beleeved indeed it perswadeth the beleever to make conscience of sinne therefore all are worthy of due consideration Viz. 1. There is a God by name The God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob to be worshipped 2. There is a Word of God Viz. The Bible that is the Booke of Bookes consisting of the olde and new Testament to be beleeved 3. There is a Resurrection both of iust and vniust to be expected And 4. There is a Conscience to be tendered The first ground hath beene layd as surely as I can For none can be religious who doth not beleeue it The second is likewise to be surely layd For if there be no such Word there can be no true religion but superstition The Samaritans a 〈◊〉 4.20.22 and Athenians b 〈◊〉 17.22.23 were superstitious because they worshipped God not according to his Word That therefore we may haue true spirituall comfort in our Christian Religion in which we worship God let vs be well perswaded that the Bible is the Word of God That imposter Mahomet to make the Turkes superstitiously to regard his Alchoran Compiled by himselfe a Iew and a Nestorian heretique so plotted with his Complices that having tolde the Turkes that God would send his vndoubted Word about a Camels necke out of the Wildernesse before the Sermon was ended a Camell came into the Church with the Alchoran about the necke Were not the Bible the vndoubted Word of God we Christians are the most absurd in our Religion of all other For we make him a God and our onely Saviour whom we acknowledge to haue beene a man and crucified But if it be then may wee with comfort avow our Religion against Iewes Turkes and Papists That we may be well grounded in this point I haue determined to proue it not onely by the other three grounds but also by imitating an order of proofes which Christ observeth Ioh. 5.31 to 39. With which I will begin as being most worthy in regard of the Author and as shewing that the Bible which is the Word written may be prooved to be the Word of God by like Arguments as Christ prooveth himselfe to be the Eternall Word â—â—oh 1.1.14 made flesh that is the Messiah Which he prooveth by 4. testimonies 1. Of Iohn Baptist 2. Of his owne Workes 3. Of his Father And 4. Of the Scriptures Reason 1 In imitatition therefore let our first proofe be The Testimony of the Church which throughout all ages hath avowed the Bible to be the vndoubted Word of God Now all true Christians reioyce in the Church as the Iewes did in Iohn Baptist For it is The Pillar of truth d Tim. 3.15 Not because the Church supporteth the Scriptures so as to be the Word of God as Papists would make vs to beleeue Nay The Scriptures support the Church so as to be the Church of God Indeed if there be no other vse of a Pillar but to support then that place of 1 Tim. 3.15 might seeme to make for the Papists but there is another vse of a Pillar viz. To haue that written or engraven therevpon which is to be remembred for ever As in Rev. 3.12 Revel 3.12 Christ sayth Him that overcoÌ„meth I will make a Pillar in the Temple of my God How I will write vpon him the Name of my God and my new Name Indeed The true sense of that to Timothie is this As a Pillar doth preferue the memory of those things which are written thereon So the Church preserveth Truth commended therevnto This sense the place it selfe doth intimate For saith Paul These things I write that if I tarry long thou mayst know how to behaue thy selfe in the house of God that it being the Church of the living God therefore ever-living may as a Pillar preserue Truth which it learneth of thee Hence it is that Aust in sayth â—ntra Epist â—â—md cap. 5. I had not beleeved the Scriptures to haue beene the Word had I not beene mooued with the Churches credite Thus was he mooved indeed when he first turned from his Manichisme But when he was setled in Religion thus he writeth to Maximinus Contra Maxim â—ib 3. cap. 14. Neither must I alledge the Councell of Nice in preiudice of the matter nor you the Councell of Ariminum Let matter striue with matter cause with cause reason with reason by authoritie of the Scriptures And in another place Reade this out of a Prophet De Pastor cap. 14. out of a Psalme out of the Law out of the Gospel out of an Apostle Thence recite I the Church disperst over the whole world and our Lord saying My sheepe heare my voyce So that Austin did like the Samaritans who at the first beleeved Christ to be the Messiah for the saying of the Woman but afterward they professed e Ioh. 4.39.42 Now wee beleeue not because of thy saying For wee haue heard him our selues Reason 2 Now then let vs proceede to the second Testimony from the proper workes of the Scriptures which is greater then the former as was the second Testimony which Christ pleaded I will now take knowledge but of two proper works of the Scriptures The former is Though they be for the most part very simple plaine yet like God they be mighty in operation For the word of God simply preached is the power of God f 2 Cor. 12.9 1 Cor. 3.4 â— It being like fire and an hammer g Ier. 23.29.22 converteth the soule h Psal 19.7 being not carnall casteth downe imaginations exalted and bringeth every thought to the obedience of Christ i 2 Cor. 10.4 â— For it is the sword of the Spirit k Eph. 6.17 because the Spirit of God being authour thereof l Pet. 1.21 by it worketh mightily vpon the spirit of man Heb. 4.12 For it accompanieth the same Isa 59.21 so as a man is compelled to acknowledg the power of Gods word when it is faithfully preached 1 Cor. 4. â— The other is They prophecy many great things which are accomplished in due time As the bondage of Israell in Egypt Ezod 12.41 Captivity in Babilon Ier. 29.10 The succession of foure Monarches Dan. 2.37 to 40. Comming of the Messiah Dan 9.24.25.26 Calling of the Gentiles Isa 2.2.3 And revealing of Antichrist 2 Thess 2.7.8 that is the Pope revealed after the removall of the Emperour from Rome So that as God was acknowledged so to be because he by Daniel opened secrets m Dan. 2.47 and a Prophet is to be acknowledged so to be if his Prophecy come to passe n Deâ—t 18.18 c. I may conclude that because so many and great Prophecies in the Scriptures are duly fulfilled they are therfore the vndoubted word of God Reason 3 Our third Testimony is froÌ„ the Father that is God Gal. 1. I who hath given testimony to the scriptures viva voce by his wonderfull works He gaue testimony viva voce to the old Testament when he
THE PRINCIPLE OF ALL PRINCIPLES Concerning RELIGION OR THE SVMME OF certaine SERMONS Prooving The Scriptures to be the very VVord OF GOD. Ioh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures For in them yee thinke to haue eternall life LONDON Printed by I. D. for Nicholas Bourne At the South entrance of the Royall Exchange 162â— TO THE WORSHIPFVL Mr HVMPHREY BROVVNE Increase of Grace and the saving knowledge of Iesus Christ. AMongst other Doctrines heretofore gathered from my Text viz Act. 24.14.15.16 We learned that Wee are to ground our Faith onely vpon the Word written Which Doctrine arose out of this Observation That Paul doth not say He beleeved all things whatsoever as directions of his worshipping the God of his Fathers but Beleeving all things written in the Law the Prophets so worship I c. This point is worthy due consideration in these prevaricating times wherein Papists doe so fearefully decline the Word written and runne vnto Traditions which they call Vnwritten Verities though indeede Traditionall very lyes they runne I say vnto these as vnto the rocke of their refuge For if they could but in shew iustifie their Antichristian Idolatry and Superstitions by the Word written how boasting they would then be may appeare by their catching at syllables thereof which sound in phantasticall eares to some of their purposes So that Christ his censure vpon the Scribes and Pharises may be iustly layd vpon them viz Yee haue made the Word a Mat. 15.1.6 written of none authoritie by your Traditions But whosoever speaketh not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them b Isa 8.20 For the whole Scripture that is The Word written is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable to teach to convince to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be absolute being made perfect vnto all good works c 2 Tim. 3.15.16.17 Amongst other Vses of the sayd Doctrine this was one If we are to ground our faith only vpon the Word written then all who are wise vnto Salvation must diligently read the same or If they cannot reade diligently heare them read in publique Congregations els-where as they may For to what ende was the Word of God committed to Writing but that Gods people should reade or heare it read diligently Therefore let vs religiously take to heart and consider the wise exhortation of our Master Christ viz Search the Scriptures For in them yee thinke to haue eternall life d Ioh. 5.39 Wherein obserue that He calleth the word of God Scriptures that is Writings and not onely so but The Scriptures that is Writings incomparably excelling all other For indeed they are given by inspiration of God Therefore we are to search them Which word Search implieth Diligence As where we are exhorted e Pro. 2.3 â— to Search for the Knowleage of God as for Treasures But how are Writings searched otherwise than by diligent reading Thus did the Nobly-minded Baereans f Acts. 17 1â— Search the Scriptures daily So that Christ his exhortation is this in effect If ye thinke indeed to haue eternall life in the Scriptures then shew your selues wise vnto salvation by your diligence in reading or hearing them read This point requireth much pressing in these times wherein too many are like those whom Isaiah taxeth g Isa 29.10 VVho being covered with a spirit of slumber dreame of eating but when they are awake their soules are emptie Yet when a Booke is offered them to be read they refuse saying either The Booke is Sealed as doe the Papists or They cannot Reade as doe thousands of irreligious people whose carelesnesse to heare the Scriptures read discovered by their late comming to the Church where the Scriptures be read and their readinesse to heare the reading of vaine Bookes and Ballâ—des doth manifest their want of religious zeale to supply their disability to reade the Scriptures by diligence in giuing attendance to the reading thereof But there may come a time of tryall when the Deafe shall heare the words of the Booke as ISAIAH Prophecieth in the same Chapter Vers 17 1â— VVhich Prophecie implieth that he who sayd He could not reade should yet haue signified desire to heare the Booke read To prevent which tryall if it may so please our most gracious God let 's imitate yea emulate the religious Iewes h Acts. 13.14.15 And 15.21 who so diligently heard the olde Testament read in their Synagogues every Sabbath day that Christ and his Apostles saw it not necessary to quote Chapter and Verse when they preached or wrote And why Because by diligent hearing the Scriptures read their memory was so confirmed that they could presently acknowledge every allegation to be conteined in the Scriptures To which ende viz the confirmation of memory by reading was the Word of God written Yea so That the children of Israel were commanded i Deut. 11.19.18 as well to write Gods words vpon the posts of their houses and vpon their gates as to be speaking of them when they sit walke c. that they might lay them vp in their hearts These things I now write that thereby I may stirre you and others vp by reading to renew and confirme your memory that it may vnto your farther edification reflect vpon this ground of ReligioÌ„ The Scriptures be the very Word of God VVhich indeed is The Principle of all Principles concerning Religion and therefore is as it ought to be esteemed accordingly of all that doe the Truth k Ioh. 3 2â— Deut. 17.19 that is Obey God in Sinceritie so as they come to the light thereof that their deeds may be made manifest that they be wrought according to God Therefore not onely David a King and an olde man professed l â—â—al 37.25 â—â—9 105.9 Gods Word to haue beene a Light to his paths but the Spirit also by way of a Question doth with a strong asseveration affirme That young men if they feare God must redresse their wayes in taking heede to them according to Gods Word To which our most holy God and to the Word of his grace m â—ct 20.32 which is able to build further and to giue you an inheritance amongst all them which are sanctified I heartily commend you THE PRINCIPLE OF ALL PRINCIPLES concerning Religion Act. 24.14.15.16 14. But this I confesse vnto thee that after the way which they call heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers beleeving all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets 15. And haue hope towards God which they themselues also allow that there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the iust and vniust 16. And herein doe I exercise my selfe to haue alwayes a Conscience voyde of offence towards God and toward men IN these three Verses may be observed 4. grounds of Religion whereof every one is prooved by the other three and is of that powerfull truth that if it be
gaue the Decalogue o Deut. 5 2â— Whereof the Prophets and the rest of the Scriptures are explanations so that as Law and Prophets is here per Synchdochen put for the whole old Testament so else wher is Prophets onely p Acts. 26.27 Ephc. 2.20 So that as the whole lumpe and branches be holy if the first fruites roote be holy q Rom. 11.16 So the testimony given viva voce to the Decalogue is an authorizing of the whole olde Testament God likewise viva voce gaue Testimony to the new Testament when by a voyce out of a cloud r Mat. 17. â— he sayd This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleased heare him Wherein should we heare him To wit In the Gospell which is The word of Reconciliation Å¿ 2 Cor. 5.19 by forgiuenesse of our sinnes and is therefore worthily called The word of Christ t Colos 3.16 Which reconciliation is intimated in these words In whom I am well pleased This word of Christ is contayned in the new Testament Therefore by this voyce testimonie is thereunto given This inference is coÌ„firmed by the Apostle Peter u 2 Pet. 1.16.17 Who by this voyce proveth that the Apostles followed not deceiveable fables but opened the power comming of Christ God also gaue testimony therunto by wonderful works For if Antiquity may be beleeved x Iren. lib. 3 â—ap 25. He confirmed the old Testament by this miracle Ptolomy King of Egypt hearing the books of the Iewes highly exalted set 70. learned Iewes in so many places so as they could not conferre to translate those bookes out of Hebrew into Greeke When they had done the 70. translations so agreed word for word as if all had conferred agreed vpon one translation The number of the bookes being thirtie nine The puacitie and ambiguity of Hebrew wordes and experience of diversity in translating farre more intelligible languages coÌ„sidered this is a great miracle Touching the new Testament the Text sayth plainly that y Mark 16 2â— the Apostles preached every where And the Lord coÌ„firmed the word with signes that followed therefore God gaue testimonie to the new Testament by wonderfull workes Here Papists may be answered who require vs to shew by what miracles we confirme our new Gospell I answere Indeede if the Gospell which we preach were new as they like Iewes z Mark 1.27 doe terme it then it is to be confirmed with new miracles or not to be received But being the same which Christ his Apostles preached it is so sufficiently confirmed by the miracles which Christ his Apostles wrought that wee with Austin a Aug de Civiâ— Dei l. 22. call him a wonder of men who now requireth miracles to that ende God gaue testimony both to the old and new Testament by preserving them miraculously Touching the former it is to be considered that Israell was for a long season without the true God without Priest to teach and without Law b Chro. 15.3 Is it not a speciall worke of God that the Scriptures then being were preserved and that in purity And the rather if we consider how despitefully Iehoiakim cut and burnt Ieremies roule Ier. 36.23 It is yet more remarkeable that the people of God were captiues 70. yeares in Babylon c Iere 29.10 and 27.22 whether also the holy vessels were carried How were the Scriptures preserved al this while otherwise than by the wonderfull providence of God But it is most admirable that Ierusalem and the Temple were twice destroyed once by Nebuchadnezzars servant d 2 King 25. and againe after Christ his ascension e Luke 19.41 to 44 and yet the holy Books kept in the Temple are preserved Touching the latter It is not vnknown that in the first ages of the Church * Acts Moâ—ments p. 30. there were grievous persecutions for three hundred yeares by ten Tyrannicall Heathen Emperours of Rome whereof it may be Christ prophecyed when he told the Churches they should haue tribulation f Revel 2. â— ten dayes or times How were the Scriptures preserved all this terrible time other-wise than by the wonderfull providence of God Againe Since those ten persecutions Antichrist the Pope hath exercised his tyranny over the Churches for the space of about 900. yeares Vnder a type of a King Daniel g Dan. 11.31.36.37 prophecyeth of him which is to be considered For it is sayd His heart shall be against the holy Covenant So the Popes heart is against the new Testament in Christ his bloud to establish his merits by workes It is also sayd On that King's part armes shall stand as now they doe on the Popes part and they shall pollute the Sanctuary and set vp the abhominable desolation So doth the Pope pollute the Churches and setteth vp his abhominable Masse That King Did what he listed cared not for any God but magnified himselfe aboue all Doth not the Pope all this Lastly That King In place of the God of his Fathers honoured the God Mauzzim Doth not the Pope honour in the Masse a God of bread in place of the true God But what may induce vs to suppose that King to be a type of the Pope Besides the many agreements noted It is to be observed that howsoever all things written of that King were true according to the letter yet Christ sayth h Mat. 24.15 When yee see the abhomination of desolation spoken of by Daniell stand in the holy places c Whereby hee applieth this Prophecy to the destruction of Ierusalem and the Temple by the Romane Emperour as doth more plainly appeare in Luke 21.20 conferred with Dan. 9.26.27 Divines not without Analogy apply this prophecy to the Masse that abhomination indeede of Desolation Againe It is to be observed that the Roman Emperour was the first beast i â—evel 13.1 〈◊〉 7.11.12 that the Pope is another beast which doth all that the first beast did And that the Church of Christ is the House of God k 1 Tim. 3. as was the Temple So then as the Romane Emperour destroyed the Temple so the Pope hath persecuted and stil persecuteth the true Church of Christ How did the new Testament so opposite to Popery escape so long a rage and reigne This is the more strange these things considered The old Testament in Hebrew and the new Testament in Greeke were strangers in Israel ever since the Pope was before the Gospell was renewed The Pope will not suffer the Scriptures to bee read to the people in their mother tongue the second Commaundement condemning the worshipping of Images is in popish Catechismes thrust out of the Decalogue So that I may conclude that as Nebuchadnezzar l Dan. 3. â— acknowledged Shadrach Meshach and Abednego to haue beene the servants of God because they escaped the fiery furnace so God giveth a remarkeable testimony to the Scriptures that they bee his vndoubted word by