while thou forbiddest private persons to read the Scriptures with
their own eys? Thou confinest them to Spectacles of the Assemblies making,
while thou permittest the reading, but prohibitest the interpreting
of the Scriptures according to that sense, which the holy Spirit
brings forth to every man in his own spirit, if it be not stampt for currant
by the spirit of the Generall Assembly. Why dost thou judge
the Papist for exalting unwirtten Traditions to an equall Authority
with the Scriptures, when thy way maketh the Scripture it selfe in the
letter and meaning of it, a Tradition of the Elders.
3. Agreement. Both these [unr] have a very great jealousie over the
Spirit of God. As the Ph[unr] said concerning Jesus Christ, John 11.
48. If we let this man alone, all [unr] will believe on him, and the Romans
shall come and take away both ou[unr] place and Nation: So say these two, the
Romish and Scotch principles [unr] of men: If we yeeld to this,
to let the Spirit alone, & to [unr] men to believe on the holy Ghost,
as the only witness and evi[unr] divine truth. If we give way to
this, as found doctrine, that it is the proper office of the third Persor,
the Spirit and of him alone, to apply turth authoritatively, as [unr] is of
the second Person to act, of the [unr]st per[unr] to de[unr] that it belongs
to this Spirit alone authoritatively to restifie in the spirits of Men,
what those word are which himself hath [unr], what the meaning
of the spirit is in those words: if this be once granted. that nothing
is to be received, as Divine Truth, but that which brings an Epistle of
commendations along with it, written by this [unr] of the living God
upon the heart, then farewell all Religion: All manner of Sects, Heresies,
Heathenisme, will break in upon [unr], and take away the very face of
a Church from amongst us. It is said of Jesus Christ, that He was
numbred amongst transgressors in has death. Such usage as our Saviour himselfe
found on earth from Pilate, and the Priests, such doth his Spirit
find to this day from the Papacy, & that Presbytery of which we speak.
The holy Ghost, as he appears, and gives forth his Oracles in his Temples,
which are his Saints, is numbred amongst whimsies, fansies, sanatick
furies, enthusiasines; and so is condemned, is suppressed.
4. Agreement. A watchfull Opposition to all Growths of truth above
the pitch and statute of opinions commonly received. Nothing
is accounted so dangerous in things pertaining to the Gospel, as Innovation;
although Sr. Paul command us still, to be transformed in the
renewing of our Minds, that we may prove what the good and acceptable will of
God is; and this to Saints already converred, as a continuall duty, in
which they are ever to be exercising [unr] that they may have
new minds to day, in comparison with those which they had yesterday,
and new minds again to morrow, in comparison with their minds to
day; yet the same Jesus, yesterday, to day, and for ever. As in some places
of the River Thames you have Wyers set up quite crosse the River, and
basker-nets laid in those Wyers, to catch those Lampries that come
Swimming up against the streame: so both in Papacy, and in rigid