(2.) In no one place, either in express words or by direct conse- quence, are believers or the disciples of Christ directed in this case to betake themselves unto such a guidance of the church of Rome, They are not so in any one place where these divisions are foretold, where properly such directions should be expected, or nowhere; nor yet in any other place whatever. Any one divine testimony luito this purpose, giving this direction on that supposition, shall for ever determine this controversy.
Shall we think that the Lord Jesus Christ, foreknowing, foretell- ing, and warning all his disciples of such a dangerous state and con- dition, as from which they cannot escape or be delivered without a guide that will safely lead and conduct them, if there were but one such guide prepared and appointed by him, should nowhere, in any divine revelation, direct them thereunto? Doth a supposition hereof truly represent unto us his love, care, and compassion towards the church ? Can any thing more injurious unto his wisdom, faithfulness,
SCRIPTURE THE TRUE GUIDE. 501
and honour be once imagined ? It is impossible, therefore, that any man, in the case supposed, should betake himself unto the sole con- duct of the pope or church of Rome without casting contempt on him and his authority. But, —
(3.) Yet there is farther evidence of his mind herein, in that we are expressly in this case directed unto another guide, without any men- tion of the church of Rome, which is utterly exclusive of this pre- tence. For, — [1.] All believers are commanded themselves to exa- mine and try all false teachers, i^rophets, and spirits that are not of God, doctrines subverting the faith, and endangering the souls of men ; which is utterly inconsistent with that absolute, universal resig- nation of themselves unto the guidance of the church of Rome which is claimed by it. See 1 John iv. 1-3. [2.] They are directed unto tiie waj'^, means, and rule whereby they must make this trial, and come unto the final determination in their own minds, Isa. viii. 20; 2 Pet. i. 19; 2 Tim. iii. 15-17. And this also is diametrically op- posite unto that resignation of themselves unto the church of Rome which it requireth of them. [3.] They have a guide promised unto them, to give them an understanding of the rule in the discharge of this duty, and to enable them to make a right and safe determination thereon, John xvi. 13; 1 John ii. 26, 27. These things are consistent With Si ministerial guide, such as is found in all true churches, wherein none pretend to be lords of our faith, but only helpers of our joy; but with a supreme authoritative guide, requiring an absolute resig- nation of our understandings and consciences unto itself, they are altogether inconsistent.
This is the substance of our case, and this is the determination of it given us by the Holy Ghost. Diversities and divisions in prin- ciples, opinions, and practices in religion, are supposed imto as great a height as they can be at, at this day in the world. Teachers " speaking perverse things ; departures from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils ; teachers not enduring sound doctrine, turning away men's ears from the truth, and turning them unto fables; false teachers, bringing in damnable heresies, denying the Lord that bought them, many following their pernicious ways; spirits of false prophets going out in the world, the spirit of anti- christ;"— these things, I say, are all supposed and foretold in the Scripture. In this case and state of things, that we be not seduced, that our souls be not ruined, we are commanded ourselves to try and examine all those who teach such things, whether they be of God or no; and by the Scripture we are to try them, if we intend not to be deceived and undone for ever. Unto the right understanding hereof a sure and faithful guide is promised unto us, to lead us into all truth ; so that no concernment of religion is more plainly stated, and,
502 THE CHUECH OF ROJME NO SAFE GUIDE.
as unto our duty, more expressly determined in tlie Scripture, than this is.
It is so in a peculiar manner in the First Epistle of John the apostle. Before the end of his days, divisions, errors, heresies, began to abound in Christian religion. This he fully testifieth, chap. iv. 1—3, and 2 Epist. 7. According unto his duty, he -writes unto be- lievers to warn them of their danger, with reference unto them that seduced them, or attempted so to do, 1 Epist. chap. ii. 26. And he writes unto this purpose unto " fathers, young men, and children," or professed believers of all soits, degrees, and endowments, verses 12, IS; and this not " because they did not know the truth, but because they did know it," and had experience of its power, verse 21. But in all the directions he gives them for the discharge of their duty, so as that they might escape the dangers they were exj)osed unto, there is not any one word, any intimation that they should betake them- selves unto the guidance of this, or that, or any church, much less that which is called the church of Rome. But the sum of his direc- tion is, that they should rely on the unction they had received from the Holy One, or the aids and supplies of the Spirit of God, to under- stand the Scripture in the examination and trial they were to make of all these things, chap. ii. 20, 27.