to multiply arguments in this kind as so many evidences of Gods speaking to us in â—…he Scriptures But I shall forbear â—…nd proceed to somewhat that comes nearer to the Question concerning â—…he Rule of Faith It is well known that this Question hath been much disputed between us and our Adversaries for many years and that two things especially have been insisted on by them to prove the Scripture no competent Rule of Faith viz. the obscurity and the imperfection 〈◊〉 it In this dispute they have laboured to puzzle and plunge us by putting us to shew how Scripture proveâ—… it self to be what we account it the Word of God To this we may justly think it 〈◊〉 sufficient answer to say as one yea many have said long since thaâ—… in every profession the Principles aâ—… indemonstrable assented to without discourse and the Scriptures are thâ—… Principles of Christian Religion anâ—… therefore first we must grant them to be the very Word of God and therâ—… say they contain all points needfull to be known And since Scripture avoucheth it self to be the word of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. 2 Pâ—…t 1. 20 21 Luke 1. 70. it is rational in us to believe it Notwithstanding our Adversaries are not satisfied but insisâ—… much on this Question viz. How we know that the Scripture that saith it is the Word of God is so in very deed To this the Protestants have long since answered That they know this first and principally by the illumination of Gods Spirit as the inward means and then by the restimony of the Scriptures themselves as the outward means and lastly by the ministry of the Church inducing us to assent Here we say not that the certainty of the Scripture is written in any particular place or Book of it but the vertue and power that sheweth it self in every line and leaf of the Bible proclaimeth it to be the Word of the eternal God and the sheep of Christ discern the voice and light thereof as men discern light from darkness and as children are known by their faces and favours resembling their parents As the purity and perfection of the matter and many particulars else some of which I have hinted before and whoever will see them more fully may find them in a large and learned discourse of the Divine authority of Scripture which I name the rather because it is a Book which the vulgar may better understand then many others that handle this question Though the grounds I have hinted and others which I have omitted induce us strongly to believe the Scriptures Divine authority and we may count them sufficient to fence us against the cavils of our Adversaries yet it is one thing to answer the arguments of men and another to satisfie the doubts and fears of our own consciences Therefore we stand to this That no man can be effectually perswaded of the Scriptures authority as he ought to be in order to a sound and saving belief of the truths therein contained unless he be taught of God by the teachings of his Spirit which alone teacheth to know spiritual things in a spiritual manner God we say is the best witness to his own Word and his Spirit the best seal that can be put to it In the particulars fore-mentioned and many others we see evident tokens of God speaking to us in the Scriptures But the faith that saves us must have this foundation viz. Gods sealing the truth of Scripture by the special grace of his own Spirit to our souls And when this is done then is a man fully perswaded and confident indeed so as he can say and swear too if there be need the doctrine of Christ in Scripture is that which God hath revealed to lead and guide me to my happiness in the enjoyment of God for ever Then and not before a man hath comfort and peace in believing having not only a grant of eternal life but the great seal of the Kingdom of Heaven put to it Such a man so assured and sealed by the Spirit unless in a fit of temptation never troubles himself about this Question Whether Scripture be the Word of God His trouble is most about his own deceitfull and unbelieving heart that he can trust God no better when he hath so good security for all that is needfull in order to his happiness He never thinks what some have said that the Scriptures have been corrupted and are not what once they were He knows that Gods Word is pure and perfect and is only troubled at the corruption of his own heart Papists to shew what good will and respects they have to Scripture have a long time been quarrelling it as if some part of the Canon were lost and some of ours seem to yield somewhat to this thinking no prejudice to come thereby to it But others conceive that no part or member of Scripture that ever was Canonical is lost buâ—… that we have it as whole and compieat as ever it was Indeed aâ—… one faith if any Book were lost oâ—… those which were commended to the whole Church it must argue a strang conspiâ—…acy of this whole Church iâ—… carelessness and negligence such aâ—… is not lightly incident to this generation of men We grant that some particular Churches and single persons have doubted some parts oâ—… Scripture now generally acknowledged for Canonical But we deny that the whole Church hath ever done any such thing As for the old Testament who can justly suspect â—…he Jews for corrupting them when â—…heir zeal for them even almost to â—…uperstition hath been so notorious â—…n all ages and is so still even to this â—…ay Our Saviour blamed them â—…uch and often for their vain Traâ—…itions but never spake one word â—…out their corrupting the Scripture â—…hich questionless he would have â—…ne had there been cause since was a matter of such high concernent And if any had attempted it had been impossible for them to complish it when there were so any Copies dispersed in all places â—…d Countries which were many â—…erein the Jews dwelt If any â—…ereticks had essayed it since the â—…w Testament was written how â—…uld one party have observed anoâ—…er and so prevenâ—…ed the design â—…d to say no more it is impossible â—…ess we imagine that all and every one who had a Bible should at once with one consent in all places oâ—… the world resolve to corrupt those antient Records commended to mankind as the Word of God To clear this further having inserted it here occasionally The Scriptures have been written in parchment and papeâ—… which are things perishable and ic are subject to the injuries of time But who knows not the difference that is between the Word of God and the paper and parchment anâ—… ink which have been used to preserve and conveigh it to us Gods Woâ—… must and shall stand when all theâ—… parchments and paper Records shâ—… be no more And whatever alteâ—… tion there hath been we stand to iâ—…
ΛΟΓΟΣ ΑΥΤΟΠΙΣΤΟΣ OR Scriptures Self-Evidence TO PROVE Its Existence Authority Certainty in it Self and Sufficiency in its kind to ascertain others That it is Inspir'd of God to be the Only Rule of Faith PUBLISHED As a Plea for Protestants in the Defence of their Profession and intended only for the use and instruction of the Vulgar sort Isa. 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony John 5. 39. Search the Scriptures c. Canonica autoritas veteris novi Testamenti quae Apostolorum consirmata temporibus per successiones Episcoporum propagationes Ecclesiâ—rum tanquam in sede quâdam sublimitèr constituta est Aug. contr Faust. Ma. 1. 11. c. 5. LONDON Printed for Edward Brewster and are to be sold at Mr. Marriotts a Scrivener over against Hicks-Hall in St. Johns street 1667. TO ALL Well-meaning Protestants Who desire and resolve to hold fast their Profession Especially those who are least able to Dispute Controversies SIRS I Marvel not if you think your selves well grounded in your Religion whiles you are able to give a Reason of the hope that is in you by proving the Articles of your Faith out of Scripture For in this perswasion you are of 〈◊〉 same mind with me whoever you are However I must admonish you that what pleases you and me doth not satisfie all For there are still as of late have been such as will ask you How you are able to prove Scripture to be the word of God and the only Rule of Faith Therefore it concerns you and me too as the times are to bethink our selves what to Answer when we shall be put to the Question And that you may have some what to reply I have in this ensuing Discourse given you some of those thoughts which I have taken up by occasion of this Question that may be put to us I know well That divers Learned both English and Outlandish Divines have bestowed their pains to prove the authority of Scripture such as we account it and that it is the only Rule of Faith But the labours of those Learned men are such either for language or somewhat else as they would be to you if you had them by you as the word of a Book that is sealed I have therefore composed this Discourse in a plain English style and phrase and of no great price to ease your purses that you may have by you somewhat to answer your Adversaries In it I use and urge Scripture very little or nothing at all in a manner because I will cut off occasion from our Adversaries who will else say I prove my Conclusion by that which is the thing in Question How necessary it is for you to be well informed in this Case and to be fortified against the assaults of such as lie in wait to undermine you and turn up the foundations of your Faith I must leave you to be Judges For our Adversaries I am resolved never to draw the Saw against them partly because of mine insufficiency many wayes to enter the Lists with such Giant-like men and especially because there are so many worthies on our side whose great abilities and advantages such as I want cannot but encourage them to what I dare not undertake All my design is to instruct the ignorant whose desire is to learn And to such I offer these weak endeavours of mine in hope they may suggest somewhat that may serve to stay and uphold the weak till they be further established by the help of some more able hand And if this be I have all my design so as God may have all the glory SCRIPTURE THE Only Rule of Faith PRotestants have alwayes counted the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the Inspiration of God and the only Rule of Faith and Manners And that they may abide and increase more and more in this perswasion is and shall be my hearts desire and prayer to God for them But though they hold Scripture for a Principle and Ground-plot of their Faith yet they are called upon somewhat methinks besides the Laws of Science to prove it And this Task I am willing in their behalf to undertake because the Lord hath commanded us to be alwayes ready to give a reason of the hope that is in us For this consideration and nothing else hath emboldned me to let the World know the rational Grounds which Protestants have to perswade them that Scripture is the Word of God and written by his command to be the only Rule of Faith unto all Christians And what I have to say upon this account I shall reduce unto these two particulars 1. I shall alledge some of those rational Grounds by which Protestants are induc'd to believe the Scripture to be divinely inspir'd with the Conclusion which we think must unavoidably follow viz. That it is the only Rule of Faith 2. I shall a little discuss the Queflion wherher Tradition the Churches Testimony or any thing of that nature can be rationally allowed this great Priviledge of being a Rule of Faith and then conclude all with an Answer to the grand Objection of Papists against Scripture because as it is all they can say worth our notice so it is look't on by them as an invincible Achilles and a short but serious admonition to all Protestants who mind the concernments of their souls or may be perswaded to it The former Part Shewing the Rational Grounds upon which Protestants believe Scripture to be inspir'd of God c. SCripture is as it calls it self a Light and therefore is best seen in and by and of it self though there be nothing else to shew it Hence it is that when we have said as much as we can to prove its Divine authority we must â—…i I leave it to be seen in its own Light and to prove it selâ—… the Manitestation of Gods mind and will made to the sons of men And upon due consideration it will appear so to any that are judicious and impartial For how can it be prov'd to be what it is by any argument besides the attestation given it by God and his Spirit and the evident tokens of God speaking in it And so it proves it self just as a Learned man proves himself a Scholar by his learned Exercises when he is called to them or as God proves himself to be what he is by what he saith and doth However we are put to prove our Principles and we are contented so to do as well as we can I say as well as we can because all Scholars know that Principles are most hardly prov'd against such as have impudence enough to deny them And here I must in order to my intended work request the Reader to grant me somewhat which seems very reasonable and I hope will be supposed such by all that are indifferent and impartial 1. That in this Case I can alledge no rational Arguments other then such as Scripture yields and offers to prove it self inspired of
had been made in many ages and did not coin a new faith never before heard of We are not Calvinists or Lutherans though so miscalled by some but Christians as Luther Calvin and others were in the last age And they and all others of the same profession stood to maintain their doctrine as the faith of Forefathers all along from the beginning of the Gospel And our Adversaries are not ignorant that this hath been held and sufficiently made good by the vote and testimony of the most antient Fathers unto whom our Learned have appealed as unto Judges in this Cause But our faith is not in the Fathers never so antient or learned but in our Lord Jesus Christ whom we have learnt to count and call our Father and Master as being the only Lawgiver Only we appeal to the Fathers thus far as to produce them for our witnesses and know we have reason to alledge their testimony because they owned the same doctrine of Christ which we now do And though the appellation of Protestants was occasioned in the last age by the Protestation made against the Interim yet these were but successors to those who had for many ages before protested against the additions and inventions of men besides the Rule of faith We can therefore plead Antiquity and Succession as well as others and better too unless they could prove better then they have done yet that their Faith is the same that was delivered by the Apostles For this is it which we build our faith upon and by this are we confirmed in it viz. That we profess the same truths which the Apostles received from Christ and delivered unto the first Christian Churches Hence we say when we are told that the Tenets of our Adversaries wherein they differ from us have been received for many ages that they are not so old as the Apostles Besides we know that custome besides or against truth is but an old errour And whatsoâ—…ver is against truth is an Heresie though never so old Truth is older then errour and good was before any evil And so we consent that what was first was best But that our Adversaries Tenets are such we deny and say they were not from the beginning though some of them were taken up early enough and too soon as we know it was not long ere sin got into the world and yet it was after God had made men righteous Our Saviour Matth. 5. corrects many things that had been long received and went for currant by opposing his Word against them But I say unto you It is abundantly enough to justifie us in what we hold that we find our faith in Scripture and this our Adversaries know very well and therefore we need not marvel that they are so busie in raising doubts and questions about its Divine authority For let us once let Scripture go as some would have us our faith is gone also Were it not for Scripture I know nothing to hinder why every man may not coine a faith to himself and say it is the doctrine of Christ. Yea deny Christ and all Christianity For what have we to prove it besides the Scripture or how can we disprove any damnable doctrines and devices of men without it O! let us never think of turning from the good old way wherein we follow all those Champions whom nothing could perswade to part with it 3. Consider what and how much we loose if we hold not fast this ground of our confidence stedfast unto the end It is not for nothing that our adversaries press and urge us so much this way They tell us plainly that let go this and all is gone And they say truly in it For our faith hath no Sure footing if Scriptures authority be such as they would make it We have separated from them for many years past and the true reason and ground of our separation was that they held and practised so many things contrary to Scripture and would not yield to lay them aside Hereupon we resolved to communicate no longer with them because we could not admit what we judged sinfull as being against or beside that which we count the only Rule This I say hath been and still is the quarrel between us For if it be observed in our differences with them we still are on the negative part And why so Surely because our differences are about such things as they hold besides and against Scripture For in these we are bound to deny what they affirm I say again bound sub poenâ of loosing all our profession so far as we are Protestants in opposition to Papists And this let any man that is sober and intelligent judge of For let Oral and Practical Tradition as they call it be the only Rule of faith what is become of Scripture may I not justly ask whether it be something or a meer empty nothing what can it be at best more then a Cipher which we know in numbering stands for nothing unless a figure be put to it Tradition say they is that and that only which can ascertain us that this is the very doctrine of Christ which we believe And then what is Scripture more then a dead letter and Tradition is it which gives Spirit and life to it And where are we then even where our adversaries would have us to be Then we must go to the Church for our faith and take that for the truth which hath been delivered down for many ages whatever it be right or wrong The Church say they cannot erre And so say we But they and we are not agreed for all this For they mean no other Church then their own and this say they hath the true faith which from the Apostles was delivered at first and hath been conveighed down succesfively in all ages and it now rests only among Roman Catholicks God hath and ever had say we a Church or society of men on earth who did not indeed could not because of Gods promise erre in any thing necessary to to be known and believed in order to salvation But we cannot admit their Church and this to be all one God hath made a promise to his Church that he will be with it to the end of the world and this Church shall be led into all necessary saving truths But let our adversaries shew us if they can one promise of God made to any generation of men after the flesh such as was made to Abrahams seed and was made good to them untill the promised seed came Israel so long continued to be Gods people because of his promise But God hath no one people of one stock and kindred ever since unto which he hath made any such promise For many who were once a people to God afterwards became none and they who yet are none are in a capacity to be Gods people and shall be such when he pleases to call them Hence we count nothing of any arguments drawn from personal and
God so that my work is to let others see the light wherein Scripture shews it self 2. I do not in this undertaking charge Papists as denying in terms the Scripture to be Divinely inspired For they grant it in a sort when they say The Churches Testimony makes it not Authentical and Canonical in it self but quoad nos in respect to us who cannot otherwise be ascertained of its Divine authority 3. I hope it will not be expected from me that I shall prove the Divine authority of Scripture so as to silence all Gain-sayers since nothing can be so proved as there will not be some to make exceptions What can be more certain then Gods Existence And yet how many are there who deny or question i. Christ came a Light into the World and what Christian dare say or think he did not sufficiently prove himself to be what he was the promised Messias yet all he could say or do for that purpose was not enough to satisfie the most of his Country-men and Kinred that he was the Lords Christ. All that I can reasonably design is to shew that Scripture is a shining Light that doth sufficiently prove it self to be inspired of God though many have not eyes to see it 4. It must be supposed in this Discourse that as there is one living and true God so this God is to be honoured and adored by his reasonable Creatures with that service and worship which may become his infinite and most excellent Majesty Hence it cannot be denyed that there must be some Revelation made by God himself concerning that way of worship wherein he will have his Creatures to serve him For who can know what pleases God but he himself and they to whom he makes known the good pleasure of his will Now supposing some Revelation of Gods will in order to that service which he will accept and be well pleased with I may ask this Question viz. If Scripture be not this Revelation where is it And this will lie hard upon all who acknowledge one only true God that made Heaven and Earth to shew some other and better manifestation concerning the will and wayes of God then what he hath made in his written word But this is to be discuss'd hereafter and for the present I am to shew how and wherein Scripture speaks it self the word of God and by consequence the Rule of Faith Rational Grounds upon which Protestants are perswaded that Scripture is Divinely inspired 1. THere is nothing which doth so fully and clearly so punctually and perfectly declare the mind of God in all particulars which concern his Glory or mans everlasting happiness as Scripture doth To enforce this a little we readily grant the law of Nature to be a light shewing us somewhat yea very much of God and concerning our Duty towards him But how imperfect and obscure is this light in comparison of that which shines out to us in Scripture Scripture indeed doth not contradict it How should it Both are of God and one Truth cannot possibly contradict another Nay further as Scripture consents to and concurs with the light of Nature so it reproves the neglect and incites to a due improvement of it as might be shew'd in many particulars if we were put to it But how dim and dark is Natures light as to the way of reconciling the world unto God when it teaches nothing at all about it The Heathens had their Offerings and Sacrifices to appease their Gods and in these for ought any can say to the contrary they had light from Gods people who had the Divine Oracles But all those Offerings of theirs were lying vanities because they had not any the least apprebensions of God manifested in the flesh to be a Saviour of sinners And what revelation hath God made of his mind about this great concernment besides what we have in Scripture did ever any of the Learned Heathens so much as dream of such a work as Gods reconciling the world to himself by Jesus Christ And yet Papists I hope will acknowledge with us that he alone is the Mediatour of propitiation between God and man Now how came we and they to know this great mysterie if we learnt it not from Scripture And could any but God reveal it to us And since it is revealed in Scripture have we not reason to believe that it was written by the finger of God For the only way of purging sin and sanctifying our sinfull natures what have any Heathens done by their utmost improvement of their natural light They have indeed many of them commended vertue to the skies and exhorted others to it But what is that moral excellency and perfection which the Philosophers and learned men of the world have laboured to promote amongst men Is it not of a far inferiour nature and quite another thing from that true holiness which is taught in Scripture For this I refer the Reader to a learned Discourse of the Divine authority of Scripture not long since printed and only say though many Heathens by their natural light discovered many vices to shun the practise of them and were sober just and temperate in comparison of others yet all this moral righteousness in them was far short of Gods image and the Divine nature in those who are renewed by the Holy Ghost and as different as a living man and his statue or picture though drawn as we say to the life And to prove this I shall only say That true holiness consists especially in the inward impressions and dispositions which make a man meet for communion with God and in the inclinations and carriages of the soul towards God immediately such as meet Moralists never knew There 's a fountain and root within from whence springs all that honesty and integrity and purity which appears in the outward conversation and all is from a mans being ingrafted into Christ and receiving from him a continual supply of his Spirit And this I hope Papists will not deny viz. That all spiritual good is wrought in us by the Spirit of God Now this way of holiness being taught us in Scripture we conclude Scripture to be written with Gods finger because no other then God could reveal such glorious truths to us Let it be shew'd us how these things came to be written where we find them and who wrote them if God did not Once we think it a rational and unquestionable conclusion That Scripture is given by inspiration of God because we find in it the only way of our access to and acceptance with God and the only way of Purifying us so as we may be meet for communion with him for ever And why Even because God alone could teach us these things which the hearts of men or Angels otherwise could never have conceiv'd All this while we grant that these things were revealed to some men before they were recorded in the written word But we expect Papists will not send us
it much rather then aâ—…y thing else Hence it is that we care so little sor Tradition because it is the testimony of men For we have no faith to save us but faith in God and know not how we can have faith in God but by receiving the Testimony which he himself hath given When Papists attribute so much to Tradition for ascertaining Scripture we cannot yield to them in it because we believe that God so speaks to men as they may know that it is he that speaks If he do not it is because he will not or because he cannot That he cannot no man can say without blasphemy To say he will not is little better For he hath not spoken in secret but openly and plainly so as they to whom he hath spoken have known certainly it was the Lord that spake to them And this is indeed the Spirit of Prophecy not only to declâ—…re the will and minde of God but to ascertain those unto whom it was declared that it was so And such is Scripture vz. a Revelation of Gods will so made as men may know that God hath spoken Wherefore though Papists say of Scripture as the Jews said of our Saviour Thou bearest record of thy self thy record is not true We answer as Christ answered for himself Though it bear record of it self yet its record is true For as it was the will of God that men should understand his mind so he spake in such a manner as they might know it was God that spake and not man or any creature For what can be said or thought more unworthy of God then that he hath spoken to men but in such a manner as he cannot be understood unless there be some other to ascertain them it is he that speaks we can speak to one another either by word or writing so as to know who speaks as well as what is spoken But God it seems to Papists must have some others to pass their word for him before he can have any credit with men And what is it that must ascertain us beyond all further question that Scripture is the very Word of God Only Tradition or the Testimony of the Church in all ages successively conveying down the faith once delivered by Christ and his Apostles For the satisfaction of those who need or desire it we shall inlarge in our answer yet not to exceed the bounds of our intended breviy 1. We acknowledge That the Church is bound to give testimony to Scripture as the Word of God and that the true Church hath so done in all ages we Protestants do believe But we say withall that the Church is only an outward instrument or means in giving this testimony and hath no authority such as Papists plead for or dominion over our faith We are so far from making it the Rule of faith as we stand to affirm we do not beâ—…ieve the Scripture because the Church saith it is the Word of God but we believe it such for its own and the Spirits testimony though no men bear witness to it For what is the Church make the best of it but a company of men more or less that believe the doctrine of Christ And where had these men this doctrine Or how came then by it Had they it not in Scripture Christ indeed delivered it by word of mouth and by his Spirit to his Apostles and they preached this doctrine But I hope Papists will not say That the new Testament was not penned by the Evangelists and Apostles or that the next Church received any doctrine other then is therein recorded so we are come to the very foundation of the Church such as is mentioned Ephes. 2. 20. The Church is founded upon Scripture and not Scripture upon the Church Indeed a Church is nothing but a company of men that believe Scripture and make it the ground work of their Faith And so is it distinguished from all other societies The Church did not make or frame the Scripture but received it made ready to their hands God had his Secretaries who wrote his wills and commands and to the obedience of these men have been called and such as submitted and came in have been the Church in all ages Hence the Church we say hath more need of Scriptures testimony then Scripture hath of the Churches and accordingly Protestants judge of the Church by Scripture and not of Scripture by the Church Questionless when God shall judge all by the Man whom he hath appointed he will try all Churches and men by his own Laws And where those Laws are we leave Papists to enquire For we know none but such as we find in Scripture They tell us a very fair tale of the infallibility of Tradition How impossible it is that the first Church which received the doctrine of Christ from the Apostles could be so unnatural as wittingly to hide it from posterity and deliver over to the next generation such lyes as would unavoidably damn them Now we suppose as well as they that all Parents and Progenitors have so much natural affection as not to procure willingly or wittingly the damnation of their Children But this will not prove say we Tradition to be so infallible as they would have it For Tradition or delivering any matter from hand to hand by word of mouth is and must be uncertain yea and soon fail if there be not some Records whereupon to bottom it And for this we desire them to consider That though in the first ages God was pleased to let his will be made known from Father to Son after he had once declared and revealed it yet God did not leave all to Tradition but ever and anon renewed the Revelations of his will as occasion required And this he did when those Patriarchs lived ten times so long as any have ordinarily lived for very many ages And when afterwards Abrahams seed was grown into a multitude it seemed good to the wisdom of God to have the lively Oracles enrolled and committed to writing Hence we think it rational to conclude that God thought his will written to be more infallible and certain then as delivered by word of mouth from hand to hand Once we are sure That whiles the mind of God was delivered without writing it all the world was corrupted so as all flesh had perverted their way in the times of Noah They had all of them at first the doctrine which God revealed to Adam and how came they to be corrupted as they were if Tradition cannot possibly fail Or how came the world after the Flood to be filled with Idols so as Abraham must be called out from the posterity of Shem whose posterity had the true Religion delivered to them If Tradition be so faithfull in the delivery of what is committed to it we wonder how true Religion should fail so soon and that not among a few but all the world over When it is said That some Hereticks have risen
and meaning in iâ—… And so we produce them in any matter of question as men do their written evidences in a trial at Law Would it be allowed in such a case that a Lawyer if any such could possibly be found should evade a full and clear evidence by abstracting the letter from the sence all men of common reason know that written evidences are intended to shew mens sence and meaning and that the letter and the sence cannot be separated though every puny Sophister can distinguish them In this distinguishing between the letter and sence of Scripture and saying that Protestants have only the letter of Scripture for their Rule we can guess at no design but this that 〈◊〉 would have us run as far as Rome to fetch the sence of Scripture thence And then we may have it senâ—…'d as it hath been heretofore by some of them For instance â—…ehold here are two swords Lâ—…ke 22. 38. that is the Pope hath the power of the spiâ—…itual and temporal sword Then â—…ast put all things under his fâ—…et 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 and the beasts of the fi 〈◊〉 Pâ—…l 8. 6 7. and this is applied to Christ Heb. 2. but the Roman sense is that all things are subject to the Pope By catteâ—… they will have us understand men on Earth by the fishes in the sea the souls in Purgatory and the birds are the blessed souls in Heaven Or as they all seem to sence that command of Christ Drink ye all of this Drink ye not not all of this These seem foâ—… certain to make neither the letter nor the sence of Scripture to be the Rule bâ—…t someâ—…hat else But the letter cannot be a Rule say they seeing the letter speaks things otherwise then they ought to be understood For the letter attributes hands and seet 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 which must not be so much as imagined seeing he is a 〈◊〉 We need not for all this be beholden to Tradition oâ—… seek for the sence of Scripture from the Church of Rome Our reason if we had no other thing to help us will reach us that God hath no limbs nor sences as we men have and therefore we abhor to make any representations of God in any bodily shape as knowing it unreasonable to represent God by the similitude of any creature What reasonable man can be ignerant that Gods hands 〈◊〉 his power and his eyes his providence c. and that such expressions are made use of by the Holy Ghost in a way of condescention to our inâ—…rmity To say no more these reasonings are no better then 〈◊〉 and are best 〈◊〉 by taking least notice oâ—… them For giving the sence of Scripture we have the ministry which is an ordinance of God appointed for that end So 〈◊〉 el had a Law and Priests to give the sence of it Malac. 2. 7. and we have a precedent recorded Nâ—…hem 8. 8. and we think that Papists meaning is the people should seek the sence of Scripture at the Pâ—…iests lips seeing they allow theirs to have no Bibles But what need they make such ado about this are they or can they be ignorant that all the great necessary truths of the Gospel are set down so plainly in Scripture as no man can miss of the true sence if he do but read them with deliberation there is no Translation but hath all these and no man in his sences can be ignorant of them if he will but read the Bible And this is the love and kindness of God to us to give us a plain and an easie Rule What though some things are hard to exercise our diligence yet all the necessary saving doctrine of Christ is open and obvious to such as are willing to understand and to use means for that end Thus God hath written Laws as men do for such as are concerned and both the Laws of God and man may be understood by all if they will do what is their duty in order to it There are Records of mens Laws which we may call the Originals and there are Statute-B oks printed for men to read and know the Laws And therefore all that transgress these Laws are questioned and punished though there are many that cannot read them because they know not a letter For it is justly and reasonably presuâ—…ed that all that have a mind may come to know the Laws so much as concerns them And so may our people say we come to know the Laws of God in Scripture if they are willing to it Therefore such Queries about the sence of Scripture c. are no better then quibbles They that bâ—…sie themselves to trouble us with such captious Questions might do well to bestow their pains about some others who may give them more thanks then we can for their labour I mean our untowardly people who are some of them sometimes tryed for their lives being indicted upon the Laws and Statutes of our Land Let them prompt these poor wretches to plead that the Laws are no Rule for them to walk by seeing they never could read them nor perhaps ever saw a Statute-Book and they cannot be sure the printed Staâ—…utes are the same word for word with the original Records nor can they be sure what is the sence of the Laws for Lawyers are sometimes divided in their opinions about it O! what a brave piece of service this would be counted by some thus to make void all the Laws of the Land But the Laws of England must not be laid down upon such preâ—…ences and we hope the Lâ—…ws of God in Scâ—…ipture shall not be made void upon no better grounds For our vulgar they have as many advantages to know the Rule of â—…aith in Scripture as they have to know the Laws of the Land and no â—…ber man can say or think otherwise For as we have such as are studied and understanding in the Laws of England so we have such as are by office bound to cause others to know the Laws of God And thus hath God provided in all ages of the Church that his people may not perish for lack of knowledge True the Priests may as once they did Mâ—…l c. 2. 8. depart out of the war and cause mâ—…ny to stumbâ—…e at the Law And when it is thus no marvel if Tradition in the Church be not so 〈◊〉 a witness of the saith of Forefathers seeing mostly as is the Pâ—…iest so are the people However this hath been Gods ordinary way for teaching his people and Gods Ordinance is not the worse for mans abuse His Laws are plain and easie to be known by such as are willing and will use means to learn them because he hath appointed Officers to teach the good knowledge of his wayes and wills Hence we may justly say of these exceptions that they are to small purpose and whoever weighs the argument will find it to strike almost directly at the dealings of God in declaring and dispensing the knowledge of his will
lineal succession but look only after succession in doctrine And this we have reason to do seeing the Heavenly inheritance is entayled only upon those who know and obey the truth And where is this truth if not in Scripture and if we once let go Scriptures verdict in the Cause must we not stand or fall according to the sentence of the Church and what Church can pretend to more then the Church of Rome will pretend unto but let Scripture be judge in the Case and it will soon appear that all is but a vain and empty pretence And why should we not appeal to it alone and leave it to umpire the differences Our adversaries never durst say as yet for ought I have known that it is not the Word of God though some of them have spoken most unworthily of it and reproached it so as none would I think do that seriously believed it to be indeed the Word of God However they say not in terms that it is not the Word of God though that will be the consequence of what they say and that we think unavoidable if all things be duly considered Surely to us it must be so For if it hath no credit as to us without a Certificate under the hands of men it deserves no credit at all such as we must give to it as a Rule of faith and the ground work of all our hopes And this is rational because then we need not go to Scripture since there is somewhat else that is more to be credited then it For no man that is reasonable can be ignorant that what makes any thing to be what it is must be more such if not formally yet virtually or eminently And our adversaries take it so and therefore say plainly that Scripture for many reasons is no competent Rule of faith but Tradition doth the work that is needfull to be done and is a Rule in every respect compleat Now let this be granted and then look about and see what follows They say and think though not truly that they have Tradition by the forepart viz. that all the first ages of the Christian Church held as they do now And for the hinder end they hâ—…ve it fast enough as we all know For we must grant what we cannot without impudence deny 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of these parts of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ward for many of the latter ages And we do not wonder at it because it is no more then what Scripture hath foretold And now if Scripture be thus laid by what will become of all that faith which we have other then what Papists have or how can we refuse whatever they shall impose by their Tradition And shall it be ever said that we have made a separation so long and now turn back again upon no other ground then this viz. that Tradition is the Rule of Faith and Scripture is every way unfit for such a work what is this but to cast dirt in the faces of all that went before us and hazarded all to vindicate and obâ—…ain that liberty which the written Word so long suppressed hath since had amongst us For this was the rise and root of all the disorders and distempers that ever have been since the Apostles times unto this day viz. that men have not contented themselves with a Rule of Gods making but in the pride of their hearts would frame Laws unto themselves And this began in the Apostles times by the workings of Satan in the false Apostles who would then keep up the antient Laws of God intended only till the time of Reformation when according to his will they ought to be laid aside This I say we may justly suspect to have given the first occasion to others afterwards of devising many things besides the only Rule And so it is come to pass by many degrees at last that Scripture is no Rule at all if some men may be credited in what they say And now let us consider what we have been adoing for an hundred years and more Have we all this while believed in vain And have all those who are gone to another world before our eyes died without hope What! have we been in a sweet dream so long and could never be awakened till now Are we now to seek of a Rule of faith Indeed we have then believed to small purpose and so have many others whom we have hitherto thought to be with the Lord. What! have we never received any fruits of the Spirit such as have been a seal to the truths of the written Word so as we can say we know what and whom we have believed were our eyes never opened nor our hearts ever humbled or melted If they have been then consider what doctrine hath been preached to us and by what means we came to be what we are And have we not enough for all intents and purposes we have Jesus Christ evidently set forth to us in Scripture and no where else And have we need of any other Saviour we have the way of holiness in Scripture as no where else and can we go to heaven in any other way Are we in danger of perishing by believing in Christ alone or will the denyal of our selves and all ungodliness and worldly lusts as Scripture commands and requires hazard our souls Nay will not faith in Christ alone such faith I mean as works by love save us then what will become of me and others who never yet learnt any other way of salvation and resolve through Gods help and grace never to think of any other But I shall say no more when I have related one story Darbishire Benners kinsman said to Hawkes the Martyr You will have nothing but your pretty Gods Book No said Hawkes and is not that enough for my salvation Yes said the other but not for your instruction Then said Hawkes God send me the salvation and take you the instruction And of his mind am I and many others too I hope If Scripture be not sufficient to shew and assure us what we are to believe and do in order to our salvation as some would perswade us we are resolved however to leave our souls to Gods free mercy as it is revealed therein and leave others that have a mind to take all the Instruction that is to be had by Tradition FINIS AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER THE late dreadfull Fire kindled by our God-provoking sins and abominations transcending all our Forefathers after so many miracles of mercies and deliverances within three dayes space turned no less than 88 Pariâ—…es and Pâ—…ish-Churches with the Cathedâ—…al Church of the late great and glorious City of London into heaps of ashes and rubbish to the just horror and amazement of all Spectators of their â—…mes and ruines which as it proved extremely prejudicial and destructive to most Companies of the City yet none of them received so grand losses and dammages by that devouring Conflagration as the Company of Stationers most of