Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	authority_n	believe_v	infallible_a	5,104	5	10.1902	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A32801	The divine trinunity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, or, The blessed doctrine of the three coessentiall subsistents in the eternall Godhead without any confusion or division of the distinct subsistences or multiplication of the most single and entire Godhead acknowledged, beleeved, adored by Christians, in opposition to pagans, Jewes, Mahumetans, blasphemous and antichristian hereticks, who say they are Christians, but are not / declared and published for the edification and satisfaction of all such as worship the only true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all three as one and the self same God blessed for ever, by Francis Cheynell ...	Cheynell, Francis, 1608-1665.	1650 (1650)	Wing C3811; ESTC R34820	306,702	530

and laboured more abundantly then any in this service 5. Peter did never claime or exercise any such power over the Princes and Kingdomes of the world as the Pope doth Lu. 22. 25 26. Mat. 20. 25 26. 6. If Peter had desired and usurped any Supremacy over the rest of the Apostles he had thereby degraded himselfe and been last of all Mark 9. 34 35. 7. If the vices of Popes may make them Supream or their errours infallible we are able to prove that by fraud violence and such like black arts they have usurped a power over the consciences of men to lead them ●nto Heresie Antichristianisme Atheisme For by endeavouring to prove their Infallibility by the Scripture and then venting grosse errours as infallible truths upon the authority of the Pope and Church they have tempted some to beleeve neither Church nor Pope nor Scripture The Pope hath told them that they had as good beleeve nothing as not beleeve all and therefore it is to be feared that too many beleeve nothing at all Let us then to the Law and the Testimony and let Christ and his Spirit be heard speake in them and we will proceed to tryal with the Papists upon what points they please We will try all their new Tutelar Gods whether Angels or dead men or their breaden God in the Masse by the 1 Command Their picturing of God and worshipping of him by pictures by the Second Commandment Their Superstitious benedictions Magicall Incantations exorcismes and all those helps to salvation which salt wax spittle bells can afford by the third Commandement and so I might proceed to the Holy-dayes Masses c. or try their Popes usurpations the cruelty of their Inquisition their allowance of Fornication forbidding to marry their equivocations rebellious concupiscence by the Second Table We will by the Gospell of Christ try the Doctrine of Justification by workes their publick prayers in an unknowne tongue their denying of the Testament of Christs bloud to the people we will examine whether there be more sacrifices of Christ then one whether they that dye in Christ rest from their labours I might proceed to examine their Doctrine concerning the Offices and benefits of Christ concerning the nature and use of faith and the Doctrine of the Sacraments and the rest of the points in controversie between us and the Papists And truly when I do read such questions as these I cannot but thinke of those Texts 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2 3. Now the Spirit speakes expresly c. the Spirit doth so expresly condemne these seducing and erring Spirits that whosoever will be perswaded by the evident demonstrations of the Spirit and be over-ruled by his positive definitions in Scripture will confesse that the Papists were very wise in offering to be tryed by unwritten Traditions or the Pope and his adherents in all points in question It is clear that the Popes have taught for Doctrines the Commandements of men He that reades the Epistles to the Romanes and Galathians 1 Cor. 14. Chap. the second Chapter to the Colossians the second Chapter of the second Epistle to the Thessalonians and the plainer places of the Book of the Revelation will acknowledge the Spirit doth speake expresly The Pope must therefore be beholding to his School-men to defend his Doctrine and to his Canonists to keep up his Discipline and pretend no more to Scriptures or pure Antiquity for his Justification If the Anti-Scripturists would but hearken to the Spirit speaking in the Scripture they would say the Spirit hath magnified both Law and Gospel and made them honorable precious and glorious in our eyes I will not insist upon those many convincing arguments whereby the Scriptures are undeniably proved to be the word of God but humbly desire all men to consider whether the true reason why those Arguments do not effectually perswade obstinate men be not cleerly this because men do undervalue the testimony of the Holy Ghost and resist vex grieve or quench the Holy Spirit whose office it is to seale up this and all other saving truths to our consciences and hearts True it is that the law of God is written in our hearts by nature but our nature is corrupted and we are blinded with pride passion prejudice with selfe conceitednes and selfe-love and therefore it is requisite that the wrath of God should be revealed from heaven against pleasing gainfull sins nay unnaturall sins Rom 1. 18. to the end of the Chapter Moreover it is to be sadly considered that the Gospell is not written in our hearts by nature nor can it be found out by any artificiall Demonstration but it is discovered to us by Divine Revelation Rom. 1. 16 17. I know many learned men have used the testimony of humane Authors in a Secondary and subservient way to confirme our Faith in this point but it is cleer that we must rest our Faith upon the Authority of God in this and all other points or else our Faith will not be a Divine Faith God sweares by himselfe because he is the greatest and doth bear witnesse to himselfe in his word Nay to his Word in his Word because he is the truest for he is indeed the prime truth the onely Infallible Truth And hence it is that the Scriptures are called the testimonies of God and the testimony of the Spirit is so often produced 1 Pet. 1. 11. Act. 5. 32. 1 Ioh. 5. 6. It is no shame to adhere to the Testimony of God in the weightiest point Psal. 119. 31 46. Hence it is that the Penmen do so often shew their Commission and cry thus saith the Lord. And hence it is that God doth so often own the Scriptures for his word This is my word saith God this came from my inspiration saith the Spirit 2 Tim. 3. 16. 2 Pet. 1. 21. This is my writing saith Iehovah I will own it and stand to it I have written to him the great things of my Law saith God Hos. 8. 12. The Scriptures are the Oracles of God Rom. 3. 2. They contain the counsel of God Act. 20. 27. God hath given us sufficient assurance that the Law was written by his own finger and all other books by his spec●al command and inspiration All Scripture is given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3. 16 Prophecy●ame not in old time the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it came not at any time by the will of man but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 21. Our Saviour gives a full testimony to Moses David the rest of the Penmen of the Psalms and all the Prophets Luk. 24 44. God hath sealed the testimony of the Penmen by miracles on men and divels we need not expect new miracles to confirm this Old-Testament ancient Gospel both are confirmed by the old miracles which stand upon Record in both But if any man preach a New Gospel we may

5. 23. The great mystery of uniting the soule to Christ by Faith Eph. 5. 32. and making of it one Spirit with the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 6. 17. is a main Fundamentall of the mystery of Godlinesse as shall be proved cleerly before I conclude this chapter III. God the Holy Ghost is the object of a Christians divine Faith The Holy-Ghost speaking in the Holy Scriptures doth teach us to beleeve not only in the Father and in the Son but in himself also It is the Spirit that beareth witnesse because the Spirit is truth 1 Joh. 5. 6. There are three that bear witnesse in Heaven but here is speciall testimony given of the Spirit that we might be moved to beleeve the spirit who is to testifie the whole truth concerning the Father the Son and himself It is the Spirit saith he whose speciall office it is to bear witnesse and therefore there is this speciall testimony given of him that the Spirit is truth and then it follows that the Spirit is one with the Father and the Son one in nature one and the same God with them both These three are one 1 Joh. 5. 7. and the witnesse of God must without controversie be received unlesse we will make God a Lyer as the Apostle reasons the point from the 9th verse to the 12th The Spirit is Truth the Spirit is God therefore the Spirit is the object of Divine faith he that tells a lye to the Holy Ghost tells a lye to God Acts 5. 3 4. He that then gives the lye to the Holy Ghost gives the lye to God The testimony of the Spirit is a Divine testimony 1 Cor. 2. 1. 4. the demonstration of the Spirit a divine demonstration the power of the Holy Ghost a divine power Paul saith his Preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power that our faith might not stand in the wisedome of men but in the power of God The wisdome power testimony of the Spirit are all of them divine the wisdome of the Spirit is infallible the power of the Spirit is irresistible and therefore our most divine faith is built and doth stand fast grounded and established upon the wisdome of the Spirit because the wisdome of the Spirit is the wisdome of God 1 Cor. 2. 4 5. We read in the Prophets that all the children of God shall be taught of God Esay 54. 13. of all three persons for the Father teacheth Mat. 16. 17. Ioh. 5. 45. and the Son who came out of the bosome of his Father and yet remained in the bosome of his Father teacheth Heb. 1. 2. But the Father and the Son especially since the Ascension of Christ and the effusion of the Spirit do teach the children of God all his Elect by the holy Spirit And therefore the Apostle shewing how God doth teach his Elect after a more peculiar manner so that even babes in Christ those whom he calleth little children are preserved even in seducing times and led into all necessary truths notwithstanding all the diligence and subtilty of those many Antichrists who are industrious to deceive he saith they have an unction from the Holy one and know all things all things necessary to be knowne and beleeved for the obtaining the remission of sins c. ver 12. But more especially he shewes that the Spirit doth teach them to continue in the Son and in the Father ver 24. and therefore in the Doctrine concerning the Father and the Son as it is more expresly set downe in the 9th verse of the second Epistle of Iohn And then he shewes that the Spirit should abide constantly in them to give them cleer and certaine direction in all necessary points 1 Iohn 2. 27. But the annointing which yee have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same annointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lye and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him or it Ye shall abide in Christ and abide in the truth which hath been taught you by the Holy Spirit and the teaching of the Spirit is cleare and certaine for saith he the spirit is truth and is no lye Here is the peculiar teaching of God the Spirit teacheth us to beleeve in himselfe aswell as in the Father and the Son And the Spirit was sent by the Father in the nam● of the Son for this very purpose Moreover it is evident that the Spirit doth not only teach Babes in Christ but he taught even the Apostles of Christ. But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things Joh. 14. 26. Nay the Holy Spirit did endite all the Holy Scriptures and inspire the Prophets Apostles and all the holy men of God in the writing of them The Scriptures were not written by the will of men but by the motion of the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 21. where the motion of the Holy Ghost is opposed to the will of men to shew that the motion and will of the Holy Ghost is the motion and will of God Many other places and arguments might be superadded but for the better instruction of ordinary Readers I shall draw out my Arguments into ranke and file 1. The Spirit is God The testimony of the Spirit is the testimony of God 1 Cor. 2. 1. 4. The wisedome of the Spirit the wisedome of God and the power of the Spirit the power of God 1 Cor. 2 4 5. 13. The teaching of the Spirit is the teaching of God Ihe will of the Spirit is the will of God 2 Pet. 1. 21. 1 Cor. 12. 6. 11. 2. The Spirit is the Author of the Scriptures 2 Tim. 3. 16. 1 Pet. 1. 11 12. Revel 2. 29. 3. The Spirit is the Interpreter of the Scriptures and his interpretation is cleer certaine and infallible The Spirit discovers the hidden wisedome of God the wisedome of God in a mystery the deep things of God which could not have entred into the heart of man if the Spirit had not revealed them and therefore the deep things of God ● Cor. 2. 10. are called the things of the Spirit of God ver ●4 and things which are spiritually discerned and therefore they are such things as the Spirituall man by the help of the Spirit is able to perceive discerne receive and to say with truth and comfort Now I have the mind of Christ now I know the things that are freely given me of God because the Spirit hath revealed them to me Consider the discourse of the Apostle quite throughout the Second chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians and this point will be very cleer 4. The Spirit

And I have consulted the most judicious and experienced writers upon that place though I cite but few in the margine because I have not time to peruse them againe True it is that we are not to beleeve every spirit and therefore are permitted to try the spirits whether they be of God or no 1 Joh. 4. 1. But in this tryall the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scriptures is the suprem Judge and the Holy Spirit doth condemn all erroneous and fantasticall spirits who forsake old truths and pretend to follow New Light The holy Spirit doth constantly teach the same truth in the holy Scriptures for he doth not change his mind or contradict himself We saith the Apostle having the same spirit of Faith according as it is written I beleeved and therefore have I spoken we also beleeve and therefore speake 2 Cor. 4. 13. The same spirit doth lead all the faithfull into all truth necessary to salvation not Absolutely and at once but by degrees For we see the Apostles themselves were for a time guilty of grosse errours Mark 10. 37 41. Act. 1. 6. But the faithfull cannot obstinately hold and continue in such odious and damnable errours as do directly overthrow the foundation of Faith And for the time in which they do erre they hearken to their own spirits so farre as they are carnall and do not as they ought search and pray and wait for the direction of the Holy Spirit It is not the Spirit of Faith which speaks in them when they dissent from such as receive the publique Testimony of the Holy Ghost speaking in the holy Scriptures And therefore the Spirit teacheth us to try the spirits and doctrines of men by the Scriptures if they speak not according to this Word it is not because they have new light from the spirit but because they have no light no morning light heavenly light conveyed unto them in that point wherein they dissent or they have not as yet received it the spirit hath not as yet sealed that portion of truth to their consciences or writ it in their hearts For the spirit doth not whisper one thing in privat to my conscience and declare the contrary in his publique Testimony delivered in the Word Behold saith the wisdome of God I will pour out my spirit unto you I will make knowen my words unto you Pro. 1. 23 For this is the Covenant of God that his Word and spirit should go together and the spirit should deliver his publique Testimony Authoritatively as it becomes his supremacy and soveraignty in the holy Scriptures This is my Covenant with them saith the Lord my spirit that is upon thee and my Word c. Isa. 59. 21. And by attendance on the ministry of the Gospel in the Church of Christ we receive the Spirit Gal. 3. 2. By hearing the doctrine of Faith preached in the Gospel they received the Spirit and therefore the ministry of the Gospel is called the ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 8. And for these reasons we try the doctrines and Spirits of men by the word of God because the Spirit who is the Author of Scripture doth every where agree with himself and there is a friendly relation between the truth of the party witnessing the truth of the thing witnessed We do readily acknowledge that the world doth look upon this publique testimony of the Spirit in the word as a private testimony and are apt to scoffe at them who receive it as at men led by their own private spirit but the true reason is because this testimony of the Spirit is not manifest to them who have not the Spirit But it is so manifest to them that have had this publique testimony sealed up to their consciences that they will hold fast this testimony though it cost them their lives I saw under the Altar the soules of them that were slaine for the word of God and for the testimony which they held Rev. 6. 9. The testimony which they held is no other then that publick testimony which the Spirit delivers in the Word and had privately sealed up to their Spirits They were slaine for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held according to that Word They were Martyred because they gave testimony of that truth which they had learnt in the Word of God I am willing to dwell longer upon this subject because it is Fundamentum Fundamentorum and therefore we will for our better satisfaction descend from handling the point in Generall unto some very weighty points in particular and shew how the Spirit doth perswade the hearts and consciences of men to receive his testimony in particular controversies which have been raised and disputed by men of great wit and Spirit In the great controversies between us and the Papists they do as divers Hereticks have done before them urge visions miracles traditions successions prudentiall motives and sometimes Councels Fathers and for a fairer pretence the holy Scriptures But when they are beaten off from their pretending to Councels and Fathers by our learned Whitaker Iewel Abbot Vsher Rainolds not to name Chamier and other Worthyes what lamentable shifts do they make when they are pressed to stand to the publicke testimony and judgement of the Holy Ghost delivered in the holy Scriptures We do therefore in compassion to their poor soules intreat them to hearken to the Spirit of Christ and not to the Spirit of Antichrist because the right sense of the Scripture expounded by the Scripture is the sword of Gods Spirit where with all heresies whatsoever are overcome by all those good souldiers who add the shield of Faith to the Sword of the Spirit But when men neglect the Scriptures and idolize humane inventions they spend their strength in vaine and are like the blind men of Sodome who wearied themselves to find the doore The great point of the Popes Infallible Supremacy can never be proved by the Originall Universall and Perpetuall Tradition of the Church of Christ in all Ages no nor by the unanimous consent of all learned men now living in communion with the present Church of Rome The Sorbon Doctors cannot beleeve that the Popes of Rome are not subject to the sins and passions of other men and if the succession of Popes which they brag of were to be tryed by Fame Celebrity Antiquity Consent it is most evident to all that are acquainted with pure antiquity and impartiall History that the Supremacy of the Popes and Papacy would be sufficiently condemned but if the Popes infallible Supremacy come to be tryed by the Holy Ghost speaking in the holy Scriptures the Popes and Papacy will be infallibly condemned by the Supream Judge The learned Papists do not agree concerning the Infallible Propounder of Fundamentall points for 1. Some say that the Popes proposall ex Cathedrâ is sufficient but Gal. 1. 8. 2. Others

say a Councell without the Pope 3. Others the Pope and Councell both together it seems the Pope is not sent as Peter to strengthen his brethren but his brethren must be sent for to strengthen him 4. Some say both together is not sufficient either in point of manners or matter of Faith unlesse the acceptation of the Church Vniversall be superadded 5. We are not able to reckon up the number of those who deny the infallibility of the present Church and Pope of Rome 6. They cannot give us in a perfect Inventory of all written verities unwritten Traditions and Church-definitions which the whole succession of Popes have upon the credit of their infallibility determined to be necessary for all Christians to know and beleeve I need say nothing of the Papall Reservations Provisions Mandates and all postnate Dictates and Decrees which Bishops Metropolitans are by their* Oath made to the Pope at their confirmation obliged to observe Nor will I trouble my Reader with the distinction of Supremacy of knowledge in resolving Church questions because that they say belongs to the Fathers who excelled the Popes in expounding of Scriptures and Supremacy of Power to decide Church causes For this latter Supremacy is that which Popes and Cardinals and all must live by in the Court of Rome and the former Supremacy is purposely claimed for the support of this But it was a long time before the Popes presumed to challenge the power of deciding all the greater causes of the Church thorowout the world For the Bishops of Rome were at the first but Bishops within their own City then Metropolitans within their own Province afterwards Arch-Bishops or Patriarks over Metropolitans within their Princely Diocesse and last of all their pride and policy being crowned with successe did swell them up to be Popes and Lords over all the Christian or rather Antichristian world The Ecclesiasticall and Temporall Supremacy or Soveraignty of Popes is condemned by Reason and History by Fathers and Councels as others have proved at large let us not therefore be put off with that ridiculous piece of Sophistry which is so common The Pope is infallible and supream Head of the Church and Lord of the World because the Scriptures meane so and the Scriptures meane so because the Pope saith so who doth not see that the Scriptures are only put in for a meer stale and therefore the Argument had been as strong if they had proved the Popes Infallible Authority and Princely Supremacy by an ipse dixit at first The Pope saith he is Infallible ergo he is so I am not at leasure to heare what the Pope who hath endeavoured to dethrone Christ and depose the Holy Ghost saith in his owne behalfe at Rome for if he once bring this great question to be resolved in his owne Consistory he will soon bring all causes to be decided there also where he himselfe is Plaintiffe Witnesse and Iudge only in prudence and modesty he hath entertained a company of Cardinals who are to divide the spoiles with him for his Grand Inquest The Popes Supremacy is unwritten and therefore he is a fit Judge to decide all controversies amongst the Traditionaries whose faith is not written in either Testament But since the Pope doth strive with the Holy Ghost for the Chair and Christ for the Throne let us heare what Christ and the Holy Ghost do both speake in the Holy Scriptures of Truth and we shall quickly decide this grand controversie and many more Christ is the only Pastour of his Church he is to continue so and have no successor We find in holy Scripture that Christ is the only Head and Saviour of his whole Church Ephes. 1. 22. Colos. 2. 19. he doth and will continue with his Church alway even unto the end of the world to give life sense and motion to it and to rule and governe the whole and every member of it by the effectuall councell and working of his Holy Spirit The Apostles were but Ministeriall Heads or Principall Members who had a preheminence over the inferiour members for perfecting of the Saints by the worke of the Ministry 1 Cor. 12. 21. 28. First Apostles this eminent ministry or Headship did belong to all the Apostles and not to Peter only the power of remitting and retaining sins was given to the other Apostles aswel as Peter Io. 20. 21 22. 23. We deny not Peter to be the first Apostle in time as Andrew was the first Disciple and therefore Peter is first reckoned Mat 10. 2. Nay we will not deny him to be most eminent in grace and for both reasons grant him to be first in Order but we deny that he was chiefe in dignity or Supream in power Because we know the Apostles had all equall power For Christ sent them all as his Father sent him they had all of them power to open heaven to beleevers and shut it against unbeleevers The power of the Keyes was given upon the confession which Peter made in the name of al the rest Mat. 16. 16. 18. as he was wont to do Ioh. 6. 69. The confession was common to all the promise common to all the performance common to all Ioh. 20. 21 22 23. I need say no more but this 1. The Papists do entitle Peter to that Supream Soveraignty which belongs to Christ But Peter and the rest of the Apostles were joynt foundations built on Christ the only proper head and foundation Ephes. 2. 20. 2. They entitle the Pope to that power which did belong to Peter but Peter had no successour in his extraordinary and Apostolick power the Pope is no Apostle and when Peter speakes of his ordinary power he tells the Elders that he is their Fellow-Presbyter I who am also an Elder exhort the Elders 1 Tim. 5. 1. But that Peter was an ordinary Bishop of one City First of Antioch for seven yeers and then of Rome for twenty-five cannot be proved by Scripture no nor by any credible Historian I know they rely upon Eusebius his testimony But it is enough for me to reply that Eusebius his History doth dissent from his Chronicle and his Chronicle doth dissent from Scripture 3. Christ hath many Ministers to preach his Gospell but he hath no Catholick Vicar besides his Spirit who can challenge the Supream Soveraignty of deciding controversies by an infallible Sentence It is the Spirit that makes the word to be effectuall 1 Cor. 3. 7. As Christ workes by his Spirit he hath no Vicar for he himselfe is with his Disciples alwayes to the end of the world Mat. 20. Christ himselfe doth Baptize with the Holy Ghost he himselfe did open the heart of Lydia 4. The Pope challenges this power over the Gentiles but Paul was the Apostle of the Gentiles by the appointment of the Holy Ghost and Peters own consent Rom. 11. 13. Act. 13. 2. Gal. 2. 9. Paul was chief

Arminians the constant enemies of the Grace of God should consider that the Pelagians the advocates of Free-wil and corrupt nature were confounded with those plain Scriptures which were urged by the Councels of Carthage Milevis Orenge and Holy Augustine in his fragrant works The Socinians the enemies of the onely true God Father Son and Holy Ghost should consider that the Arrians were overthrown by the Scriptures in the Nicene councel and by the godly Pastours of the Church who instead of broken Scriptures which the Arians urged with as much fraud as the devil did Mat. 4. produced plain Scriptures and the whole Series of both Testaments and so did invincibly refute their blasphemous errours The Libertines who claym a liberty of publishing damnable Heresies and blasphemies under pretence of Prophesying might learn that where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty true liberty but no where else for he who protends to speak by the Holy Ghost and yet denies Iesus to be the Lord doth at once blaspheme Christ and the Holy Spirit and is an Anti-spiritual Lyar an Antichristian Blasphemer and hath neither Father Son nor Spirit dwelling in him For he who speaks by the Spirit doth acknowledge Jesus to be the Lord 1 Cor. 12. 3. And he who denies the Son hath not the Father Who is a lyer but he who denies that Iesus is the Christ He is Antichrist who denies the Father and the Son whosoever denies the Son the same hath not the Father 1 Jo. 2. 22 23. In like manner every Spirit which confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God but of Antichrist 1 Joh. 4. 2 3. This is that Vorstian liberty which hath undone so many Nations already and is now Idolized in England under the name of Liberty of Conscience by such as have neither Conscience nor liberty Reverend Dr. Sibbs did exceedingly cry out against this kind of Liberty in his time He would not have way given to Vorstian lawlesse licencious liberty of prophesie that every one so soone as he is big of some new conceit should bring forth his abortive Monster for then the Pillars of Christian Faith will soon be shaken and the Church of God which is an house of Order will be●ome a Babel an house of Confusion The dolefull issues of which pretended Liberty we see in Polonia Transylvania and in Countries neerer hand I might proceed but this is sufficient for a taste and if I should but name all the errours of this age and not confute them I should abuse my Reader and therefore I desire to stop in time and beseech all that are spiritually minded to hea●ken to the Spirit speaking in the word Beloved beleeve not every spirit but beleeve the Holy Spirit who is the Author of the Scriptures the Author of Faith the Iudge of Controversies the interpreter of the Scriptures the Doctor and comforter of the Elect and he will lead you into all necessary truth for your present edification and everlasting Salvation The Holy Spirit will assure you that the Scriptures of truth were all written by his own Authority and you may safely set to your seale when you have received the infallible testimony of the Holy Ghost We are witnesses of these things saith the ●postle and so is the Holy-Ghost also Act. 5. 32. We shall never receive the word as the Word of God with joy reverence submission and assurance of Faith specially in times of ●ffliction and temptation unlesse we receive the witnesse of the Spirit and ground our Faith upon the wisdome and evident demonstration of the Spirit When we look upon the word of God and consider 1 The wonderfull consent of all those Holy and selfe-denying men that penned it 2. The marvellous fulfilling of all the strange Prophecies in the fullnesse of time appointed by God 3. The Admirable Providence of God in preserving the Scriptures notwithstanding all the rage and malice of Hereticks and persecutors 4. The supernaturall Miracles wrought for to confirm it 5. The Harmonious testimony that the Church Martyrs Saints have in all ages given to it 6. The Antiquity Majesty Efficacy of it 7. The divine and heavenly matter contained in it 1. Mysteries above reason 1 Cor. 2. 9. 2. Commands contrary to our corrupt nature sent to all Nations and even to the greatest and proudest of men 3. Threats beyond the strength of man to inflict or the capacity of man to comprehend an hard heart a seared Conscience and yet a trembling Spirit a reprobate mind and sense a spirit of madnesse giddinesse horrour or slumber an everlasting worm eternall fire torments with the devil and his Angels 4. Promises and rewards beyond the power of man to bestow or wisdome of Angels to comprehend 1 Pet. 1. 12. Ephes. 3. 10. 5. The fall corruption Redemption Salvation of man wonderfully declared in the Holy Scriptures the inward frame and disposition of mans heart his secret thoughts and most intimate projects his reserved wishes desires ends and purposes undenyably discovered for his conviction even to admiration and amazement 1 Cor. 14. ●5 then the reason of man is even confounded the obstinacy of mans heart subdued all the pride of humane glory stained and the Scriptures appeare to be the word of God But now all these Arguments and many more which I could name will not be effectuall for our regeneration and conversion untill the Spirit be pleased to set all home upon the heart by his own irresistible efficacy and seale this truth to the Conscience by his own infallible testimony But when the Spirit speaks to and works upon our spirits then we do assent and consent to all the proposals of God our very thoughts are captivated and subdued unto the obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10. 5. Our Conscience is convinced swayed and undeniably obliged to beleeve what is promised allow what is commanded our will made willing to chose both the affections to embrace both our whole man to follow after both according to the directions of God for performing what is commanded and obtaining of what is promised Rom. 7. 12. 22. Psa. 119. 106 112 113 127 128 167 173 174. I must acknowledge my absolute total and universal dependance upon the infallible wisdome infinite truth power majesty greatnesse and goodnesse of the Holy Spirit and confesse that he hath soveraigne Right and divine authority to reveale and prescribe whatsoever he pleases upon the rewards and penalties of everlasting life and death And I am obliged to beleeve and embrace al that the Spirit teacheth without any contradiction though it seeme never so improbable to my carnall reason and be really contrary to my corrupt affections ends and esianes The spirit teaches me how to apprehend and judge of spirituall things after a spirituall manner for the spirit teaches me what to approve and

Tract 3. * Nos Ecclesiae Ministerium in honore habemus internas persuasiones sine externo verbo tanquam Satanae ludibria cavemus ex Scripturis sapimus cum Scripturis sentimus propter Scripturas credimus Whitaker de Authoritate Script lib. 1. cap. 10. prope finem Controv. 1. de Script interpret qu. 5. cap. 4 5. Item de Catechis rudibus cap 3 4 6 7 c. Isa. 30. 20 21. Verbum Dei est lux lucerna lumen ad Deum dirigens i● Agendis Credendis Sperandis amandis Psal. 19. Psal. 119. 2 Pet. 1. 16 19. Vide Chamier de Veritate Canonis Interior Magister docet Christus docet inspiratio ipsius docet Aug. Tract 3. in Epist. Iohan. Non dicit meliorem sed Certiorem Aug. de verbis Apostol● Serm. 27. cap. 4. Praevidens Dominus Iesus Christus impios quosdam futuros qui miraculis ejus Calumniarentur magicis artibus ea tribuendo prophetas ante praemisit Aug Tract 35. in Iohan. Vide D. Davenant de judice Norma fidei D. Gomarum Chamier de Interpret lib. Canon Dr. Reynold in his learned conference with Hart chap. 2. Divis 2. pag. 46. Mr. Hildersham in his 145 Lecture upon the 51 Psal. pag. 697. Dr. Alting Loc. com Erroneous and fantasticall spirits are condemned by the Holy Spirit Vide D. Whitak controv 1. de Script Interpret qu. 5. cap. 4 de Authoritate Scripturae lib. 1. cap. 10. in calce capitis 2 Cor. 4 13 Ingenue fatemur non esse nunc novas revelationes expectandas sive à summo pontifice sive a Concilio sive ab Ecclesiâ totâ Canus lib. 2. cap. 7. Ma●k 10. 37 41. Act. 1. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aristot. Ethic lib. 5. cap. 7. Non eritijs matutina lux Isa. 8. 20. Judices ejus lu●i vespertini sacerdotes ejus polluerunt sanctum injuste egerunt contra legem Soph. 3. 3. Omnis potestas judicis ministeria●is Legibus adstricta est unicus autem ●ummus Judex est Isa. 32. 22. Iacobi 4. 12. qui quidem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 solus judicat Revelatio mihi in conscientiâ meâ facta est Privata ex parte Subjecti Publica verò ex parte Objecti Pro. 1. 23. Ecclesia Instrumen taliter commovet sed non sola movet movent ipsae Scripturae movet Spiritus Principaliter movent Whitakerus Isa. 59. 21. Non potest Deus nisi per Deum intelligi sicut nec honorem a nobis Deus nisi per Deum accipit non cogitando aut dispatando veritatem homo assèqui potest sed audiendo ab eo qui solus docere potest Hilarius de Trinitate lib. 5. Vide D. Whitaker de Sacra Scriptura controv 1. qu. 3. c. 8. Judicium practicae Discretionis a dono coele sli pendet ex infuso lumine Spiritus Sancti oritur non ex privato sensu aut phantasmate ad normam verbi exigitur simul dirigitur Distinguit itaque D. Davenantius inter Iudicium Discretionis Iudicium Praecipitationis Non ad enthysiasmos itaque fanaticos vel asslatus Anabaptisticos fideles remittimus vide D. Daven de judice Normà Fidei Mr. Hildersham his Lectures upon the 51 Psal. Mr. Ball in his larger Catechism Dr. Reynolds conference with Hart. Dr. Whitaker above cited Et Rev. D. Reynold Academiae Oxon. Procancellarii in Concione de Animali homine hoc anno 1649. habitâ Aug. de unitate● Ecclesiae cap. 16. in Johan Tra. 13. Iren. adv haereses lib. 3. cap. 2. 12. Euseb. Hi. Eccles. lib. 5. cap. 14. Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 23. Theod. Histo. lib. 1. Cap. 16. Aug contra Max. Arian lib. 1. De Bap● con●ta Donatistas lib. 3. cap. 2. Epist 165. ad Generosun 1 Cor. 2. 13. Ephes. 6. 16. 17. The Popes Infallible Supremacy tryed by the Holy Ghost Read the Protestation of learned Protestants repeated by Bp. Jewel and Doct. Rainoldes in his conference with Hart 8 cap. first Division pag 393. * Vide Frācis Pic. Mirandul Theor. in expos Theor. 4ti Thom. Waldens Tom. 3. de Sacramentalibus Doct. 3. pag. 5. * Vide Formam juramenti prae stand ab Episcopo electo in Pontificali Romano parte primâ Reservationes provisione● mandata Apostolica totis viribus observabo faciam ab alijs observari Gratian. Decret Distinct. 20. Vide Wolfgang Laz. comment Reipub Rom. ●2 cap. 2. Concil Constan. 1 cap. 2. Theodos. Valent. Epist. ad discor in Concil Chalced. Act 1. Theod. Hi. Ecel l. 5. cap. 28. Gregor Regist. l. 4. Epist. 34. D. Vsher Iewel Rainolds Whiker Abbot Davenant Bilson Chamier Gomarus Vide. Aenc Silv. de gestis Basil Concil lib. 1. laco Almain de authoritate Ecclesiae cap. 8. Summi Poncifices suas fimbrias nimis extenden●es alios Papas adducunt in teste● Aske a thief or his fellow whether he be a thiefe Vide ● nullus D. de testibus L. omnibus C co 4. 9. 2. 3. c. si testes Christ is the only Head of his whole Church Ephes. 1. 22. Col. 2. 19. Ioh. 10. 16. Per pastorem unicum intelligimus Christum non Papā Oecume●cum Ioh. 10. 9. 14. 16 26 27 28. Sic per Davidem intelligimus Christum Eze. 37. 22 23. 24. Ezek. 34. 23. 1 Pet. 2. 25. Heb. 13. 20 Cuncti claves regni Caelorù accipiant ex aequo Hieronym advers 10. vin lib. 2. Vt Plato Princeps Philosophorum ita Petrus Apostolorū Hieron adver Pelag lib. 1. Vide Glos. extravagant Ioh. 22. Potestas summa Pap. six 4. Sac. Cerem eccles Rom. lib. 1. sect 7. Leo's Sermons Epistles Rhemish annot in Mat. 16. 18. Vide Annot Romae excus in Cyprian De aequalitate Apostolatus qui cum Apostolis morientibus cessavit nec ad Episcopos transijt Vide Comarum parte 3. Disp. 22. de Petri Apostoli Papae Romani r●pug Dr. Raynolds in his conference with Hart Chap. 6. Division 3. pag. 209. 210 211 212. Act. 14. 23 Act. 20. 28 Tit. 1. 5 Phil. 1. 1. Pro Apostolis filij nati sunt non Pater unicus papa Oecumenicus Vide Aug. Enarrat in Psal. 34. nec non in Psal. 44. Vna vetula potest esse perfectior ac major ipso Papâ perfectione Gratiae amplitudinc Virtutum Turrecrem In Summa de Eccles. lib. 2. c. 82. The Law The First Table The Second Table The Gospel The grand Pillars both of Popery and the Papacy Anti-Scripturists The true reason why men do not beleeve the Scriptures to be the Word of God The Law The Gospel The prime and infallible Truth bears witnesse to it selfe Heb. 4. 12 13. 2 Cor. 3. 6. 2 Cor. 2. 16. Act. 7. 54. Rev. 11. 10 Act. 5. 39. The Familists H. Nicolas 〈…〉 the Gosp●l of the ●ingdome Dr Rainolds Confe●●nce with Hart cap. 1. divis 2. pag 60. 61 H●●lets Epistle in Queen Elizabeth The Anabaptists The Arminians Enemies of Grace Vide Epist. ad Innoc. inter Epist. August Epist. 90.