PROTESTANT DOCTKINE ON UNITY OF FAITIT. 2G3
this joint acknowledgment of the same sense and intendment of God in all revealed truths consists our endeavour after that perfection in the unity of faith which in this life is attainable ; as our moderation doth in our walking in peace and love with and towards others, ac- cording to what we have already attained. We may distinguish, then, between that unity of faith which an interest in gives union with Christ unto them that hold it, and communion in love with all equally interested therein; and that accomplisliment of it which gives a same- ness of profession, and consent in all acts of outward communion in the worship of God. The first is found in and amongst all the dis- ciples of Christ in the world, wherever they are ; the latter is that which, moreover, it is your duty to press after. The former consists in an assent in general unto all the truths of God revealed in the Scripture, and in particular unto them that we have sufficient means to evidence them unto us to be so revealed. The latter may come under a double consideration : for either there may be required unto it, in them who hold it, the joint perception of and assent unto every truth revealed in the Scripture, with an equal degree of certainty in adherence and evidence in perception, — and it is not in this life, wherein the best of us know but in part, attainable ; or only such a concurrence in an assent unto the necessary propositions of truth as may enable them to hold together that outward communion in the worship of God which we before mentioned. And this is certainly at- tainable by the w^ays and means that shall immediately be laid down ; and where this is, there is the unity of faith in that completeness which we are bound to labour for the attainment of. This the apos- tolical churches enjoyed of old, and unto the recovery whereof there is notliing more prejudicial than your new stating of it upon the ac- count of your church's proposals.
This unity of faith we judge good and necessary, and that it is our duty to press after it; so also in general do you. It remains, then, that we consider what is the way, what are the means and principles, that Protestants propose and insist upon for the attainment of it; that is, in answ-er to your question, " What it is that can settle any man in the truth of religion, and unite all men therein?" And then, because you object this unto us, as if we were at some loss and un- certainty therein, and yourselves very secure, I shall consider what are the grounds and principles that you proceed upon for the same ends and purposes, — namely, to " settle any man in the truth of re- ligion, and to bring all men to a harmony and consent therein."
Now, I shall herein manifest unto you these two things: — 1. That the principles which the Protestants proceed upon, in the improve- ment whereof they obtain themselves assured and infallible settle- ment in the truth, and labour to reduce others unto the unity of
264 A VINDICATION OF THE ANIMADVERSIONS ON FIAT LUX.
faith, are such as are both suited unto, and sujfficient for, the end and work which they design to effect by them, and also in them- selves of such unquestionable truth, certainty, and evidence, that either they are all granted by yourselves, or cannot be denied with- out shaking the very foundations of Christianity. 2. That those which you proceed upon are some of them untrue, and most of them dubious and questionable, none of them able to bear the weight that you lay upon them; and some of them such as the admission of would give just cause to question the whole truth of Christian reli- gion. And both these, sir, I crave leave to manifest unto you, whereby you may the better judge whether the Scripture or your church be the best way to bring men unto settlement in religion, which is the thing inquired after.
I. Protestants lay down this as the n dp^n tJjs vToSTdssojg %a} bi^o- Xoyiag, — as " the very beginning and first principle of their confidence and confession," — that all Scripture is given hy inspiration of God, as the Holy Ghost teacheth them, 2 Tim. iii. 16; that is, that the books of the Old and New Testament were all of them written by the immediate guidance, direction, and inspiration of God ; — " the hand of the Lord," as David speaks, 1 Chron. xxviii. 19, being upon the penmen thereof in writing; and his Spirit, as Peter inforais us, speaking in them, 1 Pet. i. 11: so that whatever is contained and delivered in them is given out from God, and is received on his authority. This principle I suppose you grant to be true. Do you not ? If you will deny it, say so, and we will proceed no farther until Ave have proved it. I know you have various ways laboured to un- dermine the ahroviSTia oi the holy Scriptures; many queries you put unto men, how they can know it to be from God, to be true, from heaven, and not of men? — many scruples you endeavour to possess them with against its authority. It is not my present business to remove them; it is sufficient unto me, — 1. That you j^ourselves, who differ from us in other things, and with whom our contest about the best way of coming to settlement in the truth aloneis, do acknow- ledge this principle we proceed upon to be true. And, — 2. That ye cannot oppose it without setting yourselves to dig up the very foun- dations of Christian religion, and to open a way to let in an inunda- tion of atheism on the world. So our first step is fixed on the grand fundamental principle of all the religion and acceptable worship of God that is in the world.