Arguments, &c. And if a Proteftant may be deceived in chefe when he infers from them the infallibility of the Scripture, why may not a Papift be deceived when he infers from them the infallibility of his Charch, fince he hath no better Arguments, nor more infallible guidance? And therefore as to particular Chriftians fof whom the whole Church confifts, and about whom alone the care of Chrift and Gods Providence is exercifed) God hath not taken more effectuall care for their infallible guidance according to the Romish Principles then according to ours: For as they fay, Proteftants have no fecurity for their Faith, though the Scripture be infal lible, because they cannot infallibly understand it, or be lieve this to be the Scripture: fo fay I, the Papifts have no fecurity of the infallibility of their Church (though the Churches Infallibility be acknowledged true in it felf) fince they cannot infallibly know either that there is fuch an infallibility, or theirs to be the Church to whom it is promised.

S 24. 4. It is neither neceffary, nor fuitable to the methods of Gods Providence and the declarations of his will,that there should be a final end and infallible judge of all controverfies in this life: That which these men tell us was fit to be done, God hath told us he did not judge fit (and who is molt credible do you judge) 1 Cor. 11.19. There must be Herefies-that they which are approved may be made manifeft. God hath acquainted us, that it is his pleasure that Tares fhowld grow with the Wheat unto the end of the World. In refpect of wicked men it was fit (in regard of Gods Juftice) that there fhould be ftones of ftumbling and Rocks of offence, for the punishment of those that were difobedient: And in regard of elect and fincere Christians, who live holily, and humbly-believe,and pray fervently and feek the true way diligently, fuch a judge is not neceffary, God having provided for

them

them other wayes, by giving them the promise of his Spirit, and guidance into Truth (which is as good fecurity as the Pope himself hath, or pretends for his fuppofed Infallibility) by that anointing which teacheth them all things, 1 7ob. 2. 27. in confidence of whofe conduct they may fay with David: Thou shalt guide me with thy counfell and afterwards receive me to Glory, Pfal. 73.24. They are kept by Gods power, 1 Pet. 1.5. and the care and strength of Chrift, Joh. 10. And what need a Christian defire more? Truly faith Amefins, God hath provided for the fafety of the Godly, not for the curiofity or perverfnelle of other men. And therefore this plea must go after all the reft, and they are still left in a forlorne and defperate, because in a faithlesse condition: And thus having forced my way through all the obftructions which they laid before us: I know not what hinders, but I may pronounce the fentence, notwithstanding all their big looks and glorious pretences of Infallibility, notwithftanding all the noife of Scripture, Fathers, Popes, Councels, Tradition, Miracles, when things come to be scanned, it appeares they have no foundation for their Faith, and confequently have no Faith. Lord be mer cifull to them.

CHAP. VII.

of the Solidity of the Proteftants foun
dation of Faith.

S.1. HAppily they will fay of us, as ferome did of

Laftantius, that he could facilius aliena deftruere, quam ftabilire fua, that we can more eafily overthrow the foundation of their Faith, then make our

Q

own good: I fhall therefore (though it be befides my prefent defigne, which is only to undeceive the world in that great cheat of Infallibility) in few words enquire whether the Proteftants have not a better and more fofid foundation of their Faith,then the Papifts have: And this I fhall fhew only by one Argument.

The Popish foundation of faith is fuch,as many of their own great Doctors are unfatisfied in; (There being no. foundation laid by any of them, but it is both denied, and difproved by others no leffe eminent of their own communion, as I have proved at large and fuch as is unanimoully opposed by all Proteftants and folidly difproved) But the Proteftants foundation of Faith is fuch as all Protettant Churches (of what denomination foever) are agreed in, yea fuch as diverfe of our most learned Adverfaries acknowledge to be folid and sufficient. You will fay if you can prove this, the controverfy will be at an end, and if I do not, let the Reader judge. There are but three things that need proof. 1, That the Books of Scripture (which Proteftants build their Faith upon) are, and may be proved to be the word of God. 2. That in the fubftantials of Faith thefe Books are uncorrupted. · 3. That the fence of Scripture may be fufficiently undertood in neceffary points.

§. 2. For the firit: That the Proteftants Bible is, and may be proved to be the word of God; It is true, when they meet with any of our Novices they ufe to put this perplexing question (as they call it) to them, How know. you Scripture to be the word of God? what matters it how I know it, feeing they acknowledge it, and by granting the thing make their queftion fuperfluous? But I Answer, I know it even by the confeffion of our Adverfaries So they acknowledge and own the verity and folidity of our foundation, and the teftimony of an adverfary against himfeif is undeniable: It may be of good

ufe

ufe here a little to compare the feveral difcourfes of learned Papifts to different perfons, and how prettily they contradict themfelves, and confute their own arguments. When the Papifts difpute against us, they tell us, It is impoffible to know the Scripture to be the word of God but by the Churches Teftimony. But if you take them in their lucid intervals, and their difputes against Atheists, or Heathens, then you fhall have them in another tune: then Bellarmine can fay, Nothing is more evident, and more certain then the facred Scriptures, fo that he must needs be a very fool that denies faith to them (a). Here he can furnifh us with several arguments to prove the authority of the Scripture (diftinct from, and independent upon the Churches authority,) the variety of Prophecies, harmony of writers, works of Providence, glory of Miracles, con fent of Nations, &c. Either then thefe arguments do fo lidly prove the Divine authority of the Scriptures, or they do not if they do not, then Bellarmine is a Baffler to ufe fallacious arguments, and a Lyar too, having faid, nothing more evident, nothing more certain: if they do, then the Scriptures may be evidenced to be the word of God without the Churches Teftimony, which they fo boldly deny at other times. The like might Ifhew out of Gregory de Valentia, who mufters up diverfe convincing arguments whereby even Heathens may be fatisfied, that the Scrip ture is the word of God without the aid of the Churches authority (b). And the like is done by feveral of their learned and approved Authors: from which it plainly appears, That the foundation of Chriftianity and Proteftancy is one and the same, and that we have the fame argu

(a) At facris Scripturis, que continentur in Propheticis & Apofto licis literis nihil eft notius, nihil certius, ut ftultiffimum effe neceffe fits qui illis fidem babendam effe neget. De verbo Dei lib. 1. 2.

(b) Analyf. fides lib. x. c.3.

ments and evidences for the ground of our Faith, as ProTM testants, (viz. for the Divine authority of the Scriptures, independently upon the Churches teftimony) which we have as Chriftians; and that the Papifts cannot fay nor do any thing towards the fubverfion of the Faith of the Reformed Churches herein, but at the fame time, and by the fame art and arguments,they muft oppugne the Chriftian cause, and acknowledg it untenable against a fubtle Pagan or Atheift. And I defire the Reader to confider, that this is not an answer or argument ad hominem, which I now infift upon, but fetched from the nature of the thing, and the verity of the Chriftian Religion. And for what they pretend, That without the Churches Teltimo ny we cannot know that S. Mathews Gofpel was written by him, and fo the reft: they fhall take an Anfwer of a very eminent and approved Author of their own, Melchior Canus: It is not much material to the Catholick Faith, that any book was written by this or that Auther, fo tong as The Spirit of God is believed to be the Author of it:which Gregory learnedly delivers, and explaines; For it matters not with what pen the King writes his Letter, if it be true that he writ it (a).

§. 3. The fecond thing is,That the Books of Scripture are not corrupt in the effential and neceffary points of Faith. This a man may eafily difcern by looking into the nature and quality of thofe various lections, which are pleaded as evidences of corruption, where he fhall quickly find them generally to be in matters of leffe moment, and fuch upon which Salvation doth not depend. But because the examination of this would be a tedious work,

(a) Deinde librum effe hujus aut illius Scriptoris non admodum interef Catholice fidei, dummodo Spiritus fanclus author effe credatur. Quod Gregorius erudite tradit & explicat ; nec enim refert, quâ penná Rez Epistolam fcripferit,fi verè fcripfit, de incįs Thcolog.lib.2.c.11.p.75%