The true and only way of concord of all the Christian churches the desirableness…

§. 12. Obj. 12. You would have the Church Articles, at least for the Tolerated, in Scripture phrase: And what's the phrase without the right sense? How easily may Heretics creep in under such phrases as several men put several senses on?

§. 12. Obj. 12. You would have the Church Articles, at least for the Tolerated, in Scripture phrase: And what's the phrase without the right sence? How easily may Hereticks creep in under such phrases as several men put several sences on?

Answ. 1. Is there not Truth enough in all the Bible in intelligible words necessary to salvation and Church Communion? Is the Scripture as insufficient as the Papists make it, without their supplemental Traditions or Decrees? And had not the Holy Ghost skill to speak even things necessary in tolerable intelligible phrase? who are they that are wiser to reform it?

2. Almost all words are ambiguous and may be diversly understood: your own invented expositions will be as liable to be wrested by Heretics as the Scripture. It is ridiculous presumption to talk of making any Law, profession or Articles that a false Heretic may not subscribe to. 3. But there is another remedy against them: while they conceal their heresy, they are no Heretics in the judgment of the Church. Non apparere here is as non esse, ⟨p. 278⟩when they divulge it, the judicatures must correct them. It's vanity to dream that the Law is faulty as long as it is but such as men can break: or that any Law can be made which none can break: But as they break them, they are to be judged. 4. And we must not rack and divide the good, for fear of such letting in the bad. The Churches Concord and peace is of more regard than the keeping out of some secret Heretic: yea of old he was not called a Heretic that did not separate from the Church. All good men agree to the word of God, but all will not agree to every word of yours.