Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

Thirdly, This resignation is made purely upon a Scriptural warrant. There may be hay and stubble in the believer, but there is none in his faith; which, so far as it is faith, stands only upon holy ground. All faiths assents stand upon Scripture-propositions, all its affiances upon Scripture-promises, and all its obedience upon Scripture-precepts: What Balaam said by an over-ruling providence, that saith the believer by the instinct of faith, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord to do less or more, Num. 22.18. he would not as to doctrinals be wise above what is written, nor as to worship be religious above what is written, nor as to mercies and comforts be an expectant above what is written. He would not as to ⟨p. 123⟩doctrinals be wise above what is written: when the Lutherans and Papists met at Ratisbon, the Papists would first dispute about the Canon of Faith, the Lutherans replied, that the Scriptures were the only rule, at which the Papists cried out, that it was very unequal to tie them to one kind of weapon only, but faith is content with Scriptural doctrines only. There is one Mediator in Scripture, and faith dares not multiply them; there is one Scripture purgatory in Christs blood, and faith will not invent another; there is one propitiatory sacrifice offered up once for all upon the Cross, and faith will not seek after any more. All the points in Popery are but so many additions to the word, and upon that account insignificant to faith. The first error in the first sin was an addition to the word, the woman saying, ye shall not touch it, Gen. 3.3. whereas Gods word only was, ye shall not eat of it, Gen. 2.17. and the first and primordial error which hath ushered in all the Romish doctrines into the Church, hath been the very same thing; and because they are additions, faith cannot own them, no not faith in a Papist: opinion may own them, but faith cannot, for it is but the souls Echo to the voice of God in Scripture, and where there is no voice, there can be no return; humane doctrines found not at all to faith, Scripture is all. Bishop Fisher a little before his suffering lighting on that one sweet passage, this is life eternal to know thee and Jesus Christ,