Late Sayings 2, Text
Mr. MATTHEW POOL, Author of that Elaborate Work, Sinopſis Criticorum.
His Late Sayings a little before his Death. Concerning the moſt Material Pointes of the Popiſh Party; Charged againſt the Proteſtants; VVherein the Deſperate Tenets of Popiſh Jeſuitical principles are Detected and Solidly Cenſured. For the ſettlement of all Real profeſſors, and practical Oppoſers of thoſe Damnable Deluſions, in few words to the VViſe.
He Dyed the 12th. of this Inſtant Stilo Novo, at Amſterdam:
1 THe Felicity of Proteſtant Profeſſors, is, that they are not only Permitted, but exhorted by their Miniſters, not to take Matters of Salvation upon truſt, but to ſearch the Scriptures concerning Truths delivered,
2. Whilſt unhappy Papiſts are obliged to their Implicit Faith to follow their blind Guides, and muſt believe all they ſay; it's a plain ſign that their Gold is Adulterate becauſe they dare not ſuffer it to come to the Touch-Stone.
3. The Romiſh Churches Infallibility is, that one Neck is their ſtrongeſt hold; all the reſt are but the Payring of their Nails, and cutting the Hair, which will quickly grow again; but if this fails all falls; Wound them here and it goes to their heart.
4. Chriſt's Prayer for the Perſeverance of Faith, makes him infallible for whom Chriſt prays, then all Elect and Perſevering Believers are Infallible; the Cone quence thus appears from John 17. I Pray not for theſe alone, but for them alſo which ſhall believe on me through their word.
5. And there is not one perſevering Chriſtian in the World, but owes his perſeverance to the Prayer, Care, and Interceſſion of Chriſt: Hence they are ſaid to be preſerved in Chriſt Jeſus, Jude 1.7.
6. The Infallibility of Popes and Counſels hath no Foundation in the Sacred Writ.
7. Every Champion of God's Truth is a Pillar of the Truth, but not Infallible.
8. Let me ſee that Papiſt that will give it under his Hand that every one with whom the Spirit abides as a Comforter, is Infallible.
9. The Church of Rome ſtands upon four pillars.
1. Authority of Scriptures.
2. Tradition of Fathers.
3. Infallibility of Councils.
4. And the POPE.
Which Abſurdity the Jeſuits thus Heal: That it is no more Abſurd that Scripture ſhould lean upon the Churches Authority, and the Church on Authority of Scripture, than that Saint John the Baptiſt ſhould give Teſtimony to Chriſt, and Chriſt to him again: or that the Old Teſtament ſhould be confirmed by the New, and the New Teſtament by the Old.
10. But the four before mentioned, are Reduct to Two.
1. To Scripture.
2. To the POPE.
Which muſt prove one another.
1. There is no ſolid and ſufficient ground for me to believe the Scriptures, but the Teſtimony of the Pope, ſay the Papists.
2. There is no ſolide and ſufficient ground for me to believe the Authority and Infallibility of the Pope but the Teſtimony of the Scriptures.
11. By all which it is clear there is no ſolid foundation for a Papiſt's Faith, nor Proof of the Popes Infallibility, which they ſo pretend to.
12. Hence Note, that thoſe that contemn and forſake faithful Paſtors, are eaſily betrayed into the hands of Romiſh prieſts; Hence it concerns all Proteſtants, with Fear and Reverence, to behold the juſt judgement, of God upon Unſettled and Unſtable Chriſtians; and ſuch as are given to Change.
13. And as we have many woful Inſtances of poor deluded Souls, that having wandred from party to party, from opinion to opinion, have at laſt been ſwallowed up, ſome in the Gulph of Downright Atheiſm; and others whom the wantonneſs of Opinion hath betrayed to Popiſh Impoſtures.
14. The Supream and truly Infallible Judge of all Controverſies, Is God and Chriſt, who Appropriates it to himſelf to be the only Law-giver, James 4.12. This Judge is Lord over all, both in the Church and in the Conſcience, which are all Subordinate to him.
15. Supream and Infallible Judge upon Earth we know none, at leaſt the Pope and Council, and Church of Rome is none.
16. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Teſtament are the Infallilble Rule, and Ground, & Touchſtone of Faith, from which all Controverſies of Faith are to be decided and judged.
17. In a VVord, Tradition was not appointed by Chriſt as a part of that Ground upon which we were to Build our Rule, by which we were to try particular Doctrines and Articles of Faith.
18. The Scripture is the Object, the only Rule and Standard of Fa…th, by which all Controverſies are to be Decided and judged: Tradition is the Vehicle to convey this Rule to us and our Times; Reaſon is the Inſtrument by which I Apprehend or Diſcern this Rule The Spirit of God is the Eye ſalve that Anoints mine Eye, and enables it to ſee this Rule. The Church is the Interpreter (though not Infallible) the Witneſs, the Guardian of this Rule, and the Applyer of the general Rules of Scripture to particular Caſes, and times, and Circumſtances.
19. To me this is a Rule; That to which God promiſeth or Annexeth Salvation, is ſurely ſufficient for Salvation.
20. I care not one Straw for all the Roman Thunder-Claps of Damnation, where I have one promiſe
21. In a Word, The Fundamentals or Subſtantials of Religion do Apparently lye in Two Things, the Law and the Goſpel.
22. The Seripture tells me that Love is the fulfilling of the Law, Rom. 13.10.
23. It tells me alſo, That Faith in Chriſt is the fulfilling of the Goſpel, John 14.1. and 20.31.
24. The Scripture ſufficiently Informs us of Fundamentals.
25. But the Church of Rome you muſt Note, hath another Rare Notion of Fundamentals; the like is not to be found in Scripture or any Ancient Author.
26. That is a Fundamental Truth which the Church Decrees though never ſo Inconſiderable.
27. But we muſt have moſt Solide Proofs, That the Pope or Council have ſuch Dominion over our Faith; That Fundamentals are all at their mercy.
28. And there is nothing which more Eſſentiallie overthrows the Popiſh conceit of Fundamentals, than the Conſideration of the Pillar upon which they Build it, which is the Churches Infallible Authority.
29. The Infallibility of Councils being but a Chimerical imagination, I muſt needs Conclude, That the foundation being fallen, the Superſtructure needs no ſtrength of Argument to pull it Down.
30. Concerning the coppies and tranſlations of Scripture, they are a ſure and certain Rule, becauſe they do ſufficiently Evidence themſelves to be the Word of God, and the ſame for Subſtance with the Original.
31. The Divinity of Scripture in theſe, as well as the Originals, for the Majeſty of Style, the Sublimity of their Doctrines, the Purity of the Matter, and the Excellency of the Deſign.
32. To theſe God hath given ſignal teſtimonies by the converſion of thouſands, by Frequent and Illuſtrious Miracles, by the Co-operation of his Spirit with them in the Hearts of his People.
33. Value precious time while time doth laſt, and not when it is utterly loſt.
34. Wo to thoſe ſouls! whoſe Eyes nothing but Death, and Judgement will open.
35. If the Reward of Religion would be preſentlie in hand, who would not be Religious?
36. God will have no Peace with that Soul that is at Peace with Sin.
37. Let mens opinions be what they will, Without Holineſs no man ſhall ſee God.
38. The way of Carnal Liberty, is not the way that leads to Eternity.
39. Every Morning Remember that thy Walking with God, is the Buſineſs of that Day.
40. Conſider a Dram of Grace, is better than a Talent of Wealth.
41. He that hath but little in the World, muſt keep the ſhorter table.
42. None ever loſt by Jeſus Chriſt, though they loſe for him they ſhall never loſe by him.
43. Rejoyce you whoſe Riches are Reproaches for Chriſt, his Croſs your Crown, the Shame of him your Glory.
44. You muſt Enter in at the Door of Heaven, by thy Key of Saving Knowledge.
45. Lay up continually in Heaven, further your Account, add to the heap of encreaſing abundantly.
46. Whatever thou doeſt for God, God keeps a true Account, believe it, and Plow and Sow in hope.
47. A good Soul is like the Compaſs in the Needle, reſtleſs till it be turned towards the pole.
48. My Soul! thou haſt made thine Everlaſting choice, though the World anſwer not thy Expectation…, is it not enough?
49. Hold on yet a little while in faith and patience, and ſelf-denyal, and you are ſure of the Crown.
50. If to be Religious will make you Vile, reſolve that you will yet be more Vile.
51. He that can uſe aright the proſpective of Faith, to ſee approaching Judgement, will eaſily avoid the VVorlds Vanity, and embrace the Crown of Everlaſting Glory.
52. Have you made Heaven ſure? If that be done you are prepared for the worſt that can come.
53. Have you paſt the Straits of the new Birth, do you bear upon you the Marks of the Lord Jeſus.
54. Can you prove from the Book of God, that you are paſt a meer perſwaſion.
55. Is not this your reſt? Where is your Treaſure, and your Heart?
56. Do you long for the purchaſe of your Saviour, the Fruit of your prayers, the harveſt of your Labours, and the end of your Faith?
57. Catch at Opportunity; away with Lazy Prayers, Cold and Heartleſs profeſſions, and a Lifeleſs Reliligion.
58. Conſider, now is your time, what you do you muſt do quickly.
59. God's Patience waits, Chriſt knocks, the Spirit of God ſtrives, and death waits.
60. Take heed of a Miſtake in the Two Great Goſpel Graces.
Firſt, of Faith.
Secondly, of Repentance.
And know, VVhere one goes to Hell by Deſpair, hundreds goes by Preſumption.
61. Let your firſt Morning Thoughts, and your laſt Evening Thoughts, be what ſhall become of you to all Eternity.
FINIS.
Re-printed at Edinburgh, Anno Dom. 1679.
End of the text · Matthew Poole, Late Sayings 2 (1679)