Christianismus primitivus, or, The ancient Christian religion, in its nature, certainty, excellency, and beauty, (internal and external) particularly considered, asserted, and vindicated from the many abuses which have invaded that sacred profession, by humane innovation, or pretended revelation comprehending likewise the general duties of mankind, in their respective relations : and particularly the obedience of all Christians to magistrates, and the necessity of Christian-moderation about things dispensible in matters of religion : with divers cases of conscience discussed and resolved / by Thomas Grantham ...

SECT. IV. Answereth two Objections, against that which we have said.

Obj. There be two things especially objected against that which we have said, and first, If the promise of the Spirit do thus belong to the Church, then this will follow, that the Doctrines delivered by such gifted men must pass for oracles of truth, being delivered (as will be pretended) by the Spirit of truth whose property is to lead into all truth. And thus every extravagant and impertinent discourse will be intitled to the holy Spirit. And hence it is con∣ceived also that the decrees of Synods having (as they pretend) the holy Ghost are Infallible; others have adventured to ascribe the like infalibility to their private writings.

Answ. But we answer, first, That supposing men were now as undoubted∣ly gifted with the Spirit as the Corinthians were, yet it is certain, such gifts do not argue the infallibility of him that hath them, for then all the gifted Brethren at Corinth had been Infallible, which yet we know they were not. Witness their great disorder in using them, as also the Apostles rerfering what they said to examination, or Judg∣ment. 1 Cor. 14. 29. And tells us of gifted persons in general that they see but in part, or darkly, as it were through a Glass, so that In∣fallibity is not to be pretended by them. Nor is it to be imagined that a spiritual gift, in respect of that prophesying which is only to edification, ex∣hortation and comfort, is to be understood, of any immediate revelation; this prophesying is opposed to signs (or miracles) therefore this prophesying to edification exhortation and comfort is not Miraculous in respect of any fur∣ther verity then what was before; But rather ought to be understood of a raisedness of Spirit, or enlargedness of Heart in the speaker to comu∣nicate his knowledge in the Scriptures, for the comfort of others; and therefore are those that have received this gift tyed to Gods ora∣cles as the rule of their discourses 1 Pet. 4. If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God. and Paul teacheth even these Prophets, that the word of God came not out from them, but that they were to acknowledge the things which were written to them to be the word of God. 1 Cor. 14. ult. so that there is no danger of entituling all that is said by such men, to the Spirit of God, any more than of those who Preach without any pretence to such gifts of the Spirit: nor is there any necessity that such men fall into the impertinences objected, seeing they are to consider what they say, and to speak as the oracles of God.

Obj. This doctrine that miracles are not ceased, is asserted by the Papists, and

they pretend to have had them done among them in every age, and hence they urge, that they only are the Church and their decrees Infallible, &c.

Answ. 1. That the Papists should have miracles wrought among them in every age since Christ cannot be, seeing they have not had a being so many ages in the World, but of this hereafter.

2. We are taught of God not to regard any false Prophets though they shew a sign or a wonder, and the thing come to pass also, Deut. 13. 1. fo. 7. for God sometimes doth try his People, whether they will cleave to him. Many workers of miracles will be found to be workers of iniquity in the day of Judgment, Matth. 7. 22. Though a man could remove mountains, and have all knowledge he may be no∣thing: gifted men may perish, while they preach to others, and the truth of the Church is not proved by gifts, but by Doctrine, as here∣after we shall further shew; yea we are foretold that Satan shall come with all signes and lying wonders, God permitting him to cause fire to come down from Heaven in the sight of men, to deceive those who obey not the truth when it hath been graciously tendered unto them.

And though we do not doubt but the promise of the Spirit, both Gifts and Fruits pertains to the Church to the end of the World, yet we may observe that even then when she had the fulness of these Gifts, there were False Apostles, deceitful workers, transforming them∣selves as the Ministers of righteousness, and seemed to excel the Apo∣stle himself in excellency of speech, &c. 2 Cor. 11. 13. So that we are in no wise to judge of the goodness of the cause of this or that particular sort of men professing Christianity by the excellency of their Gifts, but by the soundness of their Doctrine, insomuch as if Paul himself should preach contrary to the truth of the Gospel, he is not to be received for all his Tongues, Gifts, &c. but to be Anathe∣matized. So that it will be impossible for the Papists to prove the truth of their Church by Miracles, much less by a specious pretence to them only.