The Truth and Certainty of the Protestant Faith, Section 1 – Section 2
SECT. 1.
Qu. SEing our greateſt intereſt, is to know the truth and certainty of that Religion we profeſs, What is to be underſtood by the Proteſtant Reformed Religion, as under ſuch a deſignation it is now held forth? Anſ. The Scripture, unto whoſe trial this offereth it ſelf, clearly ſheweth, that it is no new Doctrine brought in on the World, but the truth of Chriſtianity, by the good hand of the Lord on the Reformed Church, confeſſed, aſſerted, and purged from the corruptions of Popery; and hath the very ſame grounds to prove it, which the Chriſtian Religion hath. Qu. Is it not of late, the Name of Proteſtant, much leſs as a Church, was known, and from viſible appearances but little, to evidence its being and ſucceſſion in the World, when Popery for many Ages had a conſpicuous and flouriſhing State? Anſ. We deny not the Reformation to be late, and that name of Proteſtant, which hath its riſe from a ſolemne Proteſtation, of ſeveral Princes and Cities againſt Popery: But theſe alſo are demonſtrably clear. 1. How it is the ſame truth, and Religion of the Apoſtles and Primitive▪ Church, wherein they walked, though in a great meaſure after darkned, as Antichriſtianiſme grew up; which hath been unanſwerably, proved to the World. 2. That in the Scripture no ground can be ſhewed, for a continual viſibility of the Church, as an unite body; and in a flouriſhing outward ſtate; but the contrary is foretold, how obſcure, & low her condition ſhould be during Antichriſt's reign: So as a place of hiding was then prepared for her, Rev. 12: 6. 3. Yet even in the darkeſt times, there did not want ſome viſibility of the true Church, by a continued ſucceſſion of witneſſes to appear for the Truth and againſt the Romiſh Apoſtacie, which, as a freſh River, made its way through that horride Lake, without mixing with it. Qu. What peculiar grounds are to prove this, or enforce a conviction on others. That the Proteſtant Religion, this day, is the pure, and ancient Chriſtian Religion? Anſ. If men ſhut not their eyes, none can deny theſe grounds, as a teſt of the certainty thereof. 1. Its exact conformity to the Scripture, and to the genuine and perſpicuous ſenſe thereof, than which nothing is more clear, if we will, but compare theſe together. 2. That the Proteſtant Religion, in all the eſſentials thereof, is the very ſame, and exactly agrees with the Faith of the Chriſtian Church, in the firſt three centuries; and for this we appeal our adverſaries to produce one eſſential difference, betwixt the one and the other from the Records of theſe times, or any Writings of the Fathers. 3. That no evidence can be given, in contending for the Chriſtian Faith againſt Heathens, and to hold forth the certainty thereof, which doth not undeniably anſwer to confirm the Proteſtant Religion. 4. That in the writings of the greateſt Adverſaries, & their bitter invectives againſt Chriſtianity, who in the firſt times did oppoſe themſelves to the ſame Doctrine the Proteſtant Church now owns, and profeſſeth; ſuch as C…ſus, Tryphon, Porphyrie, Lucian, &c. There is not the leaſt mention of Popery, in any of theſe Articles, againſt which the Proteſtant Church contends, nor of the Romiſh Supremacy and Infallibility, where they could have had ſo great advantage to object againſt the Chriſtian Cauſe, and call its Truth in queſtion: Nor did the Jews who objected all they could againſt the Chriſtian Faith, in the leaſt once mention any ſuch points as are now controverted betwixt them and us. 5. It is clear from unqueſtionable Hiſtorie, and confeſſion of our Adverſaries, that a continued ſucceſſion of Orthodox Doctors, who did confeſſe and teach the ſame Doctrine, for the ſubſtance, that we own, have in no times been wanting to the Church, nor ſome viſible partie to withſtand Poperie, and keep up a witneſſe to the Truth, even in the greateſt darkneſſe; as the Romiſh Writers are forced to confeſſe, That the Proteſtants now are the ſame which the Waldenſes were of old, and the Berengarians before them. Qu. Doth not the Popiſh Religion found on ſuch grounds and Principles, as can bring a ſufficient certainty therewith of its Truth, when it hath the Decr…es, Canons, and infallible Deciſions of their Church, to warrant the ſame, and of the Pope as Supreme Head? Anſ. According to their Doctrine & Principles, they can have no poſſible certaintie of their Religion nor of that they pretend to found on: When, 1. They are not agreed, nor ever like to be, who that infallible Judge is; or in whom ſuch an Infallibilitie as they claim is ſeated, whether in a General Council, or the Pope alone: So as they are in greateſt contradiction to other, about the very foundation of their Faith; nor is this a controverſie amongſt a few, but one part of their Church, with greateſt heat, is oppoſing the other therein. 2. They can have no aſſurance if they have any Church at all, and whether moſt of their Popes, Biſhops and Prieſts, be not without Baptiſm, and ſtill laicks without Ordination, when their Doctrine, and the Council of Trent ſo expreſlie hold the efficacie of all Sacraments (of which they reckon Ordination as well as Baptiſm to be one) to depend on the Intention of the Prieſt who officiates, of which none poſſiblie can be ſure. 3. Such have no rational certaintie of what they profeſſe to believe, who are with their own conſent ſhut out from all proper knowledge of the Scripture, and on the teſtimonie of men muſt reſolve their Faith. 4. Is it not on a matter of fact, and moſt doubtful Relation, they ground their Faith, and adventure their immortal ſoul, where ſcarce a Shadow, or School-problem is to bear up the whole Fabrick of Poperie; which is an alledged Preſidence of Peter amongſt the Apoſtles, while no demonſtration can ever be given, that Peter was at Rome, or that he was Biſhop there, or if the ſame priviledges be intailed to his Succeſſours, and how theſe ſhould be choſen in after-times? 5. According to their Principles, they have no Bible, nor any ſuch Authentick Record, to prove Religion, but what is a Maſ…e of dead unſenſed Characters, that hath no articulate voice or intelligible ſound, until the Romiſh Clergie put a ſenſe thereon: So that the verie Letter of the Scripture is moſt evidentlie paſt from: For my ſelf, I dare ſay, before him who knoweth all things, that I would tremble and ſtand in a we of any deceit or miſtake, in the matter of Religion, and have in greateſt earneſt ſought to be perſwaded of the Truth, without reſpect to intereſt, party, or education, as that wherein I know an eternal ſalvation is concerned; but can ſee no way to embrace Poperie, except men turn Atheiſts, yea, quit all Religion and Reaſon at once. Qu, Is not Rome the Catholick and Apoſtolick Church, out of which there is no Salvation? Anſ. We know there is a Catholick Church under the Goſpel, that conſiſts of all who imbrace the Chriſtian Faith, whether bond or free, Jewes or Gentiles, and is to no particular Nation, People, or language, reſtricted, as under the Law: But that the Romiſh Church can have no poſſible claim here, is unanſwerable. …. Becauſe no Inſtitution is in the Scripture of ſuch a Church, as conſiſteth of all Chriſtians ſubjected to one humane Head, and Supreme Governour under Jeſus Chriſt, on the Earth; or where ſubjection to the Pope is made a condition to Salvation. 2. It is clear that in the Apoſtles time, and for many Ages after, the Chriſtian Catholick Church had a being, when it had no▪ dependence on the See of Rome, nor was known by any ſuch Teſt, as to own the Pope and his Supreme Juriſdiction; except it be averred, that there was one Catholick Church, before the ſetting up of Papacy, and the other ſince, eſſentially different from the former. 3. There is no acceſſe to deny, that they are more, and of greater extent in the world, who embrace the Chriſtian Faith, and have no communion with the See of Rome, or their Doctrine, than ſuch who are ſubjected thereto. 4. As there is on Faith, and one Lord Jeſus Chriſt; ſo is there but one body, which is his Church, united to him as her Head, Eph. 4: 3. 4. Which is the prorogative of the Son of God alone, and incommunicable to any, to be the Head thereof, but he who for this end died and roſe, that he might be the Lord of the dead and of the living, Rom. 14: 9. Qu. Yet is not ſtill the ſame Chriſtian Religion, at leaſt for ſubſtance, held forth in the Popiſ… Doctrine, which the Proteſtant Church owns? Anſ. Whatever in words ſuch pretend, their Principles, and the known Doctrine of the Council of Trent can too viſibly reſolve this, that theſe do not retain the Chriſtian Faith, in the eſſentials thereof, but have razed the very foudation, who reſolve not their Faith on the Scripture and its Divine Authority, but on a humane teſtimony; and deny religious worſhip to be due to the true God alone, but give it unto Angels and Men alſo; who lay another foundation to build on than Jeſus Chriſt, another Purgatorie than his blood, to purifie us from all ſin, another Propitiatorie Sacrifice to expiate ſin, than his Death, who was once offered to bear the ſins of many. Heb. 9: 28: another merite than his obedience, by which we are made righteous; and thus make void the great intent of the Goſpel laying down a way of Life and Salvation on the ſame terms that it ſtood in the Covenant of works; certainly we muſt either quite the Scriptures, or acknowledge that nothing can be more deſtructive to the Chriſtian Faith revealed there, than ſuch Doctrine. Qu. Is there no infallible Rule and Judge, to determine herein, on whoſe deciſive ſentence we may ſecurely reſt in the greatest controverſies? Anſ. If we own ourſelves Chriſtians, this can be no debate, that the Scriptures contained in the Old and Newteſtament are the ſupreme Judge, The Oracles of God committed to the Church, Rom. 3: 2. to give Anſwers in every dark caſe; The Type and forme of ſound Doctrine, Rom. 6: 17. Unto whoſe ſentence we are, in all matters both of Faith and Practice, expreſly referred by the Lord Iſaiah 8: 20. To the Law and to the Teſtimony, if they ſpeak not according to this word, it is becauſe there is no light in them.
SECT. II.
Qu. SInce the Rule of Faith muſt be plain and intelligible, can the Scripture be ſuch, which, according to the Popiſh Doctrine, is a Maſſe of dead and dark Characters, untill their Church put a ſenſe thereon? Anſ. Its own witneſſe, is clear, 1. That it Is ſuch as maketh the ſimple wiſe, Pſal. 19: 7. And a Light ſhining in a dark place, to which we are called to take heed, 2 Pet, 1: v. 19. A Lamp to our feet, Pſal. 119: 105. 2. We ſee, what is written there was for our learning, Rom. 15: 4. and given us for that end, that it might be underſtood. 3. It is clear, the promiſe of the Spirit to lead us into all Truth, Joh. 16: 13. doth belong to every Believer, as well as to the greateſt Doctors of the Church, who can pretend no extraordinary Revelation for leading of them. 4. We know, the Fathers and Ancient Church did ſtill prove their Doctrine from the Scripture, as not only of more authority, but more clear than their Comments. 5. Though ſome Scriptures be not ſo plain as others, and ſeveral Prophecies ſealed up, until their taking place in the event; yet, nothing can be more plain than the fundamentals of Chriſtianity, and thoſe Scripture Truths neceſſary to Salvation: But the World may ſee it is not obſcurity, againſt which their true quarrel is, but a too clear evidence, before which their intereſt cannot ſtand. Qu. Yet, is this a ſufficient ground, for the Scriptures being tranſlated into our own Language, ſo as every Man may read, and have acceſs thereto, which the Romiſh Church ſo expreſly forbids, as the cauſe of Error and Hereſie? Anſ. We know 1. The command is expreſs for all to read, and teach their children, Deut. 6: 11. 2. That under the Law, the Jewiſh Church had no reſtraint; and ſhould the Church now be in a worſe caſe, and live in more darkneſſe? 3. Upon this account, were the Bereans ſo highly commended for examining the Apoſtles Doctrine, by the written Word, which they could never have done, if any ſuch reſtraint to read the ſame had been upon them. 4. It is a ſtrange cure, to keep from the Light for fear of going wrong; and when Chriſt ſaith, You erre not knowing the Scriptures, Ma…t 22: 22. That ignorance thereof ſhould be the way to keep us right. Qu. Is it not evident, 2 Pet. 3▪ v: 16. How there are things hard to be underſtood in Paul's Epiſtles, which the unlearned and unſtable wreſt to their own deſtruction? Anſ. It is there ſhewed: 1. Some things are more dark in the Scripture, which none do deny. 2. We ſee, thoſe who thus ſtumble, are ſuch as wreſt the Word, and not of a humble, ſober, and ſerious Spirit, by whom none will judge the Apoſtle here means the whole of Believers within the Church, except the Doctors thereof: Nor hath it more weight to forbid Chriſtians uſe of the Scriptures, and to read the ſame; than the neceſſary uſe of meat, becauſe ſome unſober abuſe the ſame to their hurt. Qu. Wh…t inducement ſhould the Romiſh Church have to reſtrain Chriſtians in this, if it be ſo viſibly croſs to the Rule? Anſ. They have (I confeſs) this plea, for neceſſity; ſince their caſe ſo ſtands, they muſt either ruine their intereſt, and be diſcovered in the greateſt impoſture that ever was known in the World; or have the Bible ſhut up, though to ruine the Souls of many Millions of the poor People; nor is it ſtrange ſuch hate the light, whoſe deeds are evil, leſt they be reproved.