the wheat and tares grow together in the world untill the Harvest Mat. 13. And so in humble manner we proceed CHAP. I. The doctrine of the Holy Ghost contained in the sacred Scriptures is the rule of faith and not any Church Counsell Prince or Potentate nor any mortall man whatsoever Proved BY the Scriptures themselves which are the writings of Moses and the Prophets The Evangelists and Apostles These are a sufficient Rule to trie all faith and religion by Our reasons are 1. They are inspired of God and are able to make us wise unto salvation and perfect to every good worke 2. Tim. 3.15 Secondly because these writings were written that we might have certainety of the things whereof we are instructed Luke 1.4 That our joy might be full 1. Ioh. 1.4 and that we might beleeve and in beleeving might have life Ioh. 20.31 Thirdly we are cōmanded Not to presume or be wise above that which is written 1. Cor. 4.6 For with this weapon Christ put to flight the devill Mat. 4. and taught his Disciples Luk. 24.27 46. and Paul taught Christ Iesus Act. 17.2 The godly are commended for searching the Scriptures Act. 17.11 and commanded to search them Ioh. 5.39 and they that vvill not beleeve these Writings will not beleeve Christs vvords nor one that should come from the dead Ioh. 5.47 Luke 16.31 If any Papist or Atheist aske how vvee know all or any of these Scriptures to be inspired of God Wee answer The eare saith Iob 12.11 discerneth words and the mouth tasteth meate for it selfe And as the eie discerneth the light of the Sun so doth our spirit discerne these Scriptures to be of God and that for these reasons First in regard of the majestie wisedome and Grace of them from all other writings For there is as great glorie in these Scriptures as in the making of this vvonderfull vvorld which may evidently be seene Secondly by their teachings which excelleth all humane teachings leading us from Satan from this world and our selves to God in holinesse faith love feare humilitie Thirdly the true events of them or fulfilling of the Prophesies conteined in them Fourthly the consent and agreement of all the parts of them the like wherof cannot be shewed of so many severall Writers since the vvorld began Fiftly the admirable preservation therof against time and tyrants all which could not extinguish them Sixtly the devill and his instruments rage against those that practise the doctrines conteined in them Seventhly the conversion of thousands to God by the power of the doctrine of them Eightly the vengeance of God upon such as have not obeyed them Ninthly the acknowledgement of them by the verie professed adversaries thereof Tenthly the miracles from heaven confirming them Eleventhly the sight of a Saviour to man is onely from them And lastly the simplicity of the Writers and plainenes of the writings For God hath chosen the meane contemptible and despised to publish the mysteries of his will These are sufficient to perswade that these holy Writings are inspired of God and so able to make us wise to salvation and perfect to every good worke These Scriptures conteine the Law and Testimonie and if any Councell Church Prince or Potentate speake not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Esa 8.20 but we are commanded to hold them accursed Gal. 1.8.9 For whosoever shall adde unto these things God shall adde the plagues written herein and who so shall take away from those things God shall take his name out of the booke of Life and out of the holy Citie and from those things that are written Revel 22.18.19 Much by us shall not need to be vvritten in this thing it is so evident and so generally acknowledged except the Papists onely we will bring some humane Testimonies The Protestants affirme Whites Way to the Church Dedicated to the Bishops pag. 12. That it is the doctrine of the Church of England Article six that the Scriptures comprehended in the old and new Testament is the Rule of Faith so far that whatsoever is not read therein nor cannot be proved thereby is not to be accepted as any point of faith or needfull to be followed but by it all doctrines taught and the Churches practice must be examined and that rejected which is contrary to it under what title or pretence soever it come unto us And further they say pag. 1. That the Pope or any mortall man should be the rule that must resolve in questions and controversies of faith is an unreasonable Position voide of all indifferency when common sence teacheth that he that is a Party cannot be a Iudge And againe p 17. Which is the Church is controversall which is the Scriptures is not therefore let that be the Rule which is out of doubt Againe pag. 44. The Scriptures containeth the Principles of our faith and shall we not beleeve them Or cannot we know them of themselves infallibly without we let in the authority of the Church This and much more the Protestants have written sufficiently confirmeth That no Church nor man whatsoeuer may be a Rule or Iudge in matters of Faith but onely the holy Scriptures and whosoever teacheth or practiseth otherwise they must hold maintain the Papists Creed or Colliers faith which the Protestants so much detesteth mentioneth p. 6. out of Staphilus his Apologie Thus The Collier being at the point of death tempted of the devill what his faith was answered J beleeve and die in the faith of Christs Church being againe demanded what the faith of Christs Church was that faith saith he that J beleeve in Thus the devill getting no other answer was overcome and put to flight by this faith of the Collier every unlearned man may trie the spirits of men whether they be of God or no by this faith he may resist the devill and judge the true interpretation from the false and dis erne the Catholique from the Hereticall Minister the true doctrine from the forged For if this answer of the Collier and the Papists conclusion upon it be not sound but detestable as the Protestants confesse and cry woe unto the Papists for the same and that justly Then is it no lesse detestable in the Protestants or any other to require or force any to yeeld so in Religion and Faith that upon such a temptation he hath no better answer to make then as the Collier to say I beleeve and die in the faith of the Church or of the Prince or of the learned For being demanded what that faith is if he be not able to prove it by Gods word conteyned in the Scriptures it is no better then the answer of the Collier The faith that I beleeve in c. Oh how manie millions of soules in this Nation not Papists but Protestants live and die and have no other faith then this CHAP. II. The interpreter of this Rule is the Scriptures themselves and the Holy
A MOST HVMBLE SVPPLICATION OF MANY THE KINGS MAIESTIES LOYALL SVBIECTS READY TO TEStifie all civill obedience by the oath as the Law of this Realme requireth and that of conscience Who are Persecuted onely for differing in Religion contrary to divine and humane testimonies as followeth Prov. 21.13 He that stoppeth his eare at the crying of the poore he shall also crie and not be heard Printed 1621. This Book belongs to The New-England Library Begun to be collected by Thomas Prince upon his entring Harvard-College July 6. 1703 and was given by said Prince to remain therein for ever TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY Prince Iames by the grace of God King of Great Brittaine France and Ireland our Soveraigne Lord on earth TO THE EXCELLENT AND NOBLE Prince Charles Prince of Wales c. To all the Right Honourable Nobilitie Grave and Honourable Iudges and To all other the Right worshipfull Gentrie of all estates and degrees assembled in this present Parliament Right High and Mighty Right Excellent and Noble Right Honourable and Right Worshipfull AS the consideration of that divine commandement of the King of Kings given to every poore Saint 1. Tim. 2. Let supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thankes bee made for Kings and for all that are in authority that wee may leade a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honestie doth cause in us a daily practise therof in our secret chambers as of duetie we are bound of which the searcher of all hearts beareth us witnesse so let it be pleasing to your Majestie and the rest in authority that we make humble supplications and prayers to you for such our bodily miseries and wants as are upon us in that it is in your power to redresse them and especially at this present in this Honourable Meeting assembled for the publique weale of all your loyall subjects Our miseries are long and lingring imprisonments for many yeres in divers countries of England in which many have dyed and left behind them widowes and many small fatherlesse children taking away our goods and other the like of which we can make good probation not for any disloyaltie to your Majestie or hurt to any mortall man our adversaries themselves being judges but onely because wee cannot assent unto and practise in the worship of God such things as we have not faith in which if wee should doe we should greatly sinne against the most High Heb. 11.6 Rom. 14.23 as your Majestie well observeth in these words It is a good sure rule in Theologie that in the matters of the worship of God Quod dubitas ne feceris according to Pauls rule Rom. 14. Let every man be fully perswaded in his minde If we were in errour in these things courses of afflicting our bodies for conscience cause are not of Christ but of Anti-christ as hereafter is most plainely shewed And if no Church be the rule of faith but onely the holy Scriptures as the learned Protestants doe truely confesse and that therefore the doctrine of the Church of Rome that All must beleeve as the Church beleeves and so practise or else be cruelly persecuted be most ungodly then how can they avoide the like censure that practise the same things contrary to their own judgement For the learned Protestants doe say it is high crueltie for the Papists to constraine them to practise those things in Gods worship which they have not faith in nay which they know to bee evill with imprisonment fire and fagot c. and therefore why may not we saie it is as great crueltie for the learned Protestants to constraine us to practise those things in Gods worship which we have not faithin nay which we certainely know to be evill with lingring imprisonment losse of goods and what other cruelties they can procure against us of your Majestie and the civill State If the learned say they have the truth and we are in errour that resteth to be tryed by the true touchstone of the holy Scriptures If the learned be our Iudges the verdit must needs goe against us If their sayings be a safe rule for us to be saved by wee will rest upon them and then why may not the sayings of the Papists be as sure also and they be the Protestants Iudges and so bring us all to beleeve as the Church beleeves The iniquitie of which we have discovered as brieflie as wee can beseeching your majestie and all that are in Authoritie to heare us It concerneth our eternall salvation or condemnation and is therefore of great importance For what can a man give for the ransome of his soule Oh be pleased to remember the saying of that Great and good man Iob ch 29. I delivered the poore that cryed and the fatherlesse and him that had none to help him the blessing of him that was readie to perish came upon me and I caused the widowes heart to rejoyce I was a father to the poore and When I knew not the cause I sought it out diligently I brake also the jawes of the unrighteous man and pluckt the prey out of his teeth Our prayers are and shall be for you day and night to that God of glorie by whom you Raigne and are Advanced that hee will put into your hearts to let these things enter into your thoughts and then wee doubt not the evidence of them being such that you will be moved to repeale and make voide all those cruell Lawes that persecute poore men onely for matters of conscience Not that we any way desire for our selves Papists or others any the least libertie from the strict observation of any civil temporall or humane law made or to be made for the preservation of your Majesties Person Crowne State or Dignitie For all that give not unto Caesar that which is his let them beare their burden But we onely desire that God might have that which is his which is the heart and soule in that worship which hee requireth over which there is but one Lord and one Lawgiver Iam. 4.12 who is able to save it or to destroy it which no mortall man can doe It is not in your power to compell the heart you may compell men to be hypocrites as a great many are who are false hearted both towards God and the State which is sinne both in you and them The vileness of persecuting the bodie of any man onely for cause of conscience is against the word of God and law of Christ it is against your Majesties profession against the profession and practise of other Princes The ancient and latter approved Writers witness against it so doe the Puritanes or Calvinists yea the establishers of it The Papists themselves inveigh against it So that God and all men doe detest it as is herein declared And therefore in most humble manner wee doe beseech your Majestie your Highness your Honours your Worships to consider of it and doe as God directeth you in his Word that cannot lie Let
Ghost in whomsoever THe next in order as the immediate question from this former is who must interpret this Rule because as is objected there are many darke places in it hard to be understood Vnto vvhich we answer The two Witnesses shall be the onely interpreter thereof which are the vvord of God contained in the same Scriptures and the Spirit of God so are they called Ioh. 15.26.27 Act. 5.32 First for the Scriptures themselves although some doctrine in some places be darke and obscure as Peter speaketh 2. Pet. 3.16 yet the selfe same doctrines in other places are plaine and manifest For all the words of the Lord are plaine to them that will understand and straight to them that would finde knowledge Prov. 8.9 And knowledge is easie to him that will understand Prov. 14.6 Secondly the Spirit of God so saith the Apostle 1. Ioh. 5.6 It is the Spirit that beareth witnesse for the Spirit is truth and Ioh. 14.26 But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my Name hee shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance which I have told you And Ioh. 16.13 Howbeit when hee is come which is the Spirit of Truth hee will leade you into all truth for hee shall not speake of himselfe but whatsoever hee shall heare hee shall speake and he will teach you of the things to come And 1. Cor. 2.10 For the Spirit searcheth all things even the deepe things of God and vers 11. For the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God And 1 Ioh. 2.27 But the annointing that ye have received of him dwelleth in you and yee need not that any man teach you but as the same annointing teacheth you of all things and it is true and is not lying and as it taught you you shall abide in him And 1 Ioh. 3.24 Hereby we know that hee abideth in us even by the Spirit that hee hath given us And 1. Cor. 12.8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisedome and to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit The Scriptures be so plaine in this that the greatest adversaries thereof doe acknowledge the truth hereof Onely in this lyeth the difficultie who it is that hath the Spirit of God to interprete the Scriptures which is that sure Rule which in the next place is to be handled CHAP. III. That the Spirit of God to understand and interpret is given to all and every particular person that feare and obey God of what degree soever they be and not to the wicked DEut. 4.5.6 Behold J have taught you Ordinances and Lawes as the Lord my God commanded me that you doe even so c. Keep them therefore and doe them for that is your wisedome and understanding in the sight of the people c. who shall say onely this people is wise and of understanding c. Psal 25.12 What man is he that feareth the Lord him will he teach the way that he shall chuse and vers 14. The secret of the Lord is revealed to them that feare him and his covenant to give them understanding And Psal 107.43 Who is wise that he may observe these things for they shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord. Dan. 12.10 None of the wicked shall have understanding but the wise shall understand for God will doe nothing but he revealed his secrets to his servants Amos 3.7 And he that keepeth the Law is a child of understanding Prov. 28.7 Luk. 21.15 For I will give you my Disciples that obey me and suffer for my sake a mouth and wisedome And Luk. 12.12 And the Holy Ghost shall teach you what yee shall say For Mat. 10.20 it is not you that speake but the Spirit of my father that speaketh in you And Mark 4.11 to you my followers is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdome of God but to them that are without all things are in parables And Ioh. 14.15 Jf ye love me keep my commandements and I will pray the Father and hee shall give you the Spirit of Truth And Ioh. 7.17 Jf any man will doe his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or no. And Act. 5.32 Yea and the Holy Ghost whom God hath given to all that obey him And Psal 119.99 c. David had more understanding then all his Teachers and then all the Ancients because he kept Gods precepts Hence is plaine to whom the Spirit of God is given Even to everie particular Saint of God and it is no Private spirit but even the Publique Spirit of God which is in him which enableth him to understanding and so to declare the things given him of God For that is a private spirit that is not of God though it be in multitudes but the Spirit of God though but in one Saint is not Private Gods Spirit is not private for it is not comprehended onely within one place person or time but is universall and eternall so is not mans Spirit Therefore mens is private though in many persons Gods is publique though but in one person CHAP. IV. Those that feare and obey God and so have the Spirit of God to search out the mind of God in the Scriptures are commonly and for the most part simple ones poore despised c. OVr Saviour saith Mat. 11.5 The poore receive the Gospell and vers 25. J thank thee Father Lord of heaven earth because thou hast opened these things to Babes It is so Father because thy good pleasure was such And the Apostle James 2.5 Hearken my beloved brethren Hath not God chosen the poore of this world that they should be rich in faith and Heyres of the Kingdome c. And the Apostle Paul 1. Cor. 1.26 c. Brethren you see your Calling that God hath chosen the foolish of this world the weake of this world the vile of this world and despised and which are not For Gods dealing is to give unto the simple sharpnesse of wit and to the child knowledge and discretion Prov. 1.4 The Spirit bloweth where it listeth Ioh. 3.8 and is not tied either to learning or multitudes Poore persecuted Michaih had the truth against 400. of King Ahabs Prophets 1. King 22. so had Ieremy Ier. 37. against all the Priests and Prophets of Israel The Lord of life himselfe in his fleshly being what was hee but a man full of sorowes In his birth laid in a cratch because there was no roome for him in the Inne Luke 2.7 A Carpenter by trade Mark 6. having not a hole to rest his head in Mat. 8. and in his death contemned and despised His Apostles in like manner what were they but meane men Fishermen Tent-makers and such like having no certain dwelling place in so much as the worldly wise Scribes and Pharises took notice of it and reproachfully said Ioh. 7.48 Doth any of the Rulers or of the Pharisees beleeve