swadling-clothes in which Christ was wrapped Our reason is of too low a stature and therefore as Zacheus did upon the Sycamore we must climbe the tree of life the Scripture if we would get a sight of Jesus Naturall reason may discover the back-parts of God in the creature but if she pretends or presumes to discover the Sun of righteousness she betraies her weakness and degeneracie it is one end of Scripture-revelation to supply the shortness and defect of naturall reason Nay the glorious Angels the most quick-sighted of the whole creation could not have discovered these Gospel-mysteries Which things saith the Apostle the Angels desire to look into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to stoop to peep to prie into as things vailed and hidden 1 Pet. 1. 12. alluding to the Cherubims which were made with their eyes looking down towards the mercie-seat the word signifies a diligent sollicitous and through search Tanta Evangelii mysterii salutis majestas est atque jucunditas saith Glassius either ravished with the pleasantness or confounded and blinded with the Majestie of these mysteries They desire to prie into them and so they might have done and been never the wiser had not God revealed them by Scripture What the Apostle speaks of that one mysterie of Ephes 3. 10. incorporating Jew and Gentile into one bodie by Christ we may say of these Gospel-mysteries that God revealed to the intent that unto principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdome of God without which revelation the Angels had been strangers to these mysteries to this very day 2. The excellencie of the revelation it self or manner of revealing them which appears upon a three-fold account 1. The fulness and sufficiencie of it both as to doctrine and practice faith and maners both to make a man of God wise unto 2 Tim. 3. 15 17. salvation and perfect to every good work 1. Scripture contains a full revelation of all foundations of faith or things necessarie to be believed to salvation either expresly or by convincing evident and undeniable consequence and needs not to be eeked out with unwritten traditions or pretended enthusiasmes and revelations Tradition which brings down and conveys Scripture-truths through the successive ages of the Church to us we cannot without ingratitude but acknowledge as an eminent instance and testimonie of Gods providence and none of the least arguments for the authoritie and Divinitie of Scripture and in this sence the Church is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the pillar holds forth the Kings proclamation but contributes no authoritie to it And in this sence too S. Augustin's non credidissem Scripturae nisi Ecclesiae autoritas commoveret may go for good and currant Divinitie we could not have believed the Scripture because we could not have had it if providence had not handed it to us by the Church So revelation of Scripture-mysteries by the Spirit of God we acknowledge as the accomplishment of a great Gospel-promise of the Spirit leading us into all truth which therefore Joh. 16. 13. the Apostle Paul praies for for the Ephesians that God would give unto them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Spirit of revelation the knowledge Ephes 1. 17. of Christ but traditions or revelations as additionall or supplementall to Scripture we reject as detracting from the wisdome of God and the perfection of revealed truth Non est scriptum timeat Tertul. Revel 22. 18 vae illud adjicientibus to wit that wo if any shall adde unto these words God shall adde unto him the plagues which are written in this book and the Apostle passeth an Anathema upon whoever should though an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel then he had Gal. 1. 6. preached Notanter dicit praeter non contra not onely what is against but what is more then Scripture-revelation is to be rejected there is enough revealed to bring us unto salvation and what would you have more These things are written saith S. John that ye Joh. 20. 31. might believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his name and Search the Scriptures for in them ye Joh. 5. 39. think to have eternall life and our Saviour doth not blame them for thinking so And if Scripture be not sufficient we may say as the disciples in another case ad quid perditio haec to what purpose Matth. 26. 8. was it written To the law and to the testimonie saith Isaiah Esay 8. 20. When the rich glutton in hell desired one should be sent from the dead to his brethren Abraham sends them to Moses and the Prophets let them hear them let them but believe what is in Moses and Luke 16. 29. the Prophets and they need not fear coming into this place of torment 2. Scripture is a full and perfect rule of holiness able to make the man of God throughly furnished to every good work Therefore 2 Tim. 3. 17. our Saviour when the Lawyer came and tempted him with that question What shall I do to inherit eternall life bids him have Luke 10. 25 26. recourse to the Scriptures What is written in the law how readest thou This is the onely perfect and unerring rule of true righteousness Those three words of the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Titus 2. 11 12. speak the whole dutie of a Christian in all his capacities and relations to God himself and his neighbour and this the Gospel teacheth and engageth us to do So perfect a rule it is that the most specious observances the most glorious performances the most exact worship is no way acceptable unto God if not commanded in and directed by the Word They may have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they may have a shew of wisdome in Will-worship Coloss 2. 23. to the pleasing of men not to the honour of God God gave Moses a pattern for the making of the Tabernacle and David for the Exod. 25. 9. Temple and all things were to be ordered and regulated according Heb. 8. 5. to this pattern God hath set us a perfect rule of worship in his word and no service pleaseth him but what is according to this rule as our Saviour told the woman of Samaria concerning the Samaritan worship at mount Garazim and Jewish worship at Jerusalem that the Samaritanes worshipped they knew not what the Jews knew what they worshipped for salvation was of the Jews Why so because the Jews had Gods speciall direction and appointment of Gods word for their service which the Samaritanes had not We acknowledge the Churches power to determine decent observances and constitutions for publick order in the service of God The Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will sufficiently warrant this 1 Cor. 14. 40. The Church is a cypher stands for nothing if it hath not power here and he who wilfully sleights these will be found guiltie of
contempt and disorder but the imposition of traditional observances in so needless a number as may seem to reduce us under the Jewish yoke which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear Acts 15. 10. or as equally obligatorie to conscience as divine commands or as the immediate worship of God or as duties essentially necessarie in order to salvation we justly abhor as the Tyrannie of Rome as the infringement of Christian libertie as a violation and voiding the commandment of God as our Saviour told the Pharisees that they made the commandment of God of none effect that is sleighted Mat. 15. 6. disregarded by their traditions All our holiness all our worship must be regulated by Gods will not our own Non ex arbitrio Deo serviendum sed ex imperio not according to our own fancie but Gods command and prescription It may seem somewhat a strange expression at first Israel hath forgotten his maker and builded Temples Hosea 8. 14. one would rather think this was a reverencing of God this is the account of it God had appointed one Temple and they multiply and build many contrarie to Gods direction and institution I say of all humane invented will-worship of God as Tertullian of the Heathen-worship Ex religione superstitio compingitur eo irreligiosior quantò Ethnicus paratior Men in this are no better then laboriously superstitious taking pains to be irreligious And the judicious Hooker determines that in Gods service to do that which we are not is a greater fault then not to do that which we are commanded Amongst other reasons he gives this to our purpose in that we seem to charge the law of God with hardness onely in that with foolishness and insufficiencie which God gave us as a perfect rule of his worship and service I shall conclude this point with that of S. Paul As many as walk according to this rule peace shall be Gal. 6. 16. on them and mercie and upon the Israel of God 2. The perspicuitie and plainness of this revelation It is the design and plot of Rome to fasten an imputation of obscuritie upon the written Word that hereby she may with more plausible shew exalt Peters pretended successour into the infallible chair as an unerring interpreter and also discourage and dishearten the people from reading them As the spies reported the land of Canaan to be impregnable and so disheartned the Israelites Hence the Papists crie out of Scripture that it is unintelligible and obscure to vulgar and common capacities and thus they defame and raise a false report of the written Word and make the difficultie of it a pretence for their neglect and cloak for their ignorance The Scripture was made to be a Christians guide and rule of life as I said before a blinde guide a dark and obscure rule is a contradiction Thy word is a light to my feet and a lanthorn to my Ps 119. 105. paths saith David and the Apostle Peter bids us look to the Scripture as a light which shineth in a dark place the same Apostle 2 Pet. 1. 19. indeed observed in S. Pauls Epistles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some things hard to 2 Pet. 3. 16. be understood this relates to the sublimitie and mysteriousness of things revealed not to the obscuritie of the revelation There is a depth of mysterie in Scripture cloathed with a plain and familiar expression Thy testimonies are wonderfull saith David There is the mysterie of Scripture yet follows The entrance Psal 119. 129. Ibid. v. â—30 of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple Here are mysteries to exercise the acutest wits depths for the profoundest judgements to fathom and yet so plain and obvious that the meanest and plainest using the means as prayer diligent search and the rest may profit by Here is meat for strong and grown Christians and here is milk for babes too In a word God hath so intermingled and interwoven Scripture-Revelations with some difficulties some facilities that plainness breeds not contempt nor difficultie neglect and disheartnings that by the plainness of them he might teach us knowledge and by the difficulties learn us humilitie 3. The certaintie and infallibilitie of Scripture-Revelation as being written by the guidance and dictate of an infallible Spirit All Scripture is given by divine inspiration no Scripture is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Tim. 3. 16. 2 Pet. 1. 20. of private interpretation so our translation or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of any private spirit which reading I finde pleaseth Beza best as agreeing with what is said in the next verse that the pen-men of Scripture were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For the prophecie came not of old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake Ibid. vers 21. as they were moved by the holy Ghost and therefore Scripture is a certain and infallible rule of faith and holiness This was one end of Scripture That we might have an infallible rule of life and judge of saving truth which had it been brought unto us onely by the acry conveyance of Tradition uncertain revelation might soon have been either forgotten or corrupted If we leave the Scripture once we are left at miserable uncertainties and lie open to all deceits and delusions If we rest upon Enthusiasticall revelations Satan can transform himself into an Angel of light and delude us our faith and obedience will 2 Cor. 11. 13 be alwaies at uncertainties The revelations of those who pretend to them be alwaies various sometimes contrarie and commonly pretended to to serve new interests and designs The Spirit is every mans pretence and therefore we must have some way to examine and judge of the truth or falseness and error of every mans spirit and this can be no other way but by the infallible Canon of the Scripture We never finde S. Paul alleadging any of those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those revelations which he had when he was caught up into the third heaven but he hath recourse to the Scripture for 2 Cor. 12. 4. the vindication of the Doctrine he delivered as you may see in his Apologie before Agrippa I continue saith he to this day saying Acts 26. 22. no other things then what Moses and the Prophets did say should come And the Apostle Peter speaking of the voice from heaven though 2 Pet. 1. 18 19. that was a ture one yet adds we have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a surer word of prophesie to wit the Scriptures the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 20. whereunto ye do well that ye take heed A voice from heaven may sooner deceive us then the written Word of God if we rest upon Traditions these are oft erronious as Rome can witness at best fallible and uncertain A man can scarce ever know when he hath believed and practised rightly or enough Traditions being variable and
convince me of the truth of it or else I may with the same easiness say It is from Satan and this conviction can be made no otherwise but by Scripture which is the most infallible ground of truth What the Pharisees said of Christ we may truly say of our late pretenders to Enthusiasmes and Revelations We know not whence he is John 9. 29. They may be from Rome as it is more then probable some of them are or whence soever they come certainly not from God if they disown the voice of God in the Scriptures Wherefore my counsel to you shall be that of S. Paul to the Thessalonians 2 Thessal 2. 2. Be not soon shaken in minde nor be troubled and in 2 Tim. 1. 18. Hold fast the form of sound words And this will be usefull thus First Then make your last appeal to Scriptures in matters of faith The Papists appeal to uncertain traditions the Enthusiast to deluding Revelation let us to the Scriptures for this is both the precept of God and the constant practise of the Scriptures To the Law and to the Testimonie Esay 8. 20. So our Blessed Saviour always appeals to the Scriptures as in the business of the Resurrection Matth. 22. 29. And to prove himself the Messiah he appeals to Moses and the Prophets Luke 24. 26 27. Thus the Apostles though acted by the same infallible Spirit yet always appealed to Moses and the Prophets so did S. Peter Acts 2. 25 31. and from thence did Apollos confute the Jews Acts 18. 29. and so Paul to prove the resurrection of Christ in Acts 13. 23. So then my brethren appeal not to the judgement and testimony of man what he saith as S. Cyprian was much delighted with Tertullian that he was wont to say Da magistrum nor to the dictates of dark reason but to the infallible Testimonie of the Scriptures and attend to Gods voice in them Secondly See here the ingenuous boldness and confidence of truth that dares appeal to Scripture Christ was confident of his cause and therefore declines not the test of Scriptures Search them saith he as if he had said If they do not testifie of me then do not acknowledge me It argues a timorous diffidence and consciousness of men when they like not to be tried by the word of God as in the Papist who appeals from the Scripture to traditions and it speaks the errours of those Revelations which will not subscribe to be tried here you may safely reject that doctrine as erroneous which will not be weighed in the ballance of the Scriptures or if it be weighed there proves light and wanting Tertullian of old notes that Hereticks were lucifugae Scripturarum As blear eyes decline looking upon the sun so corrupt doctrines the light of the Scriptures Thirdly Embrace and entertain nothing as saving truth which will not bear the test of Scripture It is one use of Scripture to be profitable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Tim. 3. 16. to confute and silence heresie and errour and what-ever the Scripture reproves is such Be not imposed upon by the proud imperious dictates of men nor deluded by the pretences and delusions of Satan and his instruments but let this be your rule to try by Fourthly In all your doubts consult the Scriptures So did David in Psal 119. 24. He made the Testimonies of God his delight and his counsellours to enform and resolve him and that 1. In doubts of the head for reformation this is one excellency of the Scriptures to make wise the simple as in Psal 19. 7. Scripture sayes the Apostle 2 Tim. 3. 16. is profitable to inform the judgement and by this did David become wiser then his teachers 2. In doubts of the heart for consolation That was one end of Gospel-revelation that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope Rom. 15. 4. And so David found the statutes of God to be the rejoycing of his heart Psal 19. 8. In inward doubts of conscience have recourse to the Scriptures there thou mayst finde those cordial promises which will put joy and gladness into thy heart In thy duty consult the Scripture which will direct thee In thy troubles to comfort thee In thy fears to support thee In all thy doubts to comfort and resolve thee So much for the words considered Relatively Secondly Absolutely in themselves And so they will fall under a double consideration too First As taken by way of Concession Indicatively and so Beza Camero Paraeus and others understand them and so also they speak I. Our Saviours commendation of these Jews as diligent searchers into Scripture Or else II. His discommendation of them and reproof and that 1. either of their ignorance that notwithstanding they did search into Scripture yet they attained not to the knowledge of him as the true Messiah that though they had frequently Bibles in their hands yet they had not the word of God dwelling in their hearts Or 2. of their malice that notwithstanding they searched the Scriptures which did so evidently testifie of Christ yet they maliciously rejected him and would not come unto him that they might have life as in vers 40. Secondly As taken by way of exhortation Imperatively speaking a command to all to search the Scriptures And I shall take it in this second acception it being the drift of a great part of this chapter to exhort these Jewes to hear the word of Christ and Paraus himself acknowledges that uterque sensus est pius commodus And thus taken there are three things considerable in the words First The nature of the duty expressed in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Secondly The universality of the dutie and that is double I. Of the Persons engaged in it expressed indefinitely II. Of the Object 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is all Scripture Thirdly The motive and arguments of the duty and they are two I. The benefit of Scripture-search Ye think ye have eternal life in them II. The object of Scripture-discoverie that is Christ they testifie of me All which particulars may be reduced to this one general Observation That Scripture-search is a duty every Christian ought to be engaged in Or thus It is the duty of every Christian to search the Scriptures In the handling of which observation this method shall be observed First To shew the importance of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Secondly What searchers of Scripture Christ here points at Thirdly The universality of the duty Fourthly The grounds of this search Fifthly The Application First To shew the importance of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word signifies such a search as diggers in mines make for gold and silver in the earth and implies five things I. A valuation and esteem of the Scriptures He that digs in a mine for gold evidences his valuation of it otherwise he would never dig for it so searching of Scripture speaks an high estimate and prizing of Scripture Such
the seeming plausible pretences of reason should contradict it As the mysterie of the Trinity Incarnation Resurrection and the like are to reason seeming contradictions yet to be believed upon the account of Scripture testimony in which the ultimate resolution of our faith ought to be made not into the fallible evidences of reason or the erring dictates of men If you finde a scriptum est Let God be true though all men be liars Rom. 3. 4. 2. Because of that consent and harmony that is in Scripture testimony no jarring or contradiction in it but what the Prophets foretold the Evangelists speak of is fulfilled In humane writings how frequently may we observe one contradicting another and this reason clashing with that Nay the same authour through ignorance or forgetfulness inconsistent to himself but in Scripture there is a full and perfect consent as all proceeding from the dictate of the same infallible spirit as in 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God c. and 2 Pet. 1. 21. For the prophesie came not in old times by the will of man but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost And though there may seem sometimes to be some contradictions and inconsistences yet these arise not from the Scripture it self but from our shortness weakness or ignorance and the like therefore we say what our Saviour saith at vers 46. of this chapter Had ye believed Moses ye would have believed me and as Paul speaks in his Apologie for himself Act. 26. 22. Saying none other things then those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come A sweet consent there is between Christ Moses and Paul 3. Because Scripture was given to this very end to be a certain and infallible ground of truth for though God during the infancy of the Church while it was inclosed in some few families revealed himself by visions and communicated his will from hand to hand by tradition from Adam to Moses and by extraordinary revelation yet when the Church increased and the people grew more corrupt and inclining to the heathen Idolatry God gave the law by Moses and so successively by the Prophets and Apostles by whom it pleased God to reveal his minde and will to all in writing both that it might be the better conveyed unto posterity as we finde it in Psal 102. 18. This shall be written for the generation to come and the more easily secured from corruption Had God still conveyed it unto us by the way of tradition either through the unfaithfulness of mans memory or his being subject to errour or affectation of novelty it had been laid open to a multitude of corruptions which if as experience shewes us scarce prevented by the penning of it how much less if it never had been written And also that the Church might have an exact standard of faith a perfect rule and an infallible judge of truth and therefore Ephes 2. 20. The Church is said to be built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone Faith builds surer here then upon the testimony of the Prophets and Apostles And this S. Luke tells us expresly was his reason of writing the Gospel Luke 1. 3 4. That thou mightest know the certainty of those things c. And thus more certain then Humane testimony II. More certain then miracles for though it pleased God at first to confirm the truth of the Gospel by miracles to the conviction of the Adversaries as Nicodemus speaks to our Saviour in John 3. 2. Yet now God having compleated the Canon of Scripture and warned us not to receive any other doctrine though an Angel from Heaven should bring it Galat. 1. 8. and pronounced a wo upon all those who should add or detract from it Revelat. 22. 18. if any should bring any doctrine contrary to Scripture with pretence of confirming it by wonders and miracles we ought to reject it as erroneous and Antichristian and so we see the Apostle makes this one of the badges of Antichrist 2 Thessal 2. 9. III. More certain then Revelations There is a place that I have oft thought of it is in 2 Pet. 1. 18. A true voice of God from heaven of his son Christ yet the Apostle tells us that we may more infalliblely finde Christ in in the word of Prophesie what that is he tells us ver 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then by extraordinary revelations Revelations we acknowledge viz. of the spirit revealing and clearing up Gospel-truth and this is that the Apostle pray'd for in behalf of the Ephesians in Ephes 1. 16 17 18. I cease not to give thanks for you making mention of you in my prayers that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdome and revelation in the knowledge of him c. and thus Christ revealed the Scriptures to the disciples Luke 24. 45 46. that they might understand them but not that under that pretence of Revelation they should reject and lay them aside It is fond and ungodly to pretend to Revelations besides or contrary to the Scripture S Paul would have an Angel from heaven if he brings it to be accursed Galat. 1. 8. and what are they then who receive them Again he tells the Church of Ephesus that he had declared unto them the whole councel of God Acts 20. 27. and yet at Acts 26. 22. he professes that he said nothing but what Moses and the Prophets had said should come yet this S. Paul was rapt up into the third heaven and there heard 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unspeakable words in 2 Cor. 12. 4. There can be no security for our faith from Revelations unless they be such as bring evidences and assurances that they are from God for Satan can transform himself into an angel of light 2 Cor. 11. 14. Now how shall we distinguish Satans delusions from Revelations but by the Testimony of the Scriptures by which we are commanded to try the Spirits 1 John 4. 1. For these Revelations and Enthusiasmes men pretend unto are oft as contrary and inconsistent to themselves as they are all contrary to the truth and therefore must be tryed by some infallible rule otherwise we shall constantly lie exposed to delusion unsetled in judgement and irresolved as to practise as not knowing what the next revelation may be perhaps quite contrary to the former Wherefore believe it they who will not rest upon the Scripture as the foundation of faith can rest no where When the Rich man in the Gospel would have had one extraordinary to have been sent from the dead to his brethren observe what answer Abraham gives him Luke 16. 29 30 31. They have Moses and the Prophets and if they hear not them neither will they hear though one come from the dead If one comes with Revelation and tells me It comes from God he must
new Testament to which both Christ and the Apostles oft send Christians and blame them for their ignorance in them Luke 24. 25. Then he said unto them O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken c. Therefore it was the constant practise of Christ and his Apostles to assert their authoritie and confirm their doctrines by the old Testament as in the Text here and he grounds these Jews unbelief upon their not believing Moses verse 46 47 For had ye believed Moses ye would have believed me for he wrote of me But if ye believe not his writings how shall ye believe my words Where Christ confirms his doctrine by Moses who wrote of him This was the Apologie S. Paul made for himself and his doctrine in Acts 26. 22. So our Saviour proves the doctrine of the resurrection by Moses Matth. 22. 31. and the doctrine of his sufferings and resurrection Luke 24. 44 45. And the truth is much of Gospel-doctrine can neither be understood nor proved without the old Testament as that of the Israelites in 1 Cor. 10. 1 2 3 4. whence should Christians understand that but out of the historie of Moses of the Manna the cloud the sea and the rock and especially the epistle to the Hebrews without an exact knowledge of the legal sacrifices priesthood and the like and the lives of the Patriachs mentioned Heb. 11. VI. And lastly To convince the Jews of the truth of Christ our Messiah and satisfie Christians in their temptations concerning it as the fulfilling of the Prophesies the realizing of the Types concerning Christ This Apollos found to be the most convincing way to confute the Jews Acts 18. 28. And there is no other possible way to effect this for the New Testament they reject Reason is no competent judge and cannot fathom the depths and mysteries concerning Christ nor judge of the true Messiah nor can you convince them by the miracles of Christ for they deny them or else impute them to Beelzebub If we would convince them then we must build upon some Principles which they grant otherwise they deny the whole therefore the only way to convince them is to shew the conformitie and agreement of all Christs doings and sufferings to what the Prophets of old foretold of the true Messiah Which course our Saviour himself took to prove himself the true Messiah Luke 24. 44. and therefore the search of the old Testament is much conducible to the strengthning of our faith in Christ against the Jews For when we consider the exact Prophesies of the time of Christs coming Gen. 49. 10. and while the temple stood Hag. 2. 7. the place of his birth by Micah chap. 5. verse 2. born of a virgin Isai 7. 14. the miracles to be wrought by him Isai 35. 5 6. his passion and sufferings Isai 53. these are sufficient when we finde them so punctually fulfilled in Christ to strengthen our faith in him and to convince the Jews of their desperate unbelief therefore those who deny Christians the use of the old Testament rob them of their weapons whereby they should contend for the faith and fight against the enemies of Christ the Jews Fourthly The grounds of this search And these I shall reduce to these four heads I. The Scripture-fulness and sufficiencie and this is clear in the words of the Text In them you may have the knowledge of Christ and eternal life Where we may consider 1. It is a full and perfect foundation of faith as containing all things necessarie to be believed either expresly or by convincing and undeniable consequence So full and perfect it is that it needeth not to be eeked out with unwritten traditions or pretended enthusiasmes and revelations That tradition which brings down and conveys Scripture-truth to us through the successive ages of the Church we cannot cast out but acknowledge as an eminent instance and testimony of Gods Providence and in this sense the Church is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 3. 15. the pillar and ground of truth In sensu forensi c. Not that it contributes authority to them And in this sence S. Augustines Non credidissem may go for good and currant Divinitie because we could not have had them else So for revelation we acknowledge a spiritual revelation to understand which the Apostle prays for Ephes 1. 17. but any thing additional to Scripture-truth we reject as detracting from the wisdome of God and his revealed truth Observe we what the Apostle saith Gal. 1. 18. If we or an angel from heaven preach any other doctrine He does not say Contra against but praeter beside saies Paraeus Here is enough to bring you to salvation else S. John was out who tells us These things are written that you might believe and believing might have life John 20. 31. and if not sufficient we may say as the disciples Matth. 26. 8. To what purpose all this but when God himself sends us To the Law and to the Testimony Isai 8. 20. and Abraham sends the rich man's brethren to Moses and the Prophets Luke 16. 29. it intimates that here is enough which if known and practised is able to keep them out of hell 2. A full and perfect rule of righteousness No duty which can concern any man in any relations either to God or man but you may have full direction for it in the Scripture Those three words of the Apostle speak the whole duty of a Christian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 soberly righteously and godly Tit. 2. 11 12. When the Lawyer came to tempt our Saviour with that question What shall I do to inherit eternal life our Saviour sends him to the Scripture What is written in the law How readest thou Observe we what Wisdome saith Prov. 1. 9. My son if thou wilt receive my words and hide my commandments with thee shalt thou understand righteousness and judgement and equitie yea every good path Art thou a Magistrate Scripture tells thee how thou must rule in 2 Sam. 23. 3. He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God Art thou a Father Scripture directs thee in that relation to thy children To bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Ephes 6. 4. Art thou a childe Scripture tells thee how to carrie thy self in that relation Ephes 6. 1 2. Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right c. Art thou a servent Scripture tells thee how to behave thy self in that condition Ephes 6. 5 6. Servants be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh c. Art thou a Master of a family Scripture shews thee how to behave thy self in that relation Ephes 6. 9. And ye Masters do ye the same things unto them forbearing threatning c. In a word here is direction for every Christian in every condition and relation in which the Scripture is able