chap. vii. That, altho' the fixth Chapter of St. John's Gofpel did relate to the Lord's Supper, and were to be understood in a Literal Senfe; yet it do's not prove the Doctrine of Tranfubftantiation, but directly contrary. chap. viii. That the Doctrine of Tranfubftantia- tion cannot be prov'd from the Words of the In- ftitution of the Lord's Supper. chap. ix. That the Doctrine of the Trinity, and chap. ii. The pretence of our many Divifions an chap. iii. Of the pretended Novelty of our Reli chap. iv. Of the Invalidity of our Orders. x 352 chap v. The pretence of greater fafety in the Ro- A POPERY. PART I. That those things which are not contain'd in the ·Scriptures, were not reveal'd to the Apostles. B EFORE I proceed to the examination of thofe particular Doctrines which are maintain'd, and impos'd as neceffary to falvation, by the prefent corrupted Church of Rome; I think it neceffary to fettle that great and fundamental A point point of the RULE of FAITH. In treating of which, I fhall not meddle with any fubtile niceties concerning the nature and properties of a Rule: but endeavour to fhew with all poffible plainefsj that the Bible is a perfect Rule perfect Rule of Faith; or, which is the very fame in other words, that the Ho ly Scriptures do contain all things necessary to fal vation. This 1 fhall attempt in the following manner. Both Proteftants and Papifts are agreed, that God has reveal'd all thofe things which are neceffary to falvation; and that the Holy Scriptures do contain Divine Revelations : and therefore if I make it appear, that we ought not to receive any thing as a Divine Revelation, befides those things which are contain❜d in the Scriptures; it plainly follows, that the Holy Scriptures, which will then appear to be the only Divine Revelations, do contain all things neceffary to falvation. Now 'tis certain, that we ought not to receive any thing as a Divine Revelation, without a fufficient proof, that it was reveal'd by God: and therefore we ought not to receive any thing as a Divine Revelation, befides those things which are contain❜d in the Scriptures; because we have no fufficient proof that God has reveal'd it. For, if God has reveal'd fome particular things, befides those which are contain'd in the Scriptures, then he has reveal'd them either to the Apoftles or to fome other Perfons: whereas I fhall make it appear, that we have no fufficient proof that any particular things, not contain'd in the Scriptures, were reveal'd to either of them. FIRST then, I fhall fhew that we have no fufficient proof that any particular thing, not contain'd in the Scriptures, was reveal'd to the Apoftles. Apoftles. Now that I may not be misunderstood, I defire the Reader to obferve, that I do not fay, that God never did reveal any thing to the Apoftles, befides what we find in their Writings. For it appears from those very writings, that they knew fome particulars, which they did not think fit to communicate to pofterity: and 'tis probable, that God made many great difcoveries of his Will to those first Planters of the Gospel, which being not neceffary for us, are for that reafon conceal'd from us. But I fay, that whatever Revelations God was pleas'd to vouchfafe them, it does not appear to us, that any of those things, which, tho' not contain'd in the Scriptures, are now-a-days faid to have been reveal'd to them, were certainly reveal'd by Almighty God. And therefore, tho' fome things, not contain'd in the Scriptures, were never fo certainly reveal'd; yet we cannot name thofe particular things. Nor can we affirm upon juft and reasonable grounds, that any one Doctrine, which lays claim to the Apoftles Authority, was reveal'd to them by Almighty God, if that doarine be not contain'd in the Scriptures. The only argument by which our Adverfaries endeavour to prove, that God did reveal fome particular doctrines to the Apoftles, which are not contain'd in the Scriptures, is drawn from the teftimony of Tradition. By which word, as 'tis us'd in Scripture, we are to understand that Holy Doarine, which was immediately deliver'd by the Apoftles to the firft Chriftians, either by word of mouth, or in writing. But in the controverfies between the Reform'd Churches and the Church of Rome, the word Tradition has two different meanings. 1. It fignifies a particular Doctrine, which is A 2 faid |