Light in the way to Paradise with other occasionals / by Dvdley the 2d late Ld. North.

CHAP. VI. Of Government in Spiritual matters.

WHO, or what is to govern in Spi∣ritualibus, is a matter, which hath troubled the principal Divines in every Age. It hath been treated of by the most Learned, but hath not yet been cleared, and therefore I, who pretend not to any great Reading, or Schollarship, must not hope to work any great effect; yet being a Christian, and having a Soul to be saved, I cannot but have consi∣dered the point; and since it may be presu∣med, that what leadeth one rational man may be prevalent with many others, I shall offer some words concerning it, and leave them to judgment. Government in that kind, is either in foro interiori, or exteriori, as for the forum interius, or Conscience, it must be ru∣led according to the judicium privatae discretio∣nis, or private judgment, for every man believes as grounds are offered to convince him. And as for this, the holy Scriptures, which on all sides are acknowledged to be the Word of God, are the fittest Judge; for the Church of Rome it self, which claimeth a Superiority over the Scripture, abhorreth being thought to determine any thing contrary to it. But the Scriptures are said to be but a dead Let∣ter,

which in it self is unactive; so are Colours and other accidents to the outward senses, and yet when upon view the Eye concludeth the Grass to be green, there is no further enquiry made. So it is with the Understanding, when the Text is clear, but when a doubt ariseth, an Interpreter is sought, yet after he hath been heard, the judgment must be mine, whether or no he hath made a right interpre∣tation. And if the terms be clearly out of my reach, I deserve to be judged very imprudent, if I acquiesce not in the judgment of that Church under which I live; as it is in case of colours with a person whose sight is vitiated with the Jaundise, or any such disease, who hath no way to conclude but by the judge∣ment of others. And so it must be with those to whom the use of Scripture is denied, which is the most probable cause of refusing it to Laiques in the Church of Rome, for by that means their Clergy becomes Oraculous. As for the forum exterius, consisting of Doc∣trines to be made publique, I know no re∣medy, but it must be directed by the Church-national for the present, and in case of fur∣ther doubts, it is very happy when by con∣sent the Divines of several National Churches are assembled together to settle the matters in debate. Of this nature were those which are received by the name of General Councils, though indeed they were not truly so, but called Oecumenical in respect of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

or the Roman World, which then contained well near all Christendom, and was within one Empire, whose Prince or Princes might assemble and dissolve them at plea∣sure. But as for a Council truly general of the whole World, it is impossible there should be any such, for there neither is, nor can be any means of assembling them. And so much concerning Judgment in general, as to matters of Faith. In the next place we may take in∣to consideration those persons, or collective bodies, who are pretenders to a guidance in the Spiritual way.