112 A CISRISTIAN CHURCH. sins ; and pride and vanity of mind must be subdued for the. same reason." If the words of scripture may not be treated in this manner, and applied to solve any doubt or difficulty by ex- plications and inferences, the scripture cannot be a sufficient test of truth and error ; and if this method be allowed, then it be- comes also a sufficient test of christian knowledge in order to communion ; which is all that I contend for. III. Most of the books of scripture were written at differ- ent times, and upon very different occasions, to reprove some particular vices, to refute some special errors or heresies, to in- struct in some particular affairs relating to doctrine and duty, in such expressions as were most exactly suited, and divinely pro- per to answer those special designs. The metaphors and figures of speech there used were well known, or well explained in that age, and accommodated to the genius and understanding ofthose persons, for whose benefit they were first written : And by these divine writings. we have sufficient-direction to find out all neces- sary truths and duties at all times, in all nations, and ages of the church, by comparison of things, and just inferences. Now though God foreknewwhat errors would arise in every age, yet it is impossible that so small a book as the New Testament, could mention and refute every error that might possibly arise, or for- bid every particular vice or corruption that might spring up in following ages ; and all this in express words, and in terms most directly opposing those sins and errors which are almost infinite, and as yet had no being. Therefore without any derogation from the sufficiency of scripture, we may justly allow, that it is possible for wise and pious men, 'that live in those succeeding ages, to explain the general sense of scripture in such expres- sions, as may more directly and effectually guardagainst the sins and heresies of the age; this is certainly needful in order to in- struct the ignorant ; and some confession of this kind may be proper and necessary in times of error, to keep the communion of the churches of Christ pure and holy; yet this also may be done, as I have shewn before, without any express impositionof any set human forms; but it can never be done effectually by making the mere words of scripture a test of communion, which in all ages heretics have learned to pervert to their own sense. IV. The sufficiency of scripture, for our rule of faith and practice in revealed religion, does not signify a sufficiency of the hare words and syllables of scripture, to declare every particular article of doctrine or duty in direct and express terms : But that it sufficiently includes and contains them all; so that by a most easy and obvious exercise of reason, all necessary truths and duties may be found, either in express words, or in easy, plain and natural consequences ; and that there is no need of old tra- ditions, nor any new inventions of men. The sufficiency of natural light, to direct innocent man in natural religion, does not
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