Hear the Church, To the reader – Query 4
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
Chriſtian Friend,
IT is now about ſix and twenty years ſince it pleaſed a Learned Papiſt to ſend ſeven Queries to the People commonly called Anabaptiſts, in the County of Lincoln, about which many Papers were exchanged, and in the Year 1662; ſome part of them were Printed under the Title of the Baptiſt againſt the Papiſt, or the Scripture and Rome in Contention about the Supreme Seat of Judgment in Controverſies of Religion. To which the Queriſt never replied in Print, but only ſent me a few Notes in Manuſcript; which ſeven Queries, with my ſeven Anti-queries I ſhall annex to this Epiſtle.
The Truth is, I did then, and do ſtill look upon this ſort of Chriſtian-Adverſaries (ſo I call them) to be the moſt ſubtil, as well as coherent with their Principles, keeping cloſe to their Arguments, and uſing all very much the ſame Mediums: and were the Truth with them (as in many things I am ſatisfied it is not) this very thing would be their high Commendation.
But miſſing the Heavenly Mark (more is the pity) they muſt needs be the more dangerous, wherein they ſtand oppoſed to the Truth, of which being very ſenſible▪ I cannot, as I love plain Truth, and the Souls of all Men, but indeavour as much as in me is, after a Christian ſort to undeceive (if it may be) ſome of them, and to prevent others from being deceived by them.
I ſpeak not this as fearing them, but as truly loving them, as they bear the name of Chriſtians, and doubtleſs are as zealous in their way as any, tho I do verily believe they are under the greateſt miſtakes of any that prof…ſs the Chriſtian Religion, except profeſſed Enthuſiaſts.
That I treat them in Love is no new thing, let my Words written more than twenty years ſince witneſs, now in my Epiſtle to the Reader thus you find them. Not that I envy thoſe of the Papal Church, or deſire them any evil; Not that I deſire they ſhould be expoſed to a Suffering Condition for matters of Religion, or that they ſhould be denied any liberty in that Reſpect which I deſire my ſelf, nor for any other prejudice (God knoweth) do I publiſh this ſmall Treatiſe, &c.
And what I ſaid then, I ſay now, being verily perſwaded by the Scripture, and all good Principles which I could ever meet with, that they and all men [living ſoberly and quietly under the Government] ought to have at leaſt a friendly connivance under our differing ſentiments from the eſtabliſhed Form or Order of Worſhip, &c. But I am no Dictator, I muſt leave theſe things to the pleaſure of God, and the prudence of our Governors, only this is my Determination, in Chriſt's ſtrength to live and die faithful to what I know of the ways of Truth, and to my own Conſcience. Praying conſtantly for the happineſs of my Prince, and all his peaceable Subjects.
Tho. Grantham.
Hear the Church: The Third PART.
CONTAINING AN EPITOME OF THE Controverſies depending between thoſe who are commonly called PAPISTS, and thoſe commonly called ANA-BAPTISTS: Occaſioned by Seven Queries propounded by a Learned PAPIST.
LET the Chriſtian Reader know, that it is no idle Conceit of the Parts of the Author, above his Brethren, nor yet above his Adverſaries (many of whom are undoubtedly Men of very rare Parts and Accompliſhments) which moveth him thus to appear, and to call forth all the Strength of Rome in Argument to defend their Church and Religion againſt the poor Baptized Churches in this Nation: But it is only the Clear Evidence of Truth, on their ſide, as contained in the holy Oracles of God, which gives Boldneſs to this great Undertaking. Which in all due Humility, Chriſtian Love, and yet with holy Confidence, is thus attempted, for a fair Trial of the Caſe or Caſes depending between the Parties above mentioned. In the Name of God therefore let us proceed to the Particulars of the Seven Queries ſent to the Baptiſts by a Learned Papiſt, which indeed contains the Sum of the Controverſies between the ſaid Parties.
| Papiſt Query 1. | Baptiſt Anti-query 1. |
| Whether we are to reſolve all Differences in point of Religion, only out of the Written Word of God? | What Controverſie in point of Religion can you reſolve without the Written Word of God? And whether the written Word of God be a perfect Rule for Matters of Religion? |
The firſt Part of this Anti-query concludes in the Negative; the latter Part in the Affirmative, and affords (as I think) this undeniable Argument,
That which is the only perfect Rule to all Chriſtians in the greateſt Matters of Religion, and that without which neither Chriſt, the Church, nor Chriſtian Religion can be known, is the only infallible Rule by which all Controverſies in point of Religion, are to be reſolved.
But the Holy Scriptures are the only perfect Rule to all Chriſtians in the greateſt Matters of Religion; and that without which neither Chriſt, the Church, nor Chriſtian Religion can be known.
Ergo, The Holy Scriptures are the only infallible Rule by which all Controverſies in point of Religion among Chriſtians are to be reſolved.
| Papiſt Query 2. | Baptiſt Anti-query 2. |
| How know you preciſely what is the true Word of God? | Whether ſome Book muſt not of neceſſity ſpeak for it ſelf [or be received for God's Word upon its own Evidence?] and whether the Holy Scriptures do not beſt deſerve that privilege? And whether it be not too great preſumption to ſay, There are no Holy Books, but thoſe which you and we have received for ſuch, ſeeing thoſe which we have, tell us there were other Holy Writings, which never yet came to our Hands, nor to yours? |
Foraſmuch as no Society of Chriſtians in theſe days can bear witneſs to the truth of any thing upon their own knowledg, ſight, or hearing (as the Apoſtles did, 1 John 1. 2 Pet. 1. 16.) for ſcarce ſo much as one hundred years, and this their Teſtimony, alſo, being but of human Authority, it remaineth of neceſſity, that ſome Books of Record muſt be received upon the Authority of the Author, in whoſe Name they ſpeak, and the Divine Evidence of the Matter contained in them; and hence we argue, the Sufficiency of the Scriptures own Authority, to command our reception of them, ſpeaking to us in the Name of God, and carrying in themſelves Divine Evidences in reſpect of the matters therein contained.
| Papiſt Query 3. | Baptiſt Anti-query. 3. |
| How know you that your Copies and Tranſlations of the Bible, are the true Word of God, ſince the Original Writings are not come to your Hands? | What Copies and Tranſlations of the Scriptures have you that are more true than ours? And where are the Original Manuſcripts of the Prophets and Apoſtles? |
Seeing it was not the Pleaſure of the Divine Wiſdom, to preſerve, and preſent to all Nations, the very firſt Pieces of Paper in which the Divine Oracles were written; but rather to preſerve many Copies, and cauſe them to be ſpread throughout the World. And ſeeing no ſort of Chriſtians dare pretend to have Tranſlated any of thoſe Copies by an infallible Pen, but only according to the beſt Skill they have acquired or learned in the Original Tongues; It would better become all Learned Chriſtians to bend their Minds to rectifie (what they may) any Imperfection or Miſtake that may be in any of the Tranſlations, rather than by ſuch Queries as this, to open a Gap to Ʋnbelief and Irreligion.
And though much might be ſaid (by a captious Perſon) againſt the Engliſh Tranſlation of the Papiſts, yet to prevent vain Jangling, we refuſe not to be tried in the Caſes depending in theſe Queries▪ and Anti-queries, either by their Tranſlation of the Bible, or by that which is allowed by Authority? And ſeeing no Papiſt is able to produce the prime Originals, let them beware how they quarrel with our Copies, leſt ſome quarrel with theirs: and …ſo inſtead of Edification, they bring forth nothing but vain Contention: and ſhow themſelves ungrateful to God, and miſchievous to men. For what man of any Modeſty would upbraid another, becauſe he never ſaw the Original Writings, when neither himſelf, nor any man living ever ſaw them, nor is ever like to ſee them?
| Papiſt Query 4. | Baptiſt Anti-query 4. |
| Where we differ about the Senſe of the Word, by whom muſt we be tried? The dead Letter cannot explain it ſelf. | When we differ about the true Church, or the Meaning of Authors [be they Fathers, or Councils] by whom muſt we be tried? Theſe cannot ſpeak for themſelves, more than the Scriptures: And whether, the Scriptures being compared together, do not explain themſelves? Alſo, whether this be not an opprobrious, and ignominious Speech, for you to call the Scripture a dead Letter? And whether the true Lovers of the Scriptures, ever vouchſafed them ſuch ill, and indeed improper Language? |
Of all the Seven Queries, this is the moſt difficult; ſee what we have ſaid to this Difficulty in our precedent Epiſtle. Let the Papiſts prove themſelves to be the true Church, and the Contention about the Power of the Church to decide Differences which may▪ ariſe about the Meaning of the Scriptures, will with more eaſe be brought to a period. In the mean time, as we muſt every one give an account of our ſelves to God, ſo it is the Duty of every Chriſtian to labour to underſtand the Scriptures, Mat. 24. 15. Pro. 22. 20, 21.