Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n
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A01637
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The summe of Christian doctrine written originally in Latine by John Gerhard ... and translated by Ralph Winterton ...; Aphorismi succinct et selecti. English
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Gerhard, Johann, 1582-1637.; Winterton, Ralph, 1600-1636.
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1640
(1640)
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STC 11769.5; ESTC S4062
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111,557
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338
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two wayes either for that which of it self alone is All-sufficient excluding all want or else for that which is but In part profitable and not sufficient of it self without the help of something else It is manifest that the Apostle here speaketh of that which is profitable taken in the first sense 22 By those things which are written we may be taught to beleeve on Christ John 20.31 and be furnished unto all good works 2. Tim. 3.17 And the brethren of the rich glutton by hearing Moses and the Prophets in the Scriptures might have escaped the torments of Hell Luke 16.29 23 Whereupon it follows without forcing that the perfection of the Holy Scripture is such as we assigne unto it For whosoever beleeveth on Christ and is furnished unto all good works and made partaker of eternall life what can he desire more 24 This also is an Argument worthie our consideration That the Apostle S. Paul declared unto the Church of Ephesus all the counsel of God to wit concerning our salvation Acts 20.27 Again the same Apostle said none other things then those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come Acts 26.22 Therefore in Moses and the Prophets is contained all the counsel of God concerning our salvation 25 Now if the Scripture be perfect as indeed it is Away then with Traditions which some would thrust upon us to be received with like affection and to be beleeved with like authoritie as the Scripture 26 For they are full of doubts and sometimes also contradictions being very apt to be corrupted and many wayes subject unto errour 27 The Ecclesiasticall Historie witnesseth that in the time of the Primitive Church under the name of Apostolicall Traditions many falsities were broched and that men of great note have been deceived in former time by the opinion of Traditions 28 Furthermore seeing that the Holy Scripture was by God given unto men to this end to instruct them unto salvation from hence we conclude that The Scripture is perspicuous 29 What Could not God which made both mind and tongue speak plainly and perspicuously Yea certainly he used great care and providence that all men might understand vvhat he spake unto all men Lactant. lib. 6. Div. Institut cap. 21. 30 Ought not that which is to instruct the rude and ignorant and make them wise and learned ought not that I say be perspicuous 31 It is perspicuity which in fit to teach and instruct not obscurity or perplexitie 32 Yet when we say that the Holy Scripture is perspicuous we would not have it so understood as if we meant that whatsoever is contained any where in Scripture were so easie and plain that any man at the first sight may understand it 33 But this is our meaning that The perspicuity of Scripture is such that from thence a man may learn sure and infallible grounds and principles of religion the knowledge whereof is necessary unto every man toward the attainment of everlasting salvation 34 The books of the Prophets and Apostles are the integrall parts of Holy Scripture And that both those are perspicuous it is proved by good testimonies If the parts of Scripture then be perspicuous how can the whole be said to be obscure 35 The Propheticall word in the Old Testament is compared unto a Lamp Light or Lantern Psalme 119.105 And as much is said of the Apostolicall word 2. Pet. 1.19 And again If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost 2. Cor. 4.3 Whereby it appeareth that if the Scripture be obscure and hid it is so onely by accident But of it self and by its own nature it is perspicuous 36 Seeing therefore it is demonstrated that the Scripture is perfect and perspicuous It follows that It is and ought to be the certain infallible and onely rule and judge of all controversies that are moved about points of Christian religion 37 What David saith concerning the Apostles Psal 19.4 Their line or their rule or direction is gone out through all the earth the same Paul applies to the doctrine of the Apostles Rom. 10.18 Their sound went into all the earth But the Apostles wrote and taught the same things 38 Christ also and his Apostles for determining controversies of faith appealed unto no other Judge went by no other Rule but the Holy Scriptures and they send us also to search the Scriptures And what sheep will not follow Christ his Shepherd and Leader and the Apostles his followers 39 The word of Christ contained in the Holy Scriptures Propheticall and Apostolicall shall judge all men in the last day John 12.48 Rom. 2.16 Rev. 20.12 What hinders then but that it may be unto us in this life a Perfect Rule 40 For if there be any part of celestiall doctrine not contained within the Canonicall books How shall the judgement which shall be passed hereafter according unto them be entire 41 Furthermore seeing that it is not onely permitted but also commanded to all Christians to trie the Spirits 1. John 4.1 to beware of false prophets Matth. 7.15 to prove all things 1. Thess 5.21 and thus it lies upon them to discern between divine truth and humane dreams certainly the rule of truth that is the Holy Scripture belongeth unto all men And therefore The common people ought not to be debarred the reading of the Scripture 42 What the Spirit of God approveth and commendeth let not any man say It is forbidden But the Bereans are commended for this that they examined Pauls sermon by the Rule of the Scriptures Acts 17 1â— The elect strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia 1. Pet. 1.1 are commended for attending unto the word of prophesie as unto a light 2. Pet. 1.19 And Coloss 3.16 the diligent study in the Scripture is commended to all Christians 43 And seeing that the common people are altogether ignorant of the Hebrew and Greek tongue wherein the books of the Old and Nevv Testament were written and yet are bound to reade the Scriptures Therefore their pains is to be commended who have translated the Holy Scriptures into the vulgar tongues 44 But yet the Hebrew text onely in the Old Testament and the Greek in the New Testament is Authenticall because they were both written in those tongues 45 Whatsoever floweth not from those fountains hitherto hath not cannot neither must it be accounted Canonicall seeing that it is not inspired by God 46 Therefore that vulgar interpretation which may sooner be said then proved to be Saint Jeromes is without cause exalted to that high throne of authenticall authoritie 47 For there are in it many faults both Graphicall Ellipticall Chronographicall and Dogmaticall faults in writing in leaving out many things in Chronographie and in points of doctrine 48 They have a corrupt judgement that say that the Hebrew text is corrupted 49 Neither do they love pure truth who say that the fountains do not flow pure 50 The end and use of Holy Scripture is
of Christ is consiâ—ered either in this life or in the other 89 In this life is the Kingdome of Power and Grace That is his generall â—ule over all things but This comâ—rehendeth the speciall works of his â—race in the Church 90 In the other life shall be the Kingdome of glory into which all the â—lect being raised out of the dust shall â—e received Of which Kingdome Christ make us partakers who is our King â—lessed for ever CHAP. V. Wherein are contained Theologicall Aphorismes concerning the Creation and Angels 1 GOD who by Naturâ— is invisible that hâ— might be made knowâ— by things Visible wrought a work which by the visibilitie thereof mighâ— manifest him whose work it is Ambrâ— in cap. 1. Rom. 2 This work of God wrought iâ— time is and is also called Creation 3 Which is nothing else but thâ— production of the whole Universe out of nothing in six distinct dayes being wrought by God through the Sonne iâ— the Holy Ghost for the glory of God and salvation of men 4 The Authour then of Creation iâ— God One in Essence Three in Persons 5 Moreover that Creation of all things is the immediate work of God alone 6 The Father created all things by the Word which as the Evangelist teacheth us is to be understood of the Hypostaticall and consubstantiall Word of God Joh. 1.1 7 The Spirit of God moved upon the â—ace of the waters Gen. 1.2 That as â—he Psalmist sheweth is to be underâ—tood of the breath of his mouth Psal â—3 6 that is the Hypostaticall and conâ—ubstantiall Spirit of God 8 Therefore where Moses calleth â—he Creatour Elohim it is rightly referâ—ed to the Trinity of Persons 9 Whereas it is said That the Father â—y the Sonne in the Holy Ghost creaâ—ed all things we must beware that we â—nderstand it not of inequalitie of Essence or Power in the work of Creation 10 For what things soever the Faâ—her doeth the same doeth the Son likewise Iohn 5.19 11 But all this ought to be referred to â—he reall distinction of Persons and the order of working in works ad extrà or externall which results from thence 12 The Father therefore created by the Sonne not as by one that workeâ— not or an instrument separate but as bâ— his coeternall and consubstantiall Image 13 And he created all things out oâ— nothing 14 Some things indeed immediately but other things mediately Damasc 2. Orth. fid cap. 5. 15 And all in six distinct dayes whence it is that the Ancients calâ— Creation The six dayes works 16 That all things were created iâ— in a moment it seems indeed agreeablâ— unto reason but it is against the Mâ—saicall Scripture 17 On the First day were createâ— the Heaven and the Earth that is thâ— matter of all things to be made rudâ— and without form 18 Light also was created to dispeâ— the darknesse of the deep to inchoatâ— or beginne the vicissitude or intercoursâ— of day and night 19 That Light without doubt waâ— something obscure And therefore the question concerning the Nature thereoâ— is also obscure 20 On the Second day was the Firmament made that is the whole Systemâ— â—r comprehension of the celestiall boâ—ies 21 Above which that there are waâ—ers the Holy Spirit speaketh expresseâ—y To what use that onely knowes he which made them 22 Let us herein beleeve the Scriâ—ture whose authority is greater then â—he capacity of mans understanding August 2. de Gen. ad Lit. cap. 4. 23 On the Third day at the command of Almighty God were the waâ—ers under the heavens gathered togeâ—her unto one place and the dry land â—ppeared Gen. 1.9 24 And what are the Bases or founâ—ations of the Earth what are the â—anks of the Sea They are The Almighty word of God 25 Neither would God have the â—arth to be unfruitfull but caused it to â—ring forth every kind of herb Genes â— 12 26 And yet not all for the food of man but yet all for the use of man 27 On the Fourth day God set the greater and the lesser Lights in the firmament of heaven Gen. 1.17 28 Which are nothing else but as it were the Chariots of the Light which was first made 29 The starres as well those thâ—â— are fixed as those which are called Plâ—nets or erraticall do work upon the lower bodies by their motion light aâ—â— influences 30 What these influences are it very obscure and past our finding out 31 We must beware therefore thâ—â— we do not ascribe unto the starres thâ— causes of humane wickednesse seeiâ—â— that he which made the starres is frâ—â— from all wickednesse 32 He that is wise shall have domâ—nion over the starres Understand thâ— of true and divine wisdome which coâ—sisteth in the fear and sincere worship oâ— God 33 It is not therefore to be calleâ— Mathesis but Mataeologie not skill iâ— Astrologie but Vaniloquie to go abouâ— by the starres to foretell humane action and events Scal. Exerc. 251. 34 On the Fifth day was the Wateâ— replenished with Fishes and the Aiâ—â— with Fowls Gen. 1.22 35 Out of water God produced the things which cannot live within thâ— water and the things which cannot live but in the water which is an Argument of his Almighty Power and Wisâ—ome 36 The Sixt day was the Birthâ—ay to all terrestriall living creatures â—nd to Man himself likewise Gen. 1. â—4 25 26 27. 37 All which were created for Man and Man for God 38 No Creature had ever been hurtâ—ull unto Man yea rather all the Creaâ—ures had been at Mans service had â—ot Man sinned August lib. 3. de Gen. â—d Lit. cap. 15. 39 Man by not doing his bounden â—uty and service to his Creatour lost â—he dominion which was given him oâ—er the Creatures 40 God being about to create man â—alled as it were a Councel before hand â—ecause he was to create a living creaâ—ure capable of reason and counsel 41 After that all other things vvere â—reated God in the last place created Man because he was to be the Epitome â—entre Abridgement Complement and Perfection of the whole Universe 32 Man was made in the Earth â—nd of the earth but not to the earth â—nd for the earth but he was made to Heaven and for Heaven 43 God which is the Creatour 〈◊〉 Heaven and Earth would end his woâ—â— in Man Therefore he rested when 〈◊〉 had made Man 44 He made all things I say fâ—â— Man in so much that the very Angâ—â— themselves farre superiour both for Nâ—ture and Dignitie do at Gods appoinâ—ment minister as servants unto Man 45 And what wonder is it thâ— God made all things for Man when 〈◊〉 for Man even God himself was maâ— Man 46 Moses describeth not the creâ—tion of the Angels but yet notwitâ—standing he doth not exempt theâ— from the number of the creatures 47 There is more subtiltie in â—quiring then fruit in finding on whâ—â— day they were created 48. In respect of their Nature whiâ—â— is incorporeall they are called Spiritâ— and