A collection of the works of that holy man and profound divine, Thomas Iackson ... containing his comments upon the Apostles Creed, &c. : with the life of the author and an index annexed.

CAP. III.

The general Heads of Agreements, or Differences, betwixt us and the Papists in this Argument.

1 A•…•… the Di••••iculties in this Argument may be reduced to these Three Heads▪ First, How we can know, whether God hath spoken any thing or no

unto his Church. Secondly, What the Extent of his Word or Speech is; as whether All he hath spoken be VVritten, or some Unwritten; or how we may know amongst Books written, which are written by Him, which not. Likewise of Unwritten Ve∣rities, which are Divine, which Counterfeit. Thirdly, How we know the Sense and Meaning of Gods VVord, whether VVritten or Unwritten.

2 These Difficulties are common to the Jews, Turks, Christians, and all Hereticks whatsoever: All which agree in this main Principle, That what∣soever God hath said or shall say at any time, is most undoubtedly and infal∣libly True.

3 But for this present, we must dismisse all Questions about the Number or Sufficiencie of Canonical Books, or Necessitie of Traditions. For these are without the lists of our proposed Method. All the Professours, either of reformed, or Romish Religion, agree in this Principle: That certain Books, (which both acknowledge) do contain in them, the undoubted, and infallible Word of God.

4 The first Point of Breach or Difference betwixt us and the Papist, is, * 1.1 concerning the Means how a Christian man may be in Conscience perswaded, (as stedfastly and infallibly as is necessarie unto Salvation) That these Books (whose Authoritie none of them denie, but both outwardly acknowledge) are indeed Gods Words.

5 The second Point of Difference (admitting the stedfast and infallible Be∣lief * 1.2 of the former) is, concerning the Means, how every Christian man may be in Conscience perswaded, as infallibly as is necessary to his Salvation, of the true Sense and Meaning of these Books joyntly acknowledged, and stedfast∣ly believed of both.

6 * 1.3 In the Means or Manner, how we come to Believe both these Points stedfastly and infallibly, we agree again in this Principle: That neither of the former Points, can (ordinarily) be fully and stedfastly Believed, without the Ministerie, Asseveration, Proposal, or instructions of men appointed by God, for the begetting of Faith and Belief in others hearts; both of us agree, that this Faith must come by Hearing of the Divine Word.

7 Concerning the Authority of Preachers, or men thus appointed for the begetting of Faith, the Question again is Twofold.

8 First, whether this Authority be primarily, or in some peculiar sort, an∣nexed to any peculiar Men or Company of Men distinct from others by Prerogative * 1.4 of Place, Preheminence of Succession, and from him or them to be derived unto all others set apart for this Ministerie; or whether the Ministerie of any men, of what Place or Societie soever, whom God hath called to this Functi∣on, and enabled for the same, be sufficient for the begetting of true Faith, with∣out any others Confirmation, or Approbation of their Doctrine.

9 Secondly it is questioned, how this Ministery of Man, which is necessari∣ly supposed (ordinarily) both for knowing the Word of God, and the true Meaning of it, becomes available for the begetting of true Belief in either point. In whomsoever the Authoritie of this Ministerial Function be, the Question is; whether it perform thus much, only by Proposing or Expounding the Word, which is Infallible, or by their Infallible Proposal or Exposition of it, that is: whether for the attaining of true Belief in both Points mentioned we must relie infallibly upon the Infallible VVord of God only; or partly upon it, and partly upon the Infallibility of such as expound it unto us. Or in other words thus: whether the Authoritie or Infallibilitie of any Mans Doctrine or Asseveration concerning these Scriptures, or their true Sense, be as infalli∣bly to be Believed as those Scriptures themselves are, or that Sense of them,

which the spirit of God hath wrought in our Hearts, by sure and undoubted Experience.

10 These are the principal Roots and Fountains of Difference between * 1.5 us, concerning our present Controversie, whence issue and spring these fol∣lowing: First, Whether Christ (whose Authoritie both acknowledge for In∣fallible) hath left any Publick Judge of these Scriptures which both receive, or of their right Sense and Meaning, from whose Sentence we may not appeal; or whether all, to whom this Ministrie of Faith is committed, be but Exposi∣tors of Divine Scriptures, so as their Expositions may by all faithful Christi∣ans be examined. Hence ariseth that other Question, whether the Scriptures be the Infallible Rule of Faith. If Scripture admit any Judge, then is it no Rule of Faith: If all Doctrines are to be examined by Scripture, then is it a perfect Rule.

11 Our Adversaries▪ especially later Jesuites, Positions are these. The * 1.6 Infallible Authoritie of the present Church, that is, of some visible Companie of living Men, must be as absolutely Believed of all Christians as any Oracle of God: and hence would they bind all such as pro••esse the Catholick Faith, in all Causes concerning the Oracles or Word of God, to yield the same Obedience unto Decrees and Constitutions of the Church, which is due unto these Ora∣cles themselves, even to such of them as all Faithful Hearts do undoubtedly know to be Gods written Word.

12 The Reasons pretended for this absolute Obedience, to be performed unto the Church or visible Company of Men, are drawn from the Insufficien∣cy of Scripture; either for notifying it self to be the Word of God, or the true Sense and Meaning of it self. Consequently to these Objections, they stifly maintain, That the Infallible Authority of the present Church, is the mos•• sure, most safe undoubted Rule in all Doubts or Controversies of Faith, or in all Points concerning these Oracles of God: by which we may certainly know Both; without which we cannot possibly know either, which are the Oracles of God, which not, or what is the true Sense and Meaning of such as are received for his Oracles: one of the especial Consequents of these Assertions is, That this Churches Decisions or Decrees may not be examined by Scriptures.

13 Our Churches Assertions concerning the knowledge of Gods Word in general is thus As Gods Word is in it self Infallible, so it may be infallibly appre∣hended, * 1.7 and Believed by every Christian, unto whom he vouchsafeth to speak, af∣ter what manner soever he speak unto him▪ Yea whatsoever is necessary for any man to Believe, the same must be infallibly written in his heart: and on it once written there he must immediately relie, not upon any other Authori∣tie concerning it.

14 Or if we speak of Gods written Word, our former general Assertion may be restrained thus.

15 We are not bound to Believe the Authority of the Church, or visible Com∣pani•• of any living men, either concerning the Truth or true Sense of Divine Oracles written, so stedfastly and absolutely, as we are bound to Believe the Divine written Oracles themselves. Consequently to this Assertion we af∣firm.

16. The the In••allible Rule whereupon every Christian, in matters of writ∣ten Verities absolutely and finally, (without all appeal, condition▪ or reserva∣tion) is to relie, must be the Divine written Oracles themselves; some of which every Christian hath written in his Heart by the finger of Gods Spirit, and Be∣lieves immediately In and For themselves, not for any Authoritie of Men; and these to him must be the Rule, for examining all other Doctrines, and trying any Masters of Faith.

But because most in our daies, in Matters of Faith, and Christian Obe∣dience, misse the Celestial Mean, and fall into one of the two extreams: It shall not be amisse, while we seek to divert their course from Sylla, to admo∣nish lest they make shipwrack in Charybdis.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The First Breach be∣••wixt us.
• * 1.2

  The Second.
• * 1.3

  Our Agree∣ment concern∣ing the Neces∣sity of Ministe∣rial Function, for the plant∣ing of Faith.
• * 1.4

  The points of Difference be∣twixt us, about the Prer••gative of Pastors, and the mannes of their beg••tti••g Faith in others.
• * 1.5

  Other •…•… ••ch∣cs of the for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Di••feren∣ces.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Roma•…•…s 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.7

  Our Churches Assertions c••n∣tradictory to the f••••mer.