suffer Inquisitions Persecutions Excommunications and what not so among us you must believe Scripture as Interpreted by the Church of England or you are condemned by them you must believe Scripture as Interpreted by the Presbyterians or you are accursed by them you must believe as Anabaptists do or you are damn'd by them and not one Congregation among us but would Root all the others out of the World if it could and we do not fear that danger whereof St. Paul Gal. 5.15 warns us If we bite and devour one another let 's take heed we be not consumed one of another giving us likewise a wholsom advice in the same place how to prevent this Evil Stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ has made us free and be not intangled again with the Yoke of Bondage The World did groan under this heavy Yoke in Popery wherein our Rule of Faith was Scripture as Interpreted by the Pope and Church Scripture was kept from the hand of the flock No man permitted to give or believe any Interpretation or Sense of it but what the Pope Church and Fathers did approve Our Reason our Judgments our Consciences were Slaves under this Yoke until that God raised our glorious and blessed Reformers Luther Calvin Zuinglius Beza and others who took a Holy Liberty and gave us all Liberty for to Read and Interpret Scripture to believe no Doctrine but what we judged to be true Scripture To believe any Sense of it which we judged to be true tho contrary to all the World They took for their Rule of Faith Scripture and nothing else but Scripture as each one of them understood it this same Rule of Faith they left to us and a Holy Freedom and Liberty of our Judgments and Consciences that any man of sound Judgment may hold and believe whatever Sense of it he thinks to be true This therefore is the scope and end of my following Treatise that whereas our Rule of Faith as I will prove by the unanimous Consent of our whole reformed Church is Scripture or Gods Written Word as interpreted by each Person of sound Judgment that whereas by the Principles of our Reformation no Man is to be constrained to believe any Doctrine against his Judgment and Conscience otherwise why were not we left in Popery it is impious tyrannical and quite against the Spirit of the Reformation to force us by Acts of Parliament Decrees of Synods Invectives and Persecutions of indiscreet Brethren to embrace this or that Religion that every one ought to be permitted to believe what he pleases if you think Bigamy to be the Doctrine of Scripture If you think by Scripture there is one Nature and four Persons in God if you think Transubstantiation to be true if you judge by God's Words there 's neither Purgatory nor Hell finally whatever you think to be the true Sense of Scripture you are bound as a true Reformed Child to believe it that it is quite against the Spirit of Reformation to Censure oppose or blame the Doctrine or Tenets of any Congregation or of any Doctor of the Reformed Church because that any Doctrine professed by any Christian-Congregation whatever the Popish excepted or that ever was delivered by any Man of good Judgment of the Reformation since the beginning of it until this Day is as truly and really the Doctrine of the Reformation as the Figurative Presence or Kings Supremacy is Consequently Protestants are deservedly to be check'd for Persecuting Quakers Quakers for murmuring against Presbyterians these for their invectives against Anabaptists and Socinians All are very good and you may lawfully according to the Principles of our Reformation believe them or deny them This Evangelical Liberty of believing any thing which we judg to be the Sense of Scripture though all the rest of the World should Judge it to be a Blasphemy is the most distinctive sign of the Reformation from Popery for Papists are the Children of Agar the Slave they live in Bondage and Constraint to believe any Doctrine which the Pope and Church proposes to them and if a Learned Man or Vniversity should judge it to be contrary to Scripture he must submit his Judgment to that of the Pope or be condemn'd as an Heretick In our Reformation we are the Children of Sarah the free our Rule of Faith is Scripture as each Person of sound Judgment in the Church understands if we do not like the Doctrine of the Pope Church or Council we may gainsay them all and hold our own Sense of Scripture We enjoy the Prerogative of Rational Creatures we are lead by our own Reason which God has given us for our Conduct and are not like Beasts constrained to follow that of others We follow the Rule given us by S. Paul Rom. 14. He who Eats let him not despise him who does not Eat and who does not Eat let him not despise him who does Eat for God hath received him That 's to say he who believes let him not check him who does not believe as he does And he who does not Believe let him not blame him who does believe But let each one believe or not belive as he thinks best in the Lord This holy Liberty and freedom is the Spirit of God for where the Spirit of God is there is Liberty 2 Cor. 3. Says the great Apostle The Lord inspire to our Parliament that now sits upon a perfect and new settlement of Government and Religion to follow the Footsteps of our first renowned Reformers To enact that there may be no other Rule of Faith but that which we received from our Reformers and which is laid down for us in the 39 Articles of the Church of England That is Scripture as each one best understands it without regarding the Judgment Sense or interpretation of any but the pure Word of God as we understand it And to enact Penal Laws against any so bold and uncharitable as to censure or blame the Tenets of any Congregation be it Lutheranism Presbytery Arianism Judaism or Paganism Or any Doctrine whatever that any Man of sound Judgment thinks in his Conscience to be the Sense and Doctrine of Scripture Three things make me hope that this Treatise will be welcome to the well inclined and pious Reader of our Reformed Church First that there is not one Author quoted in this Book but our own Doctors Learned and Godly Children of the Reformation and this I observe that my Reader may know there 's not a jot of any Doctrine here but what is of the Reformatiâ—n and also advertise our Writers and School-Men how much they discredit our Reform'd Church by making so much use of Popish Doctors and Books in their Writings as if we had not great and learned Men of our own if we look into our Bishops and Ministers Libraries we shall meet with Books either of confessedly Papists or strongly suspected of Popery and you shall hardly meet in any of them the works of Luther
he reads the Works of Arius and convinc'd by the energy of his Arguments and Texts of Scripture produced by him may alter his Judgment and become an Arian Wherein can you say does this Man transgresâ—…against the Doctrine or Principles of the Reformation Does he forsake the Reformation because he forsakes Lutherism for Calvinism No sure for Calvinism is as much of the Reformation as the other Is not Protestancy as much the Doctrine of the Reformation as Presbytery tho' he changes therefore one for the other he still holds the Doctrine of the Reformation Is not the Doctrine of the Reformation Scripture not as Protestants only or Presbyterians only interpret it but as any Congregation or Man of sound Judgment holds it It is therefore evident that according to the Doctrine and Principles of the Reformation he may with a safe Conscience change Religions and be to day of one to morrow of another until he runs all over Point me out any Congregation the obstinate Papists excepted who will dare say I cannot live with a safe Conscience in any other Congregation but in it self all other Congregations will laught at it Why then may not I lawfully forsake any Congregation and pass to another And be in England a Protestant in Germany a Lutheran in Hungary an Antitrinitarian or Socinian Ismael It 's against the grain of Mans reason to believe that we can with a safe Conscience change Religions as you say If you be a Protestant and you Judge it to be the true Religion you are bound to stick to it and never to change it Isaac If I did discourse with a Papist I would not wonder he should say it 's against the grain of Mans reason to believe it lawful but I admire that a Child of the Reformation be he of what Congregation he will should be so Ignorant of his Principles as to say a Man cannot change Religions when he pleases Nor do I undertake to prove against the Papist that this is lawful but I undertake to prove it lawful against any Reformed Child or force him to deny the Principles of the Reformation Is it against reason that a Man may read to day Scripture and the Lutherans Interpretation upon it and like it very well and that he should in this case embrace that Religion Is it against the grain of Mans reason that this same Man should next Year afterwards hit upon Calvin's Works upon Scripture and after better consideration think his Doctrine to surpass that of Luther and could not he then being obliged to chuse the best forsake Lutheranism and stick to Calvinism And is it against Mans reason that he in following Years may meet other Books of Arians Socinians c. and do the like Have not we many examples of this in our best and most renowned Reformers Did not Ochinus that great light says B. Bale in whose presence England was happy reading Scripture Judge the Reforformation to be better than Popery and of a Capuchin Fryar became a Reformed after some Years reading Scripture he Judged Judaism to be better than the Reformation and became a Jew Did not Martin Bucer one of our first Reformers of England and Composers of our Liturgy reading Scripture judge Lutheranism to be better than Popery and of a Dominican Fryar became a Lutheran Soon after reading Scripture he judged Zuinglianism to be better than Lutheranism and became a Zuinglian not long after he became a Lutheran again as he Confesses and forsook Lutheranism the second time and returned again to Zuinglianism as Sklusser says b Did not Cranmer one of our first Reformers also of England and Composers of the 39. Articles a Wise and religious Man profess Popery in Henry the VIII's time and Compose a Book in defence of Real Presence then in Edward the VI's time upon better Consideration he professed Zuinglianism and writ a Book against Real Presence then again in Queen Mary's Reign being Sentenc'd to Death he declared for Popery but seeing his Recantation would not preserve his Life he renounced Popery and died a Zuinglian I could tire your Patience in reading and Mind in relating the number of our Prime and most renowned as well first Reformers as Learned Doctors who without any scruple changed several times their Religions nor in the Principles of our Reformation ought they to be blamed For whereas our Rule of Faith is Scripture as with the assistance of Gods Spirit we understand it who doubts but we may to day Judge sincerely Luther's sense of it to be true to morrow we may read with more attention and Judge Arius his sense to be true next day that of Calvin and so of the rest I do not think but that we have in England many Abettors of this Doctrine Alas how many Bishops Deans and rich Parsons do we know and have we known who were zealous Presbyterians and declared Enemies of Protestancy in our Gracious Soveraign's Exile and no sooner was he restored and had Bishopricks and Ecclesiastical Dignities to be given but they became stiff Protestants Observe the difference betwixt the Papists and us if of a Papist you become of any other Congregation the Popish Church Excommunicates you thou art lookt upon as an Heretick and Apostate a stray'd Sheep they will not admit you to their Communion or Liturgy nay could they well avoid you they would never admit you to their Company and why Because they are fondly perswaded their own is the only true Religion and all others to be Synagogues of Satan and if any of us will become a Papist he must first abjure his former Profession But if of a Protestant you should become a Presbyterian a Lutheran Quaker or of any other of our Societies you are never looked upon to be a jot the worse for it we are not a whit scandalized at such changes which we daily see and it is an unspeakable Blessing with what Accord Unity and Charity you may see at our Liturgy and Communion the Protestant Presbyterian Anabaptist Socinian and Hugonot all praising the Lord in one Congregation in our Church none bid out of the Church none Excommunicated no previous abjuration required of their former Tenets and there 's nothing more frequent among us than to go to the Protestant Liturgy in the Morning in the Evening to the Prebyterian especially if our Interest or Convenience requires it Can there be a more convincing Proof that we esteem it all alike what Religion and Tenets we profess Let a Lutheran go to France Alas He will never stick to go to the Hugonots meeting and Service let a Protestant go to Germany he will go as cheerfully to the Lutheran Church as in England to the Protestant Let a Hugonot or Presbyterian go to Hungary or Poland he is welcome to the Antitrinitarians and Socinians and when any of them returns home he will be as before Ismael But can you prove this Doctrine by the Testimony of any of our Synods Did any teach that
Church of England borrows it to despise the Ministery of Women Tradesmen and Illiterate people in Preaching Teaching and Interpreting Scripture but St. Paul tells us The Word of God is not bound That 's to say is not entail'd on the learned rich or great ones the Wind bloweth where it listeth Our Bishops and Ministers would make a Monopoly of the Word of God and have themselves to be the only Retailers of it for to have some plausible Title for to enjoy great Rents and shear the Flock But we have seen as well among the Quakers as in other Congregations silly Women and Tradesmen replenish'd with Gods Spirit Preach and Expound the great Mysteries of our Religion with as much of good success and edification of the Auditory aâ—… any Penny-Book Man in England Ismael It seems you approve the Ministry oâ— Women and silly Tradesmen for Preaching and Teaching the Flock and if so you 'll overthrow our Hierarchy of Bishops and Ministers Isaac It matters not so much for you to know what I approve or condemn but to know what the Doctrine of the Reformation is it 's this That none can Teach Preach Administer Sacraments or Exercise Ecclesiastical Function if he be not in Holy Orders Bishop Minister or Deacon for the Church of England Teacheâ— it and you may believe it if you please You may also deny it and say any Woman or Tradesman has as much Power for to preach and administer the Sacraments as the richest Bishop in England This also is the Doctrine of the Reformation as well as the former because Quakers Presbyterians Brownists Anabaptists c. Believe and Teach it and they are Men of as sound Judgments and as good Reformers as Protestants nay the most learned of our Reformers teach and commend the Power of Women for to exercise Spiritual functions and Administer the Sacraments Saumaise Peter Martyr and Zuinglius expresly defend the Priesthood as well of Women as of Men And Luther proves it efficaciously The first office of a Priest says he is to Preach this is common to all even Women the the second is to Baptize which is also common to Women the third is to Consecrate their Bread and Wine and this also is common to all as well as to Men and in the absence of a Priest a Woman may absolve from Sins as well as the Pope because the Words of Christ Whatever ye shall untye on Earth shall be untyed in Heaven were said to all Christians And when so eminent Men had not said it reason and Scripture convinces it Reason because that our Rule of Faith being Scripture as each Person of sound Judgment understands it many Women undoubtedly are of sound Judgment and why should not their interpretation of Scripture pass for the Doctrine of the Reformation as well as that of our Bishops and Ministers Scripture because we read the Samaritan Woman was the first who preached the Messias to the City of Samaria and Christ commanded Mary Magdalen to go to Preach his Resurrection to his Disciples and we know by our Cronicles that our glorious Queen Elizabeth of blessed Memory did not only govern the state but was a great Apostoless in Church affairs Ismael To what purpose then have we Bishops and Ministers who enjoy so vast revenues if any Man or Woman can Preach and Administer the Sacraments as well as they Isaac You may believe Bishops and Ministers are very needful for the Service of the Church for they being commonly learned witty Men and having Wives they come to instruct their Wives so well that the good Women come in a short time to be as learned as their Husbands and as nimble and quick in the Ecclesiastical Ministeries as they if they were permitted to exercise them as some Authors of Credit relate unto us that a Gentleman of Constance writ to his Friend in a Village about three Leagues Distant from that City whose Inhabitants were for the most part of our Lutheran Reformation the good Pastor exhorted his Flock to prepare for Easter Communion that none should presume to come to the Holy Table but should first confess and receive absolution of his sins Easter Holy days being come such a multitude flock'd to confession that the Pastor could not satisfie the Devotion of so great a croud he called his Wife to help him for to hear Confessions and give Absolutions in which Ministery the good Lady did Labour with great satisfaction of the Penitents but neither the Pastor nor his vertuous Consort being able to dispatch so great a multitude he called his Maid Servant who did work in the Holy Ministery with as much expedition as her Master But for all this the Church of Scotland France and all England Protestants excepted will tell you that Bishops and Ministers are not needful nay that they are very prejudicious to the Reformation and State To the Reformation because this Hierarchy with the Bishops Court Surplices Corner Caps and other Trumperies puts the Flock in mind of Popery whereof it 's a perfect Resemblance and whilst the Papists see our change from them comes to be almost no more but to substitute new Priests and Bishops in their own place for to manage more conscienciously the Rents and Revenues which they profanely abused and that those Rents and Revenues are still in the Hands of an Ecclesiastical Hierarchy they live in Hopes of recovering them some day when our Bishops and Ministers will come to be as bad Stewards of them as they were and that the Flock will be weary of them and call back the Antient Possessors It 's therefore perhaps the Emissaries of the Pope do incessantly blow in our Ears how ill our Ecclesiastical Revenues are bestowed for to maintain Wives and Children Pomp and Vanity of Bishops and Ministers no less than in Popery To the State they seem to be prejudicious whereas any but a Bishop or Minister would think it would be more advantagious to the Common-wealth that the King should have those Revenues for to maintain his Fleet and Army and ease thereby the Subjects of Subsidies and Taxes than that a handful of Bishops and Ministers should have them Specially when others can Preach and Teach as well as they for nothing but the pleasure of being heard Ismael But do not you see it would be a Sacrilege that the King should deprive the Clergy of their Church Revenues Isaac And do not you know that almost all our Congregations do hold our Clergy to be no true Clergy but as meer Laymen as you or I they admit no Clergy or Episcopal Character but Elders chosen by the Congregation And if they be no true Clergy they have no right to the Church Revenues and it 's no Sacrilege to deprive them of them The Popish Clergy in Henry the VIII's time had visibly a greater right to them than ours now have For neither the King himself nor any other did doubt of their Right and now
Spirit and Holiness of the Reformation which having no other Rule of Faith but Scripture as each Person of sound Judgment understands it its Spirit and Holiness consists in framing our Life and Doctrine to that Rule as our blessed Reformers and Reformation in its beginning did believing those Tenets which you call Errours and Blasphemy and living that Life which you call Dissolution and Corruption of Manners because they judge by Scripture as they understood it that Doctrine and manner of Life was True Innocent and Good and if you like it as they did you may believe and live as they did and be a good Child of the Reformation Consider I pray all the Works and Doctrine of Luther the like I say of our other first Reformers the three parts of his Doctrine is against Popery and they say all are Heresies and Blasphemies the rest is contrary to the Church of England and she says this is also Errors and Blasphemy so you conspire with the Papists to destroy the credit of our first and best Reformer and betwixt you both you unplume him of all his Feathers and leave him not a bit of good Doctrine But I will stand to the Spirit and Principles of the Reformation and Congregations as now they are since that you do so much boast of its Purity and great Perfections and I will prove that Doctrine and Manner of Life may be believed and followed Lawfully standing to its Principles For if the Spirit of the Reformation be at present among us we must not be forced as in Popery to believe against our proper Judgments what others believe by Scripture to be true and holy but what each one thinks in his own Conscience to be such because even now at present our Rule of Faith is Scripture as each Person of sound Judgment understands it and this is the same Rule which Luther and the Reformation in it's beginning had This Holy Liberty is the best Jewel the greatest Perfection and most glorious Prerogative the Reformation has If therefore now at present any Man judges by Scripture that he can Marry ten Wives at a time that he can kill his own Son as Abraham intended that he may commit incest with his own Daughter as Lot did that there is no Sin but Incredulity as Luther believed nor any Mystery of the Trinity of Persons in one Nature as Calvin believed with what Justice can the Church of England say a Man does not believe and live as becometh a Reformed Child or that his Doctrine and Life is scandalous whereas he lives and believes as he understands by Scripture he may or ought to do which is the Rule of Faith of the Reformation even of the Church of England The Church of England says the Lutheran Doctrin of the Real Presence is not the Doctrin of Scripture that the Presbyterian Doctrin against Episcopacy is not the Doctrin of Scripture that the Anabaptist Doctrin against Infants Baptism is not of Scripture and yet you permit them all to live in Peace you Confess they are true Children of the Reformation though Dissenters from you why Because they follow Scripture as they understand it and this is our Rule of Faith And why will not you say the Belief and Life of that other Man is also of the Reformation though it may seem absurd to you since he believes and lives as he Judges by Scripture he may It follows therefore plainly that this is the Doctrine of the Reformation Ismael I confess our rule of Faith in the Reformation is Scripture as each person of sound Judgment understands it but you cannot doubt but that it 's needful to moderate and curb this Liberty or it may run too far for if every Man be licenced to believe and teach every thing he fancies to be according to Scripture as there is no Doctrine so execrable but some ignorant Reader may hit upon a Text which ill understood may seem to favour it so there will be none but may be believed and called the Doctrine of the Reformation for example Beza teaches and says it 's also the Doctrine of Calvin Sumaize and Geneve that the Lords Supper may be Lawfully administred in any kind of Victuals as well as in Bread and Wine in Eggs Flesh Fish c. Where there is no Bread and Wine says he we may duly celebrate if instead of them we use what we usually Eat and Drink And again in the same place If there be no water at hand and that Baptism cannot be with edification deferred I would Baptize in any other liquor Isaac And why should not it be lawful to any Reformed to believe this whereas it's Scripture as interpreted by a Man of so sound a Judgment but I do not in any wise like that Opinion of yours and of the Church of England that it 's convenient to limit and curb Men's Judgments lest they may run too far this is the policy of Rome They will not permit an arbitrary Interpretation of Scripture alledging forsooth for Inconveniency the multitude of absurd Doctrines which the World would swarm with if such a liberty were allowed No no far be it from any true reformed Child to mislike or blame that all People should interpret Scripture and believe what they judge by it to be true and if what they judge to be true should seem to you false and scandalous do not you believe it but let them believe it and they will be of the Reformation because they follow our rule of Faith. Ismael Luther Melancthon Musculus Ochinus Beza and others teach the lawfulness of Bigamy or Multiplicity of Wives and prove it with the example of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and Ochinus expounding the Text of St. Paul It behoveth a Bishop to be a Man of one Wife The Prohibition says he is not to be understood so that a Bishop should have but one Wife at a time for certainly he may have many but St. Pauls meaning is that he ought not to have too many Wives at a time that 's to say ten or twenty Isaac And will you deny this to be the Doctrine of the Reformation whereas it's Scripture as interpreted by Men of so eminent and sound a Judgment Ismael The Synod of Geneve and the Ecclesiastical Discipline of France printed at Saumure has decreed that a Wife whose Husband is a long time absent may have him called by the publick Cryer and if within a competent time he does not appear without any further Enquiry the Ministers may Licence her to marry any other or marry her himself Isaac I say all Women may practice this Doctrine without scruple or shame whereas it's Scripture as interpreted by that thrice holy Synod but let Seamen beware how they undertake long Voyages for fear their Wives may take other Husbands in their Absence Ismael Luther teaches it's lawful to a Wife if her Husband does not please her to call her Man-Servant or
Pax Vobis OR GOSPEL AND LIBERTY Against Ancient and Modern PAPISTS By a Preacher of the Word The fifth Edition Corrected and amended Stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangl'd again with the Yoke of Bondage Popery Gal. c. 5. v. 1. Printed Anno Dom. 1687. The PREFACE to the CHILDREN of the REFORMATION BE not concerned to know whose hand it is which holds the Link but follow the light it gives Reach your hand to receive this Treatise which marks the shore where the Ark of our Reformation shatter'd by a deluge of troubles may rest which is a Holy liberty to all and each Person to believe or not believe act or not act as he pleases with a safe Conscience according to the Principles of our Reformation We generally lament the convulsions which shake our Church and State through the diversity of Opinions professed by our several Congregations some Remedies have been applied to bring us to Peace and Conformity but all have proved ineffectual some of our Doctors judge nothing can cure our disease but a General Council or Supream Authority to whose Sentence we should all submit but this besides that it is Popish to grant any human Power for to oblige our Consciences against our judgments in matters of Religion is but an imaginary Remedy for a real Evil For it 's not in the Reformation as in Popery in this there is a supream Authority for to convene the Pastors of divers Kingdoms to a general Council in our Reformation there is none Popery believes it's Councils and Popes infallible and therefore they cannot but acquiesce because an infallible Sentence leaves no doubt of the Truth but in the Reformation all Councils and human Authority are fallible and consequently their Decisions may be doubted of and we are never certain of the Truth Others judge the Remedy of our disease can be no other but Pills of Persecution penal Laws Acts of Parliament Ordinances of Synods forcing Men to Conformity but this has proved not only destructive to the peace of the Church but has shockt the very foundation of our Reformation for if we must believe under severe penalties what the State and Ecclesiastical Authority will have us believe then Scripture must be no more our Rule of Faith but the State and Church which tells me what I must believe and we must be deprived of the right and power of Interpreting Scripture and believing it in the sense we think to be true and yet our whole Reformation is cemented and was first raised upon this Holy Liberty that every one should read Scripture interpret it and believe whatever he thought was the true sense of it without any compulsion or constraint for to believe either Church State Vniversity or Doctors if we did not judge by Scripture his Doctrine was true If Prudence had as great a share in our Conduct as Passion we should regulate our future by the effects of our past actions and if we will cast an eye back to the transactions of later Years we shall find this compulsion of Mens Consciences has produced but confusion in our Church and fatal disturbances in our State contrarywise never did our Reformation enjoy more peace shin'd with more lustre and held its course with more happiness than when none was molested for his Profession but every one had liberty to believe and teach what Dectrine and Sense each one thought to be the most conformable to Scripture Consider the infancy of the Reformation when God raised Luther to repair the ruines of the Church how of a sudden it spred it self in Germany France Holland Poland Scotland and England and by what means Was it not by taking away all constraint of Mens Consciences used then only in the Popish Church our blessed Reformers taking to themselves and giving to others a Holy Liberty for to teach and believe whatever they judged to be the Doctrine and true Sense of Scripture tho it should be against the received opinion of the Councils Church Vniversities and Doctors Look into the Reign of Edward the VI. then did our Reformation flourish in England and was miraculously propagated by the Liberty of Martin Bucer Cranmer Ochinus Peter Martyr and others in teaching Calvinism Lutheranism Zuinglianism by Scripture as every one understood it Descend to the Reign of Queen Mary then the light of the Gospel was ecclipsed because the flock was again Popishly compelled to believe not what they judged by Scripture to be true but what the Pope and Church judged was such Come down a step lower to Queen Elizabeth's time then the flock recovering that Holy Liberty for to believe what each one thought was the Doctrine of Scripture the Reformation gained ground our several Congregations lived peaceably for tho Protestancy was establisht the Religion of the Land others were not oppressed nor their Liberty constrained by compulsions Step down a degree lower to King James his time the Reformation held its course as prosperously as in Queen Elisabeth's time because Mens Consciences were not oppressed all Reformed Brethren had full Liberty to believe as they pleased the Protestancy was the Religion of the King Look down a stop lower to King Charles the first 's Reign his Majesty carried with a Godly Zeal of restraining the diversity of Opinions begot by the Liberty enjoyed in his Predecessors times would by new Laws and Ordinances force the flock to an Vniformity of Doctrine but our zealous Brethren the Presbyterians impatient of any constraint in affairs of Religion and pleading for the Evangelical Liberty of our Reformation for to believe nothing nor use any Rites or Ceremonies but as each one judged by Scripture to be convenient they covenanted against his Majesty and Bishops and the Storm grew to that height that both Church and State were drown'd almost in the Blood of our Reformed Brethren lastly look upon our Realm as it is at present the symptoms of disatisfactions which you may read and hear in Coffee-Houses in publick and private Conversations the sparkles of Jealousies which appear in our Land the Cabals against our Government the animosity of divided Parties the murmur and complaints of all what 's all this but the smoke of that hidden fire of Zeal wherewith Protestants would force Presbyterians by penal Laws to Profess their Tenets Presbyterians exclaim against Protestancy as against Popery Quakers judge both to be limbs of Satan Anabaptists look on all three as Children of Perdition and no Congregation would give Liberty for to Profess any Tenets but its own in so much that if you consider all well each of our Congregations are as severe Tyrants over our judgments and Consciences as Popery was and our Reformation comes to be in effect but an exchange of one Italian Pope for many English ones For as in Popery we must submit our Judgments to the Pope and Church of Rome or be esteemed putrid rotten Members and be shut out of Heavens Gates and
Lutheran Church and no other my Judgment and Conscience therefore is as much constrained as that of the Papist and our Separation from Popery will come to be but an Exchange of one Slavery for another in that our Judgments and Counsciences were Slaves to the Pope and Councils in this we are Slaves to the Lutheran Church We became a Reformation by shaking off the Yoke of Popery from our Judgments and leaving them free for to believe Scripture as with the assistance of Gods Spirit each one best understands it and if we will continue a Reformation we must not submit again our Judgments to any other but retain that blessed Liberty we recovered for to believe the Tenets of any Congregation I confess this Liberty is not allowed by any one particular Congregation as you observe out you must also grant me That it 's allowed and taken by the whole Body of the Reformation for in this whole Body as it comprehends Protestants Lutherans Presbyterians c. One Congregation believes what the other denies and in any of them a Man may live with a safe Conscience which you will not deny therefore any Man has full Liberty for to believe or deny with a safe Conscience the Tenets of any Congregation Hence it follows and to my Grief I speak it that no particular Congregation be it of England France or Germany has the true Spirit of the Reformation in doting so much upon their particular Tenets as to think they cannot be as well denied as believed and in looking upon them with so passionate Eyes as to censure check and force others to believe them You shall see by this discourse that the true Spirit of the Reformation is not in any one particular Congregation separately taken from the rest for each particular Congregation constrains as much as it can all People to believe its own Tenets Protestancy would have us all to be Protestants and would root Lutherans out of the World as well as Popery Lutherans would if they could draw all to their own Net Presbytery esteems it self to be the best of all and would crush Protestancy if it could This then is the Spirit of each particular Congregation a limiting confining Spirit to some particular Tenets with an exclusion of all others but look on the whole Body of our Reformation as it includes all Reformed Congregations distinct from Popery there is a Holy extension of Spirit and Liberty for to be either Lutherans Presbyterians Protestants and any thing but Popery and whatever any Congregation may say of another but all unanimously agree that the Spirit of the Lord is in the whole Body of the Reformation since therefore that in this whole Body there is a Latitude and Liberty for to Profess divers and opposite Tenets and that each Tenet is believed by one and denied by others we must grant that this Holy Liberty for to believe or deny any Tenets we please is the true Spirit of our Holy Reformation It 's not therefore to be wish'd as you do that I should stick to any one particular Congregation or Tenet for such a restriction is meer Popery and your bemoaning the multiplicity of our Congregation is profane and Popish No it 's a blessing of the Lord upon our Reformation for which we shall never sufficiently thank him that we see it divided into so many Godly branches In the House of my Father said Christ there are many mansions John 14.2 Ismael By your discourse you seem to allow that we may with a safe Conscience change Religions as often as we please and be to day a Protestant to morrow a Lutheran next day a Presbyterian and so run over all Isaac I know you will be startl'd at my answer For I am not Ignorant that all men apprehended it to be absurd to change and run over so many Religions but truth must be declared though it may seem a scandal to the Jews and a folly to the Gentiles It s therefore the Doctrine of the Reformation that we may with a safe Conscience be to day Protestants to morrow Lutherans in France Hugonots in Hungary Antitrinitarians in Poland Socinians and in London of any Religion but Popery Ismael For shame you foully impose upon the Reformation there 's not any Congregation that teaches such a scandalous and absurd Doctrine Isaac By your favour I love the Reformation as the Apple of my Eye and will never yield to any in my Zeal for its Honour and Doctrine I am so far from imposing upon it that I will evidence your error in denying this to be its Doctrine and it will appear that whoever will deny it to be very lawful to change Religions as time and occasion requires must renounce the best and Fundamental Principles of our Reformation and must impiously condemn the practice of our first Reformers Ismael How will you make it out that this Doctrine is grounded upon the the Fundamental Principles of our Reformation whereas there is not one Congregation of ours but abhors it Isaac Sir you may well perceive by the tenor of my discourse that I am Piously and Charitably jealous with each particular Congregation and that my drift is to shew that each of them none excepted swerves from and transgresses against the true Spirit and solid Principles of the Reformation as will further appear in this discourse It 's uncontestedly true that the Rule of Faith of the Reformation is Scripture as the humble of Heart assisted with the Spirit of the Lord understand it for Lutherans will never admit their Rule of Faith to be Scripture as Interpreted by the Church of England but as Interpreted by themselves nor will England admit Scripture to be the Rule of Faith as it is Interpreted by the Presbyterians but as Interpreted by the Church of England so that the Doctrine of each Congregation is but Scripture as interpreted by them and whereas all these Congregations joyntly compose the whole Body of the Reformation and each Congregation is truly a member of the Reformation the Doctrine of the Reformation comes to be Scripture as each Congregation and Person of sound Judgment in the Reformation says the Church of England in her 39 Articles Interprets it This being an uncontrouled truth what Man of ever so sound Judgment but may Read to day Scripture as Interpreted by the Lutheran Church and Judge in his Conscience that Interpretation and Doctrine to be true consequently he may with a safe Conscience Profess that Religion Soon after he may meet Calvin's Books and charm'd with the admirable strength of his reasons and glosses upon Scripture he may Judge in his Conscience he is to be preferr'd before Luther and so may lawfully forsake Lutheranism for Calvinism then again he hits upon Scripture as Interpreted by the Church of England whose Doctrine ravishes him with that decency of Ceremonies that Majesty of her Liturgy that Harmony of her Hierarchy he is convinc'd it's better than Calvinism and embraces it Then again
Presbyterians c. have all for their Rule of Faith Scripture which each of them Interprets in a different Sense Luther for the Real Protestants for the Figurative Presence Protestants for Episcopacy Presbyterians against it and so of others And tho' each esteems his own sence to be the best yet none is so bold as to say that others may not be saved in their own Sence of it or deny them to be true Children of the Reformation nay that Venerable Synod of Charenton as I quoted above has declared that the Lutherans tho' opposite to them in their chief Tenets are their beloved Brethren and have nothing Idolatrous or Superstitious in their manner of Divine Worship The fundamental reason of all this is that our Rule of Faith is but Scripture as each Person of sound Judgment understands it Ismael I grant all your Discourse as to this particular for it 's certain Lutherans will not admit Scripture as Interpreted by Pretestants but as Interpreted by themselves and so of each other Congregation Isaac If you admit our Rule is Scripture as each understands it then you must grant that our Doctrine of the Reformation is whatever Doctrine each Person of sound Judgment understands to be of Scripture and from this it appears plainly that my Principle whereat you boggl'd is true That whatever Doctrine is professed by any of our Congregations Synods Parliaments Doctors or particular Doctor of our Reformation is to be truly reputed and esteemed the Doctrine of our Reformation which Principle being true my discourse of Yesterday is undeniable That you may change Religion as often as you please and remain still a true Reformed Child Ismael But you have said that not only the Doctrine of each Congregation and Synod is the Doctrine of the Reformation but also whatever any one particular Doctor teaches and this seems to be very absurd Isaac It 's not so absurd as it 's true I 'll prove by the Principles of our Reformed Church by the testimonies of our most learned and best Doctors and Reformers and by reason and experience that the Doctrine of any particular Doctor among us has as much right to be called and esteemed the Doctrine of the Reformation as Protestancy Presbytery or Lutheranism for what is Lutheranism but the Judgment of Luther a particular Doctor against the whole Church of Rome What is Calvanism but what Calvin a particular Doctor judged to be the sence of Scripture against that same Church What is Quakerism but honest Naylor's Godly and Pious Sentiments upon Scripture It 's undeniably the Principle of our Reformed Church that our Rule of Faith is scripture as Interpreted not only by Synods or Congregations but by any Person of sound judgment in the Church No Congregation or Synod is to us a Rule of Faith because all are â—…llible but Gods written Word as each one understands it and if we do not like the sence of it delivered by any Council Synod or Congregation we may safely deny it Therefore our great Calvin says and proves with great Energy of Scripture and Reason that we are not obliged to the Decisions and Doctrine of any Council Synod or Congregation if after having examined Scripture we do find their Interpretation and Sense of it is conformable to the Word of God. Let Synods and Congregations say what they will if any particular Doctor thinks his own private Sence of it to be better he may stick to it against them all and be a good true Child of the Reformation as Arminius in Holland did withstand the Synods of Dordrecht and Delfe as Luther and Calvin did against Rome I will be free says our unparallel'd Proto-Apostle Luther I will not submit my self to the Authority of Councils Church Doctors Vniversities or Fathers but will teach and preach whatever I think to be true Did ever any Apostle speak with more Courage And the blessed Man acted with no less he knew full well the whole stream of Antiquity Doctors Fathers and Councils were against him as he confesses himself and did not care a rush for them all Lay aside says he call Arms of Orthodox Antiquity of Schools of Divinity Authority of Fathers Councils Popes and Consent of Ages we receive nothing but Scripture but so that we must have the Authority of Interpreting it Nor was it only Luther and Calvin spoke thus but all our first blessed Reformers and why because our Rule of Faith is Scripture not as interpreted by the Church of England France will not admit it nor as interpreted by the Quakers the Anabaptists and Independants will not hear it nor as interpreted by Luther Calvin rejects it nor as interprèted by Calvin Thorndike and Bramhall will not yield to it nor will Stillingfleet stand to their Interpretation nor others to that of Stillingfleet Finally our Rule of Faith is Scripture not as interpreted by any but as each Congregation Synod particular Doctor or Man of sound Judgment Interprets it and consequently whatever Doctrine any man of sound Judgment judges to be of Scripture is to be esteem'd the Doctrine of the Reformation and you may safely believe it if you like it and remain still as truly a Reformed Child as the proudest Protestant of England Ismael Can you prove that our Rule of Faith is Scripture as any particular Doctor or Person of sound Judgment understands it Isaac Behold how convincingly first we have heard Luther quoted but now say We receive nothing but Scripture but so as that we must have the Authority for to Interpret it Hear him again The Governours and Pastors have Power to teach but the Sheep must give their Judgment whether they propose the Voice of Christ or of Strangers And again Christ has taken from the Bishops Councils and Pastors the right of judging of Doctrine and given it to all Christians in General and the Rule is Scripture as each one will think fit to interpret it And consequently to this we have heard him say above I will be free and will not submit to Doctors Councils or Pastors but will teach whatever I think to be true Barlow The Apostles have given to each particular the Right and Power of Interpreting and Judging by his inward Spirit what is true it is needless that either Man or Angel Pope or Council should instruct you the Spirit working in the Heart and Scripture are to each particular Person most assured Interpreters Blison Bishop of Winchester says the same The People must be Discerners and Judges of what is Taught Our Religion has no other Rule of Faith says our French Reformation by the Mouth of Du Moulin Drelincourt and the Holy Synod of Charenton but the written Word of God as interpreted by us Lastly says the Church of England We have no other Rule of Faith but Scripture as each Person of sound Judgment in the Church understands it and what is proved by it And again in the Catholick Doctrine of the Church
and have a Mind to spend your Monys because he Preaches the Doctrine of the Reformation or you may laugh at him and believe not a word he says because he Preaches against the Doctrine of the Reformation Ismael These are dangerous and scandalous Tenets destructive of Piety and Christianity and let Luther and those Authors you quoted say what they please the Reformation nor no honest Man will ever believe such abominable Doctrine Isaac I do not say that the Children of the Reformation are obliged to believe them They may believe as you do that all are wicked Tenets But if Luther and the others cited judge in their Conscience these Tenets to be the Doctrine of Scriptures and if Peter John or James like their Interpretation I say they may according to the Principles of our Reformation believe them and be as truly Reformed Children as you for our Rule of Faith is Scripture as each Person of sound Judgment understands it and in believing those Tenets because they judge them to be the Doctrine of Scripture they stick fast to and follow our Rule of Faith Why is Figurative Presence and the Kings Supremacy the Doctrine of the Reformation tho' denied by Papists Lutherans and Presbyterians but because the Protestants judg it's the Doctrine of Scripture If therefore those great Authors I quoted and any other with them judge those Tenets to be the Doctrine of Scripture they can be justly called the Doctrine of the Reformation Must Protestants be forced against their Judgments to deny real Presence and Supremacy because Lutherans say it's wicked Doctrine And why must Luther Illiricus Flaccius and others be forced to deny those Tenets tho' Protestants or Papists judge them to be damnable Let each one believe what he thinks to be the Doctrine of Scripture and he will still be a true Reformed Child Ismael Does not our Reformation teach that 't is possible to all Men assisted with God's Grace to keep the Commandments Isaac This is the Doctrine of the Church of England and consequently of the Reformation It 's also the Doctrine of the Reformation delivered out of Scripture as Interpreted by Luther Calvin Willet and several others that it 's impossible to any man assisted with what Grace soever to keep the Commandments None has ever yet says our great Calvin and God has decreed none shall ever keep the Commandments Again The Law and Commandments were given us to no other end but that we should be damn'd by them inasmuch that it is impossible for Vs to do what they command The same Doctrine is taught by Luther in several places of his Works by Willet and by our Brethren the Gomarists of Holland and many of our French Synods Believe which you please both Doctrines are of the Reformation It 's also the Doctrine of Luther and Calvin that God does not cast men into Hell because their sins deserve it nor save men because they merit it but meerly because he will have it for He crowns those who have not deserved it says Luther and he punishes those who have not deserved it 't is Gods Wrath and Severity to damn the one 't is Gods Grace and Mercy to save the other Calvin also Men are damn'd for no other cause but because God will have it so he is the cause and Author of their Damnation their Damnation is decreed by God when when they are in their Mothers Womb because he will have it so this is also the belief of our Gomarists in Holland of many French Churches and of several learned Calvinists though the Church of England denies this Doctrine none will dare say it is not the Doctrine of the Reformation because it is Scripture as Interpreted by such eminent men of our Church Ismael I will never believe such execrable Doctrines nor will I ever be of any Congregation which believes them Isaac I do not advise you to believe them but to give others leave to believe them if they think them to be the Doctrine of Scripture as Luther Calvin Willet Gomarists and others do You must not if you be a true Reformed Child hinder any man from believing nor be displeased with him for believing what he Judges in his Conscience to be the Doctrine of Scripture for this is our Rule of Faith. Will not you be of the Congregation and Religion of those who follow Scripture as their Rule of Faith and Believe what they Judge in their Conscience to be the Doctrine of Scripture Ismael Yes I will and am of such a Congregation for this is the Rule of Faith of the Reformation Isaac Why then you must be of the same Congregation with the Gomarists Luther Calvin and the others who believe those which you call execrable Doctrines because they follow Scripture as they understand and believe those Doctrines because they Judge them to be of Scriture You both follow the same Rule one goes one way and the other another and both are of the Reformation The Church of England understands by Scripture that God is not the Author nor cause of Sin that he does not force us to Sin who doubts but that this is therefore the Doctrine of the Reformation But Calvin Brentius Beza and several others understand by Scripture That God is the cause and Author which forces our Will to Sin That Man and the Devil are but Gods Instruments to commit it That Murthers Incests Blasphemies c. are the Works of God that he makes us commit them And who doubts but this also is the Doctrine of the Reformation being Scripture as Interpreted by such eminent and sound Judgment God says Calvin directs moves inclines and forces the Will of Man to Sin insomuch that the power and efficacy of Working is wholly in him Man nay and Satan when he impells us being only Gods Instruments which he uses for to make us Sin. Zuinglius Willet Beza teach the same Sixth Dialogue ISMAEL I am weary of hearing such horrid Blasphemies my Heart trembles to hear you say that such abominable Tenets may be believed according to our Rule of Faith and Principles of the Reformation I beseech you let me hear no more of such stuff I conceive very well that Mens Judgments and Consciences are not to be constrain'd to believe or deny this or that Tenet because the Pope or his Infallible forsooth Church will have it so Isaac And must they be constrain'd to deny or believe because the fallible Church of England or France will have it so Ismael No I do not say they must have Patience and hear me speak a while I say that Scripture must be our Rule of Faith and not any Pope or Church or Congregation and that we are not to be forced by any to believe but what we understand to be true by Scripture and that if we Judge by Scripture any Doctrine to be false and contrary to Gods Word we must not be forced to believe it But we must
the Doctrin of the Reformation or consistent with its principles Isaac The Kings Supremacy is undoubtedly the Doctrin of the Reformation because it 's judged by the Church of England to be of Scripture yet not only the Quakers Presbyterians Anabaptists and other Congregations judge it 's not of Scripture but as erroneous a Tenet as that of the Popes Supremacy Calvin 6. Amos says They were unadvised people and Blasphemers who raised King Henry the VII so far as to call him the head of the Church but also that no Civil Magistrate can be the head of any particular Church is the Doctrin of the Centuriators cent sept pag. 11. of Cartwright Viretus Kemnitius and many others who doubts then but that in the principles and Doctrin of the Reformation you may deny the Kings Supremacy tho' the Church of England believes it The Popes Supremacy is the Doctrin of Popery who doubts it but it 's also the Doctrin of the Reformation for many of our Eminent Doctors have judged it to be the Doctrine of Scripture as Whitgift who cites Calvin and Musculus for this opinion but it 's needful we relate some of their express words I do not deny says Luther but the Bishop of Rome is has been and ought to be first of all I believe he is above all other Bishops it 's not lawful to deny his Supremacy Melancthon says no less that the Bishop of Rome is above all the Church that it is his office to govern to Judge in controversies to watch over the Priests to keep all Nations in conformity and unity of Doctrin Somaisius The Pope of Rome has been without controversie the first Metropolitan in Italy and not only in Italy nor only in the West but in all the World the other Metropolitans have been chief in their respective districts but the Pope of Rome has been Metropolitan and Primate not only of some particular Diocess but of all Grotius has expresly the same Doctrin and proves this Supremacy belongs to the Pope de Jure Divino I pray consider if these Doctors be not men of sound Judgment and of eminent learning and credit in our Reformation and if our Doctrin be Scripture as such men understand it consider I say with what Justice can this Doctrin be called Popery more than Reformed Doctrin As for Transubstantiation it contains two difficulties first if the Body of Christ be really in the Sacrament and this real presence the Lutherans defend to be the Doctrin of Scripture as well as the Papists why then should it be called Popish more than Reformed Doctrin The second is if the substance of Bread be in the Sacrament together with Christ's Body Lutherans say it is Papists say it is not but that there is a Transubstantiation or change of the whole substance of Bread into the Body of Christ but hear what Luther says of this that we call Popish Doctrin I give all Persons liberty to believe in this point what they please without hazard of their Salvation either that the Bread is in the Sacrament of the Altar or that it is not would Luther have given this liberty if Transubstantiation had not been the Doctrin of the Reformation as well as any other Calvin also and Beza affirm that Luthers Doctrin of the co-existence of Christ's Body and the Bread is more absurd than the Popish Doctrin of the existence of the Body alone if therefore we be true Reformed and safely believe the Doctrin of Luther which is the most absurd much more will we be of the Reformation by believing that of the Papists which is less Communion in one kind is the Doctrin of the Reformation no less than Communion in both for besides that Luther says They Sin not against Christ who use one kind only seeing Christ has not commanded to use both and again though it were an excellent thing to use both kinds in the Sacrament and Christ has commanded nothing in this as necessary yet it were better to follow peace and unity than to contest about the kinds but also Melancthon who in the opinion of Luther surpasses all the Fathers of the Church expresly teaches the same Doctrin and the Church of England Statute I. Edward VI. command That the Sacrament be commonly administr'd in both kinds if necessity does not require otherwise mark he says but commonly and that for some necessity it may be received in one lastly the sufficiency of one kind in the Sacrament is plainly set down by our Reformed Church of France in her Ecclesiastical Discipline printed at Saumur Chap. 12. Art. 7. The Minister must give the Bread in the Supper to them who cannot drink the Cup provided it be not for contempt And the reason is because there are many who cannot endure the taste of Wine wherefore it often happens among them that some persons do take the Bread alone and truly if some of our Ministers in England do not give better Wine than they are accustomed who very irreverently serve that Holy Table with naughty trash it 's much to be feared that our flock will also petition to be dispenc'd with in the Cup because there are some of so delicate Palats that they cannot endure the taste of bad Wine Now you may admire the injustice of the Papists in Condemning our Reformed Doctrin and Doctors as Hereticks whereas those Tenets are believed by many of us as well as by them and the groundless severity of our Congregations in exclaiming against that Doctrin it being the Doctrin of the Reformation whereas so many eminent men of our own judge it to be of Scripture Ismael Whereas I see people persecuted by the Church of England for these Tenets I can hardly be perswaded they are the Doctrin of the Reformation at our next meeting we will persue this discourse the Bell rings for Morning Prayers A Dieu Seventh DIALOGUE ISAAC You come from Church as I guess by the Common-Prayer Book I see in your hand I pray let me see the Kalender of it if it be a la mode nouvelle which was made by the Church of England since his Majesties Restauration Ismael Why have you met any thing in it which shocks you Isaac Shock me No Doctrin or practice of any Congregation or man of sound Judgment of our Church can shock me you know I plead for liberty to believe and practise as each one judges by Scripture to be true and good But I observe in your Kalender you have a day consecrated to St. Ann in the Month of July I would gladly know what Ann this is which the Church of England honours so much Ismael It 's Ann the Mother of the Virgin Mary Isaac It 's possible I thought it was Ann Bolein the Mother of our Virgin Elizabeth I am sure the Church of England is more obliged to Her than to the other but as you have put here the Mother of the Virgin
Mary why did not you put in also Elizabeth Mother of the great Baptist and the Angel Gabriel as well as Michael Ismael I know not indeed Isaac Nor do I know if it be not because that Elizabeth and Gabriel made the Popish Ave Maria as Scripture relates but can you tell as the Church of England put in your Kalender St. George St. Andrew and St. David Patrons of England Scotland and Wales why did not she put in St. Patrick Patron of Ireland Ismael I can't tell What may be the reason think you Isaac I know not if it be not that he forfeited his place for his Purgatory for tho the others were as deep in Popery as he if we believe the Papists but the Parliament pass'd an Act of Indemnity for England Scotland and Wales after the Kings return to his Kingdoms and thereby the sin of Popery was forgiven to their Patrons and no Act of Indemnity was past for Ireland whereby Patrick is still guilty if it be not that the Seven Champions of Christendom tell us St. Patrick was St. George his Footman and it was not thought good manners to put him in the same rank with his Master Ismael For shame if not for pitty forbear I cannot endure to fully Sacred things with profane Ralleries the Kalender is a holy institution of the Church and ought to be reverenc'd Isaac And so is Episcopacy Surplices Bells Organs and Corner Caps yet I hope you will give Presbyterians Anabaptists Quakers c. leave to laugh at them and be still as good Children of the Reformation as you if you esteem them to be Sacred and Holy reverence and honour them I commend you for it if others Judge otherwise let them follow their humour each one as he fancies says the Fellow kissing his Com this is the holy Liberty of the Reformation Scripture as each one understands it Ismael Let us return to our last discourse how is it possible that those Tenets of Popery â—…ould be the Doctrin of the Reformation whereâ—â— we see the Church of England so severely perâ—â—ecute the Professors of them Isaac Do you think a Doctrin is not of the Reformation because it 's denyed by the Church of England or because she persecutes the Proâ—essors of it do not they persecute all Non-conforâ—ists as well as Popery persecution is no proof of a Doctrin to be bad it 's but the effect of a blind zeal armed with power for to know cerâ—ainly if a Doctrin be of the Reformation you must try it by our Test or Rule of Faith which is the written Word of God and whatever any man of sound Judgment of a sincere and humble heart judges to be contained in Scripture or â—n indubitable consequence out of it that man may believe that Doctrin let all others Judge of it as they list and by so believing will be a true Child of the Reformation wherefore since that the Church of France that of England in Edward the VI 's time Luther Melancthon Grotius and the other Authors I quoted do Judge Transubstantiation Popes Supremacy and Communion in one kind to be the Doctrin of Scripture we must call it the Doctrin of the Reformation and if you judge as they did you may believe the Doctrin and be still of the Reformation as well as they Ismael Can you shew me any other Tenet of Popery which you can call the Doctrin of the Reformation Isaac Alas you can hardly shew me any Tenet of Popery but what is it's Doctrin what Doctrin more Popish than that of Confession and Absolution from sins yet it 's as truly the Doctrin of the Reformation as figurative Presence for not only Lobechius Altamerus Sacerius and Melancthon says it 's a Sacrament but the Church of England in our Common-Prayer Book declares that Priests have not only the power of declaring their sins to be forgiven to the Penitents but also the power of forgiving them and sets down the form of Absolution which the Minister is to use Our Lord Jesus Christ who left power to the Church to absolve all sinners which truly repent of his mercy forgive thee and thine offences and I by his Authority committed unto me do absolve thee from all thy sins The Minister of the Diocess of of Lincoln in their Survey of the Book of Common Prayers checkt this Doctrine as Popery and petitioned to have it blotted out but could not prevail whereby we are given to understand it 's the Doctrine of the Reformation It 's Popery we say to call extream Uuction Confirmation and Holy Order of Priest-hood Sacraments and who can justly deny all this to be the Doctrine of the Re-formation for Calvin says I confess the Disciples of Christ did use Exâ—ream Vnction as a Sacrament I am not says he of the opinion of those who judge it was only a Meâ—â—cine for corporal diseases Calvin also and with him our Common Prayer Book and all our Divines say a Sacrament is nothing else but a Visible sign of the invisible Grace we receive by â—t and they say with Pouel Hooker and others that this definition fits exactly Confirmation wherefore the Ministers of the Diocess of Lincoln checkt the Common Prayer Book for giving the Definition of a Sacrament to Confirmation Melancthon Bilsom Hooker and Calvin expresly teach that the Order of Priesthood is a Sacrament And when men of so eminent Judgment of our Reformation teach this to be the Doctrine of Scripture who doubts but that it is of the Reformation Ismael By this you destroy the Doctrine of the Reformation of two Sacraments only Is Destroy it God forbid Because the Church of England says there are but two Sacraments I say it 's the Doctrin of the Reformation there are but two and because so many eminent Men judge by Scripture there are more I say it 's the Doctrin of the Reformation there are more that 's to say six Baptism Confirmation Eucharist Pennance Extream Unction and Holy Order and very likely our Bishops and Ministers for their Wives sake will not stick to grant that Matrimony also is a Sacrament Ismael But can you say that Prayers to Saints and Images Prayer for the dead and Purgatory are not meer Popery and in no wise the the Doctrine of Reformation Isaac Without doubt those Tenets are Popery but all the World knows the Lutherans use Images in their Churches and pray before them and the Holy Synod of Charenton has declared as was said in our first Dialogue that the Lutherans have nothing of Superstition or Idolatry in their manner of Divine Worship this is also the Doctrine of Jacobus Andreas Brachmanus Kemnitius Luther and Brentius quoted by Beza and why should not a Doctrine Judged by such eminent Men to be of Scripture be called the Doctrin of the Reformation Prayers for the dead and Purgatory is Popery confessedly but alas it is taught expresly
Sense and Interpretation of it given by Primitive Ages Fathers and Councils and that we prefer before the private Interpretations of particular Persons Isaac And just so saith the Popish Church to Luther and our blessed Reformers and if that had been well done we should have had neither Protestancy nor any other Reformation But you confess at least that the Rule of Faith in all other Congregations is but Scripture as each person understands it and each person may consequently believe his own Sence of it and deny the Sence of any other if he does not like it Then you must confess that in all other Congregations except the Church of England any Reformed Child may believe any Sense and Doctrine which any person of sound Judgment judges to be Scripture if himself likes it though all the rest of the World may think it naught and whereas you cannot deny but that all and each doctor quoted by me for those Tenets which you call Blasphemies were sound and able Judgments you must confess that it is a necessary Sequel out of their Rule of Faith that in all other Congregations they may piously and safely believe all those Tenets and be still true Children of the Reformation Ismael I confess if they speak coherently and stand to their Principles they may believe them safely but as I hate those Blasphemous Tenets Labbor and detest also that Principle and Rule of Faith of other Congregations from which such Tenets are unavoidable Sequels Isaac Good Ismael you forget what you have hitherto all along avowed and you are quite astray from the Doctrin of the Reformation You have often granted me that our Rule of Faith is Scripture not as this or that Congregation Doctor or Church but as each person of sound Judgment understands it and now you tell me you hate and detest that Rule because that out of it there follow strange and Blasphemous Tenets You say the Sence and Interpretation of the primitive Ages Church and Fathers must be preferred before the Interpretation of any private person or Congregation and what think you of our whole Reformation and particularly of our 39 Articles of the Church of England which allow no other Rule of Faith but Scripture as each Person of sound Judgment understands it What say you of Luther Calvin Beza and the rest of our first Reformers who preferred their own private Sence and Interpretation of Scripture before that of the whole Church What say you to the Presbyterians who prefer their own Sense and Interpretation of the Bible before that of the Church of England What say you of all the Congregations of the Reformed Church each one of which holds its Sense and Doctrin of Scripture different from all the rest I grant there ought to be a respect for the Judgment and Interpretation of the Text given by the Primitive Church and Fathers but if a Doctor or Man of sound Judgment replenisht with Gods Spirit reads Scripture with an humble Heart and pure Intention and Judges by it that Bigamy is lawful that there is no Mystery of three Persons in one Divine Nature that Christ despaired on the Cross c. Tho these Doctrines be quite against the Judgments of Fathers Church and Councils he may believe them and be still a true Reformed Child because he follows our Rule of Faith if he must deny these Articles because others decry them then he must go against his own Judgment and Conscience for to conform himself to them and his Rule of Faith must not be Scripture as each Man of sound Judgment understands it but as the primitive Ages Church and Councils understand it and this is Popery Ismael Prethee Friend Isaac let 's give over All that your discourse drives at by what I can perceive is either to beat me from the Reformation by shewing me the absurdity of its Rule of Faith or oblige me to believe scandalous and blasphemous Tenets necessary sequels out of that Rule I am a Child of the Reformation and never will be otherwise Isaac The Lord who is the Searcher of Hearts knows you mis-conster my intentions How can you say I intend to beat you from the Reformation do not I insist and perswade you to stick fast to its Rule of Faith and acknowledge no other but Scripture as you understand it How can you say I oblige you to believe false and scandalous Tenets To the contrary I advise you not to believe them if you judge by Scripture they are false and scandalous What my discourse drives at that you should not censure blame or call any Doctrin blasphemous scandalous false or heretical Popery excepted for though you Judge by Scripture it is not true another will Judge it to be the true Sense and Doctrin of the Text and if he does he may with a safe Conscience believe it and ought not to be blamed by you or any other for believing it if you do not like that Doctrin do not believe it but let the other believe as he Judges by Scripture he may and let every Tub stand on its own bottom Ismael Once more I beseech you give over I will not discourse any more with you Isaac Nay Dear Ismael I see you are troubled and I will not leave you in that perplexity Be pleased to listen to three points I will propose unto you and you 'll not miss to find satisfaction in either of them Ismael Let 's hear them Isaac Will you believe Scripture as it is Interpreted and in that sense which the Church Councils and Fathers propound unto you Ismael I will not be obliged to that for I may Judge by Scripture that Sence and Interpretation of it to be false and erroneous and I will not be obliged to believe any thing against my Judgment and Conscience that is Popery Isaac That 's well in so much you follow the footstepts of Luther Calvin and our first Reformers who would not believe what the Church believed in their time nor regarded what the Papists alledged out of the Councils and Fathers against them because they held themselves obliged to believe Scripture as they understood it and not as it was understood by others Will you then believe Scripture in that sense and interpretation which your self judges to be true though the Church Councils and all other Congregations judge it to be false and erroneous and give the like liberty to all others Ismael That 's dangerous for it would follow that any man might believe without check or blame the greatest blasphemies imaginable if he Judges them to be the sense of the Text. Isaac Why then since that the first does not please you for fear of constraining your Judgment Papist-like and the second displeases you for the scope it gives for to believe any thing or nothing your best way is to lay Scripture aside whereas Christ has forgot or neglected to appoint us some assured means for to know what sense of it he would have us