that the very true originals might be both produced and known For Resolution in the Premises conference being had with divers Schollars of eminent esteem for piety learning and ability in Divinity one whereof with womanish frowardness used altogether authoritative admonitions and censures instead of Argument and Reason which was expected and onely could satisfie But the other no less learned but much more ingenuous acknowledging the charge in the general to be just answered That notwithstanding the variations or contradictions either in Copies or in Translations yet they were all true in the substance whereas the truth in the substance was not the doubt nor question but this How the said Copies or Translations so qualified as aforesaid could or can with any Justice or Reason be imposed in each several Language on each several Nation people as the undoubted Word of God And how the various Expositions Doctrines and Conclusions drawn from these by their several and respective Ministers can be proposed to the people in each several Nation as the preaching of the true Gospel of Christ and Word of God to be believed in for salvation especially considering how that their preaching is altogether fallible seldom probable often contradicting and condemning one the other for erronious persons and Hereticks and one the others Doctrine for Error and Heresie c. Whereas it is evident by these Scriptures we have that the true onely Gospel Gal. 1.8 9. or Word of God being a great Mystery was hid in God Eph. 3.9 and first delivered to Christ Joh. 12.49 50. who gave it to his Disciples Joh. 17.8 14. Whom he deligated as his Witnesses and Embassadors Acts 10.41 2 Cor. 5.20 Authorizing them to publish the same unto the world as Gospel to every creature Mar. 16.15 Act. 10.42 Yet this their deligation or Authority was not compleat until they were endued with power from on high by coming down of the holy Spirit upon them Lu. 24.49 Act. 1.4 And when they were thus baptized with the holy Spirit themselves Acts 1.5 they then preached this Word of God 1 Pet. 1.25 or this Gospel by the holy Spirit sent down from heaven 1 Pet 1.12 i.e. God confirming the Word Mar. 16.20 and bearing witness thereto with signs and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the holy Spirit Heb 2.4 Upon which infallible Testimony and evident Divine demonstration of the Spirit and Power of God was the Christian faith and Churches then founded by the Apostles and true Ministers 1 Cor 2.4 5. Heb. 6.1 2. and no other then the same Foundation can any man now lay more lawfully then he may now preach any other Gospel then the same that was then preached by the Apostles and true Ministers 1 Cor. 3.11 Gal. 1.8 9. Nor did these only publish this Gospel or Word of God thus witnessed but did also in their Ministry propose the gifts of the Spirit to be promised to all believing the Gospel or called thereby both near and afar off Acts 2 38 39. And they being made able Ministers of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 did accordingly administer the same by laying on of hands upon them Acts 8.17 18. Acts 19.6 Gal. 3.5 making good the promise of Christ to all believers that these signes should follow them that believe Mar. 16.17 18. Thus were they all baptized into one body by one spirit and were all made to drink into one spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 i.e. every one of this body had some manifest gift of the Spirit whereby they became Members of that body to profit the body withal 1 Cor. 12.7.12 Rom. 12.4 5 6. so as if any one had not some such gift of the spirit the same was none of Christs i.e. none of that his body or Church Rom. 8.9 The consideration of all which puts me thus further to query 1. Whether the said Copyes or Translations of the Bible or any Doctrines or Conclusions drawn from thence by men fallible and subject to error and mistake as other men are be any other or more then humane Testimony or so great as that of John Baptist mentioned Joh. 1.27 28 29 31 36 2. Whether all humane Testimony even that of John Baptist among the rest was not rejected by Christ as an insufficient ground for divine and saving faith to be built upon Joh. 5.32 33. 3. Whether did not Christ produce greater witness then that of John or any other humane Testimony without which the sons of men were not bound or required to believe Joh. 5.36 Joh. 15.24 Joh. 10.37 4. Whether any ought to be received for true Ministers or Ambassadors of the Gospel of Christ who seek their Ambassie out of Books or Libraries or make the various Commentaries or Expositions of the said Copâ—es or Translations or their own or other mens Doctrines or Conclusions therefrom the matter or ground of their Ministry or Embassie 5. Whether any ought to be received for true Ministers or Ambassadors of the Gospel of Christ who are not witnessed to by evident demonstration of the Spirit and Power of God as aforesaid seeing the reasons thereof both in the Apostles time and since are the same so that if it was not then superfluous it was since and is yet necessary even for the same ends and purposes Rom. 15.18 19. Acts 8.6 9 35 42. 11.21 and if the said witness of God was so absolutely necessary to evidence the Truth of Christs own Ministry as without it his own and other mens Testimony of him was invalid and not to be believed but might be waved without sin then no Ministry of the Gospel since ought to be believed or received as such upon easier or lesser terms for no servant is greater then his Master but the first is true Joh. 5.31.33 34 36. John 15.24 Joh. 10.37 6. Whether any ought to be accounted true Churches or Members of a true Church of Christ who are destitute of the said baptism of the spirit or who make the said fallible matter or Ministry or humane Testimony the ground of their faith and where in Scripture can we find mention of any such Church of Christ it being most consonant both to Scripture and Reason 1. That every member of that body be conformable to its Head in partaking of the Spirit in some measure with manifestation which Christ the Head received above measure whereby it ran down or extended it self to the whole body to each member in particular whereof the Oyle poured on Aarons head and running down to the very skirts of his Garment was a lively type and figure Psal 133.2 2. That the great structure of Christianity whose Principle is That a man at his first entrance therein should be required to deny himself and to forsake all his worldly enjoyments in this life only on the assurance he then receives of the great glory and rewards promised in the life to come should then also have this faith of his established upon Divine and infallible Evidence less
to Gospel-times there is also a miraculous pouring out of the Spirit proper to the first age of the Church Quest How is miraculous pouring out of the Spirit proper to the first age of the Church when as Mr. Baxter himself affirms and proves by Irenaeus and others that it continued in the Church three or four hundred yeers at least after the Apostles And in pag. 31. he gives a reason why Christ would then thus convincingly send abroad such aboundance of the Spirit namely Because he had the old Law of Moses to repeal and that was well known by the Jews to be Gods own and men must not believe Gods Law ceased or abrogated without proof Quest Are there not yet many thousands of the Jews that adhere to the old Law of Moses and remain still in unbelief And was not the Gospel miraculously confirmed to the Gentiles who owned not Moses Law as well and as much and more then it was to the Jews And in page 32. 33. among many other reasons against any such miraculous use of the Spirit to continue in the Church he gives two R.B. 1. Because saith he we have the full use and benefit of the holy Ghost which was given then that seal that was then set to the Christian Doctrine and Scriptures stands there still Quest Is it to all the various and contradicting Doctrines and Scriptures in the world that this seal is set and stands there still or to some only and if but to some how may a man undoubtedly know to which of them that seal is set and to which not R.B. 2. Because Christ doth still continue his spirit to his Churches and every true member thereof but not the same use and therefore not to enable them to the same work as then Tongues are not for them that believe but for them that believe not saith Paul 1 Cor. 14. 22. that is to show the power of Christ and so convince them but now the Scripture is sealed by these there is not the same use or need of them Obj. It 's true the spirit was given and continued to true Churches and every Member thereof but not without manifestation for the manifestation of the Spirit was given to every one to profit withal 1 Cor. 12.7 as well as the Spirit it self for how else can any true Church or Member be known from false since all different sects and sorts of Christians pretend to have the Spirit yea and this learned Author with all his learned Oponents no doubt do conceive themselves to be true Members of the true Church so each of them to have the spirit notwithstanding the many great and vast differences between them in the most material and essential points of the Gospel which is inconsistent with their having the Spirit whose Office is to evince truth and to lead into all truth besides this Author himself in his Saints Rest Par. 2 pag. 206. asserts That he hath still known those that pretend to the strongest sense of spiritual Revelations to have proved the most wicked and deluded persons in the end And indeed where see we in any that manifest power which alwayes did and must accompany those that had this Spirit Joh. 7.37.38 Mar. 16.17.18.20 Joh. 14.12.16 Heb 2.4 Lu. 24 49. Act. 14.8 Joh. 16.7.8 but the use and need of this power is now denyed by this Author and by many other who yet retain the form of godliness even as Saint Paul long since foretold that such should be in these last days even then also injoined true Christians from all such to turn away 2 Tim. 3.1.5 Wherefore I conceive it would be very rash for any man to believe this Author while he alledgeth that the Scripture is sealed by the former powerful works of the Spirit untill some such powerful Works can be produced by him to evince the verity thereof and likewise in the same manner to evince and set forth undoubtedly which or what Scripture it is of all the many varius scriptures now extant in the world that is so sealed wherby it may certainly be known distinguished from all the rest for this also is absolutely necessary unless his meaning be that all Scripture whatsoever is so sealed And whereas he here tells us That the gift of Tongues was for them that believe not to convince them hence it will follow That as long as there are unbelievers in the world to be convinced so long the gifts of Tongues is necessary for that end And in Part 2. pag. 36 he gives another reason of the discontinuance of that Divine Evidence and powerfull convincement in telling us R. B. That miracles would loose their convincing force and be no miracles if they were common to all and in all ages Yet in Par. 3. pag. 242. 243. he tells us That it is certain from current testimony Church-Records That the gift of casting out devils making them confess themselves mastered by Christ did remain in the Church three or four hundred yeers at least after the Apostles And for this he there produceth many Authors and after saith No where could Satan keep his possession where the power of Christ did assault him And in his Saints Rest Part 2. pag. 232. he cites the words of some of those Authors telling us R. B. That Irenaeus affirmeth That in his time the working of miracles the raising of the dead the casting out of Devils healing of the sick by meer laying on of hands by prophesying were in force and that some that were so raised from death remained alive among them long after and that Cyprian and Turtul mentioned the ordinary casting out of devils and challenge the Heathen to come and see it Quest Since miracles as is confest were common not only in the first age in the Apostles time but for four hundred years at least after and yet lost not their convincing force nor ceased to be miracles why then might they not have continued in the ages since without losing their convincing force or ceasing to be miracles And if without any absurdity a man may affirm as no doubt but he may that for those 400. years after the Apostles these miraculous and powerfull gifts were useful and necessary then he may with as little absurdity affirm and maintain That they were since and are still useful and necessary even for the very same ends and porposes for Miracles or Tongues as was said by this Author are not for them that believe but for them that believe not and are there not still Heathens Infidels Jews Turks Pagans Sorcerers Witches Conjurors Idolators in abundance of all sorts many spiritual Wickednesses in High Places now in the world as wel as then and infinite numbers of Mahometans now as were not then And are there not in the world a numberless number of all sorts and sects of Christians of various Opinions different interests and perswasions yet each pretend to have the Spirit and be in the Truth and
from Luke 24.21 22. where two of the Disciples after they had with much sadness declared how the chief Priests and Rulers had delivered Christ to be condemned to death and had crucified him said we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel intimating thereby that he being then dead and gone they were quite hopeless expecting nothing less then his rising again for after when they heard by the women that he was alive they were astonished at it in Mark 16.13 when upon his appearing unto two of them these went and told it to the rest of the Apostles yet they believed it not and hence it was that he appeared and shewed himself to his Disciples 500 at once and familiarly and often to such of them as he intended to make his Apostles and chief witnesses to the world to confirm this their belief in his resurrection insomuch that when he first appeared to them he shewed them his hands and his feet and bad them handle and see Luke 24.39 Jeh 20.20 c. where it is very observable that Thomas not being then present would not believe the report of all the rest of the Apostles that he was risen unless he might see and handle his wounds also as they had done wherein also afterward Christ gave him satisfaction by permitting him to do so likewise and then withal left a blessing in the hands of the Apostles for all such other of his Disciples who had not seen him as they had done yet did believe his resurrection Wherefore most requisite it was That as well for the communicating of this blessing as for the confirmation of the Disciples believers in the belief of Christs resurrection they should write the Narratives of all these things and most probable it is the Apostles did therefore write the three other Gospels for these ends and purposes as may be gathered by comparing John the Apostle with the Apostle John that is Joh. 20.31 with 1 Joh. 5.13 I have been the larger upon this because I finde not only ordinary men but most learned profound Teachers do pervert this place of Scripture to the mis-leading of many whether ignorantly or purposely I will not determine 1 In making the sence of the words as if Christ thereby did intend a blessing on all such as in the future should believe the teachings of men without seeing any divine evidence to attest the truth of their Doctrine whereas Christs words had respect onely to such other of his Disciples or believers who had not seen Christ as Thomas did yet did believe his being risen again which Thomas by no means would do until he had both seen and felt him 2 In making the Apostles words in vers 31. to be intended to all the world as a ground sufficient for true and saving faith whereas if it were so it might serve instead of a true Ministry in all nations when as to the generality of mankinde it was meer barbarism coming from the Apostle but in one language onely which would have been a failer not imaginable in the Apostle having the guift of tongues enabling him purposely to teach all nations people in their respective languages and accordingly no doubt he would have written if he had intended it for any such great and general use but it is most plain that his intention therein was onely to confirm believers of that one language in their belief of that one great article of Christs being the Son of God whereof they could not doubt if they firmly believed his resurrection And if we may have leave to give a like credit to the Scripture in this matter and to make conclusions from plain premisses such as many would have us give and make from none at all or at best from such as are far more dark We may both see and conclude that the Scripture is so far from testifying it self to be any sufficient ground for faith and conviction to the unbelieving world that it testifies the quite contrary 1 In that it testifies that the power of God by signes and miracles accompanying the Ministry and attesting the truth and divine authority of their doctrine was the onely true ground of faith and conviction unto unbelievers as before is set forth and is evident by these texts Ioh. 16.7 8 9. Acts 1.4 8. Luke 24.49 Act. 1.1 2 3. Mark 16.20 1 Cor. 2.4 5. compared with Rom. 15.18 19 20. Act. 8.6 And that thus and upon this foundation of the Apostles and Prophets the true Ministry of the Gospel fitted by gifts Ephesians 4.8 11 12 13. Christ Jesus himself being the chief Corner-stone was Christian belief and Churches founded Ephes 2.20 And that no foundation other then such can any man warrantably lay or plead for 1 Cor. 3.11 2 In that it testifies That whatsoever is delivered in any unknown tongue or but in a doubtful and uncertain sence is as barbarism not obliging any to believe it 1 Cor. 14.7 8 9 10. for no man is bound or can infallibly and convincingly believe any thing which is not infallibly and convincingly revealed to him Notwithstanding all the uncertainties afore specified yet how doth each Sect of Christians assert that they are of the true belief and many therefore challenge the highest priviledges of true believers mentioned in Scripture to belong unto them yea and some such do they assume to have as no true believer ever had in this life I shall give instances They assume to be true believers and to have the Spirit of God yea the same as true believers formerly had and by which the Scripture was given forth To be actually justified to have eternal life and to be already passed from death to life To have Christ and his divine nature within them and that white stone wherein a new is written which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it c. Wherein if I am not exceedingly mistaken they are first in their conceiving themselves to be true believers yet ground it upon various yea on contrary doctrines and want both the true ground upon which true believers built their faith and the same power whereby true believers were to be known Mark 16.17 18. or that they have the same spirit by which the Scripture was given forth and yet make use of and cite texts amiss rendered in translations even as others do who pretend not to have the Spiâ—it Secondly what can reasonably be imagined or understood by believers being justified by faith I am inclined to think it is no more then their being saved by hope and what is or can be meant by this more then now in this life to hope to be saved hereafter in the life to come as the Apostle reasoneth Rom 8.24 25. where speaking of himself and other believers saith we are saved by hope but hope that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for for if we hope for that we see not then do we
that it will swallow it up and cause it to vanish as the light of a candle will do at the presence of the Sun and so far bury it in oblivion that it shall never more be remembred for ever Jer. 23 from 3 to 9. This whole life is the time for the Saints and righteous to suffer in for and in hope of reward and rest in that Kingdome with Christ at his coming 2 Thess 1 4 to 9 but these men would fain be reaping before harvest and before the time of sowing is ended and be reigning in that Kingdome before the blessed Patriarchs and Apostles who yet sleep in the dust and who are to be the prime heirs and inheritours with Christ of that Kingdome Matth 8 11 Luke 22 30 yea and without and before Christ there raigns himself and before that Kingdome or the time of setting it up be come which may not be But the authority assumed and now attempted by these men seems at least to me to be much like to that which is exercised by his Holinesse the Pope as Christs Vice-gerent upon earth over all both persons and causes for which he pretends divine authority and that from Scripture also for from Ps 91.13 which sayes thus Thou shalt tread upon the Lion and Adder the young Lion and Dragon thou shalt trample under feet By pretence of divine authority from this Scripture he most presumptuously tramples under foot all civil Magistracy and sets his feet upon the necks of Emperours Like as I my self once heard Psa 45.16 expounded from a Pulpit in Pauls the Text runs thus Instead of thy Fathers shall thy children be whom thou shalt make Princes thorow all the earth By Fathers said he are meant the Patriarchs and Apostles and by Children are meant the Lords Bishops who are their successors Hence this learned Preacher in further prosecution of this his Text with great confidence asserted the principality of Bishops and their superiority over other Ministers to be of Divine Right And there 's no doubt but these called fifth Monarchy-men may prove their dominion over all others to be of Divine right as well as this Nay who can doubt but that Presbyters Independents Separatists Anabaptists yea and Mahometan Priests also can prove their several authorities to be of divine right as well as either of the former and that from Scripture too and if they can not they are very unworthy such offices of dignity and such places of profit as to be Masters and Heads of Colledges c. and if the Revenues of the best Bishopricks were also added thereto there 's no doubt but that these would easily swallow it up without making any bones thereat the name being onely changed Nay have we not had some who lately riding on hors-back into Bristol received such honour acclamations and attributes as were given to Christ when he rode into Jerusalem and no doubt but all this was done by some divine authority drawn from the Scripture Mat. 21. where the manner of Christs so riding into Jerusalem is recited And why might not the horse have run and bruised the riders foot against a wall by divine authority likewise from that Scripture which recites how that Balaams Asse dealt so by that false prophet Numb 22 25. But I shall at present forbear to trace this divine Goddess and great Idol any further but shall now leave her to the view of all men as she is set forth in Rev. 17. like a Queen sitting upon her Throne most sumptuously arraied in purple and scarlet and gilded with gold and precious stones and pearls having a cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication upon whom the more I look the more I wonder even with greatest admiration when I consider how such a counterfeit painted strumpet as this hath so much so long and so universally beguiled in effect the whole world and intoxicated many such men as are otherwise most exquisite wise and exact in far smaller matters I shall now conclude removing onely a scruple which from this Discourse may arise in some honest hearts to this effect Object Since there is no name given under heaven whereby men can be saved but by the name of Iesus Christ and none can be saved by that name but such as truly believe therein and none can have a sufficient ground for true and Christian faith but by a true Ministry evidencing the truth and divine authority of their doctrine by demonstration of the Spirit and power of God And if the case be so as by this Discourse it seems to be In what condition are all such who never enjoyed such a Ministry is not their case necessarily damnable Answ I say no for although it be granted That none are saved but by Christ yet many millions of thousands may be and are saved and that by Christ who never enjoyed any such Ministry never believed in Christ nor heard of him for what else think we should become of all infants since Adam who died in their infancy whose salvation at least their freedome from condemnation cannot upon any good ground be doubted of for they have suffered death the natural effect of Adams transgression from which at the resurrection they shall be redeemed and discharged by Christ for what or for whose sin can they then be condemned at the day of Judgement since they have committed none themselves and shall have already suffered death for Adams sin and from which they shall then be acquitted by Christ And their salvation as I conceive is as little to be doubted of because that condition or sort of mankinde which Christ himself did put as a president and example for his Disciples to conform themselves to for to become inheritours of the Kingdome of heaven must needs be inheritours of the Kingdome of heaven but such are little children and Christ affirmed that of such is the Kingdom of heaven and who then hath need or reason to doubt thereof The same may be deemed the case of all born Ideots living and dying so And what may be thought of all the Heathen nations people in the world since Adam that have lived to years of discretion can any man reasonably think that God hath left all these quite destitute of all means of salvation and of acceptance with him did God afford them or any of them such an ample excuse at the day of judgement as they might then have upon that account No surely for then all mens mouths will be stopped and no such reasonable and just excuse shall be found in the mouth of any What meaneth Saint Paul when he saith in Act. 17.25 26 27. That God had made of one blood all Nations to dwell on the face of the earth giving to all life breath and all things as rain from heaven and fruitful seasons filling their hearts with food and gladness chap 14 17 and to what end did God all this but that they might seek him and
haply find him not being far from any of them giving them by these daily blessings opportunity at least to know consider and thankfully to acknowledge some divine goodness be it under what name or notion soever to be the authour and bountiful bestower of these daily mercies whereby as God leaves not himself without witness so he leaves all without excuse or ability to plead that they were destitute of all means to obtain acceptance with God to their salvation Again what means the giving of talents to some more to some less or fewer but to all some one at least to know good and evil so far as to know when another wrongs him in like proportion must he know when he wrongs another and that as he would not have another wrong him in the least so should not he do the least wrong to any other but to do as he would be done unto according to the Golden Rule or Law written in every mans heart What else meaneth the Apostle Paul in Rom. 2 26 27. If the uncircumcision keeps the righteousnesse of the Law shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision and shall not the circumcision which is by nature if it fulfill the law judge thee who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the Law See further the 11 12 13 14 15 verses of the same Chapter wherein it is said thus When the Gentiles which have not the law do by nature the things contained in the law having not the law are a law unto themselves which shews the work of the law written in their hearts their consciences also bearing witness and their thoughts in the mean while accusing or else excusing one another What may we think of Iob being an upright and just man that feared God and eschewed evil what can be thought of Iobs friends Bildad Zophâ—r Eliphaz and Elihu but that they were sober honest wise and just men fearing God although they were mistaken as who might not in Iobs particular and extraordinary case And what meaneth the story of Cornelius Act 10 being an uncircumcised Gentile destitute of the knowledge of Christ yet had acceptance with God and his prayers heard notwithstanding And what think you of Peters Proclamation thereupon saying Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him Hence I conceive without offence to any otherwise minded may be concluded First That all those who never enjoyed true Ministry of the Gospel of Christ shall never be judged for not believing or not obeying the Gospel of Christ but shall be judged either as in sincerity they have indeavoured to observe the good and eschew the evil known to them or have wilfully swerved from it without repentance and amendment for God accepts men according to that they have and not according to that they have not 2 Cor. 8.12 And to whom much is given of him only much shall be required and little of him to whom little is given Secondly That God never concluded any Nation or person so to condemnation as not to afford them and him sufficient means within his reach and power to escape the same and to procure acceptance with him These J deem with submission to better Judgements may as safely and truly be concluded as to affirm That God is most just good and merciful That his mercy is extended over all the works of his hands who hateth nothing that he hath made but filleth all things with his goodness and heareth the young Ravens that cry to him for meat Ps 104.27 28. Ps 145.16 17. Ps 147.9 Accursed then are the tongues and pens of such evil servants that render this indulgent bountiful and good Master to be hard and austeer to reap where he did not sowe and to propose grace and mercy to far the greatest part of the sons and daughters of Adam when he never intended it to any of them but contrariwise had inevitably absolutely and personally concluded them to exquisite and endless misery of his meer will and power long before they were born and that without respect to any sinful or evil action of theirs FINIS Prov. 27.5 Open rebuke is better then secret love Pro. 12.1 Who so loveth instruction loveth knowledge but he that hateth reproof is bruitish Pro. 28 16. The Prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressour but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his dayes Vers 17 A man that doth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit let no man stay him Pro. 29.1 He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy Prov. 27.6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful POSTSCRIPT MR. John Brayne a learned man in his Book intituled The unknown Being published 1654. in page 3. telleth us as a matter of exceeding great note and concernment to all men which is the gross corruptings of the Word of God in the false translating of it the Translators putting down in an hundred places neer life for soul rendring 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 life and sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 soul which ought not to be the word and sense is destroyed by it and false doctrine taught to the people wherefore in especial there is an extream necessity of another Translation to be published and this called in The Old Testament in this particular is better translated then the New though some such in the Old as that the mind of God is no way expressed but clean contrary things And in page 11. he further telleth us viz. That it s no wonder Austine and others run to Philosophy having lost the knowledge of the Spirit which was immortal to prove the soul immortal against the Scripture upon which Philosophical hinges the Divinity of the now times are hanged in which Untruths Errours and Deceits are told the people to the overthrow of hope and shaking of faith in men and destruction of the truth And in this follow not the Lords Spirit but their own Ezek. 13.3 ☞ After my setting down this learned Authors judgement concurring with the rest of the Authors formerly cited concerning the erroneous Translations of Scripture there came to my hand another small Treatise of his intituled Heavens witness to the worship and worshippers on earth wherein he not onely confirmes what in this Discourse is asserted for the necessity of divine and powerful evidence to attest the truth of doctrine Believers and Churches of the Gospel but also shews how God by some such divine evidence gave witness to true worship both before the law in time of the law and to the worship of the Gospel from Christ to the Apostasie Anno 406. Together with abundant Testimonies of Scripture proving that the Truth and the true Church was not nor when restored shall not be without the same with which as at first God again will restore the Church ERRATA IN page 3. line 16. for incestur saith Ieremie read micetur saith S. Irency pag. 6. lin 17. for pareas minori read pareas insane minori l. 21. r. Erasmus p. 7. l. 7. r. allowable l. 16. r. Isidorus and there and elsewhere for Sextus r. Sixtus p. 12. l. 21. f. untelligable r. unintelligable p. 14. l. 1. r. Brescia p. 20. l. 7. r. in ore gladii Cruentandi p. 23. l. 25. r. Anthographs p. 27. l. 24. r. of the Trinity p. 51. l. ult r. verities p. 55. l. ult r. 1 Cor. 12.7 12. p. 72. l. 3. f. He that hath r. He that believeth hath p. 81. l. 9. f. on r. by l. 10. f. by r. on
with the goodness of God to condemn those who erre where errour hath nothing of the will in it who therefore cannot repent of their errour because they believe it true who therefore cannot make compensation because they know not that they are tied to dereliction of it thus far the Doctor In the first sence Pharaoh with his Egyptian Magicians believed that the miracles which Moses did was by the finger of God to which belief or convincement they were not Volunteers but compelled by force of the said miracles wrought in their sighs yet they disobeying the message confirmed so by those miracles were destroyed notwithstand their so believing In this sence also it is said Joh 12 42 43. That many of the chief Rulers believed in Christ but did not confess him because of the Pharisees lest they should be turned out of the Synagogues because they loved the praise of men more then the praise of God Hereunto compare Joh. 16.7 8 9. where Christ sets forth the ends of his sending the spirit or power by which the Apostles others wrought such mighty works one whereof was to convince the world of sin where note the expression when he comes saies Christ he will convince the world of sin As if he had said That when or wheresoever this spirit and power which I will send you shall demonstate it self in the world to the sons and drughters of men it shall certainly procure the convincement of their understandings to believe the truth of the Gospel attested thereby And why of sin because they believe not that is obey not the Gospel in their wills and affections being convinced or believing of the truth thereof in their understandings For further justifying this Exposition take notice That that which in the former text is termed a belief is here in this later text termed a convincement and both having reference to the understanding And in like manner that which in the former text is termed a not confessing is in this later text termed a not believing and both having reference to the will and affections in respect of obedience so that in the Scripture-sence a man at one and the same time may be said to believe and not to believe that is to believe intellectually and not to believe obediencially whereby he becomes a self-condemner being found guilty even by the verdict of his own understanding and conscience This being that great condemnation which in Joh. 3.17 is set forth with an Emphasis on men for loving darkness rather then light which no man can reasonably be said to do unless he seeth the light for how can any man be said to love one thing rather then another which he never saw Adde to this 2 Thess 2.10 where St. Paul speaks of some that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved This they could not justly be blamed for unless they had apprehended it in their understandings to be a truth For whatsoever in my understanding I judge an untruth though the same in it self be a truth yet whiles I do judge it otherwise I neither can or ought to love it as a truth Hereunto also contributes the parable declared by Christ Mat. 22. Luke 14. of a King who at the marriage of his son made a great feast and bad many thereto and when all things were in readiness he sent for his guests who although all were unwilling to come yet not one of them said or could say That he did not know of the Kings invitation or that he did not believe the truth of the message or of the great preparation made for his bountiful entertainment and welcome none of all which was doubted by them nor did any of them say that between them and the Kings Palace was any gulf or sea mountain or rock exceeding their power to get over or that any one of them were either sick or lame or otherwise disabled to come but their meer wills and affections adhering to the things of this life was the onely impediment and all their excuse Object And for that which may be objected from John 12.37 Though Christ had done so many miracles before the Jews yet they believe not on him but said He cast out Devils by the Prince of Devils Answ It may be answered That though they believed not so as to love or obey him yet they believed as the chief Rulers afore-mentioned did being convinced in their understandings by the mighty works done by Christ among them for how else could their meer saying so amount to any sin much less to the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost wherewith they were charged by Christ if they had but spoken in the simplicity of their hearts and as in truth they apprehended believed for it is of none but such that Christ speaks in Joh. 15.24 where he sayes If I had not done among them the works which no other man did they had not had sin but now have they both seen and hated both me and my father Where note 1. What the great works done among them produced namely their seeing convincement or believing intellectually 2. What the consequence of that their seeing was namely their hating both him and his father from whence sprang this their saying which aggrevated their sin which had had nobeginning or being unless they had seen and been convinced And therefore I conceive from the premisses may be safely concluded That none at years of discretion in whose sight and presence signes and miracles were wrought by Christ or his Apostles and Ministers to attest the truth and divine authority of their doctrine but they were so convinced as to believe the same to be true and of God or thus That all unbelievers seeing the great witness by signs and miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost which God gave to their doctrine were so convinced in their understandings as they could not but rationally conclude and believe the same to be true and of god Notwithstanding all that 's premised and all the late and great pretences of Reformation yet the pretence of divine right still remains and is challenged by many without divine power or manifestation for besides the Episcopal or rather Papal relicks of ordination that is still retained and upheld amongst us to be of divine right did not the Assembly of Divines so called consisting of Independents as well as of Presbiterians hold themselves and their Assembly to be divinely authorized from the meer recital of the Apostles and Elders assembling at Jerusalem mentioned in Acts 15. And as these still maintained their authority to be divine which was by holy Orders as they call it conferred upon them from the Bishops supposed divine authority lately exploded as Antichristian So these with the Separatists do still maintain the baptizing of Infants to be of divine right from the meer recital of the Covenant of Circumcision made with Abruham and his natural seed wherein Abraham was commanded to