An apologetical reply to a book called an answer to the unjust complaint of…An apologeticall reply to a booke called an ansvver to the unjust complaint of…

Whilst he was writing these things a secret Monitor from within suggested to him that all humane judicatories are subject to error, and that, when that error is showed by the word of God, it aught to be corrected. But, if the question be, who may judge of this error, and show it them? Here his answer is defective. He saith one Synod often reformeth that which hath been decreed by another. This showeth indeed that Synods are subject to error. And do they not therefore err because they fetched not their definitions and prescriptions from the Scriptures? And is it not the best way, for rectifying them, to reduce them to that rule? And how shall this be done, but by the course which those Noble Beraeans took, by comparing them with,¹ and examining them by the Scriptures? And to whom doeth this belong? Indeed the public Ministerial power of judging, in such cases, belongeth to Synods or Councils themselves. But the private judgment, which Divines call the judgment of practical discretion, belongeth to every Christian. So that no man is bound absolutely to submit to, or to rest in the judgment of any man or Council, but to try them by the Scripture, and to consent with them no further then they appear to consent with that rule. This the Scriptures abundantly declare,² when they command all Christians to beware of Seducers, to try all things, to try the spirits. Also, when they are called upon to receive the word of Christ only, as their only Master. And to deny men the use of their private judgment, in things taught them by their Pastors, or enjoined, and prescribed by Classes, or Synods, ⟨p. 274⟩what is it else, but to deprive man of his reason, & mans understanding of its end, which is to search & find out the truth? yea, to deprive Christians of the fruit of their faith, and supernatural illumination, and of the spirit of Revelation?³ Or, at least, to make those of riper years to be always as Children in understanding? This were to revive the heresy of Apelles, [Greek or Hebrew]. that people aught not accurately to weigh and examine what is propounded to them:

Whilest he was wrighting these things a secret Monitour from within suggested to him that all humane judicatoryes are subject to errour, and that, when that errour is shewed by the word of God, it aught to be corrected. But, if the question be, who may judge of this errour, and shew it them? Here his answer is defective. He sayth one Synod often reformeth that which hath bene decreed by another. This sheweth indeed that Synods are subject to errour. And doe they not therefore erre because they fetched not their definitions and praescriptions from the Scriptures? And is it not the best way, for rectifying them, to reduce them to that rule? And how shall this be done, but by the course which those Noble Beraeans tooke, by comparing them with,