Part 8

2. The Scriptures were not written to teach Natural Philosophy, Arts or Sciences, humane Policy, or the like; but were given, _that the man of God might be perfect, furnished for every good work_: and it is by them that we have the doctrine of eternal Salvation revealed unto us, and we positively affirm the sufficiency of the Scriptures unto Salvation, which thing no Orthodox Divine (we suppose) will deny, and _Bellarmine_ himself did confess in these words: _Prophetici & Apostolici libri sunt verum verbum Dei, ac stabilis regula fidei_. And if it be a certain Rule of Faith, and the true Word of God, then whatsoever it is silent of, we ought not to believe, and so its silence is argumentative in that point. The Scriptures are utterly silent concerning Purgatory, and therefore it is a good argument to affirm there is no such place as Purgatory, because the Word of God is silent as concerning it; but if it had been necessary to have been believed, then there would have been mention made of it.

3. And as the Scriptures are sufficient in matters of Faith, and _circa credenda_, and what they are silent in, are not to be received as Articles of our Faith, but to be rejected, as having no truth of Existence: So likewise what Worship God requireth of his people, is fully revealed in his Word, and therefore I am to reject the worshipping of _Mahomet_ with the Turks, or Images, and praying to Saints with the Papists, because I have neither precept nor president in the Word, but it is silent in such matters; nay tells us, _That he is the Lord our God, and him only we ought to serve_.

[Sidenote: _Pag._ 87, 88. 23.]

[Sidenote: _Origin. Sacr._ _l._ 3. _c._ 6. _p._ 608.]

[Sidenote: Invisib. World, p. 112.]

[Sidenote: Joh. 17. 24.]

[Sidenote: Serm. c. 7.]

[Sidenote: Wisd. 3. 1.]

[Sidenote: Luk. 23. 43.]

[Sidenote: _Concio secunda de Lazaro._]

[Sidenote: Luk. 16. 22, 23.]

[Sidenote: 2 Sam. 12. 23.]

[Sidenote: Job 7. 9, 10.]

[Sidenote: _Idem._ 10. 20, 21.]

[Sidenote: _Bellarm. Enervat._ _tom._ 2. _l._ 5. _p._ 204.]

[Sidenote: _Homil._ _sect._ 16. _pag._ 484.]

4. Though Mr. _Glanvil_ say, that God hath given no account of the state of the other World, but only that general one of the happiness of some, and the misery of others; yet Am I to believe as Mr. _Glanvil_ somewhere in his Book affirmeth, that _Samuels_ Soul was raised up by the Woman at _Endor_, and that those that he feigneth to make Leagues and Contracts with Witches, are the Souls of such as had been Witches when they lived, and asketh, Who saith that happy Souls were never imployed in any ministeries here below? Or am I to believe that both the Souls of the godly and wicked, do rove up and down here upon earth, and make Apparitions, because the Popish Teachers do hold it to be so? I hope not, and therefore I shall in part give an answer here to some of these, and handle that of the Woman of _Endor_ in another place. 1. The Word of God doth particularly teach us the state and condition of the Souls after death, that they shall be like the Angels in Heaven; and all other things necessary to move and draw us to believe the immortal Existence of Souls, as that most able and learned Divine Dr. _Stillingfleet_ hath asserted in these words: “The Scriptures give the most faithful representation of the state and condition of the Soul of Man. The World (he saith) was almost lost in Disputes concerning the Nature, Condition, and Immortality of the Soul, before divine Revelation was made known to Mankind by the Gospel of Christ; _but life and immortality was brought to light by the Gospel_, and the future state of the soul of man not discovered in an uncertain Platonical way, but with the greatest light and evidence from that God who hath the supreme disposal of souls, and therefore best knows and understands them.” A Sentence truly pious and orthodoxal. 2. Hath not God in the holy Scriptures amply and plainly taught us the state of the other World, in describing unto us such a numerous company of Seraphims and Cherubims, Angels and Archangels, with their several Orders, Offices, Ministeries, and Imployments? and this is more than a general account, as may be seen at full in that learned and godly Piece of Bishop _Halls_, called _The invisible World_. And hath he not given us a particular account of the very Kingdom of Darkness, telling us of the Devil and his Angels, and precisely in this enumeration? _For we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places._ And this is more than a general account, and we must needs say, that what he holds is very derogatory to the wisdom and goodness of God, and the sufficiency and truth of the Scriptures. 3. Must I believe him that the souls of the Saints do rove and wander here below? when as Bishop _Hall_ saith, where he is speaking against the opinion of those that hold, that Souls do sleep until the Day of Judgment: “Indeed who can but wonder that any Christian can possibly give entertainment to so absurd a thought, whilst he hears his Saviour say, _Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, and that_ (not in a safe sleep) _they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me_.” Sure if the Souls departed be with Christ where he is, and do behold his glory, then it is a Popish Fable of Mr. _Glanvil_, to feign their coming upon Messages hither. The saying of St. _Bernard_ is remarkable in this case: _Advertistis tres esse sanctarum status animarum, primum videlicet in corpore corruptibili, secundum sine corpore, tertium in corpore jam glorificato. Primum in militia, secundum in requie, tertium in beatitudine consummata._ And if the second state of holy Souls be without a body, and be at peace and rest, then it must necessarily be a truth, that they do not wander here, nor run upon Errands; _For the souls of the righteous are in the hands of the Lord, and there shall no torment touch them_. And our Saviour told the Thief upon the Cross, _This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise_, that is, as Dr. _Hammond_ giveth the Paraphrase: “Immediately after thy death thou shalt go to a place of bliss, and there abide with me, a Member of that my Kingdom which thou askest for.” Now if the souls of the godly, after their death, be immediately in a place of bliss, and abide with Christ as Members of his Kingdom, then they do not wander up and down here, as Mr. _Glanvil_ and the Papists vainly fancy and believe; for as _Chrysostome_ saith upon that place of _Lazarus_ his being carried by Angels into _Abrahams_ bosome. “What is it then that the Devils say, I am the Soul of such a Monk? Truly I therefore believe it not, because the Devils say it, for they deceive their Auditors.” 4. Or must I believe that the souls of the wicked do wander, and make Apparitions here, because Mr. _Glanvil_ and the Popish Writers tell me so? I hope not; for the Text telleth us plainly, that the rich man presently after his death was in Hell in torments, and could not come hither unto earth again to warn his brethren, otherwise he would not have prayed _Abraham_ to have sent _Lazarus_. And whether it be taken for a real History of things done, or but a Parable, yet the spiritual meaning of our Saviour must be infallibly true, that immediately after death the souls of the godly are by Angels carried into _Abrahams_ bosome, and the wicked go down into Hell, from whence there is no redemption; and therefore do not wander up and down here, nor make any Apparitions: for I imagine that the authority of holy King _David_, a Prophet and a man after Gods own heart, is to be preferred before the authority of a thousand Popish Writers, and he tells us, when the child was dead: _But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me._ And _Job_ tells us: _As the cloud is consumed, and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave, shall come up no more, he shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more_. And therefore it was a vain argument of _Bellarmine_ when he said: “_Apparitiones animarum ex Purgatorio venientium idem testantur_.” To which the Protestants answer: “But who shall bear witness of these Apparitions, that they were not either feigned fables, or Satanical illusions? They were men, and might be deceived, even the best of them, with whom doth rest the faith of these Narrations.” 5. And whereas he audaciously asketh, “Who saith that happy Souls were never imployed in any Ministeries here below?” I shall tell him who they are that say, that happy Souls departed are never imployed here in any Ministeries; and they are all the learned Divines of the Reformed Churches, and all those that were true Sons of the Doctrine of the Church of _England_, such as were Bishop _Jewel_, Bishop _Hall_, Dr. _Willet_, Dr. _Whitaker_, Mr. _Perkins_, and many more such, the authority and reputation of the least of which is far above the simple question of Mr. _Glanvil_. And therefore saith the latter Confession of _Helvetia_: “Now that which is recorded of the Spirits or Souls of the dead sometimes appearing to them that are alive, &c. we count those Apparitions among the delusions and deceits of the Devil.”

5. And as the Scriptures are sufficient both in respect of matters of Faith, and concerning divine Worship, that their silence in those two particulars are fully argumentative, to deny whatever is not contained in them, as unfit to be received to either purpose. So in respect of a Christians warfare, all things for the obtaining of a perfect and compleat victory, and for standing and perseverance, are in them fully declared, and what they mention not is to be rejected, as wanting the seal of Divine Authority, whether it be in regard of eschewing what is prohibited, or in following what is commanded. And therefore we affirm, that what the Scriptures have not revealed of the power of the Kingdom of Satan, is to be rejected, and not to be believed, and what weapons we are to use against the wiles of the Devil, we are to be furnished withal, but have need of no others but what the Holy Ghost in the Scriptures hath made known unto us, the rest are to be cast off, as fables and lyes, or humane inventions, because the Scriptures are silent of any such matter, and that for these weighty grounds and considerations.

[Sidenote: _De Doctrin. Christian._]

1. We shall take the Concession of _Bellarmine_ himself, who saith: _Nullum est vitium ad quod sanandum non invenitur in Scriptura aliquod remedium_. And again: _Illa quæ sunt simpliciter omnibus necessaria, Apostoli consueverunt omnibus prædicare: & aliorum quæ sunt omnibus utilia_. And to the same purpose is the saying of St. _Austin_: _Titubat fides, si divinarum Scripturarum vacillet authoritas: porrò fide titubante, etiam ipsa charitas languescit_. Therefore if there be no fault for which the Scripture doth not yield some remedy, then surely to make a visible League with the Devil, or to have carnal Copulation with him, either must have no verity at all in it, or that the Scripture hath provided no remedy for it, for of such things there is no mention. And if Faith must stumble, where the authority of the Scriptures is wanting, then surely the belief of all rational men must needs be staggering, to believe what these common Witchmongers affirm of the Witches visible League and carnal Copulation with the Devil, when there is no authority of Scripture at all to strengthen or countenance any such matter.

[Sidenote: Eph. 6. 11, 12, 13.]

[Sidenote: 1 Pet. 5. 8, 9.]

[Sidenote: 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5.]

2. The Scriptures do fully and abundantly inform us of the Devils spiritual and invisible power, and against the same declares unto us the whole Armor of God, with which we ought to be furnished, as the Apostle saith: _Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand._ And the Apostle St. _Peter_ telleth us: _Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour; whom resist stedfast in the faith_. And in another place: _For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God_. From which Scriptures we may take these remarkable observations.

[Sidenote: 2 Cor. 2. 11.]

[Sidenote: 1 Tim. 3. 7.]

[Sidenote: 2 Tim. 2. 26.]

1. We are to consider the nature of this Warfare, that it is spiritual and against spiritual wickedness in high places, and not against flesh and blood; and the Holy Ghost could not be wanting nor defective, but superabundantly full in describing the nature of this warfare, that it is spiritual, not carnal; and therefore we are to prepare our selves against all spiritual assaults: but as for any visible, carnal, or bodily, there is not, nor can be any such, because the Apostle that declared by his Preaching and Writings the whole counsel of God, hath revealed no such thing as the visible appearing of Satan, much less of his making of a visible League with the Witches, or the sucking of their bodies, or the having carnal Copulation with them, which must of necessity be lyes and figments, because the Holy Ghost hath not warned us of any such, which we ought certainly to believe he would have done, if there had been any such matter. And the holy Apostle, who was not ignorant of the devices νοήματα, notions or intentions of Satan, would not have omitted to have warned the godly, if there had been any such matter as a visible League, sucking of their bodies, or carnal Copulation, the thing being of so great weight and concern. For as one said well: _Grave est de vita & bonis periclitari, sed multò gravius insidiantem habere Satanam_. And he that so often hath given us warning of the wiles, devices, and snares of the Devil, if there had been any such dangerous snare as this, would without doubt have given us notice of it.

2. We are to consider the end of this Warfare, that it is for no less than a Crown, and that not a terrestrial, but a celestial one, not a fading one, but an everlasting one, a Crown of eternal life, of immortal glory, even for an house given of God, eternal in the Heavens. Therefore this being a thing of the greatest concern that belongs to a Christian, the Apostle would not doubtlesly omit any thing that had been necessary to the obtaining of such an inestimable prize, and such an important Victory; and therefore cannot in reason have concealed or omitted such a weighty matter as a visible League, and the like, if there had been any such thing.

[Sidenote: Eph. 6. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.]

3. We are to consider that this Armor prescribed for the Souldiers of Jesus Christ, is _the whole armor of God_, πανοπλίαν, the compleat armor of God (as Dr. _Hammond_ renders it) perfect both for defence and offence. And therefore the Apostle describes it fully by a Metaphor, taken from such Arms as the _Roman_ or other Nations in his time use, saying: _Stand therefore, having your loyns girt about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness: And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints._ And as it is a compleat and perfect Armor, both in respect of defence and offence; so it is a spiritual, not a carnal, corporeal, or bodily armor, because the warfare _is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places_, against spiritual enemies, not against corporeal and carnal ones; for as the enemies are and the warfare, so are the armor and weapons. From whence we truly urge, that the Apostle led by the Holy Ghost, and the Wisdom of the Father, and knowing the whole counsel of God (especially in this point) hath omitted nothing that is fitting armor for a Christian either of defence or offence, whereby he may be inabled to get the victory against Satan, and all his spiritual Army. And therefore that either Satan hath not power, or doth not assault Christians after a visible, carnal, and bodily manner, or else that the Holy Ghost hath been defective in prescribing armor against such assaults, and consequently that the armor of a Souldier of Jesus Christ is not compleat, or else there is no such bodily assaults of Satan at all, as to tempt visibly, to make a corporeal League, to suck upon the Witches bodies, nor to have carnal Copulation with them. But we affirm, and that (as we conceive) with sound reason, that the Scriptures in this particular of a Christians armor, and the compleatness of it, is abundantly sufficient against all spiritual assaults whatsoever, and consequently that there is no other kind of assaults but meerly spiritual, and therefore the Word of God, the most proper _Medium_ with sound reason, to judge of the power of Spirits and Devils by.

[Sidenote: _Gregor. sup. Ezekiel._ _Homil._ 6.]

[Sidenote: 1 Tim. 1. 17.]

[Sidenote: Heb. 12. 9.]

3. That the Scriptures and sound reason are the only true and proper _Medium_ to decide these Controversies by, is most undeniably apparent, because God is a Spirit, and the invisible God, and therefore best knows the nature and power of the spiritual and invisible World, and being the God of truth, can and doth inform us of their power and operations, better than the vain lyes and figments of the Heathen Poets, or the dreams of the Platonick School, either elder or later, nay better than all the notional and groundless speculations of the Schoolmen, of whom it may truly be said that, _Rivulo divinæ Scripturæ relicto, in abyssos vanarum opinionum incidêrunt_. Nay these can better inform us in this point, than the Writings of all Mortals besides, and therefore whatsoever may be said to the contrary, may receive its answer from the Father: _Quod de Scripturis sacris authoritatem non habet, eâdem facilitate contemnitur, quâ probatur_. Therefore he being _the King eternal, immortal, invisible, and the only wise God_, of none can we so truly and certainly learn these things, as of him who hath plentifully taught us in his Word all things necessary to Salvation, _that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished to every good work_. Nay _he is the Father of Spirits_, and therefore truly knoweth, and can and doth teach us their Natures, Offices, and Operations.

[Sidenote: _Vid. Orig. sacr._ _l._ 1. _c._ 1. _p._ 15.]

[Sidenote: Levit. 18. 22, 23, 24.]

4. The Scriptures (especially the Writings of _Moses_) considered only as Historical, are of more antiquity, verity, and certainty both as to Doctrine, Precepts, matters of Fact, and Chronology, than all other Histories whatsoever, whether of the Phenicians, Egyptians, Chaldeans, or Grecians, as the learned person Dr. _Stillingfleet_ hath sufficiently proved. Now if there had been such an one as a Witch, that made a visible League with the Devil, and upon whose body he suckt, and with whom he had carnal Copulation, something of that nature would doubtless have been recorded in the Scriptures, of which notwithstanding there is not the least tittle or mention. And _Moses_ who was so perfect a Law-giver, as in a manner to omit no kind or sort of sin or evil that men possibly could commit, but to forbid it, and make a Law against it, could never have left out such an horrid, unnatural, and hellish wickedness as carnal Copulation with the fallen Angels, if there had been any such matter. For he saith, after he had forbidden all sorts of Fornications, Adulteries, and Incests: _Thou shalt not lye with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Neither shalt thou lye with any beast to defile thy self therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lye down thereto: it is confusion. Defile not your selves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled, which I cast out before you._ Now it cannot be rationally imagined, that _Moses_ having named and prohibited the less sins of bestial Copulation and Sodomy, would have left out that which is the most horrid and execrable of all others, to wit, carnal Copulation with Devils, if there had been any such thing either in possibility or act. And therefore we may conclude according to the rules of sound reason, that there is no such matter, and that the Scriptures are the most fit _Medium_ to decide these Controversies.

[Sidenote: 2 Thess. 3. 2.]

5. The Scriptures and sound reason are the most fit Mediums to determine these things by, because there is nothing that any hath written upon this Subject (though the Authors be superfluously numerous) but if it agree not with the principles of right reason, and the rules of the Scriptures, they ought to be rejected. For what is not consonant to right reason, ought not to be received by any that truly are rational Creatures; and what agrees not with the Word of God, ought not to be entertained by any that are or would be accounted good or true Christians. And if all the gross fables, lyes, impossibilities, and nonsensical stories that Demonographers and Witchmongers have related and accumulated together, were brought to the test of the Scriptures and sound reason, they would soon be hissed off the Stage, and find few believers or embracers of them. But alas! all (nay few men) have the right use and exercise of their rational faculty, but men to see to are in themselves as beasts; and therefore we may all pray with the Apostle to be delivered from unreasonable men, or men without reason, or absurd men, that make no right use of reason, ἀτόπων ἀνθρώπων.

[Sidenote: Dan. 4. 35.]

[Sidenote: Gal. 4. 4.]

[Sidenote: Joh. 9. 1, 2, 3.]

[Sidenote: Joh. 5. 14.]

[Sidenote: _Vid. Thom. Aquin. caten. aur. in loc._]

[Sidenote: _Ut supr._]