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A03268 The abridgement of the gospell: or The order and course of mans saluation as it is set foorth by Zacharie the father of Iohn Baptist, Luke 1. 67. &c. and further opened in ten sermons thereupon: by Sam. Hieron. Hieron, Samuel, 1576?-1617. 1609 (1609) STC 13386; ESTC S118877 96,426 126

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may bee assured that the verdit thereof is true Secondly it must be such as from which it shall not be lawfull to appeale Thirdly it must be indifferent and without partialitie Now nothing hath these three properties but the Scripture and therefore that onely is fit to bee the supreme Iudge in matters of Religion This makes first against the Papists Their opinion is The Vse of the 2. note touching the Scripture that the Authoritie of the Scripture dependeth vpon the Church that is that it is therefore Canonicall and of Diuine credit and authoritie because the Church that is indeed when the matter is well sifted the Pope hath so determined This one place is sufficient to ouerthrow this fancie The Scripture is the voice of God shall not the voice of God bee of credit to it selfe must men come in for a witnesse to iustifie that vnto vs which God hath said is true God forbid But how shall I know thou wilt say that God hath spoken this or that I answer what by the Church Thou perhaps wilt say so but I demand How shall I know which is the Church The Church must prooue it selfe by the Scripture and therefore the Scripture hath not its dependance vpon the Church Yet thou doest still vrge how thou shalt know the Scripture to be the voice of God I answer By it selfe Therefore it is often called The Testimonie h Isay 8.20 because it b●…witnesse to it selfe Thou shalt know it by the e●●●●s it is mightie in operation c i Heb. 4.12 it will make thy heart to burne within thee k Luk. 24.32 He that will not beleeue this witnesse will beleeue none It is the Churches Ministry which commends the Scripture but it is not the Churches authority which maketh it to be Canonicall Another opinion of the Papists is that the Scripture is not the absolute Iudge in matters of Religion but the Church that is by their interpretation sometimes the consent of the Fathers sometime the decree of a generall Councell sometime the verdict of the Pope whose faith cannot faile They accuse the Scripture to bee obscure imperfit the matter of contention and therefore vnfit to bee a Iudge But if that be true which is heere that the Scripture is the voice of God who shall be more fit to determine But thou saiest how shall we be certaine of the sense I answer The Scripture is the interpreter of it selfe as the Law of the Land is of it selfe The Scripture is Light l Psal 119.105 As we see the light by the light so the Scripture by it selfe Who shall iudge what is Gods meaning but himselfe Scripture with Scripture must be conferred m This is the meaning of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 9.22 and that is the way to find the truth Secondly this point may be fitly applied to our own occasions There is betwixt vs and our Teachers controuersie about sundry things These and these things are vrged and perswaded as good necessary such and such things are cried out vpon as euill and vngodly The Preacher draweth one way by exhortation we draw cleane contrary by our conuersation He saith we must doe thus and thus we thinke it to be more than needs He saith this or that is a grosse sinne and will bring vs to hell if we continue in it we suppose there is no danger in committing it Heere is now a question and by whom shall it bee decided If we will haue a Iudge which is able to giue an absolute verdit let vs appeale to the Scripture let vs hearken what God saith where shall wee finde a more sufficient arbitrator ●…ee is the onely Law-giuer n Iam. 4.12 of his Church Euerie action euery course must stand or fall at his determining And where or whence shall we know what his will is but in the Scripture The Prophets and Apostles haue written and spoken but God spake by their mouths I would we could bee perswaded to yeeld to the Lords verdit reuealed in the Scripture What a notable reformation of sundry grosse euils would soone ensue Touching those things which wee goe about to perswade as diligence in the worship of God care to heare and to profit by the Word sanctifying the Sabbath Chastitie Sobrietie Mercie Peaceablenesse and such like sure we are we haue the Scripture on our sides and men haue nothing but humour and custome and obstinacie to oppose If wee will not yeeld to the iudgement of the Scripture now for our conuersion we shall ere long be forced to yeeld vnto it for our confusion The third thing touching the Scripture noted hence is the Trueth of it which followeth from hence necessarilie God is the God of Trueth o Psal 31.5 How can there bee any vntrueth in that which hee hath deliuered I remember that for confirmation this doeth often come in The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it p Isay 1.20 and elsewhere Heerupon are those commendations of the word of God The iudgements of the Lord are truth q Psal 19.9 Thy word is truth r Ioh. 17.17 The word of truth which is the Gospel ſ Col. 1.5 And not without cause For there is nothing related in it as done but it was so as is reported with euerie circumstance There is nothing mentioned as a matter to be done but it shall so come to passe as is foretold It is more easie that heauen and earth should passe away than that one tittle of the Law should fall t Luk. 16.17 The Vse of the 3. note touching the Scripture This is also a needful note It is probable that the greatest part of men doe not thinke that there is that absolute trueth and certaintie in the scripture but that they doe suppose it rather to bee an idle tale or frightfull sound to amaze fooles full of terrible threatnings but yet lighter than vanitie in performance Therefore it is meet to hold this firme that the Scripture is the voice of him who cannot lie Euery curse written in it shall fall vpon the vnrepentant and euery blessing promised therein shall be made good to the soule of euery true beleeuer The fourth generall point in this part touching the Euidence of redemption is What the Prophets spake Where we haue to note two things 1. The summe of that which God by the Prophets promised to doe by Christ verse 71.2 The inducement or reason moouing God so to doe vers 72.73 Concerning the first wheras mention is made of enemies and haters we must inquire what and who they be Touching their nature in generall they are spirituall Enemies or enemies in spiritual things or for spirituall respects u Eph. 6.12 The chiefe of them is Sathan He was the first and is therefore stiled A murtherer from the beginning x Ioh. 8.44 and an Old Serpent y Reu. 12.9 hee desireth vs to winnow vs z Luk. 22 31.