QUESTION X. 109 ants on these ordinances, considered as human actions, which the light of nature plainly dictates, and which may be drawn by the most obvious and natural consequences from the directions or examples of scripture ; but they are not found there in express words, nor indeed is these any need of it, since they lie so open to the weakest exercise of reason. Now to sum up the last argument. If there be any articles of christian belief, or practice, necessary to salvation, or to public christian worship, and to a regular participation of the Lord's-supper, which are not laid down and described inthe express words of scripture, then may we not conclude, that a mere declaration of the belief of the bible, or any part of it, is net .a certain evidence of knowledge sufficient to demand chris- tian communion, where all explications and consequences arc utterly refused ? SECT. VIII. The great objection -against all my discourse is this; that " since the word of God is a sufficient and perfect rule to direct christians in their faith and practice, the words of scripture are therefore a sufficient and perfect test of christian knowledge." The scripture, say they, is certainly capable of itself to determine all our doctrines, and all our duties; it is sufficient to furnish the man of God perfectly unto all good works, and it is able to make every man wise unto salvation. It was given for this endby the inspiration of God ; and it does not stand in need of the assistance of human inferences and ex- plications, in things necessary for christians to believe and prac- tise ; 2 'rim. iii. 15-17. Therefore an acknowledgment of the scripture, or the most considerable articles of christianity in the express words of it, is a sufficient test for christian com- munion. This argument is very popular, and drawn out into much flowery eloquence, to persuade and captivate the unwary. The writers on this side of the quesiuon brighten and flash upon the reader, and, as it were, overwhelm him, if the eye of his judg- ment beweak, with such dazzling language as this : " What are not the words, which God himself hath written, effectual for all the purposes of christianity, without the addition of the words of men ? Is not God wiser than man ? And can any man form for himself a better test of knowledge, than God hasdone ? Did. not Christ, and his Spirit, which spoke by the apostles, know how to express divine truths in the best manner, and in words fittest for every use and service of the christian church ? I-Ias our Lord Jesus Christ so little consulted the truth and se- cûrity of his gospel, as well as the peace and welfare of his churches, as not to express every matter necessary to commu- nion, in plain language ? Can we, shall we, darewe indulge so unbecoming au opinion of the care of our blessedLord ? Can
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