some think the Book called Deuteronomie being casually found in the ruines and rubbish of Gods house and then read by the High Priest was looked upon as * Hos 8.12 a strange thing which they were not acquainted withal But though Priests were sometimes careless Depositaries yet God inspired such a Love of the Law into many of his People both Priests Levites and Laicks that that inestimable Juel was never lost which God would have preserved to be the Standard of his publick worship the measure of private devotion and the constant light to their walking with God and with men in the fear of God And notwithstanding the scandalous corruption of the Holy Order it self for a time pious persons could then be and were rationally assured that the Book of the Law as well as the law of the Lord was perfect and uncorrupted And I desire you to take notice that this is the Principal thing which is aimed at by way of instance or retortion to his fift Querie For if a direct true Answer be given to my fourth Querie it will follow by Analogie that Christians may be as perfectly ascertained of the integrity of the Canon of Scriptures though the major or more eminent part of Bishops the Bishop of Rome not exempted should be infected with Arianism as once it happened and although all the Bishops of the Roman Church which the Querist would fain have us to take for the Catholick but can never perswade us that a member of a Body is the whole as we can never believe that The Tyrrhene Sea is the whole Ocean do teach errors as matters of Christian Faith Now this being the design of my Question by getting out of a Papists mouth an Answer for a Jew to furnish a good Christian with an Answer to a Popish Cavil and to ensnare the Querist in his own ginn he craftily slips the Question out of the way and without making any direct answer to the Jews inquirie as he offered to do in handling the former Queries turns aside to make an impertinent Harangue concerning private mens use of the Scriptures Mark I pray my fourth Querie and compare the return and you will see nothing of an Answer in this That the infallibility of the Jewish Church was the means to preserve the Scriptures entire The question was not about the means by which the Book of Moses was preserved but about the manner how a Jew might be assured of the integrity of it Now the truly pious Jew who with Jeremy bemoaned the corruption of the Church by the errors and seducements of the Priests could not make that Infallibility which he did not believe because he saw the contrary the reason why he believed the Scriptures to be preserved in purity and integrity And it is as impertinent to any of my propositions to proceed as he doth that it follows not thence that every private person should find out every particular point of Religion by particular or express proofs out of the written word alone For I neither make nor suppose any such Inference from any thing premised in my fiâ—… Querie But Sir I would have you take notice that when we make the Holy Scriptures the Rule of Religion and Instrument to make us wise unto Salvation we do not exclude the Authority of those persons whom Christ hath made dipensers of Holy Mysteries but alwaies suppose the Mynisterie to be a Means appointed for the edifying us in our Holy Faith Again we allow particular Christians that are endowed with the Spirit of understanding which is one of the gifts which Christ received without measure Esa 11.2 Joh. 3.34 Eph. 4.7 Phil. 1.9,10 Col. 1.9 Act. 17. â—… but hath imparted to all his living members according to his good pleasure in a certain measure to try the Spirits and as the Bereans did to examine the agreeableness of their lawful pastors Doctrine to the Scripture And if a Priest though the highest in a Church tells Christians that the Blessed Cup in the Eucharist is not to be given to all them that receive the Holy Bread or that God may be represented by any picture or devise of men in any shape whatsoever or that any meer Creature is to be worshiped with religious worship the Sheep of Christ that know their chief Shephards voice may use their talent of reason to try these doctrines by the touch-stone of truth But we do not affirm that it is necessary for every Christian to deduce and prove every particular point of Religion out of Scripture But since the faith once delivered to the Saints with the rules of Holy Life are now written for our instruction and direction by God himself on purpose that they may be a Light to our feet and make wise the simple and therefore the Testimonies of the Lord are clear sure and plain in all things that are necessary to be believed and practised therefore every one according to the circumstances of his condition and calling is bound more or less to use the means vouchsafed him by Gods providence and may by diligence satisfy his conscience in building his Faith and Obedience upon Scriptum ect It is written Rom. 15.4 Hos 8.12 psal 19.7,8 Prov. 8.7,8 Esa 35.8 Now let us see what our Querist sayes to prove that a * The Jews at this day are so enslaved to their Rabbies that if a Rabbi or wiseman tell them their Right hand is their left they are bound to believe it Now what difference is there between an obstinate Jew and an infatuated Papist Jew was bound to rest upon the Authority of the Priests though they were Idolatrous or infected with Sadducism he endeavors to invalidate my allegations of the Prophet †Esa 9.16 Esa 8.20 Esay who expressely sayes in the place alledged The leaders of the people caused them to err and they that are lead of them are destroyed Is it not evident that leaning upon their leaders hand and resting upon their Authority was the peoples ruine God therefore not only to secure them from sorcerers as this man restrains the caution but also from all seducers whatsoever who surely would pretend divine warrant to gain credit to their erroneous doctrine for never any one brought false doctrine upon the stage without a vizard advises his people to have recourse to the Law and the Testimony not excluding the Ministerie of the Priest and Levite who were faithful in things concerning God if any such could be consulted with and some such God did reserve in the worst times but giving the people liberty if the Grandees spake not according to that manifest Rule to disbelieve them as destitute of true Light The Prophet indeed doth not forbid men to resort to the present Pastors of the Church but allows them the judgement of Discretion to try the words of their leaders by the Law which shines brightly enough to enlighten their eyes that they may discern Chast from Wheat and false doctrine
their Disputants to decline proving any thing and to impose that burden of proof upon their adversaries Eph. 2.20 But we that do take our selves to be in the just possession of the faith once delivered unto the Saints and indeed do build our Religion upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets that is upon the writings of both as Abraham in his Dialogue with Dives gives the name of Moses and the Prophets to their holy Books left behind them do reasonably expect that whosoever goes about to draw us off from that Church and way of salvation wherein we are engaged unto another Society under pretence that we can be safe no where else but in that Ark do strongly and clearly prove that our Religion is for the main body of it false treacherous and destructive of salvation and that the Society to which we are invited by Papists is the sole Mistress of saving truth Luk. 16.29,31 They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear these If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded if one arise from the dead Where note that the holy Scriptures bear in them the same Authority that was in the living persons of Moses and the Prophets and also have the same efficacious vertue to beget faith as their words had being orally pronounced and where these lively Oracles are freely confuted and faithfully applyed though by men that are short of Infallibility but faithfull dispensers of holy mysteries an infallible Guide is superfluous Also mark that where the Authority of Scriptures is despised Miracles and there is the same reason to say so of Infallibility are useless because uneffectual to work faith For all that are acquainted with the course either of Judicial proceedings or of Scholastical disputations know well that this Rule holds Actori and Asserenti incumbit probatio The proof lies upon the Accuser or the Averrer of any thing But this puzling way without proving of any thing savours so strongly of deceit and is so far from a fair way of reasoning that it can catch none but them that are unsetled in their Religion and Novices in both divine and humane learning And because there are too many such in the world whose precious souls are in danger at this time the discovery of Popish illusions is now become a necessary work of the prudent and faithfull Guides of souls who by Gods grace have an actual certainty of their Religion and can justly say in the words of St. John We know that we are of the truth and We know that God hath given us a mind or understanding to know the true God and we are in him that is true 1 Joh. 3.19 and 5.20 although they have not the vanity to challenge to themselves an Infallibility So much for the five Questions in general which whether the Divine hath answered or no it is now free for the indifferent Reader to judge As for this Answerers Engagement in the Controversie it was very casual A Romanist that is very zealous to promote the Pope's Interest in this Kingdom had endeavoured to gain credit with the Eve by a surprisal and if the old stratagem had prospered by her insinuation to draw in the Adam presuming that the Rhetorick of love would be more prevalent then his Logick upon a considerate Gentleman To this end a Copy of the five Questions was commended to the persons with a presumption that no Minister of our Church could give a fit and full Answer to these confounding Queries And then it was to be hoped that the parties assaulted would presently despise and then desert a Church that was unfurnished of a Ministry able to answer such doughty Questions as the refined Wits of Papists devise It was also to be supposed that whosoever breaks off from our Church would without any further ado at the next step run into that which is next him the Church of Rome whose †Mat. 7.13 Noctes atque dies patet atri janua Ditis wide gate stands open day and night and is ready to receive all that would find a broad way to Heaven such as is the Roman passage by a Priests Absolution without a holy life or sincere contrition for a debauched But it fell out about this time that * This Rustick Divine says of himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He speaks plainly he calls things by their right names a Countrey Minister of the Gentlemans ancient acquaintance being in the City and invited to dine at his Lodging came to see his Friend a little sooner then some other Guests then expected The Gentleman thought fit to make these Questions a part of the Ministers entertainment The Minister took the short time of that expectation to read the Riddle and after a small ruminating took Pen and luk and set down the double Answer hereafter following and resigned the Writing to the Gentleman to be disposed of at his pleasure Shortly after the Romish Mountebank renewed his visit to see how the Pill had wrought The Gentleman then took the opportunity to deliver him the Ministers Paper But many moneths past before any return was made at length a Reply was communicated to the Gentleman who conveyed it to the Answerer as soon as he could conveniently being at a distance from him by the interposition of several Counties The Minister took his first time of leisure to give his sence of this Reply by a Letter to his Friend who was the person concerned in the Contest as being the man aimed at for to be made a Roman Convert that is to say in prain terms a child of Hell in a double measure for leaving the clear and living Well of salvation and then seeking it in a broken cistern or in a foul puddle of errors and corruptions Withall it was the Ministers intent that the Letter should be imparted unto the Romanist that he might make some good use of it For the Protestants charity is imployed to turn a sinner from the error of his way as well as to secure a Christian in the path of righteousness And although this transaction was past A. D. 1666. yet be that drove the trade pursued it no further and hath neither as it was on our side heartily desired Non est pudor ad meliora transire Ambros acknowledged his error whereof he might be convinced and confess it with a wholesome shame nor attempted any vindication of his Writing that we know of which silence hath more of prudence then any fresh proffer of more impertinencies could have Rom. 10.10 His silence therefore cannot be taken for consent in a matter of Religion where the confession of our faith is a duty but may be taken for a modest laying down of his weapons Now as for this way of publication of all that hath pass'd on both sides he that observes the bold activity of Romanists at this time may apprehend a sufficient reason of it without being told one
it be not a direct Answer to his Question yet it shall strangle or stifle his intended Conclusion in the conception and it is this A Man may be a member of Christs body which we now call the Catholick Church and be in the Ark out of which there is no Salvation though he be not in communion with the chief Governors of the Roman Synagogue Let him deny this if he dare make an open forfeiture of his charity Let him disprove it if he can There was a visible Church and Salvation attained in it before there was a stone laid at Rome of a spiritual Temple for Jerusalem was the mother and Mistress of all Churches and not Rome as the Father of lies teaches Papists to say and swear and it may be so again when Babylon the great the City seated on seven hills is fallen as a milstone cast into the bottom of the Sea In the mean time the old position of Dr. Jo. Reynolds is worthy of Remembrance The Roman Church is neither the Catholick Church nor a sound member of the Catholick Church Read the Bul. of P. Pius 4. which enjoyns all Clergy-men and all in Religious Orders to swear to the new Creed whereof this is one Article I acknowledge the Holy Catholick and Apostolick Roman Church the Mother and Mistress of all Churches My Answer to his third Querie is very magisterially but ridiculoussy censured by him to have nothing of a Categorical Answer The Proposition is for certain Categorical because it is not hypothetical Let the Question and the Return be compared and this will appear defective in nothing necessary to an Answer The demand is this I desire to know by designation which amongst them all which pretend to be the Catholick Church or a part of it is now the Catholick Church The Answer runs thus That is the Holy Catholick Church which professeth that one Holy Catholick Faith once for all delivered to the Saints c. ut supra He says I give no designation of any particular profession or professions of Christians That is to say if I mistake not his meaning I do not name Protestants or Papists the Church of England or of Rome or of Greece or of Germany Indeed if I had so done I had then given an Answer that could not satisfie any rational man For no Church denominated from the place of habitation which way of distinction of Churches is usual in Scripture or from some bond of union which is not general to all Christendom can properly and truly be called the Catholick that is the Universal Church But I that was at liberty to design it as well as I could did give a significant Character of the Catholick Church taken from its proper office and action The Querist says I tell what the holy Catholick Church is Very good But I do not design which of so many several professions in the world is now the Catholick Church Now if he expect that I should play the fool and say that a particular Church is properly the Catholick Church I hope you will not be offended if I do not satisfie his expectation And when I have designed the Church Universal so that a man may understand what it is I think with the same labour I have told him which is it because the Church Universal is but one as he that tels what the Sun is designs which is the Sun because there are not many Suns And because the Church is a collective body that is one by aggregation of similar parts each of which lesser Societies is called a Church I have given him a Mark whereby he may know whether any particular Society be a member of that Body since the one faith runs through the one body and is the life of that body and of every limb of it But my fault is that I design one obscure thing by another that is equally obscure I will mend my fault if I do not justifie my self from having committed one I confess all spiritual things are obscure to men that are meerly carnal or natural but where the Gospel shines if it be attended unto it brings light with it whereby we may discern things that differ For judging or discerning of a true Church from a false we must first know in some measure what is Truth Mat. 7.16,17,18 For if we must discern a good tree from a bad by the fruit as our Saviour directs us to do then we must first know what is good and bad in fruit and then consider what fruit the tree bears and from thence give a judgement of the tree This is the method which we must take in the enquiring for a true Church Till we know what is Truth and that is * Thy scil Gods Law is the Truth Psal 119.142 Gods Word is the Truth Joh. 17.17 the Faith once delivered to the Saints we cannot know what Church brings forth good or bad fruit Profession of faith is bearing of fruit The goodness of this fruit is Truth that is agreeableness to the Word of God It is therefore necessary that we know the Truth before we can know a Church to be true Now though the Truth or the holy Catholick Faith may be under doubt and debate yet hat God set it up in the Scriptures so conspicuously 2 Cor. 4.3 that if the Gospel be hid it is hid to them that perish Therefore I added to the Character of the Church by which I designed it to be known that is the profession of faith the means whereby we may know what the faith is which being professed is the sole certain mark of a true Church For the marks of the Church which Romanists commonly give are separable from the Truth and if they be taken singly without truth are false and treacherous indices whereas the true faith of it self is a sure note of a true Church And I pointed at Scripture which is the Rule of faith on purpose in mine Answer that I might not be thought to send a man to look for a thing in the dark without a light And now Sir do you judge whether I have deserved blame by my designation of the Catholick Church by professing the Catholick Faith But to make mine Answer both applicable to the Question and also useful to you I shall a little explicate and enlarge my sence It is presumed that the enquiry after a Church is made by a Christian that may be distracted in the variety of visible Societies differing one from another but every one equally pretending to be a Church but his distraction is the greater because of all Societies only the Roman Synagogue doth challenge to her self to be the Ark out of which there is no salvation There are three Reasons which may move Christians to enquire for a Church or a visible Society of Christians 1. That they may serve God and offer up the spiritual sacrifices of praise and prayer by Christ Jesus Heb. 13.15 1 Pet.