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-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
from time to time and these following their own lusts and humours and Interests have perverted and drawn aside others we grant it But we say too That not a few or a small party but multirules have been corrupted as once it was when all the world wondered to see it self Arian Not to mention the times of Noah and Elijah which are famous for a general Apostacy we ask How all Israel came to be corrupted after Joshua and the Judg's that out-lived him Yea how the Body of that people were corrupted even while Moses was alive and upon all'occasions turning themselves to Idols And how came the Jews in our Saviours time to have so many Traditions not only besides but contrary to the written Word Now the force of our arguing lieth in this That notwithstanding Tradition and a written Word too for some thousands of years past the generality and whole body of people who had the mind of God revealed to them have been corrupted and perverted And when it is thus what credit is to be given to Tradition Or what shall the Fathers deliver over to their Children other then they themselves have received believed and practised We cannot enough wonder at Papists arguings in this kind And therefore desire to be resolved in some particulars ere we can yield so much to Tradition as they would have us 1. We would know who these Foref thers were that have so carefully delivered over the doctrine of Christ in all ages For our Forefathers after the flesh till this and the last age we know and are sorry for it that they were Roman Catholicks this land having taken the infection as much as any other place and we acknowledge that other Kingdoms and Nations were as they so as those whom we count our Forefathers after the faith were for a great while up and down in the world as they that had not bowed the knee to Baal in Elijahs time And what then can be inferred from the Tradition of Forefathers We know there is a pretious promise Isa. 59. 21. that Gods Word and Spirit should continue with his Church and the Churches children to all generations as our Saviour promised his Disciples Mat. 28. 20. to be with them to the end of the world But observe the Spirit is promised as well as the Word because one is unavailable without the other cooperating with it Isa. 30. 20 21. 2 Cor. 2. 16. 2 Cor. 3. 6. and 4. 13. But where is there any promise that the Word and Spirit shall continue with any one people uninterruptedly unto the worlds end We read that the word of the kingdom should be taken from the Jews and so it was and is not restored to them yet And in many places where once were famous Christian Churches there is not to be seen at this day so much as a relique of Christianity Witness the Churches of Asia now possessed by Mahometans We think it certain and undeniable that errors and impieties of all sorts may infect whole Nations of such as have professed the doctrine of Christ and when the infection hath once taken a few it will spread like a gangrene till the body be all overrun So when some have once departed from the faith others are too apt to follow and the tares soon outgrow the good seed Hence we answer That we cannot admit Tradition as an infallible witness since multitudes yea whole Nations have been overspread with errors and those no small ones For when a generation is once corrupted in their Principles it is not imaginable to us how they should teach their children other then what they themselves have learned So our Forefathers after the flesh would we believe have taught us the same Religion which had been taught them for many ages i. e. the Popish or Romish But we deny them to be our Forefathers as to our faith If any ask us Who these were We answer all they who in all ages protested against the errors and abuses of the Church of Rome We know well that England was Christian before Austin the Monk came hither For he found such here as stoutly withstood his Romish impositions though it cost them dear And what if there never had been a Church in England before or that Church had utterly failed yet the Church truly Catholick never fails but God hath had alwayes and will have to the end a company that contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints and desire to worship him in spirit and in truth And these we own for our Forefathers as to our faith and from these we received what we now profess and believe according to Scripture To clear the matter yet further we say this argument of Tradition supposes what we cannot yield viz. That the present Church of Rome holds the same faith in all particulars with the Apostolick and Primitive Church and that the same faith hath been handed down to them in all ages successively to this day That there was once a famous Church at Rome we grant but that the present faith of Rome is the same with that in the Apostles dayes can never be made good unless Papists will have the difference of mea's and dayes to be the whole Catholick faith Let them now prove their faith to be the same with what it was in the Apostles times and we may then heed this argument more then now we can For our parts we stand to prove as others before us have done that there hath been a general departing from the faith and when the generality are once corrupted in principles and practises we know not what they should teach posterity other then what they themselves have learned Do not Heathens now as in all former ages teach their children to worship Idols as themselves have done And is it so hard to conceive how the face yea whole body of the Church may be overspread by errors and heresies Who knows not that one scabbed sheep will infect a whole flock and how a little leaven will soon leaven the whole lump We hear of vain conversation received by Tradition from Forefathers 1 Pet. 1. 18. And wee know too well that Children for the most part betake themselves to such courses as their Fathers have taken before them That our Saviour delivered the whole truth to his Apostles and they to the Churches in those times we make no question yea we think it a sin to question it But we know and can shew how the Churches planted by the Apostles degenerated quickly and by degrees came to be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ and his Gospel And is this strange Alas Even in the Apostles times how were some Churches perverted in so much as he wonders Gal. 1. 6. they were so soon removed to another Gospel And here I might enlarge in shewing how by degrees the first Churches came to be perverted and corrupted But it lies on our Adversaries to prove their faith as it is now to be as
them And this light is so glorious as those Atocryphals dare not pretend to it but rather seem willing to be in a lower form For this I instance in 2 Mac. 2. 24. where the Author whoever he was consesses that he had taken what he wrote out of Jason of Cyrene and contracted five Books of his into one Volume and whoever pleases to read on in that Chapter may easily perceive that the Spirit of God which spake by the holy Prophets could never frame to speak in such a manner God in Scripture as hath been already said speaks pro imperio as the only most soveraign Lord and never makes Apologies for himself to be excused with those to whom he speaks For why should he seeing they are all his vassals his creatures The distance is so infinitely great between him and them as it cannot be reasonably imagined that he should court them as that Authour doth For the many fictions and tales told in some of those Apocryphals I â—…all not mention them because they are so well known to such as have perused them and may be to others who have a mind to be satisfied What need have we then of Tradition to determine in this Case And whoever hath a mind to be further satisfied may find enough in all our Divines who have maintained Scriptures authority against our adversaries But the great question is about the Scriptures translâ—…ted For our adversaries think we can never prove them to be the Rule of faith The Rule say they must be certain and infallible But Translations are many and various and much different if not in many things contrary to one another And then how shall the vulgar understand which of them doth indeed declare the mind of God Or how shall the unlearned be infallibly sure that this or that Translation doth not erre Now to clear our selves in this puzzling question I say what Papists cannot deny that the whole Canon was at first written in two Languages which very few in comparison for these many Ages have understood better then our common people do But when the Scripture was pen'd these Languages viz. Hebrew and Greek were best known to the Church of any other Hebrew was the Mother tongue of the Jews and Greek was a language very familiar to such of them as were scattered abroad before our Saviours time and then seeing they were called Hellenists or Grecists for using the Greek Translation of the old Testament by the Seventy For the Gentiles unto whom the Gospel came as well as to the Jews many of them had it for their Mother-Tongue and others familiarly used it because the Grecian Monarchy had not long before swayed in all those parts of the World This I thought good to mention that it might appear the more probable that Gods mind was to have his Word understood by all But there were other people who understood neither of those Languages There were and are still such and we do not deny it But this is evident that God was not pleased to cause his Word to be written at first in the Vulgar languages of all Nations For if he had we should not be pozed as now we are with this Question However what I have said and cannot be denied serves to hint this That Gods mind was to have his Word understood by those to whom it came seeing he wrote to the Jews in Hebrew and to the Grecians in Greek True other people could not understand it without a Translation And what shall we say in this Case God did not cause the Scripture to be penned at first in the several Languages of all people and Nations We must here leave out adversaries to question God for it for we cannot deny That the Scripture was penned at first only in two Laguages which many could not possibly understand without a miracle unless it had been translated Only since it was thus we hope our adversaries will not say it ought not to be translated seeing there was a necessity for it in order to the understanding of it which else could never have been without a miracle But how shall the vulgar know whether Translations be according to the Originals And then how can the Scripture translated be a Rule of faith which must be such as a man may be sure that there is no errour in it This is indeed the Question where with they go about to puzzle us For the Scripture say they as translated into the English tongue cannot be the Rule of faith because not infallible And to this we intend to answer though others have answered it long ago* And our answer is that 1. We know of no infallible Spiâ—…it promised or given of God for translating Scripture And this is that which our adversaties think will give the cause wholly on their side For seeing all Translations are liable to mistakes the vulgar and unlearned can never have a Rule of faith in Scripture say they But we shall not quit ouâ—… claime to Scripture for all this For we can distinguish as that learned Divine hath between the doctrine taught in the Scriptu e and the means whereby the doctrine is 〈◊〉 to our capacity as between things and words The Divine truth which is the infallible Word of God is say we the Rule of faith The Translations are only means to shew it us and the vessels wherein it is presented to us And thus in rigour of speech we do not count the English or any other Translation no nor the Greek or Hebrew the Rule because all Language is but a certain form or manner or means whereby it cometh to us But because the doctrine is not made known but by words and languages Therefore the Scripture translated into English is a Divine authority for faith So men believe a Divine truth although delivered by humane voice in pâ—…eaching and just so we have the infallible Doctrine of the Scriptute immediately inspired by the holy Ghost though by an humane Translation it be manifested to us 2. But how do we know that our Translation is right and according to the Originals Or how can our unlearned people be sure of it And if they cannot how can the English Bibles be to them a Rule of Faith Sol. Our English Bible saith our learned White contains in it two things viz. The Doctrine and the Translation The Doctrine was inspired by God and written by men infallibly assisted by the Holy Ghost The Translation was done by the ministry of the Church and industry of certain men who thâ—…ugh they haâ—… no supernatural inspiration yet we know infallibly they have not erred in the mattâ—…r by the same means whereby we know other Truths and discern other Articles of Chriâ—…ian Faith viz. The light of the Doctrine Transl. .ted the testimony of the Spirit the ministry of the Word the rulâ—…s of Art the knowledge of the Tongues c. Obj. Some Translations have erred and how
For this is confessed and cannot be reasonably denied that Scripture was penned by the Holy Ghost not in the several languages of all people but in two only which few now adayes in compâ—…on do understand Hence there is a necessity of translating and inâ—…erpreting Scripture and for this purpose God hath given gifts to men and these gifts we use as we ought to do What need our Adversaries quarrel us about what we cannot help but we know what lies at bottom They would fain have us go down to them to sharpen our shares and our coulters c. which we are not willing to do so long as we have Smiths enough at home to make us Swords and Spears I shall now conclude our answers with that which we count the Pillar of our hopes and as I may say the Sure-footing of our faith in Scripture We do indeed make the Scriptures our only Rule and believe that in them alone is prescribed to us whatever God would have us to know and do in order to our salvation And in this our faith we own the Divine authority whereof we see so many evident tokens in the Scriptures themselves But yet we say that as God only is a competent witness of himself speaking to us in his Word so his Word is never well rooted in our hearts till it be sealed to us by the inward Testimony of his Spirit that Spirit which spake by the Prophets pierâ—…ing our hearts and perswading us that what God commanded hath been faithfully delivered to us accordingly And this promise we have Isa. 59. 21. not his Word only but his Spirit also to seal it upon the soul of every true believer To this seal of the Spirit we owe all that acquiescency we have in Scripture For when we are therewith enlightned and enlivened we do no more trust our own or others judgement but are carried up above whatever is of man and so we resolve beyond all doubtings and fears that Scripture is of God alone Then we look no more after proofs or probabilities but submit our reason and all we have to that authority which we dare not any longer to deny or dispute For then we have an inward lively sense of God speaking in Scripture and are effectually drawn wittingly and willingly to submit to our Master in Heaven So we account as we have reason that only to be faith unfeigned which God by his Spirit seals upon our hearts in our hearing and reading the Scriptures But this may seem strange doctrine to such as know nothing of these matters by experience Therefore I shall discourse it a little that I may if possible make it manifest even to reason The question between us and our Adversaries is about the Rule of faith This faith iâ—… is granted is such as leads us to our bliss Hence we Protestants conclude that this faith cannot be wrought in us but by the Spirit of God which alone worketh all spiriâ—…ual good And this alâ—…o that the Spirit of God works it ordinarily at least by the Word as its most proper instrument Will any put us to prove this surely they must have too much of the Aâ—…heist that question it For how was all the world converted to the faith of Christ was it not by the preaching of Christs Word and his Spirit opening their hearts to receive it in the power of it did not Christ and his Apostles open and expound the Old Teslament to confirm the truths of the Gospel Luke 24. 27. Acts 26. 22. and did not the Spirit work that faith whereby thousands believed that truth But this is Scâ—…ipture and it must not be allowed if our Adversaries be judges to give evidence for us in this Case We shall therefore require them to shew what service Tradition did when Christ and his Apostles pâ—…eached the Gospel We hope they viz. Christ and his Apostles were assured some other way that the Old Testament was the Word of God And if they made use of it to open the blind eyes we may be excused for saying that God works faith in man by his Word as the most usual Instrument And if this also be questioned let Papists shew how faith which saves our souls is or can be wrought by their Oâ—…al or Practical Tradition We know well that children are apt enough to take up what they see or hear their Progenâ—…tors do or say before them And so they commonly p ofess the Religion whatever it be which they find ready to their hands Yea it is with many the great argument for their Religion that their Forefathers were so minded But what is all this to the bringing us unto a sound believing on our Lord Jesus Christ to the saving of our souls we believe Scripture to be the Word of God because it is the witness which God hath given of himself Nor do we know any other way of receiving any Testimony nor our Adversaries neither as we think We know too that a man may believe the Scriptures to be the Word of God and yet be far enough from that faith which will bring him to his happiness The Devil it is said cited and urged Scripture as Gods Word though to a very bad purpose Certainly that faith which brings men to their happiness is somewhat more then a bare belief of Scripture-Truth It is indeed a receiving of Christ offered in the Promises such as causes us to account all but loss and dung for Christ. And for this purpose God shines in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. 6. Now it almost amazeth us to hear of such a faith wrought by Tradition What! hath God no Word at all or hath he given no testimony nor witness of himself and his will beside the testimony of men what need is there of Scripture if this strange doctrine take place For say our Adversaries Tradition is the only Rule of faith and it hath admirable strength by the supernatural assistances of the Holy Ghost Nay further we must be all Fanaticks if we hold to Scripture and let go Tradition But this needs no answer with those who believe that God hath a Word of his own to be a witness of his will And shall we be perswaded that the Testimony of men is greater then that of God there may be we grant and question nor some force of Tradition for the descent of the main body of Christs doctrine But what is this to the purpose unless it be proved that the Testimony of men is the power of God to salvation whiles by it and not by his Word he brings men to believe Alas what faith do our Adversaries count upon Do they dream of being saved only by a certain perswasion that the doctrine of Christ is a truth and no lye If they do let them keep their faith to themselves We count upon somewhat else which we are sure can never be effectually
wrought in us bâ—…t by the Word and Spirit of God And yet we do not yield to them that we can be no other way ascertained of the doctrine oâ—… Christ as true then by Tradition For we believe the Testimony of God speaking to us in Scripture and shall I hope while we live account of it more then Tradition or any Testimony of men I shall now add somewhat as an Answer in general to all and every one of the former Exceptions or any others of the same or like kind We sâ—…y that there is one onely Rule of Faith and manners and that is the Divine truth or the Doctrine of Christ which is summed up into these two general heads viz. Faith and Obedâ—…ence or faith and holiness according to what God hath declared as his mind and will What he promises we are to believe and when he commands we are to obey And in both we fulfill the will of God aâ—…d walk in the ways of eternal life This Divine truth we never found any where but in the Scripture and if our adversariâ—…s have made any other discovery we think it their duty to acquaint us with it That the Son of God was made man died and roâ—…e again c. for our redemption all Christians acknowledge as also that all who hope for salvation by Christ Jesus must deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly â—…ighteously and godly in this present world And this to know and do is eternal life and if our adversaries or any before theâ—… ever knew this doctrine otherwise then by Scripture we are willing to leaâ—…n For their Traditions as they signifie Râ—…straditas we have nothing to do with them For the question put to us is only this how we are or can be ascertained of Scripture that it hath delivered over to us the Doctrine of Christ and this question drawn out into many and several Queries we have answered already and now give this as an answer to all of them or any the like And this we do not for the sake of such as are more knowing and better grounded in the faith but only for the benefit of poor souls who through want and weakness of understanding may be puzzled with such questions Now to these we say again that we hold nothing for a Rule of faith but the Divine truth which teaches the way of salvation by Christ. For Originals or translations of Scripture we know there was a time when there was neither of them And yet there was ever since God had a Church upon earth a revelation of the doctrine of Christ. Hence this Doctrine must be the Rule unless we will say the people of God had no Rule of faith for two thousand years and more For whatever God reveals as his mind that we must heed to believe and obey There may be a difference and hath been in the manner of Revelation but the Divine truth revealed was alwaies the same viz. Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. There is no other name given under Heaven whereby men can be saved Act. 4. 12. This we believe as all Gods people have done from the beginning and this doctrine of Christ which we find no where but in the holy Scriptures is the Rule and Law and foundation of our faith So the Rule is and hath been always the same though the way and manner of revealing it hath been various according to the will and pleasure of God and that at first more obâ—…cure and after more and more clear till the Sun of righteousness arose And of this doctrine revealed no Christian we suppose hath ever made question What need is there then of such captious Queries about the Originals and Translations or about the letter and sence of Scripture We are sure that all Originals and Translations offer and hold forth the doctrine of Christ and whatever the letter be this is the sence that Christ is the only salvation of God And is there indeed no way of assuring this to us but Tradition or the Churches Testimony as it hath been given in all ages This â—…as hath been said is to confirm the Testimony of God by that of men And if our Faith be grounded only on the Translation English or other our foundation is the knowledge skill and faithfulness of men and they that cannot read as some we are sure cannot must have no foundation at all But he that hath the truth of God concerning the salvation of men by Jesus Christ whether in the Originals or Translations or whetesoever hath a sure foundation viz. the unchangeable counsel of God which never fails As for the Translations or the Originals though the truth of God contained in them be the Rule yet neither of them is any part of it For they are only means to conveigh and deliver over to men the Divine truth which is the only Rule And this we have I say again in all Originals and Translations and whatever sences have been made of scripture by any all agree unanimously in the doctrine of salvation by Christ. What need we then be questioned about that which no Christian ever made Question of If there be any such as doubt whether men are saved by Christ only or whether they who are saved by him must walk in love and shew their love by keeping his Commandments we desire to have nothing to do with them as not deserving the name of Christians And whether we can be assured of this doctrine in no other way then by Tradition I shall now leave to be judged by such as will impartially weigh what hath been said I have now done arguing and answering and shall only advise such as are by their profession Protestants that they would seriously bethink themselves how they may hold fast the profession of their faith without wavering unto the end The advice I offer them is 1. That they labour much and earnestly to understand the mind and meaning of God in his written Word And good reason there is for it Gods Word is his last Will and Testament by which alone we come to know what Inheritance there is laid up for us in Heaven and what Legacies he hath bequeath'd us for our livelihood and subsistence to all Eternity Scripture is as I may call it the Charter by which we have and hold all the Liberties and Priviledges which are freely conferr'd and bestowed on us by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ as also all the Laws and Orders we are bound to observe as we are Citizens of the New and Heavenly Jerusalem What should Christians then do other then read over their Fathers Will and study exactly in every particular what concerns them in order to their everlasting happiness The Letter and the sence the History and the mysterie every part and particle should be in our heaâ—…ts and heads so as we may have them as we say at our fingers ends If any ask How
to be sweet because he hath tasted of it Labour I say to set your Probatum cst to every Gospel-truth that you may be able to say out of your own experience this is the truth of Christ and cannot be otherwise Then you may reason as that woman did Joh. 4. 29. Come see a man that hath told me all things that ever I did Is not this the Christ So you may say here is doctrine that hath discovered me as nothing else could have done Can this be any other then the Word of God there is nothing in it but what I am certainly assured of by what I know and have found and felt in my self Surely God who is infinitely good could never produce out of himself such an unclean thing as I am by nature And that I am now altogether corrupted so as in me dwelleth no good thing I know by experience Hence I cannot in the least question what Scripture hath revealed concerning the fall of man from that estate of holiness wherein God first made him For I am sure of it because I find my natural and sinfull condition discovered to me in Scripture just as I have felt in my self and so laid open as I could never express it yea or have imagined it And so is all that I read of the womans seed Christ and all the graces of Christ revealed in me as that my heart is now the counterpart as it were of that act of pardon drawn with Gods own hand and recorded in the Scriptures of truth For the wayes of Gods Commandments I now find they are not grievous but all pleasant easie and plain as scripture makes them I care noâ—… for the reasonings of men so long as I know the truths of God by what I find and feel in my self And for a motive take this viz. Thou canst never be well rooted in the faith otherwise Let the head be never so full fraught with knowledge so long as the heart is not seasoned with grace a man is capable of being overcome by such arguments as will be suggested from worldly and sleshly Interests He that loves any thing better then Christ what ever be his present profession or resolution may be disswaded from following him when he comes to tempted with fears or favours from the world Only he who hath learnt Christ as the truth is in him to put off the old and put on the new man is impregnable in all assaults having the root of the matter in him such as will never quaile or die right away Many a Demas hath fallen off having loved this present world and no arguments will make a man invincible to all temptations but an unfeigned saith that is alway attended with a good conscience This and nothing else can give a man Sure-footing in his Christianity There is many a great Scholar who can dispute the truth against all gainsayers and never be moved or shaken because he is throughly studied in the grounds of it and understands the deceits and fallacies of all who are otherwise minded But so long as his heart is not right with God he is but as a tree with a great top that may soon be turned up by the roots if there come a great tempest or blast of temptation from worldly Interest either to fright or flatter him out of his Religion Hence I say again never think your selves well grounded in your Christianity tâ—…ll you have studied the Scriptures and your own hearts together and found by experience that you are transformed by the renewing of your minds into that doctrine which is therein delivered to you 3. And when you have found out the Divine truth in Scripture by your experimental feeling of the grace and power in it labour to hold it fast and by no means let it go Buy the truth and sell it not but contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints If any now question how this is to be done my advice is 1 To order all your ways and doings exactly according as you find the Rule of them laid down in Scripture For it is not the profession or forme but the power of godliness as I said before that will will keep you stedfast unto the end Now Loosness and Carelesness in your ways and walkings will expose you to temptations and not only so but they will also loosen and unrivet your souls from cleaving so close to the truth as you have formerly done You will find by wofull experience that any indulgence to worldly Interests and fleshly lusts will much weaken your wonted affections to the truths of Christ and if there be a continuance of that indulgence it will eat out all the life and heart of your Religion so as you will never suffer or venture much for that which you love no better So long as your hearts are kept warm in the love of the truth so long only you are stedfast and unmoveable in the profession of it There are many Protestants so called who know little the more pitty of what they profess And there are too many who whatever they profess or know are vitious and abominable in their lives and conversations For these we must leave them to the mercy of God in hope that yet their eyes may be opened and their hearts turned But we cannot reasonably expect that such should be constant in their profession if once they meet with a strong temptation Alas how should they who know and love the truth no better Yea though men may perswade themselves and others in a calme what courage and resolution they have and will be ready to shew in a storm yet if there be not sincerity and real mortification of all lusts constantly endeavoured and exercised their hearts will deceive them when they are most confident of them Any prevailing Interest in a Soul is as a strong biass in a boule A man may aim to cast the boule so as it shall run in a right line to the mark but the biass will never suffer it to run as is intended And so it will prove by every one whose heart hath a biass in it For it will turn aside ere it come half way home whither its Interest carries it Sirs it is no small matter to abide by a mans profession and Religion when he is put to it by any great tryal whether of persecution or promotion Nay how can it be at all unless the Interest of Christ and the allurements of his love are such as will counterpoyse all that is laid into the ballance against them Will any man in cool blood venture life and all unless there be somewhat of far more worth to countervaile the loss this therefore must be in order to our stedfastness in the faith viz. A constant exercise of practical godliness for keeping up a good understanding and correspondence between God and our Souls that we may be so warmed with continual influences from Heaven as to say with the Apostle
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
lineal succession but look only after succession in doctrine And this we have reason to do seeing the Heavenly inheritance is entayled only upon those who know and obey the truth And where is this truth if not in Scripture and if we once let go Scriptures verdict in the Cause must we not stand or fall according to the sentence of the Church and what Church can pretend to more then the Church of Rome will pretend unto but let Scripture be judge in the Case and it will soon appear that all is but a vain and empty pretence And why should we not appeal to it alone and leave it to umpire the differences Our adversaries never durst say as yet for ought I have known that it is not the Word of God though some of them have spoken most unworthily of it and reproached it so as none would I think do that seriously believed it to be indeed the Word of God However they say not in terms that it is not the Word of God though that will be the consequence of what they say and that we think unavoidable if all things be duly considered Surely to us it must be so For if it hath no credit as to us without a Certificate under the hands of men it deserves no credit at all such as we must give to it as a Rule of faith and the ground work of all our hopes And this is rational because then we need not go to Scripture since there is somewhat else that is more to be credited then it For no man that is reasonable can be ignorant that what makes any thing to be what it is must be more such if not formally yet virtually or eminently And our adversaries take it so and therefore say plainly that Scripture for many reasons is no competent Rule of faith but Tradition doth the work that is needfull to be done and is a Rule in every respect compleat Now let this be granted and then look about and see what follows They say and think though not truly that they have Tradition by the forepart viz. that all the first ages of the Christian Church held as they do now And for the hinder end they hâ—…ve it fast enough as we all know For we must grant what we cannot without impudence deny 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of these parts of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ward for many of the latter ages And we do not wonder at it because it is no more then what Scripture hath foretold And now if Scripture be thus laid by what will become of all that faith which we have other then what Papists have or how can we refuse whatever they shall impose by their Tradition And shall it be ever said that we have made a separation so long and now turn back again upon no other ground then this viz. that Tradition is the Rule of Faith and Scripture is every way unfit for such a work what is this but to cast dirt in the faces of all that went before us and hazarded all to vindicate and obâ—…ain that liberty which the written Word so long suppressed hath since had amongst us For this was the rise and root of all the disorders and distempers that ever have been since the Apostles times unto this day viz. that men have not contented themselves with a Rule of Gods making but in the pride of their hearts would frame Laws unto themselves And this began in the Apostles times by the workings of Satan in the false Apostles who would then keep up the antient Laws of God intended only till the time of Reformation when according to his will they ought to be laid aside This I say we may justly suspect to have given the first occasion to others afterwards of devising many things besides the only Rule And so it is come to pass by many degrees at last that Scripture is no Rule at all if some men may be credited in what they say And now let us consider what we have been adoing for an hundred years and more Have we all this while believed in vain And have all those who are gone to another world before our eyes died without hope What! have we been in a sweet dream so long and could never be awakened till now Are we now to seek of a Rule of faith Indeed we have then believed to small purpose and so have many others whom we have hitherto thought to be with the Lord. What! have we never received any fruits of the Spirit such as have been a seal to the truths of the written Word so as we can say we know what and whom we have believed were our eyes never opened nor our hearts ever humbled or melted If they have been then consider what doctrine hath been preached to us and by what means we came to be what we are And have we not enough for all intents and purposes we have Jesus Christ evidently set forth to us in Scripture and no where else And have we need of any other Saviour we have the way of holiness in Scripture as no where else and can we go to heaven in any other way Are we in danger of perishing by believing in Christ alone or will the denyal of our selves and all ungodliness and worldly lusts as Scripture commands and requires hazard our souls Nay will not faith in Christ alone such faith I mean as works by love save us then what will become of me and others who never yet learnt any other way of salvation and resolve through Gods help and grace never to think of any other But I shall say no more when I have related one story Darbishire Benners kinsman said to Hawkes the Martyr You will have nothing but your pretty Gods Book No said Hawkes and is not that enough for my salvation Yes said the other but not for your instruction Then said Hawkes God send me the salvation and take you the instruction And of his mind am I and many others too I hope If Scripture be not sufficient to shew and assure us what we are to believe and do in order to our salvation as some would perswade us we are resolved however to leave our souls to Gods free mercy as it is revealed therein and leave others that have a mind to take all the Instruction that is to be had by Tradition FINIS AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER THE late dreadfull Fire kindled by our God-provoking sins and abominations transcending all our Forefathers after so many miracles of mercies and deliverances within three dayes space turned no less than 88 Pariâ—…es and Pâ—…ish-Churches with the Cathedâ—…al Church of the late great and glorious City of London into heaps of ashes and rubbish to the just horror and amazement of all Spectators of their â—…mes and ruines which as it proved extremely prejudicial and destructive to most Companies of the City yet none of them received so grand losses and dammages by that devouring Conflagration as the Company of Stationers most of