a Hill in the most extended Vnity of an Externall Communion which no other Christian Society can equall a Candle on a Candlestick a Perpetuall erected Visible Pillar and Monument of Truth frustra Haereticis circumlatrantibus Where also according to the disparity of seuerall mens capacities I suppose nothing more necessary then that this Euidence receiued eyther from all or only some of these Notes to those who haue not ability to examin others be such as that it out-weigh any arguments mouing him to the contrary and the like Euidence to which is thought sufficient to determin vs in other Elections And then this Church thus being found he may be resolued by it concerning the Sence of other Diuine Reuelations more dubious and generally all other Scrupules in Religion to witt so farr as this Church from time to time seeth a necessity of such Resolution and the Diuine Reuelation therein is to her sufficiently clear only if such person not spending so much of his own judgment will afford instead of it a little more of his Obedience III. CONSEQUENCE 3. The less conuincing the Miracles the more doubtfull the Marks the more obscure the Sence of eyther what is called the Catholick Church or declared by it the less reason hath any Christian to belieue vpon the account of any who call themselues by the name of the Catholick Church All this is true vpon supposition that matters stand as the Doctor would pretend but such supposition being groundless he must giue me leaue to inuert his Consequence and say The more conuincing the Miracles if any credit for these may be giuen to Church-History the more euident the Marks euen now giuen by S. Augustin and modern Catholick Writers the more clear and manifest euen to simple persons who with much difficulty in seuerall places comprehend the Sense of controuerted Scripture is the Catholick Church whose Representatiue are the subordinate Councills and whose Gouernors the seuerall Degrees of the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchy ascending to the Prime See of S. Peter and the more clear also the Points declared by it viz. in these Councills whose Decrees suppose that of Trent if questioned for their Truth are not for their perspicuity and particularly in the Points of Controuersy they assembled to determin between Protestants and Catholicks the more reason hath any Christian to belieue vpon the account of those who call themselues by the Name and challenge the High Priuiledges which no other Separated Socityes of Christians do of the Catholick Church IV. CONSEQUENCE 4. The more absurd any Opinions are and repugnant to the first Principles of Sense and Reason which any Church obtrudes vpon the Faith of men the greater reason men still haue to reject the pretence of Infallibility in that Church as a grand Imposture The Higher any Points of Faith be and the more remote from Sense and naturall Reason or not comprehensiue by them which such Church as is named before and in the highest capacity of it Generall Councils proposeth to the Faith of Christians the more noble exercise they haue of their Faith whilst they haue an abundant certainty also that such Leaders can misguide them in nothing necessary to Saluation And no reason haue they vpon such improbabilities or contradictions to Sense or naturall Reason to suspect or be jealous of the Churches Infallibility as an Imposture which Church they see through what euer obstacles faithfully adheres to the Diuine Oracles how incredible soeuer to Nature and may be thought because it seems not swayed or hindred by these at all to vse more integrity in her judgment and fidelity to the Diuine Reuelations Yet this is not sayd as if the judgment of our Sences appointed by God the Instruments by hearing or reading them of conueying Faith and his Diuine Reuelations to vs affords not a sufficient Naturall Certainty or Infallibility whereon to ground our belief in all those things subject to our Senses wherein the Diuine Power doth not interpose But only 1. That where the Diuine Power worketh any thing Supernaturally that is contrary to our Senses as it may no doubt here we are not to belieue them And this I think none can deny 2. And next That we are to belieue this Diuine Power doth so so often as Certain Diuine Reuelation tells vs so Though by the same senses if tells us so we belieuing our Senses that it tells vs so when we do not belieue the same Senses for the thing which is contrary to what it tells vs The truth of which Diuine Reuelation we are to learn from Gods Church infallibly assisted in necessary Faith For otherwise Lot and his Daughters were not to credit the Diuine Reuelation supposing that Diuine History then written and extant that the seeming Men who came to Sodome were Angells because this was against their Senses Now here would he argue well who because Lots sight was actually deceiued vpon this Supernaturall accident in taking the Angells to be Men as certainly it was from hence would inferr that the Apostles had no sufficiēt Certainty or ground from their seeing our Lord to belieue him risen from the Dead Or that no Belief could euer be certainly grounded vpon our Senses Nor that Christians haue any certain Foundation of their Faith For a Naturall or Morall Certainty though such as is per potentiam Diuinam fallible and errable and is to be belieued to err where euer we haue Diuine Reuelation for it not else I say a Certainty though not such an one as cannot possibly be false but which according to the Laws of Nature and the common manners and experience of men is not false is sufficient on which to ground such a Faith as God requires of vs in respect of that Certainty which can be deriued from humane Sense or Reason and which serues for an Introductiue to the relyance of this our Faith vpon such Reuelation as is belieued by vs Diuine and which if Diuine we know is not possibly fallible In respect of its relying on which Reuelation an infallible Object and not for an Infallible Certainty as to the Subject it is that this our Faith is denominated a Diuine Faith Now this Naturall or Morall Certainty is thought sufficient for the first Rationall Introductiue and security of our Faith not only by the Doctor in his 27. Principle but also by Catholick Diuines in their Discourses of the Prudentiall Motiues V. CONSEQUENCE 5. To disown what is taught by such a Church is not to question the Veracity of God but so firmly to adhere to that in what he hath reuealed in Scriptures that men dare not out of loue to their souls reject what is so taught To disown what is taught by such a Church as we have here represented it will be to desert what God hath reuealed in the Scriptures the true meaning of which Reuelations when controuerted we are to receiue from it And so men ought not
things of great consequence as he says afterwards in our times are grown in number so many and in matter so intricate that few haue time and leasure fewer strength of vnderstanding to examine them Vvhat remaineth for men desirous of satisfaction in things of such consequence but diligently to search out which amongst all the Societies of the world is that blessed Company of Holy Ones that Houshold of Faith that Spouse of Christ and Church of the liuing God vvhich is ihe Pillar and ground of Truth that so he may embrace her Communion follow her Directions and rest in her Iudgment Thus doctor Field who in his last words rest in her Iudgment speaks home enough and discouers the only efficacious way of curing Sects And see also vvhether this doth not confront the Doctors 29. Principle Church-Infallibility there being changed into Church-Auctority and the Principle being applyed to priuate mens Practise And what need is there of Bishops Presbyters or any Ecclesiastical Pastors among Protestants as to the Office of teaching or expounding these Writings if these in all necessaries are clear to all Persons who sincerely endeauour to know the meaning of them I mean exclusiuely to their repairing to these Pastors for the learning of it And doth not the Doctor here to euacuate the infallibility of the Churches Gouernors introduce an infallibility or Inerrabillity of euery particular Christian in all points necessary if such Christians will that is if only he shall sincerely endeauour to know the meaning of them And moreouer of the sincerity of this his endeauour also I suppose the Doctor will allow any one may be certain else how can the mind of a poore illiterate Countrey-man be at rest who can neyther trust to the Faith of his Guides nor the sufficiency of his own industry For surely this sincere is not all possible endeauour such as is learning the Languages perusing Commentators c. But as Mr Chillingworth who anchored his whole Religion vpon it states this Point namely such a measure thereof as humane Prudence and ordinary Discretion their abilities and opportunities and all other things considered shall aduise And thus such a clearness in necessaries must the Scriptures haue as suits with the very lowest capacities Such a Clearnesse I say euen to all Articles of the Athanasian Creed if these be esteemed Necessaries and euen as to the Consubstantiality of the Son with God the Father In which notwithstanding the whole Body of Socinians dares to oppose all Antiquity vpon pretence of cleare Scripture to the contrary But then the Doctor is desired to consider That if euery Christian may become thus Infallible in Necessaries from 1. a clear Rule 2. a due Industry vsed 3. and a certainty that it is so vsed May not the Church-Gouernors still much rather be allowed infallible and so retain still their infallible Guide-ship and the People also the more clear the Rule of Faith is proued to be the more securely be referred to their direction And haue we not all reason to presume that the chief Guides of the Church euen a General Councill of them or if it be but a major part of this Councill t is sufficient in their consults concerning a Point necessary to saluation deliuered in Scripture vse at least so much endeauour for more needs not as a plain Rustick doth to vnderstand the meaning of it and also the like sincerity For what they define for others they define for themselues also and their Saluation is as much concern'd as any other mans is in their mistakes And next Why may not these Gouernors vpon such certainty of a sincere endeauour and clearness of the Rule take vpon them to define these Points and enjoyn an assent to and belief of them to their Subjects especially since it is affirmed that all those from whom they require such Obedience if they please to vse a sincere endeauour may be certain thereof as well as they And are we not here again arriued at Church-Infallibility if not from extraordinary Diuine assistance yet from the clearness of the Rule Only we must suppose such sincere endeauour in the Church as the Doctor allows may be in euery priuat man And thus does not his conditionall Infallibility of particular persons in necessaries the condition being so easy necessarily inferr a Morall Impossibility of the Churches erring in them Which ought the rather to be admitted by them Since some of their Divines to make this their Problem the more iustifiable that the Scriptures in all necessaries are clear to all persons think it a safe way in the next place to contract these necessaries to the Apostles Creed But after all supposing these Gouernors in stating some Points fallible enough I cannot hence gather any just relaxation of their Subjects submission of their judgment to them vpon pretence of clearness because such Fallibility of their Superiors in some Points can reasonably be supposed to arise from nothing else but some obscurity in the Rule which must be greater still to their Subjects and then what more fitting and ordinary then in matters of consequence to follow a prudent and experienced though fallible persons Direction rather then our own Lastly suppose this granted That the Scriptures may be vnderstood by all persons in all things necessary and so an infallible Guide vselesse yet I see not what aduantage the Doctor can make of this Principle for the Protestant Religion For since the sence of Scripture is now de facto debated between Catholiks and Protestants about so many necessary Points of Faith the Doctor cannot with truth or charity affirm the sense of these Scriptures clear to be vnderstood on the Protestants side to all those who sincerely endeauour to know their meaning where the Major part of Christendom vnderstands their meaning contrary as he must grant they doe in all those hee accounts the common Errours both of the Greek and Roman Church a large Catalogue of which may be found in many Protestant Authours And will he charge all these as defectiue in a sincere endeauour But rather such sincere endeauour being indifferently allowd to all parties he ought to pronounce the sence of Scripture to be clear if on any on that side as the Major part doth apprehend it Which certainly is not the Protestant For Example How can the Doctor rationally maintain this Text Hoc est Corpus meum so often repeated with out any variation of the Terms to bear a sense clear on the Protestants side that is That the Eucharist is not in a litterall or Proper sence the Body of Christ when as they are vnderstood in a litterall sence by much the Major part of the Christian world not onely the Western but Eastern Churches also as Monsieur Claude concedes to his worthy Aduersary Monsieur Arnaud to which also may be added half the Body of the Protestants namely all the Lutherans Now all these haue vsed their senses and weighed the
Externall Proponent to be infallible The Obseruations made vpon the three immediatly foregoing Propositions the matter of which is repeated in this do shew that they no way serue him for the vse he would here make of them The sense of which Propositions as far as they haue any truth in them may be returned vpon him thus since the Infallibility af any particular person as to the assent he either doth or may giue to this Point of the Churches Infallibility is asserted by those who plead for the Infallibility of a Church And since such infallibility of a particular person as to this point doth not therefore render at all the Infallibility of a Church vseless to him viz. as to his learning still from her all those other Points of Faith of which he hath no infallible knowledge or certainty otherwayes in which therefore he not being infallible that he may not erre in them it is necessary that the representatiue Church be so And so since the Infallibility of the Church is still of most important effect both to those who haue and to those who as yet haue not any infallible certainty of this her Infallibility toguide both these in a true right and sauing Faith as to those Points where of they haue no certainty Therefore there needs no Enquiry after a further Certainty for that our Faith in which we haue one already from this Infallible Proponent the Church XXIV PRINCIPLE 24. There are different degrees of Certainty to be attained according to the different degrees of Euidence and measure of Diuine Assistance but euery Christian by the use of his reason and common helpes of Grace may attain to so great a degree of Certainty from the conuincing arguments of the Christian Religion and authority of the scriptures that on the same grounds on which men doubt of the truth of them they may as well doubt of the truth of those things which they judge to be most euident to sense or reason Here if the Doctor means That euery Christian by the use of his Reason and common helps of Grace that is as he hath expressed it already Principle 13. and 18. by his perusing the scriptures and sincerely endeauouring to know their meaning exclusuely to his necessary repair to any externall infallible Guide or Proponent as he pretends in Principle 13. 15. 23. may attain to so great a degree of certainty as to all necessary Points of Faith ONELY from the conuincing arguments of the Verity of the Christian Religion and Authority of scriptures as that such a person may as litle doubt of them as of the things most euident to sense or Reason This Principle is denyed And for the reason of this denyall I referr to what is said before to Principle 13. and 18. And I appeal also to what Doctor Stillingfleet himselfe elsewhere tells us in his Rationall Account It seems reasonable saith he that because Art and subtilty may be vsed by such who seek to peruert the Catholick Doctrin and to wrest the plain places of scripture which deliuer it so far from their proper meaning that very few ordinary capacities may be able to clear themselues of such Mists as are cast before their eyes the sense of the Catholick Church in succeeding times may be a very usefull way for vs to embrace the true sense of scripture especially in the great Articles of the Christian Faith as for instance in the Doctrine of the Deity of Christ or the Trinity c. Now should not the Doctor instead of saying the sence of the Catholich Church in succceding Ages may be a very vsefull way for vs haue said is very necessary for vs if his cause would permit him And will not the Socinian thank him for this his mitigation But if according to this Principle euery Christian without this externall Guide can not in some perhaps but in all these Points of Faith attain such certainty as he hath in things most euident to sense or Reason how doth he stand in need of consulting or conforming to the sense of the Primitiue Catholick Church XXV PRINCIPLE 25. No man who firmly assents to any thing as true can at the same time entertain any suspition of the falshood of it for that were to make him certain and vncertain of the same thing It is therefore absurd to say that those who are certain of what they belieue may at the same time not know but that it may be false which is an apparent contradiction and ouerthrowes any faculty in vs of judging of truth or falshood 1. This Principle is euident and granted But such certainty is not applicable to the belief of euery Christian as to all Points of Faith if he be supposed not assisted by any Externall Infallible Guide 2. It is true also that a full and firme Assent free from doubting as where no Reasons offer themselues to perswade vs to the contrary may be yielded to a thing as true which is really false and at the same time no suspicion be entertained of the falshood of it XXVI PRINCIPLE 26. Whateuer necessarily proues a thing to be true doth at the same time proue it impossible to be false because it is impossible the same thing should be true and false at the same time Therefore they who assent firmly to the Doctrine of the Ghospell as true do therby declare their Belief of the Impossibility of the falshood of it This Proposition is granted But one who assents firmly in generall to the whole Doctrine of the Ghospell what euer it be as true and so to the impossibility of the falshood of it or any part of it doth not therefore being vnasisted by any Externall Guide know what this Doctrine is in euery such Point of Faith where the sense of the Letter of this Ghospell is controuerted and to vse the Apostles Phrase hard to be vnderstood and that in matters too hazarding damnation if mistaken Therefore me thinks the Doctor should here allow thus much at least That all those who after their perusing the scriptures think themselues not certain of its sense are obliged notwithstanding the silence of these Protestant Principles herein to repair to the Direction of these Externall Guides and these too not taken at aduenture and to follow their Faith Now such non-pretenders to Certainty according to the Doctors tryall of it sett down below in Consid. on Princ. 29. I suppose are the greatest part of Protestants XXVII PRINCIPLE 27. The nature of Certainty doth receiue seuerall names either according to the nature of the Proof or the degrees of the Assent Thus MORALL certainty may be so called either as it is opposed to MATHEMATICALL Euidence but implying a firme assent vpon the highest Euidence that Morall things can receiue Or as it is opposed to a higher degree of certainty in the same kind so MORALL Certainty implies only greater Probabilities of one side then the other In the former