CHAP. III. False marks of fundamental articles rejected. THE opinion of the papists here first presents itself, who pretend that all things which their church determines, as of the faith, do immediately become articles of faith; and consequently that the church may, by her determinations and decrees, increase the number of them at pleasure. But this notion is easily destroyed. For, first, such an authority was never granted by God, to any assembly of men, nor to any private teachers whatever. Secondly, the Apostles themselves confess, that they had no dominion over the faith of christians, and that they delivered nothing to them but what they had received of the Lord.* Thirdly, all christians are commanded to examine whatever their pastors teach them, to beware of false prophets, to try all things, to hold fast that which is good; and if an angel from heaven, or the Apostles themselves, should preach any other Gospel, to pronounce them accursed.† So that pastors of the church have no power to add even the least point to the christian faith, much less to increase the number of its articles at pleasure. Fourthly, the church herself, or her pastors, are so far from having a power of altering them, or adding to their * 2 Cor. i. 24. 1 Cor. xv. 3. Mat. vii. 15. 1 Thes. v. 21. Gal. i. 8, 9. number, that the true church, and true pastors thereof, can no otherwise be distinguished from others, than by considering whether they hold the foundation, or depart from it. This mark, therefore, which the papists bring, is altogether precarious, nay, tyrannical and antichristian; for it is certainly the greatest tyranny, and pride, to assume a power of determining what is necessary to be known in order to salvation, and, in a matter of so great consequence, to add to the word of God. 2. Others are of opinion, that whatever is delivered in scripture, is upon that very account fundamental; and to this purpose they urge the words of St. Paul; "Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning;" and also, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."* But, as has been already observed, who can imagine that all things found in scripture, of whatever sort, as proper names of men, places, animals, plants, and all circumstances of the most minute actions, are so necessary to be known, that none can be saved without the knowledge of them? The words of the Apostle carry no such meaning; for the sense of those places is not that each sentence, word, or syllable of scripture, does contain something in them of the utmost consequence to christianity, and so that all these are necessary to * Rom. xv. 4. 2 Tim. iii. 16. be known; but only that the doctrine contained in that book, and the principal things delivered there, are to be for our instruction above all other things; and that whatever is necessary for our instruction, exhortation, or correction, is fully contained in it. Yea, the Apostle does largely shew in another place that we ought "to bear the infirmities of the weak.”* And those words, "for whatsoever things were writ'ten," &c. are added for no other purpose, but to show us, that by the instructions of scripture we are to learn a christian meekness and forbearance ; which very thing does prove that disagreement in matters of less importance, although they are things contained in scripture, ought not to be accounted fundamental. 3. Another mark, which many make use of to distinguish fundamentals from such as are not so, is taken from what they call the analogy of faith, or, which is the same thing, systems of divinity, in which some take one method, and some another. We shall only bring an instance or two out of them, to illustrate this matter. Some, therefore, talk after this manner. Those things, which contain the causes of salvation, are for that very reason necessary to be known, in order to salvation; but, say these men, in the causes of salvation, three things are to be distinctly considered,-the design, the purchase, and the application of it. The design is laid in God's Rom. xv. 1. and all the xivth chap. eternal predestination; the purchase is made through the merits and satisfaction of Christ, and the application by the power and operation of the Holy Spirit; and then they proceed to infer, that not only these things themselves, but all questions appertaining to them, are necessary to be known in order to salvation. Others argue thus; Christ is the Foundation, according to the Apostle, "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."* But say they, in Christ there are several things to be distinctly considered; as, his person, twofold nature, different states, his offices, and benefits. To which heads it is very plain, that innumerable questions, if not all in divinity may easily be referred. But they who argue in this manner, though they say nothing but what is true, and indeed of very great moment, yet their mistake lies in this; they confound what was necessary to be done in order to procure salvation, with what is necessary to be known; which two things are very different, as is plain by considering the case of infants, of that are deaf, or distracted, and of the patriarchs in the Old Testament. The thing may be illustrated by a similitude taken from our food; every one knows, that abundance of things are requisite to the digestion and separation of our food; and yet no body ever said that these things were necessary to be known, in order to receive nourishment from it. * 1 Cor. iii. 11. persons Hitherto we have rejected those marks, which to us seem faulty, by containing too much. There are others no less faulty, for requiring too little. From these therefore the next mark is taken. 4. Those things only are fundamental, which have been received by all christians, and in all ages. If this rule be right, I fear it will utterly destroy all fundamentals at once; for, from the very times of the Apostles, there have been teachers who have called themselves christians, and yet have attempted to overthrow some of the principal and most necessary things in christianity. Thus some have denied the Resurrection of the Body, and some that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh;* some have affirmed, that the ceremonies of the law are necessary to salvation, and others have even denied the necessity of good works; as is evident from many places in the Epistles. So that many of the teachers of those times, even of those who called themselves christians, are said to be antichrists, liars, false prophets, denying the Lord that bought them. And every one knows, that not long after, there arose many pestilent sects among christians; as the Gnosticks, the Marcionites, the Manichees, who denied some doctrines of the utmost importance, as the Unity of God, the necessity of good works, and of suffering martyrdom in defence of the truth when called to it. If this rule, therefore, * 1 Cor. xv. 2 Tim. ii. 18. 1 John iv. 3. |
