he that is born of God desire his Fathers face the Kings face the light of his Countenance this made David and so maketh it all the Children of God say We have more joy and gladness in the light of our Fathers Countenance though it were shut up in a Dungeon with Bread and Water than they whose Corn and Oyl and Wine doth abound Now whereas it is said The Scriptures are plain evident and manifest in themselves they have a secret glory Majesty and Purity in them which mans writings in his own wisdom have not and this abundantly manifests them to the spiritual Eye I grant it is so and certainly knows it to be so which makes them so precious unto me but consider a little what this Glory Majesty Plainness Purity c. is which makes them Manifest and to whom it Manifests them Such an Example will somewhat figure it forth having first known such a man of rare beauty comeliness and majesty which appears in his countenance and afterwards seeing his Portrait drawn so exactly as a Pensel could do this Image or Portrait has a pretty lively representation of him and the Characters of his Beauty and the Majesty of his Countenance appear somewhat in the Portrait whereby I Manifestly know That it is the representation of such a Man Now these Characters of Beauty and Majesty in the Image come far short of the Mans countenance and it was the seeing of him first made me know his Image to be his and so the glory and beauty of his Face may be called Primarie but that in the Portrâ—… Secondary or Derivative and the seeing himself makes me believe that it is his Description and it is Manifest enough so I reading in the Scripture wherein there are as it were rare and excellent draughts shaddowing forth Jesus Christ and I then coming to know himself the Scriptures lye open and plain unto me and they are very evident and manifest but to him that never saw the King of Glory himself they are hid and as a sealed Book and he who has heard God himself speak will manifestly know the words writ or declared by others in whom he has also spoken and he stands near himself to testifie and witness to the truth of these words which come from himself So Queen Sheba easily believed the report concerning Solomon and his wealth when she saw it and I reading the Description of such a Countrey I have been in and travelled thorow it is easie for me to know whether it be true or false and I being so long a hearer of such a Man speaking from word of mouth and afterwards reading a book containing his words I know them to be his having heard him before but the words as they lye in a book come far short of these which proceedeth from his own mouth for these had much móre Life and Power with them Then how much more do the words Immediately proceeding out of the Mouth of God excell a Declaration or writing of them though they be also precious and excellent but where the Word of the King himself is there is Power and blessed are they who know this joyful sound of the Voice of the living God in their hearts and have thus learned the truth as it is in Jesus having so learned Christ having heard himself and so having him the Witness in themselves Ephes. 4. 21. 1 Iohn 5. 10. They are built on a sure Foundation which gives them fullness of Assurance That the Prophets and Apostles Doctrine is of God having found himself Come and seen him of whom Moses and the Prophets wrot Iohn 1. 45. 46. And as it was the Spirit of Jesus Christ Witnessing in the hearts of them who believed to the Truth of the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles by which they were made Manifest in their Consciences and their words were believed which proceeded Immediately from their own Mouthes and seeing that was necessary then it must be also necessary now also much if not much more seeing these Apostles and Prophets are not alive themselves in the flesh to tell us that they spoke or wrot so but that their writings are transmitted to us through many generations from hand to hand and no question they have fallen into enemies hands and how can a man be so fully assured as is sufficient for his Salvation but that Papists Iews and others who had them before us have wronged them and both added and taken away and altered if the Spirit of the Lord perswade him not to the contrary seeing it is possible they might have done so if the Lord had permitted and what a light Foundation have they to their Faith which men of corrupt minds or Devils or any powers whatsoever of this World may brangle spoile corrupt add to or take from for as we know through the rich mercy and gracious Providence of God the Lord hath so wonderfully preserved the Scriptures Testimony so far uncorrupt and pure as that they abundantly testifie the true foundation and these things sufficient for Salvation not that they are sufficient themselves but they abundantly testifie to that which is sufficient and this we know by the Spirit of God that wrought them but what a tottering and Lubrick and uncertain Foundation ye have made to your selves some of you affirming and these men of great account with you that the points of the Hebrew Coppies in which Language the old Testament was writ are but mens aditions and the first writers used them not and it is affirmed by many of your selves they are but a late invention Now what a great difference and considerable the pointing makes any skilled in that Language but a little may know the points being the vowells even so great that the points otherwaies set or added may not only alter one or more words but whole sentances and if so what a loss are ye at in your Foundation I found it only to touch this a little and refer the Reader to Sammâ—…el Fishers Book where he treats of this at large and Iohn Owen Confesseth the points or vowels to be so weighty that if they be invented or added since the writeing of the Scriptures by fallible men it mightily threatens the ruine of the Christian Faith thus he in words to the same purpose as may be seen in his book and yet these men who set forth the Biblia Polyglotta and many others affirm the points to be added since or that the contrarie is not Certain but they are happy whose Faith depends not on mans saying or unsaying but on that Word which was in the beginning and this only can certifie us of the Scriptures Argument 12. And as by the Spirit of Jesus Christ his Revealing Immediately in mans heart and bearing testimony to the Scriptures that they are of God and writ from his inspiring and moving of these holy Men of God who penned them Man can only be sufficiently perswaded to believe them so this can only
give the understanding sense true interpretation of them Jesus Christ he himself is the great Interpreter the one of a Thousand Jâ—… 33. 23. Even he who met the two Disciples in 〈◊〉 wâ—…y going to Emaâ—…s and beginning at Moses and all the 〈◊〉 expounded into them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself and it is clear that he spoke outwardly to them by word of Mouth so he spoke inwardly by his Spirit into their hearts and therefore they said one to another Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the Scriptures Luke 24. 27 32. Now what made this burning of their hearts within them but the powerful appearance of his Spirit which wrought in them as fire which dispelled these clouâ—…y mists of Darkness which covered as a vaile the eye of their understandings whereby they could not perceive the things written of him and 't is said concerning the other Disciples and Apostles ver 45. Then opened he their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures And that the words spoke from without could not do this is clear from his own Testimony Iohn 6. 63. It is the Spirit which quickneth the Flesh profiteth nothing the Words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life and Job 32. 8. The Inspiration of the Almighty gives understanding This is that which opens the Scriptures else they are a sealed book and how weak and dark were the Disciples whilst Christ abode with them in his bodily appearance how many things were shut up from them even although they had some knowledg which Flesh and Blood had not revealed to them but his Father in Heaven yet the Spirit not being pouered forth in such a measure of glorious Manifestation as afterwards they received till then they were Ignorant of many things See Iohn 14. 9. Iohn 16. 16. 17. Compared with 25. Math. 16. 8. 9. Math. 16. 21. 22. Iohn 11. 13. Iohn 13. 28. Luke 9. 44. Luke 9. 33. Math 17. 23. Acts 1. 6. And especially the mistery of his Dying and Rising again and the coming of his Kingdom was much hid from them therefore he said Iohn 16. 12 13. I have yet many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now Howbeit when the Spirit of Truth is Come he will guide you into all Truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak c. And so when the Spirit was poured out then their understandings were opened and they called to remembrance many things spoke by him in the daies of his Flesh and then they understood them No Prophecy of the Scripture saith Peter is of any private Interpretation 2 Peâ—… 1. 20. But according to the Greek and Bezars Translation the words are more plain No Prophecy of the Scripture is of a Man 's own Interpretation Prophecy Explications the Man who spoke the Scriptures from the Spirit of God was not to Interpret them of himself nor in his own will so neither was any other to Interpret them but that Spirit which first gave them forth was to Interpret them For the things of God knoweth no Man save the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2. 11. And if it be so among Men Tâ—…t the Law maker is only admitted in point of Controversie the expounder of the Law and if he who writes a Book amongst men be accounted the fittest to Interpret or give the sence or meaning of his words how much more is it necessary that the Spirit of the Lord which gave forth the Scriptures be the expounder of them especially seeing the Scriptures declare of such things that are so Mysterious to the natural understanding of Man or to his natural reason that they are quite above its comprehending or conceiving of them I say not contrary to his Reason to witt that Spirit Principle or faculty in Man which can judge truly or certainly of things Natural and this is also of God but the Mysteries of Salvation whereof the Scriptures treat though they be not contrary as is said yet they are above the reach of this Principle or Power of discerning as the things of reason are above the things of the senses bodily so the things of Faith are above the things of Reason to witt that Reason or Principle which can judge truly of things Natural for I Like not to contend about words I acknowledg the Principle of Faith is and may be fitly called rational and the believer is the most rational man in the World and the very wisdom of God is Reason or Understanding and that wisdom wherewith he denies his servants from above is also reason but it 's not the Natural reason for before man was endued with the Heavenly Wisdom he had the Natural Reason or Understanding but then he neither had nor could have the knowledge of the things of God to witt The Misteries of Salvation This is that which the Apostle plainly declares 1 Cor. 2. 14. But the Natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Lo how he makes them impossible to be known to the Natural Man or understanding because the knowledge of them stands in an other Principle in that which is born of the Spirit of God the Seed of God that can only know them they are spiritually discerned And this further Consideration will yet make it more appear That man of himself without the Revelation and Inspiration of the Spirit of God cannot understand the things of God and so cannot Interpret the Scriptures declaring of them because Man as he stands in the Fall and not come to be Regenerate lives and is quite sunkinto a Wisdom Knowledg and Understanding that is altogether contrary to the wisdom of God and the true knowledg of God it is true as is already said there is somewhat in man which Judgeth truly and pertinently of things Natural and this of it self is not contrary to the wisdom of God but a gift of God and is of good use to Man were it in its right place and by this man properly is a Man he has a rational Principle in him whereby in this he excells the Beast of the Field but now man in the Fall stands not in this Principle it rules not in him there is another birth in man which Lords it and rules in him and this birth is of the Devils begetting and hereby Man is a Child of the Devill For this Seed whereof this Birth is begotten was sown into mans heart when he Fell and it has ever propagated and spread it self through Adams Posterity since and this Seed and Birth has a Wisdom and Knowledge which is Carnal Earthly and Devilish and is direct opposite and contrary to the wisdom of God as every thing of this birth is contrary to every thing of the birth of the Spirit
like these men who talke of the Scripture Canon being filled up so that the Spirit of Prophecy is Ceased are to the Iews who had such a fancy among them concerning the Scriptures of the Old Testament their being filled up and their becoming a Rule to them so that when Christ and his Apostles came and spoke from the same Spirit the Scriptures were writ from they would not hear them but cryed up the Scriptures We have the Scriptures and Moses Law and God spoke unto Moses and our Fathers but this Man we know not from whence he is Joh. 9. 28 29. And as for Prov. 22. 19 20 21. There is wisdom â—…ught in speaking to Solomon and making known her words and writeing unto him but that proves nothing That the speaking of that wisdom or spirit in others as in Solomon is Ceased Nor yet Isa. 8. 19 29. To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word c. Now could this be a good Argument for the Iews against Christ and his Apostles and their Writeings No nor is not now against writeings or words proceeding from the Inspiration of the same Spirit for that which was writ after or is to be writ from the Spirit of God is not contrary to any thing writ before from the same Spirit but according to it for all the words of truth accord and agree together and there was a Law and Testimony writ in Men's Hearts before a Line of Scripture was ever writ in a Book and they who spoke not according thereto were but deceivers and had no morneing in them as the Hebrew carries it And now I come to that Scripture they lay so much weight upon 2 Tim. 3. 15. 16 17. But what Does the Cannon close here is not the next Chapter writ from the Inspiration of the Spirit of God and the other following Books if they were writ after this as they follow after it or if these words prove not but that Paul and others both spoke and wrot afterwards from the Inspiration of the holy Ghost how will it prove that there is no such thing now O say they all new Revelations are superstuous there needs no more Scripture that which is writ is writ is able to make wise unto Salvation from a Tim. 3. 15 16 17. But I say Paul and others wrot Scriptures afterwards But to come to that Scripture It is to be considered there is a writeing by the Spirit of God upon Man's heart See 1 Chron 28. 12. Compared with ver 19. and with Ierem. 31. 33 and 2 Cor. 33. And so this is Scripture or Writeing for both are one by the inspiration of God Scripture or writeing with Pen and Ink upon paper but with the Spirit of the living God upon the heart and these holy writeings are able to make 〈◊〉 unto Salvation And Scripture given unto a Man by Inspiration of God is profitable and the words should be thus Translated All Scripture given by Inspiration of God or all Writting given by Inspiration of God profitable for Doctrine for Reproofs c. That the Man of God may be perfect for the word is is not in the Greek and it 's false that all writeing is by Inspiration of God for much has been writ from the Inspiration of the Devil But I acknowledge these Books set down in our Bible to be writ from the Inspiration of God and when any man receives them by Inspiration that they be given him by Inspiration as to these who wrot them then they are profitable to him but if he come not to that Spirit which inspired the first Writers and there-with to be Inspired they cannot of themselves profit for the Letter kills but the Spirit giveth life and the Inspiration of the holy Spirit giveth understanding as saith Elihu so who come not to this Inspiration they come not to an Understanding of the Scriptures And our very Adversaries dare not plead from this Scripture that there is nothing more required but Scripture to make wise unto Salvation for they acknowledge the inward Illumination of the Spirit to be necessary thereto and if they make one exception why may not we make another That inward Revelâ—…ations and Inspirations are necessary aswel and further it may be said of the Scriptures of the Old Testament all that is spoken here of the use and ability of Scripture yet does not this exclude the writeings of the Evangelists and Apostles and we acknowledge the Scriptures are profitable and useful but not sufficient of themselves to make wise unto Salvation without the inspiration of the same Spirit that gave them forth which can only give the understanding of them But why do they plead that Scripture is able to make the Man of God perfect seeing they deny Perfection and cannot abide to hear that a man can be perfect And that Scripâ—…ure Luke 1. 3 4. Does it prove That no more Scripture is to be written nor any after Luke spoke or wrot from the inspiration of the Spirit of God Was not much writ afterwards Or could Luk's word cause Theophilus to know the certainty of these things of themselves Nay they were a Declaration of what he most surely believed himself and Theophilus reading it having the Spirit of God would find that witnessing in him to the truth of these things and this gives the certainty or assurance See 1 Thes. 1. 5 Their next Scripture is Rom. 15. 4. For whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our learning c. What then is Revelation or the Spirit of Prophecy ceased for all this yet Paul himself had it and he sayes The Scriptures were wrot for his learning and he points here at a Scripture in the old Testamenâ—… but this proves not there was no more Scriptures to be added thereto and Paul sayes not the Scriptures were writ that we should learn only by them or stick to the Letter learning for he had a learning beyond them even that of the Spirit and in this same Epistle he points them to the newness of the Spirit beyond the oldners of the Letter Rom. 7. 6. which compare with 2 Cor. 3. 6. Their next Scripture is Math. 4. 4 7. as for ver 4. It fighteth Manifestly against them Man shall not live by Bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Now say they The word proceeding from Gods mouth is Ceased he speaks not from word of mouth now as he did of old but from the Scriptures but if God himself speak not Man lives not And what does this prove that Christ used the Scriptures Testimony against the Devil is there not therefore any Inspiration or Revelation was not Christ inspired himself and was not Paul and the other Apostles Inspired who used the Testimony of former Scriptures writ before them against their adversaries but yet they wrot Scriptures themselves from the same Spirit and why may not it be so now Their
of God Gal. 5. 17. And now the wisdom of this Fleshly Devilish birth rules in every man in the natural state and subjects and brings into slayery that other Principle in him which in it self is apt to judge rightly of things within its own Sphere to witt things Natural and this Devilish Earthly Carnal Wisdom makes it do it service and answer its Designes and the more quick and discerning that a man be in the Natural Spirit or understanding this Devilish Earthly Carnall Wisdom which most usually is called in the Scriptures Acceptation also Natural being a top of it and ruleing therein the more it makes a man incapable of the true knowledge and wisdom and sets up the stronger Bulwarks in man against the wisdom of God And these are the strong holds which Paul speaks of which the Spiritual Weapons are mighty to pull down the high imaginations according to the Greek it is reasonings and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledg of God 2 Cor. 10. and 5. So it is clear That the reasonings of man standing in this wisdom which is altogether contrary to the true wisdom and knowledg of God are so far from being a help to him to further him in the true knowledg that it is a strong hold against it and therefore is to be cast down ere a man can come to the true knowledg which proceeds from the meek and lowly Spirit of Jesus Christ the beginning of which wisdom is the fear of God and so the more that a man is indued with the knowledg of Letters and other parts which might be of use to him were he come to have his mind Redeemed into Gods fear and so to have the wisdom of God to rule in him while he remains in the natural unregenerate State the more these things are a loss and snare unto him and this is that wisdom the Apostle speaks of when he sayes The World by wisdom knew not God and this Wisdom being a Type in the learned Doctours Rabbies Scrybes and Phtises among the Iews led them from the knowledg of Jesus Christ so that they not only did mistake him notwithstanding of all the Scripture skill but said he had a Devil and prevailed with the Rulers to Crucifie him and Persecute all his followers and this wisdom in them taught them to reason against Christ from the Scriptures this Man cannot be of God say they because he breaks the Sabbath and despiseth Moses Law but now the eye of that wisdom being open in them which cannot but judge amiss of the things of God they misunderstood the Scriptures and wrested them to their own Destruction and although they were learned in the Letter and form of knowledg yet they were unlearned and Idiots as to the true knowledg and Christ called them blind leaders of the blind Math. 15. 14. So you may perâ—…eive what learning that is Peter speaks of when he saies 2 Pet. 3. 16. These that are unlearned wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction for the Iewish Doctors Scribes and Pharises who were very learned Men in that knowledg Letters could give them and they had Languages Hebrew Greek and Latine and yet by Christs testimony they were blind and so unlearned and all their learning was so far from helping them to understand the Scriptures that the more they mis-understood them and the poor and simple and unlettered men they understood the Scriptures and knew Christ to be the Messiah that Moses and the Prophets writ off whereas they knew him not and for all their learning were shut out from the knowledg of the Scriptures and the wrong eye being opâ—…n in them they read the Scriptures backward and could not but judge amiss of them Now all this while I have not denyed that there is any thing in man who may be in a Natural State that can in any way or manner know any thing of God the Natural Man cannot indeed that is to say that Principle which in man makes him a man and Distinguishes him from a Beast That of it self cannot know the things of Gods heavenly Kingdom because they are above its reach and then far less can that Man or Birth of the Devills begetting called the old Man know them for its wisdom is contrary thereto but now there is a Seed of God in Man even in that State which is shut up in Death or Darkness under this earthly Wisdom which as a vaile blinds it yet the Light of Christ shines so thorow the Vail in this State as that it reaches the Seed and ministers some knowledge to Man in this State whereby he knows he ought to be righteous and sober and godly in a Measure and knows some things to be good and some things to be vile and were man faithful to that which gives him this knowledge it would redeem his mind out of the false wisdom and increase in him the true knowledg but man remaining Disobedient the earthly wisdom getteth dominion in him and the more it rules him the more it blinds him till he be altogether past feeling and then it is so with him as with these Isa. 6. 10. Now whereas it is commonly said that Scripture is the best Interpreter of Scriptures for what is obscure in one place is plain in another and so the obscure is to be expounded by the plain and there 's as much of the Scripture plain as is necessary for any man to know to this I answer in the words of Prov. 8. 9. They are all plain to him that understandeth to him who is endued with a measure of the same Spirit that gave them forth which has revealed to him the things by them declared so a man knowing the things the words concerning them stand open and clear and plain to his understanding for they are plain and manifest to that eye and ear which can read hear and understand them but now the plainest Scripture in the Bible treating of the things of Gods Kingdom which are most necessary to be known is dark and obscure and mysterious to the Natural Man and foolishness to the fleshly wisdom for that the things are not known by him and so he cannot understand the words concerning them for the knowledg of the things is as it were a key to open up the words but the plainest words that are cannot give the knowledg of the things which are onely known by a Spiritual discerning Is not that a plain Scripture Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart But what learned man with all his Letter knowledg understands it not having that love by the Spirit of God shed abroad in his heart The man who cannot read a letter and has a feeling of this Love abiding in him a thousand fold more knows that Scripture and can speak more pertinently concerning it from the feeling thereof and what it has wrought in him than the other can do from his housefull of Books and other helps of
the Inspiration of the Devil and it is Impossible to know the one from the other but by the Scriptures which ye deny to be a sufficient touch-stone or rule of Tryal of Spirits and there hath many formerly risen up who has pretended to be Inspired of God and were but Deceivers and this makes us fustly suspect all others An. Men keeping their place That is abiding in the fear of God and obedience to his Commands are safe from being deceived for such have a good understanding clear a pure discerning in the Light whereby to know the Spirit of God from the Spirit of Deceit and this was known before Scriptures were written and men are in no greater hazard of being deceived now than Abraham Isaac Iacob Enoch Noah and other Saints were before Scripture was written and if any should say God spoke to them by a voice audible to the fleshly ear I answer If it had been so that sometimes he had yet his speaking inwardly by his Word and the voice of his Spirit into their hearts was more certain satisfying and sufficient and that alone could not have been sufficient but he spoke to many by his Spirit inwardly in their hearts only and this voice was audible and heard to the Spirituall ear and was certain And such who plead against Immediate Revelation or Impiration from the Spirit of God as a thing impossible to be infallibly discerned from a delusion of Satan shew the Atheism of their hearts for if it be impossible then was not Enoch Noah Abraham c. Inspired nor knew God by Revelation but if Revelation was possible then it is possible now for that which is once possible can never in it self become impossible and what though some have falsely pretended thereto and from a pretence of the Spirit have done wickedly will this prove man has not the thing in reality there were pretenders in Ieremiah's time to the Spirit of God and did wickedly under that pretence Ierem. 23. 25 30 31. Ierem. 28. 1 2 3. 4. And so there were many false Prophets in all ages but this is no argument against the true Prophets nor against Immediate Revelation but for it for this only can discover the Deceiver and Spirit of deceipt both in Man himself and in another and many has pretended to Mortification Self-denyal c. but never knew these things in reality none do therefore now know them in reality and many has done wickedly under a pretence of Scripture is therefore Scripture to be denyed 4. Obj. The Scripture is a Cannon or Rule filled up against which who add thereto a Curse is pronounced Revel 22. 18. And this Rule is sufficient being able to make wise unto Salvation and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfect thorowly furnished unto all good Works 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. whereby it appears to be a sufficient rule of Faith and Manners containing the whole Counsel of God as our Confession of Faith saies and all things necessary for his own Glory Man's Salvation Faith and Life is either expresly set down in Scripture or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture vnto which nothing at any time is to be added by new Revelations of the Spirit and for this they bring in their Confession of Faith These Scriptures further Prov. 22. 19. 20 21. Luke 1 3 4. Rom. 15. 4. Mat. 4. 4 7 10. Isa. 8. 19. 20. 2 Pet. 1. 19. Heb. 1. 1. 2. Luk. 16. 29. 31. Ephes. 2. 20. 2 Pet. 3. 15 16. 17. Gal. 1. 8 9. 2 Thes. 2. 2. And now all these Scriptures being brought for proofs against any New Revelation of the Spirit and the Scriptures being a compleat Cannon or Rule to which nothing is to be added even by the Spirit of the Lord I have set them all down not passing one and it 's in my heart to pass thorow them all and shew how they are wrested and perverted to prove that which the Spirit of the Lord which gave them forth never intended And though all these Scriptures we dearly own and the 〈◊〉 of them yet their abusing of them we cannot own at all and let that of God which is Iust Righteous and Impartial in its Iudgment in the Reader Iudge if they prove any such thing as is intended by these who brought them for that effect who call themselves an Assembly of Divines but in effect are but Diviners and guessers having so plainly denied that which makes the Divine to wit The Mind and Spirit of Christ Revealing in Man the things of his Kingdom Ans. That the Cannon of the Scripture is so filled up and Composed of such Books as are to be found in the Bible betwixt Genesis and Revelations excluding all other Writings whatsoever and Words either of old or late proceeding from the Inspiration of the Spirit of God or as having no such Authority Certainty or Infallability as these particular writings or books aforesaid is an old Popish fansie without any ground from the Scriptures own Testimony for it is altogether silent of the number of the books of Scripture how many they were and 〈◊〉 it is of their order some Popish Counsells determined both the one and the other and Scripture makes mention of several other writings of the holy Men Inspired of God besides these we have in our Bibles and some of them being found and felt to savour of the same Spirit which gave forth the other yet because of their Counsel acts they are not Received But now to come to the Proofs The first is Revel 12 18. 19. But what saies this Concerning the number of the Books or what saies it against the Spirit of the Lord his adding by New Revelations for the words If any Man shall add or take away the words of this book Limits not the Spirit of God from adding other Books of Writeings to the Scripture Now at no â—…e Man is to add to Gods words but what the Lord gives him to speak he is not to go beyond nor to say Thus saith the Lord to that which the Lord hath not spoken nor is man to diminish there from 〈◊〉 See this same Commanded Deut. 4. 2. But do these words prove there were no more Books or Words to proceed from the Inspiration of the Spirit of God how many Prophets came after Moses and how many Books of the Scripture were written after Deut. and Proverbs 30. 6. Add though not unto his Words This we see man limiâ—…ed from adding but not the Spirit of God for much Scripture was writ after Solomon and so these other Scriptures of the old Testament they bring Prov. 22. 19 20 21. And Isa. 8. 19 20. What do they prove that no more Scripture was to be writ after them whereas they themselves acknowledg the most part of Scripture was written afterwards and in the by I would only have the Reader observe how
Minister from the Spirit nor have received any ordinance there-from as is Manifest both from their Principles and Practises The 7th of the 4th Month 1668. G. K. FINIS POSTSCRIPT RObert Barron his Book Entituled Apodipis Catholica de formali objecto fidei coming to my hands after the finishing of what I had writ concerning Immediate Revelation its remaining a standing Ordnance in the Church I found it fit to cite such particular places directing the Reader to his Words where at large he may see them Where he declareth his Doctrine concerning Immediate or inward Revelation Ex parte Objecti and ex parte Subjecti affirming that ex parte Objecti to be Ceased which conâ—…th the Prophets and Pen-men of the Scriptures to have had and that only this Revelation Ex parte Objecti is Revelation properly simply and according to the more usual way of speaking in the Scripture so called see Tractâ—… 9. Authors Duplic Puncto 2 Num. 13. 14. 15. Again a few leaves after puncto btâ—… num 6. and num 5. Immediately preceeding he saith that which moves the Mind to give one assent to Truth objectively or by way of Object is Medium cognitum a known Midst it must be known and apprehended by the Mind that it may move it to assent but that which moveth effectively upon the part of Subject or Power which he calleth Revelation Ex parte Subjecti is Medium incognitum an unknown mid'st because saith he these helps upon the part of the subject may co-operate to produce one assent of Faith although they are not felt or known by us Let the Reader take a view of these places where he shall see that I have truly set down his Doctrine and his very words in that paper concerning Immediate Revelation and Tract 9. Quest. 8. Num. 5. He saith they falsly assert that we believe the authority of the Scriptures for or because of the inward testimony of the Spirit for we believe saith he the Divine Authority of the Scripture not for another thing but for the Scripture it self because that act of Faith whereby the Authority of the Scripture is believed leaneth upon the Scripture it self as it 's principal Foundation Some will say saith he some Orthodox Theologues speak far otherwayes for they most frequently affirm the Scripture authority to be believed for or because of the Inward Testimony of the Spirit â—…o which he roundly answereth and I desire the Reader to mark the answer whereby he may perceive either their or his Deceipt whereby they give poor people to believe that they deny not the Spirits Testimony or inward Teaching but when it comes to the point their false cover is taken off and they falsly deny it although saith he they speak otherwaies yet they think not otherwise for that word for or because of Latine propter is ambiguous and sometimes importeth a respect to the effective cause of assent but sometimes yea more often to the objective cause or Foundation upon which the assent of our mind leaneth c. This Robert Barron after long debate with the Iesuit Turnbull contending against the Papists That the authority of the Church of Rome is not the formal Object or Foundation of Faith or believing of the Scriptures cometh at last to refute their Doctrine which he calleth Errour and saith that it is most easily refuted who maintain the formal Object of Faith i. e. its Foundation to be the inward Revelation of the holy Spirit properly so called and for the Revelation of this Dectrine which Num. 6. he most of all condemneth he bringeth five Arguments Num. 8. Punct 6. Tract 9. And I find it fit to set them down also Word by Word Translated into English out of the Latin in which his book is writ that the Reader in whom the true discerning in any Measure is opened may see the blindness of this man in the things of God notwithstanding of all his Letter knowledge and what a woful condition this poor Nation has been in these many years for all their high pretences to be the most glorious and most purely reformed Church in the Earth and yet this Doctrine of Immediate Revelation wereby alone God can be sufficiently and saveingly known hath been by them and yet is by the present generation accounted so ridiculous that by this Man R. B. called Doctor of Divinity in Aberdeen and of great fame for his learning at home and abroad it is most of all condemned even more than the Popish Doctrine of resolveing their Faith in the Authority of the Church of Rome so that Scripture is fulfilled upon them Isa. 29. 13. 14. His Arguments are as followeth To every one of which as they ly in order I shall return a few words of answer which I hope shall satisfie the discerning and indeed they are so weak frivolous and vain that little or no answer is required were it not that fools some times are to be answered in their folly least they should seem wise in their own eyes as Solomon speaketh First saith he This way of knowing the Truth of the Doctrines of Faith viz. By the internal Revelation of the holy Spirit properly so called is Extraordinary and Prophetical as is Manifest of the aforesaid and consequentially the truth of the Christian Doctrine formerly and commonly is not so made known unto the Faithful Answ. This way of Internal Revelation Prophecy so called hath alwayes been not only Extraordinary but altogether shut up from the unbelieving and such who stuck in the Letter but it hâ—…h alwayes been common to the true Christians and Saints in all ages being the New Covenant Dispensatory which lâ—…eth not for ever Isa. 59. 21. That it was Prophetical i. e. Imparted to the Prophets is granted but it follows not that therefore it is not the common priviledge of all Saints who were to have the like precious Faith with them and though it was rare in the days of old yet God hath poured cut according to his Promise Ioel 2. 28 29. Largely upon Sons and Daughters of his Spirit whereby they Prophecy Secondly saith he who imbrace this Errour they confound the gift of Faith and the gift of Prophecy for the most noble kâ—…nd of prophetical Revelation is that which is by Intellectual speaking or illumination as Thomas and Suarez teach Answ. 1. Who imbrace this supposed Errâ—…ur but indeed Truth Do not confound the gift of Faith and the gift of Prophecy the spirit of Faith and the spirit of Prophecy is one but the opperations different 1 Cor. 12. 4 5 6. Now if by the gift of Prophecy he understand as he seemeth to do the inward Manifestation or speaking of God Immediately to the mind Faith is hereby wrought viz. God this speaking or Manifesting the truth Immediately in the Mind is the cause of Faith and so as the cause and effect are different so the Prophetical Revelation and the Faith of what is Revealed are different opperations For because God