The Saints' Everlasting Rest

The like may be said of true Believers in those parts of the Church of Rome, where the Scripture is wholly hid from the vulgar (if there be any such parts.) 16. Yet where the written Word is wanting, salvation must needs be more difficult and more rare, and Faith more feeble, and mens conversations worse ordered, because they want that clearer Revelation, that surer Rule of Faith and Life, which might make the way of salvation more easy. 17. When Tradition ariseth no higher, or cometh originally but from this written Word, and not from the verbal Testimonies of the Apostles before the Word was written, there that Tradition is but the preaching of the Word, and not a distinct way of Revealing. 18. Such is most of the Tradition (for ought I can learn) that is now afoot in the world, for matter of Doctrine, but not for matter of fact. 17. Therefore the Scriptures are not only necessary to the well-being of the Church, and to the strength of Faith, but [ordinarily] to the very being of Faith and Churches. 20. Not that the present Possession of Scripture is of absolute necessity to the present being of a Church: not that it is so absolute necessary to every mans salvation, that he read or knew this Scripture himself: But that it either be at present, or have been formerly in the Church: that some knowing it, may teach it to others, is of absolute necessity to most persons and Churches, and necessary to the well-being of all. 21. Though negative unbelief of the authority of Scripture may stand with salvation, yet positive and universal (I think) cannot. Or, though Tradition may save where Scripture is not known, yet he that reads or hears the Scripture, and will not believe it to be the Testimony of God, (I think) cannot be saved, because this is now the clearest and surest Revelation: And he that will not believe it, will muchless ⟨p. 187⟩believe a Revelation more uncertain and obscure. 22. Though all Scripture be of Divine Authority, yet he that believeth but some one Book, which containeth the substance of the Doctrine of salvation, may be saved: much more they that have doubted but of some particular Books. 23. They that take the Scripture to be but the Writings of godly honest men, and so to be only a means of making known Christ, having a gradual precedency to the Writings of other godly men;

The like may be said of true Believers in those parts of the Church of Rome, where the Scripture is wholly hid from the vulgar (if there be any such parts.) 16. Yet where the written Word is wanting, salvation must needs be more difficult and more rare, and Faith more feeble, and mens conversations worse ordered, because they want that clearer Revelation, that surer Rule of Faith and Life, which might make the way of salvation more easie. 17. When Tradition ariseth no higher, or cometh originally but from this written Word, and not from the verbal Testimonies of the Apostles before the Word was written, there that Tradition is but the preaching of the Word, and not a distinct way of Revealing. 18. Such is most of the Tradition (for ought I can learn) that is now afoot in the world, for matter of Doctrine, but not for matter of fact. 17. Therefore the Scriptures are not onely necessary to the well-beeing of the Church, and to the strength of Faith, but [ordinarily] to the very beeing of Faith and Churches. 20. Not that the present Possession of Scripture is of absolute necessity to the present beeing of a Church: not that it is so absolute necessary to every mans salvation, that he read or knew this Scripture himself: But that it either be at present, or have been formerly in the Church: that some knowing it, may teach it to others, is of absolute necessity to most persons and Churches, and necessary to the well-beeing of all. 21. Though negative unbelief of the authority of Scripture may stand with salvation, yet positive and universal (I think) cannot. Or, though Tradition may save where Scripture is not known, yet he that reads or hears the Scripture, and will not believe it to be the Testimony of God, (I think) cannot be saved, because this is now the clearest and surest Revelation: And he that will not believe it, will muchless