Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

in them. But when Men are fond of Faction and Rebellion, or have a mind to lord it over o thers; then every trifle will kindle a great flame, and the disputes manag'd by fuch Perfons will never end, till Time fhall be no more. In a word, Controverĥes about things neceffary to fal yation are plainly determined in Scripture; and the fame Scripture has given us a general rule for the determination of all other Controverfies, joviz. Obedience. So that where we do really need a rule, the rule is plain: but if Men will enlarge their own neceffities, and then expect to have everything nicely defin'd by Almighty God; they are not to expect a fupply of their wants, because they have perverfly brought them upon themselves. ob zim

[ocr errors]

1

niLaftly, if it be objected, that fome perfons are pot convinc'd even of thofe things, which the generality of Chriftians do think neceffary to falvation, and therefore the Scriptures muft needs be obfcure; I answer, that thofe Perfons either have fincerely endeavor'd to know the truth, or they have not. If they have not the fault is their own; and the Scriptures must not be char ged with obfcurity, because fome Perfons will not endeavor to understand them. But if they have fincerely endeavor'd to be rightly inform'd; then I prefume, they may receive fuch information, or elle God will pity and pardon their ignorance. Prejudice or fomething elfe, may have darkned or blinded their minds: and then we cannot juftly fay, that the Scriptures are obfcure, becaufe fuch Perfons do not understand them any more than we can juftly fay, that the Sun is a dark body, because fome Perfons have, either a blemish in their eyes, or utterly loft their fight edi to vinodis

[ocr errors]

!

[ocr errors]

Το

To conclude, if our Adverfaries wou'd effectually prove, that the Scriptures are fo obfcure in matters neceffary to falvation, that a Man cannot understand them after the ufe of proper means; they ought to do two things. First, they muft inftance in fome particular, and prove that it is neceffary to falvation. Secondly, they must prove that that particular is fo obfcurely deliver'd in the Scriptures, that in fpite of his honeft endeavors a Man cannot find it in them. When they have done these two things, we fhall be forc'd to acknowledge that the Scriptures are really obfcure; and the Enemies of Chriftianity will thank them for fhewing, that the Word of God is ariddle, a dark infignificant Book, and good for nothing,

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors]
[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

4 Sbort Summary of what has been said in the fum allt od former Chapters. former Chapters ai ai and over be anion erect al of ovorg Jam verb (('bucss2 toi „zlat

zi astuol

[ocr errors]

Have now done with the Controverfy which Le

I thought it neceffary to determine in the first place and fhall only beg leave to prefent the Reader with a thort Summary of what has been laid concerning itaghoda anla

Shave prov'd, that the Tradition of Unwritten Doctrines is utterly uncertain, and liable to great * corruptions; and that we have no remedy a gainst the Uncertainty and Corruptions of it, either from the pretended infallibility of the Church, or by any other means. And there"fore it follows, that the teftimony of Tradition " is not a fufficient proof, that any particular do&trine, not contain'd in the Scriptures, was reveal'd to the Apoftles. Now fince the teftimony of Tradition is not a fufficient proof, and fince there is no other proof pretended; 'tis plain, that we have no fufficient proof that any particular doctrine, not contain'd in the Scriptures, was reveal'd to them by Almighty • God.

"I have alfo fhewn, that we have no fufficient proof, that any particular doctrine, not contain'd in the Scriptures, was reveal'd to any other Perfons fince the Apostles times; First, becaufe we have all imaginable reafon to reject fuch Revelations; and Secondly, because we have no real and undoubted Miracles to atteft them.

'And

[ocr errors]

"And therefore, fince we have no fufficient proof, that God has reveal'd any particular doctrines not contain'd in the Scriptures, either to the Apoftles, or to any other Perfons; 'tis manifeft, that we have no fufficient proof, that God has reveal'd them at all. :

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

And fince we have no fufficient proof, that God has reveal'd any particular doctrines not contain'd in the Scriptures; therefore we ought not to receive fuch doctrines as Divine Reve lations.

t

And fince we ought not to receive fuch doarines as Divine Revelations, 'tis certain that the holy Scriptures are the only Divine Revelations which we ought to receive.

And therefore, fince 'tis granted on both fides, that God has reveal'd all those things which are neceffary to salvation; 'tis plain, that the Holy Scriptures, which are the only certain Revelations, do contain all things necessary to salvation; which was the Propofition I undertook to prove.

Now, if the Holy Scriptures do contain all things neceffary to falvation; then those things which cannot be prov'd from Scripture, are not neceffary to falvation. And therefore in our Difputes with thofe of the Church of Rome we may juftly challenge our Adverfaries to produce Scripture-arguments for all their doctrines; and we may also justly reject whatfoever the Holy Scriptures do not fairly and fully prove.

The Papifts indeed tell us of Fathers and Coun cils, which Names do make a great noife in the ears of ignorant People: but we appeal to the Bible as the Rule of our Faith, and challenge

them

them to prove their Religion from it. We are able, 'tis true, to fight at the other Weapon, and to fhew that they have neither Fathers nor Councils on their fide but because this method of proceeding is utterly needless and very tedious; and because ordinary Perfons are not competent judges of fuch matters; therefore we infift upon Scripture-proofs. For this reafon in the following Chapters, I fhall think my felf obliged to answer only thofe Arguments, which they draw from God's Word, to prove their Doarines byvos to trigger il pet.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

- nienso y oilt as dec

o The End of the First Part

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]
« AnteriorContinuar »