The principles of the Protestant religion maintained, and churches of New-England, in the profession…

But what shall he do to satisfy his brethren, whose Fabric is built upon the sandy Foundation of a New Light and new Revelations, if the Scripture hath all the Doctrines of Religion in it? He had in his youth (when he was in the Dark, as he saith we are) gotten a little of that carnal thing called Humane Learning, and, tho' ⟨p. 10⟩one would have thought, that a dose of New-Light would have purged it all away, yet there are some confused dregs behind, and he will try if they may not help at a dead lift; and let us see how he will manage it, Though (saith he) the Scriptures contain a full and sufficient Declaration of all Christian Doctrine, yet they do not contain the whole mind and will and counsel of God, as some say they do. and, pray Sr, who ever said so? Qui bene distinguit been docet. If by the Mind, Will, and Counsel of God, he intends the Eternal Decrees and Purposes (as these words are often taken) then we never said nor thought that the Scriptures contain a full discovery of these: they are the Secret things which belong to God; and are so far revealed in Scripture Predictions, & Providential Accomplishments, as God sees meet; and there are some new discoveries of them every day. But if he means the Preceptive Will of God, discovering to man what is his Duty, in order to his Happiness; then, not we only, but he also, Sect. 1, 2. saith that they do contain all, (if he saith any thing at all) and in this sense (besides which he saith nothing to purpose) here is a plain Contradiction; for to say that a thing contain ⟨p. 11⟩all the parts and yet not the Whole, is so in the Letter, whatever it be in his spirit.

But what shall he do to satisfy his brethren, whose Fabrick is built upon the sandy Foundation of a New Light and new Revelations, if the Scripture hath all the Doctrines of Religion in it? He had in his youth (when he was in the Dark, as he saith we are) gotten a little of that carnal thing called Humane Learning, and, tho' ⟨p. 10⟩one would have thought, that a dose of New-Light would have purged it all away, yet there are some confused dreggs behind, and he will try if they may not help at a dead lift; and let us see how he will manage it, Though (saith he) the Scriptures contain a full and sufficient Declaration of all Christian Doctrine, yet they do not contein the whole mind and will and counsil of God, as some say they do. and, pray Sr, who ever said so? Qui bene distinguit bene docet. If by the Mind, Will, and Counsel of God, he intends the Eternal Decrees and Purposes (as these words are often taken) then we never said nor thought that the Scriptures contain a full discovery of these: they are the Secret things which belong to God; and are so far revealed in Scripture Praedictions, & Providential Accomplishments, as God sees meet; and there are some new discoveries of them every day. But if he means the Preceptive Will of God, discovering to man what is his Duty, in order to his Happiness; then, not we only, but he also, Sect. 1, 2. saith that they do contain all, (if he saith any thing at all) and in this sense (besides which he saith nothing to purpose) here is a plain Contradiction; for to say that a thing contain