But to preserve their interest, they tell us that these precepts and promises are given unto the church, and not unto individual believers ; as though the church were any thing materially but individual be- lievers, and formally but a disposition of them into a sacred order for their edification. " Man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath was made for man." Believers were not made for the church, but the church is made for believers, and is of no use but with respect unto their edification. And to deny all individual persons to be the first object of all gospel precepts and promises, — churches, in what sense soever you take them, being so only as they are directive of their faith and obedience, — is to exempt their consciences from the authority of Christ, to turn them into beasts, and to overthrow the gospel.
Let men now who take care of their own eternal salvation, place themselves in their thoughts in that condition which the present case and their own circumstances do place them in. The world, the place where they live, the people whereunto they do belong, are filled with different apprehensions, principles, opinions, and practices in and about religion. Some of these, as those between the Papists and the Protesta,nts, have immediate influence into their eternal condition of blessedness or misery, as both parties contend. Dreadful disorders and confusions have followed, and are like to follow, these differences even in this world. They will, in this case, find that it highly con-
ITS UNKEASONABLE EXACTIONS. 503
cerns them to take care that they be not deceived, and thereby ruined eternally, as multitudes are ; that they " be not high-minded, but fear." A guide is that which they are to look after, that may carry them safely through all these difficulties and dangers. Two imme- diately offer themselves unto them, tendering the utmost assurance in these things which the nature of man is capable of in this world. The one is the Pope or church of Rome, which requires no more of them but a blind submission unto its guidance, — a way, I confess, to extricate themselves, and to deliver them from all care about their own souls, easy and facile, if safe. The other is the holy Scripture, with the promised aids of the Spirit of God to lead us unto the un- derstanding of it and the truth contained in it. But in this way it is required of men that they make use of their own reason, under- standing, judgment, diligence, with fervent prayer for divine assistance.
The j)resent question is. Whether of these two guides such persons ought to l^etake themselves unto ? I am on the consideration of one directive reason only; others shall be afterward spoken unto. And this is, that the Scripture, which all acknowledge to be the word of God, to speak in his name, expressly supposing this case and all the circumstances of it before laid down, doth thereon frequently direct and command us to make use of this latter guide, if we desire to be saved ; and doth nowhere, no, not once, on a supposition of this case, send us unto the guidance of the church or pope of Rome, or any other church whatever. Wherefore, for men to suffer themselves to be inveigled, their souls to . be perverted, and their faith overthrown by a few captious, sophistical reasonings of men of perverse minds, pursuing their own secular interest; to turn aside from the command- ments of our Lord Jesus Christ and his apostles, in so plain, evident, and indisputable a case and duty, — is such a folly in itself, such an impiety against God, such a contemj)t of the Lord Christ, his wisdom, authority, and care, as must be eternally accounted for.
Thirdly, The things, for the most part, which this pretended guide proposeth unto and imposeth on the consciences, faith, and practice of them who give up themselves unto its conduct, are so unreasonable, — so contrary unto the common sense of Christians and the very first notions of the minds of men any way enlightened with the doctrine of the gospel, — so directly opposite unto the design of God in the re- velation of himself unto us, and his commands concerning our faith and obedience, — that it is a thing astonishable how they should attain an access unto them who have any sense of these things. But when once men have their eyes bored out, — as they do it for themselves in the resignation they make of their understandings and consciences unto the conduct of this church, — they must grind whatever is brouglit unto them. I shall brielly instance in some few things of this sort: — •
504 THE CHURCH OF ROME NO SAFE GUIDE.
1. The keeping of the Scripture from their daily and continual use. I speak not directly unto them who, being brought up from their infancy in that church, know nothing of the Scripture but that the Bible is an obscure, dangerous book unto all laymen, which heretics make use of unto their advantage, — such persons can be contented to want it, or be without it all their lives, especially seeing it is full of light and principles inconsistent Avith their carnal lusts and interest; — but I speak of such who, many of them, like Timothy, have known the Scriptures from children, and having been conversant in them, have had some experience of their power.