the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and thy Neighbour as thy Self Next the Priest blows three gentle Puffs upon the Infants Face and saith Go out of him thou unclean Spirit and give place to the Holy Ghost the Comforter Then with his Thumb he makes the Sign of the Cross on the Infants Forehead and Breast saying Receive the Sign of the Cross both in thy Forehead and in thy Heart Take the Faith of the Heavenly Precept and be thy Manners such as thou mayst now become the Temple of God. Then follows a Prayer that God would always protect this his Elect one calling him by his Name that is signed with the Sign of the Cross Then laying his Hand upon the Child's Head he comes to the Benediction of Salt of which this is the Form. I exorcise or conjure thee O thou Creature of Salt in the Name of God the Father Almighty ✚ in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ ✚ and in the Power of the Holy Ghost ✚ I conjure thee by the living God ✚ By the true God ✚ By the Holy God ✚ By the God ✚ which created thee for the safeguard of Mankind and hath ordained that thou shouldst be consecrated by his Servants to the People entering into the Faith that in the Name of the Holy Trinity thou shouldst be made a wholesome Sacrament for the driving away the Enemy Moreover we pray thee O Lord our God that in sanctifying thou wouldst sanctifie ✚ this Creature of Salt and in blessing thou wouldst bless it ✚ that it may be to all that receive it a perfect Medicine remaining in their Bowels in the Name of the same Jesus Christ our Lord who is about to come to judge the Quick and the Dead and the World by Fire Amen Then the Priest putting a little of the Holy Salt into the Child's Mouth saith Take thou the Salt of Wisdom be it thy Propitiation unto Eternal Life Amen Now follows another Exorcising of the Devil wherein he is conjured as before then the Priest signs the Infant again with his Thumb on the Forehead saying And this Sign of the Holy ✚ which we give to his Forehead thou cursed Devil never dare thou to violate by the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Then the Priest puts his Hand on the Infants Head and makes a Prayer in order to his Baptism then puts part of his Robe upon the Child and brings him within the Church saying Enter thou into the Temple of God that thou maist partake with Christ in Eternal Life Amen Then follows the Apostles Creed and the Pater-Noster c. Then follows another Exorcising or Conjuration of the Devil Then the Priest takes Spittle out of his Mouth and touches therewith the Ears and Nostrils of the Infant when he toucheth his Ears he saith Epthapha be opened and touching his Nostrils he saith for a sweet smelling Savour Another Conjuration follows in these Words Be packing O Devil for the judgment of God is at hand Then the Priest asks the Infant whether he renounces the Devil and all his Works and all his Pomps in three questions and the God-fathers answer distinctly to them Then the Priest dips his Thumb in holy Oyl and anoynting the Infant with it on his Breast and betwixt his Shoulders in the figure of a ✚ saying I anoynt thee with the Oyl of Salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord that thou mayst obtain eternal Life Amen Then the Priest puts off his Purple Robe and puts on another of White and asks three questions out of the Creed and receives the God-fathers answers then asks this question whether the Infant will be Baptized and receiving the God-fathers answers to that He pours Water thrice upon the Child's head and reciteth over it our Saviour's Form of Baptism doing it each time at the naming of the three Persons And now comes the Chrysm or holy Oyntment in which dipping his Thumb and anointing the Infant on the Crown of the Head in the Figure of a ✚ He thus prayeth O God Omnipotent the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath Regenerated thee of Water and the Holy Ghost and who hath given thee pardon of all thy Sins I anoint thee with the Chrysm of Salvation in the Name of Christ Jesus our Lord to Eternal Life Amen And next after follows the Pax tibi and wiping of his Thumb and the anointed Head he takes a white linen Cloath and putting it on the Child's Head useth this Form Take the white Garment which thou mayst carry unspotted before the Tribunal of our Lord Jesus Christ that thou mayst have Eternal Life Amen And lastly he puts a lighted Candle into the Child's or Godfathers hand and saith Receive the burning Lamp and keep thy Baptism blameless keep God's Commandments that when the Lord shall come to the Wedding thou may'st meet him c. concluding all with Go in peace and the Lord be with thee There are more Conjurations and Ceremonies added c. But let these suffice at present Now Brethren as it is an Observation that White being compared with Black doth seem more white so the true Baptism according to the Scripture and graciously restored in the practick part among you being thus compared with the supposed Baptism of the present Roman Church must needs seem more lovely and the wretchedness of their devised Fables become more manifest to all men Let us now see whether they have been more happy in the other great Ordinance The Holy Table of the Lord. Baptist The manner of the Baptized Churches in Celebrating the Holy Table of the Lord. Papist The manner of the Celebration of the Bread and Cup in the Mass taken from Dr. Willit in his Synopsis Papismi THE Congregation being met together and having spent part of the day in Preaching and Prayer commonly towards the Evening and ordinarily upon the Lords Day the Table is decently prepared and the Bread and Wine set upon it also in decent manner The Messenger or Elder does excite the People to due Humility and Reverence in their approaching to the Holy Table of the Lord shewing the occasion and Authority by and upon which it was Instituted for a perpetual Ministry in the Church of God. The great Use and Mystical signification of it as Christ is evidently set forth in his Crucifixion or bitter Death upon the Cross as the alone Sacrifice once offered for the Sins of Men and that there is no more Offering for Sin but the Offering up of Christ once for all Then he putteth them in mind of the qualifications necessary on their part to the due Reception of that Divine Ordinance without which they will come together for the worse and not for the better Then taking the Bread into his hands he calleth upon God in the Mediation of Jesus Christ for a Blessing upon the Bread that it may be Sanctified for that holy use for which it was ordained by Christ and that by Faith all
things spoken by him were so 3. Nor can the Papists tell us what one Point of Necessary Instruction or Belief was delivered by Word of Mouth which is not now contained in the Holy Scripture if otherwise let them assign some necessary Point of Faith or Instruction such as without which we cannot know and serve God truly and fully and be saved eternally which is not contained in the Holy Scriptures But as this will hardly be attempted so let me exhort you Brethren to beware of all manner of Principles and Doctrins which have any tendency to weaken or invalidate the Authority and Sufficiency of the Scriptures which the Apostle avers to be of that sufficiency even before all the Books of Sacred Scriptures were extant as to furnish the Man of God throughly to every good Work. And then certainly he who is in all Points of Faith and Instruction a good Christian according to the Doctrine contained in the Holy Scriptures will be out of the reach of any just reprehension though he know nothing of the unwritten Tradition so much pretended and admired by the Papists or others Being thus secured in your Principles from the very concession of your Enemies and by the Authority of the best and most Sacred Antiquity even the Holy Scriptures you have no cause to fear the most important difficulties wherewith possibly we may be tried in these days And that we may the better see how the case stands between the Baptists and the Papists with respect to the two great Ordinances of Christ to wit Holy Baptism and the Holy Table of our Lord Jesus Christ we will here take a View of the one and of the other in a distinct Column by it self the better to discern their Disparity The Manner of Baptism among the Baptized Believers commonly called Anabaptists Baptist The Manner of Baptism among the Papists commonly called Roman Catholicks taken out of the Roman Ritual by a Learned Hand translated into English Papist THE Messenger or Elder being attired in comely Raiment not much different from the rest of his Brethren first Preaches the Gospel to every Creature that is capable and willing to hear and when by hearing they have received Faith the Minister explains the Doctrine of Repentance from dead Works and of Faith towards God for the further Illumination of the Disciples understanding in the knowledge of the only true God and our Lord Jesus Christ that they may obtain Eternal Life The Minister does oopen the Doctrine of Repentance in three parts especially i. e. as it consists in a due sense or knowledge of the sinfulness of sin In true Sorrow for sin committed especially against Almighty God. The necessity of forsaking the Conversation of sin and to walk righteously soberly and godly in this present Life The Doctrine of Faith is explained concerning the Object in respect of the God-head the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost into whose Name the Party is to be baptized and especially concerning Christ crucified buried and risen a-again and therewith is shewed that in Baptism we are to die unto Sin to be buried with him in Baptism to rise to a Holy Life and so to put on the Lord Jesus Christ in Baptism as to be born of Water and of the Spirit through the Word The Minister does open to the Party to be Baptized the whole Doctrine of Baptisms First That of Water which is the Baptism of Repentance for the Remission of sins in respect of the Power by which it is commanded the extent of it to every repenting Sinner the end of it to be a Pledge of the washing away of sin and to give us admission into the Church of Christ to draw near to God in Prayer with full assurance having the Heart sprinkled from an evil Conscience by Faith in the Blood of Christ and our Bodies washed with pure Water even the Water of the Baptismal Covenant called the washing of Regeneration 2. That of the Holy Spirit the Promise of the Spirit being made to all that our Lord doth call and therewith doth explain the fourth Principle of Christ's Doctrine Laying on of Hands with Prayers as the Means appointed of God to obtain that Blessing even the Promise of the Spirit through Faith in the Word of Promise 3. The Baptism of Affliction is also opened that the Sufferings of Christ called by himself a Baptism may not be feared but patiently endured according to the Will of God. This is the Sum of the Doctrine of Baptism taught by the Baptized Churches The 5th and 6th Principles of Christ's Doctrine are likewise particularly opened concerning the Resurrection of the Dead and chiefly of Christ's being raised Bodily from the Dead as the most sure pledge that the Dead shall be raised Bodily and the eternal Judgment in which every man shall receive according to the deeds done in the Body whether good or bad To all which the Party to be Baptized declares his assent in the best manâ—er he can shewing also his sense of Sin and sorrow for it his purpose to live holily his Faith in Christ his Saviour the only Son of God and that it is his desire to be Baptized according to the Will of God. And then the Minister with the Congregation or persons present do make Prayer and Supplication to Almighty God to receive the returning sinner and to bless and sanctifie his own Ordinance to him And then the Party to be Baptized being cloathed with convenient Garments for decency he is had to the Water where calling upon the Name of the Lord he is dipped into the River or Water by the Minister in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost And as in every thing Christians are to give thanks so this whole Service is concluded with farther prayer and thanksgiving to this effect That as it has pleased God to call his Servant or Servants out of their sinful state and to bring them into the way of Truth so it would please him to enable them to persevere to the end to his Glory and their own Eternal Comfort Nor do we put any Vow Covenant or Promise upon any Person save only what the very Nature of the Baptismal Covenant it self does in its own evidence carry along with it it being our greatest care neither to add to nor to diminish ought from the holy Ordinances of Christ but to keep them as they were delivered at first to the Church of God 1 Cor. 11. 2. AFter many preparatory Prescriptions the Priest being dressed in a Purple Robe calls the Infant to be Baptized by his Name and saith What askest thou of the Church of God the God-fathers answer Faith. The Priest saith again What shalt thou get by Faith The God-father replies Eternal Life Then adds the Priest If therefore thou wilt enter into Life keep the Commandments Thou shalt love
Hear the Church OR AN APPEAL TO THE Mother of us All. BEING AN EPISTLE TO All the Baptized Believers in England exhorting them to Stedfastness in the Truth according to the SCRIPTURES TOGETHER With some farther Considerations of seven Queries sent to the Baptized Believers in Lincolnshire concerning the Judge of Controversies in Matters of Religion In Three PARTS By THOMAS GRANTHAM And they shall turn away their Ears from the Truth and shall be turned into Fables 2 Tim. 4. 4. But I will shew thee that which is noted in the Scripture of Truth and there is none that holdeth with me in these things but Michael your Prince Dan. 10. 21. LONDON Printed in the Year 1687. TO THE READER THere is nothing which Men sincerely Religious do more heartily desire than that all Men were so too and because they are fully satisfied that they are in that very Way which most truly leads to Life they therefore strive that all may know it and walk in it And truly this is my Case my Hearts Desire and Prayer to God for all Men is that they may be saved And as I believe it hath pleased God to shew me the Path of Life I cannot but do my best to shew it to others for as some by their Labours have been helpful to me so I hope mine may be helpful to others When I call the Primitive Christian Church at Jerusalem the Mother of us All I allude to that Place Gal. 4. 26. Interpreters so far as I have observed take Jerusalem there for the Gospel Catholick Church now this Church had its Beginning and this Beginning was at Jerusalem and because in the Progress of Christianity in the World for near one thousand seven hundred years there has abundance of Errors crept in and much truth in the antient Simplicity of it rejected I think it highly rational that all prejudice being laid apart Men should seek with the greatest diligence for their greatest Security into the State of Christs Gospel-Church as by himself established for whatsoever has not been planted by our Heavenly Father is nigh to its being rooted up God Almighty direct us all is the hearty Prayer of thy Friend Thomas Grantham Let the Reader further take notice that these Papers were originally written upon several occasions otherwise some things repeated would have been otherwise Let thy discretion bear with this Hear the Church The First PART Containing by way of Preface a particular consideration of the State of the first Christian Church at Jerusalem and the Reasonableness of appealing to Her as The Mother of us All. IT is evident to all such as have conversed with the Histories of the Ages which have been since the coming of our Lord to make known and establish all things in the Kingdom of Grace in the first Church at Jerusalem that there hath been great striving among the Christian Churches for some Honour and Prerogative above the rest Sometimes the Church at Alexandria sometimes the Church at Constantinople and especially the Church at Rome pressing very hard for Precedence of Honour and Preheminence of Power few minding the poor afflicted Church at Jerusalem the true Mother of all true Christian Churches when yet the Holy Ghost hath left a high Commendation upon those who do follow Her both in the effectual Reception of the Gospel not as the Word of such or such a man though preached by Apostles but as it is in truth the Word of God 1 Thess 2. 13 14. and also not in persecuting but in suffering like things of their Countrey-men as they did of the Jews And we desire and hope that there may be yet all due consideration had by all Christians in these days of the Heavenly Frame and Holy Walking of that MOTHER-CHURCH Unto whom was committed in the first place the Principles of the Oracles of God unto whom our dearest Lord was a personal Minister and did actually Dispense to and Communicate with them in the Divine Mysteries or Ordinances of the Christian Religion upon whom was poured the most excellent Gifts and Graces of the Holy Spirit of Promise It was this Church from whom according to the Prophets the Law of Christ should first go forth Isa 2. 3. Mich. 4. 1 2. Here was the House of the Lord established in the top of the Mountains and exalted above the Hills that all Nations might flow unto it an Honour not given to other Churches 1 Cor. 14. 36. What came the Word of God out from you No this was the Glory of another For out of Zion shall go forth the Law and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem Which by special Order from Christ was fulfilled when he gave Commandment to his Apostles that Repentance and Remission of Sins should be preached in his Name in all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Luk. 24. 47. And here it was that the Spirit gave utterance unto the Apostles to preach in all Languages that then some of all Nations who were at that very time at Jerusalem might hear from thence the joyful Sound of the Gospel and consequently keep the same Holy Doctrine in all Ages and Nations as it was there delivered and confirmed by divers Signs and Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Ghost Math. 28. 19 20. Heb. 2. 4. Act. 2. Forasmuch then as all Churches in all Ages and Nations are indispensibly bound to follow this Church in the Observation of all things whatsoever Christ commanded them we hold our selves concern'd at this time to declare our unfeigned Assent unto the Truth of the Gospel as it was here delivered and our humble Resolution to keep the Ordinances of Christ as they were here practised not doubting but the same was received in all Churches at the first being confident of this very thing that a safer way cannot be found for the security of our Souls from the manifold Errors which since the Plantation of this Church have been obtruded upon the Consciences of Men in most parts of the Christian Nations To the intent then that we may avoid Error and cleave to Truth we shall consider particularly though very briefly the Frame of this Heavenly Building in respect of her Foundation her Form of Government and the Way of her Worship in order to her Perfection And First We find her Foundation-Principles to consist in six particulars called the beginning of the Word of Christ which Articles are therefore called the Foundation because of the Relation they have to Christ who is a Foundation to his Church as held forth in his own Doctrine and other Foundations than Christ so held forth can no man lay Of such importance are these Sacred Principles that we find the Ancient Christians used to call them the Christian Catechism Chrysostoms Testimony is this That all these are fundamental Articles that is that we ought to repent from dead Works to be baptized into the Faith of Christ and be made worthy of the Gift of the Spirit who is given by imposition of
of the Holy Spirit the first is consigned to then in Sacred Baptism the second in Prayer with the laying on of Hands in which way this Mother-Church received this Blessing as is evident from the ennumeration and order of the Principles of her Catechism and also from this Testimony that great Grace was upon them all Acts 4. 33. as also in that it is expresly said that this Church continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine a Principle whereof is Prayer with Laying on of Hands and from this Church this Doctrine and Holy Practice was carried by the Apostles to Samaria Acts 14. for it is not to be imagined they would there innovate a practical principle which had not first been taught in the Church at Jerusalem But God bearing witness to this service of Prayer and Laying on of Hands at Samaria with the same Blessing of the Holy Spirit fore-received at Jerusalem confirms it as an acceptable and needful Service for all Churches And accordingly it was received in the times next succeeding the Apostles days as many witnesses testifie amongst whom Tertullian thus Dehinc manus imponitur c. After Baptism the Hand is imposed by Blessing calling and inviting the Holy Spirit Tunc ille Sanctissimus c. Then that most Holy Spirit most willingly descends from the Father upon the Bodies which are cleansed meaning in Baptism and blessed Of the Resurrection of the Dead taught and believed in this Mother-Church In this Church it was where the Apostle gave witness with great Pâ—wer of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus in whose Resurrection assurance yea very full assurance is given to all men that there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and the Vnjust It was here that our Saviour shewed himself alive after he had been dead by infallible proofs being seen of his Disciples forty days conversing with them of the things concerning his Church and Kingdom It was here that many dead Bodies of the Saints did arise and come out of their Graves and went into Jerusalem and appeared to many after Christ was risen which was a full proof that the Resurrection is of the same numerical Bodies which are laid in the Graves disrobed only of mortality and all imperfections And this is that Resurrection of the Dead here called a Principle of Christ's Doctrine and of the Foundation of this Mother-Church Of the Eternal Judgment Believed by this Church It was to the Guides of this Church to whom our Saviour first made known this great priviledge that they should sit on Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel at that time when he should sit upon the Throne of his Glory Mat. 19. 28 who also is appointed of God to be the Judge of Quick and Dead Act. 10. 42. which great Article is here recounted among the principles of Catechism Heb. 6. 2. and called the eternal Judgment not only for that it is the last Judgment but because the effects of it shall be perpetual the pains to be imposed in this sentence of Judgment shall be of eternal duration to all wicked men who have contemned the Gospel of their Salvation and judged themselves unworthy of Eternal Life even that Life which then shall be given to Eternity to all such as have held fast the beginning of their Confidence and the hope of this their rejoycing stedfast unto the end Heb. 3. 14. As therefore the Tares are gathered and burnt in the fire so shall it be in the end of the World. The Son of Man shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that do Iniquity And shall cast them into a Furnace of Fire there shall be wailing and gnashing of Teeth Then shall the Righteous shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father Who hath ears to hear let him hear Matth. 13. 40 41 42 43. Lo the eternal Judgment taught by Christ's own Mouth let all men be admonished to prepare for this Judgment for the coming of the Lord draws nigh Of the farther Order and manner of Worship used in this Mother-Church This did especially consist in frequently assembling themselves together to teach and preach Jesus Christ Acts 5. 42. or for the ministring of the Word of God and Prayers Acts 6. 4. In which we find no Liturgies or Forms of Prayer devised or imposed by the Apostles but these Services were performed by the aid of the Holy Spirit which as they were given for the work of the Ministry so 't is evident they have a remanency in the true Church till the whole be perfected Eph. 4. and it is this Blessed Spirit which helps the Church to make Intercession according to the will of God Rom. 8. 27. They were all very frequent at the Lord's Table breaking the Sacred Bread in remembrance of the Lord Christ giving thanks to God by him Acts 2. 41 47. nor needed they any Mass-Book or Common-Prayer-Book to direct them in either Christ's own Institution of his Holy Table and the holy Prayer which he had taught his Disciples with other Heavenly Rules contained in the Holy Scriptures was abundantly sufficient and are so still to every Faithful Man of God and Minister whom God and his Church hath called to that Work to furnish him to every good work It is also excceding plain that the Holy Table of the Lord is here called the breaking of Bread. And therefore though that Holy Bread and Wine be the Body and Blood of Christ yet they are these in such sort as they are also the Bread of the Lord and the Cup of the Lord 1 Cor. 11 27. And forasmuch as the Apostle here and in the next verse does expresly call the same things by these different titles the Body and the Blood the Bread and the Cup we must of necessity take him to speak Figuratively in one of these but in the latter to wit Bread and the Cup we have no Figure save that the Wine in the Cup is taken for the Cup which is an usual form of speaking and therefore of necessity these Words Body and Blood must be understood to be mystically spiritually or figuratively in the Bread and Wine and not the Bread and Wine to be mystically spiritually or figuratively in the Body and Blood of Christ It is also as certain that the whole Church this Mother-Church Acts 2. 42 did then receive both the Bread and Cup of the Lord as that any one of them did partake of both the whole Service being expressed by a Synecdoche a part for the whole which yet will better appear in that this Ordinance ought to be received by every Recipient as he is a Member of Christ not as he is a Minister 'T is true as I am a Minister I dispense this Mystery but I receive it as a Member saith St. Paul For YE being many are one Bread and one Body For WE are all partakers of that one Bread. It was
who is his Church we shall never find her nor does he reveal this but by the Testimonies of the Scripture there must we find the Church of God or no where For none but Enthusiasts pretend to any other Revelation in this Case and to speak feeely I doubt the Papists are more then a little Enthusiastical for rather than let God's Word decide this Question about the Church they will flye to Miracles as if a false Prophet may not shew a Sign or a Wonder yea and that Sign and Wonder come to pass too and yet the thing he brings it to prove be nothing but a lye see Deut. 15. Surely he that shall pretend to work a Miracle or Wonder in these days to prove such or such a People to be the Church I should the more suspect both him and his Church because we have a sure Word of Prophecy confirmed by Miracles already which Word doth as fully set forth the Church as it sets forth any thing insomuch as men may as well call for Miracles to prove there is a God and that this God is true as to call for Miracles to prove the true Church Indeed the Church of Christ being once found then all wise and modest men will readily lend an Ear to her in all things and especially when she undertakes to expound the dark or mysterious points of our Religion or offers her Judgment in things doubtful for as for the common point of the Christian Faith he that is a wise and good Man and no ways byassed by Interest may perhaps know these things as well as the Church or at least such as call themselves Church-men But to be bound to adhere to any Church in these days as to a people which cannot possibly be mistaken in any matters of Faith or Religion seems to be an Atribute too high for any Society of Sinful men and there is none that liveth and sinneth not For seeing God hath not told us any such thing That the Church cannot Err or be Mistaken it ought not to be spoken and if it be only proper to the Almighty to say He cannot lye It must not be said of the Church that She cannot lye lest he reprove us and we be found Lyars Rom. 3. 4. Let God be true and every Man a lyar for thus it is written and again Hos 11. 12. Ephraim compasseth me about with Lyes and the House of Israel with Deceit This was the Case of the ten Tribes and though Judah be justified as to these Impieties yet Chap. 12. 2. God tells them he had a Controversie with them also Certain it is that famous Churches have erred in matters of Faith and others were as liable to err as they no Church being herein priviledged above another for any thing that God has said in his Word but he every where exhorts his People to beware of Sin Error and Apostacy and commands every one that hath Ears to hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches but he does not say to any of them that they cannot Err therefore we are not to hear such a story of any Church Mat. 16. 18. Is a gracious Promise indeed That the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against the Church of Christ as founded upon himself in the true Faith of St. Peter But this Promise belongs to all true Churches equally yet no man ever durst affirm from hence That no true Church can possibly err And St. Peter who understood this Promise never told any Church of his Planting that they could not Err but rather tells them they may err so as to fall from their stedfastness and be led away with the error of the Wicked Indeed if any Church could be assigned here on Earth that cannot err or be deceived in matters of Faith it were the easiest thing in the World to find the Truth having once found the Church for we should have no need to know any thing but what that Church speaks and to receive her Determinations as God's Oracles but then I consider again that we should perhaps have great inconvenience also For if all the Decrees made by General Councils be obliging to us and were bound up together we should never be able to read them nor I doubt to understand them it will then be our best at the long-run to take Sanctuary at the Word of God as our Guide and Superiour to the Church But I consider farther that no man makes any particular Church this Guide but does refer us to the Universal Church as assembled in a General Council Surely either this is to make as many Universal Churches at least as there has been Ages since Christ was upon the Earth or if all make but one Universal Church the direction given to follow her Sentence is scarce practicable for how long will it be before a man can be assured what was held and what was rejected by the Church in all Ages indeed there are Men born of great confidence who will tell us that the Catholick or Universal Church hath always held such Doctrines and such Traditiors as are unwritten c. Now it highly concerns all Christians as much as in them lieth to make sure work with such bold Talkers about the truth of the things which they affirm especially about the truth of the Antiquity of these things that is that they appear by some Divine Record to have been delivered to the first Churches by Men approved of God to be the deliverers of Divine Institutes and if they fail here it will be ill venturing to follow them in their after-enquiries And there is the highest Reason in the World to stand as strongly as possible for the first Age for such pure and undoubted Antiquity is necessary in our Case from the tenour of our Blessed Saviour's Argumentation against the Jews in opposition to a Tradition or Mosaical Precept in the Case of Divorce Mat. 19. 8. From the beginning it was not so For seeing the Apostles did faithfully deliver the whole Counsel of God to the first Churches condemning all that shall teach otherwise than they had taught the the Doctrine of Godliness or that should not consent to wholesome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ it is therefore necessary to bring all Doctrine and Practices in the Christian Church to the Test of the most pure and Primitive Antiquity for that Church which hath that Argument fairly on her side cannot fail of all other Arguments which can be any way necessary for her Justification for indeed this first Argument does infer all the rest and they that have not this have none of the other which thing being well considered look back upon your Principles O ye Baptized Christians and upon what hath been said for them even by your Adversaries and take comfort for whoever boasts of the best Antiquity it is certain that you only have it For what is the most ancient Record Doubtless the Holy Scripture and if so let the