0-36 A VINDICATION OF THE ANIMADVERSIONS ON FIAT LUX.
Christian religion indeed was true, but that their first instructors in it had deceived them as to many particulars of it; which you would undeceive them in, and yet keep them close to their Christianity ? And do you not know that many who have in former days been by heretics converted to Christianity from Paganism, have afterward, from the principles of then Christianity, been convinced of their heresy, and retaining the one, have rejected the other ? It is not for your advantage to maintain an opposition against so evident a truth, and exemplified by so many instances in all ages. I know well enough the ground of your pertinaciousness in your mistake ; it is, that men who receive the gospel do resolve their faith into the authority of them that first preach it unto them. Now, this supposition is openly false, and universally, as to all persons whatever not divinely inspired, yea, as to the apostles themselves, but ouly with respect unto tlieir w^orking of miracles, which gave testimony unto the doctrine that they taught. Otherwise, God's revelation contained in the Scriptures is that which the faith of men is formally and ultimately resolved into; so that, whatever propositions that are made unto them they may re- ject, unless they do it with a " non obstante " for its supposed revela- tion, the whole revelation abides unshaken, and their faith founded thereon. But as to the persons who first bring unto any the tidings of the gospel, seeing the faith of them that receive it is not resolved into their authority or infallibility, they may, they ought, to examine their proposals by that unerring word which they ultimately rest upon, as did the Bereans, and receive or reject them, at first or afterward, as they see cause ; and this without the least impeachment of the truth or authority of the gospel itself, which, under this formal consideration, as revealed of God, they absolutely believe. Let us now see what you except hereunto. First, you ask, " What love of Christ's dictates, what commission of Christ, allows you to choose and reject at your own plea- sure V Alls. None; nor was that at all in question, nor do you speak like a man that durst look upon the true state of the controversy be- tween us. You proclaim your cause desperate by this perpetual tergi- versation. The question is, V/hether,wlien men preach the gos2)el unto others as a revelation from God, and bring along with them the Scrip- ture, wherein they say that revelation is comprised, when that is re- ceived as such, and hath its authority confirmed in the minds of them that receive it, whether are they not bound to try all the teaching in particular of them that first bring it unto them, or afterward continue the preaching of it, whether it be consonant to that rule or word Avherein they believe the whole revelation of the will of God relating to the gospel declared unto them to be contained, and to embrace ivhat is suitable tJiereunto, and to reject any thing that in particular may be, by the mistakes of the teachers, imposed upon them? In-
WHENCE THE GOSPEL CAJIE TO ENGLAND, 337
stead of " believing what the Scripture teacheth, and rejecting what it condemns/' you substitute " choosing or rejecting at your own plea- sure,"— a thing wherein our discourse is not at all concerned. You add, " What heretic was ever so much a fool as not to pretend the love of Christ and commission of Christ for what he did?" What then, I pray? May not others do a thing really upon such grounds as some pretend to do them on falsely? May not a judge have his com- mission from the king because some have counterfeited the great seal ? May not you sincerely seek the good and peace of your country upon the principles of your religion, though some, pretending the same principles, have sought its disturbance and ruin? If there be any force in this exception, it overthrows the authority and efficacy of every thing that any man may falsely pretend unto; which is to shut all order, rule, government, and virtue out of the world. You proceed, " How shall any one know you do it out of any such love or commission, since those who delivered the articles of faith now rejected pretended equal love to Christ and commission of Christ for the delivery of them as any other?" I wonder you should proceed with such impertinent inquiries. How can any man manifest that he doth any thing by the commission of another, but by his producing and manifesting his commission to be his? And how can he prove that he doth it out of love to him, but by his diligence, care, and con- science in the discharge of his duty? as our Saviour tells us, saying, " If ye love me, keep my commandments," which is the proper effect of love unto him, and open evidence or manifestation of it. Now, how should a man prove that he doth any thing by the commission of Christ, but by producing that commission ; that is, in the things al)out which we treat, by declaring and evidencing that the things he proposeth to be believed are revealed by his Spirit in his word, and that the things which he rejects are contrary thereunto? And what- ever men may pretend, Christ gives out no adverse commissions; his word is every way and every where the same, at perfect harmony and consistency with itself: so that if it come to that, that several persons do teach contrary doctrines, either before or after one another, or to- gether, under the same pretence of receiving them from Christ, — as was the case between the Pharisees of old that believed and the apostles, — they that attend unto them have a perfect ^iw'c^e to direct them in their choice, a perfect rule to judge of the things proposed. As in the church of the Jews, the Pharisees had taught the people many things as from God, — for their traditions or oral law they pre- tended to be from God, — our Saviour comes, really a teacher from God, and he disproves their false doctrines which they had prepos- sessed the people withal ; and all this he doth by the Scripture, the word of truth, which they had before received. And this example VOL. XIV. 22