Generatio Physica Metaphysica Hyperphysica first a physicall generation secondly a metaphysicall and thirdly an hyperphysicall physicall generation is this when a mortall man begetteth a sonne and this is done in time metaphysicall generation is this when the mind begetteth a word and this is alwayes done in time but hyperphysicall generation is that eternall generation and this is done before all time and Divinity sheweth reason how shee misapplyeth her physicall and metaphysicall generation to this eternall generation Whether is such a proposition true in Divinity Quest and false in reason the Sonne of God begotten from all eternity true in Divinity the Sonne of God begotten from all eternity false in the court of reason So Mary the Virgin bare a Sonne true in Divinity Mary the Virgin bare a Sonne false in the court of reason That which is true in one Science Answ is not false in another In Israel there was a judicatorie of seventy who judged of matters of greatest weight and there was an inferior judicatory consisting of three and these judged of goods and matters of least moment that which was truly concluded in the highest judicatory was not false in this inferior judicatory although they could not judge of a false Prophet as the great Synedrion did yet they held it not false in the lowest judicatory when the great Synedrion concluded such a one to be a false Prophet So that which is true in Divinity is not false in reason but onely above her reach and if any thing were true in one Science and false in another then verum non esset reciproca affectio entis that is that which hath a being should not bee true and that which is true should not have a being these two propositions should not be converted Veritas supra rationem juxta rationem rationem There is a verity that is above reason and there is a verity which is agreeable to reason and there is a verity that is under reason the first is of things taken up by faith the second is of things taken up by reason the third is of things taken up by sense but there is no verity contrary to reason it is not against reason to beleeve that a Virgin conceived and bare a Sonne but it is above reason What use reason hath in Divinity Wee must not seclude reason altogether from Divinity Christ himselfe used the helpe of reason against the Sadduces and Paul against the Iewes Heb. 7.17 Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek This is revealed by God himselfe that Christ is the King of peace and righteousnesse yet to prove this and to make it manifest to the misbeleeving Iewes he borroweth a helpe of a logicall notation saying which is by interpretation the King of righteousnesse the King of peace Heb. 7.2 So Christ useth reason against the Sadduces God is the God of Abraham Isaack and Iacob hence he inferferreth this consequent that they must live Object But they say that Christ and Paul were immediatly directed by God that they could not erre in their Midsts and conclusions as we doe Ans If Pauls extraordinary calling had given him power to use reason then they had spoken to the purpose but he useth reason as common to him and to all other men whether Apostles or not Apostles But they say Object that Christs authority and Pauls was greater than ours is This wee grant Answ they disputed against those who acknowledged not their authority but yeelded onely to them in respect of the force of the arguments is it not lawfull for us to doe the same against our adversaries which Christ did against the Sadduces and Paul against the Iewes But whatsoever was pronounced by Christ against the Sadduces or by Paul against the Iewes Object it became by and by holy Scripture which we cannot say of our conclusions Although arguments used by Christ and his Apostles became by and by the Word of God Answ yet it will not follow that we may not use these midsts brought forth by reason although they become not Scripture but then that would follow if wee brought forth these principles of reason to make them the object of our saving faith Whether were the Sadduces bound to beleeve this argument of Christs as an article of their faith Quest or not By the force of this consequence as it were the worke of reason they were not bound to beleeve it Ans but as it was proved to them out of the Scriptures they were bound to beleeve it Seeing humane midsts have no force to binde of themselves why are they used in proofe against men Quest This is done for the infirmity of man who is hard to beleeve Answ and the Divine midsts will not serve to refute the naturall man Simile These who have good and perfect sight need no other midst to see by but the light but a man who is of a weake sight and purblind useth Spectacles as a helpe to his sight so the perverse heriticks make us to bring in these humane midsts whereas the midsts taken out of the Word of God should serve by themselves to convince When Christ rose againe Thomas doubted of the resurrection and thought that his body had beene but a Spirit but Christ bearing with his infirmity by this humane midst proveth that hee is flesh because hee may bee touched and felt Observe againe that in Divinity some propositions are merely Divine and some are mixtly Divine These that are merely Divine reason can doe little thing here it can but joyne the tearmes together but it cannot take up these great mysteries example if I were disputing against the Monothelites who denyed that there were two natures in Christ and should reason thus Where there are two natures there are two wils but in Christ there are two natures therefore two wils That in Christ there are two wils this is a proposition merely Divine reason can never take up this yet reason sheweth this much where there are two natures there must bee two wills and it judgeth onely of the connexion of these two but it cannot judge of the verity of this whether there be two wills in Christ or not Quest Yee will say then what doth reason in the verity of these propositions which are merely Divine Ans Reason in a regenerate man concludeth not that to be false which is above her reach but onely admireth and resteth in this great mystery and reformed reason enlightened by the Word of God goeth this farre on that she beleeveth these things to be possible with God which shee cannot comprehend but reason in a corrupt man will scorne and mocke these things which shee cannot comprehend as the Stoicke called Paul a babler Act. 17.18 when hee disputed against them for the resurrection and called it a new doctrine In these propositions againe which are mixtly Divine reason hath a further hand example No naturall body can be in moe places at
of the Heathen and the Secretaries of the holy Ghost insert them in the Booke of God From the Poets as Paul borrowed from Aratus Menander Epimenides or Callimachus some verses and inserted them in his Epistles So the Scriptures borrow from the history which were eyther Heathenish or Iewish Heathenish againe were of two sorts eyther Chaldean or Persian Daniel borroweth from the Chaldeans So from the history of the Persians as that memorable history of the deliverance of the Iewes under Haman was first written in the Persian language Esth 9.32 and he who wrote the Booke of Esther borrowed the history out of that booke Something 's in the Scripture borrowed from the Iewish History These things which are borrowed from the Iewish history as the facts of those registrate in the Bookes of the Maccabees Heb. 11. So Iude out of the prophesie of Enoch borrowed the history of the strife betweene Michael and the Divell about the body of Moyses So the Apostle Heb. 11. out of the traditions of the Iewes borroweth that Esay was cut with a saw under Menasse So there are sundry proverbiall speeches in the Talmud as Cast out the beame which is in thine owne eye and then thou shalt see chearely to cast out the mote that is in they neighbours eye Matth. 7.5 So it is easier for a Camell to goe thorow the eye of a Needle Matth. 19.24 So it is hard to kicke against prickes Act. 9.5 Some of our Divines to prove that the Apocryphall Bookes are not Canonicall Scripture use this midst because they are not cited by the Apostles in the New Testament but this is false for the Apostle citeth them Heb. 11. And Scaliger in his Eusebianis See Scaliger Euseb Pag. 245. proveth out of Georgius Cyncellus that the Apostle citeth many testimonies out of the Apocryphall Bookes and out of the traditions of the Iewes As Matthew that Salmon maried Rahab Salmon his genealogie is set downe 1 Chro. 2. but not whom he maried this Matthew had by tradition Matth. 1.5 Things in the Heathen history which are not necessary to be knowne to the Church the Scripture passeth by them and remitteth us to Heathen History and saith still The rest are they not written in the bookes of the Chronicles of Iuda and Israel and when the knowledge of them is necessary to the Church it borroweth them out of the Heathen history and inserteth them in the booke of God These things which were written out of the Iewish Heathen sentences were sanctified by the Apostles when they cited them or Heathenish history were not sanctified untill they were insert in the booke of God therefore Tertullian writing to his Wife and citing that verse Evill speeches corrupt good manners 1 Cor. 15.33 saith Memor illius versiculi sanctificati per Apostolum the Apostle sanctified this verse when hee borrowed it from the Heathen And as a woman that was Heathenish when she became a Proselyte shee might enter into the congregation and a Iew might marry her so these Iewish and Heathenish histories God sanctified them that they might enter into the Congregation and become holy Scriptures and so the holy Spirit sweetned the salt waters of Iericho that the children of the Prophets might drinke of them 2 Kings 2.21 There are many proper names set downe in the Scriptures which are not Hebrew names Many names in the Scriptures which are not Hebrew names but some of them are Chaldee some Assyrian and some Persicke names Ier. 39.3 And all the princes of the King of Babylon came in and sat in the middle-gate even Nergal-Sharezer Samger Nebo Sersechim Rabsaris Nergal Sharezer Rabmag with all the residue of the Princes of the King of Babylon And that wee may know what names are Chaldee names what Syriacke and what Persicke Marke this Table following concerning these names and the composition of them taken out of Scaliger  Nomina propria Chaldaeorum 1 Nebo vel lebo 2 Nego 3 Mero 4 Schech chach 5 Meschach 6 Sadrach 7 Letzar retzar netzar 8 Shetzar 9 Metzar 10 Nergal 11 Belti 12 Adan 13 Hevil 14 Ochri 15 Chen 16 Bel 17 Shech 18 Phil 19 Mit 20 Dach 21 Zar 22 Phal 23 Pad 24 Chad  Exempla  Nebuchad nezzar ex 1. 24. 7.  Hevil-mero-dach ex 13 3. 20.  Nebo-zir-adan ex 1 21. 12.  Nomina propria Assyriorum 1 Shadran 2 Shalman 3 Teglath 4 Horib 5 Haddon 6 Neschroth 7 Adar 8 Etzer vel atzer 9 Asar 10 Ballat 11 Osen the vel Osu 12 Chuschan 13 Sen 14 Phul 15 Phar 16 Shar  Exempla  Salman-asser ex 2. 9.  Assar-haddon ex 9. 5.  Sen-ballat ex 13. 10.  Sen-cherib ex 13. 4.  Teglath-phul-asor ex 3. 14. 9.  Nomina propria Persarum 1 Ari 2 Thir 3 Thiri 4 Mithri 5 Pharsam 6 Phar◠7 Esther 8 Zero 9 Datha 10 Sai 11 Manai 12 Stha the 13 Dai 14 Ham 15 Wai 16 Va 17 Zata 18 Arth atha 19 Achos ochos 20 This 21 Thena 22 Sethra 23 Thra 24 Ku vel Kau 25 Ros vel rus 26 Kana  Exempla  Mithri-dates ex 4. 9.  Achos-va-rosh ex 19. 16. 25. How shall we discerne in what language a booke was written Quest There be two speciall notes whereby wee may discerne this the first is Interpretation Answ and the second is Allusion First is Interpretation when the Spirit of God interpreteth a strange word into another tongue To know in what language a booke was written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then the booke was written in that language in which the word is interpreted Example Esth 9. Pur this Persicke word is interpreted by the Hebrew goral therefore the booke was written in the Hebrew and not in the Persicke tongue by Mordecai or by him who else wrote the booke Example 2. Abba Pater Rom. 8.15 Abba is the Syriack word and Pater the Greeke word because Abba is interpreted by Pater therefore the Apostle hath written this Epistle in Greeke and not in Syriack And so Thomas is called Didymus Ioh. 11.16 therefore the Gospel of Iohn was written originally in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Contracte and not in Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gemelli So Heb. 7.2 Melchisedeck the King of Salem first by interpretation King of righteousnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gemi us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and after that King of peace The word Melchesedick which is one word for the understanding of the Graecising Iewes he divideth it in two and showeth in Greeke Act. 1◠8 Elimas by interpretation Magus this word Magus is degenerate in a Greeke word therefore this booke was written in Greeke that Salem signifieth peace and Zedek Iustitia righteousnesse as if hee would say frugifer qui fert fructum cornifer qui fert cornua here because the interpretation is in Greeke we may know that this Epistle hath beene written originally in Greeke The
but one full and intire sense When Ionathan shot three Arrowes to advertise David 1 Sam. 20.20 hee had not two meanings in his minde but one his meaning was to shew David how Saul his father was minded towards him and whether he might abide or flye So the meaning of the holy Ghost is but one in these places Example 2 Sam. 7.12 The Lord maketh a promise to David I will set up thy seed after thee which shall proceede out of thy bowels This promise looked both ad propius remotius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a radice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 significat formam 2 Chron. 17.17 yet it made up but one sense propius to Salomon and remotius to Christ therefore when he looketh to the farthest to Christ 2 Sam. 7.19 he saith Zoth torath Haec est delineatio hominis Dei it should not bee read is this the Law of the man O Lord God as if David should say this is not all that thou hast promised to me O Lord that I should have a sonne proceeding out of my owne loynes but in him thou dost prefigure to me a sonne who shall be both God and man and hee addeth For a great while to come thou doest promise to me a sonne presently to succeede in my kingdome but I see besides him a farre off the blessed Messias And he applyeth this promise literally to his sonne Salomon and figuratively to Christ his Sonne taking the promise in a larger extent and the matter may be cleared by this comparison A father hath a sonne who is farre from him he biddeth the Tailor shape a coate to him and to take the measure by another child who is there present but withall hee biddeth the Taylor make it larger because his child will waxe taller So this promise made to David was first cut out as it were for Salomon his sonne but yet it had a larger extent for it is applyed to Christ who is greater than Salomon and as by a sphere of wood wee take up the celestiall spheres So by the promises made to David concerning Salomon we take up him who is greater than Salomon and these two make but up one sense When a man fixeth his eye upon one to behold him another man accidentally commeth in in the meane time hee casteth his eyes upon that man also So the Lords eye was principally upon the Messias but hee did cast a looke as it were also to Salomon When these testimonies are applyed in the New Testament A Scripture diversely applyed doth make up but one literall sense the literall sense is made up sometimes of the type and the thing typed Example Ioh. 19.36 A bone of him shall not be broken This is spoken both of the bones of the Paschall Lambe and of the bones of Christ and both of them make up but one literall sense Sometimes the literall sense is made up ex historico allegorico as Sara and Hagar the bond woman and the free signifie the children of the promise begotten by grace and the bond servants under the Law and these two make up but one sense Sometimes ex tropologico literali as Ye shall not mussle the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne 1 Cor. 8.9 Fourthly the literall sense is made up ex historico mystico prophetico Example Ier. 31.15 A voyce was heard in Ramah lamentation and bitter weeping Rachel weeping for children refusing to bee comforted for her children because they were not There was a voyce heard in Ramah for Ephraims captivity that is for the ten Tribes who came of Ioseph the sonne of Rahel this mourning was because the ten Tribes should not be brought backe againe from the captivity this was mysticall and not propheticall that shee mourned for the ten Tribes who were led away into captivity but it was propheticall foretelling the cruell murther which Herod committed in killing the infants not farre from Rahels grave all these are comprehended in this prophesie and make up one full sense When a testimony is cited out of the Old Testament in the new the Spirit of God intendeth that this is the proper meaning in both the places and that they make not up two divers senses Example the Lord saith make fat the hearts of this people Esa 6.9 and Christ saith Matth. 13.14 In them is fulfilled this prophesie This judgement to make fat the hearts was denounced against the Iewes in Esaias time at the first Act. 23.16 Well spake the holy Ghost by Isaiah the Prophet it was fulfilled upon the Iewes who lived both in Christs time and in Pauls time Esay when he denounced this threatning he meant not onely of the Iewes who lived then but also of the Iewes who were to come after and it was literally fulfilled upon them all Example 2. Esa 61.7 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath annointed me to preach the Gospel this prophesie is cited by Christ Luk. 4.18 and it is onely meant of Christ and literally to be applyed to him Example 3. Esay 49.6 I will give thee for a light to the Gentiles Christ went not in proper person to preach to the Gentiles himselfe but he went to them by his Apostles therefore Act. 31.47 Paul saith the Lord hath commanded me to goe and be a light to the Gentiles this is the proper sense and meaning of the Prophet Esay in this place When the testimonies of the Old Testament are cited in the new they are not cited by way of Accommodation but because they are the proper meaning of the places if they were cited by Christ and his Apostles onely by way of accommodation then the Iewes might have taken exception and sayd that these testimonies made nothing against them because it was not the meaning of the holy Ghost who indited these Scriptures to speake against them But Christ and his Apostles bring out these testimonies as properly meant of them and not by way of accommodation onely We must make a distinction betwixt these two Applicatio destinata Applicatio per accommodatione Destinatam applicationem per accommodationem Destinata is this when the spirit of God intendeth that to bee the meaning of the place Applicatio per accommadationem is this when a preacher applieth the Testimonies of the scriptures for comfort or rebuke to his hearers this is not destinata applicatio sed per accomodationem A man maketh a sute of apparrell for one Simile that is Destinatum to him yet this suite will serve for another and this is Per accommodationem When Nathan said to David the Lord also hath put away thy sinne thou shalt not die 2 Sam. 12.13 this was destinata applicatio but when a preacher now applieth this to one of his hearers this is but per accommodationem the scriptures are written for our Admonition upon whom the ends of the world
a care for so small an inheritance a little plat of ground in Anathoth that cost but seventeene shekles that he would have the evidence subscribed and sealed before faithfull witnesses and to have them safely laid up till the peoples returne out of the captivity shall not we then be carefull of that great inheritance which is not purchased with gold nor silver 1 Pet. 1. to have the evidence of it sealed subscribed and laid up safely in our hearts Esau was a profane man and a fornicator Heb. 12.16 He sold his birth right for a messe of pottage if Preachers be profane and vile men like Esau they will set their inheritance at a light reckoning but if they be the children of grace they will esteeme much of it as Naboth did of his Vineyard it is the inheritance that our father hath prepared and his sonne dearely purchast for us and therfore we should esteeme highly of it and beware to lose this inheritance that was bought with such a price left if we lose it the shooe be pulled off our feete and we be called discalceati in Israele Now come to Christs answer to the Sadduces objection Yee erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God for in the Resurrection men neither marry nor give in marriage but are like the Angels of God They erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God that is the power of God manifested and set forth in the Scriptures the Scriptures teach us that God by his power shall raise these mortall bodies to immortality and that then we shall be like to the Angels in glory and all these naturall bonds and societies amongst men and women shall cease as to mary and give in marriage c. Yee erre not knowing the Scriptures All error proceedeth from ignorance of the Scriptures therefore Christ biddeth the Iewes search the Scriptures Ioh. 5.39 and the holy Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 We shall never under stand the truth but out of the Scriptures the Church of Rome are most injurious to the Laickes forbidding them to read the Scriptures what mervaill is it that they be led into all errors when they want this light of the Scriptures to direct them The Church of Rome like a Pyrat she may be justly compared to a Pirate a Pirate when he takes a poore Barke what doeth he First he taketh the compasse from her Secondly the sayles and thirdly the Anchor what becomes of the poore Barke then she is cast away upon the Rockes so the Church of Rome first taketh from the people the compasse that is the Word of God Secondly shee taketh from them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a speech borrowed from a full sayle forbidding the people assurance of faith they teach them that they should have a morall perswasion of the remission of their sinnes to hope well that they shall be saved but they say it is presumption to be certainely perswaded of the remission of their sinnes and thus they take away 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the full sayle from the people now when assurance of faith The miserable estate of those who live in Popery the full saile is gone then hope the Anchor as the Apostle calleth it Heb. 6.19 must be lost also yee see then the necessity of searching the Scriptures and if we would bee free of error we must study to know them and lamentable is their estate who live in popery exposed to all danger because they have not the use of the holy Scriptures Nor the power of God Twofold power in God There is a twofold power in God first his absolute power Secondly his limited power his absolute power is this when he can doe any that implyeth not a contradiction for that were impotency in God his limitate power is this when his will limitateth his power and his other attributes God by his absolute power could have destroyed Sodom before Lot came out of it but by his limited power he could not Gen. 19.22 God may doe many things by his absolute power which he cannot doe by his limitted power because it made more for the glory of God that Lot should be saved then destroyed with the Sodomites so God by his absolute power might cast away Peter but by his limited power he cannot because it makes more for his mercy to save Peter then to destroy him Christ by his absolute power could have wrought miracles in Nazareth but by his limited power he could not because it made more for his glory not to worke any amongst that unbeleeving people Marke 6 5. So Christ by his absolute power could have prayed for so many millions of Angels to have delivered him but by his limited power he could not because it made more for the glory of his Father that he should die for the redeeming of his Church then that he should escape the cursed death of the Crosse here Christ speaks of that limited power of God and not of his absolute power Yee erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God We should know Gods power out of the Scriptures We must learne to know the power of God onely out of the Scriptures that power which is attributed to God and not found in the Scriptures is not to be counted Gods power there is a question betwixt us and the Church of Rome whether the body of Christ can be both in Heaven and in the Sacrament at once they alledge the power of God for them because God by his power can make this body to be really in the Sacrament but we reply unto them that they erre not knowing the Scriptures and the power of God if they could demonstrate to us out of the Scriptures this power then we would beleeve them but the Scripture saith that Iesus Christs body is in the heavens and must bee contained there till he come to judgement Acts 3.21 Whom the heavens must receive untill the times of the restitution of all things And therefore this power is but an imaginary power contrary to the Scriptures of God We shall be like the Angels of God who neither marry nor give in marriage There is a good axiome in the Schooles that relata extra usum non sunt relata relations out of their use are no relations a Land-marke so long as it stands in the field distinguishing one mans land from another it is in the relation but taken out of that place that relation ceaseth the bread in the Sacrament is holy bread so long as it is in the use but out of this holy use it becommeth common bread againe those things that were eaten in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Idols chappell were idolatrous in state there and might not be eaten but when they were sold in the Shambles they were extra usum and Paul allowed then to eate of them so here the woman is the wife to the husband in this life but in the
long a life to record to the posterity the word and the workes of God Againe he did this to obviat the craft of the Divell and the counterfeite writings of the false Apostles God revealeth himselfe most surely to us by his word It was necessary then that the word should be written that the Church might have a greater certainety of their salvation See how farre the Lord commendeth unto us the certainety which wee have by the Scriptures above all other sort of revelation 2 Pet. 1.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We have also a more sure word of prophesie here the certainety of the Scriptures is preferred to the transfiguration in the mount Secondly the Apostle Gal. 1.8 preferreth it to the revelation made by Angels If an Angell should come from heaven and teach any other Gospel let him be accursed Thirdly Christ himselfe preferred the certainety of it to Moyses and the Prophets If one should come from the dead and teach us Luk. 16.31 The Church is not the last resolution of our faith The Church of Rome then doth great wrong to Christians when they would make the last ground and stay of Christian faith to be the Church onely But wee are built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Ephe. 2.20 the Lord when he dwelt betweene the Cherubims he set the Candlesticke upon his right hand and the table with the shewbread upon his left hand to teach us that the Scriptures are to be preferred still to the testimony of the Church and that wee must rest upon their testimony primariò Quest Whether is it an Article of our faith to beleeve that the Scriptures are the Word of God or not Ans Something 's de fide de verbo fidej somethings de verbo fidej but not de fide primario somethings neither de fide neither de verbo fidej Some things are both de fide de verbo fidei as Christ is Emmanuel Secondly somethings are de verbo fidei but not de fide primariò as Paul left his cloake at Troas Thirdly somethings are de fide but non de verbo fidei which are the conclusions drawne from the canonicall word by consequence And these are eyther drawne from the word generally as this that the Scriptures are the word of God for this is evident from the whole word generally and although this be a principle in it selfe which ought first to be beleeved yet in my conception and manner of taking up it is a conclusion arising from that majesty and Divine character which is in the word it selfe or the particular conclusions drawne from the word They are de fide non de verbo fidei as when a man concludeth his owne particular justification from the word as I Iames am justified est de fide mea and not a part of the canonicall word but an application arising from it Fourthly something are neyther de fides nor de verbo fidei Secondly we may answer to this whether the word written be an article of our faith or not Articles of our faith taken generally or specially The articles of our faith are eyther taken generally or specially generally for all that is contained in the Scriptures or may be deduced by way of consequence from the Scriptures then it is not an article of our faith to beleeve the canon of the Scriptures Secondly specially for that which is contained in the Creede for the Creede is the substance of that which is contained in the Scriptures and then it is an article of our faith to beleeve the Cannon of the Scriptures The Scriptures of God are considered essentially The Scriptures considered essentially or accidentally or accidentally Essentially as they proceede from God accidentally againe as they were written by such and such men As they proceede from God we must beleeve them to be true and to be the meanes of our salvation for saving truth is onely from God But if we consider them but accidentally as they are written by such and such men then it is not an article of our faith to beleeve them for it maketh not to our salvation primariò to know that they were written by such and such men When the books in holy Scripture carry the names of those who wrote them as the bookes of Moyses carrie his name if a man should deny these bookes to be written by Moses then be ignorant altogether of the matter contained in them then his ignorance were damnable Ignorantia damnabilis negatio haeretical and the denyall of them hereticall they have Moses and the Prophets Luk. 16. But if the writer of the booke be not set downe in the Scripture if a man should deny such a man to write it he should not be reputed as an hereticke for that Negatia est haerètica per accidens sed ignoratio non est damnabilis and to be ignorant that such a man wrote it this were not damnable ignorance Example it is holden that Paul wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews now if a man should deny that Paul wrote this Epistle he were not to be holden a hereticke for that neyther were his ignorance damnable A man may be ignorant of this or that booke and yet be saved and many were saved before the bookes were written and now many are saved who cannot reade the Scriptures Ignorantia hic est infirmitatis negatio est haeritica per accidens But when a man doubteth of the order and number of the bookes in the Canon this argueth but his unskilfulnesse and infirmity and the denyall of the number and order of these bookes is but hereticall by accident and the ignorance is not damnable Quest When we beleeve such a booke to be written by such a man whether beleeve we this by a justifying faith or by an historicall faith Ans When we beleeve that such a man wrote this booke this is but an historicall faith and this we have by the Church but that which is dogmaticall in this booke that we must beleeve out of the word it selfe we being illuminate by the Spirit Conclusi The conclusion of this is Seeing God hath revealed his will in his word written to us and remitted us alwayes to the law and to the testimony Esay 10.8 Ioh. 5.49 search the Scriptures therefore these who leave the Scriptures and make choyse of traditions they forsake the fountaine of living water and digge Cisternes to themselves that cannot hold no water Ier. 2.13 EXERCITAT IX Of the singular prerogatives which the secretaries of the holy Ghost had who wrote the Scriptures 2 Pet. 1.21 And the holy men of God spake as they were mooved by the holy Ghost Prorogative 1 THe holy men of God who were inspired by the holy Spirit to write the Scriptures First they were immediatly called by God Gal. 1.12 for the Gospel which I preached I received it not of man neyther was I taught but
the doctrine it selfe they never erred Peter in the transfiguration knew not what hee sayd Luk. 9.33 David was minded to build an house to God he asked of Nathan if he should doe so 1 Chro. 17.2 Nathan sayd to him doe what is in thine heart So when Eliab stood before Samuel 1 Sam. 16.6 Samuel sayd surely the Lords annointed i◠before me So the Disciples erred in their counsell which they gave to Paul forbidding him to goe up to Ierusalem Act. 21.4 But the spirit of God taught the contrary by Agabus vers 17. David Psal 116. sayd in his hast that all men are lyars he meant that Samuel the man of God had made a lye to him because hee thought the promise too long differred in getting of the kingdome So when he wrote a letter to Ioab with vriah in this he was not Gods secretary but the Divels But as they were the secretaries of God and spake by divine inspiration they could not erre But it may seeme Object that all which they wrote in holy Scriptures was not done by divine inspiration for Paul wrote that he would come to Spaine Rom. 15.24 and yet he never came to Spaine We must distinguish betweene their purposes externall and their doctrine Answ they might erre in these externall purposes and resolutions but all which they wrote of Christ and matters of salvation was yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 He wrote that he was purposed to come to Spaine and so he was but he was let that he could not come But Paul repented that he wrote the Epistle to the Corinthians to grieve them Object 2 Cor. 7.8 If this was written by the inspiration of the holy Ghost why did he repent of it Paul wrote this Epistle to humble them Answ and when he saw them excessively sorrowfull that was the thing that greeved him but it greeved him not simply that he wrote to them to humble them When a Chyrurgian commeth to cure a wounded man Simile he putteth the poore patient to great paine and maketh him to cry out that grieveth him but it greeveth him not when he cureth him So it repented not Paul that he had written to the Corinthians but it repented him to see them so swallowed up with greefe Object But if the Scriptures be Divinely inspired how say they Iud. 16.17 there were about three thousand upon the roofe of the house So Act. 2.40 and that day there were added to the Church about three thousand soules Is not the number of all things certainely knowne to God Answ The Scriptures set downe the number that way because it is little matter whether we know the number or not And secondly the Lord speaketh to us this way in the Scripture after the manner of men Object Peter erred in a matter of faith Gal. 2.14 Ans Wherein Peter erred The error was not in the substance but in the circumstance of the fact and where it is sayd Gal. 2.14 That Peter walked not uprightly according to the Gospel it is to be understood onely of his conversation hee erred here onely in this principle of Christian Religion not walking according to his knowledge but hee erred not in his writing Ob. All men are subject to error the Prophets and Apostles are men therefore subject to error Ans The Prophets and Apostles are considered as members of the Church The Apostles considered two manner of wayes and so they might erre and they pray as other men Lord forgive us our sinnes Secondly they are considered according to their functions and immediate calling and then they were above the Church and could not erre Quest What needed Nathan to be sent to David to attend him continually one Prophet to another Answ Although one Prophet stood not in need of another yet he who was both a King and a Prophet had neede of a Prophet to admonish him for Kings stand in slippery places and have neede of others to advertise them The Prophets as they were Prophets could not erre therefore that collection of the Iewes is most impious they say that David wished to the sonnes of Ioab foure things 2 Sam. 3.29 First that some of them might dye by the sword Secondly that some of them might dye of the bloody flixe Thirdly that some of them might leane upon a staffe And fourthly that some of them might begge their bread And so they say it befell Davids posterity for his sinfull wish One of them leaned upon a staffe Asa was goutish One of his posterity was killed by the sword as Iosias One of them dyed of the flixe as Rehoboam And one of them beg'd his bread as Iehojachim But this collection is most impious for David spake not here by a private spirit of revenge but as a Prophet of God and therefore when they assigne these to be the causes why these judgements befell Davids posterity they assigne that for a cause which was not a cause Prorogative 4 The fourth prerogative they were holy men Holinesse distinguished them from those Prophets which were profane and unsanctified who had the gift of illumination but not of sanctification The pen-men of the holy Ghost were holy men the Lord made choyse of none such to be his secretaries who were not sanctified The Lords Prophet is called vir spiritus the man of the Spirit Hos 9.7 because he is ruled and guided by the holy Spirit that he become not profaine If the very women who spun the curtaines to the Tabernacle were wise hearted Exod. 35.25 Much more will the Lord have those who are to build his house wise and holy men Those who translated the Bible into Greeke yee shall see how often they changed their faith and were turne-coates Aquila of a Christian he became a Iew. Symmachus was first a Samaritane and then he became halfe Iew halfe Christian Then Theodoton first he was a fllower of Tatianus the hereticke and then he became a Marcionite and thirdly he became a Iew. But the Prophets of God after they were called continued holy men and never fell backe againe See more of Salomon in the Politiks God will have no man but holy men to be his secretaries Luk. 1.70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets Therefore Salomon being a Prophet and one of Gods secretaries behoved to be a holy man and being holy he could not be a reprobate hence he is called Iedidiah The beloved of God 2 Sam. 12.25 and whom God loveth he loveth to the end The holy men of God wrote as they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inspired by God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Spirit inlightned them and directed them when they wrote they were inspired three manner of wayes Illuminati antecedenter per concomitantiā subsequenter first antecedenter Secondly per concomitantiam and thirdly subsequenter First they were illuminate antecedenter when the Lord revealed things to come to his Prophets and made them to write his prophesies then their tongue was
the beginning of things can onely certainely fortell the event of things as though they were present Hos 12.4 hee wept and made supplication to him he found him in Bethel and there he spake with us Here the thing past he applyeth to the generation which was present because hee knew exordium rei Reason 5 The plaine and cleare manner of setting downe the Scriptures sheweth them to be Divine Esa 8.1 Take a great roule and write in it with a mans pen Behheret enosh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is cleerely that the simplest amongst the children of men may understand it Deut. 30.11 This commandement which I command thee this day is not hidden from thee neyther is it farre off In the Hebrew it is Lo niphleeth non separatum a te 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is it is not separated from thy knowledge that thou cannot understand it and it is not farre from thee for these things which are obscure and doubtfull which we cannot take up are sayd to be farre from us these things which wee understand againe are sayd to be neare us Rom. 10.8 Ob. But it may be sayd that there are many things hard in the Scriptures and cannot well be taken up Ans We must distinguish these three the obscurity in the things themselves Obscuritas est velâ—n rebus ipsis modo tradendi conceptione the perspicuity in the midsts as they are set downe and thirdly the dulnesse of our conception to take them up There are many matters handled in the Scripture which are hard to be understood and we are dull in conception to take up these things yet they are clearely and plainely set downe in the word Christ sheweth all these three Ioh. 3.12 If I have told you earthly things and yee beleeve not how shall yee beleeve if I tell you of heavenly things If I have told you earthly things that is illustrated heavenly things to you by earthly comparisons here is Christs plaine manner in setting downe his word And yee beleeve not here is our dulnesse in taking up these things which are plainely set downe How shall yee beleeve if I shall tell you of heavenly things here is the obscurity of the heavenly matters contained in the Scriptures The Church of Rome confoundeth still these three Obscuritas rei nostri conceptus cum perspicuo modo tradendi the obscurity in the matter the dulnesse of our conception with the cleare manner of manifestation of these things in the Scriptures Reason 6 The Heavenly consent and agreement amongst the writers of the holy Scriptures sheweth them to be Divine The agreement of the writers of the holy Scriptures There were in the Church Patriarches Prophets and Apostles Amongst the Patriarches Abraham was the cheefe therefore the revelations made to the rest of the Patriarches as to Isaack and to Iacob had alwayes relation to the promises made to Abraham Amongst the Prophets Moyses was the cheefe and therefore all the Prophets grounded themselves upon Moyses And upon the revelations made to the Apostles the faith of the Church is grounded under the New Testament and yee shall never finde any contradictions amongst these holy writers there may seeme some contradiction amongst them but indeed there is none Epiphanius useth a good comparison to this purpose when a man saith he Simile is drawing water out of a deepe Well with two Vessels of a different metall the water at the first seemeth to be of a different colour but when he draweth up the Vessels nearer to him Although there seeme some contradiction in the Scriptures we should labour to reconcile them this diversity of colours vanisheth and the waters appeare both of one colour and when we taste them they have but one relish So saith he although at the first there seeme some contradiction in the holy Scriptures yet when we looke nearer and nearer unto them wee shall finde no contrarietie in them but a perfect harmonie When we see the Heathen history or Apocryphall Bookes contradicting the holy History wee should stand for the holy Scriptures against them but when wee see any appearance of contradiction in the Scriptures we should labour to reconcile them when Moyses saw an Aegyptian and an Israelite striving together he killed the Aegyptian and saved the Israelite Exod. 2.12 But when be saw two Israelits striving together he laboured to reconcile them saying yee are brethren why doe yee strive So when we see the Apocryphall Bookes or heathen History to contradict the Scriptures we should kill the Aegyptian and save the Israelite Example Iacob cursed Simeon and Levi for murthering of the Sichemites Gen. 49.7 but Iudith blessed Simeon for killing of them Iudith 9. So Ieremiah saith they shall returne in the third generation Ier. 27.7 but Baruch saith they shall returne in the seventh generation Baruch 6. here let us kill the Aegyptian but save the Israelite but when wee see any appearance of contradiction in the holy Scriptures wee should labour to reconcile them because they are brethren Reason 7 The heavenly order set downe in the Scriptures showeth them to be divine there is in the Scriptures Ordo naturae Ordo naturae conjugalis thori historiae dignitatis Ordo conjugalis thori Ordo historiae Ordo dignitatis all these the Scriptures marke and for sundry reasons setteth one before another and although there be not prius posterius in Scriptura as the Iewes say in respect of the particular occasions yet there is still prius posterius in respect of the generall end of the history First in setting downe the Patriarches it observeth ordinem naturae as they were borne as Ruben in the first place because he was the first borne and then Simeon thirdly Levi and fourthly Iudah c. Secondly The Tribes are set downe sometimes according to their nativity and sometimes as they were borne of free women there is Ordo conjugalis thori according to their birthes and so the free womens sonnes are set first in the Brestplace of Aaron Exod. 28. Thirdly there is Ordo dignitatis as Sem is placed before Iaphet for dignitie although he was younger So the Scripture else where observeth this order Matth. 13. He bringeth fourth new and old Ephe. 2. Apostles and Prophets So the Scripture observeth the order of history Matth. 1.1 The Booke of the generation of Iesus Christ the Sonne of David the Sonne of Abraham why is Abraham put last after David because the history is to begin at him So 1 Chro. 3.5 Salomon is placed last amongst his brethren because the history was to begin at him and if we shall marke the heavenly order that is amongst the Evangelists The heavenly order amongst the Evangelists â—hew the Scriptures to be Divine they will show us that the Scriptures are divine Marke beginneth at the workes of Christ Matthew ascendeth higher to the birth of Christ Luke goeth higher to the conception of Christ
are come 1 Cor. 10.11 And they are profitable for doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnesse 2 Tim. 3.16 They serve to rebuke all obstinate sinners and to comfort all penitent when they are applied rightly but when the Apostles applied their comforts and threatnings they had a more particular insight to whom they belonged than Preachers have now and knew particularly what Scriptures were directed to such and such men When Esay prophesied make fat the hearts of this people Esay 6.9 And when Paul applyed it to the Iewes in his time it was destinata applicatio but when a Preacher applieth it to his hearers now it is per accommodationem onely for hee cannot so particularly apply it to his hearers as Paul did to his Where there are two severall testimonies found in the old Testament and joyned together in the new Testament these two make but one literall sense as Esay 62.11 Say to the daughter of Sion behold thy Salvation cometh So Zach. 9.9 O Daughter of Sion O Daughter of Ierusalem behold thy King commeth riding upon an Asse and upon an Asse Coalt Matthew citing these places cap. 23. joyneth them both together and sheweth that both Esay and Zacharie meant of Christ comming in humilitie and not in glorie and these two make up but one literall sense This is a speciall note to know the literall sense of the Scripture A Note to know the literall sense of the Scripture when this phrase is added That the Scripture might be fulfilled As Ioh. 13.18 But that the Scripture may be fulfilled hee that eateth bread with me hath lift up his heele against me This place was spoken first by David of Achitophel Psal 41.10 But it was fulfilled literally in Iudas who betrayed Christ Example 2. Ioh. 17.12 Those that thou gavest mee I have kept and none of them is lost but the sonne of Perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled This place was first spoken of Doeg Psal 109.7 and this Scripture is fulfilled in Iudas therefore this is the literall sense of it the figure was in Doeg and the thing figured in Iudas Example 3. Ioh. 19.24 Let us not rent it but cast lots whose it shall be that the Scriptures might bee fulfilled which said They parted my rayment amongst them and for my Vesture they did cast Lots Sauls Courtiers rent Davids dignities and honours amongst them but the Scripture was fulfilled literally here by the Souldiers Example 4. Ioh. 19.36 For these things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled a bone of him shall not be broken The type was observed in the Paschall Lambe but the Scripture is fulfilled here literally in Christ Object But it may be said 1 Cor. 10.6.11 All these things happened to them in figures then they signified some other thing to us than to them They were types to us that is examples Answ they were not types properly taken for that is properly called a type which the Spirit of God specially proposeth to signifie some future thing as a bone of the Paschall Lambe should not bee broken was instituted to signifie some future thing that a bone of Christ should not be broken here is properly a type but an example is not a representation of any thing to come but goodnesse or splendor in the men which maketh them to bee followed as the mildnesse of Moses the patience of Iob These were not types properly but examples So these things which befell the Iewes in the wildernesse for their murmuring and committing whoredome are set downe for examples to the Corinthians and posteritie to come they were ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they serve to admonish and instruct us that we fall not into the like sinnes 2 Tim. 3.16 It may be alleaged that there are more literall senses in one Scripture then one Example Object Caiaphas prophesied that one should die for the people Ioh. 11.49 In Christs meaning they had one sense and in Caiaphas meaning they had another sense This Prophesie must not be considered as one Ans but as two the Spirit of God had one meaning and Caiaphas had another but the Scriptures which were inspired by the holy Spirit had but one sense Where the holy Ghost maketh a mysticall application of the old Testament to the new that is Destinata applicatio And arguments taken from thence hold firmely Example Exod. 16.18 He that gathered much had nothing over and he that gathered lesse had no lake the Apostle 2 Cor. 8.15 applyeth this morally to all the faithfull and reduceth things to a certaine equalitie that those who are rich in temporarie things should bestow their almes upon the poorer sort the poore being richer in Spirituall things might communicat to the richer their prayers and Spirituall helpes When we apply the testimonies of the old Testament and borrow comparisons from them it is not destinata applicatio sed per accommodationem Conclusion The conclusion of this is There is but one literall sense and meaning of every scripture So should men have but one sense and meaning in their minds and not a dowble meaning as the equivocating Iesuites have August de trin lib. 1. cap. 3. Quisquis haec legit vbi pariter certus est pergat mecum vbi pariter haesitat quarat mecum ubi errorem suum cognoscit redeat ad me ubi meum revocet me FINIS Additions Pag. 22. line 6. The Sciences which are speculative prepare a way to these which are practick although they be not directly deduced from them and therefore some have called them parents to them Pag. 28. l. 16. The attributes of God are called the wayes of God Hascuini Pag. 41. To eat blood while the life is in it is forbidden by a morall precept but to eate cold blood was that which was forbidden by the ceremoniall precept Pag. 46. l. 16. And he measured the wall thereof according to the measure of a man that is of an Angell Reuel 21.17 Because he appeared in the likenesse of a man Pag. 48. 18. R. Dauid Kimchi in Psal 60. Pag. 58. 15. Although Esdras who wrote the booke of Nehemiah could not be living at that time when Iaddus met Alexander yet some of the masters of the great Synagogue have beene alive then who had the gift of prophesie and insert the Genealogie of the Priests here untill the Macedonian Empire Pag. 58. l. 18. It may seeme that the gift of Prophesie ceased long before the Macedonian Empire Psal 74.9 Object We see not our signes there is no more any Prophet neither is there any amongst us that knoweth how long We must distinguish betwixt ceasing of Prophesie Ans and intermission of Prophesie Prophesie was intermitted in the time of the Captivitie which this Psalme speaketh of but it ceased not it was intermitted for a time as Amos threatned Amos 8.11 pag. 60. 23. This was a great miracle the man being old and having the disease thirtie eight yeares The Angell came downe at certaine times 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So Mat. 27.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at the feast the governour was wont to release to them a prisoner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken here distributivè they used to let a prisoner goe at their three great feasts so the Angell came downe here as it seemeth at the Pentecost and at their other great feasts when the people were gathered at Ierusalem conferre Ioh. 4.36 with 5.1 And marke here a great difference betwixt the comming downe of the Angell into the poole and the comming downe of the holy Ghost in tongues of fire at the Pentecost the Angell healed but one but then many were cured of all diseases pag. 81. l. 2. The agreement of the holy writers Moses Elias and Christ were together in the mount Mat. 17.3 So Rev. 15.3 They sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lambe .. pag. 84. 23. 1 Macch. 3.48 And laid open the booke of the Law wherein the heathen had sought to paint the likenesse of their Images The heathen sought if they could get any warrant for their images out of the Scriptures to paint their Images by it pag. 110. l. 22. The place in the hebrew text which seemeth to bee corrupted is Psal 22.18 When they read Caari for Caaru 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In calce bibliorum Rabbinorum Caari sicut leo for Caaru foderunt but R. Iacob Ben Chaijm sheweth that this reading is but late for there was no such difference betwixt the orientall and occidentall Iewes in their reading neither was this place one of the places in which they differed pag. 137. 23. Words that are proper cannot bee translated as appellatives nor appellatives as proper Mat. 16.18 Thou art Peter and upon this rocke c. It cannot bee translated thou art a rocke and upon this Peter c. pag. 119. l. 30. Esdras wrote none of the bookes over againe which were written before the captivitie but onely set them in order Errours escaped Pag. 6. line 17. for in visible read in invisible Pag. 23 line 9. for Zozomen r. Sozomen Pag. 24. l. 8. for Adynus r. Didymus P. 31. l. 4. for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 34. l. 8. and l. 10. put away lurking in the veines of it p. 61. 2. Essentially for the written word r. Essentially for the word p. 62. 7. for the certaintie of it to Moses r. the certaintie of Moses p. 66. l. 16. for Flavitius r. Flavitias p. 77. l. 33. for this time was r. this time before the flood was p. 83. l. 8. for Cylo-Lyria r. Coelo-Syria p. 88. l. 20. for willet r. villalpand p. 92. l. 19. put out Dialects