THEmostfrequentpretextofseditionandcivilwarinChristianCommonwealthshathalongtimeproceededfromadifficulty，notyetsufficientlyresolved，ofobeyingatoncebothGodandmanthenwhentheircommandmentsareonecontrarytotheother。Itismanifestenoughthatwhenamanreceivethtwocontrarycommands，andknowsthatoneofthemisGod’s，heoughttoobeythat，andnottheother，thoughitbethecommandevenofhislawfulsovereignwhetheramonarchorasovereignassembly，orthecommandofhisfather。Thedifficultythereforeconsistethinthis，thatmen，whentheyarecommandedinthenameofGod，knownotindiversecaseswhetherthecommandbefromGod，orwhetherhethatcommandethdobutabuseGod’snameforsomeprivateendsofhisown。ForastherewereintheChurchoftheJewsmanyfalseprophetsthatsoughtreputationwiththepeoplebyfeigneddreamsandvisions；sotherehavebeeninalltimes，intheChurchofChrist，falseteachersthatseekreputationwiththepeoplebyfantasticalandfalsedoctrines；andbysuchreputation，asisthenatureofambition，togovernthemfortheirprivatebenefit。
ButthisdifficultyofobeyingbothGodandthecivilsovereignonearth，tothosethatcandistinguishbetweenwhatisnecessaryandwhatisnotnecessaryfortheirreceptionintothekingdomofGod，isofnomoment。Forifthecommandofthecivilsovereignbesuchasthatitmaybeobeyedwithouttheforfeitureoflifeeternal，nottoobeyitisunjust；andthepreceptoftheapostletakesplace：
“Servants，obeyyourmastersinallthings“；and“Children，obeyyourparentsinallthings“；andthepreceptofourSaviour，“TheScribesandPhariseessitinMoses’chair；allthereforetheyshallsay，thatobserve，anddo。“Butifthecommandbesuchascannotbeobeyed，withoutbeingdamnedtoeternaldeath，thenitweremadnesstoobeyit，andthecounselofourSaviourtakesplace，“Fearnotthosethatkillthebody，butcannotkillthesoul。“*Allmenthereforethatwouldavoidboththepunishmentsthataretobeinthisworldinflictedfordisobediencetotheirearthlysovereign，andthosethatshallbeinflictedintheworldtocomefordisobediencetoGod，haveneedbetaughttodistinguishwellbetweenwhatis，andwhatisnot，necessarytoeternalsalvation。
Allthatisnecessarytosalvationiscontainedintwovirtues，faithinChrist，andobediencetolaws。Thelatterofthese，ifitwereperfect，wereenoughtous。ButbecauseweareallguiltyofdisobediencetoGod’slaw，notonlyoriginallyinAdam，butalsoactuallybyourowntransgressions，thereisrequiredatourhandsnow，notonlyobediencefortherestofourtime，butalsoaremissionofsinsforthetimepast；whichremissionistherewardofourfaithinChrist。Thatnothingelseisnecessarilyrequiredtosalvationismanifestfromthis，thatthekingdomofheavenisshuttononebuttosinners；thatistosay，tothedisobedient，ortransgressorsofthelaw；nortothem，incasetheyrepent，andbelieveallthearticlesofChristianfaithnecessarytosalvation。
TheobediencerequiredatourhandsbyGod，thatacceptethinallouractionsthewillforthedeed，isaseriousendeavourtoobeyHim；
andiscalledalsobyallsuchnamesassignifythatendeavour。Andthereforeobedienceissometimescalledbythenamesofcharityandlove，becausetheyimplyawilltoobey；andourSaviourhimselfmakethourlovetoGod，andtooneanother，afulfillingofthewholelaw；andsometimesbythenameofrighteousness，forrighteousnessisbutthewilltogivetoeveryonehisown，thatistosay，thewilltoobeythelaws；andsometimesbythenameofrepentance，becausetorepentimpliethaturningawayfromsin，whichisthesamewiththereturnofthewilltoobedience。
WhosoeverthereforeunfeignedlydesirethtofulfilthecommandmentsofGod，orrepentethhimtrulyofhistransgressions，orthatlovethGodwithallhisheart，andhisneighbourashimself，hathalltheobediencenecessarytohisreceptionintothekingdomofGod：forifGodshouldrequireperfectinnocence，therecouldnofleshbesaved。
ButwhatcommandmentsarethosethatGodhathgivenus？AreallthoselawswhichweregiventotheJewsbythehandofMosesthecommandmentsofGod？Iftheybe，whyarenotChristianstaughttoobeythem？Iftheybenot，whatothersareso，besidesthelawofnature？
ForourChristhathnotgivenusnewlaws，butcounseltoobservethosewearesubjectto；thatistosay，thelawsofnature，andthelawsofourseveralsovereigns：nordidhemakeanynewlawtotheJewsinhisSermonontheMount，butonlyexpoundedthelawsofMoses，towhichtheyweresubjectbefore。ThelawsofGodthereforearenonebutthelawsofnature，whereoftheprincipalisthatweshouldnotviolateourfaith，thatis，acommandmenttoobeyourcivilsovereigns，whichweconstitutedoverusbymutualpactonewithanother。AndthislawofGod，thatcommandethobediencetothelawcivil，commandethbyconsequenceobediencetoallthepreceptsoftheBible；which，asIhaveprovedintheprecedentchapter，isthereonlylawwherethecivilsovereignhathmadeitso；andinotherplacesbutcounsel，whichamanathisownperilmaywithoutinjusticerefusetoobey。
Knowingnowwhatistheobediencenecessarytosalvation，andtowhomitisdue，wearetoconsidernext，concerningfaith，whomandwhywebelieve，andwhatarethearticlesorpointsnecessarilytobebelievedbythemthatshallbesaved。Andfirst，forthepersonwhomwebelieve，becauseitisimpossibletobelieveanypersonbeforeweknowwhathesaith，itisnecessaryhebeonethatwehaveheardspeak。ThepersonthereforewhomAbraham，Isaac，Jacob，Moses，andtheprophetsbelievedwasGodHimself，thatspakeuntothemsupernaturally；andthepersonwhomtheApostlesandDisciplesthatconversedwithChristbelieved，wasourSaviourhimself。Butofthem，towhomneitherGodtheFathernorourSavioureverspake，itcannotbesaidthatthepersonwhomtheybelievedwasGod。TheybelievedtheApostles，andafterthemthepastorsanddoctorsoftheChurchthatrecommendedtotheirfaiththehistoryoftheOldandNewTestament：sothatthefaithofChristianseversinceourSaviour’stimehathhadforfoundation，first，thereputationoftheirpastors，andafterward，theauthorityofthosethatmadetheOldandNewTestamenttobereceivedfortheruleoffaith；whichnonecoulddobutChristiansovereigns，whoarethereforethesupremepastors，andtheonlypersonswhomChristiansnowhearspeakfromGod；exceptsuchasGodspeakethtointhesedayssupernaturally。Butbecausetherebemanyfalseprophetsgoneoutintotheworld，othermenaretoexaminesuchspirits，asSt。Johnadvisethus，“whethertheybeofGod，ornot。“*And，therefore，seeingtheexaminationofdoctrinesbelongethtothesupremepastor，thepersonwhichalltheythathavenospecialrevelationaretobelieveis，ineveryCommonwealth，thesupremepastor，thatistosay，thecivilsovereign。
*IJohn，4。1
ThecauseswhymenbelieveanyChristiandoctrinearevarious：forfaithisthegiftofGod，andHeworkethitineachseveralmanbysuchwaysasitseemethgooduntoHimself。Themostordinaryimmediatecauseofourbelief，concerninganypointofChristianfaith，isthatwebelievetheBibletobethewordofGod。ButwhywebelievetheBibletobethewordofGodismuchdisputed，asallquestionsmustneedsbethatarenotwellstated。Fortheymakenotthequestiontobe，whywebelieveit，buthowweknowit；asifbelievingandknowingwereallone。AndthencewhileonesidegroundtheirknowledgeupontheinfallibilityoftheChurch，andtheothersideonthetestimonyoftheprivatespirit，neithersideconcludethwhatitpretends。ForhowshallamanknowtheinfallibilityoftheChurchbutbyknowingfirsttheinfallibilityoftheScripture？Orhowshallamanknowhisownprivatespirittobeotherthanabeliefgroundedupontheauthorityandargumentsofhisteachersoruponapresumptionofhisowngifts？Besides，thereisnothingintheScripturefromwhichcanbeinferredtheinfallibilityoftheChurch；muchless，ofanyparticularChurch；andleastofall，theinfallibilityofanyparticularman。
Itismanifest，therefore，thatChristianmendonotknow，butonlybelievetheScripturetobethewordofGod；andthatthemeansofmakingthembelieve，whichGodispleasedtoaffordmenordinarily，isaccordingtothewayofnature，thatistosay，fromtheirteachers。ItisthedoctrineofSt。PaulconcerningChristianfaithingeneral，“Faithcomethbyhearing，“*thatis，byhearingourlawfulpastors。Hesaithalso，“Howshalltheybelieveinhimofwhomtheyhavenotheard？Andhowshalltheyhearwithoutapreacher？Andhowshalltheypreach，excepttheybesent？“*2WherebyitisevidentthattheordinarycauseofbelievingthattheScripturesarethewordofGodisthesamewiththecauseofthebelievingofallotherarticlesofourfaith，namely，thehearingofthosethatarebythelawallowedandappointedtoteachus，asourparentsintheirhouses，andourpastorsinthechurches：whichalsoismademoremanifestbyexperience。ForwhatothercausecantherebeassignedwhyinChristianCommonwealthsallmeneitherbelieveoratleastprofesstheScripturetobethewordofGod，andinotherCommonwealthsscarceany，butthatinChristianCommonwealthstheyaretaughtitfromtheirinfancy，andinotherplacestheyaretaughtotherwise？
Butifteachingbethecauseoffaith，whydonotallbelieve？ItiscertainthereforethatfaithisthegiftofGod，andHegivethittowhomHewill。Nevertheless，becausetothemtowhomHegivethit，Hegivethitbythemeansofteachers，theimmediatecauseoffaithishearing。Inaschool，wheremanyaretaught，andsomeprofit，othersprofitnot，thecauseoflearninginthemthatprofitisthemaster；
yetitcannotbethenceinferredthatlearningisnotthegiftofGod。
AllgoodthingsproceedfromGod；yetcannotallthathavethemsaytheyareinspired；forthatimpliesagiftsupernatural，andtheimmediatehandofGod；whichhethatpretendsto，pretendstobeaprophet，andissubjecttotheexaminationoftheChurch。
Butwhethermenknow，orbelieve，orgranttheScripturestobethewordofGod，ifoutofsuchplacesofthemasarewithoutobscurityIshallshowwhatarticlesoffaitharenecessary，andonlynecessary，forsalvation，thosemenmustneedsknow，believe，orgrantthesame。
Theunumnecessarium，onlyarticleoffaith，whichtheScripturemakethsimplynecessarytosalvationisthis，thatJesusistheChrist。BythenameofChristisunderstoodtheKingwhichGodhadbeforepromisedbytheprophetsoftheOldTestamenttosendintotheworld，toreignovertheJewsandoversuchofothernationsasshouldbelieveinhimunderHimselfeternally；andtogivethemthateternallifewhichwaslostbythesinofAdam。Which，whenI
haveprovedoutofScripture，Iwillfurthershowwhen，andinwhatsense，someotherarticlesmaybealsocallednecessary。
Forproofthatthebeliefofthisarticle，JesusistheChrist，isallthefaithrequiredtosalvation，myfirstargumentshallbefromthescopeoftheevangelists；whichwas，bythedescriptionofthelifeofourSaviour，toestablishthatonearticle，JesusistheChrist。ThesumofSt。Matthew’sGospelisthis，thatJesuswasofthestockofDavid，bornofavirgin，whicharethemarksofthetrueChrist；thattheMagicametoworshiphimasKingoftheJews；thatHerodforthesamecausesoughttokillhim；thatJohntheBaptistproclaimedhim；thathepreachedbyhimselfandhisApostlesthathewasthatKing；thathetaughtthelaw，notasascribe，butasamanofauthority；thathecureddiseasesbyhiswordonly，anddidmanyothermiracles，whichwereforetoldtheChristshoulddo；thathewassalutedKingwhenheenteredintoJerusalem；thatheforewarnedthemtobewareofallothersthatshouldpretendtobeChrist；thathewastaken，accused，andputtodeathforsayinghewasKing；thatthecauseofhiscondemnation，writtenonthecross，wasJESUSOF
NAZARETH，THEKINGOFTHEJEWS。Allwhichtendtonootherendthanthis，thatmenshouldbelievethatJesusistheChrist。SuchthereforewasthescopeofSt。Matthew’sGospel。Butthescopeofalltheevangelists，asmayappearbyreadingthem，wasthesame。ThereforethescopeofthewholeGospelwastheestablishingofthatonlyarticle。AndSt。Johnexpresslymakesithisconclusion，“Thesethingsarewritten，thatyoumayknowthatJesusistheChrist，theSonofthelivingGod。“*