short It were greatly to be wisht that all Men would hold themselves unconcern'd in disputing about what they have not received an Assurance of from the Holy Spirit since they beat but the Air and obtain no solid Satisfaction neither can they upon any other Bottom God never Prostrates his Secrets to Minds disobedient to what they do already know Let all Practice what they assuredly know to be their Duty and be sparing in their search after Nice and Unknown Matters Weighty and Seasonable was and is the Apostle's Saying Nevertheless whereunto we have already attained let us walk by the same Rule Where he both limits us to the present Knowledge communicated to us and exhorts us to live up to that and if any thing be further necessary for us God in due time will reveal it by his Spirit that on gives to Know Discern and Judge of the things that are of God Obj. But how will this determine the Controversie and allay the Fury of Debates that are foot in the World Answ Nothing like it if Man adhere to it and if he does not there is no way left but the Wrath that is to be reveal'd But moâ—â— Persuasions are agreed about the absolute Necessaries in Religion from that Light and Witness God has placed in Man's Conscience viz. That God is That he is a Rewarde of them that diligently seek him That the 〈◊〉 of God is a Way of Purity Patience Meekness c. Without whcih no Man can see the Lord Nay they accord in some considerable Matters superadded as some of them speak to wit That God was manifested extraordinarily in the Flesh that he gave his Life for the World that such as believe and obey his Grace in their Hearts receive Remission of Sins and Life Everlasting Now I say since these things Men generally Consent to let them live up to them and forbear wanton Scrutinies after Things or Notions that gender to Strife and Contention and leave not Mankind better but rather worse than they found them and the World would be soon Rid of Controversie Holy Living and not Disputing would be the Business of Mankind What more excellent Judgment can be given then that Men quit their Contentions about Notions and Opinions and betake themselves to the Pratice of that Good which God hath already shewn unto them as spake both the Prophet Micah 6. 8. and the Apostle Paul Rom. 〈◊〉 19. And if any thing be revealed to one more than another let the rest judge in the Spirit or be silent till God manifest more â—o them in order to Right Judgment 'T is good to Try all things but we must have something to try them by and what â—ught that to be but the Spirit that searcheth and the Anointing that teaches all things which is Truth it self Here Mankind will 〈◊〉 in Love having at least Natural Affections now lost by the Barbarity of some of their cruel Religions or Heats for their Opinions and a Judgment of things will be made not from the Rash Partial Short-â—â—ghted and Froward Mind of Man but that Eternal Light and Spirit that never erred which however disgustful to some Protestants in this Age was no false Doctrine in the Account of John Philpot and Bp. Latimer Two great Founders of the Reformation in England The first in his Answer to the Bishop of Chichester reproving his Confidence about true Faith in Christ These Hereticks saith One take upon them to be Sure of all things obey stand in Let him doubt saith John Philpot of his Faith that listeth God give me Always to believe that I am Sure of true Faith and Favour in Christ The second in his Answer to Sir Ed. Baynton objecting the Uncertainty of Man in what he calls Truth thus recorded by J. Fox Your Friends deny not but that certain Truths are communicated to us according to Capacity But as to my Presumption and Arrogancy either I am certain or uncertain that it is Truth that 〈◊〉 preach if it be Truth why may not I say so If I be uncertain why dare I be so bold as to preach it And if your Friends be Preachers themselves after their Sermon I pray you ask them Whether they be Certain and Sure they preach the Truth or no and send me word what they say that I may learn to speak after them If they say they be Sure you know what follows if they say they be Unsure when shall you be Sure that have so Doubtful and Unsure Teachers Let not Protestants for Shame judge us for owning a Doctrine that is Confessed to and Confirmed by some of the Worthiest of their own Ancestors viz. That an Unerring Certain or Infallible Judgment in things Necessary to Salvation is both Possible and Requisite and that God communicates it by his Spirit to the Souls of Men. The Conclusion TO Conclude Immanuel a word suited not only to that Appearance but the whole Dispensation of the Gospel imports God nigh to or with Men The Tabernacle of God is with Men he will dwell in them and walk in them They shall be all taught of me and in Righteousness shall they be established That is by the Spirit of his Son And this admits not of any Book or Literal Rule or Judge to come between that Indwelling Spirit of Light Life and Wisdom from God and the Soul as its Rule of Faith and Practice And because it is the unutterable Goodness of God to People in these latter Days as the Sum of Scripture-Prophecy thus to make known himself we are incessant in our Cries unto them that they will turn their Minds Inward now abroad and taking up their Rest in the Externals of Religion that they may hear his Heavenly Voice and Knocks and let him in and be taught of him to know and do his Will that they may come to be Experienced and Expert in the School of Christ For never Man spoak and taught as he livingly speaks and teaches in the Consciences of those who diligently hear him and are willing to be taught of him the Knowledge of his Ways The Priest was Outward but he is now Inward the Law Outward but it is now Inward And now he is no more a Jew that is one Outward nor that Circumcision which is outward in the Flesh but he is a Jew who is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter whose Praise is not of Men but of God Which is so far from lessening the Authority of the Scriptures of Truth that unless This be Man's Rule and Judge in the Reading and Believing of them he can never understand them Rightly or keep their saying Faithfully And indeed as before I have expressed I cannot but say That Man whilst unregenerated setting his Wit and Wisdom to Fathom and Comprehend the Intention of the Holy Ghost in many of those Writings hath occasioned that Confusion Darkness and Perplext Controversie
A DISCOURSE OF THE General Rule OF Faith and Practice AND Judge of Controversie Greatly importing all those who desire to take Right Measures of Faith and to Determine at least to themselves the numerous Controversies now on foot in the World By W. Penn. For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but a NEW Creature And as many as walk according to THIS Rule Peace be on them and Mercy and upon the whole Israel of God Gal. 6. 16. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit For the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God The Things of God knoweth no Man save the Spirit of God He that is Spiritual judgeth all things 1 Cor. 2. 10 11 15. But ye have an Vnction from the Holy One and ye know all things 1 John 2. 20. London Printed and Sold by T. Sowle in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-Street and at the Bible in Leaden-Hall-Street near the Market 1699. OF THE General Rule OF Faith and Practice SInce there are so many Faiths in the World and perplex Controversies about them and that it greatly behoveth every Man if to Contend for then first to Know the True Faith that overcometh the World it may not be unnecessary to say something of the General Rule of Faith and Life and Judge of Controversie at this time And indeed I am prest from this weighty Consideration that Men perish for want of it and can no more arrive at Truth without it than the distressed Marriner can gain his Port who Sails without either Star or Compass I shall begin with an Explanation of the Terms Rule and Faith of which we shall first treat that we may as well express what we intend by the one as what we mean by the other which will be a proper Introduction to the whole Discourse By General Rule c. we understand that Constant Measure or Standard by which Men in all Ages have been enabled to Judge of the Truth or Error of Doctrines and the Good or Evil of Thoughts Words and Actions By Faith we understand an Assent of the Mind in such manner to the Discoveries made of God thereto as to resign up to God and have Dependence upon him as the Great Creator and Saviour of his People which is inseparable from good Works That Men in all Ages have had a Belief of God and some Knowledge of him tho' not upon equal Discovery must be granted from that account that all Story gives of Mankind in matters of Religion several have fully performed this Of old Justin Martyr Clemens Alexandrinus Augustine and others of latter times Du Plessy Grotius Amiraldus L. Herbert and above all Dr. Cudworth And indeed the relicks we have of the most ancient Historians and Authors are a Demonstration in the Point Now the Scripture tells us that no Man knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him And as none knows the things of Man save the Spirit of Man so the things of God knows no Man but the Spirit of God Hence we may safely conclude that the Creating Word that was with God and was God in whom was Life and that Life the Light of Men and who is the Quickning Spirit was He by whom God in all Ages hath revealed Himself consequently that Light or Spirit must have been the General Rule of Mens Knowledge Faith and Obedience with respect to God And thus much Pythagoras who liv'd about Six Hundred Years before those Words were spoke or writ laid down for a Maxim viz. That no Man can know what is agreeable to God except a Man hear God himself and that must be within for that was his Doctrine To which the Apostle and Prophet thus agree 1. In that whatever makes manifest is Light 2. That whatever might be known of God was made manifest within for God who is Light 1 John 1. 5. had shewn it unto them And God hath shewn unto thee O Man what is good and what God requireth of thee c. which could not be without the Light of his Son shines in Man's Conscience Therefore the Light of Christ in the Conscience must needs have been the General Rule c. It was by this Law that Encch Noah Abraham Melchizedeck Abimilech Job Jethro c. walked and were accepted as saith Irenaeus and Tertullian They were Just by the Law written in their Hearts Then was it their Rule to and in that just State Obj. It seems then you deny the Scripture to be the General Rule c. Answ How can they be the General Rule that have not been General That which was both before and since they were in being must needs be More General than they But that was this Light in the Conscience the Law and Guide of those Patriarchs for the Scriptures began long after in the time of Moses consequently that must be the General Rule c. Obj. But granting that the Light within were so before Scripture was extant yet since the Writings of holy Scripture the Scripture and not the Light hath been the General Rule Answ That cannot be unless Palestina or Canaan a little Province of Asia was the whole World and that the Jews a particular People were All Mankind For at what time those Writings were among the Jews other Nations were only left to the Law and Light within this the Apostle confirmeth in that Passage For the Gentiles which have not the Law that is the outward Law or Law written upon Stone do by Nature the things contained in the Law which sheweth the Work of the Law written in their Hearts And the Gentiles themselves called it the Immutable Law the Everlasting Foundation of Vertue no Liveless Precepts but Immortal a Sacred Good God the Overseer the Living Rule the Root of the Soul that which makes the Good Man Thus Thales Pythagoras Socrates Plato Plotin Hieron Philo Plutarch as cited And saith Sophocles God grant that I may always observe that venerable Sanctity in my Words and Deeds which these Noble Precepts writ in Man's Heart reuire God is their Father neither shall they ever be Abrogated for there is in them a Great God that never waxeth Old More reverent Epithetes than our Opposers can afford as their Books but too openly witness yet would go for Christian-Men tho' manifestly short of Heathens Thus is it evident that the Scripture was 〈◊〉 the General Rule after it was given forth Obj. But hath it not been since and is it not 〈◊〉 the General Rule c Answ There hath been since and is now 〈◊〉 same Impediment for before Christ's â—â—â—ing in the Flesh and since where the â—â—â—â—ptures never reach'd there hath been the 〈◊〉 Light And though Nations by not â—â—â—rifying God as God when they have â—â—wn him have been given up to all manâ—â—â—â— of Impieties insomuch as their Underâ—â—â—â—dings have been greatly vail'd yet did 〈◊〉 the Light within so entirely
and my Voice to the Sons of Men hear for I will speak Excellent Things was also heard by the Gentile and that what concerned the Doctrine Holy Living was not hid from them I meâ— Evangelically so provided Christ's Heaven Sermon upon the Mount related by Mathew the Evangelist may be esteemed 〈◊〉 For their Writings flow with Amens the unto But allowing our Adversaries that 〈◊〉 Voice was then so Low and the Manifesâ—â—â—tion of the Light so Small as it discover not many of those things before-mentioned could that give reasonable Men Ground conclude Therefore the Divine Wisdom Light was Insufficient or that the Divine Wisdom or Light was not then and 〈◊〉 not in other Ages become The Rule a Guide of the Children of Men Yet 〈◊〉 false Consequences have been the Corâ—â—â— Stone and Foundation of our Opposâ—â—â— Building against us and no reasonable 〈◊〉 I think will attempt to clear it from being a Sandy One. OF THE Judge of Controversie I Shall explain what I mean by these Terms A Judge is one that has not only Power 〈◊〉 determine but Discerning to do it Rightly Controversie is a Debate between two Parties about the Truth or Falshood of any â—roposition to be determined by that Judge From whence I am led to assert that the Judge of Controversie must be certain and unâ—â—ring And though this may seem strange to some 't is nevertheless true in it self For if the Judge be fallible he may indeed silence the Contending Parties by his Authority but not the Controversie by a certain Judgment since he may as well determine Falsly as Truly So that Controversie can never be rightly determined by a fallible Judge therefore He is no true Judge of Controversie Indeed it is absurd and a Contradiction in it self to think otherwise since he that is uncertain can never be certain of his Decision And if not a certain one then none to the Purpose Nor ought any Person no otherwise judged that is persuaded of the Truth of his Cause to let fall his Belief upon so Doubtful a Determination since he moves not only without Conviction but against Conviction And which is worse 〈◊〉 is not ascertained of the Truth of what he required to submit to Therefore of all People they are most condemnable who notwithstanding they keep so great a stir about Religion and sometimes use coercive Mean to compass their designed Uniformity acknowledge to us they are not Certain of the own Faith Since then the Judge must be unerring 〈◊〉 will be worth our while to consider wheâ— this infallible Judge is to be found There none Good but God said God himself wheâ— manifested in the Flesh that is Originally 〈◊〉 as of himself So truly there is none Infalliâ—ble but God as of himself yet as the supreme Good is communicated unto Man according to measure so as well says Bp Latimer is there Infallibility Certainty or Assurance of the Truth of things given to Man according to Capacity Otherwise Men would be oblig'd to believe and obey and that upon Damnation those things concerning which there can be no Certainty whether they be true or false Immanuel God with Men as he is their Rule so their Judge he is the Law-giver and therefore the best Interpreter of any Point that may concern his own Law And Men are so far Certain as they are subject to his Voice Light or Spirit in them and no farther for humanum est errare Man is Errable Nor can any thing rescue him out of Error or preserve him from the Infections of it but the sound and certain Judgment that God by the Light of his Spirit gives unto him Obj. But is not the Scripture the Judge of Controversie Answ How can that be since the Question most times arises about the Meaning of Scripture Is there any place tells us without Interpretation whether the Socinian Or Trinitarian be in the Right in their differing Apprehensions of the Three that bear Record c. also the Homousian and Arrian about Christ's Divinity or the Papists or Protestants about Trans-substantiation If then things are â—eft undefined and undetermined I mean Litterally and Expresly in the Scripture and that the Question arises about the Sense of Words doth the Scripture determine which of those Interpreters hit the Mark As this is not reasonable to think so must it be acknowleged that if Interpretation decide the Matter in Controversie then not the Scripture but the Interpreter must be the Judge Now this Interpreter must either interpret by his own meer Wisdom or Spirit called by the Apostle 1 Cor. 2. 11. the Spirit of a Man who by weighing the Text consulting the Intent of the Writer comparing places together gives the Judgment which the Scripture does not give of it self or from the Spirit of God which gives Understanding as Job 32. 8. and as the same Apostle saith in the same place searcheth the 〈◊〉 things of God If the first then a Fallible 〈◊〉 the last then an Infallible Judge I would fain know whether it was the Scripture or the Holy Ghost that presided among the Apostles when they were come together Acts 15. when they said It seemeth good to the Holy Ghost and to us c. If the Holy Ghost then pray give us a plain Scripture to prove we are to have another Judge now If that cannot be done then we must have the Same and consequently an Infallible Judge viz. the Spirit of Truth which leads Christians into all Truth and is given of God by Christ for that very End Obj. 'T is granted that the Spirit is Infallible But how shall I know that any Man determine a thing by this Spirit and does not rather obtrude his own Sense upon us under that specioâ—â— Pretence Answ By the same Spirit As well said Gualt Cradock The Way to know whether the Spirit be in us is its Own Evidence And that is the Way to know it in others too And the Man that hath the Spirit may know the Spirit in another There is saith he a kind of Sagacity in the Saints to this Purpose Which is also true in the Judgment of abundance of Protestant-Writers For as they held that no Man could know the Scriptures but by the same Spirit which indicted them so consequently that the Same Spirit only could assure him of the Truth of the said Interpretation And Peter Martyr as before quoted tells us The Holy Ghost is the Arbiter or Judge Also D. J. Owen saith That the Holy Ghost is the Only Authentick Interpreter of the Scripture And if the Only Authentick then the Only and Infallible Judge then the Judge of the Mind or Meaning of Scripture is both an Only and an Infallible Judge But to wave this Does not the very same Objection lie against the Sense of Scripture since one says This is the Sense and another That To know God's Mind Men must come to God's Spirit else Difficulties of that sort are Insuperable In