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
of the events every way answerable to the predictions 2. What need we any more witnesses when all that Scripture hath foretold and declared as the counsel and will of God is alwayes fulfilled every day as we may see with our eyes And this serves to confirm the Divine authority of it That no work of God is contrary to his word or varies from it in the least but all his Providences of Mercy and Judgement in all changes and chances â—…ill answer his promises and threatâ—…ings in Scripture Yea the sufferings of Gods Servants shew as clearly is any thing else the fulfilling of the written Word since nothing is spoâ—…en of in Scripture more often fully or plainly And here we may chalenge the World to shew any particular passage of providence which â—…utes not exactly with what is reveal'd â—…n the Word and therefore we are confident of this consent between the word and works of God as a strong evidence in the Case For how impossible is it that any one or all men together should pen a Book so precisely anâ—…weting to all and every thing that happens in the World What I pray hath happened to this hoâ—…r whereof an obiesvant and knowing Christian may not say This is no more then what was foretold and no other then what God hath said in his word should be Indeed Atheists and Epicures may dally awhile with Scripture as they do with God himself and count such things as these of small consideration But they of them who are yeâ—… alive might see if they shut not their eyes how Scripture is continually fulfilling in their fellows and hence we are bold to question them yeâ—… and dare them to shew that Goâ—… word hath not laid hold on such as they are just so as is foretold 〈◊〉 Scripture Oh! That these misâ—… would but read and observe Scripture surely then they would discerâ—… what will be their end even the same as of those that went before them And though God hath left himself a latitude in all his providâ—…ial dispensations so as we cannot precisely resolve in every particular concerning wicked ones what shalâ—… befall them on earth yet even that latitude is hinted and what Case is there wherein we are not provided for by some resolution of it in Scripture To instance yet again What design hath the Devil been driving on in these last ages of the World for troubling and diâ—…bing the Church or hindring the work of God in and about it of which there is not a President or parallel Instance in Scripture Or what distresses dangers and sufferings have ever attended Gods people of which there are not some the same or like to be found upon record in the written Word that so all Saints even to the worlds end through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have Hope And hence all that fear God have this to encourage them that their troubles are no more then what others before them have undergone and that when 't is at worst there will be deliverance and enlargement as there hath been alwayes heretofore in the same or the like Cases And hence also they may challenge all those who quarrel Scriptures authority who or where is he that conceiv'd and contriv'd such a Writing beside him who alone can foresee and provide against all events though never so contingent and casual Let Atheists then sport themselves as they please and as long as they can their time is short and it will not be long ere they come to know whether Scripture be the word of God or no Doubtless the continual fulfilling of Scripture in the course of Gods providence is a singulaâ—… good argument to any sound Christian who can set his seal to Scripture and say This is so and I know it by what is to be seen every day Scripture shews it self the word of God in the mighty force and efficacy of it upon the hearts of all men Sometimes in casting down and sometimes again in comforting and lifting up Yea strange and wonderfull have been the effects of it on the godly and the wicked as might be shewed by many Instances but I may not enlarge my self this way not is there need more then to hint it as an argument and leave it to be considered of by such as are sober and perswadable All that I shall do more is only to answer an objection which is this viz. That only some precise and over-nice People so conceit as if Scripture could do great matters But others are not bound to a belief of their fancies For themselves they find no such power it hath to wound or search their hearts and therefore they believe no such thing as some talk of about the force of Scripture working upon the consciences and discovering the hearts of men They are not Phanaticks only who are so conceited of Scripture There are and have been many too well conceited of themselves and who had little regard either to the Scripture or him that we say penn'd it with his own finger which have found by experience the mighty force of it prevailing against and over them But I forbear Instances and shall only argue thus The corruption of mans heart and nature running out in so many infinitely various wayes as it hath and sâ—…ill doth and so cunningly hiding it self as much as possibly from the eyes of the world How should the written word meet with it in all and every of those wayes as it doth if it were not of God that alone searcheth the hearts And whether it do or no we appeal to the consciences of the most prophane scoffers What is it let them speak that hath many times challenged them for what they have done in secret when no eye but that of God could see them was it not conscience within them And could conscience have thus challenged them if there had not been some Law where on to draw the Indictment How could any mans heart smite him for what no creature knows but himself if his heart did not know there is a Judgement and a Soveraign power that will call to an account for the hidden things of darkness It must be some sense of a supreme Authority that keeps the heart in awe and causes it to reflect sadly upon its irregularities in secret and this sense must arise from some manifestation which hath been made by the only Law-giver who searcheth the hearts Men are never afraid of men for any thing which they are sure can never be found out or prov'd against them But they are afraid of Gods Judgement which could not be if there were not some known Law that fâ—…ighted them with sad expectations and what Law can that be other then what we have in Scripture Now let them speak if any can what it was that ever enter'd into their hearts which the written word did not let them know as well as they themselves in every circumstance if they please to consider it and
down the Kingdome which Satan hath alwaies laboured to set up to himself in the would through the lusts of Men. There are but two parties in the world whatever men may dream and of these one is for Gods and the other for the Devils Kingdome and command Now whiles all men are by nature and of themselves addicted to the Devils interest in serving their own lusts and the most are alwaâ—…es this way given there must be more then an ordinary power to preserve that doctrine which cries down all sinfull interests and advances only the glory of Christ in his Kingdome The greatest work done by the doctrine of Christ is the subâ—…uing of mens hearts and lives to the obedience of the only Lawgiver But whiles it is a doing this work it alwaies meets with many and great disadvantages from the world that makes account to silence it quite and even swallow it up And if it be consider'd what contrariety and enmity is in the hearts of men against this doctrine and the weak and contemptibie means it had to advance and promote it against that arm of flesh which was listed up against it who can conclude otherwise then that God alone was its strength and therein shew'd himself the owner and author of it For the Pen-men and first publishers of it they were most of them of low estate and degree in the world and had indeed nothing to protect them more then the shadow of the Almighties wings And for those who profest the doctrine of Christ in Scripture were they not for the most part of the same rank and quality For the Pen-men they never insinuated themselves to curry favour with any by goodly titles or flatteries as men commonly do that write by their own instinct Nor is Scripture composed as may be observ'd as if it meant to take men with excellency of speech or mans wisdom Only which is remarkable there is in it a majesty and it speaks with a majestick auâ—…hority such as pretends an Author of it more then man For such as professed the doctrine of Christ in Scripture what reward had they in the world more then troubles and sufferings even to greatest extremity many of them Now who can look on these who have been the instruments and means of propagating and promoting the doctrine of Scripture and not presently bethink himself of some hidden invisible power that upheld them and the work they were ingaged in Let it be considered too that those poor souls who in all ages chose to suffer rather then forsake the doctrine of Christ taught in Scripture cannot be rationally suspected as guilty of a perverse spirit transporting them to maintain what once they had taken up though with the loss of all that was dear to them For how unlikely is it that such a multitude at so great a distance both in place and time should be all so unanimous and that in cool blood against many temptations and entreaties to favour themselves in a deliberate resolved laying down lives and all for a thing of uncertainty yea for any thing less then the matters of their Eternity Nothing else could provoke and put them on to encounter those hard trials of afflictions but the faith they had in Scripture-promises and the fear of that word which threatens all without exception Promises such as no creature durst to make and threats of judgement and vengeance beyond all the power of creatures to inflict These considerations and nothing else could â—…way them to hate Father and Mother and House and Lands yeâ—… and their own Lives seeing they were not mad men or such as had cast off all natural affection to themselves or theirs but held them clear and precious as their own souls Nothing for certain could put them upon such hâ—…zards and adventures but the impulâ—…es of that spirit which spoke and wrote those Scripture-truths as their greatest and only concernments And to reason no further How credible is it that God should suffer the world to be so long abused and deceived by a fardle of lyes fathered upon himself Questionless if Scripture be not indeed the very word of God it can be no other then the most pernicious and blasphemous lye that ever was vented by man or Devil For it calls it self by the name of Gods word and avouches him the authour of it and what can be said more false and blasphemous if it be â—…ot what it pretends to be And would God suffer such a lye to pass â—…urrant so long in the world to his â—…ishonour without checking it Some Impostures have prevailed 〈◊〉 and for a long time They have and it is confessed and Mahomets Alcoran may be an instance But how came that to get place with â—…o many was it not beaten as I may â—…ay into mens brains with dint of word Besides was it not a doctrine â—…hat gain'd it self credit by gratifying â—…ens â—…ilthy lusts Avenge your selves said he to his followers and take as â—…any wivâ—…s as you are able to keep And what hath served to spread and propagate other devices and inventions of men but the craft and subtlety of â—…uch as lay in wait to deceive or the â—…uelty of unreasonable men that knew the most of the world are wonâ—… to comply with that Religion which complies most with their ease and fleshly interests But the doctrine of Christ designs nothing but self deniall and to this it doth most authoritatively call both high and low rich and poor none excepted no not 〈◊〉 the greatest upon earth Now thâ—… a doctrine which requires a man wiâ—… greatest importunity to submit all 〈◊〉 interests and enjoyments to the wiâ—… of God and make performance accordingly whenever the glory 〈◊〉 God or the good of men call for it or give occasion of it should take place and prevaile and that against all means used for suppressing it 〈◊〉 such a miracle of Divine providence as we may justly call it a seale which God hath set to assure us of Scriptureâ—… Divine authority We know well that any doctrine which sutes with and will serve the lusts and interests of men may easily find entertainment But it is unconceivable how a doctrine of denying self and all things else even the most pleasing to corrupt and sinfull nature should preserve and propagate it self without the help of such an hand as is â—…ble to subdue all things Now Scripture was prepared and penn'd â—…or no other purpose but to shew men the way of honouring God with the utmost abasing of themselves â—…nd it is indeed the great Engine â—…hat God uses to the pulling down of strong holds in the hearts of men â—…nd whatever is exalted in opposition to the glory and government of Jesus Christ in the world And to â—…ay no more of this the word and Spirit of Christ have subdued mankind to the obedience of his name so far as the world is or can be justly called and accounted Christian. It were easie for me
shall we be sure of this or that Translation Sol. We grant that some have erred and any may unless there were an infallible Spirit to aâ—…st What is this to us who maintain not this or that Translation but the Scriptures well and faithfully translated to be the Rule of Faith True our Translations have been altered but this alteration hath been in words more then matter And one and the same sence may be expressed divers wayes So we may have different Translations without any error in the matter and Doctrine Nay further what if one Translation should differ from another in sence we are not therefore bound to quit our English Bibles unless it did appear that we have not in them the matter and substance of all Châ—…istian Doctrine And here we require it be shewed and proved that our various Translations do not all agree exactly so far as we have in them all the Articles of Christian Faith which are necessary to be known and believed in order to our happiness The differences in all our Translations are not such or so many as that we should need the Churches authority to assure and settle us For God openeth the hearts of his people to know his voice from others whiles the light of Divine truth gives testimony to it self and receives authority from no other as the Sun is seen by its own light and as we discern sweet from sowre by its own tast However as a learned man hath said we deny not that there are divers means whereby our consciences may be assured Some private as skill in tongues learning labour prayer conference c. Some publick as the ministry which act of the Church is not authority to secure but ministry to shew us that which shall secure us which ministry is founded on the Scripture it self in that from thence it fetcheth the Reasons that may pâ—…rswade us and shâ—…weth the light that doth infallibly assure us And the difference between these two is this That the Spirit is an inward means the teaching of the Church an outward The Spirit Secureth us by kis own authority the Church directeth us by her ministry The Spirit hath light in it self the Church borroweth hers from the Scripture For certain God never since his people had his Laws written to them hath left them without a ministry and this is the great work of that ministry to cause the people to understand the Laws of God And how this can be done amongst our vulgar unless by translating the Scripture let them shew that can for we cannot Whereas our Adversaries take occasion hence to quarrel Scripture as no competent Rule of faith because the unlearned vulgar want a Rule and can have no other then a Bible translated which is liable to many and great mistakes we may justly question them about their Translations For they know there is a Latine Translation not the Original for certain which is with them commended as authentical to say no more Only we desire them first to answer for themselves However we may justly marvel that they send us to Tradition for our assurance about Translations seeing our present English Translations are of no such antient date as we need to enquire much what our Fathers thought of them They are best known and discerned by those who best understand the Originals and have the most helps and means which God hath allowed for such a work as Translating the Scriptures And for these we may without ostentation say that we have as good and as many as they have and the Translations we have are approved of by our Church though not by theirs If the Papists would or could prove that the Scriptures ought not to be translated at all or else help us to a Translation absolutely answerable to the Originals and give us good security for it they should do both us and themselves a good piece of service But there is an absolute necessity of Translations unless we knew of any extraordinary and miraculous way of bringing our people to understand the will of God in his written Word And what then is to be done or what can we do in order to the salvation of poor souls There are some perhaps who can resolve this otherwise then we dare and say Let them alone to be as ignorant as may be and believe only as the Church believes right or wrong But for our part we are of the mind that our people will never grope out the way to Heaven while they are blindfolded nor can we be perswaded that ignorance is the mother of devotion though we know it is the mother of superstition God 〈◊〉 mâ—…n from darkness uâ—…to light when he turns them from the power of Satan 〈◊〉 himself Act. 26. 18 and why came our Saviour a lighâ—… into the world if we may go to Heaven as blind as we are born what have we to do while we are here â—…pon earth more then to get grace and knowledge and grow in it more and more Heaven is called the inheritance of the Saints in light and Hell is called utter darkness To say no more of this we have the Scriptures translated into English because the greatest number of our people whose souls are as precious as others cannot otherwise understand them without a miracle And we use the best means we have left us to make our people know Gods mind and will in 〈◊〉 written Word And for Tradition we know no use of it unless iâ—… be fiâ—…st resolved beyond all exception that we must believe as the Church believes whatever the Scripture saith What hath been said already in answer to the former Queries may serve in part for the 〈◊〉 hand last Qâ—…ery about the sence and interpretation of Scripture However we shall say what we thâ—…nk about the letter of Scripture not senc'd and to be senc'd Now the sence of 〈◊〉 that Scripture hath words and 〈◊〉 is the Rule of faith and they read it as any mâ—…n reads his friends or correspondents letters to know his mind in them or as Factouâ—…s beyond sea come to know their Merchants orders given them in and by their letters Sometimes a difference arises amongst these and â—…hen what can a Factour do to clear himself more then to produce his Merchants leâ—…ters and say Here is the order you gave me and I have followed it so do we when we are questioned about our faith we know no other answer but this that we have orders given us in Scripture to believe so and so and not otherwise We cannot in this case abstract the leâ—…ter from the sence Scholars indeed in their contemplations may make such abstractions But what have we to do with them in practical use or about moral actions for in such cases we must as all sober men do take words and sence together Words and letters as far as we ever learnt serve only to signifiâ—… mens sence and meaning And so doth the letter of Scripture signifie Gods mind
shall this be I answer That I intend no direction to those who know better then my self what is to be done for that end nor yet for those who are more knowing or of better estates and abilities For these have many and great advantages to understand the Scriptures by improving the labours of those learned ones that have made it their work and business to clear the more obscure and difficult passages in them My only aim is to help those poor souls who want the help of larger Commentaries Annotations or Paraphrases c. and have no means to procure them or if they had are no way capacitated to use them I mean such as can hardly read our English Bibles and others too many who cannot do so much For these as well as others are concern'd to enquire after the knowledge of Gods will in his Word and these are therefore to read it or hear it read to them in such a manner as to understand what they read and hear And this I am confident they may be enabled to do in some good measure by following the directions ensuing 1. Let them be first and most in studying those Scriptures which are plainest and most easie to be understood viz. The New Testament wherein the Evangelists and Apostles speak to them as to children easily and plainly in all points of saith and manners whiles they declare more familiarly according to the dispensation of Gospel-â—…mes how all the Pâ—…ophecies and Promises of the Old Testament concerning Christ and his Kingdom are accomplished and fulfilled to a â—…ittle so as there is to be expected no other manifestation till his coming to 〈◊〉 all â—…he world in righteouiness The Old Testament which shews what were the cispenâ—…ations of Gods grace towards his people till Christs coming in the fleâ—…h must also be read in its order and heeded too if there were no other reason for this that we may be the more confirm'd in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ seeing he only from the beginning hath been promised and offered to mankind as the only name under Heaven whereby we must be saved For this is easie to be seen by all who will open their eyes That all the Histories of the Old Testament the Books of Moses and all the Laws and Ordinances by his hand delivered to Israel as also the Psalms and all the Prophets in every leaf and line of them speak nothing but Christ and the great things of God to be accomplished in and by him unto the end of all things They must therefore read both comparing the one with the other so as to observe how all that was foretold and promised is fulfilled and performed in these last dayes 2ly In reading both the Old and New Testament let them take most notice of those places and passages which more plainly and fully lay before them the main points and Articles of the Christian Faith such as we may call the Pillars of the Christian Church built upon the only foundation Jesus Christ. And those I shall reduce to these three or four Heads 1. The Fall of all Mankind with the wofull extreme corruption and depravation of our nature so perverted as we are of our selves in every thing contrary to God and his will Enemies to all that is good and inclin'd to nothing but evil 2. The only all-sufficient remedy prepar'd for that malady which was in it self desperate and past all cure or hope viz. The fullness of Christ mighty to save and the way of faith in applying him to our selves for the pardon of all sin by his satisfaction and merit and the purging of it by the efficacy of his grace and spirit 3. The many and great obligations laid upon us by that grace which hath appeared and bringeth salvation to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world so to answer the condition of the Gospel-Covenant in serving him who is our only Redeemer 4. The providences of God disposing of his people in all their wayes here upon earth together with the Crown of righteousness laid up for them in Heaven when they shall have run out their race to receive the end of their faith Now who can look into Scripture and not see all these clearly presented to his view For what so plain to be read there as Gods mercy through the merit of our Lord Jesus Christ for the recovery of faln man out of sin and misery and the duty unto which he is oblig'd upon that account What need any be troubled at Scriptures difficulty Can any read or hear these read as they are there set down and make the answer which the Eunuch made to Philip asking him If he understood what he read And who is there that understands and believes these things with all his heart that shall not be saved in the day of Christ Here then I say again let them labour to be rooted and grounded in the knowledge and belief of these things which they may run and read in Scripture and till they are so stablished let them look no further Yet is it not my mind they should never look further I would only have them begin with these and so lay a sure foundation and then build upon it by making a more strict inquirie into all and every Particle of it so as their hearts may be comforted being knit together in love and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ. Or as the same Apostle hath it To be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdome and spiritual understanding that they may walk worthy of his calling to all pleasing being fruit full in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God 3ly Let them read and read again over and over as often as possible though they alwaies meet with some things hard to be understood For some yea many things in Scripture are such and yet it is not upon that account no Rule of Faith to the meanest Christian and of the lowest form in Christs School Yea we are justly confident to challange our Adversaries and put them to name one Article of our Faith which the Scripture teacheth not as plainly as any man can wish or as they themselves can devise to speak it Now these being so easily understood at first sight without an Interpreter our often reading them in so many places repeated serves as to help our memories and confirm us the more in our belief so to quicken us the more to our duty in walking more answerably unto those great things of God But there is somewhat more in it and this they shall know that will be at pains to make a tryal that often reading of these is a singular help to understand those which are more hard to be understood For what is somewhere spoken more obscurely is in other
places spoken more plainly and the plaiâ—… places well remembred will be as a Commentarie upon the more dark and difficult And for this purpose let it be considered that Scripture is difficult to none so much as to those who are greatest strangers to it and seldome take a Bible into their hands to read in it with any attention whereas many and I wish there were more who can only read it and use such small helps as God ministers to them while they are concionable in what is their duty are able to prove and justifie the main grounds and articles of their faith out of the word of God against any that question them What if some things be difficult so long as these which are absolutely necessary be plain and easy all are not bound to the same degree and measure of knowledge and this I hope no sober man will question I am now perswading those of the meanest and lowest ranck to study what I say again they may sufficiently understand though they have none to guide them And let them be still pressing forward and prying further to discover as much as may be seen and known For why hath God reveal'd his will but that we should acquaint our selves with it Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly c. i. e. plentifully abundantly He means It should not lodge as a stranger for a night but abide with them and they to give it rich and liberal entertainment and make it their familiar by frequent reading hearing meditating upon and conferring about the Scriptures And they who take this course will soon find by experience the improvement made by it The often reviewing of any thing as all men know is a great help to see more in it then ever we saw before Now Scripture deserves as I may say to be much and often lookâ—… upon if it were only for this that it is the Word of the great God But there is somewhat else Scripture resembles its Author in this that as he is unsearchable never to be known by any of his Creatures or all of them as he is in himself so neither can it be sought into so far as there will not still remain something that requires a further search He that digs the deepest into this Mine shall ever find new veins such as were never discover'd before yea and when we have made the utmost search the wisest of us must leave the world signing some Texts with a Non lâ—…quet In these we could never be resolv'd Men have been in the discoveries of Natures mysteries ever since the Creation and yet there is much that needs a further enquiry yea somewhat if not very much that will never I doubt be found out by any But however it be in Nature we may reasonably conceive that in supernatural Revelations we can never stretch our selves so far as to reach the utmost All that is necessary to be known in order to our salvation is easie enough to such as are willing to understand and therefore ignorance can be no excuse But all things in Scripture are not of the like necessity and therefore we may think I hope without prejudice that as Gods Spirit hath written some things more darkly to exercise our diligence so he hath written some also to humble us and make us know our selves And what of all this Scripture is still a plain and compleat Rule fit for any that will make use of it even such as can only read it and their reading it will help them to understand enough if they be serious and attentive in it though I would have them neglect no other means offer'd them viz. Meditation Conference c. And unto all let them adde servent Prayer never opening the Bible without putting up to God that which was Davids great request Psal. 119. 18. Lord open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law 4ly Let them not bring their own sence to Scripture but fetch the sence of it from out of it self because as one saith the Divine Scripture contains the whole and firm Rule of Faith and so its authority must sway us to take up that which it I yes down and nothing else They take a wrong coarse therefore who first entertain and harbour a conceit or opinion of their own upon some base or by-respects and then search and rack and torture Scripture to make it speak what they have a mind to which is in a manner to make God a lyar in wresting his Word to justifie and avouch the groundless conceits and fancies of mens deceived hearts The only right way to know the sence and meaning of Scripture in any doubtfull Case is to bring hearts as pure as white paper apt to receive and rest in the determinations of it whatever they be though never so contrary to our designs Qâ—… But what shall we do to know the true and right determination as Scripture gives it especially when many as knowing as our selves cannot agree about it Sol. 1. It is altogether impossible for some men to understand aright the mind of God in Scripture because they enquire after it with a mind resolv'd to hold what they have once taken up whatever it be Such are all that are wise in their own eyes and wilfull in their own wayes wedded to their wills and abandon'd to their filthy and fleshly Interests Such as these are constant and ordinary in works and wayes of ungodliness and unrighteousness notwithstanding Scripture-commands are so expresly and clearly against them What can be more plain then the 6th 7th 8th and 9th Commandments and yet how many make a constant trade as I may say of uncleaness and cruelty oppression deceit and falshood These might easily know Gods mind if they had a mind to it But they are Rebels against the light resolv'd to serve their lusts and have their wills whatever God hath said to the contrary And till these come to be of another mind I am sure they can never understand the mind of God in his Word as he intended it 2. To be resolv'd aright in all practical Questions and Cases we must first resolve to renounce and abandon our own wills and affections our lusts and interests as the Apostles advise Jac. 1. 22. 1 Pet. 2.1 No paper that 's besmear'd or blotted can be good to write upon The unlearned and unstable such as all are who are swayed by their own lusts will pervert all Scripture to their own destruction as the Apostle hath it 2 Pet. 3. 16. Qâ—… But what must there be Sol. An honest upright heart dispos'd and resolv'd to do all the wills of God unto whose obedience it is sabdued by the power of his grace and spirit New born babes desire to feed on that which bred them Now by the word of Truth they were begotten and that the Apostle Peter calls milk exhorting Christians after they are new born to desire it as little Infants do
this Rule Did I consult God and his Word when I undertook such a business Is the way I am now in answerable to what God hath commanded Do not I in such a design or undertaking clash with some Commandment or other O! that so many loose and vitious persons as are now adayes would be perswaded to sit down and seriously question themselves whether their uncleanness excess revellings and riotings cursed Oâ—…ths and blasphemies and many other horrid Impieties be agreeable to the Rule of Gods Word But I must let them alone and leave them till the time come when they 'le be made to know that Gods Word is such a Rule as will over-rule yea and run them down so as they shall never rise more to contradict it as now they do For such as are more civil and sober so as to read the Scripture sometimes which those other likely seldome or never do I heartily wish they will henceforward observe what hath been said before and lay their lives to the Rule and Line which I hope they will do if they heartily believe the word of God to be that Law by which they and all mankind shall one day be judg'd and tri'd How eâ—se can they hope to stand and abide the trial And when shall they do this work of searching and trying their hearts and ways if they set not about it now when they have nothinh else to do but to frame their works and doings unto that which God hath laid out to lead and guide them to their happiness 7ly Let them in reading observe and attend chiefly those things which are often inculcated and most insisted upon in Scripture If any shall ask why I answer Because those to be sure are matters of greatest concernment 'T is a great vanity specially in men of weak parts and small gifts to pry and pore much as some will do upon such passages as have difficulty enough in them to poze and puzzle the wisest And their vanity to say no worse is the more because those difficult passages have for the most part nothing in them but what we may be safely ignorant of And yet some things of greatest concernment may be more obscurely in some places delivered But still I affirm confidently they are otherwhere express'd more fully and plainly so as no man of common sence can doubt or make any question about them And if any shall object against what I have said that we may be safely ignorant of some things declar'd in Scripture I answer That in this I am if I mistake not of the same mind with all Divines in the world who hold some things to be of the foundation so as they are necessary to be known and believ'd in order to salvation and others only superstructive such as ignorance or errour about them is not in it self damnable Who can rationally suppose that ' â—…is of the same consequence to know every passage of Scripture-History as to know and believe that Jesus Christ died for our Sins and rose again for our Justication No question the Lord who never did any thing in vain would never have reveal'd and recorded any the smallest matter but that there was a cause But thereupon 't will never follow that all things reveal'd do alike concern us To instance That the dead shall rise again and come to Judgement is as I take it a fundamental Article of our Faith But that the dead in Christ shall rise first before they who shall be found alive at the last day shall be changed is not I think of so much consequence though this also is a truth of Divine Revelation and therefore to be believed If the dead be not raised our faith is vain 1. Cor. 15. But so long as we believe the Resurrection I suppose we may be saved though we should not know the order that will be in raising the dead and changing them who will be then alive All this however must be so understood and interpreted as I intend it not to allow or countenance any wilfull neglect or affected ignorance of any Scripture-Truths but only to salve the Consciences of such as cannot after all their most carefull enquiry come to know all the mind of God in every particular as Scripture hath it Can any man reasonably think we are bound to mind and remember every descent in all the Genealogies as we are to have in mind the Birth Death Resurrection and Ascention of our Lord Jesus Christ who knows not the dâ—…fference that hath bee among the most learned and still is in reconciling the Genealogy of our Saviour as it is with some difference recorded in two Evangelists And are there not think we many in Heaven who never much studied Christs Pedigree after the flesh To return therefore where we left I say again observe those things especially which are most insisted on because those are of most concernment and the Holy Ghost often repeats them for this reason that we may the better mind and remember them We know and believe that in some one or more Books of Scripture there is revealed so much of Gods mind and will as is necessary to be known in order to Salvation And yet it pleased the Lord to give us his mind in other Books of Scripture about the same things and many others besides that the joynt consent of many might the more confirm our faith and we might in that which so much concerns our Souls have full measure pressed down and running over Witness the Evangelists all recording the History of our Saviour with some variety though no contradiction in the least As also Pauls Epistles so often repeating the doctrine of Salvation by Christ alone through faith in his blood and the duties of all Christians in all their Relations Now I say again observe and attend those things as being of greatest concernment and others also in their order For in so doing we shall be sure to know so much as we need to do In a word Read attentively and that as often as may be with all humility and an earnest sincere desire to know the will of God in order to your doing it alwayes begging the assistance of his grace and spirit who alone teaches us to 〈◊〉 Then will your own experience convince you against all the reasonings of corrupt minds that there is a clear light in Scripture such as may easily be seen of all whose eyes the God of this World hath not blinded lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them 3. Not to rest themselves satisfied in a notional knowledge of 〈◊〉 re-truths 〈◊〉 to labour for and never leave till they come to that which is practical and experimental For then men are indeed grounded and established in the truth when they have tasted of it so as to know it by experience Then they believe Scripture to be the Divine truth as a man believes snow to be white because he sees it or honey
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