Church cannot giue authority unto it The second Use serves to admonish us to receive the Scriptures for themselves for their owne authority and not for any mans authority whatsoever not for any mans person nor upon the authority of the Church for if we doe so we cannot have true saving faith Every man ought to receive the Scripture for its owne authority not that any man should condemn the authority of the Church but he may not depend onely upon it no not upon Saint Paul himselfe but must search the Scriptures to see whether it be so or no we ought not to receive the testimony of any Church in the world except it be grounded upon the Scripture we will use that which Aquinas saith of the woman of Samaria we may use the helpe of an enemy when she told them what things Christ did they beleeved but when they came to Christ himselfe they beleeved not for her saying but because they heard him themselves so we use the authority of the Church as a meanes to come to beleeve but when we beleeve let us not beleeve for the saying of the Church but for the Scriptures themselves Vse 3. This is to admonish every man when he hath received the Word to know it is the truth of God and therefore to labour to make it the Cannon of his faith for the authority it hath in it selfe we ought to examine our selves by this Word Hast thou done any thing that hath not this ground repent of it and for the time to come labour to make this the Cannon of thy life and the rule of thy obedience Art thou tempted by thy owne corruptions or by any other aske them Is there any such Word that will give leave if not thou must beleeve and hold to this for this is the Cannon by which thou oughtest to do all things Hierome complaines of some in his time who did wrest the Law to their owne wils and not their wils to the Law but we must be farre from this for whosoever walks after this rule Gal. 6. mercy and peace shall be to him but if he walke not after this rule he shall have judgement mercilesse Quest The next question is what is the sufficiencie of this Word Answ The answer is that it is that by which it is perfected concerning all things necessary to salvation that place which the Apostle hath 2 Tim. 3.17 doth prove this it is able to make the man of God wise unto salvation and therefore it is sufficient so Deut. 12.32 Thou shalt keepe all these Commandements thou shalt adde naught thereto nor take ought therefrom and therefore it must needs be perfect that to which nothing can be added and from which nothing can be taken must needs be perfect also Psal 19.7 the Law of the Lord is perfect Revel 22. Whosoever shall adde unto this booke God shall adde unto them the plagues that are written in this booke Thus the Word testifies of it selfe and therefore seeing the Word is true it must needs be a perfect rule Quest What Reason doe you shew for further proofe of this Answ First because it was the written Will and testimony of God Secondly Because after the Lord had given the Law in writing the Jewes were never guided by any unwritten word Thirdly Because Christ and his Apostles never proved their Doctrine by any unwritten word To explane these First It is the written Will and testimony of God therefore we call these the old and new Testament a mans will after it is confirmed no estate will admit to be altred therefore if we may not alter mans will much lesse may we alter Gods Secondly It is sufficient because that after the Lord had given his Law in writing the Jewes were never guided by traditions before the giving of the Law the truth went from hand to hand but after that God had written the Law they never came to him but upon some especiall occasion as for the Blasphemer c. Bellarmine confesseth this that there are some Catholiques speake with great probability that the Jewes after God had written the Law had no traditions Austin saith in the old Testament the Gospell was hid but in the new Testament it was made more plaine If God would teach the Jewes by nothing but by the written Word when it was more obscure much lesse us who have it more cleare Thirdly Because whatsoever Christ and his Apostles taught they proved by the written Word thus saith a Prophet and thus saith the Psalmes nay certainly Christ opposed traditions when he found that their authority corrupted the Law Mat. 5. but I say unto you rejecting those traditions the true word of God is this therefore the conclusion is that the Scriptures are a perfect rule containing all things to be beleeved and done Vse 1. The first Use teacheth us that then must fall to the ground all unwritten traditions the ground of all which is said to be the insufficiency of the Scriptures but if the Scriptures be sufficient then traditions have nothing to leane upon but it is blasphemie to thinke that God would not perfect that Word he began and therefore traditions are nothing Oh! say they the Scriptures doe not containe all fundamentall points for faith To this I answer If they had said the Scriptures doe not containe all the fundamentall points of their faith I would willingly subscribe to it the word of God no where speakes of Saint Peters successours the word no where speakes of invocation of Saints prayer for the dead indulgences and pardons these things the Scripture doth not containe but these are all of them contrary to the foundation but we beleeve nothing as necessary to salvation besides the Scripture We doe not doubt but that the Saints kept many excellent speeches and sayings of Christ as that in the Acts as the Lord said it is a more blessed thing to give then to receive but if there be any such tradition that is not for substance to be found in the word that we reject because the Scriptures are sufficient for the conclusion we will end with a speech of St. Austin I seek in the Gospell if I finde it not there where shall I finde it so may I say if we find not traditions in the word where shall we find them Vse 2. This teacheth the Ministers of God that they must prove the Doctrine they teach unto the people where shall they have that light no where but from the word they must not follow the vision of any man but only the word wherein God hath comprized every thing that he will have his people taught as it was in the creation the light was at large before the Sunne was created but after that was created God inclosed all light in the Sun so some time the word of God was taught from hand to hand God informed some and they taught others but after that God had written the Scriptures all were to receive their light
eternall life and they are they which testifie of me WEE have heard of a twofold knowledge of God the one by Nature the other by Revelation and that is by the Word and Spirit by which you have heard how a man may come to saving knowledge Now to proceed The next question is Quest In what Word is this knowledge to be sought Answ It is to bee sought in the written Word of God the old and new Testament Seeing God hath revealed himselfe in his Word and that there is a sufficient knowledge to be found in it though not effectuall without the Spirit I think this seems reasonable that before we speak of God himself wee speak somthing of the holy Scriptures the fountain of knowledge in which God hath revealed himselfe to the world that we may know with what warrant we may ground our faith upon them Therefore it is necessary that wee know first what this Word is and then what Author it hath Answer is made that this saving knowledge is to bee sought and found in the written Word of God This is warranted upon that which I have read Search the Scriptures for they are they which testifie of me this is further confirmed Isa 8.20 To the Law to the Testimonies if question arise concerning God where shall wee finde answer To the Law and to the Testimonies goe to the written Word of God of this the Apostle saith in 2 Tim. 3.15 that it is able to make a man wise to salvation and therefore it carries in it the wisdome and knowledge of God by which a man must be saved Saint Peter also 1 Pet. 1.19 calls it a more sure Word making opposition betweene it and the word they heard from heaven in the holy mount to which wee ought to take heed as to a light shining c. Finally our Saviour Christ speaks of this in the Parable to the rich man They have Moses and the Prophets if they will know any thing concerning God faith repentance c. what need one be raised from the dead So then these testimonies shew that the saving knowledge of God is to be had in the old and new Testament This Question brings another and that is this Quest Why is knowledge to bee sought in the old and new Testament Answ First because this is the perfect rule conteining all things to be known and beleeved Secondly because it is a certaine and a sure rule Thirdly it is an infallible rule that neither deceives nor can bee deceived To explaine this Reas 1. Because it is a perfect rule therefore this knowledge is to be sought there Deut. 4.2 Thou shalt add nothing to it nor take any thing from it Add to it and thou makest it imperfect take from it and thou makest it no lesse imperfect because it is of it selfe an absolute and full rule The Apostle saith 2 Tim. 3.16 The word is given by inspiration to instruct rebuke c. It is able to make the man of God perfect c. It is full for all purposes for instruction correction c. and for all persons it perfects the Minister in his work and calling and if him then much more every other man Secondly It is a certain knowne rule That which is the rule of salvation must be a certaine knowne rule if it be unknowne it is no rule to those that shall bee saved The Word sometime from Adam to Moses was wholly unwritten yet then no doubt but God revealed himselfe to the faithfull But when the Church was growne up to bee a Nation and mixed with unfaithfull and faithfull God that hee might make a certaine rule by Moses writ his Word And that the Word was written for this end it appeares Luke 1.3 4. These things have I written unto thee most noble Theophilus that thou mightest bee certaine of these things there goes a report of Christ what he did and what hee suffered these things have I written that thou mightest be certaine and therefore our Saviour Christ being asked the question in the Gospel what was to be done to inherit eternall life hee answers How readest thou Luk. 10.26 Wilt thou be certaine then read the Scriptures and they will manifestly and surely declare what is to be done and give a perfect answer to such questions Thirdly we are to come now to the written Word because the written Word is an infallible rule an infallible rule is such a rule as cannot bee deceived nor deceive for if it could doe either it were not infallible but that the Word of God is such that it cannot deceive nor bee deceived I manifest it thus because God and his Word are one Truth therefore it cannot deceive John 17.17 Sanctifie them with thy Truth thy Word is Truth As light is not the cause of darknesse so the Word is not the cause of error This is a right rule saith S. Augustine thy Writings are my delight by them I shall never be deceived And this is the first point Use 1. If this bee so here are overthrowne all humane traditions which are by man added to the Scripture all traditions that are either written or carried from hand to hand are rejected whatsoever is taught without the Scripture is to be abhorred for the Word is the rule and he that brings any other doctrine let him be accursed Use 2. This serves to provoke men to labour for the knowledge of the Word Here I will take an occasion to speake of it because I see the carelesnesse of this age If there bee any amongst us that desire the knowledge of God then wee should labour for the knowledge of his Word Why because wee cannot know God unlesse wee know his Word This is ingratitude against God that hee should vouchsafe his Word and wee not labour to know it this is impiety against our selves that look to bee saved and yet neglect the knowledge of the Word that brings salvation There is a knowledge of God by nature but the remainder of the light that is in mans nature is marvellous dark Though the foolish heathen say If a man follow nature hee cannot erre wee know that nature is starke blinde in matters appertaining to God therefore men should labour to know the Word that it might dwell in them in all wisdome Saint Bernard saith This is the portion of the Jewes that they have the letter onely and so the portion of all hereticks and not of Christians Saint Augustine saith Oh unhappy hereticks which regard nothing but the outward sound of the letter having a body without a soule Therefore men that will have a bodie and a soul together must labour to have the understanding of the places that they read and to this end they must add meditation to their reading and constant and earnest prayer to God to their meditation that hee would give his spirit of wisdome and revelation and by this meanes they shall be able to search out hidden and secret things that are not
but hee could never burne them all he was but one and many opposed him But when whole Kingdomes and Countries even the whole world have violently for a long time and many ages set themselves against these and yet they are preserved the preservation of them argues a speciall divine care of them as of divine writings Mac. 1.7 Antiochus burnt this booke and made a law that whosoever had this book should die the death yet it is preserved that not so much as a syllable of it is wanting Writings and whatsoever else is of man may bee destroyed by man may faile of themselves as saith Gamaliel but the things of God and divine writings shall abide for ever See this difference in the writings of Solomon those of his owne wisdome are lost those inspired by God abide till this day c. Fourthly The persecutions that have been made at all times against the professors of this Book their constancy in beleeving it obeying it and laying downe their lives for it which none could have done had not the writing been divine Indeed a few desperate men have laid downe their lives for their owne writings but not any that hath so valiantly laid downe his life as the professors of the Gospel All these are sufficient proofes for this point Use 1. This must first teach us that the Word is cleare and plaine because the writing of God for the instruction of men certainly God would never write obscurely and in the darke 2 Pet. 1.13 It is a light in a darke place When we say it is plain and clear it is so in it self though the naturall man discerneth it not and to the regenerate man it may be hard Chrysostome saith the Saints never pray to God Make thy Law easie but Give us understanding and open our eyes that wee may see thy Law the truth is there are many difficulties in it but there is nothing difficult which in other places is not made plaine if necessary to salvation The Scripture as Saint Gregory saith is both meat and drink drink needs no chewing some places are easie that they need no chewing and some places are hard to stir up men to seek them out 2 Pet. 3.16 There are many things in Saint Pauls Epistles that are hard but to whom to the ignorant they are easie in themselves and to the regenerate therefore saith one What need have we of Commentaries added to the Word if Commentaries add not light to the Word but the Word makes Commentaries light Use 2. This teacheth us that because the Word was written to every man therefore every man was bound to studie it and to read it and seeing the Word was inspired by the Spirit of God therefore when a man goes about to read it and heare it hee ought to pray for understanding and for Gods Spirit by which hee writ it for they that wrote it did it not without Gods Spirit men should pray that God would give them his Spirit of wisdome to open their understandings surely the greatest light in the world cannot make a blinde man see in the mid-day an eye that hath not internall light cannot see The Scriptures in the old and new Testament are the two great lights that God hath ordained to rule the Church which though they shine never so brightly yet there is required an internall light in man that they may be seene A man may looke up to the heavens saith Saint Chrysostome where God doth sit and yet not know God nor see him shut up in heaven So many men reade the Scriptures and yet see not God shut up in them No man knowes what is in man but the Spirit of man and wee have received the Spirit of God that we might know the things that are given us of God The Wisdome of God hath given the Spirit to man whereby hee is able to discerne If so be a King should write a Letter to his subjects in a strange language and not send his Secretary to interpret it they were never the better nor wee for the Scriptures without the Spirit Justin Martyr saith that Ptolomy wrote to the King of Judah for the Law and withall hee desired him to send him a man that might make him to understand it So they that will understand the language of the Scriptures must have the Spirit of God If a man had the Prophets themselves to preach to him they cannot make a man understand to salvation why because they can but teach the eare they cannot teach the heart When I cannot have Moses to tell mee the meaning saith Saint Augustine give mee that Spirit that thou gavest to Moses And this is that which every man that will understand must pray for this David prayed for Psal 119.18 Open thou mine eyes that I may see the wonders of thy Law and vers 19. hide not thy Commandements from mee and Christ saith If you being evill can give good things to your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give his holy Spirit to them that ask of him Luk. 11.13 So that then wee shall see the secrets of God Use 3. If any man pray for the Spirit of God he must not think it comes without means and therefore neglect reading It is Gods finger that presseth the diligent care of reading and it is the means whereby wee may come to have the Spirit you must not look to have the Spirit in your heart unlesse you have the Word in your mouth that is the continuall reading thereof neither preferr a little ease before the Booke of God Thou hast no part in the Spirit if thou hast not a great desire to have a great part in the knowledge of the Word of God Use 4. In the fourth place Did God write it Then ought wee to make application of every part of it of the promises and of the threatnings and of the commandements c. Of the promises because it was God that promised them and hee will confirme and make them good of the commandements because if thou disobey them he is a just God and hee will be revenged of every contemner of the threatnings because if they had been written by man a mans word might have beene contemned but whither shall wee flee from God Therefore think of this Word and labour to apply it and give obedience to it they are Gods owne Lawes and it is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God therefore let us feare and obey that which is Gods Commandement lest for our neglect he throw us to everlasting destruction CHAP. V. 2 TIM 3.16 All Scriptures are given by divine inspiration of God and are profitable THe last day wee spake concerning the Scriptures and therein wee handled the Author that wrote them and from whom they did flow and you heard it was from God himselfe and that by divine inspiration It remaineth then that wee should speake of the second thing that wee have thought fit to
c. Act. 14.17 that though they had not his Word yet they might grope after God the Apostle alledgeth a proofe out of one of their owne Poets that taught them you are Gods generation if you bee of Gods generation you must have reason and understanding that you may in your selves finde out the knowledge of God This specially appeares in mans body because the body of man is called a little world upon any part whereof if a man looke hee may finde God so that a man by naturall knowledge may come to know that there is a God and what he is And this is the Answer to the first Question Quest 2. Why is God to be knowne naturally Answ 1. The Answer stands in three things First because there never was any Nation Citie or Family without religion and a kinde of worship 2. Because that men by this naturall knowledge might be provoked to search for a more perfect knowledge 3. Because all men might be without excuse First the answer stands thus There have beene many Nations that knew not God by Revelation but there never was any Nation Citie or Family without some kinde of worship From whence we inferr that they have some naturall knowledge of God for where there is religion there is some knowledge that there is a God This principle of the being of God was so deeply planted in them that rather then they would not have a God they worshipped the works of their owne hands and this shewes they have some naturall knowledge Secondly God hath still kept his Church in some eminent place whither they moved by this naturall instinct might flie to bee more fully instructed in the knowledge of the true God as Esay speaks Come and let us goe up to the house of God for hee will teach us his wayes Indeed we know something of him by nature but we know nothing as wee ought to know as it appears further by the Apostle S. Paul Thirdly Because all men might be without excuse so the Apostle affirmes Rom. 1.20 that the invisible things of God as his eternall power and Godhead were seene in his works that they might bee without excuse they had such a knowledge as told them that God was their Creator that when they knew God and glorified him not as God c. they might have no excuse and for this cause it was that they had such naturall knowledge And this is the first thing Use 1. Is there then such light naturally in the heart of man this drawes us to this good meditation Oh what an excellent knowledge was that in which wee were first created Wee may gather this from the light that is left in us even as the bignesse of Hercules his bodie was gathered by his foot and as a man may see the bignesse of a Lion by his claw or by looking upon the ruines of a great house may see what a Palace it sometimes was so when we looke upon the ruines of nature wee may see in what an excellent estate we were at the first For conclusion then Let us take notice of our losse that it may bee a provocation to make us recover our selves seeing that wee had such a knowledge that we knew God perfectly wee may endeavour to know him so againe or as men that have had great estates and are fallen to decay are carefull to recover themselves and neglect no meanes whereby they may recover their losse so wee looking upon our selves may see our losse and labour to recover it Use 2. Then ought wee continually to see God in the heavens and in the earth that by these visible things wee may come to see the invisible God as the eternall power and Godhead these things should not be passed over slightly The Apostle S. Paul to draw us to a consideration of this calls it the knowledge of God so Christ teacheth us to consider the Lilies of the field and the Ravens to see God in these this David doth Psal 104. which whole Psalm doth notably set forth God to be known by his works so that in the least creature wee may see God yea even in the least Fly as well as in the greatest Elephant so that by the meditation of the creature we may see the beauty of the Creator Saint Augustine meditating or looking upon the creature Lord saith hee thou art beautifull therefore hast thou made them beautifull thou art good therefore they are good thou hast a being therefore thou gavest them a being This we know yet this our knowledge being compared with the knowledge we had is nothing but ignorance therefore let us labour to meditate on this that by searching wee may finde out God Hee is a good Clerk that can read in these books and shall bee drawn to see the wisdome power and justice of God but as the Prophet Isa 5.11 12. complaines that no man considers the works of the Lord they have the Pipe and Lute in their Feasts So wee may say that many are so taken up with pleasure and other vanities that they will not consider the works of God and therefore no marvell that they are so ignorant because they will not goe out of themselves Quest How is God knowne above nature Answ By Revelation and that either by his Word or Spirit The knowledge of God which is by Nature is a common knowledge it belongs to all men but this that is above nature is the particular voice that sounds in the Church The first way whereby God is knowne to us above nature is the Word whereof David speaking Psalm 19 7. saith The Testimonies of the Lord are sure enlightning the eyes revealing the object enabling the organ He hath given his Lawes and his Statutes unto Israel hee hath not dealt so with every Nation and Christ saith that No man hath seene God at any time but the onely begotten Sonne of God and hee to whom hee will reveale him John 1.17 So Saint Paul Act. 17.23 speaks to the Athenians him doe I declare unto you whom you ignorantly worship The second way that hee reveales himselfe is by his Spirit Mat. 11.25 I thank thee O Father that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to babes Also 1 John 2.27 You have an oyntment saith the Apostle and you need not that any one teach you but the Spirit of God teacheth you all things Quest Why hath God made himselfe manifest after this manner Ans For three reasons First because that knowledge which we have by nature is obscure Secondly because that knowledge without this is imperfect and partiall Thirdly because the knowledge of the Word is not effectuall without the Spirit For the first God hath revealed himselfe by his Word because the discovery which nature makes is marvellous obscure Simonides a great Philosopher being asked by Hieron the Tyrant what God was desired two daies respite and then being asked he desired two dayes more and then being
discerned by others Saint Bernard saith when he was entred upon a text upon Cant. This Well is deepe and I have nothing to draw but yet I see by experience that if a man cover the Well with a linnen cloth he shall wring out some moysture which otherwise hee should not I have therefore bended my selfe upon it and stretched my hands to thee that thou wouldest reveale something to mee for every man bending and stretching himselfe his heart and his hands to God shall receive something for the enterance to thy Word saith David giveth light Solomon saith a diligent hand maketh rich a little stock to begin with being diligently imployed maketh rich So it is in spirituall things a diligent hand maketh rich if a man have a little knowledge if hee have a diligent heart and hand though the Word bee as it were in a dark place yet hee shall see more and more There are two things to be enquired of concerning the written Word of God First by whom it was written Secondly for whom it was written For the first that is by whom this Word was written time will not give me leave to speake of therefore I will proceed to the next Quest For whom was this Word written Answ For all men of all ages and conditions the text that I have read proves it Search the Scriptures to whom did Christ speak To all men of all Nations and Countries that were gathered there together Act. 2.39 The promise is made to you and to your children and to as many as the Lord God shall call the promises were not made to the Jewes onely but also to the Gentiles even to as many as the Lord shall call therefore the Word is written for all Rom. 15.4 Whatsoever things were written afore time were written for our learning they were not written for them onely but for us also upon whom the ends of the world are come These things are come upon them for examples 1 Cor. 10.11 Therefore it is apparent that the Word was written for all men Out of this ariseth another question Quest How is it proved that it is written for all men Answ Three wayes besides the testimony of Scripture First because the Lord that writ it is Lord over all perfect in wisdome Secondly because this written Word is Gods revealed will Thirdly because there is but one way to salvation for all men and this is laid downe in it Wee will manifest this First because it is Gods Word and God is over all times over all places and over all persons as well successors as predecessors as well them that goe before as them that follow after therefore the Word belongs to all We have a Proverb New Lords new Lawes but it is not so here God doth keepe alwayes one Law Kings that have their severall Kingdomes have all severall Lawes the reason is because they cannot make Lawes without their subjects and amongst them one thinks this fit another thinks that but the Lord is an absolute King that makes Lawes without men for the earth is the Lords and all that therein is Psal 24.1 I add to this that hee is perfect in wisdome men when they have made Lawes they repeale them againe because they are imperfect in wisdome and cannot foresee what will bee convenient for after times But God is perfect in wisdome therefore his Lawes are alwaies the same Secondly because it is Gods revealed will the rule of justice by which things are made good or evill and therefore it must needs bee a universall Law his will is over all his Word and himselfe have the same extent without any restraint whatsoever Thirdly because there is but one way to salvation and that is by the Word the Word brings salvation to all men of all times and of all conditions never had any man any way but one and that is by fulfilling of the Law only there is this difference between the Law of works and the Gospel for that by the covenant of works all that will be saved by the Law must doe the works of the Law themselves by the covenant of grace all that will bee saved by the Gospel must apply by faith the fulfilling of the Law by Christ for he is the end of the Law to salvation he must be applyed to every man that will bee saved so that here is an admirable conclusion that man must be saved by mercy and justice and for this the Word was written for all men and for all ages Use 1. If this be so then it is necessary that all men should have the Word of God in their own language though it was written in another language and before they were yet it was written for them a point that our Jesuits cry down that every woman and every boy and every maide should have the Word they cry out of it but if God writ it as well for the unlearned as for the learned why should they not have it when God first writ the Bible did hee write it in a strange language If God had beene minded to have had the Word shut up from the people hee would have writ it in a strange language but God in his wisdome wrote it not in a strange language but in such a one as all might read Nay more then this the Churches at all times have had their Bibles translated into their owne languages Certainely the Spirit of God never knew that which the President of the Councell of Trent saith A Distaffe was more fit for a woman then a Bible when as God hath commanded that women should read it as well as men a Distaffe is fit in due times and seasons but these doe accuse God as the Divell in the Serpent did when he said to Evah God would not have you to know this this is nothing but the brood of the Serpent Saint Chrysostome saith Theeves when they meane to steale first put out the candle so hereticks when they meane to deceive first corrupt the Scriptures The Papists themselves have translated the old and new Testament into English but so darkly that none that reads them unlesse hee be a Scholler can understand them their translating proves against themselves the lawfulnesse of a translation for how dare they doe that which they judge unlawfull their affectation of obscurity is a mocking of God and of his people Use 2. Was the Word written for mee then I ought to have a care to read it and to understand it This is the ground of all wee shall never doe you good with teaching except you read the Scriptures privately God hath written them for you as if your names were expressed in them If a man had lived in the Church of Corinth when the Epistle was written to the Corinthians would hee have thought that hee had beene excluded nay hee would rather have thought himselfe to have beene bound to have read it The whole Word of God is Gods Epistle to the creature If an Emperor should
write a letter to thee saith Gregory thou wouldst not rest till thou hadst read it but when God writes this letter of life and salvation wilt thou not read it how ungratefull art thou to God Thou wilt confesse the whole Church worthy to bee condemned if it should neglect the reading of the Scriptures then thou being a member of the Church condemnest thy selfe A man may read other books but hee must read this there is a necessity laid upon him therefore hee must read them And know thou man and woman thou art in a fearfull estate when thou maiest reade the Scriptures and yet neglectest them Brethren know it for a truth for you shall one day know it that though you have now excuses why you cannot reade as because you cannot neglect your callings c. yet the time will come when you shall have no excuse to keep you from being condemned If ever therefore you look to have salvation you must read the Scriptures Use 3. This must teach us that a man must not read onely but hee must apply also to himselfe hee must not read it for others but hee must apply it to himselfe to his estate and condition Wee have a common speech That that which is said in generall is spoken to none but it is not true here that which Christ said to all Watch hee said to every one that which God saith to all Read hee saith to every particular person as Tertullian saith in reading the Scripture Wee are to observe every severall occasion to make use of every sentence Doth the Word command any thing to bee done or doth it forbid any thing doth it threaten any evill or promise any mercy labour to know it that it may comfort thee that it may instruct thee c. and this is to read the Word profitably for every man to learne his owne lesson thereby many bad Schollers when they cannot read their owne lesson can read anothers so many can learne others lessons but they cannot learne their own as they can say This text meets with such a one See what a trewant thou art in this Schoole of Christ labour to know thy lesson as this threatning serves to terrifie mee this promise to comfort mee c. Brethren many men make a partiall application some will apply the promises but not the threatnings take heed of eating too much honey the promises will doe thee no good if first thou have not applyed the threatnings hee that takes not his part in the threatnings hath no part in the promises therefore take a view of the whole Booke of God Againe they that have a trembling conscience can see nothing but threatnings these are onely such as the Lord leaves for a while they cannot apply the promises to themselves but the other are in a worse condition then these for of these there is hope because the Lord is fitting them for himselfe but labour thou to apply the whole Word that thou maiest see thy selfe The holy Scripture is a looking-glasse saith Saint Gregory and a looking-glass we know is to see both what is comely and what is deformed so is the Word to distinguish things that differ and to discover good and evill by the Law is the knowledge of sin and duty therefore labour to make use of it All the Word is written for thee as well as for any every part of it as well as any part therefore apply it to thy selfe that thou maiest have comfort and mercy in this life and eternall happinesse in the life to come CHAP. IV. 2 TIM 3.16 All Scriptures are given by divine inspiration of God IT hath been shewed that the saving knowledge of God is to be found in the Word and that the Word is written It is necessary to be considered who writ it and for whom it was written Of the former of these By whom it was written is now to be handled at this time Quest By whom was this Word written Answ It was given by God by divine inspiration 2 Pet. 1.21 the proofe of which is manifest out of this text that I have read All Scriptures are by divine inspiration and in this respect it was called Scripture because that not onely the matter but the voice the stile the phrase was by inspiration from God Other writings may be the Word of God but this was by Gods appointment the writing was the writing of God Exod. 32.16 for Moses at first writ not the Commandements but God and after the Tables were broken they were no lesse the Word of God then before Exod. 31.18 others were the pen-men but God the hand others the instruments but God the maker and author of this Word Isa 30.8 Therefore it is that the Apostle Saint Peter hath it 2 Pet. 1.20 21. there is no Prophecie but it comes from God holy men of God writ them and they spake them not by the will of man but by the holy Ghost This truth because it is of weight and hath great opposition of men and breeds great doubts in men we will labour to establish and for further confirmation of it we will confirme it by internall and externall arguments internall I call those that are in the Scriptures themselves and in the minde of men externall those that doe confirme these Quest How doth this appeare that it was written by divine inspiration from God Ans By internall arguments that are in the Scriptures themselves First from the doctrine it selfe and excellencie thereof Secondly from the majestie of the stile Thirdly from the perpetuall consent of Christ and his Apostles To examine these Reas 1. The first argument is the doctrine which is so holy and divine that no man could write but a divine wisdome and that is thus manifested 1. From the greatnesse of these things written surpassing all humane reason 2. From the purity of the Word which convinceth men of injustice and yet teacheth all men to bee just 3. From the consent there is an admirable communion betweene justice and mercy betweene the salvation of men by the satisfaction of Christ and sanctification by the holy Ghost No man could think of any such thing till the Scripture did reveale it 4. Lastly The end of the writing which is onely the glory of God as the Apostle saith Let him that rejoiceth rejoice in the Lord this abaseth nature and advanceth grace therefore it cannot be but by divine inspiration Againe no writing can bring comfort to a man but the Scriptures Rom. 15.40 These things have beene written that wee through patience might have comfort of the Scriptures these are such things that a man could never attaine to but by God Reas 2. The second proofe that wee gave was the majestie of the stile Whosoever is exercised in reading the Scripture shall plainly see that no meer man was ever able to write it of himselfe The excellencie of the stile is so great that as Eusebius reports they thereby tryed the writing of hereticks
if the stile doth not agree to this of the Prophets and Apostles they are to be rejected If wee will know all true authority wee must know it by the stile for howsoever a false Writer may take to him the name and frame of another man yet hee cannot take his stile for as every man hath his severall countenance and severall colour that though two bee never so like yet there are some things whereby they may bee discerned so the writings of other men may bee knowne from the Scriptures on which the holy Ghost hath set such a stile as is not to bee found in all or any the writings of all the world besides Reas 3. The third ground was the consent of Christ and the Apostles with the Prophets that went before them the latter Prophets consent with the former and the former agree with them therefore this must needs be from a divine direction For amongst men who have written of the same subject wee may finde often variance but these did never really contradict one another there is no discrepance in them to bee found there were some thousands of yeers between the first Prophets writings and the Apostles and some thousands of miles betweene the Prophets and Apostles that wrote at the same time yet all doe agree together the ground is this because Truth as God is ever constant to it selfe Therefore the Prophet Jeremy reproves Hanani Jer. 28. because hee did not consent to the Prophets that went before him and the Apostle pronounceth an anathema against himselfe or an Angel or whosoever should teach any other doctrine All which shewes that there is a marvellous consent in the Scriptures and therefore they must needs be written by God and not by men Quest What other internall Arguments are there in the mindes of men to prove the Scripture the Word of God Answ It is proved first by the Spirit of God who witnesseth the same in the hearts of the Elect Secondly by the power and efficacie of the Word and the working it hath in the hearts of men To explaine this First the Spirit of God witnesseth this in the hearts of the Elect God is the best witnesse of himselfe so is the Spirit the best witnesse of the Word which is not beleeved untill it be settled in the heart of man by the Spirit that wrote it for till then wee reject it Some apply that of the Prophet Isa 59.21 My Spirit that I have put upon thee and my words that I have put in thy mouth c. In this manner the Spirit and the Word must agree together and continually bear witnesse each to other whatsoever is suggested by the Spirit and agreeth not with the Word is to bee rejected whatsoever is expressed in the Word is not beleeved till witnessed by the Spirit I add to these Christs owne speech to the Jewes John 8.42 43. who bragged that God was their Father if God bee your father why doe you not beleeve my words for if God be your Father then you have the Spirit of God but it is apparant that you have the Spirit of God because you beleeve not my words and therefore God is not your Father John 10.27 My sheepe heare my voice that is they doe acknowledge that this is my voice Ver. 16. I have other sheep that are not of this fold them also I must bring in and they shall heare my voice and ver 3 4. the shepheard calleth his sheep by name and they follow him and a stranger will they not follow where he sheweth that the sons of God have the Spirit of God in them whereby they are able to discerne the writings of God from other writings the Spirit of God giving them a cleare understanding to see and a perswasion to beleeve the truth of them and such a perswasion as no man knowes out of himselfe but in himselfe It is true as wee said before That the majestie of the stile and the consent of the Writers are great arguments to prove the Scriptures Gods Word but yet they give a man no assurance but onely breed in him a kinde of reverence as Salvian saith But if a man bee once enlightened with the Spirit of God hee rests not on his owne judgement nor on the judgement of all the world because hee hath inward judgement in himselfe which is the Spirit And thus much for the first internall argument The second argument is taken from the mindes of men and from the power and efficacie that the Word hath in the hearts and consciences of all men It hath a power to convert them to God to terrifie and awaken them and also to comfort them in distresses to wound them and to make them whole which no other writing can doe therefore it cannot be humane but divine This is manifest Psalm 19. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule No Philosopher can convert the heart though hee may bring men to outward civilitie like unto this The Word gives wisdome to the simple and therefore is divine It was that which made S. Paul to know that hee was dead for before the Law came hee was alive but when the Law came he was dead This the Apostle Saint Peter presseth to the Gentiles Act. 2.27 28. by which hee wounded them and with the same Word hee healed them no other Word could ever bring them to despaire of their owne righteousnesse no other could sustaine them despairing this is the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 Finally it is powerfull in operation Heb. 4.11 it is mighty to make a man at variance with himselfe the father against his sonne the mother against the daughter nothing was ever able to doe this but the Word of God Quest What externall proofes are there Answ First the fulfilling of the Prophecies in the Scripture in the same manner and the same circumstances in the same time and in the same persons things many hundred yeers before foretold are so accomplished as foretold this therefore cannot bee but a divine prediction Isa 41.22 The Prophet speaks of the Idols Come and let them tell us what shall come to passe hereafter arguing that to doe so must bee a divine thing The Divell cannot foretell things to come hee may ghesse at them but hee hath alwaies his shifting holes but the holy Scripture hath set downe in plaine termes the time and the persons and other circustances as 1 Reg. 13.2 Isa 45.1 Gen. 15.13 c. therefore it must needs bee a divine wisdome that did indite and inspire them Secondly The second externall argument is the antiquity of these they are ancienter then any other writings whatsoever the Egyptians indeed brag That they had writings before Moses but it is nothing but bragging and untruth Thirdly The great opposition that hath beene made against them and their preservation It is true that Aristotle burnt the books of his Master Plato a great Philosopher that himselfe might bee the more observed
bee spoken of viz. The dignity of the Word which hath two parts the first the Authority of it the second the Sufficiencie of it because wee are to build on it and to rest upon it as the ground and rule of Faith and these are the two things which wee will handle at this time For the former of these Quest What is the authority of the written word Answ It is that by which it is authenticall and worthy of credit in it selfe being the divine and onely Canon and Rule for all things to bee beleeved and done That the Word of God hath this authority this verse which I have read doth prove So also Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimonies if they speake not according to this word it is because there is no light in them if questions be asked about the dead To the Law and to the Testimonies whatsoever others say reject it this hath authority of it selfe to this is added 2 Pet. 1.19 Wee have also a more sure Word to these I add Gal. 6.16 As many men as walk after this rule peace be on them this is the rule of all things Joh. 2.16 If any man bring any other Doctrine bid him not to thy house where the word sheweth that there is no other word of any authority but this Word thus the Word witnesseth of it selfe therefore it must be true John 10.35 the Word cannot be broken therefore it must bee of that authority worthy of credit in it selfe and being divine wee must beleeve it and it must bee the Rule and Canon by which all things must bee done And this is the proofe of the first point Quest What ground have you for this that the Scriptures are thus authenticall Ans There are these First because they are Gods word to whom it belongs to appoint every one a cannon and rule that must give them direction to all things to be beleeved and done Secondly Because God hath written them for this end that they might be such a rule that might be alwayes in the Church that men should not dare to swerve from it Thirdly Because this Word is the first divine truth of God himself To explane these first they are Gods word c. This is manifest of it self that it belongs to God to appoint a rule and a cannon we further confirme this thus Deut. 7.11 Keepe my commandements my statutes and my judgements why so because they are my statutes I command you the Word is a lanterne to my feet saith David Psal 119.105 Thou shalt keepe my statutes so that if we enquire into the ground what the reason of the authority of the Scripture is it is manifest it is authenticall because it is the word of God who should teach me saith Saint Ambrose the things that appertaine to heaven God and not man Who can better teach me concerning God then God All other Divine things had need of testimony saith Salvian but onely these things spoken by God need no more testimony while therefore it is God that hath wrote this and he onely hath Divine authority therefore this must needs be of Divine authority The second answer was thus much because that this was written by God to that end that the Church might alway have a rule from which it should not dare to swerve Deut. 5.32 Take heed to my statutes turne not to the right hand nor to the left and that Rom. 15.4 These things were written that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope therefore from hence it is manifest that they are written to be a rule Thirdly because that this is the first divine trueth of God himselfe therefore it hath this name Ephes 1.13 Iohn 17.17 thy Word is truth with an emphasis that there is no truth but this so Ephes 2.20 it is the foundation of the Church it is builded upon the Apostles and Prophets we say it is the first truth of God himselfe because it must be first beleeved before we can beleeve by a divine faith any thing that is revealed in it faith doth first spring out of it and is last of all resolved into it and so it is the first truth This is the principle of principles and though it be not beleeved yet it hath the same authority gold is gold though no man have it the Sunne in the first day it was created was to rule the day and measure time though there was neither man nor beast to take notice of it In the Gnomen of a diall the shadow of it shewes the houres of the day though men sleepe principles in all Arts are to be granted are not denied without grosse absurdities Here are our first principles that there is a God that God hath a Word that the Scripture is the Word of God these are and ought to be assented unto by whosoever would be called Christian the denying of any one of these is to open the gate to Atheisme and all prophanesse so then this is manifest that this Word of God is of Divine authority The first Use then teacheth us that then fals to the ground the Doctrine of Popery that tels us that the Scriptures have no authority but from the Church some have spoken very blasphemously of the Word of God one for all the President of the Councell of Trent saith that the Scriptures have no more authority then Esops Fables without authority from the Church of Rome and others say they have no more authority then any other prophane books others more moderate say they have no more authority in them then they receive from the Church the question is not what authority the Church doth give to the Scriptures but what authority they have in themselves the Church can but declare their authority the Scriptures have it in themselves I had not beleeved the Scripture saith Austin We never denied that the Church hath excellent Offices concerning the Scriptures as first it is to keep them and preserve them therefore the Church is compared to a publique Notary like to the Court of Rowles the Master of the Roles gives no authority to Records but keepes them Secondly the Church is to publish the Scriptures therefore she is compared to a crier and this is the fidelity of the crier to publish the speech of the Prince and the Churches duty is to publish the Law of God The third office it hath is to discern the true Scriptures from forgeries and apocryphall It cannot make that which is Apocrypha Canonicall but it hath a power in discerning which are Apocryphall which Canonicall as it is in a City the Magistrates receiving a letter as from the Prince out of their experience are able to discerne whether it be the Princes letter or not so they that are Gods Ministers can do nothing but discerne the Word they cannot give any authority to it we conclude the Scripture hath authority in it selfe Ephe. 2.20 It is the foundation of the Church then the
hast thou that thou hast not received and who hath caused thee to differ from another thou art most proud and boastest most of thy selfe boast onely of that which is thy owne it is vanity to boast of that which is not thine thou hast nothing thy owne but sinne nothing is due to sinne but shame and death thou couldest doe nothing to helpe thy selfe out of this condition if thou art delivered out of it be not high minded it is God that delivered thee and not thy selfe of his free grace not according to thy merits Vse 3. This teacheth us that if a man have once assurance of election and salvation he may have it for ever as he was chose freely so also immutably God cannot change his will so that here is the comfort of a man that hath any assurance God is immutable therefore I cannot perish So then is any tempted from Sathan or from his owne weaknesse when he seeth so much rebellion in himselfe and when he heares great Doctors teach that a man may be good to day and nought to morrow this may comfort him God is immutable this is that I stand upon God is immutable therefore none can resist him there is corruption enough in man but God is not overcome by the wickednesse of man but as he will punish those that stand unreformed so hee will bee good to those that walke before him humbly Object I but say they Gods salvation stands upon condition and being upon condition therfore is changeable Ans To this I answer that the faith and repentance of them which have it is mutable in them and may in it selfe be lost but it is God that wrought it it is God that will not forsake his owne worke it is God by whose power we are kept to salvation and have not our faith repentance life salvation in our owne keeping A man of himselfe may fall away but God gives him perseverance Austin saith This guift of perseverance may be humbly sought of God and when a man hath it he shall not with Caine be cast out for God is so good that he will never suffer a man to goe so farre as that he should cut himselfe from him and what is the reason for the seed of God abideth in him In the first conversion a man is unwilling and retains grace unwillingly but God gives him grace to make him willing so that the grace he hath and the estate he hath he holds it not by his owne will but so that God keepes it for otherwaies the heart of man would soone goe from God whereupon it followes that God and his will are immutable The next question is Quest What is the truth of the Divine Essence Answ It is a communicable Attribute whereby he knowes all things certainely without any ignorance or error speaking and working indeed and in truth without fraud and dissimulation and performing constantly whatsoever he hath said To explane these First I say it is the truth of God not truths though there be many yet the Scripture speakes but of one Iohn 14.6 I am the truth Secondly I say it is a communicable Attribute because that howsoever truth is in a speciall manner Attributed to God yet it is by proportion in man whereby he knowes all things without error for it is a generall speech he is a true man that knowes all things without any ignorance or error such is the truth of God without any ignorance and error he cannot deceive nor be deceived he knowes all things whatsoever he cannot deceive Iohn 16.7.13 He tells the truth the spirit leads into truth he cannot be deceived All things are naked and bare before him with whom we have to doe Againe whatsoever he hath spoken and wrought is in truth and indeed without faining and dissimulation so that there is no active falsitie in his waies he deceives none in any of his words or in any of his deeds The truth of the word is when the words are answerable and agreeable to the truth of the minde for when a man speakes otherwaies then he knowes is to lye the old description of a lye is for a man to tell a thing contrary to his owne minde Now then whatsoever is in God is true and so the Apostle speakes let God be true and every man a lyer and againe when we came to you our words were not yea and nay but yea that is a certaine truth Psal 111.7 The works of God are true Psal 119.51 The lawe of the Lord is true and this might be shewed in all the works of creation regeneration and sanctification they are all true works Againe constantly performing whatsoever he speakes this is made manifest in his promises and threatnings whatsoever he hath promised or threattened shall come to passe A man is a true man when he hath done that he said he would doe Psal 89 33.34.35 I never falsifie my truth I have sworne and looke what I have sayd I will performe heaven and earth shall passe but not one jot or tittle of my word shall passe Psal 119.19 Thy word endures for ever Isai 40.6 All flesh is grasse but the word of the Lord endures for ever God will accomplish and doe all those things that he hath promised 2 Cor. 1.20 All the premises are yea and amen in Christ Quest Why is it said truth as speaking of one Ans Because though there be many truths in words and works of men yet all flow from one truth as all light comes from one sunne so all truth comes from one God he is the truth as his goodnesse is the cause of all good so his truth is the cause of all truth Truth is either morall or metaphysicall and this either in the minde of God or in the minde of the creature or in the things that exist Truth in the mind of God is that certaine and distinct knowledge and Idea of the nature of things according to which they are created in time Truth in the minde of the creatures Angells or men consists in the apprehension and knowledge of things as they are in themselves Truth in the things that exist is their existens it selfe sutable to their Idea in the minde of God The truth in the minde of God is that which the Schooles call exemplar is or the patterne truth and is but one and first is in God and from thence conveighed to the things and mindes in which it is Truth is in things and the mindes of men formally as the Schooles speake and so there are many truths but all derived from the first truth in the minde of God and they are first in the things knowne and then in the understanding that knoweth Truth in the mind of God measures the truth in things and minds of men but is not measured by them Truth in things measures the truth in the mindes of men and is measured by the truth in the mind of God Truth in the minde of man is