The Plain Mans Senses Exercised to Discern Good and Evil, Chapter 1 · Section 4
SECT. IV. Of their generall Error, which teacheth, that questionlesse no writing whatsoever, whether Translation or Originalls are the Foundation of Christian Religion.
AGainst which I oppose my fourth Doctrine, Doct. 4(namely) that Salvation and Eternall Life is to be found in Scripture, and no where else, and therefore it must needs be the Foundation of Christian Religion. This is Christs reason why we should search the Scriptures, namely, because in them ye think ye have eternall life, and ye are not deceived in so thinking, because they are they that testifie of me.
If the Scripture be the onelyonly Foundation of Salvation, it must also be the onelyonly foundation of Christian Religion.
Whereas it is said, no writing whatsoever is the foundation of Christian Religion, if by writing he meane the Writers or Printers Art, if any fallacie or Emphasis lye in that, it is too silly and childish a Sophisme in so serious a matter (for paper and inke is not the foundation of our Faith) But if by writing he meane the things written, and deny them to be the foundation of Christian Religion; He is a blasphemous Antiscripturist, a presumptuous Heretike, and an enemy to the Salvation of mankinde.
For proofe of our point, observe these places, these things are written that ye might believe, Io…. 20.31.and that believing ye mig… have life through him; In which words note, that the great things of our Religion are built upon the things that are written in S. Johns Gospell:Rom. 1.36. so, The Gospell is the power of God un… Salvation, with 2 Tim. 3.15. from a child thou hast known the Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise to Salvation. So Iam. 1.21. Receive with meekenesse the engraffed word, which is able to save your souls.
Many are the titles and Attributes given to Scripture, which report unto us their power, purity, and efficacy; it is called the word of life, Philip. 2.16. the word of Grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified, Acts 20.32. The word of Truth, the Gospell of your Salvation, the ground of Faith, Eph. 1.13. the word of the kingdome, Mat. 13.19. And upon this blessed foundation, the Church of God is built, Eph. 2 20. The Houshold of God are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, not upon their persons, but their doctrine. The doctrinall foundation is it, which the Church is built upon: Now, if the things written in Scripture be able to doe all things, to build us up, to save our souls; if it be the Word of truth on which we trust, and upon which the Church is built, &c. Then it must needs be acknowledged the foundation of our Christian Religion. Now if they have a new Religion which is neither able to beget Faith, nor to save their souls; then I yeild indeed; that it is not grounded on Scripture, neither is it the Christian Religion: But if our Religion be sufficient for these blessed ends & effects; then it has the written word for its foundation, and is in truth the Religion of Christ.
Because, Reas. 1 as Scripture alone is able to reveale and make known to us the way of life,Salvation is in the Scripture, and therefore it is the foundation of Christian so Scripture-knowledge is only powerfull and effectuall to work saving graces: All other knowledge is but foolishnesse as to the attaining of our last and highest end; All other knowledge is dead and weak, it hath no power to change and renue the heart, to pull us out of the state of nature. By all the knowledge that men attain, they are not converted,2 Cor. 4.6. untill it pleaseth God to shine into their hearts the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ. But the word of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. It is powerfull and worketh effectually in all that believe. See the efficacy of it in six things.
*1. Ps…l. 19.…8. Efficacy of Scripture in six thingsFirst, it is powerfull to pierce and breake the stony heart, it is a two-edged sword dividing asunder the soul and the spirit: Heb. 4 12.able to discover the deepest hypocrite, it tells him what is flesh, and what is spirit: When Felix heard Paul preach of Temperance and judgement to come, Acts 25.his heart trembled, though the Beholders perceived it not. When the Jews heard Peter lay home to their Charge their murdering and betraying of Christ,Acts 2. they were pricked in their hearts, and said, what shall we doe?
It is powerfull to throw down Imaginations, and strong reasonings, which are the unregenerate mans strong holds of sinne, whereby he stands out against the Word of God. He will plead hard for his Lust, his Usury, and sinfull Gain, for Separation, for vain fashions in Apparrell, for sinfull Recreations. In the mind of unregenerate men there are strange thoughts, which exalt themselves against the knowledge of Christ, and will not submit to him in obedience, and all because sinne is rooted in the rationall faculty, it is there as in a Castle of defence, it urgeth reason for its allowance.—Now what is it that can throw down this Strong Hold of Carnall Reason? The Apostle tells you (2 Cor. 10.4, 5.) The weapons of our warfare are mighty through God, to cast down these strong Holds and Reasonings, and to bring them into captivity unto the obedience of Jesus Christ. Produce now your strong Reasons, and you shall finde reason in the Word to confute your Reason; you shall see reason enough to cast away all your imaginations, and never to suffer your soules to hold up a weapon any longer against Christ.
It is able to enlighten and bring to saving knowledge the simplest, that shall read & hear with an honest heart. Ps. 119.130. The entrance of thy Word giveth light to the simple; the very first acquaintance with it makes you wise, yea, wiser than the aged and experienced.
It is powerfull to convert the soule, to reform the heart, and life,2 Cor. 3.18. Psal. 119.9. We beholding in the Gospel, as in a Glasse, the glory of God, are changed into the same image, even as by the spirit of God. The Quaere is, Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his wayes? Though Lusts be strong, and Temptations preval…nt upon young men, yet let him but order himself by the Word his heart and wayes will be cleansed.
It is powerfull to raise comfort and revive the broken hearted, and the Soule that is cast downe in deepest afflictions:Iohn 33 13. suppose any of us to be in such a case as is there described, Verse 21, 22. It is not all the wisdome of the world, that can comfort a wounded soule and a drooping spirit: But if there be an Interpreter, one among a Thousand to shew unto man his uprightnesse, then he is gracious unto him; The Lord has ordained, that the fruit of the lips shall give peace, I will lead him and restore comforts unto him, Isa. 57.18, 19.and to his Mourners, I create the fruit of the lips, Peace &c.Isa. 50.4. The Lord hath given to his servants the tongue of the learned, that they should know how to speake a word in season to him that is wearie, Isa. 61.3.to give the oyle of gladnesse for the spirit of heavinesse.
Lastly it is powerfull to preserve them, that be called, against all Temptations, and to build them up unto Glory,Acts 20 32. The word of God is the sword of the spirit, and by it the Christian shall stand against, and be able to quench all the fiery darts of Satan; let the devill assault and doe his worst, yet let the Christian but stand to his weapons, hold fast the word, and he shall overcome.
Thus in the Scripture ye find life, because the word is so effectuall to doe you good, to Convert your souls, to pull down Satans thron…, and to build up the soul in grace: Its a Hammer to break the hard heart, a fire to purge the drossie heart, a light to shine into the darke heart, an oyle to revive the broken heart, Armour of proofe to stablish the weake and Tempted heart, if these pretious things be matters of Christian Religion; then surely the written word is the foundation of it, or else your Religion is not Christian.
Eternal life is in the Scriptures, because they testifie of Christ, Reas. 2 they set forth Christ, Iohn 14.6.who is the way the truth & the life (they are they that testifie of me, says Christ) in them ye find life, because in them ye find Christ, so far as by the script. we get acquaintance with▪ Christ so far we are acquainted with Salvation, & no farther: For if you knew all Histories and all the Prophesies, if ye had the whole Bible by heart, if by it you could Judge of all disputes, yet untill you find Christ there, you cannot find life: the scriptures are to us salvificall, because they bring us unto Christ. Saint Iohn, (1 Ioh. 5.11, 12.) tells us, that life is in the Son, and he that hath the Son, hath life, he that hath not the Son, hath not life; if you misse of Christ in the Scripture (as the blinded Jews doe, who though they read the old Testament daily, yet even to this day, when Moses is read, the vaile is upon their heart, 2 Cor. 3.15. They doe not looke to the end of that which is abolished, ver. 13.) you misse of the way, the truth, & the life. Again, Paul, 2 Tim. 1.1. sayes, that the promise of life is in Christ Iesus, and the end of his Apostle ship is to declare the same to the world, in that very Epistle: Now, if life be in Christ, and if Christ himself be the subject matter of our Religion, then surely the Scriptures, which Testifie of Christ must needs be the foundation of it, or else our Religion is not Christian.
Where, Quest. and how doe the Scriptures testifie of Christ, and life in him?
Four manner of wayes; Answ. 1 First, in the promises, The seed of the woman shall breake the serpents head. Gen. 3.15.And again, Gen. 22.18. In thy seed shall all the Nations of the earth be blessed: with many other to like purpose.
In the Prophesies concerning Christ and his Offices, concerning his strange Conception and Birth.Isa. 7.14. A vrigin shall conceive and bring forth a Son, &c. Concerning his death and Resurrection,Isa. 53.10, 12. Psal. 16.10. He shall make his righteous soul a sacrifice for sir. He shall be numbred among the Transgressors, But he shall not see corruption.
In Types and Figures: First, some are personall, As Ionah was a figure of his abode in the Grave, and rising again the Third day. Melchizedeck, an eminent type of his Priestly office, Sampson and David of his victory over the Churches enemies, Secondly, some are Types reall, as the Passe-over Lambe, slaine, and the blood sprinkled to save the Israelites from the destroying Angell: so Christ our Passe-over is Sacrificed for us. The Brazen serpent a Type of Christs being lifted up upon the Crosse, The daily Burnt-offering by the blood of the Sacrifices to make Attonement for the people. The Scape-Goat carrying away the peoples sinnes, that were confessed and put upon his head. The Blood of the Heifer, that was carried into the most holy place, a Token of Christs blood, wherewith he entred into heaven: The water of sprinkling the uncleane, a figure of our Sanctification by the sprinkling of Christ his blood on us, &c.
In the doctrines of Moses and the Prophets, Deut. 18.15. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, like unto me, Him shall ye heare in all things. So Psal. 2 Kisse the Son, whom God hath set upon his holy hill, lest he be angry, &c. In brief, you can hardly read a piece of Scripture, but you will finde a Promise, or a Prophesie, or a Type and Figure concerning his Person and Office, concerning his Merit, his Grace, his Spirit, or some Precept concerning his Will and Commandement; how we must receive him, and how we must walke in him. The Scriptures are full of Christ, Christ is the subject, scope, and end whereat they all drive. Thus much concerning our second reason of the Doctrine.
Now the use; It is first for reproofe: For, Ʋse. 1 is this true, that Salvation and Eternall life is in the Scripture, and no where else, then it convinceth the World that few indeed doe intend their salvation, because few so little regard to be acquainted with the Scripture: No mans desire of the end (Salvation) is greater than his Care to use the meanes (the saving Knowledge of the Scripture) if you indeed did prize Scripture-knowledge, as the field wherein the Treasure of Grace and Life is to be found, you would read and heare them more frequently, and constantly, and with delight: You would prize a good Minister, who is able to break unto you that Bread of Life; you would attend the Ordinances on the Lords day especially. And how can we in charity think, that such persons doe seriously minde their own eternall good, that do so grosly slight the Word of Life? Remember that of Ps. 119.155. Salvation is far from the wicked: Why? For they seek not thy Statutes. 'Tis not I that tell you this, but David tells you so, yea, the Holy-Ghost tells you so, and therefore I pray you lay to heart that which Paul spake to the Jewes, Acts 13.46. It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you, but seeing you put it from you, and judge your selves unworthy of everlasting life, we turn to the Gentiles: To misregard the Word is in the account of Paul, to misregard ones own Salvation, he does not prise his own Soul,Rom. 15.32. as he should do: He that refuseth instruction despiseth his owne soule, as if it were not worth the looking after.
But consider,Motive. that Salvation is the greatest thing, that one needfull thing, that a Christian hath to tend in this world: What is all your Wealth and Bravery?Luke 10.42. all your Mirth and Jollity? What is all, or any thing you have, if in the end you come short of Salvation? Your Salvation is the thing we aim at, and pray for, and preach for, and take paines to hold forth unto you the Word of Life. It is the end wherefore Christ dyed, and rose againe. The end wherefore with so much love, and such a miracle of mercies, he hath preserved unto you the Bible.
Be perswaded henceforth to shew your esteeme of your souls eternall good, Ʋse. 2 by your esteeme of the word of life, and manifest your esteeme of the word of life by your readinesse and cheerefulnesse to be ordered and Ruled thereby. — If indeed you esteeme it as the word of life, you will be guided by it, you will be affraid to transgresse it, you will make Gods Statutes your Delight, and your Counsellors, your heart will stand in aw of it; Psal. 119.24. Ve… 161.you will hold nothing, you will take nothing in hand, but by… advice and allowance from Gods Word, you will chuse rather to have all the world against you, than one sentence of Gods Word; Gods Word is fitted for all estates, callings, and conditions of mankinde; If you be a Magistrate, it teacheth how to rule; if a Subject, how to obey; If you be a Minister, it teacheth you how to preach; if an Hearer, how to heare; If you be an Husband, or a Father, or a Master, &c. it teacheth you how to behave your selves. It gives direction for our Apparrel, Sports, Labour, Gain, and Giving; for our Buying and Selling, for our Speech and Silence, for our Company and Solitariness, &c. You will need direction out of the Word for every estate and condition of life, for times of Health & Sickness, for Affliction & Prospertiy, for good and ill Report.Psal 119, 96.—This Word of the Lord is exceeding large.— Now if you desire to find it a Word of Life unto you, you must be ordered and guided by it, else it will accuse and condemn you; if instead of this you will consult with humours, with men, with worldly ends and interests, with carnall reason; if you count it foolish preciseness to tye ones self strictly to that rule, if when you be sick, or distressed, or in want, or be injured, &c. if then you will chuse to follow other rules, the Word of Life will be to you a Word of Death, because you chuse the Paths of Death.
The third use is for Direction, Ʋse. 3 Study Christ in the Scriptures; in them ye find Life, because in them ye find Christ: Let your eye and aim be upon Christ: Look what things the Scripture testifie concerning Christ, and in what way; the same things, and in the same way, must we endeavour to finde him. In the Promises, Prophesies, Types and Commands, we must see how they lead to Christ: Many people have lower and baser aimes in the study and search of Scriptures.
There be in Scripture many Rarities of knowledge,False ends in reading of the Sc…ipture. which are not to be found elsewhere, rare speculations of the Deity, of Creation, and Providence, sundry passages of Antiquity and History, which furnish a quaint wit with choice matter of discourse; And thus many Gentlemen, and other speculative men, Schoolemen, and Criticks read the Scripture, who yet all their life time are strangers to Christ; and ye shall know it by this; Their delight is most in such books and sermons, and their enquiries mostly run upon such matters as have least edification, the least rellish and touch of conscience of heaven: such as are these the Temple, which Sampson pulled downe, how it could stand upon two pillars, being of that capacity, and so neere together as to be reached by his armes at once. — The cubits of Noahs Arke, what size they were of: At what time Iob lived. How many Devils can be in one body; What Paul's Preachments were, and how he was in the body or out of the body, and not knew it: And a multitude of such Questions, which serve to satisfie mens Curiosity, rather than edifie in the faith.
Others search the Scriptures to pervert them, not so much out of a desire to know and obey the Truth, as to Quarrell, and move doubts and Quirks to pervert the known received Truths of God. The Scriptures doe challenge in all mens mindes a Superlative commanding Authority: and every Sect would faine have the Scriptures to speake on their side: Now here's the fault, many doe first take up an opinion, and then afterwards seeke out Scripture to make it good; they bring an opinion to the Scriptures, whereas it should first arise, and be received from Scripture: And hence it is that the Scripture is wrested: Thus contentious and Hereticall wits doe search the Scriptures to make good what they have conceived in their own braines; and so the Scripture is made, as it were the Broker to set off Notions, which men have forged in their own Braines. Thus many opinionists search the Scriptures, doting about Questions, which gender strife, rather than edifying, and so are kept off from acquaintance with Christ all their dayes, even by Scripture it selfe mis-studied.
Others read Scriptures as a Taske for forme and fashionsake, as if the Chapter read or heard were all their duty: The truth is, There is no better taske, than constantly to read or heare the Scriptures. And most of us are negligent that way, every odde Trifling occasion diverts us from that duty: And unlesse we tye our selves to such tasks, we should hardly finde time to converse with God in his Word; It is a pious and Christian fashion in every family to keepe set times of prayer and reading of Scriptures. But if it be but a Taske it is naught, it proves but a meere bodily exercise, which a child may doe, as well as men of understanding.
Thus therefore remaines your duty in your study of Scripture, to study Christ, to know something that may procure or evidence your interest in Christ, to instruct you in the word of righteousnesse, to bring you neerer unto God, else you read, and search, and hear, and at last be far from eternall life, because unacquainted with Christ. Therefore propose to your selves such heads of knowledge, namely, to learne what Christ is in relation to his Father, in relation to his Church and People; what promises, what fulnesse, what merit, what riches of grace there is in him, what his Spirit is to us, and in us, what his Will is concerning us, and what our Duty is concerning him; Christ hath done all that a Christ should do for us, and we must do what Sinners ought to do in obedience to him.
And all this knowledge of him, must be first distinct and cleare, able to give an account of what we believe, and why we believe it: Secondly, and it must be a savory knowledge, seasoning the heart with the good knowledge of Christ, transforming us into his Image: even as by the taste of Wine and Honey, we know the sweetnesse and goodnesse of them experimentally, so the learning of Christ is not onelyonly literall, but spirituall and operative, it doth expell out of the minde that naturall blindnesse, and hardnesse of heart, that senslesnesse, and searednesse of Conscience, whereby the naturall man is alienated from the life of God, Eph. 4.19.20.through the ignorance that is in them, who being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousnesse, to all uncleannesse, with greediuesse. But with them that have rightly learned Christ, it is otherwise; As when the Sunne ariseth, darknesse goeth away; when Life comes, the Grave-clothes are cast off: So you that have learned Christ,Verse 21.24. and have beene taught by him, you will put off concerning your former conversation, the old Man, which is corrupt according to the deceitfull Lusts; you will be renued in the spirit of your mind, you will put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse.
Thou hast never found Christ in the Scripture, untill thou be taken off from all thy false and carnall confidences, which were thy rocks, and accounted thy gain, wherein thou trustest, and untill thon finde this work of the Scripture upon thee, to settle thy soul upon Christ, to unite thee to Christ, of him and from him, to partake of life and righteousnesse, of grace and peace, untill thou beare fruit upon that new stock. I am the Vine, ye are the Branches, according as your Root is, so is your Fruit:Gal. 6.8. John 15.5. In old Adam your Root is rottennesse, and the Fruit you reap is corruption: But, He that abideth in me, and I in him, sayes Christ, the same bringeth forth much fruit, new and pleasant fruit, better than that which grows upon the stock of Nature,Rom. 11.24. John 4.14. which is the wild Olive tree. The sanctifying spirit, which Christ gives, is in thee as a Well of water springing up unto eternal life.
Thus I have at last dispatched all my four Doctrines concerning the Scripture, which serve to stablish our hearts against the dangerous errors of these dayes, against the holy Scriptures: The scope of all which, is to withdraw the soul from the written Word, and so to undoe it unto all eternity: Haeretici cum ex scripturis arguuntur in accusationem convertuntur ipsarum scripturarum, quasi non rectè habeant, Iren. l. 3. c. 2. And from this Fountain (namely of Scripture, vilified, or mis-understood) do spring all the following errors noted in the Lond. Test. But the points handled upon this first head, being well digested, will be of great use to make you wise, to discern both good and evil in the errors following, of which I am now to speak in order.