The Saints' Everlasting Rest

But I pass these, as not intending a full handling of this subject. The best that I know already extant on it, is Grotius and Du Plessis; and I would some able man would do yet more. For my own part, I have had so many rare convincing experiences of the fulfilling of Promises to me, and answering Prayers, by wonders of unusual Providences, That serve mightily to conform me, by seconding my Arguments: And were it fit to speak so much of my own matters, I would produce them for the confirming of others.

Were it not to digress, I should here express my admiration, That so many learned men should lean towards Rome, merely upon a conceit, That there is a flat necessity of some Ultimately Decisive, Judicial Expounder of Scripture, and that must needs be their Church. For they think it abominable, that every man should be Judg. At present I would but know of them, First, Whether they speak of Fundamental plain places of Scripture? or of more obscure, and of less moment? For the former; First, Where there is such Plainness, there needs a Teacher to the Ignorant, but not a Judg: Among Christians, Fundamentals are no Controversies. Secondly, And if the Judg mistake in Fundamentals, if we obey him, we must renounce our Faith. Secondly, If the Pope, or his Council of Prelates be ⟨image 108⟩Judg; how shall all people in the Kingdoms of the World know, what Exposition they give? Hear their voices they cannot: If by their written Canons▪ who shall expound them to the people? If another Pope or Council, who shall expound their Exposition? and so in Infinitum. I do not see, but God speaks as plainly as the Council of Trent; and as easy to be understood. Thirdly, Doth the Pope and Prelates know the meaning of Scripture by rational means? or by Enthusiasm? or by some Superior Judg? If by rational means, why may not as learned Doctors know it as well by the same? If by some other Judg, Who is it? If they believe Scripture, or the Sense of it, upon their own Authority, who will regard such self idolizing wretches? Fourthly, If there be a means left of God, for a true deciding all Controversies, and resolving all difficulties in Scripture; then why are not all resolved? and why are we not perfect in knowledge? The plain Truth is, Christ is the only proper Judg himself, and hath left us his Laws, and Magistrates to see that we obey them, and Ministers to teach us the meaning of them. Every man of these is bound to judg rightly of the Sense of these Laws; every particular man, that he may obey them: And if he mistake, he sineth, and must answer it to God, and (in some cases) to Magistrates and Overseers. The Magistrate is to judg rightly, when any is punishable; and if he err, he must answer it to the Supreme, and he to God. The Ministers are to judg rightly of the Sense of Scripture, that they may teach them others, and admonish, and censure accordingly;