of God only to effect Now to come a degree neerer to the matter wee must know also that the best proofes for the scripture that it is gods word are to be fetched out of it selfe for which cause it is called light Ps 119.105 v. 2.14.22 c. because it discouereth it selfe and many times the testimonies of the Lorde because it beares witnesse to it selfe The papists would haue vs stand to the Iudgment of the Church which is altogeather doubtfull for there may be as greate question made of the Church whether it be the true Church of God as of the scripture whether it be the true word of God The testimonie and authority of the Church may be some inducement to a man in this case according as Saint Austine saieth it was to him but it can be no certaine argument Know this then that there is a certaine euidence of Gods spirite as it were imprinted in the scripture which sheweth the divine excellency therof aboue all the writings of men whatsoeuer And this stands vpon sundry particulars How the script is knowne to he the word of God First the purity of the law of God written by Moses aboue all the lawes that haue bene euer enacted and deuised by the wisest men Wee read of many worthy law-giuers among the Heathen that ordained statutes of greate wisedome for the gouernment of their people yet was ther neuer any law deuised by the wit of man but it needed some reviewing and for some respect was ether to be repealed or abridged or enlarged besides that scarce any law can be so wisely framed by a state but some or other will find a shifte to doe the very thing which the intente of the law was to forbidde and yet free himselfe from the danger of the law stand vpon tearmes as if he had not brokē it It is not so in the law of God as it was first giuen out so it stands without any changing nether was there euer any found able to carrie himselfe so cunningly in the practise of any euil but this law in one respect or other would surely find him guiltie Secondly the qualitie of the matter in scripture In the writings of the Heathen wee shall find some giuen here and there of the myserie of mankind and some cold comforts taught for the releiuing it but the true opening of the direct cause of mans miserie to witte sinne and the entring in of sinne into the world by Adams fall and the perfect and full remedie for all this namely Christs death was neuer knowne or heard of but only from the scripture Thirdly the antiquitie of the scripture for the bookes of Moses are more auncient then any humane writers in that they set downe a historie from the beginning of the world a thing which other writers knew not of or els borrowed from Moses or els corrupted with many fables and ridiculous narrations Besides there is no writer of any humane story that can be prooued to be more ancient then Nehemias Ezra who were about the yeare of the world 3500. Fourthly the admirable consent of the whole body of the scripture within it selfe all conspiring together in this one point Act. 10.43 that through the name of Christ all that beleeue in him shall receiue remission of sinnes what shewes of vncertaintie and differences soeuer may appeare either in numbring of yeares or in any circumstance of historie or in any point of doctrine are so fully apparently reconciled by those which haue laboured therein that there can be no iust colour of exception Fiftly the certaine euents of the prophesies therof as of the comming of the Messias the calling of the gentiles the reuealing of Antichrist of the the going of the posteritie of Abraham into Egypt their deliuerance thence of the fower Monarchies by Daniel And it is worth the noting which wee read in Isay who speaking of the captiuity of the people of the Iewes in Chaldea doth not only prophecie their deliuerance Isay 45.1 but names the very man by whom the Lord would saue them Cyrus and yet Isay liued at the least a thousand yeares before Cyrus was borne Like vnto that was that prophecie of the man of God aginst the Altar of Bethell built by Ieroboam he names the partie Iosiah 1. King 13.2 relates the particulars what he should doe and yet it was at least 330. yeares before Iosiah was borne So Ieremy told the people the iust number of yeares in which they should be captiues vnder Babilon 70. yeares Ier. 25.11 And wee our selues if wee will obserue it may see daily how the prophesies of the scripture are accomplished Paul said in the last times men should broch doctrines of devills viz. forbidding to marry commanding to abstaine from meates 2 Tim. 3.2 we see it verefied in Popery he saith againe that in the last daies men shall be louers of themselues c. doe wee not perceiue among our selues how these euills daily doe increase he saith further the time will come when men wil not suffer wholesome doctrine we may behold how this is made good euery day 2. Tim. 4 3. There is no doctrine more wholesome then that which is applied to mens particular sinnes yet it is a thing which men will not endure Saint Peter prophesied so did Saint Iude 2. Pet. 3.3 Iud. 18. that in the last times there should be mockers men walking after there owne lusts we need nor goe farre to see the accomplishment of this prophecy How doe men despise the Iudgments of God and scoffe at all goodnes and prefer the satisfying of there owne lusts before obedience to the will of God Thus that which we our selues are witnesses of declares the certaine euents of the foretelling of the scripture and it is an assurance vnto vs that it is the word of God Sixtly the vnpartiall faithfullnesse of those that haue been enditors of the seueral books In Moses it is worth the noting how he preferreth the relating of the truth of the story Gen. 49. before the discrediting of his owne birth he was borne of the tribe of Leui yet if you read Gen. 49. you shall finde he doth not spare to report the hard sentence that old Iacob gaue of Leui at his death ver 5. Simon and Leui brethren in euill instruments of cruelty into their secret let not my soule come c chap. 12. And in Numbers he doth not spare Aaron and Miryam his owne brother and sister but hath left their sinne and the displeasure of God against it vpon perpetuall record nay he is not ashamed to reueale his owne error and how much the lord was offended with him and how for it he threatned him that he should neuer come into the promised Canaan he doth in the story many times make mention of it It is said that Saint Marke wrot the gospell out of Peters mouth and yet
it or else because though they forgot it not yet they knew not how and in what manner to performe it Now whichsoeuer of all these wee shall thinke wee shall caste a very greate indignity and disgrace not simply vpon the pen-men of the scripture but vpon the spirit of God by whose speciall direction they wrote euery word and title and vpon whome to lay any imputation ether of weakenes or vnwillingnes to performe any thinge for the good of Godes Churche were no lesse then blasphemie Adde hereto for the better opening of this point that looke what is the spirituall necessitie of a christian vpon any occasion either of his calling or of his degree and proceeding and estate in his profession the word of God is not wanting to giue him fulnes of direction If he be a Magistrate it teacheth him how to gouerne if a Mynister it informeth him how to teach if a master of a family it instructeth him for the particular duties of his place whether he be a husband or a father or a master or son or seruant it sheweth him in euery of these how to demeane himselfe as becomes a christian It giues him direction for his apparrell his speach his diet his company his disports his labour his buying and selling yea and for his very sleepe and for those things which may be thought most arbitrary and indifferent It is vnpossible for him to deuise any thing touching which he may not fetch a needfull direction from the scripture Againe conceiue of him how you will in regard of the seuerall degrees of Christianity the word of God is still his councellor if he be ignorant there be plaine principles of religion as milke to feed him if he be better grounded there be points of greater depth to imploy him if there be any case of conscience that troubles him any scruple that disquiets him there is vnfallible certainty to resolue him if he be afflicted either in body sicknesse or in goods with losses or in good name with vndeserued reproches or in mind with the buffeting of Sathan and his owne corruption there is plenty of comfort to releeue him there is store of rules to informe him how to profit by his tryalls if he be zealous there is matter to encourage him if cold and falling backe there is meanes to quicken him if he be stubborne and obstinate there is iudgment to humble him if he be broken hearted there is a salue to restore him if he be turned out of the way by some great sinne there is as it were a bridle to stop him whatsoeuer his occasion be how euer his soule is affected in what perplexitie soeuer he is whether it be comfort or councell or resolution or reprofe or instruction that he needs the word of God is a plentifull storehouse and meets to the full which euery spirituall necessitie so then this is my reason why the law of God the word of God is called greate or large because looke of what extent widenes our spirituall wants are of the same are those holy directions which the Lord hath reuealed in his word Psal 19.96 I haue seene saith Dauid an end of all perfection but thy law it exceeding large Let vs now make vse of this doctrine The vse of this pointe touching the largnes and amplenes of the word of God extending and stretching it selfe to all the spirituall occasions of all Gods people is first to ouerthrow the iudgment and practise of the Churche of Roome which as though there were some defecte in the scripture or some needfull matter receiue the writtē word it self and must be beleeued also as profitable and necessary to saluation Now this opinion and course is plaine against this place of scripture in which the word of God is graced with this title greate or plentifull or large if there be any thing left out of it which is necessary for the information of any mans soule vnto life eternall sure it hath not deserued that honorable name where with it is stiled I meane if a Christian man either for the setling of his soule in a matter of faith or the directing of his course in a matter of conuersation should finde that scantnesse and barrennesse in the scripture that he should be faine to goe seeke direction elsewhere or if there were no want in the word of God why should he be so heauily cursed that puts ought vnto it wheras if there be any point needful to saluation which is not mentioned in it there must of necessity be some addition And therefore wee must for euer separate our selues from that Church which when God hath written his word as a perfect direction full and entire in euery respect thrusts vpon vs the inventions of man daring also to make them in authoritie equall to the scriptures This is the first vse euen to teach vs heartily and vnfainedly to detest all additions to the word of God and al the not reuealed in it hath added to it a pack and rable of vnwritten traditions concerning which it teaceth that they are to be receiued and embraced with the same affection with the likezeale with the same respect as wee doe authors of them whatsoeuer and yet with this caution that wee must beware that wee be not deceiued in the right vnderstanding of that which we call an Addition to the scripture wee must not thinke as some doe that this ordinance of God which wee call preaching is an adding to the scripture it being a course which God in his wisedome hath appointed for the gathering of his Church and for the opening and discouering vnto the sonnes of men the hid treasure But that is called an Addition to the word of God which being commended vnto men as a matter of religion cannot be iustified nor warranted nor made good by the written word but is grounded onely either vpon carnall reason and conceipt or vpon the will of him that vrgeth it All and euery such addition wee must take heede of and remember what the Apostle saith If any man deliuer any other meaning any other for substance Gal. 1.8 though in wordes and manner of deliuery it may differ though he were an Angel c. let him be accursed 2. The second vse of this pointe is to condemne the common neglect and vniuersall contempte of the precepts and rules of holye scripture what occasion soeuer wee haue the word of God is still at hand to counsell vs and it is such a direction as cannot deceiue vs yet in the most of our cases and spirituall needes wee will seeke to any thinge rather then to the scripture In the worship of god wee doe much more esteeme our owne humors and the traditions of our fathers then the prescription of the word In matters of conuersation wee preferre the examples guises of the times the course practise of the multitude before the principles of gods spirite nay wee thinke it too much precisenesse
in the historie of the Church in that wicked Emperour Iulian his manner was to reach vnto the Christians boxes on the eare and withall to bidde them turne the other for saith he your master biddes you that whosoeuer smiteth you on the cheeke you should turne to him the other also And so whē he denied pay to the christiā souldiers that were hired by him and they complained therof vnto him his answer was that he did to make them fit for the kingdome of heauen because Christ had said Blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the kingdome of heauen thus this prophane wretch scoffed at the scripture wee must labour to take heed of the like wretchednesse Pilate was but a Heathē yet the text saith that when he heard but the name of the sonne of God he was afraide Ioh. 19.8 Wee that professe our selues Christians should much more reuerence the holy word of God in euery title whereof Exod. 30.32 the maiestie of God may be seene You shall read that the oyle wherewith the tabernacle and the Arke and the Priests were annointed was holy and therefore no man might put it to any other vse either to annoint his owne flesh with it or to make a composition like vnto it The like may be said of the holy doctrine of the scripture it is appointed as an holy oile to supple and to refresh the soules and consciences of Gods people and therefore may not be diuerted by vs to any other profane or idle vse whatsoeuer It is a taking of the name of God in vaine and a breach of the third commaundement These are the vses I thought good to make of this that the things of the law of God are called honourable or pretious And thus much touching the first part of this clause the commendation of Gods word the matter of it is very large and it is very pretious I come vnto the second part of the clause touching the mercy of God in vouchsafeing his word vnto vs in these words I haue written vnto them In the handling of this clause sundry things are to be opened as 1 how it can be said that God hath written his word 2 why it was meete to write it 3 when the word of God began first to be writtē how it was preserued for the Churches vse all that time 4 how we shal be assured that that which among vs is now called the scripture is the very same word and pretious will of God which he hath written for the vse and comfort of his people These points are meete to be opened both for the well vnderstanding of this place in hand and for the setling of vs against Atheisme and the perswading of vs of the authoritie of the scripture Time will not suffer me to enter into them all now I will proceed as farre as I can First how it can be said that God hath written his word God is said to haue written his word in two respects 1 because the 10 commandements of which all the rest that is written in the volume of the booke is but as it were a comment or exposition these I say were written after a secret vnknowne and vnutterable manner by God him selfe according as the scripture doth often mention it it is called the finger of God by which according to the most ordinary interpretation of the anchient fathers is meant the spirit of God Secondly God is said to haue written his word because all the rest that was written though men were the instruments yet it was done by his appointment and by his assistance As concerning Gods appointment we read how Moses was commanded to write so was Isay so was Ieremie so was Ezekiell so was Habakuk and so was Iohn as you shal read in the booke of the Reuelation and when as Christ commanded his Apostles to be witnesses of him and publishers of his truth and doctrine to the ends of the earth and to deliuer that of which the church should haue continuall vse to the worlds end no doubt he did in that charge insinuat that they should not only preach by word of mouth but should commit the summe of their doctrine to writing also that the same might be preserued to all posterities As it is plaine that God appointed the writing of the scripture so he assisted the pen-men of it by the extraordinary and immediate and infallible guidance of his spirit 2. Pet. 1.21 for which we need no better proofe then that one of Peters now once or twise already mentioned so then because God writte the law immediatly with his owne finger and then both gaue commandement and order for the writing of the rest and directed the writers so that they could not in any thing indited by them be mistaken the word is said to haue bin written by the lord The vse hereof is first to be a confirmation to that which I said before touching the perfection and price of the scripture it must needs be an absolute entire body without any ether superfluity or defect and containe a most necessary exact form of doctrine seing that god is the author of it who both in his wisedome knew what was conueniāt and in his loue would not keepe secret any thing which he knewe to be for the necessary behoofe of his own chosen Againe it can be no triuiall or base or vulgar matter which is commended vnto vs as it were out of the bosome of the Lord and for the ratifying whereof our Sauiour Christ spent his owne blood and in framing whereof the spirit of God hath breathed so extraordinarily But the principall and more proper vse which we are to make hereof is to be an assurance to vs of the irrevocable vnchangeable certaintie of the scripture Math. 5.28 and that as our Sauiour saith Heauen and earth shall passe away before one title therof doe fall to the ground vnfullfilled It is a good obseruation of one of the fathers if Pilate saith he being but a man after he had set the title ouer Christs head vpon the crosse Ioh. 19.22 was dealt with by the Iewes to alter it could say quod scripsi scripsi meaning that hauing set it downe vpon good aduise he would not change it much more may we be sure that the Lord hauing written his will and set it forth to the view of the world as an absolute rule vnto all will neuer alter the thing that is gone out of his mouth Men alter their writings many times because of some ouersight or mistaking or because of some second thoughts wiser then their former it were blasphemie to impute any such thing vnto God Againe there is much failing in the execution of mens lawes either through the remissenes of those that are intrusted with them or through want of power to goe thorough with them The Lord is neither slacke as men count slackenes saith Saint Peter 2. Pet. 3.9 neither yet is