23.

The Liber- The Libertines who claym a liberty of pubtines lishing damnable Herefies and blafphemies under pretence of Prophefying, might learn, 2 Cor.3.17 that where theSpirit of theLord is,there is I Cor.12.3 1 Joh.2,22, liberty, true liberty, but no where else; for be who pretends to peak by the Holy Ghost, and yet denies fefus to be the Lord, doth at once blafpheme Chrift and the Holy Spirit, and is an Anti-fpiritual Lyar, an Antichriftian Blafphemer, and hath neither Father, Son nor Spirit dwelling in him.For he who fpeaks by the Spirit doth acknowledge JeThe Ene- fus to be the Lord, 1Cor.12.3. And he who mies of the denies the Son hath not the Father.who is a Trinity are Antichri lyer but he who denies that fefus is the Chrift? He is Antichrift who denies the Father and the Son; whosoever denies the Sox, the same hath not the Father, 1J0.2.22,23.

Fian.

Dr. Sibs

bis judge

ment con

In like manner,every Spirit which confeffeth not that Jefus Chrift is come in the flesh, is not of God but of Antichrift, 1Joh.4.2,3. This is that Vorftian liberty which hath undone fo many Nations already, and is now cerning li- Idolized in England under the name of Liberty of berty of Confcience, by [uch as have neither Propbefy. Confcience nor liberty. Reverend Dr. Sibbs did exceedingly cry out against this kind' his Epistle of Liberty in his time. He would not have before Mr. Way given to Vorftian lawleffe licencious liBaines bis berty of prophefie: that every one fo foone as" Commenta- he is big of some new conceit, Should bring Ephefians forth his abortive Monster; for then the

Dr, Sibs

ryupon the

pillars

Pillars of Chriftian Faith will foon be shaken,and the Church of God which is an house of Order, will become a Babel, an house of Confufion. The dolefull issues of which pretended Liberty, we fee in Polonia,Transylvania, and in Countries neerer hand.

I might proceed, but this is fufficient for a tafte; and if I fhould but name all the errours of this age and not confute them, I fhould abuse my Reader, and therefore I defire to ftop in time, and befeech all that are fpiritually minded to hearken to the Spirit speaking in the word. Beloved,beleeve An Exhornot every spirit, but beleeve the Holy Spirit, beleeve the who is the Author of the Scriptures, the Au- Holy Spirit. thor of Faith, the fudge of Controverfies,the interpreter of the Scriptures, the Doctor and comforter of the Elect,and he will lead you into all neceffary truth for your prefent edification, and everlafting Salvation.

tation to

doth teflifie

that the Scriptures

God.

The Holy Spirit will affure you that the The Spirit Scriptures of truth were all written by his own Authority, and you may safely set to your seale, when you have received the in-are the fallible teftimony of the Holy Ghoft. Weword of. are witnesses of these things (faith theApoftle) and fo is the Holy Ghost also, Act.5.32. The TestiWe shall never receive the Word, as the Word, of God, with joy, reverence, submission and Spirit upaffurance of Faith,fpecially in times of afflicti-ports our on and temptation,anleffe we receive the wit- Faith in time of neffe of the Spirit, and groand our Faith up- Temptation

on

mony of the

VII.

Arguments

for the Holy Scriptures.

on the wisdome and evident demonftration of the Spirit. When we look upon the word of God, and confider,

See Mr. Hilderfham upon the 51 Pfalme and the seventh verse, bis 145. Lecture. Mr. Ball his larger Catechisme.

Master Hieron of the Dignity of the Scriptures.

Reverend Mr. White in bis book nealy Printed called the way to the Tree of Life, the fecond and third chapters.

PL.119.129

1, The wonderfull confent of all thoft Holy and felfe-denying men that penned it.

2. The marvellous fulfilling of all the ftrange Prophecies in the fullneffe of time appointed by God.

3. The Admirable Providence of God in preferving the Scriptures notwithftanding all the rage and malice ofHereticks and perfecutors.

4. The fupernaturall Miracles wrought for to confirm it,

5. The Harmonious teftimony that the Church, Martyrs, Saints, have in all ages given to it.

it.

6. The Antiquity, Majefty, Efficacy of

7. The divine and heavenly matter contained in it,

1. Mysteries above reason, 1Car.2.9. 2. Commands contrary to our corrupt nature, fent to all Nations, and even to the greatest and proudest of men.

3.Threats

3. Threats beyond the strength of man to inflict, or the capacity of man to comprehend, an burd heart, a feared Conscience, and yet a trembling Spirit, a reprobate mind and fenfe, a fpirit of madneffe, giddineffe,borrour or flumber, an everlasting worm, eternall fire, torments with the devil and his Angels.

4. Promifes and rewards beyond the power of man to bestow, or wildome of Angels to comprehend, 1Pet. 1.12. Ephef. 3.10.

1

5. The fall, corruption, Redemption, Salvation of man wonderfully declared in the Holy Scriptures: the inward frame and difpofition of mans heart, his fecret thoughts and moft intimate projects, his referved wishes, defires, ends, and purpofes undenyably discovered for his conviction, even to admiration and amazement, 1 Cor.14.25. then the reafon of man is even confounded, the obftinacy of mans heart fubdued,all the pride of humane glory stained, and the Scriptures appeare to be the word of God.

The Tefti

mony of the Spirit maks

But now all these Arguments and many more which I could name, will not be ef- all other fectuall for our regeneration and conver- Arguments fion, untill the Spirit be pleafed to fet all effectuall home upon the heart by his own irresistible for our efficacy, and feale this truth to the Confci-conversion ence by his own infallible teftimony. But Faith.

when

unto true

credenda

à non cre-
dendis.

Vide Scho when the Spirit fpeaks to and works upo lafticos de our fpirits, then we do affent and confent, dono Dif. to all the proposals of God; ourvery cernendi thoughts are captivated and fubdued unto the obedience of Chrift, 2Cor. 10. 5. Out Conscience is convinced,fwayed and unde Lombard. niably obliged tobeleeve what is promiled, •3• dift. allow what is commanded, our will made 34. Buza willing to chose both, the affections to embrace both,our whole man to follow af. qu.1. Ar. ter both according to the directions ofGod genin. Ib. for performing what is commanded, and Aquin. fe- obtaining of what is promised, Rom.7. 13. cund. q.8. 22. Pfa 119. 106,112, 113, 127, 128, 167.

lib.

vent. fent.

1.3.d. 34.

a4.q.9 a.

1.Parifié, 173, 174.

de Legibus

cap. 21. Gerfon.de exam. Do&t. p. 1. con. 6. Mirandul.de fide & ordine credendi. Vide Sententiarios paffim de Dono intel lectus, Scientiæ, & Confilii.

dance upon

tute depen- universal dependance upon the infallible wifOur abso I must acknowledge my absolute total and the Infalli- dome, infinite truth, power, majesty, great ble Spirit. neffe, and goodneffe of the Holy Spirit, and confeffe that he hath foveraigne Right and Theologi: divine authority to reveale and prefcribe na fuper- Whatfoever he pleases upon the rewards naturalis and penalties of everlafting life and death.

eft do&tri.

divinâ re

velatione, non fcientifica demonftratione tradita. Johan. 9. 29 Johan.5.47. Spiritus Prophetis & Apoftolis imo & fibi ipfiin eis teftimonium perhibuit. Vide Hen. Gandavenf. Sum. part. 1. ar.9.9. 3. Greg. Homil. 19. in Ezek, Aug. Tract.3.in Ep.Johan, Hilar.lib.z.de Trin.prope.finem, & p. 174.

And