the perfect words of the New Testament whereto nothing may be added and wherefrom nothing may be taken away by him that will lead a life agreeable to the Gospel Euseb Hist l. 5. c. 14. Thus Brethren I have for your sakes as well as others taken a fresh view of the State of this most Primitive Church to whose holy pattern through the Grace of God you have diligently laboured to conform your souls her Principles are yours her Government in good measure is yours if in any thing any of them be otherwise minded my hearts desire is that God would speedily reveal even the same unto you and then it is to be hoped that all well disposed will in time see themselves concerned to adhere to the truth of your Principles in the very Order wherein you maintain them Hear the Church OR AN EPISTLE TO All the Baptized Christians in England Exciting them to Stedfastness in their Holy Profession under their various Tryals and great Afflictions The Second PART BRETHREN AS it hath pleased God to exercise you many years with various Tryals and Afflictions for your Faithfulness to the Christian Religion in respect of the Restoration of it to its ancient Purity both in the Form and Power of it wherein you have laboured hitherto and have not fainted but by the Grace of God have attained to some degree in that behalf above what hath as yet been attained by the generality of your Country-men for which you owe the greatest Thankfulness to Almighty God. And having as I verily believe laid a right Foundation for a true Church-State you are indispensibly obliged to go on unto perfection as the first Churches which were built upon the same Foundation were expresly required and exhorted Heb. 6. 1 2 3. In which Holy Profession being by the Grace of God one with you and also called to the Ministry and Office of a Messenger of your Churches which I mention because it is the most despised Office amongst all Christians as it seems to have been in the Apostles days 1. Cor. 4. 9. do hold it my Duty at this time to endeavour to strengthen you in what I may in your Holy Profession as also to call upon such as have been shaken in mind by the violence of those Temptations which have befallen them in common with their Brethren For as it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God as those undoubtedly shall who draw back from the Truth they have once embraced unto Perdition so I am very confident that for any to fall from the Truth as it is professed by the Baptized Churches is the most dangerous of all other they being indeed the nearest to the Truth in the Pristine Order and Simplicity of it of all sorts of Persons who own the Honorable Appellation of Christian For What sort of Christians can with any Confidence look upon or bring themselves close to the Rules of St. Pauls Catechism Heb. 6. 1 2. as the Antients used to call it except the Baptized Churches To say nothing of others can they of the present Roman Catholick-Church in any wise square themselves or justifie their present Church-State by the Rule of those Sacred Principles in the simplicity of them No these Principles of Christ's Doctrine will in no wise be concordant with the Catechism of the present Roman Church seeing a Doctor of their own hath told us that if the Scriptures must be our Rule c. they must all cross the Cudgels to the Anabaptists which is a plain giving up the Victory to the Baptized Churches unless a better Form of Doctrine can be assigned than this is which will never be Yea so pressing is this place from the true Institution of the Antient Christian Religion that the Rhemists seem to be under no small difficulty how to express themselves about it For thus they speak upon the Text Heb. 6. 1 2. We see hereby say they what the first grounds of Christian Institution or Catechism were in the Primitive Church and that there was ever a necessary Instruction and Belief of certain Points had by Word of mouth and Tradition before men came to the Scriptures which could not treat of things so particularly as was requisite for the teaching of all necessary Grounds Among these Points were the twelve Articles contained in the Apostles Creed The Doctrine of Penance before Baptism the Manner and Necessity of Baptism the Sacrament of Imposition of Hands after Baptism called Confirmation the Articles of the Resurrection Judgment and such like without which things first laid if one should be sent to pick his Faith out of the Scriptures there would be mad Rule quickly 1. It 's highly observable from hence that the first Grounds and Principles of our Churches which indeed are no other than what men read Heb. 6. 1 2. are openly acknowledged by our most Potent Opposites to be the same which were in the Primitive Church received for the first Grounds and Institutions of Christianity or Christian Institution and Catechism That in the Primitime Church these Grounds were held in the very Order now observed by the Baptized Churches particularly Repentance before Baptism and Imposition of Hands after Baptism Sure this is a full Testimony that the Institution of the Baptized Churches now wrongfully called Anabaptists and theirs only is truly Apostolical Whilst all the Paedobaptists in the World among whom the Papists have quite subverted this Order giving their supposed Baptism before Repentance and that unto Persons that are not capable of Repentance 2. They tell us there was a necessary Instruction and Belief of certain Points had by Word of Mouth and Tradition before men came to the Scripture Admit this to be so in respect of such parts of the Holy Scriptures as were then unwritten when the Apostles first preached the Gospel yet it is certainly false in respect of such Books of Scripture as were then in being for it 's evident that our Blessed Saviour propounded the Text of Scripture Luke 4. 17 18 19. and thence preached to the People and commanded his Hearers to search the Scriptures John 5. 29. He did not send his Hearers to Tradition as the Papists do The great Apostle of the Jews St. Peter even then when he was filled with the Holy Ghost Acts 2. 17. preached from and notably confirms his Doctrine by the Scriptures Act. 2. not by Tradition And Philip Acts 8. 35. began at the same Scripture which the Eunuch read and preached to him Jesus without making any use of Tradition Apollo being mighty in the Scripture not in Tradition convinced the Jews shewing not by Tradition but by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ So did the great Apostle of the Gentiles St. Paul Acts 28. 2â— Perswading men concerning Jesus out of the Law and the Prophets not out of Tradition from Morning to Evening and the best sort of St. Paul's Hearers searched the Scriptures daily not Tradition to see whether the
things spoken by him were so 3. Nor can the Papists tell us what one Point of Necessary Instruction or Belief was delivered by Word of Mouth which is not now contained in the Holy Scripture if otherwise let them assign some necessary Point of Faith or Instruction such as without which we cannot know and serve God truly and fully and be saved eternally which is not contained in the Holy Scriptures But as this will hardly be attempted so let me exhort you Brethren to beware of all manner of Principles and Doctrins which have any tendency to weaken or invalidate the Authority and Sufficiency of the Scriptures which the Apostle avers to be of that sufficiency even before all the Books of Sacred Scriptures were extant as to furnish the Man of God throughly to every good Work. And then certainly he who is in all Points of Faith and Instruction a good Christian according to the Doctrine contained in the Holy Scriptures will be out of the reach of any just reprehension though he know nothing of the unwritten Tradition so much pretended and admired by the Papists or others Being thus secured in your Principles from the very concession of your Enemies and by the Authority of the best and most Sacred Antiquity even the Holy Scriptures you have no cause to fear the most important difficulties wherewith possibly we may be tried in these days And that we may the better see how the case stands between the Baptists and the Papists with respect to the two great Ordinances of Christ to wit Holy Baptism and the Holy Table of our Lord Jesus Christ we will here take a View of the one and of the other in a distinct Column by it self the better to discern their Disparity The Manner of Baptism among the Baptized Believers commonly called Anabaptists Baptist The Manner of Baptism among the Papists commonly called Roman Catholicks taken out of the Roman Ritual by a Learned Hand translated into English Papist THE Messenger or Elder being attired in comely Raiment not much different from the rest of his Brethren first Preaches the Gospel to every Creature that is capable and willing to hear and when by hearing they have received Faith the Minister explains the Doctrine of Repentance from dead Works and of Faith towards God for the further Illumination of the Disciples understanding in the knowledge of the only true God and our Lord Jesus Christ that they may obtain Eternal Life The Minister does oopen the Doctrine of Repentance in three parts especially i. e. as it consists in a due sense or knowledge of the sinfulness of sin In true Sorrow for sin committed especially against Almighty God. The necessity of forsaking the Conversation of sin and to walk righteously soberly and godly in this present Life The Doctrine of Faith is explained concerning the Object in respect of the God-head the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost into whose Name the Party is to be baptized and especially concerning Christ crucified buried and risen a-again and therewith is shewed that in Baptism we are to die unto Sin to be buried with him in Baptism to rise to a Holy Life and so to put on the Lord Jesus Christ in Baptism as to be born of Water and of the Spirit through the Word The Minister does open to the Party to be Baptized the whole Doctrine of Baptisms First That of Water which is the Baptism of Repentance for the Remission of sins in respect of the Power by which it is commanded the extent of it to every repenting Sinner the end of it to be a Pledge of the washing away of sin and to give us admission into the Church of Christ to draw near to God in Prayer with full assurance having the Heart sprinkled from an evil Conscience by Faith in the Blood of Christ and our Bodies washed with pure Water even the Water of the Baptismal Covenant called the washing of Regeneration 2. That of the Holy Spirit the Promise of the Spirit being made to all that our Lord doth call and therewith doth explain the fourth Principle of Christ's Doctrine Laying on of Hands with Prayers as the Means appointed of God to obtain that Blessing even the Promise of the Spirit through Faith in the Word of Promise 3. The Baptism of Affliction is also opened that the Sufferings of Christ called by himself a Baptism may not be feared but patiently endured according to the Will of God. This is the Sum of the Doctrine of Baptism taught by the Baptized Churches The 5th and 6th Principles of Christ's Doctrine are likewise particularly opened concerning the Resurrection of the Dead and chiefly of Christ's being raised Bodily from the Dead as the most sure pledge that the Dead shall be raised Bodily and the eternal Judgment in which every man shall receive according to the deeds done in the Body whether good or bad To all which the Party to be Baptized declares his assent in the best manâ—er he can shewing also his sense of Sin and sorrow for it his purpose to live holily his Faith in Christ his Saviour the only Son of God and that it is his desire to be Baptized according to the Will of God. And then the Minister with the Congregation or persons present do make Prayer and Supplication to Almighty God to receive the returning sinner and to bless and sanctifie his own Ordinance to him And then the Party to be Baptized being cloathed with convenient Garments for decency he is had to the Water where calling upon the Name of the Lord he is dipped into the River or Water by the Minister in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost And as in every thing Christians are to give thanks so this whole Service is concluded with farther prayer and thanksgiving to this effect That as it has pleased God to call his Servant or Servants out of their sinful state and to bring them into the way of Truth so it would please him to enable them to persevere to the end to his Glory and their own Eternal Comfort Nor do we put any Vow Covenant or Promise upon any Person save only what the very Nature of the Baptismal Covenant it self does in its own evidence carry along with it it being our greatest care neither to add to nor to diminish ought from the holy Ordinances of Christ but to keep them as they were delivered at first to the Church of God 1 Cor. 11. 2. AFter many preparatory Prescriptions the Priest being dressed in a Purple Robe calls the Infant to be Baptized by his Name and saith What askest thou of the Church of God the God-fathers answer Faith. The Priest saith again What shalt thou get by Faith The God-father replies Eternal Life Then adds the Priest If therefore thou wilt enter into Life keep the Commandments Thou shalt love
who is his Church we shall never find her nor does he reveal this but by the Testimonies of the Scripture there must we find the Church of God or no where For none but Enthusiasts pretend to any other Revelation in this Case and to speak feeely I doubt the Papists are more then a little Enthusiastical for rather than let God's Word decide this Question about the Church they will flye to Miracles as if a false Prophet may not shew a Sign or a Wonder yea and that Sign and Wonder come to pass too and yet the thing he brings it to prove be nothing but a lye see Deut. 15. Surely he that shall pretend to work a Miracle or Wonder in these days to prove such or such a People to be the Church I should the more suspect both him and his Church because we have a sure Word of Prophecy confirmed by Miracles already which Word doth as fully set forth the Church as it sets forth any thing insomuch as men may as well call for Miracles to prove there is a God and that this God is true as to call for Miracles to prove the true Church Indeed the Church of Christ being once found then all wise and modest men will readily lend an Ear to her in all things and especially when she undertakes to expound the dark or mysterious points of our Religion or offers her Judgment in things doubtful for as for the common point of the Christian Faith he that is a wise and good Man and no ways byassed by Interest may perhaps know these things as well as the Church or at least such as call themselves Church-men But to be bound to adhere to any Church in these days as to a people which cannot possibly be mistaken in any matters of Faith or Religion seems to be an Atribute too high for any Society of Sinful men and there is none that liveth and sinneth not For seeing God hath not told us any such thing That the Church cannot Err or be Mistaken it ought not to be spoken and if it be only proper to the Almighty to say He cannot lye It must not be said of the Church that She cannot lye lest he reprove us and we be found Lyars Rom. 3. 4. Let God be true and every Man a lyar for thus it is written and again Hos 11. 12. Ephraim compasseth me about with Lyes and the House of Israel with Deceit This was the Case of the ten Tribes and though Judah be justified as to these Impieties yet Chap. 12. 2. God tells them he had a Controversie with them also Certain it is that famous Churches have erred in matters of Faith and others were as liable to err as they no Church being herein priviledged above another for any thing that God has said in his Word but he every where exhorts his People to beware of Sin Error and Apostacy and commands every one that hath Ears to hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches but he does not say to any of them that they cannot Err therefore we are not to hear such a story of any Church Mat. 16. 18. Is a gracious Promise indeed That the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against the Church of Christ as founded upon himself in the true Faith of St. Peter But this Promise belongs to all true Churches equally yet no man ever durst affirm from hence That no true Church can possibly err And St. Peter who understood this Promise never told any Church of his Planting that they could not Err but rather tells them they may err so as to fall from their stedfastness and be led away with the error of the Wicked Indeed if any Church could be assigned here on Earth that cannot err or be deceived in matters of Faith it were the easiest thing in the World to find the Truth having once found the Church for we should have no need to know any thing but what that Church speaks and to receive her Determinations as God's Oracles but then I consider again that we should perhaps have great inconvenience also For if all the Decrees made by General Councils be obliging to us and were bound up together we should never be able to read them nor I doubt to understand them it will then be our best at the long-run to take Sanctuary at the Word of God as our Guide and Superiour to the Church But I consider farther that no man makes any particular Church this Guide but does refer us to the Universal Church as assembled in a General Council Surely either this is to make as many Universal Churches at least as there has been Ages since Christ was upon the Earth or if all make but one Universal Church the direction given to follow her Sentence is scarce practicable for how long will it be before a man can be assured what was held and what was rejected by the Church in all Ages indeed there are Men born of great confidence who will tell us that the Catholick or Universal Church hath always held such Doctrines and such Traditiors as are unwritten c. Now it highly concerns all Christians as much as in them lieth to make sure work with such bold Talkers about the truth of the things which they affirm especially about the truth of the Antiquity of these things that is that they appear by some Divine Record to have been delivered to the first Churches by Men approved of God to be the deliverers of Divine Institutes and if they fail here it will be ill venturing to follow them in their after-enquiries And there is the highest Reason in the World to stand as strongly as possible for the first Age for such pure and undoubted Antiquity is necessary in our Case from the tenour of our Blessed Saviour's Argumentation against the Jews in opposition to a Tradition or Mosaical Precept in the Case of Divorce Mat. 19. 8. From the beginning it was not so For seeing the Apostles did faithfully deliver the whole Counsel of God to the first Churches condemning all that shall teach otherwise than they had taught the the Doctrine of Godliness or that should not consent to wholesome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ it is therefore necessary to bring all Doctrine and Practices in the Christian Church to the Test of the most pure and Primitive Antiquity for that Church which hath that Argument fairly on her side cannot fail of all other Arguments which can be any way necessary for her Justification for indeed this first Argument does infer all the rest and they that have not this have none of the other which thing being well considered look back upon your Principles O ye Baptized Christians and upon what hath been said for them even by your Adversaries and take comfort for whoever boasts of the best Antiquity it is certain that you only have it For what is the most ancient Record Doubtless the Holy Scripture and if so let the question be about Christ and his Church there must we find them both or no where If any Man like not this Doctrine let him shew me if he can these lovely Objects without being beholden to the Scripture Some
Hear the Church OR AN APPEAL TO THE Mother of us All. BEING AN EPISTLE TO All the Baptized Believers in England exhorting them to Stedfastness in the Truth according to the SCRIPTURES TOGETHER With some farther Considerations of seven Queries sent to the Baptized Believers in Lincolnshire concerning the Judge of Controversies in Matters of Religion In Three PARTS By THOMAS GRANTHAM And they shall turn away their Ears from the Truth and shall be turned into Fables 2 Tim. 4. 4. But I will shew thee that which is noted in the Scripture of Truth and there is none that holdeth with me in these things but Michael your Prince Dan. 10. 21. LONDON Printed in the Year 1687. TO THE READER THere is nothing which Men sincerely Religious do more heartily desire than that all Men were so too and because they are fully satisfied that they are in that very Way which most truly leads to Life they therefore strive that all may know it and walk in it And truly this is my Case my Hearts Desire and Prayer to God for all Men is that they may be saved And as I believe it hath pleased God to shew me the Path of Life I cannot but do my best to shew it to others for as some by their Labours have been helpful to me so I hope mine may be helpful to others When I call the Primitive Christian Church at Jerusalem the Mother of us All I allude to that Place Gal. 4. 26. Interpreters so far as I have observed take Jerusalem there for the Gospel Catholick Church now this Church had its Beginning and this Beginning was at Jerusalem and because in the Progress of Christianity in the World for near one thousand seven hundred years there has abundance of Errors crept in and much truth in the antient Simplicity of it rejected I think it highly rational that all prejudice being laid apart Men should seek with the greatest diligence for their greatest Security into the State of Christs Gospel-Church as by himself established for whatsoever has not been planted by our Heavenly Father is nigh to its being rooted up God Almighty direct us all is the hearty Prayer of thy Friend Thomas Grantham Let the Reader further take notice that these Papers were originally written upon several occasions otherwise some things repeated would have been otherwise Let thy discretion bear with this Hear the Church The First PART Containing by way of Preface a particular consideration of the State of the first Christian Church at Jerusalem and the Reasonableness of appealing to Her as The Mother of us All. IT is evident to all such as have conversed with the Histories of the Ages which have been since the coming of our Lord to make known and establish all things in the Kingdom of Grace in the first Church at Jerusalem that there hath been great striving among the Christian Churches for some Honour and Prerogative above the rest Sometimes the Church at Alexandria sometimes the Church at Constantinople and especially the Church at Rome pressing very hard for Precedence of Honour and Preheminence of Power few minding the poor afflicted Church at Jerusalem the true Mother of all true Christian Churches when yet the Holy Ghost hath left a high Commendation upon those who do follow Her both in the effectual Reception of the Gospel not as the Word of such or such a man though preached by Apostles but as it is in truth the Word of God 1 Thess 2. 13 14. and also not in persecuting but in suffering like things of their Countrey-men as they did of the Jews And we desire and hope that there may be yet all due consideration had by all Christians in these days of the Heavenly Frame and Holy Walking of that MOTHER-CHURCH Unto whom was committed in the first place the Principles of the Oracles of God unto whom our dearest Lord was a personal Minister and did actually Dispense to and Communicate with them in the Divine Mysteries or Ordinances of the Christian Religion upon whom was poured the most excellent Gifts and Graces of the Holy Spirit of Promise It was this Church from whom according to the Prophets the Law of Christ should first go forth Isa 2. 3. Mich. 4. 1 2. Here was the House of the Lord established in the top of the Mountains and exalted above the Hills that all Nations might flow unto it an Honour not given to other Churches 1 Cor. 14. 36. What came the Word of God out from you No this was the Glory of another For out of Zion shall go forth the Law and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem Which by special Order from Christ was fulfilled when he gave Commandment to his Apostles that Repentance and Remission of Sins should be preached in his Name in all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Luk. 24. 47. And here it was that the Spirit gave utterance unto the Apostles to preach in all Languages that then some of all Nations who were at that very time at Jerusalem might hear from thence the joyful Sound of the Gospel and consequently keep the same Holy Doctrine in all Ages and Nations as it was there delivered and confirmed by divers Signs and Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Ghost Math. 28. 19 20. Heb. 2. 4. Act. 2. Forasmuch then as all Churches in all Ages and Nations are indispensibly bound to follow this Church in the Observation of all things whatsoever Christ commanded them we hold our selves concern'd at this time to declare our unfeigned Assent unto the Truth of the Gospel as it was here delivered and our humble Resolution to keep the Ordinances of Christ as they were here practised not doubting but the same was received in all Churches at the first being confident of this very thing that a safer way cannot be found for the security of our Souls from the manifold Errors which since the Plantation of this Church have been obtruded upon the Consciences of Men in most parts of the Christian Nations To the intent then that we may avoid Error and cleave to Truth we shall consider particularly though very briefly the Frame of this Heavenly Building in respect of her Foundation her Form of Government and the Way of her Worship in order to her Perfection And First We find her Foundation-Principles to consist in six particulars called the beginning of the Word of Christ which Articles are therefore called the Foundation because of the Relation they have to Christ who is a Foundation to his Church as held forth in his own Doctrine and other Foundations than Christ so held forth can no man lay Of such importance are these Sacred Principles that we find the Ancient Christians used to call them the Christian Catechism Chrysostoms Testimony is this That all these are fundamental Articles that is that we ought to repent from dead Works to be baptized into the Faith of Christ and be made worthy of the Gift of the Spirit who is given by imposition of
and these things come not lawfully but because they walk in the business of Darkness Behold now in Peace my bitterness is most bitter It hath been before bitter in the Death of Martyrs afterwards more bitter in Controversie with Hereticks now it is most bitter in the manners of those of our own House We can neither chase them away they are so mighty and multiplied without Number the Sores and Plagues of the Church are entred into the inward parts and are incurable and therefore is her Bitterness most bitter And in Psal 90. 6 11. O Lord Jesus thou hast multiplied the People but not encreased their Joy all the Christians almost do seek their own Profit they have removed the Offices to shameful Gain and into Works of Darkness and the Health of Souls is not searched for but the Pleasure of Vices Therefore are they shorn Therefore do they frequent Churches and sing Psalms They contend most impudently daily by Process for Bishopricks Arch-Bishopricks c. There remaineth nothing but that the Man of Sin the Son of Perdition be revealed And on the Conversion of St. Paul. Alas O Lord God for these are the first which do persecute thee whom we do see to love the highest Places in thy Church and do hold the Principality and by Power and strength have taken the Arches of Sion and afterward freely have set all the City on fire Their Conversation is miserable the Subversion of thy People is pitiful And speaking to the Pope he saith This Mortal Corruption hath not begun in thy days but I pray God it may end in thy time In the mean time thou art apparelled and decked up very gorgeously If I durst speak thy Seat is rather a Pack of Devils then of Sheep Did St. Peter do so Did St. Paul mock after that sort Behold the murmuring and complaint of all Churches they do cry out that they are cut in pieces and dismembred There are very few or almost none that do not fear the streak or Wound Thus far Bernard Let not then the Papists contemn or despise us because of some Defects in respect of Unity neither let us despise them because of the Discords which have been or are among them Let us beware of the cause of those Calamities and strive only for the true Form and due Power of Godliness then shall the Spirit of Hatred which hath inserted it self amongst Christians be rooted out and then shall that great Badge of Christianity unfeigned Love even the Love of God shed abroad in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost possess the Room of all our bitter Contentions That thus it may be is the Prayer of Your Loving Brother Thomas Grantham Written in the Year 1685. Post-Script Concerning the Original Manuscripts of the Holy Scriptures BRETHREN BEcause our Learned Adversaries are wont to amuse weak Christians by telling them they knew not the Originals c. I thought fit to transcribe part of what I have formerly printed in Answer to this specious Objection In the Introduction of my Book of Primitive Christianity how vain and pernicious this Talk is about the Original will appear when you consider That no man living ever saw the very Papers in which the Prophets and Apostles did write the first Draughts of the Holy Scriptures and therefore none have the Originals but only Copies of Scripture And let not this offend any Man for It seems to have been the best for all Christians that after many Copies are taken and spread in many Nations these first Draughts should not continue long for had any now but so much Confidence as to say they have these very first Sheets of Paper to show how might they trouble the whole World with such a Report and how might they abuse the World and all the Churches in the World at pleasure as by adding or taking away and who should correct the Original Suppose the Roman Church had those Manuscripts in their Hands what Mists might they cast upon the Nations and who could come to the sight of them to discover any such abuse and the same may be said of any other potent Party But now the Originals being no where to be found but yet a multitude of Copies extant and the same translated by multitudes of Men into several Languages by this means all are forced to be more peaceable than perhaps they are willing to be since they have only Copies of the Divine Oracles and others have Copies as well as they so that they can none of them pretend to have ever seen the Original and therefore can they less quarrel about their Copies Thus hath God's Wisdom disposed herein better for his Church than She could have thought or desired And it is worth observation that scarce any of the Churches to whom St. Paul wrote had the Original sent to them except the Galatians but had only certain Copies written by divers Hands For Instance The Epistle to the Hebrews was written by Timothy as 't is said in the Post-Script The Epistle to the Romans was written by Tertius Four Persons wrote the first Epistle to the Corinthians Post-Script Two Brethren wrote the Second Epistle Post-Script Tichicus and Onesimus wrote that to Colossus All these Churches had only Copies and for ought appears never saw the Originals And what if some of these Copies did accidentally vary some Word or Tittle are the Sacred Epistles ever the worse so long as the Holy Doctrine therein contained was not injured Can we think that when the Holy Apostles preached that they had still the very self-same Phrases This were idle to imagine and yet they had the self-same Gospel to preach in every Place I speak not this as if I approved of altering the Holy Writings no not in the least iota yet if accidentally in Transcribing or Printing there should be some such Failure I do not think that by and by that Copy were to be rejected or the Authority of the Scriptures therefore to be called in question that men might set up themselves above it Some under pretence of being the Church and others pretending the Spirit whilst they both reject the Church and the Spirit as held forth in and speaking by the Holy Scriptures A plain Instance of this we have in the Papists and most Paedo-Baptists who whilst they seem to admire General Councils Fathers c. they regard not the Decrees of the best Councils and Fathers which were held by the Apostles and Elders and Brethren at Jerusalem who among other things forbid the eating of things strangled and Blood which the Church observed for several hundred of years after for indeed they were delivered to the Churches to be kept not to be broken Acts 16. 1 2. and yet without all Conscience of these Decrees they feed upon Blood c. And on the other side how ridgidly do they impose the Decrees of the Trent Councils in the Case of Transubstantiation though never heard of before it was there invented insomuch as