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
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
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
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
earth Yea worshipping God in an Image is against the light of nature if the Apostle speaks truth Rom. 1. 19 20 21 c. And particularly ver 25. it is plain that the Heathens Idolatry was serving the creature with the Crea or To return where we were before we call Scriâ—…ture a Rule of Faith as it reveals the Truths of God and commands our belief For if we had not such a Revelation of Gods will in Scripture we know not where to look for it And they who question us about this should do well to shew us another Revelation of Gods mind then what we have in Scripture For as we believe in God only so we acknowledge no other to have dominion over our Faith and hence we can acknowledge no Rule of Faith but what God himself hath made For certain what is the Rule must be the Law of our belief and who can make a Law of this nature but God only And this I leave to be tryed by the Law of Reason whether any thing can be the Law of Faith that is not a Law of God What! shall men or any creatures prescribe us what we are to believe concerning God It is unreasonable to imagine it And then let it be further considered if the Rule of Faith and the Law of Faith be not all one For it is not possible to prove that to be the Rule of Faith which doth not command us to believe prescribe what is to be believed and secuâ—…e â—…s of the promised good viz. eternal life upon our believing as we are commanded And this leads us to our second Argument from the Office and work of faith which is such a believing God in revealed Truths as leads us to our bliss There is a faith that saves not as all grant and I need not shew what it is But we mean a true faith or a sincere and saving faith and this being undeniable let it be considered How any thing can be the Rule of this faith besides Divine and supernatural Revelation But of this we may take more notice hereafter In the Interim we appeal to the consciences of all sober men whether we are not rational in making Divine Revelation to be the Rule of Divine Faith For sure footing to our faith we hope we have it where alone it is to be had And this will appear more plainly in the discourse of the Question Whether Tradition the Churches Testimony or any thing of that nature is or can bâ—… the Rule of Faâ—…th The second Part. Wherein is debated this Question viz. Whether Tradition the Churches Testimony or any thing besides Scripture is or can be a Rule of Faith IN this Question Protestants hold the Negative and say That Scripture alone is and Tradition cannot be a Rule of Faith And now I must first shew what Papists mean by Tradition Not as they say the Doctrine delivered But a delivery down from hand to hand bâ—… words and a constâ—…t course of frequent and visible actions conformable to those words of the sense and faith oâ—… Fâ—…re-fathers This they call Oral or Practical Tradition and this they would have to be the only Rule of Faith For they charge Scripture with imperfection and obscurity and affirm it to be no competent Rule as being not evident or certain in it self and therefore not sufficient to ascertain others Hence they speak of Scripture as a Rule regulated by Tradition which is indeed to say it is none at all and this they avouch some of them in express terms before all the world Now if we Protestants are once compeâ—…l'd to let go all Scripture authority in matters of Faith I know nothing we have to do more then burn our Bibles and as fast as we can turn Roman Catholicks Papists do not indeed say as far as I know that Scripture is not of Divine Inspiration But they say plainly that the doctrine of Scripture cannot be ascertained to us without Tradition and so Tradition is the Rule ruling as iâ—… aâ—…lures us what is Canonical Scripture and what not Yea they say expresly Tradition is a competent Rule and Scripture is not Now in this we cannot yield to them and we have this argument for our dissent Tradition by their own concession is but a certain way of delivering down the Faith and can be no other at most and that it is so much we cannot yield But supposing it only we say therefore it cannot be the Rule of Faith for it only delivers down to us the Rule And if any think this reason weak let him take notice of this also to back it that Tradition is but an humane Testimony and cannot therefore be a Rule of Divine Faith What! The Faith Divine and the Testimony received by it humane What reason is in this let any reasonable man judge I need say no more Nor will it help in this case to alledge the supernatural assistances of the Holy Ghost For our argument is That our Faith is as the Testimony received by it If therefore the Testimony be humane the Faith is such and where are we then Is our Faith in God that must save our souls only an humane and not a Divine Faith who ever heard such things as these If it be said again That this humane Testimony serves to ascertain us of the doctrine of Christ even so it cannot be the Rule for it is of men and it must be somewhat of God whatever it be that is the Rule of Faith in God Fâ—…r I may justly question in this Case In whom do we believe to the saving of our souls Surely no man will say other then that we believe in God Well and if we believe in God it must be because of some Revelation he hath made of himself and this can be no other then his promise in Christ of grace and pardon to poor sinners This is the Testimony or Record That God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son And this is the Testimony we receive by Faith and so our Faith is Divine If we receive the Testimony of men our Faith is only humane This I say again is our argument That our Faith being Divine the Testimony received by it is so also And therefore we receiving only the Testimony of God by Faith it cannot be reasonably imagined that our Faith should have its foundation and sure footing in any thing of man But here they ferch in the assistances of the Holy Ghost but to little purpose seeing those assistances are yielded us most likely to help us in believing the Word of God and not the Testimony of men And may not Protestants more rationally by far say they believe the Scripture by the perswasions of the holy Ghost then Papists say that Tradition receives incomparable strength by the supernatural assistances of the same holy Ghost surely if God have made any Revelation of his minde and will his Spiâ—…it most likely will help us to believe
and meaning in iâ—… And so we produce them in any matter of question as men do their written evidences in a trial at Law Would it be allowed in such a case that a Lawyer if any such could possibly be found should evade a full and clear evidence by abstracting the letter from the sence all men of common reason know that written evidences are intended to shew mens sence and meaning and that the letter and the sence cannot be separated though every puny Sophister can distinguish them In this distinguishing between the letter and sence of Scripture and saying that Protestants have only the letter of Scripture for their Rule we can guess at no design but this that 〈◊〉 would have us run as far as Rome to fetch the sence of Scripture thence And then we may have it senâ—…'d as it hath been heretofore by some of them For instance â—…ehold here are two swords Lâ—…ke 22. 38. that is the Pope hath the power of the spiâ—…itual and temporal sword Then â—…ast put all things under his fâ—…et 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 and the beasts of the fi 〈◊〉 Pâ—…l 8. 6 7. and this is applied to Christ Heb. 2. but the Roman sense is that all things are subject to the Pope By catteâ—… they will have us understand men on Earth by the fishes in the sea the souls in Purgatory and the birds are the blessed souls in Heaven Or as they all seem to sence that command of Christ Drink ye all of this Drink ye not not all of this These seem foâ—… certain to make neither the letter nor the sence of Scripture to be the Rule bâ—…t someâ—…hat else But the letter cannot be a Rule say they seeing the letter speaks things otherwise then they ought to be understood For the letter attributes hands and seet 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 which must not be so much as imagined seeing he is a 〈◊〉 We need not for all this be beholden to Tradition oâ—… seek for the sence of Scripture from the Church of Rome Our reason if we had no other thing to help us will reach us that God hath no limbs nor sences as we men have and therefore we abhor to make any representations of God in any bodily shape as knowing it unreasonable to represent God by the similitude of any creature What reasonable man can be ignerant that Gods hands 〈◊〉 his power and his eyes his providence c. and that such expressions are made use of by the Holy Ghost in a way of condescention to our inâ—…rmity To say no more these reasonings are no better then 〈◊〉 and are best 〈◊〉 by taking least notice oâ—… them For giving the sence of Scripture we have the ministry which is an ordinance of God appointed for that end So 〈◊〉 el had a Law and Priests to give the sence of it Malac. 2. 7. and we have a precedent recorded Nâ—…hem 8. 8. and we think that Papists meaning is the people should seek the sence of Scripture at the Pâ—…iests lips seeing they allow theirs to have no Bibles But what need they make such ado about this are they or can they be ignorant that all the great necessary truths of the Gospel are set down so plainly in Scripture as no man can miss of the true sence if he do but read them with deliberation there is no Translation but hath all these and no man in his sences can be ignorant of them if he will but read the Bible And this is the love and kindness of God to us to give us a plain and an easie Rule What though some things are hard to exercise our diligence yet all the necessary saving doctrine of Christ is open and obvious to such as are willing to understand and to use means for that end Thus God hath written Laws as men do for such as are concerned and both the Laws of God and man may be understood by all if they will do what is their duty in order to it There are Records of mens Laws which we may call the Originals and there are Statute-B oks printed for men to read and know the Laws And therefore all that transgress these Laws are questioned and punished though there are many that cannot read them because they know not a letter For it is justly and reasonably presuâ—…ed that all that have a mind may come to know the Laws so much as concerns them And so may our people say we come to know the Laws of God in Scripture if they are willing to it Therefore such Queries about the sence of Scripture c. are no better then quibbles They that bâ—…sie themselves to trouble us with such captious Questions might do well to bestow their pains about some others who may give them more thanks then we can for their labour I mean our untowardly people who are some of them sometimes tryed for their lives being indicted upon the Laws and Statutes of our Land Let them prompt these poor wretches to plead that the Laws are no Rule for them to walk by seeing they never could read them nor perhaps ever saw a Statute-Book and they cannot be sure the printed Staâ—…utes are the same word for word with the original Records nor can they be sure what is the sence of the Laws for Lawyers are sometimes divided in their opinions about it O! what a brave piece of service this would be counted by some thus to make void all the Laws of the Land But the Laws of England must not be laid down upon such preâ—…ences and we hope the Lâ—…ws of God in Scâ—…ipture shall not be made void upon no better grounds For our vulgar they have as many advantages to know the Rule of â—…aith in Scripture as they have to know the Laws of the Land and no â—…ber man can say or think otherwise For as we have such as are studied and understanding in the Laws of England so we have such as are by office bound to cause others to know the Laws of God And thus hath God provided in all ages of the Church that his people may not perish for lack of knowledge True the Priests may as once they did Mâ—…l c. 2. 8. depart out of the war and cause mâ—…ny to stumbâ—…e at the Law And when it is thus no marvel if Tradition in the Church be not so 〈◊〉 a witness of the saith of Forefathers seeing mostly as is the Pâ—…iest so are the people However this hath been Gods ordinary way for teaching his people and Gods Ordinance is not the worse for mans abuse His Laws are plain and easie to be known by such as are willing and will use means to learn them because he hath appointed Officers to teach the good knowledge of his wayes and wills Hence we may justly say of these exceptions that they are to small purpose and whoever weighs the argument will find it to strike almost directly at the dealings of God in declaring and dispensing the knowledge of his will
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