either know the Scriptures, or the Sence of them; and yet,till we know the Scriptures and the Sence of them, nothing can be prov'd by them. Now to pretend to prove the Infallibility of their Church by Scripture; and at the fame time to declare, that to know which are the true 'Books of Scripture, and which is the true Sence of them, can only be prov'd by the infallible Authority of theirChurch, is a plain and fhameful Circle, out of which there is no way of escape; and confequently,that God hath appointed an infallible Church, is impoffible ever to be prov'd from Scripture,according to their Principles, and the thing is capable of no other Proof. For that God will infallibly affift any Society of Men, is not to be known, but by Divine Revelation; fo that unless they can prove it by fome other Revelation, the thing is not to be prov'd at all.

Sixthly, We have as much need of infallible Security against Sin and Vice in Matters of Practice, as against Errors in Matters of Faith. For fince a right Belief is only in order to a good Life, a Man would be hard put to it, to give a Wife Reason, why God fhould take greater Care of Men's Faith, than of their Obedience.

Το

?

To this N. C. answers, That every good Chriftian is infallibly fecur'd against Sin, by the Affiftance of God's Grace; and that the Affiftance of God's Grace, 'together with the Co-operation of our 'Wills, which is always in our Power,is an 'infallible Security against Sin, if put in ufe. But how contrary this is both to the Holy Scripture, and our own Experience, let any one judge. Doth not the Holy Scripture teach us, that there is none that doth good, no not one, Rom. 3.22. that the most juft Man falleth feven times a day; and that our Righteousneß, our most holy and devout Performances, are but as filthy rags Ifa. 64. 6. Is not this the Tenor of the Gospel-Covenant, That if we repent of our Sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins, and to cleanfe us from all Unrighteousneß? 1 John 1. And therefore as under the Gofpel God doth not exact a Perfect Obedience from us, but has enjoin'd us to serve him fincerely and heartily; and to repent, and be truly forry for cur involuntary Tranfgreffions, our Sins of Ignorance and Infirmity: So God has fo far fecur'd us from Error, that we shall not fall into any Damnable Doarine, if we read the Holy Scriptures with an attentive Mind, and an honest Heart, and use our utmost Endeavour to underftand them: But as the Weakness and

Frailty of our Condition is fuch, that we have no infallible Security against Sin and Vice; fo neither is there any against Error. It is fufficient, that in both refpects he hath done that which is fufficient to make us capable of Happiness, if we are not wanting to our felves: The reft he hath left to the Sincerity of our Endeavours; expecting that we, on our Part fhould work out our Salvation with fear and trembling, and give all diligence to make our Calling and Election fure.

Lastly, Since all things neceffary, either in Faith or Practice, are clearly and plainly revealed in the Holy Scripture; therefore there is no need of an Infallible Church. This is fo plainly prov'd in the four first Sermons of the third Volume of the Archbishop's Sermons, (edit. poft ob.) that N. C. doth not think fit to fay any thing in Confutation of it; but only tells us,that in establishing this Principle,(which as he truly fays, is the Fundamental Principle of Proteftants, and can never be mov'd by all the Papifts in the World) the Archbishop does two things, he would not willingly allow of: That First, He makes any Man of fenfe, who can read the Scripture, as infallible as the whole Catholick Church (he means the Roman) pretends to be. Secondly, He

ifies in a great measure, all the Hereticks

that

that ever denied any Points of Faith, on Pretence that they are not plain Scripture. This is indeed a heavy Charge, let us fee how he maintains it. Firft, He fays, the Archbishop makes any Man of fenfe, that can read the Scripture, as Infallible as the whole Catholick Church (i. e. the Church of Rome) pretends to be. For, fays he, the Catholick Church pretends only to be Infallible in neceffary Articles of Faith. Now if all things neceffary to 'be known in Faith and Practice, be clear ' and plain in Scripture; then there is no Man of fenfe that reads it, but may be as infallible in what is clear and plain, as any Church or Churches in the World: "For what is clear and plain to a Man, he is as fure and certain of, as if all the Mathematicians in the World had demonstrated it unto him. So that this worthy and grave Doctor neceffarily vefts in every Private Man that Infallibility, which he endeavours with fo much earneftnefs to deny to the whole Catholick Church.

Thus N. C. argues, or rather he makes ufe of fo many wilful Prevarications, that there is hardly one Sentence, that doth not include fome Falfity in it. For fays he, the Catholick Church only pretends to be infallible in the neceffary Articles of Faith; but is there any fuch Limitation as this in the Definition of Infallibility?

Doth

Doth he not fay, That the Church cannot err in Delivering the Doctrines she received from Chrift, nor mistake in the Explanation of it? And will he lay, that by Doctrines he means only such as are abfolutely neceffary to Salvation; fuch as are contain'd in the written Word of God? And doth he not know, that the Roman Church lays claim to a Power of declaring what Doctrines are necessary, and what not? And fo can call what Doctrines the pleases Neceffary, tho' of never fo little Importance, as many of thofe Twelve Articles are, which the Pope has added to the Apostles Creed; as allo that he lays claim to a power of Explaining all thofe Articles; whereby many New Tenents are introduc'd into the Church, and declar'd to be abfolutely neceffary to be believ'd in order to Eternal Salvation, which have no manner of Foundation in the Holy Writ. 2dly, He cannot be ignorant that the Archbishop means a Moral Affurance, and not an Absolute Infallibility; because he has declared it fo plainly in many of his Sermons, and inculcated it so often; and yet N.C. is re folved to mistake his Meaning, and to affirm, That the Archbishop places the fame Infallibility in every Private Perfon, which the Papifts affirm to be vested in

the