Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	ghost_n	holy_a	trinity_n	2,581	5	9.6972	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78218	[Baʻal-samz] or, Soveraigne balsome, gently applied in a few weighty considerations (by way of quærie) for healing the distempers of such professors of religion as Satan hath wounded and drawn aside (under the notion of living in God) to the utter renouncing and casting off the use of divine ordinances, and Gospel-institutions of worship. With an apendix by way of postscript to such professors, wherein the most principall grounds upon which they build their practise, are fully answered and removed. And a catalogue of the errors that many of them hold since they left the ordinances, discovered. As also a true relation of Gods extraordinary working upon one of this way very lately in Plimouth, to the sight of his error, for the good of others published. / By Will. Bartlet, an unworthy minister of the Gospel, and lecturer at Bytheford in Devonshire.	Bartlet, William, 1609 or 10-1682.; M. P.	1649 (1649)	Wing B987; Thomason E549_19; ESTC R209139	79,502	81

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OR Soveraigne Balsome Gently applied in a few weighty Considerations by way of Quaerie for healing the distempers of such Professors of Religion as Satan hath wounded and drawn aside under the Notion of living in God to the utter renouncing and casting off the use of Divine Ordinances and Gospel-Institutions of Worship With an Apendix by way of Postscript to such Professors wherein the most principall grounds upon which they build their practise are fully answered and removed And a Catalogue of the errors that many of them hold since they left the Ordinances discovered As also a true Relation of Gods extraordinary working upon one of this way very lately in Plimouth to the sight of his error for the good of others published By Will. Bartlet an unworthy Minister of the Gospel and Lecturer at Bytheford in Devonshire Even from the dayes of your Fathers yee are gone away from my Ordinances and have not kept them Return unto me and I will return unto you saith the Lord of Hosts c. MAL. 3.7 Is there no Balm in Gilead Is there no Physitian there Why there is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered JER 8.22 Brethren if any of you doe erre from the truth and one convert him let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soule from death and shall hide a multitude of sinnes IAM 5.19 20. Imprinted at London by G. Dawson for Elizabeth Overton in Popes-head Alley neere the Royall Exchange 1649. TO ALL THE CORDIALL Friends and sincere lovers of the Lord IESUS and his SYON PRETIOUS SOULES YEE cannot be ignorant how the prophesies of old a 2 Tim. 3.1 ad 10. 2 Pet. 2. per tot 1 Joh. 2.18.22 Jude 4. ad finem Matth. 24 24 25 c. mentioned by the holy Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ yea by Christ himself concerning the perilousnesse of the last dayes in respect of the evils both of opinion and practice that should bee broached and embraced by all sorts of people in them are now in our times abundantly fulfilled wherein there is as much difference and as great variety if not greater betweene men in their opinions as there is between them in their fashions which I finde to be b Sic etiam in cunctis Angligenis tanta vestium varietas asperitatis multiformitas inolevit ut neutrius generis paenè quilibes censcatur ex qua re bene prophetavit tempore Regis Etheldredi c. Anony prophesied of also many hundred years since touching England and like as mens fashions in their apparrell diet and behaviour are some of them more monstrous odious and loathsome then others so are their opinions in Religion and matters of Doctrine and Worship and so blasphemous abominable and damnable are some opinions and practices now in England as that nothing but the patience of an infinite God could possibly suffer them to have any longer a Being amongst us How were the Churches of Christ weakned and endangered by such Pests in the Primitive times What a many c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Antichrists were there then 1 Iohn 2.18 What a many false Christs false Apostles false Prophets and Teachers selfe-lovers Sin-lovers and lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God going up and down deceiving poore souls especially poore silly women that were alwayes learning but never came to the knowledge of the Truth 2 Tim 3.6 who were not onely resisters but subverters of the faith delivered once to the Saints Jude 3.4 And is it not so at this day Are nor the Churches of Christ as much posered and endangered now through such false Christs false Apostles false Teachers c. meere Antichrists that have a forme of godlinesse but deny the power thereof The Lord Jesus the great Shepheard of his sheep Hebr. 13.20 hath but newly recovered his poore afflicted weather-beaten Lambes from bloody Cavalerisme tyranny and oppression but forthwith their souls are assaulted with d Beza translates it Spirituall malices the words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the spiritualnesse of evill and wickednesse carnall wickednesses are inferiour to spirituall which ocupieth the highest part of the Soule c. and are not laid out in carnall passions and concupiscences c. Lawr. Com. and Warre with Angels p. 5. spiritual wickednesses in high places Eph. 6.12 Some read it In high places but I suppose it may be read better in heavenly places or things as e The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in sublimi saith Beza but it signifies heavenly as in the Margent of your Bibles which may have relation to things as places and then it shews the things about which his malicious studies are conversant that is to take all heavenly things from us and to deprive us of whatsoever is heavenly id ib. some observe on the place If the differences amongst us touching mens opinions and practises were onely about such things as are not much materiall or were not at all determined in the Scripture or after such a manner as is dubious not onely to particular persons but whole Churches of Christ the matter were not great for God is infinitly wise herein and in my weake apprehension hath left these things so that thereby there might be occasion given the more to exercise our Charity Patience and Humility one towards another But when they shall grow to such a height as to call into question fundamentall truths and not so much to question them as flatly to deny them and to pluck up the foundation it self then 't is high time for us to look about not only to hold fast that no man take our Crown but to f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. ut fitis propugnatores fidei uti Hen. Steph. in verb. contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints Jude 3. And is it not thus with us at this g Who can number the dust of Atheists Papists Hereticks Hypocrites or measure the spacious Globe of meere Formalists or self-condemned Apostates Barl. day Don't we see that men are not ashamed to write and speake against the Divinity of Christ and the Scriptures against the Deity of the Holy Ghost yea how they deny the Trinity and plead for these very abominations that are without controversie odious and loathsome both to God and good Men h A catalogue of some of which abominable errors held by such as cast off the use of ordināces you shall find set down in the end of the Book Now concerning errors in Doctrine I have not so directly to deale with in the following Discourse though my soule bleeds to consider the dishonour comes to the Lord Jesus by them but those which more especially concerne Worship and not every petty error here neither but the grand and capitall one and that wherein I judge all error of Doctrine and Apostasie at last to terminate viz. the Renouncing and

prophane Esau Id. ibid. despise prophesying cease praying and to forsake the Assemblies of the Saints that meet together to worship the King the Lord of Hosts 1 Thess 5 17 18 19 20. 37. Whether the Father hath not commanded us to honour the Sonne as we are to honour himselfe as in Iohn 5.22 23. And whether a person may be said truly to honour the Father that r Quia ut una est essentia sapientia potentia voluntas utriusque ita etiam honor idem est utriusque adeo ut qui alterum non honorat aut ignominia ●fficit is alterum non bonoret aut ignomiuia afficiat cum propter identitatem essentiae omnia ipsis sint communia adeo ut qui video filium videat patrem Ioh. 14.9 qui confitetur aut negat filium consiteatur aut neget non habe at patrem 1 Ioh. 2.23 Tarnov in loc neglects the honour of Christ the Sonne And whether the casting off those duties and ordinances of Worship Christ hath instituted and ordained yea commanded to be made use of as King of his Church be not rather a dishonouring then an honouring of him 38. Whether there be any such way for Beleevers ordinarily to promote the honour and glory of Jesus Christ and proclaime and beare out his Name before the world then this their holy and conscientious observing the duties of his Worship at all times and on all occasions especially in times of persecution And whether Jesus Christ hath not taken it well at the hands of his Churches when they have done so as Rev. 2.9 10 13. 39. Whether the Saints in the most purest Gospel times that are yet to come when the fulnesse of the Gentiles shal be brought in and the Iewes called shall not then make use of Ordinances and duties of Worship ſ In most or all these places of Scripture is mention made of visible worship officers and ordinances and they are understood by the most godliest Interpreters of the purity of those Gospel dayes and times which shall succeed the overthrow of Antichrist and the calling of the Iewes as could easily be shewed and doubtlesse some of those Texts if not all of them are yet to be fulfilled So that the purest Gospel times shall not null or make void the use of Divine Ordinances Ezek. 37.21 to the end of the chap. Jer. 3.15 16 17. Esay 2.2 3 Esa 66 18. to the end of the Chap. Mich. 41 2. Zeph. 3.9 10. to the end Zech. 8.11 22. Mal. 3.4 with many more And whether the overthrow of Antichrist and discovery and removing of all false Worship at this day in the world shall not be in order to the introducing and erecting or setting up the true worship of Christ in this Kingdome among the Saints 40. Whether at this present juncture of time when God is appearing in his glory and setting up his King the Lord Jesus Christ upon his holy Hill of Syon as he hath promised and purposed of old to doe Psal 2.6 there be any thing more obstructive if not destructive to the carrying on of this blessed work according as men may judge to outward appearance then for those that presend to so much of God in them openly to contest against the use of Divine Ordinances and Institutions of worship wherein a principall part of Christs Kingdome on earth confisteth And whether many of those that thus reject and despise the holy Institutions and Commands of Jesus Christ laid forth in the Scriptures for all beleevers to observe in the worshipping of God after they have known and profest the same be not like to prove the fittest instruments in the hands of Satan and Antichrist if the Lord of glory prevent not to trouble the peace of the Churches of Christ afresh after the raging waves of the late tribulations be a little more asswaged 41. Whether the Scriptures when they speake of the Saints drawing nigh to God be not meant of performing the duties of his worship and drawing nigh to him in Ordinances as in that of t Every Ordinance brings us neare to God Levit. 10. The originall is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in propinquis mels The Priests under the ceremoniall worship had the speciall honour of that Title to be called Gods nigh ones Numb 16.9 he caused them to come neere him in holy services Now all the Saints are a holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall sacrifices 1 Pet. 2.5 Caryl Serm. in Iames 4. See abundance more to this purpose in that pretious Sermon If any desire further and fuller satisfaction in this particular let him diligently peruse that excellent Treatise of that late eminent and pretious servant of Christ Mr. Jer. Bur. called Gospel-worship Levit. 10.3 Psal 73. ult Iames 4.8 42. Whether those that now cast off Ordinances and contend against the use of them doe not goe against the judgement practice and profession of all the true Churches of Christ that ever were or are from the beginning of the world to this day and not only since but before the defection of Antichrist And whether those that did first lead the dance in this unhappy course of denying the use of Ordinances were not tainted and corrupted with the foulest Errors and greatest Apostasie from the Truth that may be denying the authority of the Scriptures denying the Trinity denying the Divinity of Christ of the Holy Ghost denying the Resurrection the Being of Sin or else making God the author of it c. in whose dreadfull steps many of late begin to tread that cast off the use of Gods worship and ordinances as lamentable experience witnesseth 43. Whether such as wilfully cast away the use of Ordinances and duties of worship and contend against them have not just cause to question the truth of their Spirituall estates and to doubt whether ever Jesus Christ were rightly formed in their hearts seeing the truth of the work depends ordinarily upon the same means to build and perfect it that first of all instrumentally begat it which is the publique ordinance of the Ministery of the Gospel as 1. of Pet. 2.2 compared with Iames 1.18 Acts 20.21 Acts 26.18 44. Whether departing from the ordinances of God be not one of those u These are times wherein a spirit of error is gone out into the world That prophesie of Christ seems in a great measure to be fulfilled in our dayes Matth. 24 c. Vide Car. Present Duty and Endeavour of the Saints p 36 37. deceivable wayes that false Prophets and false Christs shall make use of in these latter dayes of the world that are come upon us to deceive if it were possible the very elect as Christ himselfe hath forewarned and fore-told Matth. 24.24 And whether an elect person may not possibly be carried away with the error of the wicked against which the Apostle Peter exhorts 2 Pet 3.17 for some time Esay 29.24 And whether such may not come to see their error

all grace 1 Pet. 5. ●0 who hath called us into his glory by Christ Jesus who after yee have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you In whom I desire and trust for ever to be found Your and the Churches unfained Friend and Servant W. BARTLET March 1. 1648 Courteous Reader you are desired in respect of the Authors absence and great distance from the Presse to mend with your Pen or in love to passe by such faults as these which have escaped For the Title Balm for the Bruised read A Soveraigne Balsome for the wounded Pag. 2. marg d r. observandum P. 3. marg n r. in nova Ecclesia c. p. 4. marg s for Apostolis r. Apostolos p. 9. margh for Mr. r. Mistresse Avery p. 9. marg for Id. ibid. r. Musc in loc p. 9. l 17. r. inexpressible p. 33. mar for worship r. walking BALM for the BRVISED Quaerie I. LET it be considered in the feare of God whether the sacred Scriptures commonly called the Word of God consisting of the writings of the Prophets and Apostles in the old and new Testament that were holy men of God and a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vulg red iuspirati vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed Graecum propriè sig acti impulsi Spiritus sanctus erat Scriba Prophetae erant ejus calami quibus Spir. S. scribenda dictabat Cypr. Ergo Script sac est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ac infallibile Dei verbum Gro. inspired infallibly by the Holy Ghost in the composing of them 2 Pet. 1.20 21. be not the onely visible Rule and b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken from Architects who in building Houses doe use a Rule or Square by which all the parts are carried ou with a due proportion so those that Christ imployeth to build his Church are to measure all matters of doctrine and worship by the Rule and Square of the Scriptures Canon so called Gal. 6.16 by which persons professing the knowledge of God and faith in Christ are to square and regulate themselves in all matters of Doctrine and Worship and whether the best and next way to come to the right knowledge of the minde of Christ in these things be not to c Nihil in Ecclesia sonare debet nisi eloquia Dei juxta 1 Pet. 4.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vid. Ger. in loc Omne quod loquimur debemus affirmare de sacris Scripturis Hier. in Psal 98. Necesse est nobis Scripturas sacras in testimonium vocare sensus enim nostri enarrationes sine iis non habent fidem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See Justin Martyr in Dial. cum Tryphone Sancta Scriptura sic fidei nosirae fundamenta proponit doctrinae nostrae regulam figit ut fides Christianorum iis solum revelationibus nitatur quae in Canonicis libris continentur Dar. de fratcrna Comm. inter Eccles Evang. p. 76. Sicut verbum Dei scriptum in practicis vitae Christianae unicae est rectitudinis norma sic idem verbume seu scriptura sacra unica est veritatis norma in Theoreticis fidei Christianae See Par. in Gal. 5. keep close to this sacred and unerring Rule and Canon of the Scriptures 1 Pet. 4.11 2 Pet. 1.19 2 Tim. 3.15.16 Esay 8.20 Prov. 6.23 30.5.6 2. Whether among many other pretious truths which the Scriptures hold forth unto us this be not a speciall one viz. That Jesus Christ our blessed Lord and Saviour who having purged away our sinnes and is sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on High Heb. 1.30 hath a spiritual Kingdom or Church-state d Observanum est quod Christus non dicit Regnum meum non est in hoc mundo sed non est de hoc mundo Et infra non dieit Regmon meum non est HIC sed non est HINC Nam Regnum sc Christi est hic in hoc mundo Coetus credentium c. vide Heming Aret. Musc in loc distinct from all the Kingdomes of the world Iohn 18.36 Iesus answered My kingdome is not of this world 'T is in this world but not of this world 3. Whether this Kingdome of Christ here on earth so distinct from the World is not usually distingnished into e Ecclesiae visibilis invisibilis distinctio fundatur in scripturis Pareus in c. 2. ad Rom The Church is visible or invisible A distinction not of Genus into severall species but of the subject into severall adjuncts For the same Church may be and is visible and invisible Sedg Script a perfect Rule for Church Government Irvifibilis autem nominatur non quod homines ad eam pertinentes non videantur qua homines sed quod non cernantur qua electi solus euim Deus novit qui sunt sui Wolleb Compend Theolog. vid. Tilen Syntag. de Eccles Ellis vind Cathol p. 4. c. 2. Visible and Invisible Mysticall and Ministeriall or Politicall considered as the object of Faith or of sight and sense consisting of all the elect dispersed through the whole world called by some the Universall Church or of particular Churches collected and gathered together of visible Beleevers in this or that place Towne Citie Countrey or Kingdome Ephes 3.15 Heb. 12.23 Mat. 22.14 Gal. 1.2 1 Cor. 16.19 2 Cor. 8.1 1 Thess 2.14 4. Whether the visible Kingdome of Christ consisting of such particular Churches and Congregations of Beleevers gathered together according to the order of the Gospel f Vid. My Model of the Primitive Congregationall wayes hath not a visible Government Order and Ordinances of visible Worship necessarily belonging and appertaining thereunto according to g Functiones quas enumerat omnes sunt Ecclesiasticae quibus tunc Apostolica authoritate sic distinctis Ministerium Ecclesiae constabat quae nunc etiam in Ecclesiis constitutis vigere debent Par. in loc ad Rom. c. 12. Rom. 12.6 7 8. 1 Cor. 5. 11 12 14. Chapters Ephes 4.11 12. Matth. 28.19 5. Whether this Government and externall ordinances of Worship appertaining to this visible Church state and Kingdome of Christ under the new Testament doe not by Gods order and appointment succeed and come in the roome of those Ordinances and Lawes of Worship which the Jewes did enjoy under the old Testament according to the prophesie of the Prophet Malachi chap. 1. verse 11. For from the rising of the Sun to c. my i By the Name of GOD is meant his worship as appears from verse 6. and verse 12. of the same chapter and so it 's often used in the Scriptures Vid. Bernard Thesaur Biblic and Flac. Illir cla Som. Name is great or shall be great among the Geniiles and in every place incense shall be offered to my Name and a pure offering for my Name is or shall be great among the Heathen And whether the words of Christ to the

anointing which yee have received of him abideth in you and yee need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him 1 John 2.27 And I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it Rev. 21 22. And the Citie had no need of the Sunne neither of the Moon to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof Vers 23. Ans Much might be spoken in answer to such as produce these and the like Scriptures for the cessation of Gospel-ordinances but I shall study brevity and referre all to two heads 1. Show what I conceive to be the proper meaning of these texts of Scripture 2. Give in the joynt consent of the most judicious and godly Authors with it that have written on these Scriptures Touching the first I suppose that the holy Ghost in the forementioned Scriptures doth not in the least mean or intend that the Word Ordinances and Ministery appointed and instituted by Jesus Christ in the dayes of the New Testament for the Saints to make use of should be laid aside and not at all made use of because I have shewed in my Quaeries that in the purest Gospel-times Christ will have Ordinances and Officers to administer them and Saints to enjoy them though in a purer manner then they have been or possibly now are but I conceive he meanes that Christ himselfe will be their Teacher in the new state of his Church in the use of these his own meanes he hath institured and appointed And this teaching of Christ the King and Head of his Church will be I conceive divers wayes 1. By giving the Saints a greater measure of the Spirit and a more nearer communion and fellowship with himselfe then formerly the fulnesse of God shall be more brought into their hearts by the ministery of the Spirit and then Christ shall be all in all indeed not all without all but all in all that is all in all Saints and all in all Ordinances and all in all duties and all in all mercies so that nothing shal be lifted up acknowledged and exalted but Christ alone and the Father in him 2. By making the Saints to be so wise and understanding to salvation that they shall not hang or pin their faith upon the Authority of men the Authority of Parliaments Councels Synods Conventions Dictates Decrees Iudgements of men though never so wise learned godly but they shall cleave to the Authority of the Scriptures 〈◊〉 and rest upon the teachings of the Spirit in the Word who is alone the infallible teacher and revealer of the mind of Christ 3. By clearing tho truth made known by outward instruments after so sure a●●●●●tain a manner by the Spirit inwardly that the outward teaching shall be as no teaching in comparison of the inward operation and concurrence of the holy Ghost perswading of them as the Samaritans when they came to Christ himselfe upon the report of the woman that had been with him they got such satisfaction from him that they said Now we beleeve not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed that Christ Joh 4.42 Even thus doubtlesse will the Lord Jesus deale with the Saints when those gloririous times come he will by his Spirit inwardly so make known the mystery of the Gospel preached outwardly that they shall say to those that are his instruments Now we beleeve and understand not so much because of your saying as that we have heard him ourselves teaching us inwardly by his Spirit This I take to be the scope and sense of those Texts of Scriptures not a taking away the use of ordinances but a more spirituall and fuller enjoyment of God and Jesus Christ in them 2. Touching the judgement of the godly agreeing with me herein take a few in stead of many that might be alledged 1. Pareus that famous and judicious Writer in his Commentary on Heb. 8.11 hath these words Non itaque hinc recta conficiunt fanatici ministerio Ecclesiae opus non esse in novo Testamento quo ●am ad complement um tanta luck Deus in huc vitae per ministerium Evangelii nos preparat Fides enim est 〈◊〉 auditu auditus per verbum Dei Ideo dedit Christrs alios Apostolos alios Doctores ut Ecclesia exedificetur ad perfectionem futioram Vtrumque docet Scriptura omnes docert à Deo omnes debere audire legere meditare scriptur as verbum Dei. Itaque promissiones non evertunt praecepta neque positae causa prima tolluntur mediae Ut enim non sequitur Deus omnes pascit ergo non opus est pane agricultura per haec enim media Deus pascit Ita non sequitur Deus omnes docet ergo non opus est verbe Per verbum enim auditum praedicaetum omnes doret The interpretation is this Therefore those brain-sick men doe not rightly gather that there is no need of the ministry to the Church in the times of the new Testament because God to the compleating of so great light in this life doth prepare us by the Ministery of the Gospel for faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word Rom. 10.17 Therefore Christ gave some to be Apostles others to be Teachers that the Church might be built up to future perfection And the Scripture doth teach both viz. all to be taught of God and all ought to heare read meditate on the Scriptures and word of God Therefore the promises doe not overthrow the commands and precepts nor the first prime cause take away the meanes For as it doth not follow that because God feedeth us therefore there is no need of bread nor husbandry or tilling and sowing the earth for by these very meanes God feedeth us so it doth not follow because God reacheth all therefore there is no need of the Word for by the Word heard and preached he teacheth all Thus we see by a little how the judgement of this famous Writer joynes with us in what was formerly delivered touching the true and genuine sense of those Scriptures he hath much more in the same place upon his solution of divers questions to this purpose So learned Hyperius in his Commentary on this place of the Hebrewes is so full and copious that I hardly know any have written more largely on this subject unlesse it hath been in a Treatise by it selfe answering all objections against it which would be too much to transcribe in this place 2. For that place of 2 Pet. 1.19 many of the Ancients have understood it of the state of glory but learned Gerard in his Exposition of the words shewes it to be understood of Gospel-times here Sed per diem illucescentem Phosphorum orientem rectiùs intelligitur

16 2 Pet. 1.19 That they were no mean but well grown Saints and such as had attained to a great measure of the Spirit is also evident from the Epithites the Apostles give them 1. For first they stile them such whose faith is spoken of throughout the whole world Rom. 1.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Such as were wise men 1 Cor. 10.15 I speak 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is sapientibus to wise men 3. Such as were perfect Phil. 3.15 Let us therefore as many as be perfect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. Such as had received 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Like pretious faith 2 Pet. 1.1 5. Such as were strong men in Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Iohn 2 14. 6. Such whose faith did grow exceedingly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Thes 13. So that by all this it plainly appeares that the Scriptures are usefull to all the Saints high as well as low strong as well as weake wife as wel as simple yea every way able to furnish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the man of God himselfe or instruct him perfectly as the word a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies 2 Tim. 3.17 to every good worke and therefore it 's a fond and idle thing in any to say that any of the Saints while they are here in via are above the use of the Scriptures 2. Whereas they say the Scriptures are not to be a Rule for the Saints to walk by in matters of faith practice because they are a dead letter common writings containing in them many weak filly yea grosse contradictions c. I answer This is blasphemy against the holy Ghost that was the Author of them 2 Pet. 1.21 in a high degree For it 's as cleare as the Sunne to any but those whose eyes are shut up that the Scriptures are without imperfection without weaknesse vanity or b Vid. Roberts Keye of the Bible p. 38. to 49. excellently clearing and freeing the Scriptures frō contradictions in themselves contrariety being inspired by him who is Perfection it selfe 2 Tom. 3.16 Now if they be inspired of God then they must needs be the most excellent of all other writings both for verity purity certainty efficacy perfection perpetuity as were easie to c Read Master Traps Theologia Theologiae or the true Treasury demonstrate which made one to call the Scriptures Liber Librorum the Book of Books in comparison of which all other are but d Sibyllae folia Luciani libri imò ipsae Aesopi Fabulae vanitas vanitatum leaves fables trifles vanity of vanities c. which drew this saying from e Auferantur de medio chartae nostrae procedat in mediū codex Dei In Psal 57. Austine of old Away with our writings that room may be made for the book of God and that of renowned f Ego odi me è libros saepe opto eos interire c. In Gen. Luther I heartily hate mine own bookes and could wish them out of the world because I feare they keep men from spending so much time from reading in Gods book the onely fountain of all the wisdome Now if the Scriptures are so excellent so perfect why should they not then serve to us as a Cauon or rule to walk by in things that are both to be beleeved and practised Object But they are a dead letter Ans And why so Are the words of the g We must never abstract the Scripture from that Spirit of God which is alwayes in it and with it as a clear and sufficient witnesse of it and as the very life and soul of it whereas you with the Papists take the Scripture for no other but as a bare letter or bark of a tree or dead corps without any divine spirit in it Mr. Burious Reply to a Relation of the Conference between the last Archbishop of Cant. and Fisher the Iesuite For even as the veines in a natural body do carry and convey in them the life blood and as the arteries do contain in them those animall spirits conveyed from the head to all the members whereby they are vegetated and moved so the Scriptures and every part of them have in them the Spirit whereby they are quickned and which is in them as the light in the body of the Sun their proper light c. p. 151. living God dead words Are they not spirit and life Iohn 6.63 Are they not quick and powerfull sharper then a two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of Soule and Spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart Hebr. 4.12 How are they then a dead letter Obj. But they are full of contradictions leaving men still in the dark and under uncertainties Answ If we apprehend any darknesse or contradictions in the Scriptures the fault is ours and not theirs 't is defectus vasis non fontis There is a sufficiency of light that accompanies and shines forth in the Scriptures continually but that we cannot see it is because we come to it with blind eyes Not habemus non limpidos sed lippos oculos as Aquinas notes on Coloss 2.3 There are unsearchable treasures of wisdome and knowledge in the Scriptures as there is light in the Sunne beaming forth to the world but that men cannot discerne it is from their own darknesse and not the Scriptures How mach the blinde Papists have urged the obseurity of the Scriptures against our Writers the better to keep up Antichrist on his throne by keeping the vulgar people in ignorance through prohibiting and forbidding them to read the Scriptures and how abundantly they have been confuted is h It is true the Scriptures are obscure and difficult but not all nor to all nor alwayes 1. All the Scriptures are not difficult and obscure every part of them is not invol●●d in obscunity 2 Pet. 3.16 these things thas arenecessary to salvation are plainly set down 2. Those places in the Scripture that are obscure are not so to all persons but as the same Apostle saith they are so to the unlearned and unstable that is to them that are meere Naturals or Animals 1 Cor. 2.14 Such as want the assistance of the Spirit to give them understanding 3. Neither are they obscure alwayes For those that are dark to day and cannot understand the mind of God may have it revealed and made known to them to morrow Vide Langfords Enquiry after verity plain to those that have any acquaintance with their controverfies Admirable things have been done in this Age this way both in Latine and English so that people are left without excuse herein And as for contradictions in the Scriptures it is from the same spirit of falshood that acts and workes in men to speak so disgracefully as they do of them For how can the most High who is the Author of the Scriptures and in whom is no darknes at all Iohn 1.5