or lay the least weight hereon to support the authority of the doctrine
we professe since this only is founded on that sacred revelation of divine truth in the Scripture which is that infallible rule to discerne true miracles and what is Gods seal herein under the undoubted signature and stampe of his own power and working in the same yet hath there been such incontrollable evidence of extraordinare signs and confirmations to confirme the truth of the Reformed Religion since the Reformation as in no ages past was ever known but with the first planting of the Gospel among the Gentiles SECTION IV. QU. I. IS it cleare and demonstrable that the doctrine of Christ is a soull quickening and experimental religion and the trial thereof in its most supernatural truths of such rational certitude and evidence as the world can no more deny or question the same then these experiments of nature that are of most universal use ANSW Though men looked but at a distance here or were come from Heathnism so for as to make a serious trial of Christianity its sure they could not but see and be fully perswaded in their judgement hereof on these grounds I. That such a discovery is undoubted and cleare in the Scripture of so great things as that there is a holy Ghost and his workings on mens souls of peace with God and the joy of his presence which all who receive the gospel are called to know and prove on their oun trial II. That this wittnesse of Christian experience hath as discernable a consent and harmony there with as face answereth to face in the glasse and is cleare to be no casual thing but where every step in this way of trial is by Scripture light and what they did before read there ere they knew it on their oun soul III. That this in all ages of the church and wherever such as served God in the spirit were found in the most remote parts from others hath still been the same and like a great roll is transmit from one generation to another with their confirmatory seal that God is faithfull and true in these truths of his word which seem most incredible to the world now comes to our hand to require the same attestation and wittnesse IV. That these who know and testify these things once found it not easy to beleeve the same and did no lesse judge of such great experiments of religion as a dream or imaginary thing then most now doe until they knew them on their soul V. That such also have been the most burning and shining lights that ever were in the church and these innumerable in all ages who declare the same yea this in the mouth of the grave and entrance to ane eternal state when no outward intrest could sway them here VI. That it must be a matter of greatest assurance which hath then pressed the most tender parents with their last and dying breath to commend the same trial to their children and to obtest their making earnest herein as the greatest interest they could leave them VII That what ever differences be oft among these in some matters of truth yet in the certainty of this great trial of the life power and comforts of religion is ane harmonious onenes in the same testimony in all times of the church VIII That if any question this because so remote from mens senses and the judgement of carnal reason the reality of its effects doth unanswerably prove both the reality and excellency of the cause QU. II. What cleare and rational conviction can yow offer of so great a thing as conversion of men from a state of nature to a new state by grace which doth raise them as far above the residue of mankinde as reason doth above the state of the beastes ANSW Though I should strive against the conviction of such a miracle and demonstration of the Gospel as conversion is yet were it not possible to deny such demonstrative evidences as the world cannot but see hereof I. That it is sure such a change is made essentially requisite to the being and constitution of a Christian by the whole consent of the Scripture II. That there was never yet ane argument in nature for ones being a Christian in the life and power thereof what ever may be for a naked form or shew III. That they are not a few but innumerable instances in all times and of all rancks conditions of men on whom so great a change and difference hath been made thus evident both from themselves what once they were and from the residue of the world IV. That this hath been not only upon such as have been signally impious in their practise but who in their judgment were wont to deread holynesse as a fancy so as Atheists must grant that there have been as profest Atheists sometimes as themselves who have been made such conspicuous monuments of the power of the gospel V. That none can object here as once the Jewes did doe any of the rulers or such as the world counts most wise and knowing stand wittnesses to the same when it is so knowen there have not been more wise learned and judicious in the things of reason upon the earth then such as have been eminent examples of the power of conversion VI. That its marvellous effects in subduing men to what once was there predominant interest and idol and to part from what had been as their right eye or hand could only be from ane immediat divine power VII That such as were greatest adversaryes to the truth have been made no lesse eminent instruments in the service of Christ and choise vessels of honour then once they were in their enmity and opposition VIII That this change hath been so discernable in times of most visible persecutions and hazard when no outward advantage or gaine could have the least influence thereon Now as these are demonstrably cleare so can there be no possible accesse to question this I. That the Scripture is faithfull and true in so great a discovery II. That there is a divine spirit and a power above nature which accompanyes the same in such a change III. That there are surely contrary states in ane other world when they are so undeniably manifest here QU. III. But can so great ane experiment of religion as that of communion betwixt God and men here upon earth be made rationally convinceing to such as are themselves strangers thereto and for a further confirming of the Christian faith ANSW Though this be ane experiment of divine truth of a more transcendent interest and value then all that ever were in nature yet is it no lesse evident there can be no possible delusion herein if I. to which so innumerable a company beares testimony and hath transmit the same as that which not once or twice they have proven but in the continued trial of their life II. That its knowen to the world how such as testify what they doe and have so oft found in the retirement of their