Faithful to understand those things which they received of the Apostles therefore to understand the Scriptures in those things which are necessary to Salvation with more to that purpose Vatablus on Job 32. 8. with Drusius 〈…〉 and others speak to the same effect G. Cradock a famous Independent Preacher preach'd That the Scripture is a Speechless Thing without the Spirit Ch. Goad an Eminent Separate in his Works stil'd B. D. of K. College in Cambridge and an Independent Pastor thus taught There is no Knowledge of Christ nor of the Scripture but by Revelation D. J. Owen a Man of greatest Fame among the present Independents saith The◠Publick Authentick and Infallible Interpreter of the holy Scripture is He who is the Author of them from the Breathing of whose Spirit it Deriveth all its Verity Perspicuity and Authority So that we see upon the Judgment of many considerable Persons the Scripture is no◠Rule for our believing and understanding 〈◊〉 It self and therefore not The Rule of Faith and Practice concerning the things therein declared I will give a short Instance in Christ's words about Regeneration He taught and strange it was no doubt to wise Nicodemus That unless a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God This is as plain a Proposition as can be laid down and may be credited Historically But what is that to the Knowledge and Experience of the New Birth That they are never like to be informed of there Nor can that Scripture be my Rule in that Heavenly Travel respecting the many and wonderful Trials and Exercises that are to be met with in the way to It Neither can any other Writing whatever This only is the Office of that Spirit and Word Immortal by which we are begotten again What then is my Rule to inform order strengthen and lead through the whole Operation but the Same Spirit All Doctrinal Scripture was experienced before written or they had not been true Witnesses who wrote it Now that which was their Rule can only guide us into the same Experiences nor are they to be rightly known before experienced Do my Will and you shall know more of my Doctrine saith Christ I read the History of such things This saves not Neither can the History be the Rule leading into the Mystery That belongs only to the Spirit that searcheth out the deep things of God Consequently the Spirit and not the Scripture is the Rule for So believing and living Obj. But is not this to make void the Protestants Plea against the Papists viz. That the Scriptures are the Rule of Faith and Practice Answ No such matter For the Question was not Whether the Spirit of Christ or the Scripture was the Rule But Whether the Scripture which is God's Tradition or Popish Traditions were the Rule to measure the Truth of Doctrines and Practices by We grant that particular Scriptures rightly understood may measure what is agreeable or disagreeable to them That is such Doctrines and Practices as are contrary to that part of Scripture more particularly relating to our days are questionable by the Scripture especially since all Parties pretend that what they say and do is according to Scripture Yet this concludes not the Scripture to be The General and Evangelical Rule Obj. But if God had not revealed those things that are in Scripture by it to us how could they have been known by us Answ They were known by the Light and Spirit of Christ before they were written for from being written they are called Scripture Therefore it is said That the Prophets searched diligently what and what manner of Time the Spirit of Christ tha◠was in them did signifie when it testified before hand of the Sufferings of Christ No◠are they ever the more reveal'd to the blind and dark Mind because they are written The Mysteries of Regeneration are as Puzling to Natural Wit and Earthly Wisdom as before Therefore well said Epiphanius Only to the Children of the Holy Ghost all the Holy Scriptures are Plain and Easie Mens going to hammer out Principles without this Infallible Guide and Rule hath been the Cause of that great Confusion that is over Mankind about Religion to this very day Obj. But how else could you have known those Prophesies to be true for that is not matter of Witnessing but Fore-telling Answ That is an extraordinary Revelation not falling within the Ordinary Discoveries that are absolutely necessary to Man's Salvation by which he shews his Power and Faithfulness that he is God and can foretell and will bring to pass But therefore must there be an Extraordinary Light or Spirit and not rather an Extraordinary Sight and Sense from One and the Same Light and Spirit in them Besides That which gives me to Believe and Savour it to be from the Spirit and not by Imposture is my Rule for believing it Now that the Spirit so doth both Calvin and Beza as before cited assert for me viz. The Same Spirit that spake by the Mouth of the Prophets must Pierce into our Hearts to perswade us that they Faithfully Declared that which was committed to them of God Obj. But this Light you speak of could not tell you which way Sin came into the World That there was an Adam and Eve that they fell after that manner and that Sin so entered the World That Christ was born of a Virgin suffered Death and rose again That you ought not to Swear in any case c. If the Scriptures had not told you so Answ That is boldly said But consider well Moses says the vulgar Opinion had that Account of the Creation above Two Thousand Years after it by Revelation which we find in Genesis Now that there could be no Revelation without this Divine Light or Spirit which is the Life of the Eternal Creating Word must needs be granted For saith the Apostle Paul the Spirit of God knoweth Only the Things of God and whatever makes manifest is Light And that the Spirit and Light are One tho' Two Names has been sufficiently evidenced already If then it was This Light of the Eternal Word that delivered those past things to Moses and gave that Prospect of future things to the Prophets as no doubt it was if the Scripture be Credible then to say the Light or Spirit could not do it is Blasphemous as well as absurd Again To argue because the Light does not Reveal every Circumstance of History to each Individual that hath already an Account thereof of therefore it could not is Unreasonable Were the History of the Transactions of Christ and his Followers wanting as before Moses was that of Adam and his Posterity and that the Lord saw it needful to acquaint Mankind therewith no doubt but the Light and Spirit which revealed the Account of the Creation above Two Thousand Years after to Moses and fore-told several Hundred Years many of those Transactions of Christ by the Prophets would
that now so lamentably Pesters the World In which State for all the External Imitations of the Ancients in some temporary and figurative Parts of Worship I am to tell such and that from the Spirit of the Lord God of all Truth They will never be Accepted The Utmost of that Literal Knowledge Historical Faith and Outward Religion is but as the Old Heavens that are to be wrapped up as a Scroul and the Old Wine and Bottles that belong not to the Kingdom of God Such Believers may slatter on themselves and at last cry Lord Lord But alas They shall never enter into the Rest that God hath reserved for his Regenerated and Redeemed Children For under such a Faith and Religion Envy Wrath Malice Persecution Pride Passion Covetousness Worldly â—â—ndedness c. may and do prevail yea and are Cloaked as with a secure Cover from the Stroak of God's Spirit insomuch as when any are moved of the Lord to Decry such Fair and Hypocritical Shews of Religion they are reputed Rash and Censorious and presently a Plea must be made on this wise Do not we follow the Commands of the Scripture Did not such and such do so and so Which at best are but the Duties of Sacrifice and not of Obedience Never regarding from what Ground the Performance springs whether it be according to the Rule of the New or of the Old Creature But abuse and vilifie us for making such Distinctions as if the Prayers Preachings Singings outward Baptizings and Suppings c. of Men in their own unsanctified Spirits Strength and Will were required and accepted of God for Evangelical Worship Thick Darkness and a Dangerous Presumption Thus are Men Out of the Way concerning both Faith and Practice and the true Rule and Judge of Them They make the former viz. Faith and Practice to lie in an Assent of the Understanding to such Propositions and in an Imitation of former Observations that were at best but Signs of good things to come and the Duties of Sacrifice which is far from the Immanuel-State And the latter viz. the Rule and Judge to be the Scriptures which is but an Account of those Things that others were Ruled to and Directed in by the Holy Spirit before they were ever Recorded or made Scripture and no other Rule or Judge can so Regulate For as the Faith and Experience so the Rule and Judge of that Faith and that Experience must be One God by his Spirit begets Faith God by his Spirit rules Faith and governs the Life of his Children for as many as are Children of God are led by the Spirit of God The Scripture much of it is but a Declaration of Faith and Experience therefore not The Rule or Judge For as Faith and Experience were before Scripture so the Rule and Judge were before Scripture because as I said before there must be a Rule and Judge where there is Faith therefore the Scripture is not That Rule or Judge And before that Declaration be answered or fulfilled by any they must come to the Faith Rule and Judge of which That is a Declaration So that Faith is yielding up to the Requirings of God's Spirit in us in full Assurance of the Remission of Sins that are past through the Son of his Love and Life Everlasting from whence daily flows Works of Holiness well-pleasing to God which is more than a meer Assent of the Understanding to a verbal though a true Proposition Again The Life of a true Christian stands not in Bodily Exercise which says the Apostle profits little Nor in an Imitation of the Ancients in Temporary and Shaddowy Things which the Hypocrite as well as the Sainâ— can do But in Self-denial and walking in the Spirit to bring forth the Fruits thereof unto all Godliness which is the pure and spiritual Obedience resulting from the Living Spiritual Faith of God's Elect and the Rule and Judge thereof is their Author and Begetter even the Spirit of Truth which alone gives saving Understanding Faith and Obedience and searcheth the deep things of God O you Professors of Religion that you would but seriously weigh these things and examine your selves in God's Sight for he respects none for their Fair Outside If this Saving Faith be your Faith and this Heavenly Life be your Life and if the Holy Spirit be your Ruler and Leader If not you are but Legal Formal and in the Oldness of the Letter and Will-worshipers which obtains not with God In which State not the Wisdom from above but that which 〈◊〉 from below of the Old Creature is your Rule In it you read Scripture Expound it Pray Preach Sing and Perform all your Duties and this is not to walk according to the Rule of the New Creature but in a Legal Spirit to make a Gospel-Profession the End of which from the Lord I am to tell you will be a Bed of Sorrow Therefore Resist not the Light and Spirit within but Turn at the Reproof thereof that you may come to walk in the Way of Life Daily Life to your Souls that so you may be quickned and made alive to God in all your Duties and live to him while you live 〈◊〉 that Life which is hid with Christ in God that being thus Born again and become Renewed in your inward Man you may perform that Pure and Spiritual Worship which is of a sweet Savour with the Lord so shall he Bless you with his Heavenly Blessing and daily Replenish your Souls with the unspeakable Joys of his Love and Salvation This I heartily desire and through all Difficulties Incessantly Travel for in Body Soul and Spirit that the All-Wise Good Omnipotent God may be Known Served and Obeyed by you to your Comfort and his Eternal Honour who alone is worthy to receive 〈◊〉 now and for ever Amen William Penn FINIS Postscript I Would not be misunderstood in what I have writ of the Excellency and Preference of the Holy Spirit of God as the first chief and general Rule of Life and Practice and as the infallible and therefore the best Judge of Controversy among Christians as if I thereby intended to lessen or undervalue the divine Authority or Service of the blessed Scriptures of Truth since we most heartily believe them to have been given forth from the same Holy Spirit and are a Declaration of the Mind and Will of God and as such are obliging upon all that have and can have them both in reference to Faith and Practice And we utterly disclaim and renounce all Doctrines and Practices repugnant to them But as the holy Spirit gave them forth through Holy Men so without the Help of the Holy Spirit they cannot be truly and spiritually understood by those that read them for their Edification and Comfort for that which writ them can best apply them Which is the Reason of that Preference we give to the Spirit of God and of our pressing People to take diligent
Spirit through its wandrings after Visible and Perishing things And in as much as the Light became thereby vailed from him the Spirit as it were quenced and the Law defac'd God in peculiar Mercy to to the Jews according to his Covenant with faithful Abraham superadded or Repeated as Ursin terms it the Law inward by a Declaration of it Outwardly that both God might not be without an outward Witness as well as an inward they having so much lost the Feeling thereof And likewise more deeply to strike their Minds by their Senses into which their Minds were gone and to meet them abroad where they were roving and wandering from the Law and Light within As it is great Vanity and Weakness to infer Insufficiency to the Light from the Imbecility and Darkness that are in Men which is so is it from God's superadding Scripture and other external Assistances to Men in that State Since their Blindness is occasioned through their Rebellion to the Law and Light within What! would such have God his Light and Spirit appear to and converse with Peoples outward Senses That can't be The one is too Spiritual the other too Carnal for any such thing Or are they Insufficient because they converse with Men through these exteriour things suited to that weak State Or tell me if the considerablest part of Scripture be any more than the declared Knowledge and Experience of such 〈◊〉 were come to a more improved State in 〈◊〉 Teachings of that Light and Spirit â—â—ch is therefore given forth that others â—â—ering behind might be stirred up and 〈◊〉 more prevailed with to follow them as 〈◊〉 had followed the Lord in the Light of 〈◊〉 Spirit Certainly it can never be that â—â—â—ipture should impeach the Light of Insufâ—â—ency when that very Scripture is but the â—â—nd and Teachings of the Divine Light in â—â—ers declared or recorded Does the Deâ—â—ration jarr or make weak that from whence â—ame Or because of God's Condescenâ—â—n for a time to External Mediums shall 〈◊〉 turn the Light and Spirit out of the Ofâ—â—e of Rule and Judge Or is to lay down Inâ—â—uted Religion as some ignorantly talk 〈◊〉 press after that which was before and â—â—ds those temporary things The Law outâ—â—rd as a Rule was but as Moses till the Son 〈◊〉 The Servant abideth not in the House for 〈◊〉 The written Law held its place but 〈◊〉 the inward rise in more Glory and Brightâ—â—ss or rather till People became more caâ—â—ble of being turned to it and living with 〈◊〉 in it In those Days said the Lord I will â—rite my Law in their Heart c. They who 〈◊〉 otherwise of Scripture do pervert and â—â—use it for there is nothing more clearly â—â—id down in it from Beginning to End than 〈◊〉 Rule and Reign of the Spirit My Kingâ—â—m said Christ is not of this World Again â—he Kingdom of God is within I will write my â—aw in their Hearts and place my Fear in their inward parts All thy Children shall be 〈◊〉 of the Lord and in Righteousness shall 〈◊〉 established I will pour out my Spirit 〈◊〉 Flesh The Grace of God that brings Salvâ— hath appeared to all Men teaching c. Obj. But if the Law engraven and deliâ—â— to Moses was a Rule to the Jews why 〈◊〉 not the Law deliver'd by Christ and writtâ—â— his Apostles be the Rule to Christians Answ Christ left nothing in writing the Rule of Faith and Practice that we hâ—â— of and it is not to be thought that he 〈◊〉 Less faithful in his House than Moses A doubtless had he intended the Rule of Followers to have been a written Rule would have left it upon Record with all Pâ—â—â—ctuality This must be believed and That 〈◊〉 on Pain of Eternal Death Nor did his Followers write in the Method of a Rule as 〈◊〉 Law was written nor did they So call recommend what they writ But this leads me to my Eighth Reason why the Scriptures cannot be the Rule under the New Covenant c. For admitting the Law written by Moses were The Rule 〈◊〉 Rule I grant it was to the Jew outward yet Christ the Spiritual Leader of a spiritual Israel writeth his spiritual Law in the Heart as Moses the Outward Israel's Leader writ the Law upon Tables of Stone This was God's Promise and the Priviledge and Blessing of the New Covenant that as the Outward Jew had an Outward Law for a Direectory the Inward Jew should have an Inward â—â—â—w for his Directory And as the outward 〈◊〉 had an outward Priest at whose Mouth 〈◊〉 ought to seek the Law so the Jew Inward Circumcision in Spirit has an Inward Spiritual High-Priest whose Lips preserve knowledge at whose Mouth he is to receive Law of Life And This is his Rule even who is the Ruler of his People Israel â—â—o reigneth in Righteousness and of the increase of whose heavenly Government â—â—ere shall be no End The King Ruler Judge Law-giver High-Priest Law Rule Temple are all Spiritual so the Scriptures inform us My Kingdom said Christ is not this World Again The Kingdom of God is within I will write my Law in their Hearts and place my Fear in their inward Parts They shall be all taught of me and in Righteousness shall they be established The Tabernacle of God is with Man He will dwell with them I will pour out my Spirit on all Flesh The Grace hath appeared to all Men teaching c. A Measure of the Spirit is given to all Men to profit withal The Inspiration of the Almighty giveth Understanding Whatsoever may be known of God is manifest within Walk in the Spirit If ye walk in the Light c. Come let us walk in the Light of the Lord. And there needed neither Sun or Moon to shine for the Glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb was the Light thereof As many as walk according to this Rule Peace be on them and Mercy and upon the Israel of God 〈◊〉 What Rule Not that of the Old Legal 〈◊〉 which then passed away but the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 new Creation as it 〈◊〉 be rendred and as Dâ—sius cites one to haâ—â— interpreted it and Gâ—tius also does interprâ—â— it Which is the 〈◊〉 of Life Isaiah spoke 〈◊〉 An High-Way there shall be and it shall be callâ—â— the Way of Holiness 〈◊〉 Unclean shall not pass â—â—â—ver it and wayfariâ— Men though Fools 〈◊〉 not err therein There shall be no Lyon there â—â—ravenous Beast go thereâ—â— but the redeemed shaâ—â— walk there which Way Teacher Guide Rule Light Spirit and holy Unction that directs and keepeth in steady Paths of Truth is Christ Jesus our Lord. Obj. But do you not turn the Scriptures off for an Uncertain and Unserviceable Writing and as good as reject and deny them altogether Answ Some indeed to render us odious to all â—â—testants have said as much in our Names
the Consequence of our Principles but without great Injustice to us The Scriptures are uncertain upon their â—â—â—ndation but not upon ours Doth our â—â—â—ifesting their Faith concerning the Scriptures to be grounded upon their own Imaâ—â—â—ations or humane Traditions make void Scriptures or render them uncertain By means for we would have them receivupon the Spirit 's Testimony and Evidence which gave them forth And though cannot allow them to be The Rule of 〈◊〉 and Life under the Dispensation of 〈◊〉 Gospel which is Power and Life it self 〈◊〉 are they to be reverently Read Believed 〈◊〉 Fulfilled under the Gospel For notwithstanding the Law written upon Stone was 〈◊〉 Paul's Rule after the Son of God was â—â—vealed in him yet the Son of God taught 〈◊〉 to fulfil the Righteousness declared by 〈◊〉 Law If it be to deny and reject as 〈◊〉 have enviously said of us yea to vilifie the Scripture because we cannot allow to be The Rule c. Paul then may be said deny reject and vilifie the written Law what time the Law of the Spirit of 〈◊〉 in Christ Jesus became his Rule There a great Difference between asserting that 〈◊〉 Spirit is the Rule and casting away and â—â—lifying of Scripture And indeed it is but 〈◊〉 old Fetch of the Devil 's to pretend Hoâ—our to the Letter that he might the more unsuspectedly oppose the bringing in of Dispensation of the Spirit which the 〈◊〉 it self testifies of and to They that 〈◊〉 to be led of the Spirit arrive at the End which the Scripture was given forth 〈◊〉 Apostle John did as good as say the 〈◊〉 thing when he told them to whom wrote That the Anointing which they had â—â—ceived and abode in them would lead them all Truth and that they needed not that Man should teach them To deny this to 〈◊〉 been the Saints Teacher is to deny as 〈◊〉 a Proposition as is in the whole Scripture And that one Age of Christianity 〈◊〉 have one Rule and another Age anoâ—â—â— Rule That Age the Spirit and This but Letter is more then any Man can 〈◊〉 Yet did John's so writing to the Believers valid the Scripture or vilifie his own 〈◊〉 I would think none could talk so 〈◊〉 How then doth our Exalting the Light 〈◊〉 Spirit of Christ which fulfils the Scripture by bringing such as are led by It to enjoy the good things therein declared reject 〈◊〉 vilifie the Scriptures Does our living up them by an higher Rule make us to deny aâ—â— reprobate them Erasmus and Grotius thiâ—â— them then most to be valued when 〈◊〉 are Witnesses of their Truth in themselveâ— See them on 2 Pet. 1. 19 20. I do acknowledge they contain an Account of sever heavenly Prophecies Godly Reproofs Instructions and Examples that ought to be â—â—beyed and followed Object If so Then how are they not A Rule Faith and Life Answ A Rule and the Rule are two â—â—â—ngs By The Rule of Faith and Practice understand the Living Spiritual Immediate â—mipresent Discovering Ordering Spirit of 〈◊〉 And by A Rule I apprehend some Inâ—â—â—ment by and through which this Great 〈◊〉 Universal Rule may convey its Directiâ—â—â— Such a Subordinate Secondary and Deâ—â—ratory Rule we never said several parts of â—â—ripture were not Yet we Confess the â—eason of our Obedience is not meerly because they are there written for that were 〈◊〉 but because they are the Eternal Preâ—â—â—ts of the Spirit in Mens Consciences There â—epeated and Declared It is the Testimony of 〈◊〉 Spirit which is The True Rule for believing â—nd understanding of the Scripture therefore 〈◊〉 the Scripture but the Spirit of Truth must 〈◊〉 The Rule for our believing and understanding Them Thus held the Ancients Tertullion saith Worldly Wisdom the Lord â—alls Foolishness he hath chosen the foolish things of the World to the confounding of Philosophy â—or that is the Matter of Worldly Wisdom a divine Interpreter of the divine Nature and Disposings Justin Martyr in Exposit fid The Interpretation of the Scriptures is to be accommodated to the Will of the Doctrine of the Spirit and not to humane Reasonings Hieron saith The Scriptures must be open with Spiritual Exposition Epiphanius saith Only to the Children the Holy Ghost all the Scriptures are plain 〈◊〉 clear Nor were the most approved Protestants any sort who have been so reputed in Oâ—â—position to Popery of another mind It the Substance of the Fourth Article exâ—bited against the Lutherans in the Council Trent as an Erroneous Doctrine they heâ— That to understand the Scripture neither Gloss 〈◊〉 Comment is necessary but only to have the 〈◊〉 of a Sheep of Christ's Pasture Erasmus tells us What Man sets forth Man's Device may be received by Man's 〈◊〉 But the thing that is set forth by the Inspiration the Holy Ghost requireth an Interpreter inspire with the like Spirit and without the Inspiration of it the Secrets of God cannot 〈◊〉 known Luther giveth us his Mind thus The Scripâ—tures are not to be understood but by that 〈◊〉 Spirit by which they were writ Peter Martyr that famous Italian Proteâ—stant teacheth us The Spirit is the Abettâ—â— by which we must assure our selves for underâ—standing of the Scriptures that thereby we may discern between Christ's Words and a Stranger quoting Christ's words My Sheep know my Voice and several other places of Scripâ—ture Again The Spirit of God revealeth the Truth in the Scriptures H. Bullinger Decad. 4. Serm. 8. Men fetch â—he Understanding of Heavenly Things and Knowledge of the Holy Ghost from No where â—lse but from the same Spirit John Bradford answer'd to the Arch-Bishop of York thus We know the Scriptures as Christ's Sheep by the same Spirit that wrote and spake them being thereby assured c. 〈◊〉 teacheth thus in his Institutes It necessary the same Spirit that spake by the Mouth of the Prophets should Pierce into our Hearts to perswade us that they Faithfully Delivered that which was committed to them of God Beza saith That the Way of understanding Prophecies and referring them to the right Scope must be sought or fetcht from the Same Spirit which dictated them to the Prophets themselves and more to that purpose W. Tindal call'd the English Apostle by J. Fox saith It is impossible to understand in the Scriptures more than a Turk for any that hath not the Law of God writ in the Heart to fulfil it Bp. Jewel says thus against Harding The Spirit of God is bound neither to Sharpness of Wit nor to abundance of Learning Flesh and Blood is not able to understand the Holy Will of God without Special Revelation Without This Special Help and Prompting of God's Spirit the Scripture is to the Reader be he never so Wise and well Learned as the Vision of a Sealed Book D. Ames a great Father of the Independents saith upon occasion of Bellarmin's words The Anointing of the Holy Spirit doth teach the
also have supplied that Want But inasmuch as an Account is extant and therefore not needed that Objection is vain Again it does not follow because every Man has a Measure of Light to Inform and Rule him that therefore he must needs know all which that Light knows or is able to Reveal to him I return that Argument thus upon our Adversaries They say they have the Spirit of God Then they know all that the Spirit of God knows or can reveal to them If the latter be absurd then the former Again say they The Light within did not reveal Christ to the Gentiles and that Christ should be born of a Virgin c. therefore Insufficient I return upon them thus The Spirit of God given to the Children of Israel Neh. 9. 20. did not acquaint them that Christ should be born of a Virgin nor much more of his Life and Bodily Transactions therefore the Spirit of God was Insufficient The like may be concluded against the Spirit in the Prophets For 't is manifest from 1 Pet. 1. 10 11. that the Spirit had not revealed to all the Prophets the Time of Christ's Appearance and Sufferings Was the Spirit therefore an Insufficient Rule to them But that which falls heaviest upon our Opposers is this That the Scriptures by their own Argument are a most Inperfect Account themselves of what was done not relating the hundredth part of things therefore as Insufficient in not relating what is behind as they would weakly render the Light or Spirit in not revealing to every Individual those things which are already past Nay they may as well infer Insufficiency to the Spirit or the Light within in that it does not now shew all that shall be to the End of the World which in their proper Seasons there will be a Necessity to know as to reflect Insufficiency upon it c. because it did not fore-tell things that are now past unto former Ages or needlesly Reveal them over again to us in this Age. Neither is History or can it be the Rule of that Faith and Life we speak of which are so absolutely necessary to Salvation which is the Faith that God and not History gives and that works not by History but by Love and overcomes the World by which Millions of Historical Believers are overcome and wallow in the Spirit and Practice of And the Rule must be answerable to the Nature and Workings of the Faith The same in Point of Practice which is Duty Done Now History though it inform me of others Actions yet it does not follow that it is the Rule of Duty to me since it may relate to â—ctions not imitable as in the Case of Adam â—nd Eve in several Respects and Christ's beâ—ng born of a Virgin dying for the Sins of the World c. wherefore this cannot be The Rule of Duty The like may be said of the â—ewish Story that was the particular Concern â—nd Transaction of that People Obj. But these things ought to be believed Answ I say so too where the History has â—â—eached and the Spirit of God hath made 〈◊〉 Conviction upon the Conscience which says D. J. Owen as before Cited gives them Authority Verity and Perspicuity But where â—his History has not reached any People or they dye ignorant of it they are not responsible for not believing any such Passages as saith Bishop Sanderson 'T is one thing to say the Scriptures ought to be Read Believed and Fulfilled and another thing to say they are the Evangelical Rule of Faith and Life For when I read believe and witness them fulfilling I must needs have a Rule by which to Read Understand Believe and Witness them Which being the Divine Light and Spirit of Christ it must be That and not themselves that must be my Rule for so Readâ—ing Understanding and Believing Them And further to prove that the Light and Spirit within the Heathens was sufficient to discover these things it is granted on all hands that the Sybills had divine Sights I mean not those made in their Name by some Professors of Christianity as is charged upon them to gain Authority upon the Gentileâ— against which Blundel writes But thoâ—â— that are acknowledged who prophesied 〈◊〉 a Virgin 's bringing forth a Son and that 〈◊〉 should Destroy the Serpent and Replenish thâ—â— Earth with Righteousness as is before 〈◊〉 out of Virgil who took it out of the Remains of Cumaea's Verses then among the Romans And for the Practical Part of the Object on viz. How should we have known 〈◊〉 had been Unlawful to Swear at all in 〈◊〉 Case if Mat. 5. 34. had not been which 〈◊〉 of most weight in this Case because it is maâ—ter of Duty and called particularly by some an Evangelical Precept being a Step abovâ— the Righteousness of the outward Law among the Jews I have this to say foâ—â— Proof of the Light 's Sufficiency There were among the Jews themselves long before Christ came an entire People that would not Swear to wit the Esseâ—â—â— They keep their Promises says Josephus and account every Word they speak 〈◊〉 more Force than if they had bound it with 〈◊〉 Oath And they shun Oaths worse than Perjury for they esteem him condemned for a Lyar who without it is not believed Philo writes to the same purpose and taught himself that it was best to abstain from Swearing that one's Word might be taken instead of an Oath And Pythagoras in his Oration to the Croâ—â—ian Senators exhorted them thus Let no Man attest God by Oath though in Courts of Judicature but Use to speak such things that he may be credited without an Oath The Scythians are said to have told Alexander 〈◊〉 themselves Think not that Scythians confirm their Friendship by Oath They Swear by keeping their Word And Clinias a Greek and follower of Pythagoras rather chose to suffer the Fine of Three Talents which make 300l English 〈◊〉 to lessen his Varacity by taking of an â—â—ath Which Act was greatly commended 〈◊〉 Basilius who upbraided the Christians of â—s time with it Thereby after our Adversaries Way of drawing Consequences â—eferring the Light of the Gentiles before 〈◊〉 Light of the Christians Though indeed 〈◊〉 Light was and is always One in it self â—ut the Christian did not live up so closely it as the Heathen did and therefore took greater Liberty and walked in a broader Way I would now know of our Opposers if they can yet think the Light that preach'd his Doctrine in the Mount was the same with that Light that shined in the Consciences of those Gentiles so many Hundred â—ears before that Sermon was writ or preachâ—â— who so plainly believed practiced and â—ought it Yea or Nay Perhaps some will 〈◊〉 stick out while the more moderate will â—â—bmit and conclude Ignorance and Folly have made all this Opposition against us 〈◊〉 that of a Truth The Voice which cried Prov. 4 6. Unto you O Men I call