the soul the understanding the will and the affections it must be like Aarons Oyle running down from the head to the feet hence God would have the King himselfe to write his word with his own hand that so he may bee acquainted with it and rule accordingly Dent 17. 2 Pray for understanding Only a spirituall understanding and an heavenly eye can discerne an excellency in the Scripture it argued a prophane spirit in Politian who said there was more in one of Pindars Odes then all Davids Psalmes But David prayeth that God would open his eyes that hee might see the wonderfull things in Gods Law All truth is sweet but the Scripture truth above all men may reade the Scripture write Comments on it and yet not have spirituall and savoury understanding of it Nunquam Pauli mentem intelliges nisi prius Pauli spiritum imbiberis unlesse God give thee the heavenly spirit of Paul thou wilt never understand the heavenly meaning of Paul 3 Be humble and meek submitting to the simplicity contained therein The humble he will teach his way It is a great matter to stoop to the Scripture Austin complaineth of this that literarum typho tumidus swelling with pride of humane learning hee did refuse the simplicity of Scriptures Bradwardine speaking of himselfe before he felt the power of grace upon his heart saith that hee was much offended when hee heard Paul read in the Church because hee had not metaphysicum ingenium Thus proud men seldome ever come to know the truth God hideth these things from the prudent and wise of the world 4 Get love to Gods truth And this is the reason of all Anti-christs errours and beleeving such lies as they doe because they receive not Gods Word in the love of it They loathed this Manna and therefore God makes a famine among them and there is no more terrible prognostique of Gods delivering up a people to blindnesse and hardnesse then their rejecting of the Word Take we heed then how we reject God reforming lest he sweare in his wrath that we shall never be reformed What is the great crying sinne of England this day even an hatred of Gods truth they love not the power and purity of it but as the Gadarens had rather have their Swine then Christs presence so these their brutish lusts rather then Gods truth God removeth these meanes of grace when people are incurable as when the Patient is dead all the physick boxes and cups are taken away Now that the Word of God may be set up these three things are necessary 1 To incourage preaching which is that great work so severely charged upon the ministers Hezekiah spake comfortably to those that taught the good knowledge of God There was a very noxious and destructive opinion that reading was preaching The question is not whether reading may not in some sense be called preaching taking preaching for any declaration of Gods truth But whether it be ministeriall preaching whether whē the Apostle saith he must divide Gods Word aright he meaneth no more then to reade whether when he saith who is sufficient for these things he meaneth who is able to reade when he saith Give thy selfe to study that thy profiting may appeare to all men he meaneth that all men see thou readest better then thou didst 2 Catechizing This would doe good both to Minister and people the ministery in the first place Memorable is that which Chemnitius relates of his Master Chytraeus that when he read over divers Authors and devoured many Volumes he set himselfe to prove the Catechisticall points of Divinity by Scripture and then he sound himselfe in a new world he was not able to doe it As for the Minister so much more for the people Who will give us to weep rivers of teares for the generall ignorance in all Parishes and Congregations Bellarmine saith that faith may be defined better by ignorance then knowledge This is true that the faith of the common people such as it is may bee so defined Help the the Church of God O you Wotthies in this 3. Incouraging learning and the knowledge of the tongues for howsover translations may be good yet in regard of the emphasis of the Originall we may say as the Queen of Sheba to Solomon that which shee heard was nothing to the glory she saw Then came in errour and superstition when it was Heresie or at least suspicion of it to understand Greek and Hebrew A Divine ought to bee that which was said of Nazianzene {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} an Ocean of Divinity Wee come now to the Testimony it selfe Prepare yee the way of the Lord c. which doth containe the effect of Iohns Ministery as also the duty of his hearers who were fallen into a corrupt time when the Philistims had filled up all the Wels the Pharisees Scribes had corrupted the Word of God by false interpretations The word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} he wil prepare and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} prepare yee are taken from the custome of great Ones who use to have way made for them or as others when great Commanders were to lead an Army they sent some before who were called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that did complanate and make levell the way and the Hebrew Word is emphaticall which signifieth such a removall of all offensive things that the face may no longer behold them and thence wee observe that It is the duty of a people to remove all difficulties and oppositions in the way that so Christ may come and dwell with them for so the Text carrieth it either literally to take every thing away that may stop their speedy returne from Babylon or typically what should oppose the spirituall restauration of the Church by the Messias and so proportionably whatsoever mountaine or valley may be in the way where Christ is comming As they threw garments in the way and with much acclamation cryed Hosanna blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord so are we with all earnestnesse of affection to cry Blessed be that Reformation which commeth in the name of the Lord This also the Psalmist cryeth Lift up your heads yee gates that the King of glory may come in We will first shew what are the impediments the hills and valleyes that hinder Christs comming to reigne in his Church 1 A corrupt judgement as if there were no necessity of preparation of Reformation That was Laodicea's case shee thought her selfe full and rich therefore she is counselled to buy eyesalve Rev. 3. 18. Thus the Church of Rome is in a desperate disease because she thinks she cannot be sick she cannot erre Thus all Reformation is accounted needlesse what need we any more doe As he said many had been learned if they had not conceited they were so so many Churches had beene more pure and reformed if they had not thought
that Nay is there not such folly in people that they are as willing to be without Gods Word as mans inventions It is a necessary truth which all Magistrates all Ministers all people should beleeve that Gods Word is perfect There is enough in it as a rule to direct and worke holinesse in us How wretched then are the Papists that will have Images the Lay mans Bible as if Gods Word were not enough and see their perverse disputings they will not have the Scripture read in the known tongue lest people through mistake make errours whereas Images are suffered by them though they doe naturally teach idolatry When therefore these traditions and ceremonies climbe up like Reuben into their Fathers bed let them lose all their glory The Word of God is Heb. 9. 15. alibi called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a Testament now you know to a mans Will nothing may be added nor any thing detracted And this you will alwayes find to be true all subversion of true faith and pure worship floweth from this either because something of Scripture is neglected or something that is not Scripture is introduced 5. It is adequately proportionable unto our faith The rule and the thing regulated must be fitted one to another Faith and the Word of God must runne parallel all that is written must be beleeved and all that is beleeved must be written and oh that the Church of God had in all ages kept to the Scripture as Ruth to Naomi where the one liveth the other would where the one dyeth the other will Non credo quia non lego I doe not beleeve it because I do not read it was a known speech in Antiquity Thou art to say Hitherto thou shalt goe O my Faith and no further hitherto thou shalt goe O my worship and no further Hoc primum credimus cum credimus quod nihil ultra credere debemus this we first beleeve when we doe beleeve that we ought to beleeve nothing beyond Scripture and this also is to be extended unto your practise and conversation As you are to take no other Religion then what the Scripture allowes so neither to live any other life then what the Word commands come therefore thou who livest a prophane and wretched life let us expostulate with thee thou art no Papist thou wilt not hold transubstantiation why because it cannot be proved true by Scripture And can thy profanenesse thy lusts thy oathes be proved lawfull by Scripture Doth not the same Scripture that bids thee beleeve thus bid thee also live thus Is not Gods Word against profanenesse as well as popery If this were attended to men would have holy lives as well as sound judgements 6. And lastly a rule must be first and before the thing to be regulated a rule is a measure and therfore must be first in its kind To question whether the Church should be before the Scripture is to question whether man be before God 'T is true Divines doe well observe that the Scripture may be considered either quoad formale externum in respect of the outward forme as it is a writing or quoad formale internum in respect of the inward sonne and sense of it as it is the Word of God Now in the latter sense Gods Word was alwayes before a Church because by the Word we are begotten againe and so made the Church Hence it is that Gods Word is more ancient then Churches and Fathers and this is the antiquity we should set up It is true the Church in regard of her Ministery and leading us to beleeve is before the Scripture but we never put forth a Divine holy Faith till the Spirit of God worke our assent to his Word because it is his Word so that to stay in the authority of the Church is to stay in Iohn Baptist that did beare witnesse of Christ and not goe to Christ himselfe Seeing therefore the Word of God is most ancient why should men presse us in faith or worship to go and see what was done 5. or 600. or a thousand yeares agoe and not rather goe to the Scripture which was before this But as the Owle and Thiefe cannot endure the light so neither can errour or superstition the Word of God Now take these Cautions First the Word of God is the onely rule In Popery they share with God in every thing to grace they joyne freewill to Christs merits their owne to God Angels and Saints to the Scriptures their traditions and Church authority and this is urged so precisely that if the Church doe determine an errour to be a truth yet they are bound to beleeve it yea that they doe mereri credendo merit by beleeving it even as it was among the Sadduces and Rabbins if their Elders said the right hand were the left or the left the right they must assent to it If we would be content with this that the Scripture were an halfe rule all would be well but as God is a perfect God so is his Word a perfect Word we must have no other Gods besides him so also no other Scripture or Word beside this Doe not then in matters of Religion make this thy Compasre to saile by What say others and what is the custome but What saith Gods Word Are not politique considerations a rule to many is not custome a rule to many Vae tibi flumen moris humani quis tibi resistet Woe to thee ô thoutorrent of custome who is able to resist thee cryeth Austin It is true if this be received here will appeare much nicety much singularity here must be loud cries for a Reformation which the world doth so much oppugne The world is not able to beare this exhortation Let the Word of God rule you let the Word of God reforme you 2. When we say its a rule it must be extended to that end for which it is a rule for as the Scripture is not a rule to Physicians or Mathematicians in their proper arts so neither doth it particularly tend to this or that individuall action for all essentials it is a rule and a generall rule for circumstantials Nor doth this detract from the perfection of the Scripture that it doth not command every circumstance because then a thing is imperfect when it wants some perfection that is due to it It is not an imperfection in the body that it s not every where because this is not requisite to the body so neither is it to be expected from the Scripture that all circumstantials must be by name commanded It s true the Church must take heed that under the name of circumstances she doth not bring in worship which hath beene alwayes the subtilty of Satan Thus Altar-worship and Image-worship were made but circumstances in mens bookes by distinctions but in their practise as much as Gods owne instituted worship Be sure to give enough to the Scripture Adoro plenitudinem Scripturae I adore the Scriptures
urged by some No Scripture is of private interpretation it is good to consider the distinction I shall bring grant that it be read {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} not {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which signifieth an impulse or comming upon us An interpretation may be said to be private either 1. in regard of the person and so that is not forbidden for it is lawfull for one private man to gain-say the whole world if he have a true interpretation of Scripture or 2. it is private ratione medii when he takes a false medium he doth not take the context and the circumstances and this private interpretation which doth not publikely appeare in the words is forbidden or 3. private is ratione finis the end of a man when though he take a right way and course yet he hath some sinister end and this also is forbidden So then a private spirit is then made a rule when we take our own thoughts of the Scripture and doe not found or establish our meaning upon the context The Papists and Enthusiasts are contrary one to another Thus Christ as Tertullian saith is alwayes crucified between two theeves truth suffers between two contrary errours Now if we follow Scripture Rules there will these consequents flow from it 1. Such a man will be sure and constant in his way for as the truth is yesterday and to day the same for ever so also will the frame and temper of the man be the same for ever whereas a man that doth not build upon Scripture he hath a weekly and a monthly Faith Hence are those phrases Holdfast the words of Life Tit. 1. 8. The godly men saith Fox were called the just and hold-fast men because they would not abate of the least tittle they held It was a proverbe to expresse the difficulty of a thing {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} you may sooner unteach a man Christ whereas men that have not built upon this foundation they are like Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria who was nick-named Euripus because of his ebbing and flowing in matters of Religion for a Bishopricke hee would sweare to the Nicene Councell and then to keep it he would forsweare it againe 2. He will be holy and spirituall in his conversation for such as those rules are such will he be The Scriptures are called holy not onely because the matter of them is holy and the efficient Author of them holy but because the end and effect of them is to make us holy They will not onely make orthodox in judgment but right in affections and conversations also Hence it is that there is as little holinesse in the lifes of the Papists as there is sound faith in their judgements and how can it be otherwise seeing the Church of Rome hath dealt with the people of God as if a man would commit a Ship into the Sea without Pilot Compasse or Sailes and so venture it into the Ocean And this Scripture holinesse doth as farre surpasse that which people call piety as the Sun doth the glow-worme 3. This will bring peace and security to him and to the Kingdome that receives it As many as walk according to this rule peace unto them Gal. 6. 16. Ignorant and prophane people cry out it is this crying for Scripture so much that makes all this trouble but see the contrary 2 Chron. 5. 35. When there was no teaching Priest nor the Law in Israel then there was trouble to him that went in and went out Again 2 Chron. 17. 9. 10. when Iehoshaphat Reformed according to God then all was quiet and feare fell upon all the Nations round about The bringing in of Gods Word and a Scripture Reformation is like the bringing in of the Ark to Obed Edoms house it carries much blessing with it 4. This Scripture man will bee accounted nice and scrupulous If you doe regard his conscience which attends Gods Word only it must needs be nice and scrupulous in the Worlds account That as they wonder you runne not into the same excesse of riot with them so also that you cannot use all such Worship and receive all such Traditions as they doe A tender constitution feeles the least blast of wind so also doth a tender heart Look upon the carriage of our Saviours not washing his hands it was but a civill thing he knew how much the neglect of this would prejudice him and yet he would not doe it For as he will have a liberty of conscience where some are superstitiously fearefull so againe hee will have an holy feare of conscience where others are desperately bold never then let Reformers startle at this to bee thought more strict then needs 5. He will be judged singular from others This ariseth from the other for seeing his conscience is so tender thence also his life will be disagreeing to the most as the Apostles rule Rom. 13. 2. Not to fashion our selves according to this world and so Jam. 1. 27. pure Religion is to keep our selves unspotted from the world it is true on the other side if there be any irregularity it is in the most men of the world that they conforme not unto the Word of God which is the rule for the godly doe as they should doe as in a pasture where a flock of sheep is if all but two or three break the hedges and runne into the high-wayes who are wanderers the multitude no those two or three that abide in the pastures 6. It will make him become hated and abhorred of all You shall be hated of all men for my names sake Hence the Papists because we would have all decided by Scripture they call us Scriptuarios and atramentarios Theologos Inky Divines and to be a Bible bearing Puritan was matter of scoffe How would the fire of Chrysostom have kindled against these wretches who upon that place Let the word of God dwell plentifully in you Cor. 3. 16. cryeth out {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Hearken all you tradesmen get Bibles this undoeth you that you think it belongs onely to some speciall men to read the Scripture And how can it be but that the world must hate this seeing there is such a contrariety between a Scripture life and the life of carnall men A Scripture conversation and a Scripture reformation can be no more indured by the world then David by Saul because the pulling down of one is the establishing of the other Semper aliena virtus formidolosa est one mans vertue makes him that wants it afraid But how may we get good by this rule 1 Wee must be frequent in it see that Col. 3. Let it dwell in you you must know it and bee as familiar with it as your own houses and then plentifully that is both for the object and subject the object not this or that parcell of the Word of God but the whole Scripture and then for the subject in all the parts of
its causa non separatio facit schismaticum it is the cause not a separation that makes a schismatick This hath alwayes been the slander cast upon Reformation Quot homines tot Evangelia so many men so many Gospels and Luther was often required not to divide the inconsutilis tunica the seamlesse coat of Christ therefore he calls his adversaries inconsutilistae and Tunicastri Lay then this blame not upon Reformation that onely can remove such things but upon those who were the Fathers of these Rents 9. The ninth let to Reformation is the outward troubles and commotions that doe accompany it And certainly these lye in the way of Reformation as Amasaes carkasse that stopt all the passengers but this our Savior foretold I come to send a fire and a sword and to set Father against son and son against Father not that our Saviour meanes this was the Finis operantis that he intended this but that it was Finis operis there would be this event wheresoever his pure and powerfull preaching was set up for he is not the cause of it but the stubborn and rebellious hearts of men make it neither the Physician nor the Physick are the cause of the paines and troubles the sicke man feeles but the ill humours that have been long gathering in him 10. The unthankfulnesse of people that they should no more esteem or prise those instruments which God sends to deliver them by Thus they were unthankfull to Moses and Aaron and the Roman Worthies have drank of this cup Therefore one Heathen when his sonne was desirous of publike service he carrieth him to the boards and planks of old weather-beaten Ships that lay upon the shoare Loe saith he thus the people will doe to thee after they have used thy service And so another Heathen complained who had done much publike service but neglected that he was like the Trees which the beasts run to in time of a storme and when that was over they fell on cropping and browzing of it Now as this unthankfulnesse is a grosse sinne so it ought not to be any discouragement for those who are employed in the publike good Luther was much offended at this and therefore he tells us his temptation Cum hac itavideo non nunquam impatientia frangor serio cogio nisi illa doctrina in mundū jam sparsa esset me quidvis potius facturum quam ut ingrato mundo ostenderem Sed hae cogitationes sunt carnis When I see this ingratitude I am sometimes broken with impatience and seriously resolve unlesse this doctrine had been already disperst I would rather have done any thing then declared it to this unthankfull world but these are the thoughts of the flesh But yet there are many urgent motives and arguments why Reformers should goe on 1. Because God hath severely punished the neglect of any order he hath left with his Church though they have done much yet if they have not done compleatly he hath been angry Hence you read so often Neverthelesse the high places were not taken away May not the judgement upon Nadab and Abihu for offering strange fire may not the breach God made upon Uzzah for ever awaken Reformers that they should not be conniving and indulgent to the breach of the least command of his O ye worthy Patriots think not that you are free and at your owne disposall how much or how little is to be done for God you are accomptable to God for jotaes and tittles 2. There is nothing more odious unto him then corruptions in his Church what detestable names doth che Scripture put upon Idols and the false Prophet is called the taile and our Saviour when he was to purge out the corruptions from his Temple He makes a whip and drives the polluters out a strange way it was but hereby he would shew how odious such were to him even as so many dogs in his presence Consider that speech Iohn 4. My Father seeketh such who worship him in spirit and in truth he seekes such which argueth how precious and delightsome they are unto him that worship him in his owne way therefore our Saviour tells the Pharisees that that which was highly esteemed amongst them as great piety and devotion it was {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} an abomination before God oh then let us not doe any abominable things 3. A third motive is whatsoever carnall Statists think yet doing the will of the Lord in this we are sure ofblessings Remember those two places quoted before for we desire they may alwayes stick upon your hearts how ill it was when there was no law nor no preaching Priest and then how well it was when Iehosaphat set up those that taught the good knowledge of God It is true we may be a long while in the Wildernesse and God for the sinnes ofhis owne people may suffer the enemies to prevaile but we are alwayes to remember the end of the Lord mark the ends of all Reformation and you shall find them to be peace And as we say of the sorrowes and sadnesse of a particular godly man it is not his godlinesse that makes him so but because he hath not godlinesse enough so of a Church or State it is not a Reformation that makes woe and misery but because we are not reformed enough we are not willing for this 4. Consider how much men venture to prepare wayes for antichrist and to make his paths streight Do not men venture their estates and their lives that the man of sinne may become a man of glory and shall not we doe as much for Christ will not the prisons and miseries wherein they suffered witnesse against our dastardlinesse Did not the people bring their eare-rings to make the golden calfe Did not the Corinthians suffer the false Apostles to buffet them and smite them shall there be Martyrs for errour and not for Truth As that good old Pambus wept when he saw a Strumpet cunningly dressing her selfe to please her Lover because he could not take as much pains to please God so do thou when thou hearest of the Papists and such adversaries making themselves poore and venturing their lives that errour may be advanced why dost thou not humble thy self because thou art not so forward or self-denying for the truth Use of Exhortation That now we would prepare the way for Christ God will reforme his Church by other meanes if we doe not promote it take heed lest while we are negligent he come downe himselfe as it were and scourge out all prophanenesse from his Temple and so you lose both your reward and comfort consider that as it is your danger to prepare Christs wayes so it is the greatest honour that God did ever put upon you How many thousands that shall finde the benefit and sweetnesse of drinking the pure streames of Gods Ordinances will then blesse God for you In these matters of God consult not with flesh and blood remember
the manner of proving and the matter or proofe it selfe we will gather two Doctrines seasonable for these times Doct. 1. That Gods Word is the onely rule and principle in matters of Religion and Reformation It holds à majori ad minus if the Prophets that were acted infallibly would yet confirme their matter delivered by Scripture how much rather others 2. From the matter or argument and in that the duty pressed Doct. 2. That it is a speciall duty upon all to remove all impediments and to make way for Christ when he is comming to us We will begin with the first Doct. The Word of God is the onely rule and principle in matters of Religion or Reformation It hath the properties of a Rule which are these 1. It is known and easie Psal. 19. 78. It is compared to a light and a Lanthorn to our feet Nor will that evasion of the Papists serve their turnes that it is lumen or light in it selfe but not quoad nos as if the Scripture were a light under the bushell God should then doe that which our Saviour saith no man doth for that the Scripture is light effective as well as formaliter appeares by the addition giving understanding to the simple Besides to be a light in it selfe but not quoad nos is a kind of contradiction seeing the light it hath is for us It is true indeed there is a two-fold obscurity one of matter which sometimes is so excellent and perfect that our understandings cannot reach it and so in this sense it is said the naturall man perceiveth not the things of God {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a naturall man one that doth excolere animam such as Aristotle and Tully but this blame is to be cast upon our understanding not the Scripture for as we say Sol est maxime visibilis Deus est maxime intelligibilis the Sunne is most visible and God most easie to be known because the one hath the greatest motive of seeing which is light and the other of being understood which is verity so are these truths most full of light if our understandings were opened The second obscurity is of the phrase and that the Scripture useth not in things essentiall to salvation and commonly what is obscurely set down in one place is cleare in another and shall not the Spirit of God which giveth a cleare understanding and expressions unto men be cleare See the Papists folly they hold it possible to fulfill the Law but not to understand it for when we urge that place Deut. 30. 12. The Word is not hidden from thee and it is very nigh thee Oh say they this is to be understood of the fulfilling of the Law not the knowing it wee conclude then the holy Scriptures are the holy Ladders whereby we climbe up into heaven and know Gods meaning 2. It is infallible and certain The infallibility of it is witnessed by those places where Gods Word is compared to Gold seven times refined and where it is said Heaven and earth shall sooner passe away then one jot or tittle a And so thy testimonies are sure By all this it appeareth that the Word of God is a fixed Canon it cannot be wrested and wyer-drawn so as to approve one thing to day and the contrary to morrow It is hellish blasphemy to compare it to a nose of Wax and to say that it is to be interpreted secundum currentem statum Ecclesiae as the condition of the Church altereth so must the Scripture alter thereby they confirme that of Tertullian Deus non erit Deus nisi homini placuerit God shall not be God unlesse man please If you say that the Apostle Peter speakes of some who did wrest the Scripture and put it upon the wrack This is to be granted concerning the words not the sence and matter of the Holy Ghost intended by those words That is invariable and cannot be a Reed shaken with every wind of interpretation and because Heretiques would flye to the words denying the sence therefore hath the Church of God been constrained to use new words to distinguish them by Irenaeus doth well compare Heretiques to the Beast Hyaena that imitates the Shepheards voyce and so by that meanes seduceth the Sheep into destruction Now this infallibility of the Word is so great that when some as Saul and Uzzah have gone against it as if their speciall considerations might give them a protection which were indeed faire and plausible yet they were severely punished by God 3. It is universall in regard of time place and persons so that he is the true and good Catholike that keeps to this Catholike rule The Word was ever a rule to declare unto the Church any thing besides that we have received nunquam licet nunquam licuit nunquā licebit Vinc. Lyr. Hence in the Old Testament Esay 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony if they speake not according to this it is because there is no light in them Hence also the good Kings Hezekiah and Iosiah were guided by this pillar of fire when they set upon Reformation It was a rule in the New Testament therefore our Saviour often Luk. 10. 26. Psal. 11. 17. How readest thou and how is it written Paul when he would reform the abuses crept in the Church of Corinth about the Sacrament goeth to the first institution and as it was delivered from Christ And if wee consult with the Fathers we shall finde that this Scripture was the brook out of which they gathered those stones which they slung in the forehead of those Goliahs that oppressed the truth There was never any errour but it went up and down like Cain from one place to another fearing lest every place of Scripture that met it would kill it Then it is universall for all places as the Sun in the firmament is light for the whole world not for this Kingdome only or that but it is for Nations so is Gods Word a rule to England to Scotland to Rome to all where it is promulged Lastly it is universall to all persons for as the Psalmist saith of the Sunne there is nothing hid from the heat thereof so no person or persons are exempted from the Obligation of the Word there is none too great to have his faith and life controlled by it Hence it is able to make the man of God wise to salvation 1 Tim. 3. 17. And not onely a Minister but an whole Councell yea this is a rule that binds Kings and Parliaments We must all stoop to his Word 4. It is Indivisible When we say a rule is indivisible the meaning is that nothing may be added to it or detracted from it and this the Scripture in the close of all Rev. 22. challengeth to it self how great a breach of this truth hath been made when the Apocryphall Book and many other traditions and Ceremonies have been equallized to Scripture and made as necessary as