Answ. 1. To the Major Proposition of the main Argument, I answer. The word [safe] referreth to some Danger that we are safe from: The way may be called safe therefore, either in respect of sin or damnation: Also this way may be called [one] in respect of the Essentials of Religion, or else in respect of some inferior truths and duties, that are not of absolute necessity to salvation. And so I say that there is but one Religion as to the Essential and absolutely necessary points, in which a man can be safe from Damnation. And there is but one Religion as comprehending all the Integral parts, in which a man can be safe from sin: But yet that Religion which in the Essentials and Absolutely necessary points is but one, may yet consist with errors in lower and lesser things in the minds of those that hold it; and yet be a safe way to salvation, though not so safe as to freemen from all sin. And consequently there may be differences among true Christians that shall be saved, though there be nothing but perfect Harmony in the entire ⟨p. 28⟩Doctrine of Christian Religion as delivered from Christ and his Spirit: Because no man holds that Doctrine entirely and perfectly without any error or ignorance, and therefore there will be much difference among those that shall be saved. To the Major of the Pro-syllogism, I answer, Implicitly and in Generals the Church hath owned the perfect truth in all ages, because it hath Believed that all that God saith is true, and that the Scripture is his word: But explicitly and particularly the Church hath not held all the truth of Religion, in any one age since the Apostles. For every man on earth hath been Ignorant, and the most knowing men erroneous in some things: seeing we are all imperfect, and here know but in part. And so one particular Church might err in one thing, and another in another thing, as the differences about Easter, Rebaptizing, the Millennium, Infants Communicating, &c. show they did. And of the same Church one Member might err in one thing and another in another thing: it being as certain that no two men on the earth are in all things of the same mind, as that none on earth are perfect in knowledge. To the Minor I answer, that the Religion called Protestant is the same in all points absolutely necessary to salvation which the Church hath still owned!
Answ. 1. To the Major Proposition of the main Argument, I answer. The word [safe] referreth to some Danger that we are safe from: The way may be called safe therefore, either in respect of sin or damnation: Also this way may be called [one] in respect of the Essentials of Religion, or else in respect of some inferior truths and duties, that are not of absolute necessity to salvation. And so I say that there is but one Religion as to the Essential and absolutely necessary points, in which a man can be safe from Damnation. And there is but one Religion as comprehending all the Integral parts, in which a man can be safe from sin: But yet that Religion which in the Essentials and Absolutely necessary points is but one, may yet consist with errors in lower and lesser things in the minds of those that hold it; and yet be a safe way to salvation, though not so safe as to freemen from all sin. And consequently there may be differences among true Christians that shall be saved, though there be nothing but perfect Harmony in the entire ⟨p. 28⟩Doctrine of Christian Religion as delivered from Christ and his Spirit: Because no man holds that Doctrine entirely and perfectly without any error or ignorance, and therefore there will be much difference among those that shall be saved. To the Major of the Pro-syllogisme, I answer, Implicitely and in Generals the Church hath owned the perfect truth in all ages, because it hath Believed that all that God saith is true, and that the Scripture is his word: But explicitely and particularly the Church hath not held all the truth of Religion, in any one age since the Apostles. For every man on earth hath been Ignorant, and the most knowing men erroneous in some things: seeing we are all imperfect, and here know but in part. And so one particular Church might erre in one thing, and another in another thing, as the differences about Easter, Rebaptizing, the Millennium, Infants Communicating, &c. shew they did. And of the same Church one Member might erre in one thing and another in another thing: it being as certain that no two men on the earth are in all things of the same minde, as that none on earth are perfect in knowledge. To the Minor I answer, that the Religion called Protestant is the same in all points absolutely necessary to salvation which the Church hath still owned!
