Notes Upon Texts of Scripture and Popish Errors, Title page – To the reader
A COLLECTION OF Texts of Scripture, WITH Short Notes upon them.
And ſome other Obſervations againſt the Principal Popiſh Errors.
IMPRIMATUR.
Julii 9. 1688. Guil. Needham.
LONDON, Printed for W. Booker, over againſt the King's-Head Inn in Old-change. 1688.
The Epiſtle to the Reader.
IT is agreed on all hands, that the Mind and Will of God revealed to us, howſoever the Revelation be made, is the proper and adequate Rule of Conſcience, by which we are to direct both our Faith and Practice. And that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Teſtament, contain at leaſt a part of this Divine Revelation, is granted by the Church of Rome it ſelf. From whence it will clearly follow, that whatſoever is contrary to that Revelation which we have in the Holy Scriptures, ought not to be received for Divine Doctrine and Truth; unleſs we will ſuppoſe an inconſiſtence in Divine Revelation, or that God doth contradict himſelf, which none will have the folly to aſſert. We muſt remember therefore how we have received and heard in the Holy Scriptures, and hold that faſt. And if there be any Doctrine or Tradition, which contradicts the Doctrine of God delivered in the Holy Scriptures, or makes his Commandment therein contain'd of none effect, we are taught by our Saviour to reject it. So that if an Apoſtle, or an Angel from Heaven, and much more if a Father, or if a Church, preach to us any other Goſpel than what is therein delivered to us, we ſhould do the ſame.
Whether the Doctrines that are conteſted between us and the Church of Rome, are of this Nature, is the Queſtion in diſpute. To make a right Judgment of which, we need but conſider the ſeveral Doctrines, and then compare them with the Holy Scriptures, and obſerve their agreeableneſs and diſagreeableneſs thereunto. To aſſiſt the Reader in which, is the Deſign of this ſmall Treatiſe, wherein you have a Collection of the chief Points in Controverſy between us; and in the head of the ſeveral Chapters, is firſt ſet down the Romiſh Doctrine, as it is defined and received, or generally taught in the Church; and then the Texts of Scripture are ſubjoined, with ſhort and eaſy Notes and Obſervations deduced from them, to apply them to the preſent purpoſe; whereby it is eaſy to make a Compariſon between the ſeveral Doctrines and the Scripture, and the Contrariety between them will be manifeſt to the meaneſt Capacity. But yet that it might be made more uſeful, to prevent all miſunderſtanding, and to make the Matters in Difference the more clear, where it was thought needful, the Controverſies alſo are briefly ſtated, and ſome farther Conſiderations added, and the principal Objections are briefly obviated. So that it is hoped, it may be of good uſe to all that deſire to be guarded againſt the Errors of Rome, eſpecially to thoſe that have not Mony to buy, or Time or Capacity to read and underſtand larger or more learned Diſcourſes, for whoſe ſervice it was principally intended: And ſome ſuch Thing, in ſo plain and eaſy a Method, ſeemed to be deſired.
The Gentlemen of the Church of Rome, we may be ſure, will not be pleaſed with this Method, becauſe we do not take the Scriptures in their Senſe, and with their Interpretations. But thoſe, we think, are Comments which deſtroy the Text; and therefore we have no mind to them. And we ſhould not have the Text neither by their good will; for they do not love that that dangerous Book ſhould come into the hands of the Common People, for fear leſt they ſhould think that the Text is againſt them. But however they endeavour to make themſelves Maſters of the Senſe and Interpretation, that that may be for them. Thus if the Text be ready to ſtrike them, they put out its Eyes by the Expoſition, that it ſhall not know how to direct its Blow, and then they are ſafe enough. But we cannot think our ſelves obliged to take every thing upon truſt that they ſay.
But they refer us alſo to Tradition, and the Conſent of the Fathers, for the underſtanding of the Scripture-Doctrine; which we are not againſt. But unleſs we will take this Tradition, and this Conſent of the Fathers from their Mouth likewiſe, they will not be pleaſed. So that, as they would have it, our Faith muſt be ultimately reſolved only into the preſent Voice of their Church. And we muſt not condemn any of her Doctrines, becauſe, they ſay, they ſhall not be condemned; that is, they will be Judges in their own Caſe, for fear of the worſt.
It is well known, that we make uſe of Tradition, and the Judgment of the Fathers as well as they. And we do not fear to refer our ſelves to them, in the Matters conteſted between us; but then they muſt give us leave to make uſe of Tradition a little more Catholickly than they do, and not to ſeek it only from the Voice of their Church; For we hope, as long as we have Eyes, we may read the Fathers as well as they; and we do not know why we may not as well underſtand their Senſe, as alſo the Senſe of the Holy Scriptures, having the ſame means for it; only the worſt is, we want Infallible Parts, which we do not know but they may want as well as we.
But what is it, but a great derogation from the Holy Scripture, and the Holy Ghoſt, the Author of it, to think, that of it ſelf it is equally apt to deceive, as to inſtruct? to induce into Error, as to lead into Truth? What is this, but to level it with the Heathen Oracle, that ſpake always with that ambiguity, that no Body knew what to make of it, and therefore they were as ſoon deceived by it as not? But yet is not this in effect the very Senſe of the Church of Rome? Or why elſe doth ſhe ſo ſtudiouſly with-hold the Bible from her Members, for fear leſt they ſhould have more hurt by it, than good, if they take it by it ſelf? What is this, but under pretence of taking care of her Children, to call her Father and Husband, whom ſhe pretends ſo great reſpect to, all to naught; and to commend her ſelf, that ſhe hath more tenderneſs and love to her Children than they? But is it not rather her own Grandeur and Height which ſhe takes care of, which theſe Doctrines do ſubſerve to? And therefore ſhe is reſolved to maintain them, and muſt uſe the means for it; which i…, by with-holding the Light that would diſcover them. For it is to be truly feared, that if the Bible were in every one's Hand, and read with any attention, it would ſoon ſcatter this Darkneſs, which the Church of Rome well perceives. And if that be to deceive, the Scripture will deceive. And if Inſtruction conſiſts only in learning their Errors, the Scripture will never inſtruct us to the World's End: So that in this the Church of Rome is in the Right, and is a very wiſe Mother for her ſelf; but let others judg how kind ſhe is to her Children, or faithful to her Bridegroom.
As for our parts, we are fully perſwaded, that the Holy Ghoſt may ſpeak as good Senſe, and as intelligibly in the Scriptures, as any of them in their Writings, or as the Church can in hers, and that it was his Deſign to do ſo. And therefore we doubt not, but it is done plainly and fully in all Points neceſſary to Salvation; and alſo as to the Controverſies between the Church of Rome and us, that enough may be plainly gathered from them. And where there is any obſcurity, either it is in leſſer Matters, or in prophetick Viſions; or only ariſeth by accident, by reaſon of the diſtance of time, wherein the Holy Scriptures were written, the variety and change of Cuſtoms, the difference of Dialects or Forms of Speech, or ſome ſuch other Cauſes which are incident to all ancient Writings, and eſpecially of the Eaſtern Countries. And either it may be cleared up by the ſame means which we may uſe as well as they, or elſe it muſt, for what I know, remain ſo yet to us both, for the exerciſe of our farther induſtry.
It is the Scripture then that we build our Faith upon, and guide our ſelves by; though we do not refuſe any help to the underſtanding of it. And we are not afraid that our common People ſhould read it▪ but do exhort them to it. For we do not deſire to retain any Doctrines or Works of Darkneſs, and therefore we are very willing that all ſhould be brought to the Light. It is the Scripture that we love; and whilſt we love the Scripture, we do declare it, that we cannot be very fond of Rome. A plain ſimple view of Scripture is ſufficient to keep us out of the ways of Romiſh Deluſion. And ſuch a view is preſented to the Reader in this little Treatiſe, in a Method fitted to the moſt vulgar Capacity.
Let us but ſtick to the Scripture, or written Word, which the Church of Rome is really moſt dreadfully afraid of, and then we are out of danger. The Scripture we know from whence it is; but as for their Traditions, many of them we know not whence they are. They pretend they come from the Apoſtles, but we have nothing elſe but only their own word for it: For we cannot perceive the Apoſtolical Image and Superſcription upon them. Nor would they then ever contradict the Apoſtolical Writings, as we are well aſſured they do many of them. Tradition indeed alone doth but open a Gap to whatſoever bold and confident Men may obtrude, that have ſubtilty enough to ſet off a Thing a little plauſibly. But let us hold faſt the written Word, and we ſhall not fear to be intangled with thoſe new Doctrines, which are the obtruſions of crafty and ambitious Men to make an advantage, by which the face of Chriſtianity comes to be quite marred, and all Religion comes to be indangered.
And read but this little Treatiſe then, and compare Doctrine and Text, and then ſee who is in the right, the Church of Rome or We: For ſee if their Doctrine and the Holy Text be not at variance the one with the other. And if ſo, the Church of Rome muſt excuſe us, if we leave their Doctrine and follow the Text.
Beware of falſe Prophets, which come to you in Sheeps Cloathing, but inwardly they are ravening Wolves; ye ſhall know them by their Fruits. Do not believe every Spirit, but try the Spirits whether they are of God. If the Blind lead the Blind, they will both fall into the Ditch. Hereſies will ariſe in the Church, and the Devil will ſometimes transform himſelf into an Angel of Light, to deceive whom he can deceive. Therefore ſee with your own Eyes, and beg the holy Anointing to teach you.