4. A rule must have nothing of a different nature set up in competition with, or opposition to it; for that would be to render it useless, and unfit to be the standard of truth: thus scripture is the only rule of faith, and therefore no human traditions are to be set up as standards of faith in competition with it, for that would be to suppose it not to be a perfect rule. This the Papists do, and therefore may be charged, as the Pharisees were of old by our Saviour, with _transgressing and making the commandment of none effect by their tradition_, Mat. xv. 3, 6. concerning whom he also says, that _in vain they worship him, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men_, ver. 9. What is this but to reflect on the wisdom, and affront the authority and sovereignty of God, by casting this contempt on that rule of faith which he hath given? Having considered scripture as a rule of faith and obedience, it is farther observed, that it is the only rule thereof, in opposition to the Popish doctrine of human traditions, as pretended to be of equal authority with it; by which means the law of God is made void at this day, as it was by the Jews in our Saviour’s time, and the scripture supposed to be an imperfect rule; the defect whereof they take this method to supply; and to give countenance thereto, 1. They refer to those Scriptures, in which, it is said, our Saviour _did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written_, John xx. 30. and his own words, wherein he tells them, that he had _many things to say unto them, which they could not then bear_, John xvi. 12. as also to the words of the apostle Paul, Acts xx. 35. in which he puts the church in mind of a saying of our Saviour, received by tradition, because not contained in any of the evangels, _viz._ _it is more blessed to give than to receive_. To which it may be replied, _Answ._ (1.) That though it is true there were many things done, and words spoken by our Saviour, which are not recorded in Scripture, and therefore we must be content not to know them, being satisfied with this, that nothing is omitted therein which is necessary to salvation, yet to pretend to recover, or transmit them to us by tradition, is to assert and not to prove, what they impose on us as matters of faith.