The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

1. THEIR whole design and endeavour is to put in Exceptions against the obvious sense and interpretation of the Words, not fixing on any determinate exposition of it themselves, such as they will abide by in opposition unto any other sense of the place. Now this is most sophistical way of arguing upon Testimonies, and suited only to make Controversies endless. Whose Wit is so barren, as not to be able to raise one exception or other against the plainest and most evident Testimony? So the Socinians deal with us, in all the Testimonies we produce to prove the Deity or Satisfaction of Christ. They suppose it enough to evade their force, if they can but pretend that the Words are capable of another sense; although they will not abide by it, that this or that is their sense. For if they would do so, when that is overthrown the Truth would be established. But every Testimony of the Scripture hath one determinate sense. When this is contended about, it is equal that those at difference do express their Apprehensions of the mind of the Holy Spirit in the Word which they will abide by. When this is done, let it be examined and tried, whether of the two senses pretended unto, doth best comply with the signification and use of the Words, the context or scope of the place, other Scripture Testimonies, and the Analogy of Faith. No such Rule is attended unto in this case by our Adversaries. They think it enough to oppose our sense of the Words, but will not fix upon any of their own, which if it be disproved, ours ought to take place. And hence,

1. THEIR whole design and endeavour is to put in Exceptions against the obvious sence and interpretation of the Words, not fixing on any determinate exposition of it themselves, such as they will abide by in opposition unto any other sence of the place. Now this is most sophistical way of arguing upon Testimonies, and suited only to make Controversies endless. Whose Wit is so barren, as not to be able to raise one exception or other against the plainest and most evident Testimony? So the Socinians deal with us, in all the Testimonies we produce to prove the Deity or Satisfaction of Christ. They suppose it enough to evade their force, if they can but pretend that the Words are capable of another sence; although they will not abide by it, that this or that is their sence. For if they would do so, when that is overthrown the Truth would be established. But every Testimony of the Scripture hath one determinate sence. When this is contended about, it is equal that those at difference do express their Apprehensions of the mind of the Holy Spirit in the Word which they will abide by. When this is done, let it be examined and tried, whether of the two sences pretended unto, doth best comply with the signification and use of the Words, the context or scope of the place, other Scripture Testimonies, and the Analogy of Faith. No such Rule is attended unto in this case by our Adversaries. They think it enough to oppose our sence of the Words, but will not fix upon any of their own, which if it be disproved, ours ought to take place. And hence,