wrongly as they are not because both cannot be right and wrong But in matters of real Faith as in matters of right Reason they are both so clear the one by Divine Revelation and the other by Divine Instinct and each so firmly and constantly and universally believed and proved by all Faithfull and rational men that they may be said to have no Handle at all much less two one right and the other wrong for they cannot be right and wrong nor believed and proved as right and wrong but certainly are right and cannot be wrong or else our Faith and Reason had no sure Foundation as undoubtedly they have Thus God our Creator and Christ our Redeemer and the Holy Ghost our Comforter and the Catholick Church and the Communion of Saints the Forgiveness of Sins the Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting are most certainly true in themselves as they most certainly are believed and most certainly revealed to us and by Reason imprinted in us without mistakes in the main needing no Judge for them at all for such Spiritual things are Judged of God and are to be judged of no man so carrying the Naked Truth in themselves as to be clear to all men and no Disputes about them at all because they are from God and not from men and true as God is true And Men can no more be deceived in them then they can be deceived in God And therefore there is more certainty in Religion and Reason then there is or can be in any thing else Evidences say all the Mathematicians or Philosophers in the World what they please The Testimony of God is sure and we are all his Offspring and we all know his Will and if we will not believe what we know to be true we are without all excuse Nor can the Revelations of Faith and Impressions of Reason be any more questioned than the Light of the Sun can be questioned to be the cause of life and growth of all the Creatures in the lower World And the evidence of things seen and heard and felt and tasted by the mind is as Scientifical a Demonstration as the evidence of things seen and heard and felt and tasted by the Body To bâ—lieve in God is to believe all that is of God as well Spiritual things as Corporeal and to deny Spiritual things or beings is all one as to deny God's Spirit or God's being As for the Consequences and Deductions from right and true Faith and Reason in their several Modifications and Qualities Consequences I cannot say but that they are and may be wrong and false and so we may be deceived As for instance concerning Faith Justification Regeneration Adoption New Creation Union and Communion with Christ c. These if you will may have two Handles but they are both of our own making not God's the right and the left and the left be sure is the wrong according as our Apprehensions Believings or Reasonings are right or wrong Vide my Book of the differences of the Two Covenants If therefore in any point of Controversal or Consequential Divinity I have taken the left or wrong Handle I am a Man and 't is my mistake as a man and when I am convinced of my Errour I will ingeniously confess it repent of it and mend it if I can But if I have taken the right Handle I must not alter and let Reason be Judge in all men which in some will be for me and in some against me There is no Question to be made of the truth of God of Christ of the Spirit of Regeneration New Creation Union and Communion with God by the Spirit and of Justification Sanctification Election Faith Adoption Presence of Christ that there are such things as all Christians Grant Modes But in the Manner of our Regeneration New Creature Union and Communion with God and of our Justification Sanctification Election Faith Adoption Presence of Christ c. there are too many and great Questions and too many Disputes Pro and Con about them some of them grating too much upon Barbarity and Profaneness as to be Godded with God and Christed with Christ and that there is no other Christ nor Light nor Heaven nor Hell but what is in us and Justification and Sanctification Law and Gospel are blended together and some of those contrary Positions may not be hurtfull on either side and some are But chiefly the manner of Christ's Presence in the Holy Supper is become a bloody Question and in most suspense with least cause in which there are two bold and Magisterial Assertions made de fide of Transubstantiation and Consubstantiation very hurtfull and dangerous to the overthrowing of the Faith of some But still there is a Presence and the Spiritual Presence is safe to be sure that can do no harm and is most profitable and the Carnal Presence can do no good but may do harm SECT II. Liberty of Opining I claim therefore the Liberty of Opining due to all Mankind most modest and safely as they may that differ in Opinion from me and both may be good and both preserve Love and Charity and let Posterity Judge of both and choose which they like best if they be both safe and impinge not upon God nor hurt the Souls Bodies Estates or Honours of Men. The Church of Rome is pleased to call our Differences from them by the odious nick-name as they have made it of Heresies and falls to Persecution of all Dissenters called by them Hereticks as far as de Haereticis comburendis O certainly this is a most inhumane as well as most Unchristian Practice and no true Protestant I am sure will ever follow them in it no not a far off nor come so near as to Plundering Sequestration or Consiscation because by these though they kill not outright as the Papists do yet they starve them by a lingring death which in some sense is as bad or worse And bloody Religions cannot be true The Ventilation of some Problems on both sides if moderately and charitably managed may tend to much Truth Peace and Love But if we come to Railing Fighting Undoing and Killing farewell all Religion Liberty and Peace The Effects of our Faith Justification Regeneration Union and Communion with Christ we know and feel which we call the work of Grace But the Manner how the Causes work such Effects we do not know For the wind of this Spirit bloweth where and when and how it listeth and we know not where it cometh nor whither it goeth and 't is in vain and sinful to pry too far into these Secrets of God's workings and therefore Faith Reverence and silence in these cases is always the safest But still Peace and Charity are to be maintained by all means or else we spoil all In Sum this is all I do but desire to have fair play for my pains and hurt no body And they that do not like my Opinion
Rebellions Poysonings Assassinations c. 'T would tire a sturdy Satyr and quite wear out his Whips of Steel to lash every Doctrine of Devils that Devillish men have invented to the hurt of Churches and Kingdoms and the disturbance of the whole World to bring all things into a Chaos of Confusion if some men might have their Will Long has Popery and Superstition reigned from the days of Phocas VVitnesses of â—he Truth Against these the Waldenses and Albingenses have protested with John Hus Jerom of Prague Robert of Lincoln John Gerson Council of Constance Erasmus Baptista Montuanus Cassander Polydore Virgil Hesselius Melancthon Luther Calvin Oecolampadius Beza c. mighty men of valour famous in their Generations men of Renown of a noble Genius that dared to bid defiance to the Devil and to the overwhelming Tyranny of the Pope and Court of Rome The same work is prosecuted by us Protestants with might and main though there be some small Differences amongst us and we have cause to unite because the Common Enemy seeks to root us out from the Face of the Earth and Hannibal is at our Gates and a wonderful Progress is made therein by rare Artists SECT III. The Face of things is changed the Vizar removed the Natural Beauty appears no new Religion but the Old restored Hic labor hoc opus est Modern Divinity is the very same with the Ancient Catholick and Apostolical Faith contained in the Scriptures of the New Testament Modern Divinity plainly expounded without mixture of Artificial Glosses As Man was created Righteous but after that sought out many Inventions so are the Scriptures easie till obfuscated by humane Speculations The pure Gospel unmixed with Judaical and Gentile Praecepts and Ceremonies Philosophy Logick and Oratory Not wresting the Scriptures from their Literal or Mystical Sense No need of a living Judge a Pope a Conclave a Council packt for endless Controversies Pruritus disputandi scabies Ecclesiae They say Disputes never did good Wit against Wit engender Strife there is no end of such doings Necessary things few There are but few necessary things trouble the People of God no farther if they observe these things they shall do well The Simplicity of the Gospel is the Wisdom and Power of God unto Salvation mighty for the beating down of the strong holds of Sin and Satan A two-edged Sword for the dividing asunder of the Heart and Reins The preaching of Christ and him Crucified to the Jews a stumbling Block and to the Greeks Foolishness but unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks the Power of God and the Wisdom of God Without controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness Christ manifested in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels believed on in the World and received up into Glory He that believeth shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned This is the Whole Duty of Man Fear God and keep his Commandments Matters of Faith not controverted There are no Matters of Faith in Controversie The chief Disputes of Antiquity Prosperity Succession Infallibility Supremacy Miracles Transubstantiation c. are not Matters of Faith but doubtful Disputation We are to contend for nothing but the Preservation and Propagation of that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints There is no Judge of Faith but God who hath judged it for us and revealed it unto us The Truth is lost by vain Janglings Tu disputa ego credam Justinian wisely forbad any Comments upon the Text of his Law but they yielded no obedience to him in that at all but the quite contrary SECT IV. In the Three first Centuries were no Controversies but such only as the Apostles had with the Jews and Gentiles Touch not taste not handle not Circumcision Days and Years Meats offered to Idols c. They taught Christian Liberty and a New Creature In the Fourth and Fifth Centuries and so forward came in large Commentaries Sophistical and Casuistical Divinity innumerable Superstitions Reformation and Will-Worship This needed a Reformation which all moderate Men studied and longed for in every Age but could not effect The time was not yet come Throw away Infallibility Supremacy c. Pull up Weeds Sweep away Rubbish Cherish Faith and a good Life When we agree in the things leave disputing of the Modes Let our Moderation be known unto all Men. The Lord is at hand we are all in our Journey to Heaven fall not out by the way give the Right Hand of Fellowship one to another serve one another in Love keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace serve the Lord with one Lip and with one Shoulder contend not about Forms of Discipline obey the Magistrate variety of Forms hurt not Faith let Brotherly Love continue speak the same things though in a different manner give that liberty of Prophecying one to another Laws are plain Justice easie do as we would be done by all will be at peace if Spirits be peaceable If any man be contentious we have no such custom neither the Churches of God Salus Populi Suprema Lex c. Suffer no Doctrine which is hurtful to Church or State and all will be well Receive the ingrafted Word of God which is able to save your Souls the sincere Milk of the Gospel receive a weak Brother but not to doubtful Disputations offend not him for whom Christ died Never eat Flesh while the World stands rather than offend a weak Brother or wound his tender Conscience for whom Christ died If Tares be sowed the Enemy hath done this the Lord will destroy both it and them Let the Tares and the Wheat both grow together until Harvest when the Angels the Reapers shall bind the Tares in Bundles and throw them into the Fire and burn the Chaff with unquenchable Flames but they will gather the Wheat into Gods Barn every man must stand or fall to his own Master Every mans work shall be tried his Hay and Stubble shall be consumed which he hath ignorantly built upon a pretious Foundation but he himself shall be saved yet so as by Fire Whatsoever is of God shall stand be not found to fight against God nor condemn the Generation of the Just It is in vain to kick against the Pricks We have not so learned Christ Let every Soul be Subject to the Higher Powers for there is no Power but of God Pure Religion and undefiled is this To visit the Fatherless and the Widows and to keep our Souls unspotted from the World to hate the Garments spotted by the Flesh to live uprightly in the midst of a crooked and perverse Generation and to flee from the Wrath to come SECT V. The Word of God is inwardly by instinct of Nature in our Hearts and Consciences Word of God The Word of God is inwardly by Revelation of Grace written in by his Spirit in our Hearts and Consciences The Word of God is outwardly written in
that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men Teaching us to deny ungodliness â—it 2.11 c. All Flesh shall see the Salvation of God â—oh 3.6 The same came for a Witness to bear witness of the Light â—oh 1.7 〈◊〉 .8.16 that all men through him might believe SECT XVI 3. A visible Judge pretended â—â—sible Judge the Judge is within us the Spirit its self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Let every man prove his own Work â—l 6.45 then shall he have rejoycing in himself alone and not in another 1 Joh. 3.21 If our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God Luke made Theophilus his own Judge of his Writings to him as the Apostle did them at Rome Corinth c. And the People made the Church Infallibility takes away the use of every man's Reason The Pope should conclude us by Conviction and not by Authority to make us to believe a Lie Ro. 1.19 That which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them 2 Cor. 4.1 2 c. As we have received Mercy we faint not but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the Truth commending our selves to every man's Conscience in the sight of God for if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ who as the Image of God should shine unto them c. The Church is not visible nor Worldly as other Societies World and Church like Sosia and Mercury resemble at a vast difference SECT XVII 4. Liberty The Jews after hard service under the Law during their Minority when the Gospel came Liberty were Adult and Free The Gentiles knew no Minority but under Natures Law and upon the preaching of the Gospel were immediately Adult and Free The Jews lost their Carnal Priviledges which did them no Good for they were still Debtors responsible to the Law which could never be satisfied But when they and the Gentiles embraced the Gospel they were by the goodness of God immediately set at Liberty and invested with Spiritual Priviledges which did them good and set them everlastingly free from the Curse of all Law So the fulness of Time of the Gentiles came in suddenly all at once upon them for Adoption and Sonship without the Law And for their Faith they were made elder Brethren by Grace to the Jews which were the Elder Brethren by Nature As Jacob was the Younger to Esau the first Born The Jews had the first offer to keep their Birthright but they profanely rejected it so the offer was made to the Jews they refused So we turn to the Gentiles and they wisely accepted it The Sons of the Free-Woman were disinherited and the Sons of the Bond-Woman legitimated Great Grace by the Gospel greater than by the Law The Jews stood upon their Carnal Birth and Carnal Ordinances they were Abraham's Children and Mose's Disciples But the Gentiles by Faith were the true Children of Faithful Abraham and the true Disciples of Christ the Lord of Moses But between the Believing Jew and the Believing Gentile there is no difference at all We perceive by this that God is no respecter of Persons but in every Nation they that fear him and work Righteousness are accepted of him Those that honour God he will honour but those that despise him shall be lightly esteemed The Allegories of Sarah and Agar Esau and Jacob Jshmael and Isaac Mount Sinai and Mount Sion Jerusalem above and Jerusalem below are changed in their Natures and all are free in Christ Jesus who is all in all Ob. We are no Jews no fear of that Sol. We are a little Jewish some fear of that Ob. We are not Heathens for Idolatry Sol. We are something Heathenish for Superstition Therefore in Modern Divinity we distinguish carefully between Judaism and Paganism Conclusion Carnal and Spiritual Priesthood Law Altar Temple Sacrifice between Works Faith Liberty Bondage Flesh and Spirit rightly dividing the Word of Truth like Workmen that need not to be ashamed These are short Hints of the matter largely displaied in the Difference between the two Covenants in the Two Testaments of the Law and the Gospel FINIS