it was in the Apostles time We have said enough to shew how Tradition which they so much commend and magnifie may fail and so prove no infallible Testimony And who were our Forefathers from whom we learnt our faith we have shewed already and now shall name some of them viz. The Reformers in the last ages and Jo. Hu and Hiâ—…rome of Prague and before them Wickliff and before him the Waldenses and all that protested against the Churches corruptions in all ages upward as might be shewed if it were pertinent Jo. Whites Way p. 336. § 45. 337. Digress 48. 2. Tradition being the Testimony of the Church let Papists first ascertain us which is the true Church whose Testimony we must believe For our parts we know none upon earth that pretend to Christianity that do not account themselves the true Church and that avow not themselves to have the true faith which the Apostles delivered Now there being so many pretenders we are at as great a loss wich Tradition as without it since all say they hold the Apostolick faith and yet extreamly differ one from another not in few matters or small at least some of them And it is said and granted on all hands that there are dissenters and of these some are ignorant and some obstinate and some Scepticks and we know too many professing Christians who are in their wayes and doings no better then Infidels Now may not any or all of these question Tradition as well as Scripture upon this pretence that they know not which is the Church whose Testimony they are obliged to believe If it be said as it hath been by some that there is no Christian but knows the Church It may be justly replyed that there is no Christian but knows the Scripture as well For all that own not Scripture we may justly disown them as being no Christians A man may be a Christian it is confessed though he never saw a Bible if he have heard the doctrine of Christ as many Gentiles yea all for ought I know did in the first times of the Church when the Gospel was first preached to them by the Apostles But to be a Christian and not know the doctrine of Christ is a pure contradiction Now how we shall know which Church gives the truest testimony to the doctrine of Christ if not by Scripture let Papists resolve us for we know not what to answer We think among so many pretenders there will be differences such as â—â—â—â—adition will no better reconcile then Scripture and that as Protestants cannot agree about the sense of Scripture but some interpret it one way and some another so they and others will agree no better about the Church and its Tradition For as I have said there are many Churches and those hugely differing in some things and yet all pretend to the Apostolick faith Therefore we have need of somewhat to ascertain us of that Church which hath preserved and delivered down all along the same faith which the Apostles taught For the true Catholick Church we believe it hath been faithfull in its testimony to the truth in all ages But we Protestants cannot own the Church of Rome as such though we know there was there one sound part of the Catholick Church in the Apostles times Papists indeed pretend and boast great things of their Church but what is that to us who can well distinguish between a Roman-Catholick and a Catholick Christian. Here then we Protestants resolve to believe the Church for the Scripture and not the Scripture for the Church And yet we allow what that ancient Father saith of himself That he had not believed Scripture but for the Church For we know that after he came once to learn the Scriptures he then believed it not upon account of the Churches authority but it s own only The Church we grant may at first perswade Infidels to attend and heed the Scripture as the Word of God even as the woman perswaded her neighbours to come and see Christ. But as they when they had heard him themselves believed not because of her saying but because of his own word even so is â—…in the case that now is in question The Church of Christ hath the office of ministry to hold out the light that others who are in darkeness may see it But this will never prove the Church to have such an authority as Papists plead for and much less that their Church is the Catholick Church which only holds the Apostolick faith And when they have said all they can they say no more then any Church never so corrupt will say for it self viz. That it hath the doctrine of Christ which the Apostles taught Hence we say again that Tradition leaves us at an irrecoverable loss and that we must have somewhat more certain then the Churches testimony which any company of never so corrupt principles may pretend unto as well as the Church of Rome 3. We desire to be satisfied whether the doctrine delivered down be true because the Church hath delivered it or that the Church hath delivered it because it is the truth For we think the Church ought to receive and believe the truth only and to deliver that and nothing else to be believed by others and if it received other then the truth it was deceived and if it delivered other it was not only deceived but deceived others also The Church can make nothing to be true but what is such before of it self and all it can do is to declare the truth which it hath received and perswade others to believe it Therefore when Papists press us as they do about our being assured of Scripture we say that we believe it upon account of its own authority because it speaks it self the Word of God For as when a place of trust and honor is conferred upon a person by his Prince and assured to him under the Great Seal though the messenger that brings the Patent may avow it to be the Princes act yet that which gives assurance to the person of his interest in that office and honour is the Patent it self and the Seal annext So we know the voice of God speaking to us in his Word and even so hath the true Church in all ages received Scripture as the true Word of God and commended it to others for such as a Patent sealed from Heaven 4. We desire to know when the Church first resolved the Case in Question and determined what is the doctrine of Christ. For the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Councils we count them of a latter date and but of yesterday in comparison For our part we think under correction of better judgments that the Canon was agreed upon very early because two eminent ones among the Ancients â—…counted upon the same number of Canonical Books which we now do and one of them saith that the Canonicall authority of the old and new Testament was confirmed in the Apostles times And that
had been made in many ages and did not coin a new faith never before heard of We are not Calvinists or Lutherans though so miscalled by some but Christians as Luther Calvin and others were in the last age And they and all others of the same profession stood to maintain their doctrine as the faith of Forefathers all along from the beginning of the Gospel And our Adversaries are not ignorant that this hath been held and sufficiently made good by the vote and testimony of the most antient Fathers unto whom our Learned have appealed as unto Judges in this Cause But our faith is not in the Fathers never so antient or learned but in our Lord Jesus Christ whom we have learnt to count and call our Father and Master as being the only Lawgiver Only we appeal to the Fathers thus far as to produce them for our witnesses and know we have reason to alledge their testimony because they owned the same doctrine of Christ which we now do And though the appellation of Protestants was occasioned in the last age by the Protestation made against the Interim yet these were but successors to those who had for many ages before protested against the additions and inventions of men besides the Rule of faith We can therefore plead Antiquity and Succession as well as others and better too unless they could prove better then they have done yet that their Faith is the same that was delivered by the Apostles For this is it which we build our faith upon and by this are we confirmed in it viz. That we profess the same truths which the Apostles received from Christ and delivered unto the first Christian Churches Hence we say when we are told that the Tenets of our Adversaries wherein they differ from us have been received for many ages that they are not so old as the Apostles Besides we know that custome besides or against truth is but an old errour And whatsoâ—…ver is against truth is an Heresie though never so old Truth is older then errour and good was before any evil And so we consent that what was first was best But that our Adversaries Tenets are such we deny and say they were not from the beginning though some of them were taken up early enough and too soon as we know it was not long ere sin got into the world and yet it was after God had made men righteous Our Saviour Matth. 5. corrects many things that had been long received and went for currant by opposing his Word against them But I say unto you It is abundantly enough to justifie us in what we hold that we find our faith in Scripture and this our Adversaries know very well and therefore we need not marvel that they are so busie in raising doubts and questions about its Divine authority For let us once let Scripture go as some would have us our faith is gone also Were it not for Scripture I know nothing to hinder why every man may not coine a faith to himself and say it is the doctrine of Christ. Yea deny Christ and all Christianity For what have we to prove it besides the Scripture or how can we disprove any damnable doctrines and devices of men without it O! let us never think of turning from the good old way wherein we follow all those Champions whom nothing could perswade to part with it 3. Consider what and how much we loose if we hold not fast this ground of our confidence stedfast unto the end It is not for nothing that our adversaries press and urge us so much this way They tell us plainly that let go this and all is gone And they say truly in it For our faith hath no Sure footing if Scriptures authority be such as they would make it We have separated from them for many years past and the true reason and ground of our separation was that they held and practised so many things contrary to Scripture and would not yield to lay them aside Hereupon we resolved to communicate no longer with them because we could not admit what we judged sinfull as being against or beside that which we count the only Rule This I say hath been and still is the quarrel between us For if it be observed in our differences with them we still are on the negative part And why so Surely because our differences are about such things as they hold besides and against Scripture For in these we are bound to deny what they affirm I say again bound sub poenâ of loosing all our profession so far as we are Protestants in opposition to Papists And this let any man that is sober and intelligent judge of For let Oral and Practical Tradition as they call it be the only Rule of faith what is become of Scripture may I not justly ask whether it be something or a meer empty nothing what can it be at best more then a Cipher which we know in numbering stands for nothing unless a figure be put to it Tradition say they is that and that only which can ascertain us that this is the very doctrine of Christ which we believe And then what is Scripture more then a dead letter and Tradition is it which gives Spirit and life to it And where are we then even where our adversaries would have us to be Then we must go to the Church for our faith and take that for the truth which hath been delivered down for many ages whatever it be right or wrong The Church say they cannot erre And so say we But they and we are not agreed for all this For they mean no other Church then their own and this say they hath the true faith which from the Apostles was delivered at first and hath been conveighed down succesfively in all ages and it now rests only among Roman Catholicks God hath and ever had say we a Church or society of men on earth who did not indeed could not because of Gods promise erre in any thing necessary to to be known and believed in order to salvation But we cannot admit their Church and this to be all one God hath made a promise to his Church that he will be with it to the end of the world and this Church shall be led into all necessary saving truths But let our adversaries shew us if they can one promise of God made to any generation of men after the flesh such as was made to Abrahams seed and was made good to them untill the promised seed came Israel so long continued to be Gods people because of his promise But God hath no one people of one stock and kindred ever since unto which he hath made any such promise For many who were once a people to God afterwards became none and they who yet are none are in a capacity to be Gods people and shall be such when he pleases to call them Hence we count nothing of any arguments drawn from personal and
from time to time and these following their own lusts and humours and Interests have perverted and drawn aside others we grant it But we say too That not a few or a small party but multirules have been corrupted as once it was when all the world wondered to see it self Arian Not to mention the times of Noah and Elijah which are famous for a general Apostacy we ask How all Israel came to be corrupted after Joshua and the Judg's that out-lived him Yea how the Body of that people were corrupted even while Moses was alive and upon all'occasions turning themselves to Idols And how came the Jews in our Saviours time to have so many Traditions not only besides but contrary to the written Word Now the force of our arguing lieth in this That notwithstanding Tradition and a written Word too for some thousands of years past the generality and whole body of people who had the mind of God revealed to them have been corrupted and perverted And when it is thus what credit is to be given to Tradition Or what shall the Fathers deliver over to their Children other then they themselves have received believed and practised We cannot enough wonder at Papists arguings in this kind And therefore desire to be resolved in some particulars ere we can yield so much to Tradition as they would have us 1. We would know who these Foref thers were that have so carefully delivered over the doctrine of Christ in all ages For our Forefathers after the flesh till this and the last age we know and are sorry for it that they were Roman Catholicks this land having taken the infection as much as any other place and we acknowledge that other Kingdoms and Nations were as they so as those whom we count our Forefathers after the faith were for a great while up and down in the world as they that had not bowed the knee to Baal in Elijahs time And what then can be inferred from the Tradition of Forefathers We know there is a pretious promise Isa. 59. 21. that Gods Word and Spirit should continue with his Church and the Churches children to all generations as our Saviour promised his Disciples Mat. 28. 20. to be with them to the end of the world But observe the Spirit is promised as well as the Word because one is unavailable without the other cooperating with it Isa. 30. 20 21. 2 Cor. 2. 16. 2 Cor. 3. 6. and 4. 13. But where is there any promise that the Word and Spirit shall continue with any one people uninterruptedly unto the worlds end We read that the word of the kingdom should be taken from the Jews and so it was and is not restored to them yet And in many places where once were famous Christian Churches there is not to be seen at this day so much as a relique of Christianity Witness the Churches of Asia now possessed by Mahometans We think it certain and undeniable that errors and impieties of all sorts may infect whole Nations of such as have professed the doctrine of Christ and when the infection hath once taken a few it will spread like a gangrene till the body be all overrun So when some have once departed from the faith others are too apt to follow and the tares soon outgrow the good seed Hence we answer That we cannot admit Tradition as an infallible witness since multitudes yea whole Nations have been overspread with errors and those no small ones For when a generation is once corrupted in their Principles it is not imaginable to us how they should teach their children other then what they themselves have learned So our Forefathers after the flesh would we believe have taught us the same Religion which had been taught them for many ages i. e. the Popish or Romish But we deny them to be our Forefathers as to our faith If any ask us Who these were We answer all they who in all ages protested against the errors and abuses of the Church of Rome We know well that England was Christian before Austin the Monk came hither For he found such here as stoutly withstood his Romish impositions though it cost them dear And what if there never had been a Church in England before or that Church had utterly failed yet the Church truly Catholick never fails but God hath had alwayes and will have to the end a company that contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints and desire to worship him in spirit and in truth And these we own for our Forefathers as to our faith and from these we received what we now profess and believe according to Scripture To clear the matter yet further we say this argument of Tradition supposes what we cannot yield viz. That the present Church of Rome holds the same faith in all particulars with the Apostolick and Primitive Church and that the same faith hath been handed down to them in all ages successively to this day That there was once a famous Church at Rome we grant but that the present faith of Rome is the same with that in the Apostles dayes can never be made good unless Papists will have the difference of mea's and dayes to be the whole Catholick faith Let them now prove their faith to be the same with what it was in the Apostles times and we may then heed this argument more then now we can For our parts we stand to prove as others before us have done that there hath been a general departing from the faith and when the generality are once corrupted in principles and practises we know not what they should teach posterity other then what they themselves have learned Do not Heathens now as in all former ages teach their children to worship Idols as themselves have done And is it so hard to conceive how the face yea whole body of the Church may be overspread by errors and heresies Who knows not that one scabbed sheep will infect a whole flock and how a little leaven will soon leaven the whole lump We hear of vain conversation received by Tradition from Forefathers 1 Pet. 1. 18. And wee know too well that Children for the most part betake themselves to such courses as their Fathers have taken before them That our Saviour delivered the whole truth to his Apostles and they to the Churches in those times we make no question yea we think it a sin to question it But we know and can shew how the Churches planted by the Apostles degenerated quickly and by degrees came to be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ and his Gospel And is this strange Alas Even in the Apostles times how were some Churches perverted in so much as he wonders Gal. 1. 6. they were so soon removed to another Gospel And here I might enlarge in shewing how by degrees the first Churches came to be perverted and corrupted But it lies on our Adversaries to prove their faith as it is now to be as
were penned by the Prophets and Apostles as well as any such thing can be known These Records are very ancient some of them of some thousand years standing And must we now prove every particular as if we had been eye-witnesses Is it not enough if we have more certainty of these then can be had of any others that bear the same date or somewhat near Not to say that that this Question seems to strike at the force of all ancient Records and evidences For it may be said by any concerned How are we sure that these are the Authentick Copies or transcribed exactly to a letter 2. We are certainly assured in this Case as well as they that question us seeing they pretend only to Tradition for their Security and we know no certainty of that more then of Scripture 3. We know the Original Old Testament by the consent of our Bibles and those which the Jews preserve to this day as we think by a speciall providence What better evidence can there be in such a case then this They had the honour to have the lively Oracles committed to them and we never heard they could be justly blamed for being â—…alse to their trust thus far And these Infidels still retain the old Testament as it was though the Christians make use of it to justifie the Christian faith against them And if they had attempted any alteration they could never have effected it as was shewed before Now while their Copies and ours agree so well together as we have no difference with them about this have we not good reason to perswade our selves that our Original Bibles are as at first 4. We know it by as good evidences as our Adversaries know it viz. by the consent of all Ages bearing witness to it We do not indeed plead the authority of the Churches Testimony as Papists do nor have we need seeing the Testimony may be valid through its truth without any such authority We give as much as we ought to the Church when we say it hath been all along an external instrument or Medium to declare and testifiâ—… concerning the doctrine of Christ in Scripture And so it hath testified the Originals to be as at first I have yet more to say for clearing this Question only I must needs insert that we cannot think our selves so fairly dealt withall in such a question For we lay our claim by prescription and therefore think our adversaries should rather prove the contrary by undeniable arguments then pick quarrels with us by captious questions such as they can no better answer then we But we know the design and shall say no more of it 5. It is enough if the Originals be in the matter and substance of them the same as at first That they may have some alterations as to letters or words in the transcribing and printing of them who questions since the Transcribers and Printers had no infallible Spirit that we ever heard of But this being granted we have no cause to doubt Scriptures authority any whit the more What though no Original Copie now extant be so absolutely pure as no mixture can possibly be found in it as to words and letters yet Scripture ceases not to be a sufficient Rule so long as there is in it no violation mutilation or falsification through the ignorance negligence or malice of men as disables it for teaching all men what to believe and do in order to their salvation For this is it which we contend for That all the doctrine of Christ necessary to be known unto salvation we have in our present Bibles and this doctrine the very same that was delivered by the Prophets and Apostles It lies still however on our adversaries to prove any alteration so much as in any words Hence we say further that Books made of inke and parchment or paper are things that are perishable yea and will come to nothing But dare Papists say that God hath not given his Laws in writing dare they say that there never was such a man as Moses who at Gods command delivered a Law to Israel and after it was written caused it to be read in the audience of all the people or dare they say there never were such men as the Prophets and Apostles and that they never wrote any such Books as are now called the holy Scriptures We do not know and therefore dare not say that they have hiâ—…herto said any such thing and we have so much charity as to believe they will never say it What mean they then by such quirks and quibles as these viz. That we cannot be assured now that the Scriptures are not altered from what they were at first c. What thoughts have they of God Almighty was he not wise enough to foresee what might be objected in after times so as to provide against it and prevent all such questions as they now make about the written word This we know and they too that the only wise God thought it best to have the lively Oracles committed to writing though he could not but know that in process of time there might be some alteration in those writings and that the outside materials as parchment c. are such as wast and wear out Yea this way of writing was as I may say consecrated at first by the finger of God who wrote the ten Commandments in two Tâ—…bles of sione And those two tables were soon broken and the others afterwards prepared at Gods command and kept along time are yet long since gone so as none can give any account of them Notwithstanding we are not to seek of the Ten Commandments nor we hope will any say these are not the same that God wrote at first or we cannot be sure that they are so Alas to argue in this manner is to bring Heaven and Earth together Then farewell all the credit of all ancient Records that ever have been preserved in the World Yea then let the Scriptures which are the most ancient Records in the world go too upon the same account And this we think some would have or they would no more trouble the world with such frivolous Queries as these How say they can we be sure that the Originals are the same that were first penned what pitie it is that these men stood not by when God commanded a Law to be written for his people and the same to continue unto all genera ions they could have prompted God and told him what was to be considered of viz. That those Books might decay in time and the Copies be corrupted in the transcribing of them or they might be lost and hid aside For so they were in Josiahs time when one Copy was lighted on by chance and counted as a Jewel for its rarity And that in after ages there might be much questioning about them whether they had not under the revolutions of many ages been altered from what they were at first by his
compare all together And let them shew too if they can how the written word should be privy to all their inmost thoughts if it were not penn'd by him that searcheth the hearts and reins The wisest of men could never frame a Law to control more then the overt act But this Law gives a check to mens inward thoughts and lusts when no act appears and spits Hell-fire in their faces for what no creature knows besides themselves To discourse it a little farther where is such another Law as that of the Decalogue or who but God could frame a Law all compriz'd in ten words to order the hearts and lives of all men in all ages to the worlds end A Law that discovers and condemns all offences in thought word and deed and never had nor will have need to be altered in any the least tittle of it And where do we find this Law Is it not in Scripture It is indeed all of it written in every mans hearr â—…nless any please to except one Commandment in it But how doth Scripture explain and clear up those inbred notions of Religion and moral righteousness imprinted in the hearts of men which otherwise would be very obscure and uncertain as they have been in all or most of the Heathens Though nature teach that there is a God and he to be served and worshipped yet Scripture alone teaches the right way of Divine Service And it alone shews us the right way of doing all offices of love to men so as our charity and righteousness may be more then an outside shew of fair dealing when the inside is nothing but hypocrisie and deceir In one word Scripture alone gives us a Law that commands body and sonl and therefore we have cause to believe it a Law which God alone bath made And if any proud and scornfull men shall say they know no such thing I can deny it with more truth then they can affirm it And affirm what they will not be able to deny when they shall find it true by wofull experience on their death-beds or before as others have done I could here to prove Scriptures Divine authority ask the reason why such as are most vicious and abominable in their conversation contrary to the rule of Reason care so little for Scripture If it were the word of a man or any creature what need they be afraid or troubled about it For what were it more to them then a Play-book or a Romance certaâ—…nly 't is not for nothing that the vilest of men care so little for Scripture read or open'd and applyed No Scripture searches thâ—…ir sores even to the bottom and farther by far then they have a mind to be discovered to others or themselves And now let the world be judge if the vâ—…st of men be not mostly the greatest enemies to Scripture This is enough if there were no more to prove Scriptures descent and pedigree as I may say to be from above Let me adde this to all the rest That a man may read a philosiphical discourse or any Book that treats of any civil and worldly matters and nâ—…ver be tempted as men commonly are about Scripture What 's the reason and why should it be thus If I may judge I must proâ—…ess from my heart I can think of none so probable as this That Scripture is of God For certain the Devil is as I may say tooth and naile against it and if it were of men the Devil would cherish as much as he could the belief of it because it were a lye But now when all Books almost are own'd and receiv'd under the names of their respective Authors it shews Scripture to be of God whose name only it bâ—…ars because there is so much ado about the authority of it Another beame of light to shew Scriptures Divine authority is its Antiquity beyond all Records that make the fairest pretence to it as hath been shewed of lare by an emineâ—…t Scholâ—…r in his labours this way The gray hâ—…rs as one saith which are upon the hend of Scripture shew it to be the off-spring of the antient of dayes and this writing hath the preeminency to be in this respect the first born of all its brethren What Book dare to compare with it as to Antiquity And that not only as to the matter and contents which were in the mind of God from eternity but as to the writing which now pastes up and down the world and may be seen and read of all Let the world shew if it can any Book of so long standing as the five Books of Moses Alas The most antient of all the Antients are but novices in comparison and how uncertain and confused any of them are in their discoveries is to be seen at large in the learned Author of Orig. Sâ—…cr abovesaid Hath any given us an account of the worlds Creation and begining such as we have in Moses Surely any that will be at pains to compare all together will soon perceive the difference and vote our Bible as most transcendent To say no more Unumquodque sapit authorem and Scripture in this is a resemblence of God who is call'd the antient of dayes Yea Scripture is in respect of its contents eternal as delivering to us the everlasting counsels of God What Book ever pretended to such discoveries Heathens have talkt ridiculously and absurdly enough of the feats and famous exploits of some of their dunghill Deities But never any dreamt of their counsels Whereas Scripture shews us the only living and true God not only in his effects and properties but also acquaints us with his mind and will as it was from all Eternity Once the long standing of Scripture shews that it bath outstood all tryals whiles the world hath had so much opportunity to enquire into it and prove it unsound and vain if it had not been far otherwise For still it retains and keeps up its reputation though there have been so many in all ages that would gladly if they knew how have fastened on it absurdity vanity or contradiction or any thing else that their wit or malice could devise So we see in it as an experiment how truth is everlasting whiles mens opinions vary and alter much and as the leaves of trees spring and flourish awhile and then fade and fall to the ground So a lye is never long liv'd but as paint or varnish wears out or washes off because it hath no substance to uphold it But great is the truth and shall prevaâ—…le this truth especially when Heaven and Earth shall fall And this argument hath the more force because that Scripture hath met with so much opposition and conquered notwithstanding For what else but an Almighty power coâ—…ld preserve it when all the ungoâ—…ly that ever were could look upon it no otherwise then an Engine fram'd to batter and overthrow all their fleshly and filthy interests And that is indeed the designe of Scripture to throw
wrought in us bâ—…t by the Word and Spirit of God And yet we do not yield to them that we can be no other way ascertained of the doctrine oâ—… Christ as true then by Tradition For we believe the Testimony of God speaking to us in Scripture and shall I hope while we live account of it more then Tradition or any Testimony of men I shall now add somewhat as an Answer in general to all and every one of the former Exceptions or any others of the same or like kind We sâ—…y that there is one onely Rule of Faith and manners and that is the Divine truth or the Doctrine of Christ which is summed up into these two general heads viz. Faith and Obedâ—…ence or faith and holiness according to what God hath declared as his mind and will What he promises we are to believe and when he commands we are to obey And in both we fulfill the will of God aâ—…d walk in the ways of eternal life This Divine truth we never found any where but in the Scripture and if our adversariâ—…s have made any other discovery we think it their duty to acquaint us with it That the Son of God was made man died and roâ—…e again c. for our redemption all Christians acknowledge as also that all who hope for salvation by Christ Jesus must deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly â—…ighteously and godly in this present world And this to know and do is eternal life and if our adversaries or any before theâ—… ever knew this doctrine otherwise then by Scripture we are willing to leaâ—…n For their Traditions as they signifie Râ—…straditas we have nothing to do with them For the question put to us is only this how we are or can be ascertained of Scripture that it hath delivered over to us the Doctrine of Christ and this question drawn out into many and several Queries we have answered already and now give this as an answer to all of them or any the like And this we do not for the sake of such as are more knowing and better grounded in the faith but only for the benefit of poor souls who through want and weakness of understanding may be puzzled with such questions Now to these we say again that we hold nothing for a Rule of faith but the Divine truth which teaches the way of salvation by Christ. For Originals or translations of Scripture we know there was a time when there was neither of them And yet there was ever since God had a Church upon earth a revelation of the doctrine of Christ. Hence this Doctrine must be the Rule unless we will say the people of God had no Rule of faith for two thousand years and more For whatever God reveals as his mind that we must heed to believe and obey There may be a difference and hath been in the manner of Revelation but the Divine truth revealed was alwaies the same viz. Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. There is no other name given under Heaven whereby men can be saved Act. 4. 12. This we believe as all Gods people have done from the beginning and this doctrine of Christ which we find no where but in the holy Scriptures is the Rule and Law and foundation of our faith So the Rule is and hath been always the same though the way and manner of revealing it hath been various according to the will and pleasure of God and that at first more obâ—…cure and after more and more clear till the Sun of righteousness arose And of this doctrine revealed no Christian we suppose hath ever made question What need is there then of such captious Queries about the Originals and Translations or about the letter and sence of Scripture We are sure that all Originals and Translations offer and hold forth the doctrine of Christ and whatever the letter be this is the sence that Christ is the only salvation of God And is there indeed no way of assuring this to us but Tradition or the Churches Testimony as it hath been given in all ages This â—…as hath been said is to confirm the Testimony of God by that of men And if our Faith be grounded only on the Translation English or other our foundation is the knowledge skill and faithfulness of men and they that cannot read as some we are sure cannot must have no foundation at all But he that hath the truth of God concerning the salvation of men by Jesus Christ whether in the Originals or Translations or whetesoever hath a sure foundation viz. the unchangeable counsel of God which never fails As for the Translations or the Originals though the truth of God contained in them be the Rule yet neither of them is any part of it For they are only means to conveigh and deliver over to men the Divine truth which is the only Rule And this we have I say again in all Originals and Translations and whatever sences have been made of scripture by any all agree unanimously in the doctrine of salvation by Christ. What need we then be questioned about that which no Christian ever made Question of If there be any such as doubt whether men are saved by Christ only or whether they who are saved by him must walk in love and shew their love by keeping his Commandments we desire to have nothing to do with them as not deserving the name of Christians And whether we can be assured of this doctrine in no other way then by Tradition I shall now leave to be judged by such as will impartially weigh what hath been said I have now done arguing and answering and shall only advise such as are by their profession Protestants that they would seriously bethink themselves how they may hold fast the profession of their faith without wavering unto the end The advice I offer them is 1. That they labour much and earnestly to understand the mind and meaning of God in his written Word And good reason there is for it Gods Word is his last Will and Testament by which alone we come to know what Inheritance there is laid up for us in Heaven and what Legacies he hath bequeath'd us for our livelihood and subsistence to all Eternity Scripture is as I may call it the Charter by which we have and hold all the Liberties and Priviledges which are freely conferr'd and bestowed on us by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ as also all the Laws and Orders we are bound to observe as we are Citizens of the New and Heavenly Jerusalem What should Christians then do other then read over their Fathers Will and study exactly in every particular what concerns them in order to their everlasting happiness The Letter and the sence the History and the mysterie every part and particle should be in our heaâ—…ts and heads so as we may have them as we say at our fingers ends If any ask How
2. Cor. 5. 14. That the love of Christ constraineth us Such and so great are the manifestations which he hath made of himself and his love to our Souls as we can never be thankfull as we ought but in a full and absolute resignation of our selves and all we have to his service and glory 2. I advise yet farâ—…her that in our greatest inlargements we walk humbly with God as knowing that his power alone is all the strength whereby we are enabled to stand Peters preâ—…umptuous confidence in his own strength wrought nothing but repentance for his sainting in an evil day By his own strength shall no man prevail And therefore the Apostle exhorts to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Eph. 6. 10. and to put on the whole armour of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil v II. It is God alone that keeps the feet of his Saints 1 Sam. 2. 9. There need no motives I hope to perswade However consider 1. What we have believed Not cunningly devised fables but a sure Word of Prophecy such as the Apostle seems to prefer if the comparative be senc'd according to the letter before visions and immediate Revelations Or he might so call them because the Prophecies might be more sure to the godly Jews through long use and acquaintance We know the Jews at Berea examined Pauls doctrine by the Scriptures and are not taxed but commended for it And if an Angel from heaven should preach any other doctrine then what we have in Scripture we have no reason to believe it Those blessed Spirits indeed never did it nor ever will But we make the supposition which the Apostle doth Gal. 1. for the more Emphasis For Scripture-truths they are of long standing and approved by their abiding the test and triall of so many ages Christ and his Apostles made the old Testament the Standard of their doctrine and appealed to it for the proof of all they preacht to the people Moses and the Prophets are more to be heeded then if a man rose from the dead Luk. 16. 31. And they who hear not the one will never regard the other if our Saviour said true Was it ever heard that any doctrine so much as pretended to Scriptures antiquity Or is it possible that any thing but certain truth should outstand the siftings and winnowings of so many ages specially when it hath had so many professed enemies Shall we now call in question what was never questioned before Have not all Christians who deserved that name unanimously agreed in believing the faith and truth delivered in Scripture or do Protestants now believe any thing that was not believed by all Saints ever since any part of Scripture was penned we believe on the Son of God who gave himself a ransome for all And this Doctrine we have in Mosâ—…s who was the first penman of Scripture and as our Saviour saith wrote of him Must we now call in question all that Moses and the Prophets and the Apostles have written yea and cry it down as no Rule of faith then farewell all our Christianity and the Christian Religion at once For where have we learnt all the mystery of godliness God manifested in the flesh justified in the spirit c. 1 Tim. 3. fin Who or what hath given us to know what have been all the Transactions of God with the sons of men in order to eternal life from the beginning Will our Adversaries say roundly once for all that the doctrine of Scripture is not the doctrine of Christ Let them speak out if they have a mind to say so and then we know what to answer them But if they will not avow this as indeed they have not yet in plain terms we have this to say for our selves that we believe what they deny not to be the truth of God and the doctrine of Christ. That we cannot be assured of this otherwise then by Tradition hath been already answered and no more needs to be said about it For mens Tradition we know it will serve nothing better to usher in and establish mens Inventions But shall we renounce our own Reason so far as to appeal to men who are all lyars for the truth of what is spoken by him that cannot lye Oh! consider and remember that in believing Scripture we believe not Prophecies or Prodigies not heard of till yesterday No we believe the everlasting Gospel and the good old way to rest and peace The very doctrine of practical godliness and moral righteousness taught us in Scripture is such as we cannot but assent unto it as agreeing with and approved by our natural light so as we must forfeit out Reason ere we can be perswaded to question Scriptures authority Read but the Prophets and the Psalms and the Proverbs and Pauls Epistles or other parts of Scripture and consider the precepts of sobriety temperance righteousness justice and truth which are there so many and will not our consciences say these are all of God and we know they are Divine by the natural light which is in us Who could have cleared up the inbred notions and impressions that are upon all mens hearts so as they are cleared in Scripture but that light in which alone we see light for the mysterie of Godliness we know it is altogether of supernatural Divine Revelation and being such what need is there or can there be of any mens or Churches authority to confirm it To say no more let Reason judge and determine whether the faith of men can authoritatively confirm the faith of God And yet it must if we cannot be ascertained of the one without the other yea and our faith in Gods testimony must be resolved into the testimony of men as yielding to us the greatest certainty beyond all doubt or question Consider I say what we have believed viz. the antient yea eternal Word of the everliving God and this Word alwayes one and the same as God is only at sundry times and in divers manners it was spoken to the Fathers by the Prophets and in these last times to us by the Son himself and such as he hath sent 2. Consider that in believing the testimony of God in his written Word we believe and receive the faith of our Forefathers who suffered for their close adhering to Scriptures doctrine and could not be parted from it but rather chose to part with their lives for it And herein they approved themselves the genuine and kindly issue of all the antient Martyrs who loved not their lives unto the death for the testimony of Jesus We should too much wrong our selves and the cause of Christian Religion to yield that which our Adversaries will never be able by dint of argument to force from us viz. That we are upstarts newly sâ—…rung out of the ashes of our late Reformers They were as we call them Reformers that repaired the desolations which
lineal succession but look only after succession in doctrine And this we have reason to do seeing the Heavenly inheritance is entayled only upon those who know and obey the truth And where is this truth if not in Scripture and if we once let go Scriptures verdict in the Cause must we not stand or fall according to the sentence of the Church and what Church can pretend to more then the Church of Rome will pretend unto but let Scripture be judge in the Case and it will soon appear that all is but a vain and empty pretence And why should we not appeal to it alone and leave it to umpire the differences Our adversaries never durst say as yet for ought I have known that it is not the Word of God though some of them have spoken most unworthily of it and reproached it so as none would I think do that seriously believed it to be indeed the Word of God However they say not in terms that it is not the Word of God though that will be the consequence of what they say and that we think unavoidable if all things be duly considered Surely to us it must be so For if it hath no credit as to us without a Certificate under the hands of men it deserves no credit at all such as we must give to it as a Rule of faith and the ground work of all our hopes And this is rational because then we need not go to Scripture since there is somewhat else that is more to be credited then it For no man that is reasonable can be ignorant that what makes any thing to be what it is must be more such if not formally yet virtually or eminently And our adversaries take it so and therefore say plainly that Scripture for many reasons is no competent Rule of faith but Tradition doth the work that is needfull to be done and is a Rule in every respect compleat Now let this be granted and then look about and see what follows They say and think though not truly that they have Tradition by the forepart viz. that all the first ages of the Christian Church held as they do now And for the hinder end they hâ—…ve it fast enough as we all know For we must grant what we cannot without impudence deny 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of these parts of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ward for many of the latter ages And we do not wonder at it because it is no more then what Scripture hath foretold And now if Scripture be thus laid by what will become of all that faith which we have other then what Papists have or how can we refuse whatever they shall impose by their Tradition And shall it be ever said that we have made a separation so long and now turn back again upon no other ground then this viz. that Tradition is the Rule of Faith and Scripture is every way unfit for such a work what is this but to cast dirt in the faces of all that went before us and hazarded all to vindicate and obâ—…ain that liberty which the written Word so long suppressed hath since had amongst us For this was the rise and root of all the disorders and distempers that ever have been since the Apostles times unto this day viz. that men have not contented themselves with a Rule of Gods making but in the pride of their hearts would frame Laws unto themselves And this began in the Apostles times by the workings of Satan in the false Apostles who would then keep up the antient Laws of God intended only till the time of Reformation when according to his will they ought to be laid aside This I say we may justly suspect to have given the first occasion to others afterwards of devising many things besides the only Rule And so it is come to pass by many degrees at last that Scripture is no Rule at all if some men may be credited in what they say And now let us consider what we have been adoing for an hundred years and more Have we all this while believed in vain And have all those who are gone to another world before our eyes died without hope What! have we been in a sweet dream so long and could never be awakened till now Are we now to seek of a Rule of faith Indeed we have then believed to small purpose and so have many others whom we have hitherto thought to be with the Lord. What! have we never received any fruits of the Spirit such as have been a seal to the truths of the written Word so as we can say we know what and whom we have believed were our eyes never opened nor our hearts ever humbled or melted If they have been then consider what doctrine hath been preached to us and by what means we came to be what we are And have we not enough for all intents and purposes we have Jesus Christ evidently set forth to us in Scripture and no where else And have we need of any other Saviour we have the way of holiness in Scripture as no where else and can we go to heaven in any other way Are we in danger of perishing by believing in Christ alone or will the denyal of our selves and all ungodliness and worldly lusts as Scripture commands and requires hazard our souls Nay will not faith in Christ alone such faith I mean as works by love save us then what will become of me and others who never yet learnt any other way of salvation and resolve through Gods help and grace never to think of any other But I shall say no more when I have related one story Darbishire Benners kinsman said to Hawkes the Martyr You will have nothing but your pretty Gods Book No said Hawkes and is not that enough for my salvation Yes said the other but not for your instruction Then said Hawkes God send me the salvation and take you the instruction And of his mind am I and many others too I hope If Scripture be not sufficient to shew and assure us what we are to believe and do in order to our salvation as some would perswade us we are resolved however to leave our souls to Gods free mercy as it is revealed therein and leave others that have a mind to take all the Instruction that is to be had by Tradition FINIS AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER THE late dreadfull Fire kindled by our God-provoking sins and abominations transcending all our Forefathers after so many miracles of mercies and deliverances within three dayes space turned no less than 88 Pariâ—…es and Pâ—…ish-Churches with the Cathedâ—…al Church of the late great and glorious City of London into heaps of ashes and rubbish to the just horror and amazement of all Spectators of their â—…mes and ruines which as it proved extremely prejudicial and destructive to most Companies of the City yet none of them received so grand losses and dammages by that devouring Conflagration as the Company of Stationers most of