hope to see the face of God if he pertinaciously refuse to believe do approve or avoid any one least thing taught or commanded by the Church as necessary to salvation to be believed done approved or avoided although in Scripture not mentioned and die in that state of soule 3. If both be it the part or share of each in the office is to be set out and certainly known by every creature that they may have recourse to each for that which pertaines to its office to the Scripture for its to the Church for its §. 4. The Protestants Tenet in it In the answer to this Question you and we as near as some imagine the two religions to be one to the other differ extreamly For albeit you grant that Christ left a Church to continue for ever in some office of teaching religion and that office of hers proper and in some respects sufficient and necessary yet you will not allow it to be either simply necessary or sufficient or any other then a meer ministery to the Scripture or so much as that with divine authority Consequently your Tenet is Christ left or appointed the Scripture for the meanes to teach us his Gospell This is the prime and maine principle of your religion in proper or as it is distinguished against ours by the name of Protestant or Reformed upon the truth therefore and certainty whereof depends in fine the whole truth and certainty of your religion and consequently of your hope of salvation in or by it as the firmnesse of any whole building does upon the firmnesse of its foundation § 5. What Catholicks acknowledge to H. Scripture We are as forward as any of you can be to give unto H. Scripture what is its Namely 1. That some of the Apostles wrote the New Testament which and the Old make up that holy book called the Scripture or Bible 2. That it is all and every word of it given by inspiration of God and therefore the very word of God of truth most infalible of authority most supreme as to all creatures even the Church her selfe yea in quality and degree of the authority superiour to that of the Church and the only divine written rule now being or ever to be 3. That they left it unto or with the Church as a sacred depositum in the nature following Viz. 1. A rule which she is bound to have an eye unto in all her doctrines and lawes and not only that they be not repugnant to it in more or lesse either by adding to or taking from either the words sense or law of it any one least tittle for supposing that possible and her a Church all of Apostles or heavenly Angels she were instantly to be detested by all as a Synagogue of Satan and all such her doctrines and lawes to be abhorred as will-worship and traditions of men but that they be consonant to it as neer as she may judge of the sense or intent of the H. Ghost as we find the Apostles had such an eye to it in theirs Acts 1.20 15.15 And in acknowledgement hereof in all her Generall Councels she placeth it in the most sumptuous throne at the uppermost end of the assembly above Pope and all as that which is to have the chiefest regard and swaying vote in all her debates and resolutions 2. A meanes excellent proper yea the incomparably principall in the sort and order of inanimate instruments as it is unto the ends for which it was ordained Namely 1. To corroborate by its concurring testimony the authority and doctrine of the Church and our faith to it 2. To preserve in way of a record a world of most admirable truths rules examples admonitions exhortations motives histories genealogies prophecies formes of prayer c. perteining to faith and holines In respect whereof it is a meanes profitable superlatively beyond all that can be said of it by tongues of men or Angels to furnish the man of God or Divine perfectly for doctrine yea of faith for reproof of the adversaries for correction for instruction in righteousnesse and for every other good work proper or perteining to his function 2. Tim. 3.16 And therefore not only doe our Divines give diligent attendance to the reading and study of it and make use of it incomparably for above any other meanes to all these ends yea and to the instructing and guiding themselves for and in the knowledge of truth and resolving cases of conscience and our Bishops in and for the making lawes or determining causes Ecclesiasticall but the Church her self in all General Councells makes her first and chief repaire to it for light and direction nay all her debate and search into former Councells Fathers Schoolmen tradition practice and sense of the Church is to no other end generally speaking then the better to find out and determine its true sense or intent 3. A meanes not only as in the hand of the man of God but as in the hand of every Christian rightly principled firme in faith 2. Pet. 3.16 and reading it in obedience to them that are over him in the Lord Heb. 13.7 with the humble spirit of the Eunuch Acts 8.31 unto the ends for which it was ordeined if ordeined as to him to wit to confirm advance and perfect himself in faith Joh. 20.31 saving wisedome 2. Tim. 3.15 hope Rom. 15.4 charity 1. Th. 4.9 and other Christian vertues singularly proper unto those ends as having from its divine author speciall force and vertue beyond all possible enditings of humane brain to inlighten the eyes and convert the heart of the simple And therefore speaking of it per se or as in the hands of such a one blessed is he that reades and meditates in it day and night Ps 1.1 and makes it a lanthorne to his feet and a light unto his paths Ps 119.105 4. A meanes since its writing necessary unto the Church as by which God will guide her into the truths there recorded without it when it may be had not 5. A meanes perfectly sufficient unto the ends for which it was ordained which is all the perfection of an instrument 6. A record conteining all that man is to believe doe or avoid to the obteining eternall salvation and expresly all the principall In regard of which many and admirable properties and uses of it it is the same in a manner to us as the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night was to the Israelites guiding Moses in the way to Canaan and by him them In a word it deserves to be called by way of excellency the Word Law doctrine oracles or Gospell of God Christ salvation c. the guide of faith the rule of religion the light of the world c. §. 6. The Catholick tenett But then we deny it to be either a proper principall necessary or sufficient meanes to teach religion And so to give unto the Church also what is hers our tenett is that The Church was
Mar. 16.16 6. Did Christ send some to search it as a witness to his person He sent all to hear her as the Teacher of his Gospel 7. Is he blessed that reads it So is he that hears her word Lu. 11.28 And no reader of it but he that is also her hearer Apoc. 1 3. 8. Is it able to make some Christians wise to salvation by faith in Christ Her vvord is able to save all creatures souls by receiving it Mar. 16.19 1 Tim. 4.16 Iam. 1.21 9. Is it profitable for doctrine c. that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished to every good work She is necessary and sufficient for doctrine c. that every creature may be perfect throughly furnished to every thing pertaining to faith or holiness 10. In a word is it profitable in any kinde to any use vvhatsoever It is only as an instrument in the hand of her or her Scholars So whatsoever can be said of it the same or more excellent may be said of her or the word by her preached But then there are abundance of glorious things spoken of her Psal 87.3 none whereof can be said of it namely all those named supra pag. 13 14 15. The House of God the Angel of the Lord the Light of the VVorld the Power of God unto Salvation the Ground of Truth the Rule of Faith c. VVhich I say not of any intent to extoll her above it absolutely but to beget in you a due esteem of her as in some respects excelling it as it does her in many other 4. Is it because it vvarnes you of some danger possible in making her your guide not a syllable in it to any such sense it doth of danger in making it so 2 Pet. 3.16 5. Is it because it tells you you need not believe or obey her further then she teaches out of or consonantly to it It tells you no such thing but the quite contrary when it calls her the ground of truth For if she the ground of truth we are not to judge of the truth of her doctrine by it but contrarily of its true sense by her doctrine It being possible for it to have divers senses but not possible for it to have any true one repugnant to her doctrine as neither possible for her being the ground of truth to misunderstand it so as to teach any thing repugnant to it Would then any of your Ministers undertake to prove to me by it that she may yea hath at sometime or other since the Apostles death yea at this present does erre in her teaching I would ask him if he would prove it by the express words of it or no. If nay would tell him no implications or deductions though never so evident to reason were to be of force against such express promises as are made to her and those not conditional only so much as implicitely but Prophetical such as that Day and night shall not cease while the earth remains Gen. 8.22 for so saith it If you can break my Covenant of the day and my Covenant of the night and that there should not be day and night in their season then may also my Covenant be broken with David my servant that he should not have a Son to sit upon his throne and you will not I hope say that Christ's throne was to judge errors and with the Levites the Priests my Ministers c. Ier. 33.20 Nay God Almighty for our greater assurance in this point expressely declares that no default or wickedness of the Pastors of the Church should ever defease his Covenant with her If his children forsake my law in practice of life c. I will visit their transgressions with the rod c. But my loving kindeness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail c. Psalme 89.30 Such expresse promises are made to her for her immunity from all error in doctrine so long as the world endures Namely for instance these My spirit which is upon thee and my words which I have put into thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever Esa 59.21 Again The spirit of truth shall abide with you for ever therefore he spake not to the Apostles but the Church Ioh. 16.3 and guide you into all truth Ioh. 14.16 Now all truth excludes any one least error If he say yea and should which is impossible bring a Text in expresse words against some doctrine or avowed practice of hers I would ask him if those vvords were to be understood in their proper literal grammatical or ordinary Ecclesiastical sense If he say yea afore I admitted him for an Interpreter I vvould ask him for his token vvithout vvhich not our Lord Christ himself vvould desire any one to submit to his Interpretation of it against the Synagogue Ioh. 5.31 15.24 And if which is also impossible he should shew it I mean not a sign Deut. 13.1 Mat. 24.24 but a true miracle Psal 136. 4. Ioh. 3.2 Ioh. 9.31 I would answer him that from thenceforward I would neither believe her nor it Not her because teaching contrary to that which she told me was the word of God Not it because teaching contrary to her who it told me was the ground of truth and her preaching the word of God Weigh then vvell as I said with your self dear Christian Brother what reason you have to make it your guide Nay what an absurd senseless thing it will be in you after this admonition and demonstration to you to leave the fountain of living water for a broken cistern the ground of truth for a quick-sand of errour I mean the Church for the Scripture not in its due nature or use God forbid any such thing in the mouth or thought of a Christian but in its abuse as interpreted to you by your self a man not onely subject to all kinde of error but false principled or by Ministers or Synods such as yours as subject to error and false principled as your self to leave the Teacher unto which our B. Saviour said Do you teach the Gospel to every creature and of which he said to you and me and every creature He that believes her or her teaching and is baptized shall be saved that not believes her or her teaching shall be damned Mar. 16.16 for a book of which he never spake syllable unto Christians or in order to teaching his Law nay of which it appears not that as Pastor of his Church or according to his humane nature he ever intended or so much as foresaw the writing of one tittle of it and of which he to whom he committed for ever after the feeding of his flock Ioh. 21.15 speaking unto Christians purposely of some part of the New Testament then written and by that occasion of the Scripture in general as in the
THE ONLY VVAY TO Rest of Soule IN RELIGION HERE IN HEAVEN HEREAFTER SHEWED Plainly and succinctly by pure SCRIPTURE IN THREE TREATISES DEMONSTRATING 1. That the Church was left by Christ as the means to teach us his Gospel 2. Which is she that was left in that office 3. What it is she teacheth for Gospel By L. L. Bach of Div. Licensed by the University of Oxford to preach throughout England and late Rector of L. in the County of S. now a Catholike 1 Tim. 3.15 The Church is the pillar and ground of the truth Printed for the Author 1657. ADVERTISEMENTS Of the Author to the Reader I Suppose you to be a pious and sober-minded Protestant having a love to the truth not much further learned than the English Bible regarding it as Gods word and no authority but it s in matters of religion 2. You are not to think we use this way of proving our grounds by Scripture either as necessary or as wanting other for we are able to prove them independently of it and praecedently to it to any rational man by the same means as Moses Exod. 4.1 and the other Prophets 1 Kin◠17.24 did theirs afore any word of the Old and Christ Iohn 5.35 and his Apostles 2 Cor. 12.12 theirs afore any word of the New Testament was written to wit Miracles such as no other doth Ioh. 15.24 joyn'd with eminent Sanctity as shal be shewn in next Treatise but onely because in it you think to have eternall life Ioh. 5.39 3. Out of my great desire of brevity I have often omitted to quote the texts at large And therefore I could wish you would take the paines to read them in your Bible for there is not one of them put for shew onely as is too much used on your side but is pertinent to confirm or illustrate what it is quoted for 4. Out of the same desire I have many times omitted divers proofes on our side and sometimes some on yours If therefore you misse any doe not think it was either of craft or for any dread of it for I hope by that time you have read it over you will not say I have pleaded your cause partially but either because it escaped me or was contemned by me or I thought the answer given to some other would serve it 5. Above all things I am to beseech your charity afore you censure our opinion or drift of the book as tending to derogate from the honour office or authority of H. Scripture you will read over the 5th § in the Praeface And if any expression used afterward in the book seem to have any sense varying from what is there set down not to understand it in any such sense THE PRAEFACE To the first Treatise Stating the quaestion explicating the tearmes c. § 1. Grounds agreed upon leading to the Quaestion 1 Ground WIthout faith it is not possible to please God Heb. 11.6 and without holines no man shall see him Heb. 12.14 2. Ground 2. What faith and holinesse it is as he requires and will accept from his creature to this pleasing and seeing of him cannot enter into the heart of man yea or Angel by any light possible in nature but it is necessary he reveale it to us by his holy Spirt 1 Cor. 2.9 3. Ground This revelation he makes not immediately to every one but to some one person or company at first and so makes use of that one divinely authorised and assisted by him to that end as his instrument to teach it to others in an ordinary way by word of mouth or writing because this way is sufficient the other miraculous which therefore he useth not without some necessity See examples hereof if you please Gen. 18.19 Exod. 18.16 S. Mat. 28.20 Act. 9.6 10.6 What is meant by teaching By teaching I meane instructing in religion in such manner as the Scholar may and untill he doe without it be his own fault understand it aright and perfectly so far as is needfull to his Soules health And when it is spoken of as the act of a reasonable creature I mean by it instructing as afore by word of mouth in way of publike office And it includes divers acts as principal and most necessary The first is to give the first instruction called by a proper name Catechising The other which is to give the perfecting instruction hath two acts 1. In quality of a Judge to decide all emerging controversies 2. In quality of a Guide or Councellor to direct in and resolve all cases of conscience And all the same I understand by preaching When I say by word of mouth or writing I mean either of that first or of others from or under him in the same manner divinely authorized and assisted for else no man may much lesse can be obliged to believe it by divine faith no more then they could the teaching of the first What is meant by divinely authorised Divinely authorised includes three properties 1. free from all error in its teaching 2. obliging all creatures under penalty of aeternal torments to believe and obey it 3. securing all that doe of an aeternall recompence 4. Ground In this immediate way in sundry manners and at sundry times he spake of old to the Fathers by the Prophets Adam Abraham Moses c. Heb. 1.1 Some of whom by him moved 2 Pet. 1.20 committed their revelations unto writing now called the Old Testament 5 Ground The rule delivered by these his servants Heb. 3.5 being when at best but imperfect Heb. 7.19 and for the greatest part of it but temporary Gal. 3.19 at length himself in the visible person of Iesus Christ vouchsafing to become a Teacher of it he as became him the Lord taught it perfectly and as it was to endure to worlds end Whence he is styled our one Master Mat. 23.8 the author and finisher of our faith Heb. 12.2 What is meant by Religion and the Gospel And this forme doctrine law or rule of faith and holinesse thus by God Almighty revealed is called by a proper name Religion and as by Iesus Christ revealed or promulgated is called the Christian Religion or in Scripture-phrase the Gospel Mar. 16.15 6 Ground Tbis Gospell he taught to his Apostles and so left them as the first and temporary meanes to teach it to others Consequently at their death all teaching of it by or from him immediate ceased at least regularly speaking Whence as one reason at least those dayes of his and their teaching in the flesh are called the last dayes Esa 2.2 Heb. 1.1 the fulnesse of time Gal. 4.4 and the ends of the world 1. Cor. 10.11 And so he that will know any thing touching it must goe to the Gospel by them taught and left as the fountaine of all both saveing truth and discipline of manners so our late H. Councel of Trent calls it Sess 4. to all succeeding generations 7 Ground They in their persons being to die
soon after him he left or at least designed they should leave something to remaine as the ordinary or perpetual means to teach it to others What is meant by the means Where by the means of teaching it I mean not any sort of meanes humanely authorized onely or fallible in its teaching or instrumentall only to some other creature or profitable only or necessary in some respects onely or sufficient to teach some part of it onely or to some creatures onely but the proper principall necessary and sufficient to teach every creature every particular of it and divinely authorized and assisted to that end and so deserving to be stiled in absolute and simple sense the Angel of the Lord or interpreter of his will to humane creatures the guide of mankind in the way to heaven the light of the world the Pillar or ground of the truth the Judge of the Christian Law the Chaire of Christ the Schoole of the Gospell the steward depositary or dispenser of the mysteries of faith the store-house or treasury of divine knowledge wisedome or truth the power or powerfull instrument of God unto salvation of all that believe or use it and its voice doctrine or teaching the word law oracles doctrine or Gospell of God Christ truth grace life or salvation c. the faith the truth the seed of grace the faithful word the sword of the spirit the forme of sound words or doctrine the depositum or treasure of heavenly truth left by Christ or his Apostles the whole revealed will or counsell of God the guide of faith the rule of religion c. Or of which it is or may be said it shall teach you religion if there arise a matter too hard for thee thou shalt goe to it to enquire ask or seek the Law of God at it or its mouth in controversie it shall stand in judgement it shall preserve knowledge it shall shew thee what thou oughtest to doe follow it make it your rule or guide prove all things by it by it we know the spirit of truth and spirit of error it is able to make you wise to salvation or to save your soules or to shew you the way to eternal life he that believes or followes it shall be saved or unto which God Almighty ever said Teach people or teach the Gospell To whatsoever creature these attributes offices properties phrases speeches or any one of them or any other to the same sense is rightfully given or appertaines that 's the meanes I speak of 8. Ground This meanes what ever it be is somewhere or other in H. Scripture set forth and named to us in most plain and expresse manner as being the fundamental of all fundamentals as to us within the Christian religion without which first known and certaine it is in vain for any man to talk of religion or to presume to judge of what is true or false pious or superstitious necessary or not necessary in any matter pertaining to it and which when it is known and certaine no more remaines for any man to doe that desires to know what he is to believe doe or avoid to obteining eternall salvation but only to find it out and hear believe and practice what it teaches comands or forbids as Gospell §. 2. The Question to he handled proposed Hither to you and we agree in our principles as rational men and Christians But then the Question is What is that means And it lies betwixt two The Church and H. Scripture For either he left them in quality of a Society or Community such as our Lawyers call a body corporate to have a permanency by succession and then the Church will be it or they were to leave some writing to teach in their stead or office at their death and then the Scripture will be it or he left them in quality of a Society as to some part of the office and they were to leave the Scripture in the other part and then both will be it By the Church then throughout this treatise What is meant by the Church I meane nothing els but a company or some company of men For this is description sufficient for the intent of this Treatise which is onely to distinguish her from the Scripture and the persons of the Apostles Nor do I mean by her the whole society so called nor any part of her as to any effect of justifying grace or salvation but properly and immediately that part by which she teacheth as I speak by my mouth and a University teaches by her Professors In which sense our B. Saviour used the name when he said Tell the Church Mat. 18.17 and S. Paul the Church is the pillar of truth 1 Tim. 3.15 And so in fine the quaestion is Whether the Church or the Scripture or both be the meanes left by Christ or his order for teaching his Gospell §. 3. The importance of it And it is as appeares sufficiently by what is said already the most transcendently-fundamental one possible to be within the Christian religion seeing by this meanes it is to be taught and all questions in it to be resolved And consequently it is of most transcendent importance what wee hold in it as you will quickly see if you but reflect on the consequences of it For 1. If H. Scripture be it 1. All reading of other books consulting Ministers or Divines going to Church to hear their Catechising or Sermons conferring or arguing one with another or any other acts or meanes whatsoever to this end to instruct or direct our selves in religion will be vain and superfluous yea improper but every one is to goe to the Bible and it alone and by it self alone For supposing it left in this office there will be no denying but it is as plain and intelligible by it self alone to any child or other novice having the use of reason as to the learnedst Divine in the world 2. No creature using it for his guide can offend God by any heresie superstition or prophanesse unlesse he believe or practice contrary to what it teacheth him according to his understanding of it 3. It will be out of the power of the Church to hinder or restraine any creature from reading and using it at his pleasure in any language 2. On the other side if the Church be it 1. all reading of Scripture by the people unto this end will be vain and superfluous yea improper but every one is to seek the Gospel at her mouth and hers onely 2. It will be in the power of the Church to permit or restrain the use of the Bible unto the people more or lesse thereafter as she in her prudence all things considered and not some only and in her charity to their souls shall judge it most expedient for them to their salvation 3. No man though baptized in Christs faith though believing never so humbly and firmly and practising never so fervently all that he finds in Scripture may
Mount Sinai So she Mother of us Christians vvas called Mount Zion Gal. 4.26 And this must of necessity be granted to the truth of this and divers other places which all agree in this that the Church and publique preaching of the Gospel by her was to begin on that Mount Psa 2.6 48. per totum 110.3 c. So this for certain is one of those Prophecies of which our Saviour said Thus it is written and thus it behoves that the Gospel be preached in all Nations beginning at Ierusalem Lu. 24.43 The sense of the place thus opened it yeelds four points most plainly and fully to my purpose viz. 1. That the Church was to be the ordinary meanes for teaching mankind the Gospell They shall say Come let us go up to the house of God and he in or by that house will teach us his wayes c. 2. That her teaching was to be Gods teaching he to be the principall teacher though invisible she but his mouth He shall teach us According to what is elswhere assured to all her children or scholars they shall be al taught of God Esa 54.13 3. That the word by her taught is heere called 1. Gods word and Law therefore it of divine authority and she a teacher divinely authorised 2. In simple sense the Law and the word of the Lord 4. That she is to continue in all the same office and authority of teaching wherein she began at Mount Zyon untill she have taught the Gospel to all nations which will not be till neare the worlds end Mat. 24.14 Second proof Esay 59.20 Again Esay The Redeemer shal come to Zion And this is my covenant with them of Zion saith the Lord My Spirit which is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever Not possible to be understood of any person or company but the Church Consequently assuring unto Gods Elect under the Gospel that he will teach them unto the worlds end all the same word of his by the mouth of the same Church with all the same divine authority and assistance as he did the primitive Saints at Mount Zion on Whitsonday when he first put his Spirit upon her and his words into her mouth Act. 2.5 Third Proofe Ezek. 44.23 To the same effect Ezekiel Sadoc and his sons shall teach my people c. in controversie they shall stand in judgement c. This Sadoc was he upon whom the High-Priesthood was transferred from Eleazars line 1 Kin. 2.27 And so here the typical name of the Apostles upon whom it was transferred from Aarons line Consequently this place assures unto Gods people under the Gospel a race of faithful Pastors therefore teaching no errors in the office of teaching Religion unto the worlds end according to that I will raise me up a faithfull Priest and will build him a sure house and he shall walk afore my Christ for ever 1 Sam. 2.35 Fourth Proofe Mal. 2.4 Most plainly Malachy Ye shall know by the wonderfull performance of it that I have sent this Commandement unto you that my Covenant of teaching might be with Levi the Apostles and their Successors The Law of truth was in his mouth the Priests lips should it is their office preserve knowledge and they shall seek the Law at his mouth for he is the Angel or as yours prophanely the Messenger of the Lord of Hoasts See more if you please to the same purpose Psa 19.1 unto v. 7. compared with Rom 10.18 and Mat. 5.14 and Psalm 68.11 16 18. compared with Eph. 4.11 Esa 30.20 and 60.11 and 62.6 Ier. 3.14 and 33.15 to the end and 50.5 Ezek 37.21 all assuring unto the Church a race of Teachers divinely authorized unto worlds end Nor can you say these places meant the Church as preaching Scripture or her doctrine as consonant to it when you cannot shew that any of the Prophets foresaw that any one tittle of the Gospel was ever to be written CHAP III. Proving it from the Gospels ACcording to the exigence of these types and Prophecies as our Saviour himself saith S. Lu. 24.44 he instituted the office of teaching the Gospel in his Church as is manifest First Proofe S. Mat. 5.14 First from that attribute given by him to his Apostles as Pastors and consequently to his Pastors for the time being for ever Ye are the light of the world as much as to say the Sun or fountain of spiritual light unto mankind which therefore if it should once lose its light by teaching any error in faith the whole world must necessarily remain in darknesse and oh how great darknesse Mat. 6.23 ever after For wherewith should the Sun be enlightened Second Proofe S. Mat. 7.24 13.19 24 14. 26.13 S. Lu. 8.11 11.28 S. Ioh. 8.47 10.16 12.47 Secondly from those titles ordinarily given by him to his word as preached calling it in simple sense the word his word his voice the word of God the Gospel the seed of all grace in the soul whereof faith the first and constantly naming preaching as the ordinary means on his part of teaching it and hearing on the peoples part of coming to the knowledge of it Nor can you say by these titles he meant the Scripture preached or the Churches doctrine as consonant to Scripture when you cannot find he ever intended or as man foresaw that any one tittle of his Gospel should ever be written Third Proofe S. Mat. 18.17 Thirdly from that rule of his to all his for ever Tell the Church c. plainly implying he meant to leave her as the ordinary Supreame Iudge in all causes pertaining to his Court and a Judge divinely authorized for else none could be bound absolutely to hear her under pain of eternal damnation which is here implicitely threatened to such as neglect to hear her for no lesse is due to heathen and he would not have such refractory persons worse to us then they are to himselfe nay he saith it shall be more tolerable in the day of Iudgement for Heathen then for them S. Mat. 10.14 Fourth Proofe S. Mat. 28.19 Mar. 16.15 Fourthly most plainly and fully from the Charter it self for the founding of this office recorded by two of the Evangelists Iesus said to them his Apostles Goe ye into all the world teach all Nations preach the Gospel to every creature baptizing them teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you He that believes you or your teaching or the Gospell by you taught and is baptised shall be saved but he that beleeves not shall be damned In which words I am sure your self will not say but he left them as the first and temporary meanes of teaching his Gospell and baptizing And if for the first for the ordinary or perpetuall by vertue of those incorporating
to the Church in publishing and dispersing her decrees and to their doctrine that it was by her approved 16.4 4. As they went through the Churches they delivered them the decrees of the Councell for to keep Act. 16.4 which was more then we finde they did any book of Scripture 5. When the good Christians heard what the Councell had decreed they rejoyced for the consolation of being certain now what was true doctrine in that point 15.31 6. And thus were the Churches established in the saith 16.5 8 Proofe Act. 20.20 27 32. 1. The Apostles by word of mouth committed unto the Church all things needfull nay but profitable only for them to know for the full discharge of their office unto salvation of themselves and their flock And so made her the depositary of what Christ had committed to them 2. That which they thus committed by word of mouth to the Church was in simple sense the word of grace nay expressely the whole counsell of God 3. This forme of doctrine thus taught by tradition was left and expressely recommended by the Apostles unto rhe Church for her sufficient rule and guide And now brethren I commend you to the word of Gods grace which is able to establish you c. v. 32. 4. And this at their death or as good as their death when they were never like to see one anothers faces more in this world I know that after my departure c. 5. So at their deaths they left the Church to continue for ever in all the same office and authority for feeding and ruling the flock of Christ wherein they then were or had been at any time afore and namely afore the writing of the New Testament Take heed to your selves and to the flock over the which the H. Ghost hath made you Bishops or as yours prophanely overseers to feed the Church c. CHAP. V. Proving it from the Epistles TO the practice and proceedings of the Apostles in their History accord the rules instructions exhortations and admonitions in their Epistles all setting forth and recommending unto us the Church for our guide and her teaching for our rule in such manner as if there were no such book as Scripture nor to be To name a few of the principal for instance 1 Proofe Rom. 1.1 Gal. 6.6 Eph. 1.13 Heb. 5.12 Iude 3.2 Io. 9. 1. It is their ordinary language to call the Churche's doctrine the word doctrine oracles Gospell c. of God Christ life salvation c. the faith the truth c. in simple sense 2. And not that preached by the Apostles only but by the Pastors among whom it was by accident if any were an Apostle Rom. 10.8 17. Heb. 13.7 Iam. 1.21 3. Nay that which was preached by Pastors of whom the Apostles none for certaine Col. 1.5 3.16 Nor can you say it was so called because it was the Scripture preached or in regard of its consonancy to it For 1. The Old Testament could give neither the matter nor rule for Evangelicall doctrine and very little of the New was written when S. Paul called it so in the first Epistle by him written 1 Th. 2.13 and S. Peter in the first that was written 1 Pet. 1.12 25. 2.2 2. Many Evangelicall doctrines then revealed were not written then to wit those mentioned in S. Iohn's Gospells and Epistles more then are in the other namely the institution of the Sacrament of Priestly absolution Ioh. 20.21 Christ's committing his flock to S. Peter Ioh. 21.15 3. The Epistles themselves expressly require all Traditions to be held unwritten as well as written and not those onely taught by the Apostles but by their Pastors Timothy Silvanus c. among whom it was by accident that S. Paul was one Hold the traditions which you have been taught whether by word or our Epistle 2 Thess 2.15 2. Proof Ro. 1.16 12.6 Eph. 6.16 1 Tim. 3.9 6.20 2 Tim. 1.13 2.2 Tit. 1.9 Iam. 1.21 Iude 23. The Churches teaching or doctrine by her taught is called also in simple sense the power i.e. powerful instrument of God unto salvation of all that believe it the rule or as you call it proportion of faith the sword of the Spirit the mysterie of faith the good thing depositum or treasure of heavenly truth the form of sound words or doctrine committed by the Apostles to the Church the faith once delivered to the Saints the faithful word able to save the souls of all that follow it 3. Proof Rom. 10.14 17. The Apostle expressely averrs he knows no means wherby men may come to faith but the word preached and thereupon concludes absolutely Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God As much as to say the ordinary means of faith is hearing the word preached 4. Proof Rom. 12.6 1 Tim. 1.3 3.9 2 Tim. 1.13 3.14 Tit. 1.7 9. The rule of teaching to the Pastors was the doctrine they had received And it was the rule even to Prophets to If any man prophecy according to the analogie rule or as you render it proportion of faith Rom. 12.6 that is the known doctrine of the Church For that it could not mean the Scripture see the reasons given sup pag. 59. 5. Proof Ro. 16.17 2 Th. 3.6 Heb. 13.7 17. Iud. 3.1 Ioh. 2.24 4.2 6. 2 Ioh. 6 9. The rule of belief and holy practice to the people was the doctrine wherein they had been Catechised called by S. Iohn the unction of the H. Ghost 1 Ioh. 2.20 and generally the doctrine or institutes of the Church Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error He that knows God hears us he that is not of God heareth not us 1 Ioh. 4.6 This doctrine of our Catechisme is given unto all Christians supposed catechised by a lawfull Pastor as the Galatians were as a rule of that supream authority and infallible certainty as by it we are to try the spirits of Prophets 1 Thes 5.21 yea even of Apostles or heavenly Angels Gal. 1.8 if possible for them to teach repugnant to it And if a rule whereby to judge of the Apostles preaching of their writing also it being as impossible for them to write as to preach repugnantly to it and their writing being of no greater authority then their preaching Consequently this text Gal. 1.8 which your men use to urge against Traditions gives so great authority to them as it implicitely warnes us on perill of our soul not to beleive or receive any text of H. Scripture it self in any sense repugnant if possible for it to have any as it is not to the doctrine of our Catechisme suppose it given by a lawfull Pastor Nor can you say that this subsists not with what we teach that any particular Pastor yea Pope and all as such may teach false doctrine for we will not say that any lawfull Pastor can doe it which who is we shall see in next Treatise 6 Proofe 1 Cor. 4.1
2 Cor. 5.20 Phil. 2.25 Tit. 1.7 The Pastors in common among whom it was by accident if any one were an Apostle are styled in simple sense the ministers of Christ his embassadors the stewards depositaries and dispensers of the mysteries of God whereof those of faith the first 7 Proofe Gal. 2.1 So supreame at that time was and consequently to worlds end was to be for els wherefore read we the Scriptures now the authority of the Church as God Almighty seeing how S Pauls teaching was with less fruit because opposed by other Teachers who called themselves Apostles of Christ 2 Cor. 11.13 yea pretended to teach the doctrine of the Church Act. 15.1 willed him by revelation to go up to the chief Pastors residing then by accident at Ierusalem to confer his doctrine with them and procure their approbation to it Nay S. Iohn himself though an Apostle in ordinary for the greater credit and fruit of his Gospel as to the people in regard of the great opposition was like to be made against it by the hereticks that denied Christs Divinitie and were verie malapert against him for asserting it 3 Ioh. 9. was moved by the H. Ghost to procure and insert in the close of it the testimonie of some Pastors we know that his testimony is true Ioh. 21.24 A singular instance to shew in what high esteem and authority the testimonie of the Church even to the truth of H. Scripture it self as to us and much more to the sense of it then was and was left by the Apostles at their death for ever to be amongst all good Christians 8. Proof Eph. 4.11 The Apostle delivers our tenet in almost express words plainly and fully in sense VVhen Christ ascended he gave some Apostles c. for the perfecting of the Saints c. that is as the ordinary means to that end until we all come in unity of faith which will not be till the second coming of Christ c. that we henceforth be no more as children tossed to and fro c. which end is not possibly attainable if those Pastors may be supposed liable to teach an errout in faith 9. Proof 1 Tim. 3.15 The Church is called in simple sense 1. The House of God meaning without doubt that School house for teaching Religion of which Esay foretold Esay 2.2 2. The pillar of truth not of the written truth only but of the truth absolutely that is of all truth revealed And not a pillar upon which Scripture is promulged or notified only to the people as Princes edicts upon some post but such a pillar as is also the foundation to the whole frame of truth Therefore he saith in the next word 3. The ground of the truth Which in simple sense absolutely is the incommunicable attribute of God Almighty the first truth in sense wherein it may be given to any created meanes that is as to us or our attaining to the knowledge or certainty of truth is here given to the Church And so it comprises our Tenet in the fullest highest sense possible and particularly the infallibility of the Church in her teaching For 1. If she the ground of all truth then of this there was a Iesus of Nazareth of this there is a Scripture of this there is a H. Ghost nay of this there is a God 2. If these and other revealed points be infallible truths she the ground of them must be infallible So as if possible for her ever once to totter in the truth of her testimony touching any one point by either affirming something to be Gospell which is not or denying something to be which is the whole frame of the truth and certainty of Christian Religion as to us must necessarily totter with it as any building must whose foundation does and as we could not believe the Scripture in any thing if we found it false in any one thing Nor can you evade this place by saying he gives this attribute here to a particular Church namely that of Ephesus in which Timothy was to behave himself which we will not say was infallible For that Church being then a part of the Catholick though it were not infallible yet he being immediately Pastor of it was mediately a Pastor of the Catholick whose attribute that was As he that came into any gate lane or house of Ierusalem came into the Holy City Mat. 27.53 though that gate lane or house were not so 10. Proof 2 Tim. 1.13 2.2 Tit. 1.9 1 Pet. 1.12 The means prescribed and named by the Apostle for preserving to worlds end the knowledge or doctrine of the Gospel was Tradition of the Pastors from hand to hand The things thou hast heard of me commit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also A means subject indeed to corruption in tract of time if the depositaries be considered as men but not if as men assisted to the pure and uncorrupt keeping of it by the H. Ghost to that end sent down from heaven upon them Act. 2.3 with such admirable graces as even the Angels desire and are delighted to behold 11. Proof Apoc 2.1 The Pastor of a particular Church is called the Angel of it Consequently by the rule of proportion the whole company of them is the Angel of the Church universal that is the ordinary means under God to illuminate and guide them and interpret Gods will to them in spiritual things 12. Proof Apoc. 21.23 Finally the teaching of the New Ierusalem which in the first sense means without doubt the Catholick Militant Church of Christ in opposition to the Synagogue the old earthly Ierusalem is called the light in which shall walk the nations of them that are saved Acts 2.47 13.48 whose light is not the Sun or Moon any created corruptible means but God himself and the Lamb Mat. 28.20 so as there shall never be any night of error in that City because its Sun shall never set c. Esa 60.20 You see how expresly how abundantly H. Scripture from first to last sets forth our principle It had been easie to have quoted ten times more texts to the same purpose but to whom this is not enough nothing would Now let 's see what you have to object against it THE SECOND PART Defending the Catholick Tenet CHAP. I. Solving Objections against the Churche's authority THe true reason wherefore your Ministers deny unto H. Church this office of teaching Religion is because they are conscious both of their having no title to the church and of being sure to be condemned if they should submit to any judge but a mute one And yet under colour of interpreting Scripture by it self they finde a way to exercise all the same office themselves as they deny to her and with much greater arrogance The pretended reason is because forsooth she is liable to error in her teaching except when she teaches Scripture and therefore is limitted to it as to a bar-rule beside or beyond which
3. And how many how tempting occasions had he to have mentioned the Scripture if to be as you say at least in some kinde or other If not as the means of reaching or the matter to be taught or the rule or condition of it yet as a part of the means matter or rule at least as a Record helpful to the office namely when giving the Commission and Instructions to his Church for the teaching of his Gospel when naming the matter to be taught and the means by which he intended for ever to guide her into all truth Ioh. 14.16 16.13 when charging all creatures absolutely to believe and obey her teaching denouncing hell to them that should not assuring heaven to them that thould Mat. 16.16 4. And how easilie how soon had a word been spoken of it in some one or other of these occasions For example to have said write the Gospel or Teach Scripture or it shall guide you into truth or he that believes you or the Church teaching out of or according to it c. Nor can you say he did or might mean that condition though he named it not For besides that this is properlie that adding to and taking from Gods word written which S. Iohn denounces that heavy curse to Apoc. 22.18 by this no greater authoritie is given to the Church that City or House of God of which such glorious things are spoken in Scripture then must be given to any Tinker Woman Childe Heretick nay to the verie Devil himself for we ought to believe him teaching according to Scripture And certainlie any man considering the multiplicitie of Sects in these parts of Christendom and all grounding themselves in Scripture when he the author and finisher of our faith Heb. 12.2 never so much as mentioned it in order to Christians or his Law may wel ascribe it to his singular wisdom and goodness that he waved all mention of it for what would have been had he ever referrd us to it in any kinde whatsoever Surely had he ever mentioned it in any of those kindes abovenamed and the New Testament in the form wherein it is and the people judges of the sense of it he had left his Church in a more defective and miserable condition then ever any Prince or Law-giver left Common-wealth §. 3. Of the Acts. No lesse strange is the silence of the Historie of the Primitive Church 1. It was written purposely for a record of what the Apostles did in order to the good of religion most importing posterity to be recorded Among which certainly nothing can import us more then what they did in planting settling and declaring the means for teaching it after their decease throughout all future ages 2. Nor could any thing more or more early deserve and require their industry and sollicitude then the providing and settling the means considering among other reasons their own mortality It cannot be therefore but if a VVriting or Book were to be it one of their first cares and diligences would have been imployed in procuring it to be written the old Scripture being improper to this purpose declaring and recommending it for such to Pastors and people causing copies of it to be transcribed and dispersed over the world securing some original of it in Ierusalem Antioch Rome or other safest City translating it into vulgar Languages for the use of the common people delivering it to Presbyters at their Ordination as the Matter and Rule of their teaching finally causing record to be made of what they did in it either within the book it self or in the history of their Acts nothing possibly to be written of them being of the thousand part of that concernment for the knowledge of future ages as this 3. If they neglected or deferred the doing any thing in it for some years at first whiles together in health at liberty and the Teachers all of one minde yet afterward when they saw S. Iames beheaded and S. Peter without a miraculous rescue like to have been so too Acts 22.1 when they saw Sects springing up apace so as there was need of holding a Council to decide the controversie Act. 15.2 when that was like to be the last time of their ever meeting together in the world when admonished by that example how seasonable and necessary it then was for them to settle and declare the judge and guide of faith if to be any other then the Church how could they delay any longer to do something in it or if they did the Historian not thinking it worth the writing 4. He could note the great zeal and pains of Peter and Paul in visiting the Churches confirming them leaving among them the decrees of the Church to keep ordaining Pastors to feed and guide them instructing those Pastors for the discharge of their office after their death recommending and naming to them the proper and sufficient means to that end Acts 8.32 14.21 23. 15.36 16.4 20 20 28.32 what occasions were these for him to have said something of what they did in writing Scripture or distributing it to the Churches for to keep or recommending it to the Pastors for to teach especially when they came so neer to it as to recommend them the word of God's grace Acts 20.32 5. And yet afore the finishing of this History there were written beside S. Luke's own two of the Gospels S. Mathew's and S. Mark 's most of S. Paul's Epistles and some of them written in that very City and at that very time when he was with S. Paul Col. 4.14 2 Tim. 4.11 and as is likely writing this History yet he takes no notice at all of them §. 4. Of the Epistles Most strange of all is the Apostles own silence in their Epistles 1. They were vvritten some to the Pastors some to the people to give them the best advices and instructions they could either for them in present or to be left upon record for all Pastors and people in future ages Among which none could be more important then to declare and recommend to them the Guide and Rule of Religion after their own decease 2. And how frequent how proper occasions had they to have named the Scripture for it if it were to be Namely when advising the Pastors to teach the Word naming the matter they were to teach the rule they vvere to teach by and coming so neer the Scripture as to cal it the word of truth c. 1 Tim. 1.3 2 Tim. 1.13 2.15 4. 2. Tit. 2.1 c. when describing and enumerating the qualifications of the Teachers 1 Tim. 2.2 Tit. 1.7 what was to be committed to them in their Ordination to teach 2 Tim. 2.2 when monishing the people touching false Teachers and giving the marks whereby to know them Rom. 16.17 2 Thess 3.6 1 Ioh. 4.2.6 when charging them absolutely to obey their Pastors follow their faith receive their teaching as God's word with the meekness of new born babes
H. Ghost after his Ascension Ioh. 16.12 2. It contains not every particular of the form of Doctrine VVorship c. taught and settled in the Primitive Church by the Apostles Act. 2.42 and committed by them viva voce to the Pastors to teach and observe and commit in like manner viva voce to others Acts 20.20 27. 2 Tim. 1.13 2.2 c. If you say it does it will lye upon you to shew where 1. By making a Catalogue of all the particulars 2. Proving it to be a perfect one 3. Naming where every of them is contain'd I say it will lie upon you because presumption of reason is against it for two reasons chiefly 1. Because in those places where it was most proper to have named the particulars if it had been intended none are named except one or two of the chief but all wrapped up in generals Teach the Gospel Mar. 16.15 Teach all things I have commanded you Mat. 28.20 They continved in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayer Act. 2.42 Hold the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me c. 2 Tim. 1.13 Preach the word c. 2 Tim. 4.2 2. Because in some places they warn the people to whom they wrote to hold fast all they had taught them whether by word or writing 2 Thess 2.15 And refer the ordering of some things pertaining to the administration of discipline until their coming of which no more is said afterward 1 Cor. 11.24 Nay expressely left power with the Church to set in order the things that were wanting Tit. 1.5 Nay S. Iohn who wrote last and perhaps in the last piece he wrote had many things to write which he reserved to word of mouth 2 Ioh. 12. 3. It contains not those writings that are lost named sup c. 5. arg 9. § 4 5. 4. To put it beyond all gain-saying it contains not any express rule for resolving these questions viz. 1. What a Sacrament is 2. How many Sacraments Christ ordained in his Church 3. What water and action is necessary and sufficient to the matter what person to the Minister and what words to the form of Baptism 4. Whether baptizing Infants be pious or necessary or available to their salvation 5. What and which is the Church 6. Who is a lawful Pastor 7. What is meant by these names Presbyter Bishop Deacon 8. Whether anointing the sick with oyl Iam. 5.14 be an obsolete Law 9. Whether abstaining from things strangled and from blood Acts 15.19 be an obsolete Law 10. Whether that speech This is my body were proper or figurative 11. What proving 1 Cor. 11.28 is necessary and sufficient to worthy receiving 12. VVhat is the sin against the H. Ghost and whether it may be repented of and if so whether remissible or not to the penitent 13. VVhat is justifying faith 14. What is justification 15. In case of contest or doubt who are to be judged the higher powers 16. Whether the Law of the Sabboth and namely that part of it as concerns rest from servile work was by Christ abrogated or transferred onely to another day which soever it were whether in whole or in part onely and if the later in what part at most and least It were easie to name a thousand more of the like sort and the least of them importing mankinde to salvation But these are enough for instance Conclusion of the First Treatise ANd now dear Reader think sadly with your self what reason you have any longer to believe as now you do that the Scripture was left for your Guide and Rule 1. Is it because you have been ever taught so That is no reason unless your Teachers have been sent Rom. 10.14 which there is not one of them Independents Presbyterians or Prelatical hath any more authority to teach you then you to teach them as will be demonstrated in the next Treatise 2. Is it because you have read or heard so much in Scripture it self you cannot but see unless you shut your eyes it saith no such thing but the direct contrary in a hundred places 3 Is it because it speaks touching it self very great things you will not find any thing said of it but the same or something more excellent is said of the Church or her teaching For instance 1. Is it called the VVord Law Doctrine Oracles or Gospel c. of God Christ Salvation c. Her teaching is more to wit 1. The word of God and all other these attributes in simple sense whereas it is onely the written Word Law c. and so her doctrine includes the other as a part of it For a-among other grounds of Religion taught us in our catechising that is one There is a Book given by inspiration of God this is it c. And for that reason alone because she teacheth it we believe it at first And for that reason alone supremely or finally we believe it ever after for else she were not the ground of truth 2. The word of God in proper sense because at this present spoken by her as his mouth or Angel unto our ears Mal. 2.7 Luk. 1.70 and spoken to me and you and every creature in several or in his particular person Mar. 16.16 by an instrument indued with sense and reason and thereby able to explicate both her terms and doctrine and by applying her instruction and direction to every one according to his capacity need state c. to set and guide him in such a plain high-way as the way faring men though fools or children of five years old shall not erre therein Isa 35.8 And so hers is that word elsewhere also promised by Esay to the elect under the Gospel The people shall dwell in Zion c. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity c. yet shall not thy Teachers be removed into a corner any more as you say the Church may be sometime invisible to the eye of sense but thine eyes shall see thy Teachers and thine ears shall hear from their lips a word behind thee because at first by nature and afterward by actual sin we are all going in a wrong path toward hell with our backs toward God Almighty and his holy habitation and so he is fain to follow after us with his good inspirations saying This is the way walk in it or that you are to walk in Esa 30.19 A word therefore far more useful and beneficial to us then the other seeing there are multitudes of people yea Nations in the world who cannot read and of them that can none able to understand Scripture without some other interpreter then it self And so it is but a mute word properly speaking without her 2. Is it a light She is the light 3. Was it written for our learning She was given for our Teacher 4. Is it the Book of truth She is the ground of truth 5. Is its teaching of or with divine authority So is hers