Answ. 2.But Secondly, We have shut the Door upon all such Doctrine in this very Position; affirming, That the Scriptures give a full and ample Testimony to all the principal Doctrines of the Christian Faith. For we do firmly believe that there is no other Gospel or Doctrine to be preached, but that which was delivered by the Apostles; and do freely subscribe to that Saying, [48]Let him that preacheth any other Gospel, than that which hath been already preached by the Apostles, and according to the Scriptures, be accursed.
[48] Gal. i. 8.
A new Revelation is not a new Gospel.So we distinguish betwixt a Revelation of a new Gospel, and new Doctrines, and a new Revelation of the good old Gospel and Doctrines; the last we plead for, but the first we utterly deny. For we firmly believe, That no other Foundation can any Man lay, than that which is laid already. But that this Revelation is necessary we have already proved; and this Distinction doth sufficiently guard us against the Hazard insinuated in the Objection.
Books Canonical.As to the Scriptures being a filled Canon, I see no Necessity of believing it. And if these Men, that believe the Scriptures to be the only Rule, will be consistent with their own Doctrine, they must needs be of my Judgment; seeing it is simply impossible to prove the Canon by the Scriptures. For it cannot be found in any Book of the Scriptures, that these Books, and just these, and no other, are Canonical, as all are forced to acknowledge; how can they then evite this Argument?
That which cannot be proved by Scripture is no necessary Article of Faith.
But the Canon of the Scripture; to wit, that there are so many Books precisely, neither more nor less, cannot be proved by Scripture:
Therefore, it is no necessary Article of Faith.
Obj. 2.If they should allege; That the admitting of any other Books to be now written by the same Spirit might infer the Admission of new Doctrines:
I deny that Consequence; for the Principal or Fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Religion are contained in the tenth Part of the Scripture; but it will not follow thence that the Rest are impertinent, or useless. Books lost.If it should please God to bring to us any of those Books, which by the Injury of Time are lost, which are mentioned in the Scripture; as, The Prophecy of Enoch, the Book of Nathan, &c. or, the Third Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians; I see no Reason why we ought not to receive them, and place them with the Rest. That which displeaseth me is, that Men should first affirm that the Scripture is the only and principal Rule, and yet make that a great Article of Faith into which the Scripture can give us no Light.
As for Instance: How shall a Protestant prove by Scripture, to such as deny the Epistle of James to be authentick, that it ought to be received?