dare to be Hypocrites To hurt the World to shame the World to hurt themselves to shame themselves they are quickly gon Their Estates are quickly vanisht their Names rot and their Souls are everlastingly lost Let them go that are such and will be such I will retire from their fellowship and have nothing to do with them for it is in vain They do no good nor never will SECT XIV Agreement in Scripture Truth To come a little closer to the present Subject in Four Points 1. Agreement 2. Morality 3. Judge 4. Liberty 1. Agreement all we agree that the Scriptures are the word of God The Truths therein contained are best exprest in Scripture Language An honest man relates his own Story best in his own words so declaring his own mind that he may best be understood Every wise Testator signifies his mind and pleasure in his Will and Testament without sending his Heir to the Interpretation of Law Opinions for Faith are certain Opinions for Free Grace Free Will Election Predestination Original Sin c. may be too narrow What Controversies were about Easter-day as if Eternal Happiness had wholly depended upon it The like for the Words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 between Alexander Bishop of Alexandria and Arius his Priest and Athanasius The Creed of Christ and his Apostles is sufficient without any more Creeds One Creed 1 Tim. 6.3 c. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholsom Words even the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Doctrine which is according unto godliness he is proud knowing nothing but doting about Questions and strifes of words whereof cometh envy strifes railings evil surmisings perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth supposing that gain is godliness from such withdraw thy self But thou O man of God flee these things and follow after Righteousness Godliness Faith Love Patience Meekness Fight the good fight of Faith lay hold on Eternal life whereunto thou art also called and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses Col. 2.8 Beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit after the Tradition of men after the Rudiments of the World and not after Christ For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and ye are compleat in him which is the head of all Principality and Power The smalness of Christ's and his Apostles writings are full and plain We admit of God but cannot be content unless we dispute about his Nature Power and other Attributes till we are lost in them There is Christian Liberty allowable for Opinions but not for Articles of Faith Faith and Life are most to be regarded Controversies beget Opinions but Faith is only to be contended for The whole Counsel of God is delivered by Revelation and Miracles Believe me that I am in the Father Joh. 14.10.20 and the Father in me or else believe me for the very works sake At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you If I do not the works of my Father believe me not But if I do though ye believe not me Joh. 10.37.38 believe the works that ye may know and believe that the Father is in me and I in him Joh. 15.24 If I had not done among you the works which no other man did they had not had sin but now have they seen and hated both me and my Father Simon Peter answered and said Mat. 16.11 17. Thou art Christ the Son of the living God And Jesus answered and said unto him Joh. 1.49 Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jona for Flesh and Blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven Jesus said to the blind man healed by him Dost thou believe on the Son of God he answered and said Joh. 9.35 Who is the Lord that I might believe on him And Jesus said unto him Thou hast both seen him and it is he that talketh with thee And he said Lord I believe and he worshipped him Jesus said of the Centurion Mat. 8.10 I have not found so great Faith no not in Israel Jesus said of the Woman of Canan Mat. 15.28 O Woman great is thy Faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt Luke 23.42 The Thief on the Cross had great Faith when he said Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom and Christ approved it saying To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise The Jews that heard Peter Act. 2.37 were pricked in their hearts and said Men and Brethren what shall we do And Peter said Repent and be Baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ c. The Gentiles believed and the Holy Ghost fell upon them and they were Baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus The Eunuch upon his desire to Philip was Baptized upon this Condition Act. 20.47 if thou believest with all thine heart thou mayst Act. 8.27 c. and he answered and said I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God The People said to Christ Act. 17.2 c. What shall we do that we might work the work of God Joh. 6 28. Jesus said This is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent Joh. 8.24 If ye believe not on him ye shall die in your sins Act. 16.30 31. The Jaylor said Sirs what must I do to be saved And they said Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy House Ro. 10.9 10 11. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved for with the heart man believeth unto Righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation for the Scripture saith Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ 1 Joh. 2.22 He is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son Hereby know ye the Spirit of God 1 Joh. 4.2 3. Every Spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh is of God and every Spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh 1 Joh. 4.15 c. is not of God Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God God dwelleth in him and he in God 1 Joh. 5.1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him Joh. 20.30.31 Many other signs did Jesus in the presence of his Disciples which are not written in this Book but these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his Name These and such like are plain Scriptures and absolutely necessary
enought Why then should we not believe those that did work Miracles and were honest too Christ worked Miracles and so did his Apostles and therefore Christ and his Apostles were Teachers that came from God for no man could ever work such Miracles as they did unless they were sent of God Doctrine or matter of Law Beside their Teaching and Doctrine we believe to be true because we find it to be true by natural Reason in matter of Law Why should we not believe their Relations to be true also for matter of Fact For such men as preached such Doctrines and did such Miracles must needs make as true Relations of what they had taught and done for matter of Fact Why should this be the chief Scruple Miracles or matter of Fact Was it impossible for God to work Miracles We cannot say it And did he not work Miracles How can we but say it What did he not therefore work them because we saw them not Others did and they tell us of them and they that did them tell us what they did and others that saw them tell us what they did Shall we believe no Body nor Thing unless we see them How do we believe God whom we never saw 'T is by the Relation of his works they tell us of him Monstrat Quaelibet herba Deum The Heavens declare the Glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy work Would not we that are honest be believed that have seen and heard and tell it to others Conveyance Why should not Christ's Witnesses be believed when they tell the World what they have seen and heard Even the wonderfull works of God The Apostle could not but speak presently after Christ's Resurrection with great boldness what they had both seen and heard And though it be now long since to us that are now alive yet they told it to them that were hard by them and they told it to them that were next and so one Generation continued telling it one to another and so down to our time and we shall tell it to them that come after us to the Worlds end there will never be an end of telling it As the Jews did to their Childrens Children c. Is not this a possible and fair Conveyance What can be desired more Vbique Semper ab Omnibus Ob. Some make false Reports Sol. Therefore true Reports are the more Believeable Some speak as true as others speak false or else none speaks true which no Body can say Ob. How shall I be sure who speaks true or false Sol. By the Credit of the Witnesses We that are honest know that we speak true and they that are honest do speak true and therefore all men are not false but some are true And by their works you shall know them whether their words be true Now Christ and his Disciples went about doing all the good they could Preaching Repentance to all and healing every one that was diseased of all manner of Infirmities therefore they were true And besides God was in them and with them to enable them to preach and do Miracles For never men spake as they spake or did as they did therefore both their words and works were all true and therefore worthy of all acceptation and belief Quod erat Demonstrandum We should take it very ill of others if we knowing the Truth to be in our hearts the World should abuse us for Lyars and Dissemblers and that we speak not a word of Truth when God knows and our own hearts do know that we speak the Truth and nothing but the Truth and that we do call God to witness for what we say or do to deal with us no otherwise than as we mean honestly and justly in all that we say or do We believe our selves when we speak truth Why should we not believe others that are as true men as our selves But especially such as had power from God the God of Truth to confirm all their Doctrines and Miracles which power we have not and yet are true men But they had therefore these extraordinary gifts confirmed upon them not for their own sakes but for the sakes of others that they might believe by their Words and Deeds to the Glory of God and to the Comfort and Salvation of their own Souls in the day of the Lord Jesus when the Secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed and we shall understand all truths without all Scruples and when Faith and Hope shall cease because we enjoy the things which we believed and hoped for We cannot therefore say that nothing is true for God is true and God's People are true and therefore something must be true and this which is the word of God if any thing must be true But put the Case that men should be so unreasonable as not to believe as some are for all men have not Faith because they will not have it though they might have it and especially to believe that which is most reasonably and worthy and necessary and most profitable to believe That Jesus Christ came in the Flesh to save Sinners I say suppose men should be thus far unbelieving as to matter of Fact concerning Christ's coming in the Flesh to dy and rise again to save Sinners Doctrine Yet why will they not believe this plain Doctrine of so great a truth as is acknowledged by all that God is to be worshipped that they should work Righteousnes and do to all men as they would be done by which is matter of Right in all and to all Whether Christ came in the Flesh or no to save Sinners yet to be sure all men ought to be honest why then are so many quite contrary in their practice though in their mind they do agree as to common Honesty Though all men are so stubborn that they have not Faith why should they be so perverse as to have no honesty Now what they can say to this or the other I know not except they shall say as they may truly it is their own fault if they do not believe nor live honestly Why Because they will be high they will be rich because they know there is no God or wish so at least They will venture it Certainly every man as he would willingly be believed when he says truth so he would as willing be loved when he does truth that is he would be honestly dealt withal every way by every man with all his heart as he is willing to deal honestly every way to every man with all his heart And withall if there be Salvation they would be glad to be saved Who would not wish to dy the Death of the Righteous and that his last end may be like unto his The most wicked men after all would be glad to be happy The wise tells them they must use the right way that leads to happiness and that calls no other than Holiness Well they that do live honestly are approved tho
They have better Principles than so where ever they are they are the Truâ—st Church say the Papists and Sectaries what they please Theirs is the only safe way to Salvation Sit anima mea cum talibus Christianis SECT VIII Therefore the Modern Divinity of the Reformation is according to the Pattern of Christ on Mount Sion not of Moses on Mount Sinai Right Preaching agreeable to the Sense Language and Stâ—le of the New Testament agreeable to Sense and Reason drawn from the New Testament explaining the great Points of Grace Faith Repentance Justification Regeneration Adoption Election c. for edification of Souls without the tincture of Legends of Saints Miracles and Reliques Penances Prayers to Saints or Angels Devotion to Images or the Cross or to the Host without School Subtilties or Flourishes of Eloquence falsly so called without Enterludes or Masquerades upon the Passion Resurrection or Ascension c. which things have a shew of Holiness but nothing of the Power of Godliness at all in them to please God at all Therefore the Modern Doctrine Discipline and Worship of the Reformation is agreeable to the pure Antient and Spiritual Doctrine Discipline and Worship of God in that true evangelical Dispensation after the Abolishment of Mose's Law without Carnal Pomp and Ceremonies directed to God above through Jesus Christ without any Applications to Saints or Angels or Images without Prayers in an unknown Tongue Half Communion Penances Pilgrimages Vows Offerings at Shrines Prayers to or for the dead which things have a shew and form of Godliness pleasing to the Flesh but nothing of the power or substance of Religion to please God This honest preaching of God's word and plain form of Publick Worship by solid Prayers Intercessions Praises Thanksgivings and Benedictions fitting for all conditions at all times is the true Modern Christian Service for Uniformity in Knowledge and Devotion in Spirit and Truth in the publick Congregation leaving every man to liberty of Conscience in Reading and Praying in his Family or in his Closet that all may be done for Edification Decently and in Order And if all Protestants would submit as they are commanded to the publick hearing of God's word and to the publick Worship as it is by Law established in the freedom of the Spirit and Faith though they scruple at some few indifferent Rites to which they are not in Bondage reserving their liberty of opening to themselves they should do no more then what all Jews did and what all Heathens did and what all Papists did and do and what all other Protestants and Christians over all the World do keeping peace though they are not all agreed in other things Why should our Dissenters be strangers to all Christendom besides And this the Poor People would quickly do if their private Teachers would conform and teach them to do the like which is the thing so greatly desired and to which they have been so long woo'd with all kindness and encouragement imaginable O when will they once look upon their dear Mother the Church of England whom they have pierced for she is ready to look upon them as God is with the eye of tender pity and compassion Her Bowels yearn upon her Children who that they may be undâ—ceived let them know that the bottom of the business is this The Politick Great ones pretending to the Title aim strongly at these two things 1. At the Power Regal Policy Thrones are brave things 2. At Crown Lands Church Lands and Nobilities and Gentries Lands These are fat morsels Nobles shall embrace Dunghills and Slaves shine in purple and Scarlet These great Dogs shall swallow the rich prey the little Curs bark aloud and starve You fat Citizens and Countrey Farmers shall spend your Bloods and Estates and be turn'd off with Debentures to the publick Faith till you be as poor as Job and as very Slaves as the African Negroes I le promise you Gospellers shall get Sequestrations of your Brethrens Livings but the Classes and Assemblies shall never be able to set up the Stool of Repentance nor tyrannize over the Gentry of every Parish by the Assistance of Weavers and Taylors and your Lay Elders You may remember when you were uppermost your Patrons never trusted you with Power nor with the Kings Nobilities or Gentries or Churches Revenues Stand off But the Independants Anabaptists Quakers having the longest Sword would not stand off but took the Power and Estate too and the least Dog of yours durst not open his mouth against your dear Brethren Then were you fairly wip't of all Then you whin'd and cryed to bring in the King and upon his knees too if you could for your own ends And now you are not pleased what does infatuation presage They say Quos Jupiter vult perdere hos dementat But you may do a great deal of mischief before that time But you may repent also and then that time shall never come And as a Motive to your Repentance I 'le be a Prophet for once that never was a Prophet before Your own Lay-Masters and Protectors will engage you to do their work for them and when they have done they will fill their own Bellies and turn you off to live upon the Bridle For Treason is liked but the Traytor loathed And if you will not believe me Look over into Scotland in Knocks his time Look beyond the Seas into Holland Germany Hungary Sweden Denmark Norway c. Observe their Clergy Superintenders and Lay-Administrators where the Name of Bishop will not down but their Estates are gone down glib into Lay-mens Stomacks and are very well digested But the new-named Clergy are put off with a Bit and a Knock pitiful dependent Pensioners and Trencher-Chaplains easily blown away by the Blast of their Great Dons or the Puff of a Lurdy Burger Lastly for I am tired in this Odious Subject Beside the most deplorable Atheism daily increasing and the Distractions in the Religion that is left Rebellion multiplying upon us by reason of the Spirit of Rebellion not only the Prince is affronted by his Subjects the Magistrate by his Citizens the Pastor by his Flock but every Parent by his Children and every Master of a Family by his Servants So that if there were no other end but the benefit of enjoying our Temporal Rights we had need to pray for Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life here in common honesty which can never be expected in such a state of Rebellion as we are now in From which Good Lord deliver us Amen Do but consider If you should break out into Rebellion the Second time how many young poor Creatures would you draw away in the simplicity of their Souls as if it were Gods cause but especially what multitudes of forlorn hungry Desperados Banditi and angry Fellows would follow you for prey and plunder of Churches and Palaces to the Ruin of the King Nobility
not beloved by the most dishonest And they that do live dishonestly are disapproved and hated sufficiently by them that are most Honest But what care they that are Atheists But they that believe a God will care But wise men do take care of all vitious Actions of Hatred and Disgrace by men but not of God and blame Fools that are so careless even of men because the poor that are oppressed by them raise them to their sames and God much more Indeed and in truth they are the shame as well as grief of Mankind whether they came for it or no. They may depart the world when they will no Body will stop'um they have their pass they shall never be mist I 'le warrant'um As they regard nothing but Eating and Drinking and Lusting and Oppressing c. so who regards them though their looks be never so high and scornful But to leave these Miscreants and this Diversion I am extreemly troubled at the Church of Rome that calls Divine Revelation into Question and when they have done charge us for so doing as if the truths that be so revealed might not have been or might have been otherwise What odd expressions are these to come from wise men of both sides I wish they would better think of it The Papists glory Infallibility of the Infallibility of their Church and therefore they are Cock-sure But 't is we poor wretches that want this Infallibility and consequently this Assurance What a case are we in and what shall become of us I wish some of ours had better considered than to affirm that the Grounds of our Faith are only probable and might have been otherwise so to give the Adversary occasion to insult over us for having no Church nor no foundation for our Faith at all so to overthrow our Religion so to overthrow all Religion if it were so that that which is true may be false then all may be false and at last all is false and where are we then As for Infallibility the business so much boasted of it is none but God not the Church nor all Mankind put all together that have been or are or ever shall be They may set their hearts at rest for they shall never find it nor shew it us while this World stands But yet Christian Religion is certain for all that Certainty And the grounds of Faith are such as they have ever been are and ever shall be and could never be otherwise though there be no Infallibility in men at all The Foundation of God standeth sure be men never so changeable and fallible And God's word is more dureable than the Frame of the Universe For though there be no Infallibility in men yet there is Infallibility in God and that 's enough for us to believe and the wisest men trust to it and cannot fail of their hopes thereby For we believe in God and not in the Church nor in Mankind And this is our Foundation here we fix and resolve our Faith into God Whether hath Pride and Malice driven us Such is the Papists hatred against the Protestants to make them odious to all the World for having no Faith nor no Church Though we hold the same Christ as they do and acknowledge that other Foundation can no man lay than what is already laid Jesus Christ and him Crucified and no other name given under Heaven whereby we can be saved but only by the Name of Jesus Christ And no Mediator between God and Man but the Man Christ Jesus They make the Infallibility of the Pope or a Counsel or the Church to be the Ground of Faith We say God is the only Ground of Faith he cannot deny himself He will never leave nor forsake his Church nor shall the Gates of Hell be ever able to prevail against her They therefore believe because the Church is Infallible But we believe because God is Infallible And what God hath revealed he hath revealed to those that are fallible but the things revealed are the Infallible Truths of God and were never otherwise nor never shall be otherwise whether our Fathers have or we do or our Posterity shall believe them or no. 'T is no absurdity to believe God and his Word to be Infallible though we be fallible and to stand the everlasting Objects of our Faith though we be not the Subjects that embrace them I hope God is no less true though man be a Lyar. And I hope the Gospel is no less true and the same for being believed or disbelieved God's word being Eternal and unchangeable as himself Well but all this while we are beating our Brains about finding out the truth 1. The Athiest he believes nothing but laughs at all He goes on and lives and dies in Wickedness Atheists like a Beast hoping for no Salvation 2. The Papist he is the bravest fellow Papists and in the safest Condition of any man in the World for let him sin his heart out he hath all his Pardon 's ready if he should live a Thousand Years 'T is but whispring a word in his Confessors Ear and listning to a word of Absolution from him again and he is purer than the Chystal Streams and as clear as the Light it self He takes no care for himself for the Church takes all the Care and provides what he should believe and what he should do he need not trouble himself at all unless it be to go barefoot a little or fast or whip a stroke or two which he may buy off when he pleases according as his Purse is Nay to make all sure if he want Merits those Saints that have had more than they knew what to do with have laid them up in store to help their idle Brethren at a dead lift and the Pope delivers them out at such a Price as the Market goes for them they are to be purchased every day In a word he is sure be he what he will because his Church is sure Sin and Confess Confess and sin and so continue till you dy and be reconciled to the Romish Church and so at last you go to Heaven to rights 3. The Fatalist Fatalists Be he Jew or Turk takes as little care as the rest for there is a Lottery thinks he or a Dooms-day Book If he be in for a Prize or a Blanck he knows not therefore Have at all hit or miss If it be to come it will come once If it never come there is no remedy He is lost God would have it so and it must be so no help for it So all alike aim to sin as much as they can and as long as they can Thus men are willing to befool themselves and to charge God foolishly But they that walk Righteously walk safely 1. Because they are sure of a good Report among the Saints here 2. Because they are sure of a good Reward with God hereafter Knowing therefore the Terrors of God I wonder any should