and sufficient for Salvation This may quiet all Ob. Of what use then are other Scriptures Sol. From a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.15.16.17 which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and as profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works All Scriptures are equally true but not equally important nor necessary in terminis The Death and Resurrection of Christ are of greater value then the Circumstances of them The Text is of more worth then the Comments Paraphrases and Glosses upon them As long as we believe the main we are safe for other things Errare possum Haereticus esse nolo Aug. Repentance and Faith are the whole Duties of man Every one that doth evil hateth the light Joh. 3.20.21 neither cometh to the light lest his Deeds should be reproved but he that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his Deeds might be made manifest that they are wrought in God The Kingdom of God consisteth in Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost The Kingdom of Christ is within us Joh. 1.12 13. As many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe in his name Which were born not of Blood nor of the Will of the Flesh nor of the Will of man but of God Of him ye are in Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 1.30 who is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption See the Sermon on the Mount per totum Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy mind Mat. 22.37.38 This is the First and great Commandment And the Second is like unto it Thou shall love thy Neighbour as thy self On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets Joh. 13.34 35 A New Covenant I give unto you That ye love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another This is my Commandment Joh. 15.12 That ye love one another as I have loved you The hour cometh Joh. 4 21. when ye shall neither in this Mountain nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father But the hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seeketh such to Worship him God is a Spirit and they that Worship him must Worship him in Spirit and in Truth We have known and believed the love that God hath to us God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and he in him 1 Joh. 4.16 Heb. 10.19 c Having boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus By a new and living way which he hath Consecrated for us through the Vail that is to say his Flesh And having a High Priest over the House of God let us draw neer with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our Bodies washed with pure Water Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood Ro 3.25 c. to declare his Righteousness for the Remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God c. One Mediator between God and Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a Ransom for all to be testified in due time If any man sin Tim. 2.5 6. we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous Joh. 2.1 2. and he is the Propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole World Mat. 16.24 If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me c. He that believeth on him is not condemned Joh. 3.18 but he that believeth not is condemned already Joh. 8.12 I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not work in darkness but shall have the Light of Life Tit. 2.11 The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men c. SECT XV. 2. Morality despised is Christianity Morality Heb. 11.6 They that fear God and work Righteousness are accepted of him They that believe God believe Christ Without Faith it is impossible to please God for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him Ob. Moral Men have no Grace they are many of them in Hell Sol. This is the Language Ro. 2.26 c. of those that pretend to speak the Language of Canan Let us hearken to sound words If the Uncircumcision keep the Righteousness of the Law shall not his Uncircumcision be counted for Circumcision And shall not Uncircumcision which is by Nature if it fulfil the Law Judge thee who by the Letter and Circumcision doth transgress the Law For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that Circumcision which is outwardly in the Flesh But he is a Jew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter whose praise is not of Men but of God A Moral Man is a Christian by the surer side Speculations Mr. Hobs. Notions Forms are mistaken A good life saved Heathens The Light of Nature is God's Will though it be more highly revealed I must confess I have not yet made the proficiency in the Schools of our Ages as to see why the second Table and the Acts of it are not as properly the part of Religion and Christianity as the Acts and Observations of the First Table If I mistake in this 't is St. James that hath abused me Jam. 1.17 who saith Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this To visit the Fatherless and Widows in their Affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the World So the thing which in the new Dialect signifies nothing but Morality and Civility the same in the Language of the Holy Ghost imports true Religion and undefiled Such as we Sow such shall we Reap God will require no more than what he hath given We talk of Special Graces but Sanctification makes the Saints and Self-denial the Christians and he that doth Righteousness is Righteous and he shall live and not die Follow Peace with all men and Holiness without which no Man shall see the Lord. â—eb 12.14 Lord I have hoped for thy Salvation and done thy Commandments Christ said â—s 119.164 I must preach the Kingdom of God to other Cities also â—uke 4.43 for therefore am I sent The Kingdom of God is within you â—uke 17.20 The Grace of God
Gospels and Acts and Epistles are when they give not their own Judgement without Gods whose Inspirations were proved by Miracles-working Faith Ancient Fathers Venerable Modern Writers more learned Ancient Writers next to them were not Inspired and did no Miracles yet are Venerable but Modern Writers long after them are more knowing but all subject to failings They came from the Jews and from the Gentiles and did not a little partake of the Jewish and Gentile Religion Consider those Proselytes as men long accustomed to both Doctrines and Rites and it is no wonder if they were loth to part with them Since that by degrees if the Wits of men are more refined in the Gospel purity of Doctrine and Worship wonder not at the matter for they have had more time and more means a great deal to consider things better Fathers Witnesses Errors in Fathers The nearest Fathers were the best Witnesses but the farthest Doctors are the best Judges The Millenaries Opinion was very old The Communion of Infants Their Damnation without Baptism The Corporeity of Angels and of God himself The Re-baptizing of such as were Baptized by Hereticks The long deferring of Baptism The Baptism for the Dead Reliques The Non-Restoring of the Lapsed The Denyal of Repentance Marriage to Priests Adoring Crosses The Limbi Patrum Infantum False Miracles Purgatory The Invocation of Saints and Angels Image Worship and many more Opinions have too much Antiquity and too little Truth They held the Fundamental Truths in great Righteousness we hold the same and many more in too much Unrighteousness Modern Writers The Modern Writers have considered all the Reasons of the Ancients and have added to that which their Fathers invented The Fathers have opened the Door and their Children have entred into the more Secret Recesses of Divine Truths They had not time nor so much skill as their Successors had They did well in their Generations but they could not do all He that lives a thousand Ages hence shall have no cause to be idle he shall find work enough to find out what Truths have not been yet discovered and so to the Worlds end there are more Worlds to discover Multa dies variusque labor mutabilis aevi Retulit in melius Every day brings new light Truth is the Daughter of time What the Fathers saw darkly and afar off peeping through the Lattices the Children see distinctly the Objects coming to a nearer distance by open Windows Judaism and Gentilism came too hot upon them in the First Ages and they did not could not put them by so strongly as we have done since Education Their Education among Jews and Gentiles was a great hindrance of that work Our Education among Christians altogether is a great help to the same work Judaism and Gentilism were but newly renounced they came reeking from them to contrary Principles The Doctrines and Rites of Judaism and Gentilism are stale now and obsolete long since though some would be nibling at them still Other Errors have crept in but of a more remote nature and less contrariant than the former were The Fountains came pure from the Apostles but the Streams of Judaism and Gentilism ran quickly into them and pudled those Waters which since have settled and grown pure in a good measure after the Rabbinical and Philosophical Pollutions especially at the time of the Reformation which daily advanceth it self more and more with the Improvement also of all Arts and Sciences in a high and glorious Success Improvements Venimus ad summum Fortunae pingimus atque Psallimus meliùs luctamur Achivis Virg. The Greeks outdid the Egyptians the Romans out-did the Greeks even in those things which they were taught at Memphis and Athens We want nothing to excell our Forefathers in but Piety and Honesty We are sagaciores in dogmate nequiores in fide There are better Expositions of Scriptures than ever were but worser Manners Richer Veins of Gold but more alloied with baser Mettals Fathers plain and honest Children gay and crafty Novelty no real prejudice to the Authority of Ancient Truth If our Fathers in Religion had refused every Exposition of Scripture that was true because it was new to them we should by this time have had nothing old nor true If any thing be true entertain it though it be found out but yesterday with Men it was from the beginning with God Call nothing New if it be True The World hath been too long deceived by the Antiquity of Errors Wise men look beyond them for there are Ancienter and Wiser than they SECT II. Suppositious Writings Very few of the Writings in the first three Centuries are come to our hands Many Books obtruded under the Names of the Apostles Peter Barnabas Thomas Paul to the Laodiceans Paul and Teâ—la Euseb l. 1. c. This made Eusebius complain that he had little or no light to guid him â—n his History of those Primitive Times because those Christians did not write much or if they did their Books were lost As the Five Books of Papias Bishop of Hierapolis the Apology of Quadratus Atheniensis of Aristides Basilides c. mentioned by Eusebius St. Jerom and others Clemens Ignatius Justin Martyr Irenaeus Clemens Alexandrinus Tertullian Origen Cyprian Arnobius Lactantius have pretty well escaped though time hath set her Fangs upon them The Writings of the Fourth and Fifth Centuries have exceeded the former for number and good fortune of more safe conveyance but not for worth and authority Many of the oldest are Supposititious and those that are legitimate corrupted Legitimate Writings corrupted and obscure and all hard to be understood by reason of the Languages and Idioms and Schemes of Oratory and Logical Subtilties with which they abound as also the Terms used in a far different Sence then and safer than now they are As Pope Patriarch Mass Oblation Sacrifice Mysteries Mortal Sins Penance Confession Satisfaction Merit Indulgence Altar c. Since that we may complain as Gregory Nasianzen that good man did There was an honest plain and solid way of Preaching Greg. Naz. brief and profitable Late Innovations but afterwards a wanton kind of Divinity embroydered with artifices and delicacies came to be the mode then came in Curiosities Juglings and Tricks of Legerdemain But had he seen the Wagon Loads of Summists Casuists Mysticks Postilers Criticks Canonists Ritualists Cabbalists which these latter Ages have produced He and other Cassandrists that have bore witness in all Ages to the Truth would have been tired with garbling the Errors and Vices of every Sect and choaked with the swarms of Locusts that rush out of the Bottomless Pit Ancient mistakes of Christian Anabaptists about the Antipodes The Souls Propagation and Purgation Corporeity of Angels and Souls of Men Praying for the Dead c. are nothing in comparison to the swinsing Dogma's of Infallibility Supremacy Transubstantiation Consubstantiation worship of Images Angels and Saints
They have better Principles than so where ever they are they are the Truâ—st Church say the Papists and Sectaries what they please Theirs is the only safe way to Salvation Sit anima mea cum talibus Christianis SECT VIII Therefore the Modern Divinity of the Reformation is according to the Pattern of Christ on Mount Sion not of Moses on Mount Sinai Right Preaching agreeable to the Sense Language and Stâ—le of the New Testament agreeable to Sense and Reason drawn from the New Testament explaining the great Points of Grace Faith Repentance Justification Regeneration Adoption Election c. for edification of Souls without the tincture of Legends of Saints Miracles and Reliques Penances Prayers to Saints or Angels Devotion to Images or the Cross or to the Host without School Subtilties or Flourishes of Eloquence falsly so called without Enterludes or Masquerades upon the Passion Resurrection or Ascension c. which things have a shew of Holiness but nothing of the Power of Godliness at all in them to please God at all Therefore the Modern Doctrine Discipline and Worship of the Reformation is agreeable to the pure Antient and Spiritual Doctrine Discipline and Worship of God in that true evangelical Dispensation after the Abolishment of Mose's Law without Carnal Pomp and Ceremonies directed to God above through Jesus Christ without any Applications to Saints or Angels or Images without Prayers in an unknown Tongue Half Communion Penances Pilgrimages Vows Offerings at Shrines Prayers to or for the dead which things have a shew and form of Godliness pleasing to the Flesh but nothing of the power or substance of Religion to please God This honest preaching of God's word and plain form of Publick Worship by solid Prayers Intercessions Praises Thanksgivings and Benedictions fitting for all conditions at all times is the true Modern Christian Service for Uniformity in Knowledge and Devotion in Spirit and Truth in the publick Congregation leaving every man to liberty of Conscience in Reading and Praying in his Family or in his Closet that all may be done for Edification Decently and in Order And if all Protestants would submit as they are commanded to the publick hearing of God's word and to the publick Worship as it is by Law established in the freedom of the Spirit and Faith though they scruple at some few indifferent Rites to which they are not in Bondage reserving their liberty of opening to themselves they should do no more then what all Jews did and what all Heathens did and what all Papists did and do and what all other Protestants and Christians over all the World do keeping peace though they are not all agreed in other things Why should our Dissenters be strangers to all Christendom besides And this the Poor People would quickly do if their private Teachers would conform and teach them to do the like which is the thing so greatly desired and to which they have been so long woo'd with all kindness and encouragement imaginable O when will they once look upon their dear Mother the Church of England whom they have pierced for she is ready to look upon them as God is with the eye of tender pity and compassion Her Bowels yearn upon her Children who that they may be undâ—ceived let them know that the bottom of the business is this The Politick Great ones pretending to the Title aim strongly at these two things 1. At the Power Regal Policy Thrones are brave things 2. At Crown Lands Church Lands and Nobilities and Gentries Lands These are fat morsels Nobles shall embrace Dunghills and Slaves shine in purple and Scarlet These great Dogs shall swallow the rich prey the little Curs bark aloud and starve You fat Citizens and Countrey Farmers shall spend your Bloods and Estates and be turn'd off with Debentures to the publick Faith till you be as poor as Job and as very Slaves as the African Negroes I le promise you Gospellers shall get Sequestrations of your Brethrens Livings but the Classes and Assemblies shall never be able to set up the Stool of Repentance nor tyrannize over the Gentry of every Parish by the Assistance of Weavers and Taylors and your Lay Elders You may remember when you were uppermost your Patrons never trusted you with Power nor with the Kings Nobilities or Gentries or Churches Revenues Stand off But the Independants Anabaptists Quakers having the longest Sword would not stand off but took the Power and Estate too and the least Dog of yours durst not open his mouth against your dear Brethren Then were you fairly wip't of all Then you whin'd and cryed to bring in the King and upon his knees too if you could for your own ends And now you are not pleased what does infatuation presage They say Quos Jupiter vult perdere hos dementat But you may do a great deal of mischief before that time But you may repent also and then that time shall never come And as a Motive to your Repentance I 'le be a Prophet for once that never was a Prophet before Your own Lay-Masters and Protectors will engage you to do their work for them and when they have done they will fill their own Bellies and turn you off to live upon the Bridle For Treason is liked but the Traytor loathed And if you will not believe me Look over into Scotland in Knocks his time Look beyond the Seas into Holland Germany Hungary Sweden Denmark Norway c. Observe their Clergy Superintenders and Lay-Administrators where the Name of Bishop will not down but their Estates are gone down glib into Lay-mens Stomacks and are very well digested But the new-named Clergy are put off with a Bit and a Knock pitiful dependent Pensioners and Trencher-Chaplains easily blown away by the Blast of their Great Dons or the Puff of a Lurdy Burger Lastly for I am tired in this Odious Subject Beside the most deplorable Atheism daily increasing and the Distractions in the Religion that is left Rebellion multiplying upon us by reason of the Spirit of Rebellion not only the Prince is affronted by his Subjects the Magistrate by his Citizens the Pastor by his Flock but every Parent by his Children and every Master of a Family by his Servants So that if there were no other end but the benefit of enjoying our Temporal Rights we had need to pray for Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life here in common honesty which can never be expected in such a state of Rebellion as we are now in From which Good Lord deliver us Amen Do but consider If you should break out into Rebellion the Second time how many young poor Creatures would you draw away in the simplicity of their Souls as if it were Gods cause but especially what multitudes of forlorn hungry Desperados Banditi and angry Fellows would follow you for prey and plunder of Churches and Palaces to the Ruin of the King Nobility