232 I he Sin and Danger of Vol. 1. them, was the intire Doltrine of the Gofpel, which was never to receive any ad- dition or alteration. This is that which St. Peter calls the Holy Commandment which was delivered unto them, 2 Pet. 2. 2 I. It bad been better for them nit to have known theway of Righteoufnefs, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy Commandment delivered unto them, fpeaking in all probability of thofe "Who were feduced by the Errors of the Gnoflicks, from, the purity of the Chriftian Do- Chine delivered to them by the Apoftles. This likewife St. Paul calls the Common Faith, Titus e. 4. and St. Jude ver. 3. the common Salvation ; that is, the Do- orine which contains thecommon Terms of our Salvation, and the Faith which was once delivered to the Saints, that is, by the Apoftles of our Lord, who pub- lifh'd the Gofpel ; once delivered, that is, once for all, fo as never afterwards to admit of any change or alteration. This Faith he exhorts Chriftians earneflly to contendfor, againft thofe feveral Seds of Seducers, which were crept into the Chriftian Church, and did endeavour by feveral Arts topervert theGofpel of Cbri, and to deprave the Faith delivered by the Apoftles. So that the Doltrine of theGòfpel ,publifh'd by the Apoftles, is fix'd and unal- terable, and there can be no Authority in the Church to make any change in it, either by taking from it, or adding any thing to it, as neceffary to be believed or praftifed in order to Salvation. 5. It follows likewife from the foregoing Obfervations, that there is no vifzble Judge ( how much foever he may pretend to Infallibility) to whole determinati- on and decifion in mattersof Faith and Practice neceffary to Salvation, Chriftians are bound to fubmit without examination, whether thofe things be agreeable to the Dodrine of the Gofpel, or not. When our Saviour appeared in the World, tho' he had Authorityenough to exalt belief from Men, yet becaufe there was a ftanding Revelation of God made to the yews, he appeals to that Revelation, as well as to his own Miracles, for the truth of what he faid, and offered himfelf, and his Doftrine, to be tried by the agreea- blenefs of it to the Scriptures of the Old Teftament, and the Predi&ions therein concerning him. And this was but reafonable, liberty being impoflìble for any Man to receive two Revelations, as from God, without to examine,whether theybe agreeable to, and confiftent with one another. In like manner the Apoftles of our Lord and Saviour, tho' they were guided and afíifted by an Infallible Spirit, and had an immediate Commiffion from Chrift to preach the Doltrine of the Gofpel, did not require from Men abfolute fubmiffion to their Doctrines and Dilates, with- out examination of what they delivered, whether it were agreeable to the Divine Revelation which was contained in the ancient Scriptures. This was St. Paul's confiant Cuftom and way of teaching among theJews, who had received theRevelation of the OldTeftament ; he did not diftate to them by vertue of his Infallibility, but reafonedwith them out of the Scriptures, and re- quired their belief no further than what he faid, fhould upon examination appear agreeable to the Scriptures. So we find Ails 17. 2, 3. And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them (fpeaking of the Jews) and three Sabbath days reafoned with them out of the Scriptures, opening and alledging, that Chilli muff needshave fiMered, and rifen again from the dead, and that this 7efus whom. I preach unto you, is the Choi. AndChap. 18. 28. be mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, (hewing by the Scriptures, that Jefus was the Chr I. And St. Paul was fo far from reproving them for examining his Doftrine by theScriptures, that he commended it, asan Argument ofa Nobleand,Generous mind in the Bereans, that they did not give full affent' to his Doftrine, till upon due fearch and examination theywere fatisfied that what he had faid was agreeable to the Scriptures, Chap. 17. rt, i 2. Where fpeaking of the Bereans, it is faid, That thefe were more noble than thole in Theffalonica, in that they received the word, with all readinefs ofmind, andfearched the Scriptures daily, whether thofe things werefo; therefore many of them believed; that is, becaufe upon fearch they found what he delivered to be agreeable to the Scriptures ; and it was not a flight, but diligent and deliberate Search, they took time to examine things thoroughly ; for it is faid they fearched the Scriptures daily. And here in the Text St. Paul puts the Cafe, that if he, or any
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