3. As these are admirable men, so the way he takes for their satisfac- tion is admirable also; that is, by "asserting nothing!" He that asserts no- thing proves nothing; for that which any one proves, that he asserts. In- tending, then, to bring men to a certainty who yet understand not the truth of our religion, he asserts nothing, proves nothing (as is the manner of some), but leaves them to themselves ; — a most compendious way of teaching (for whose attainment Mr B. needed not to have been Master of Arts), if it proves effectual ! But by not asserting, it is evident Mr B. intends not silence. He hath said too much to be so interpreted. Only what he hath spoken, he hath done it in a sceptical way of inquiry ; Avherein, though the intendment of his mind be evident, and all his queries may be easily resolved into so many propositions or assertions, yet as his words lie, he supposes he may speak truly that he asserts nothing. Of the truth, then, of this assertion, that he doth not assert any thing, the reader will judge. And this is the path to atheism which, of all others, is most trod and beaten in the days wherein we live. A liberty of judgment is pretended, and queries are proposed, until nothing certain be left, nothing unshaken. But, —
4. He " introduces the Scripture faithfully uttering its own assertions." If his own testimony concerning his faithful dealing may be taken, this must pass. The express words of the Scripture, I confess, are produced, but as to Mr B.'s faithfulness in their production, I have sundry excep- tions to make ; as, —
(1.) That by his leading questions, and application of the Scripture to them, he hath utterly perverted the scope and intendment of the places urged. Whereas he pretends not to assert or explain the Scripture, he most undoubtedly restrains the signification of the places by him al- leged unto the precise scope which in his sophistical queries he hath in- cluded. And in such a way of procedure, what may not the serpentine wits
' " Hoc illis negotium est, non etbnicos convertendi, sed nostros evertendi," — Tertul. do Pivscr. ad Hair.
2 " Expressere id nobis vota multorum, multiirque etiam a i-emotissimis orbis partibus ad DOS ti-ansmiss£e preces." — Prcefat. ad Cat. Rac.
" Nam rex Scleucus me opere oravit maxiimo, Ut sibi lati'ones cogercm et conscriberem."
Pyrgopol. in Plant. Mil. (iilo. Act. i. ad fin.
TO HIS CATECHISM EXAMINED. 63
of men pretend to a confirmation of from Scripture, or any other book that hath been written about such things as the inquiries are made after? It were easy to gi\'e innumerable instances of this kind, but we fear God, and dare not to make bold with him or his word.
(2.) Mr B. pretending to give an account of the " chiefest things per- taining to belief and practice," doth yet propose no question at all con- cerning many of the most important heads of our religion, and whereunto the Scripture speaks fully and expressly, or proposes his thoughts in the negative, leading on the scriptures from whence he makes his objections to the grand truths he opposeth, concealing, as was said, the delivery of them in the Scripture in other places innumerable ; so insinuating to the men of "just and pious desires" with whom he hath to do that the Scripture is silent of them. That this is the man's way of procedure, in reference to the deity of Christ and of the Holy Ghost, the satisfaction and merit of Christ, the corruption of nature, and efficacy of grace, with many other most important heads of Christian religion, will be fully manifest in our consideration of the several particulars as they shall occur in the method wherein by him they are handled.
(3.) What can be concluded of the mind of God in the Scripture, by cutting ofl:' any place or places of it from their dependence, connection, and tendency, catching at those words which seem to confirm what we would have them so to do (whether, in the proper order wherein of God they are set and fixed, they do in the least cast an eye towards the thesis which they are produced to confirm or no), might easily be manifested by innumerable instances, were not the vanity of such a course evident to all.
On the consideration of these few exceptions to Mr B.'s way of proce- dure, it will easily appear what little advantage he hath given him there- by, and how unjust his pretence is, which by this course he aims to prevail upon men withal. This he opens, page 6: "None," saith he, " can fall foul upon the things contained in this Catechism" (which he confesseth to be "quite contrary to the doctrine that passeth current among the generality of Christians"), " as they are here displayed, because the answers are tran- scribed out of the Scriptures." But Mr B. may be pleased to take notice that the " displaying," as he calls it, of his doctrines is the work of his ques- tions, and not of the words of Scripture produced to confirm them, which have a sense cunningly and subtilely imposed on them by his queries, or are pointed and restrained to the things which in the place of their delivery they look not towards in any measure. We shall undoubtedly find, in the process of this business, that Mr B.'s questions, being found guilty of ti'eason against God, Avill not be allowed sanctuary in the answers which they la- bour to creep into; and that, they disclaiming their protection, they may be ])ursued, taken, and given up to the justice and severity of truth, without the least profanation of their holiness. A murderer may be plucked from the horns of the altar.