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
in him vers 49. but this people that know not the Law are cursed The truth of this is as plaine as may be that the Scriptures being the rule of Faith perfect and absolute and that the plainenesse of them is such as that by the Spirit of God they may easily be understood of those that feare and obey God but of none else and that such are most commonly the poore and despised For if any want wisedome be he never so simple let him come unto God and hee will give him Iam. 1.5 which is also confirmed by humane testimonie The Protestants confesse that in the Primitive Church the doctrines and severall points of Religion were known and discovered by the most meane of the people and rhe Bishops exhorted them therunto c. Whits way pag. 7. And that this rule is of that nature that it is able to direct any man be he never so simple yea the most unlearned alive may conceive and understand it sufficiently for his salvation pag. 9. And they relate the sayings of the Ancients in this time First Clemence Alexandrinus The word is not hid from any it is a common light which shineth to all men and there is no obscuritie in it c. pag. 32. Next Augustine God hath bowed down the Scriptures to the capacitie of babes and sucklings that when proud men will not speak to their capacitie yet himselfe might After him Chrisostome The Scriptures are easie to understand and exposed to the capacitie of every servant and Plowman and widow and boy and him that is most unwise therefore God penned the Scriptures by the hands of Publicanes Fishermen Tent-makers Shepherds Neatherds and unlearned men that none of the simple people might have any excuse to keep them from reading and that so they might be easie to be understood of all men the Artificer the Housholder and Widow woman and him that is most unlearned Yea the Apostles and Prophets as Schoole-masters to all the world made their writings plaine and evident to all men so that every man of himselfe onely by reading them might learne the things spoken therein Next Iustine Martyr saith Heare the words of the Scripture which be so easie that it needs no exposition but onely to be rehearsed And this the Protestants say was the perpetuall and constant judgement of the ancient Church c. And further he alledgeth pag. 21. Theodoret who writ of his times You shall every where see these points of our faith to be knowne and understood not onely by such as are Teachers in the Church but even of Coblers and Smiths and Websters and all kinde of Artificers yea all our women not they onely which are booke-learned but they also that get their living with their needle yea mayd-servants and wayting-women and not Citizens onely but Husbandmen of the Country are very skilfull in these things yea you may heare among us Ditchers and Neatherds and Wood-setters discoursing of the Trinitie and the creation c. The like is repeated by others And say the Protestants His doctrine that was President in the Trent Councell That a Distaffe was fitter for a woman then a Bible was not yet hatched c. Oh! it were well if the contempt of these pious practises were paled onely within the Romish profession and were not practised in and among those that professe themselves to be separated therefrom As what is more frequent in the mouthes of many learned Protestants then these and such like words Must every base fellow Cobler Taylor Weaver c. meddle with the exposition or discoursing of the Scriptures which apperteyneth to none but to the learned Yea doe they not forbid their owne Ministers to expound or discourse of the Scriptures Read the 49. Canon which is No person whatsoever not examined and approved by the Bishop of the Dioces or not licenced as is aforesayd for a sufficient and convenient Preacher shall take upon him to expound in his owne Cure or elsewhere any Scripture or matter or doctrine but shall onely studie to read plainly and aptly without glosing or adding the Homilies alreadie set forth or hereafter to be published by lawfull Authoritie c. So that not onely Iesus Christ and his Apostles who are alive in their doctrine though not in their persons are forbidden all exposition of holy Scriptures or matter or doctrine not being licensed by the Bishops but also their owne Ministers who have sworne Canonicall obedience to them Yet when they are put to answer the Papist who practise the same thing they take up both Scriptures and ancient Writers to confute it CHAP. V. The learned in humane learning doe commonly and for the most part erre and know not the Truth but persecute it and the professors of it and therefore to be no further followed then we see them agree with the Truth THe next in order is That seeing the Lord reveileth his secrets to the humble though wanting humane learning That we now prove that on the contrarie God usually and for the most part Hideth his secrets from the learned and suffreth them to erre and resist the Truth yea so far as to persecute it and the professors of it And first let us beginne with the learned Heathen who were behind none in humane learning The wise men of Egypt how did they resist the powerfull truth of God delivered by Moses yea they resisted it with such signes and lying wonders as the heart of Pharaoh and all his people was hardened against it Exod. 7.11.12.18 8.7 And what was the cause of the destruction of Babel but the trusting in the learned Esa 47.13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy Counsels c. And Esa 44.25 I destroy the tokens of the Southsayers and make them that conjecture fooles and turne the wise men backward and make their knowledge foolishnesse The things of Gods dealing none of the learned of Egypt or Babel could interpret but Ioseph and Daniel Next come to the learned Priests and Prophets of the Iewes whose lips should have preserved knowledge and at whose mouth the people should have sought the Law But saith the Lord Mal. 2.7.8 They are gone out of the way they have caused many to fall by the Law c. Also Esay 29. Stay your selves and wonder they are blind and make you blind they are drunken but not with wine they stagger but not by strong drinke for the Lord hath covered you with a spirit of slumber and hath shut up your eyes the Prophets and your chiefe Seers c. Therefore the Lord said Because this people come neere unto me with their mouth and honour me with their lips but have removed their hearts far from me their feare towards me was taught by the precepts of men Therfore behold I will againe doe a marveilous worke in this people even a marvellous worke and a wonder for the wisedome of their wise men shall perish and the understanding of the prudent shall be
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