Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	father_n	scripture_n	tradition_n	2,047	5	9.1715	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A01638	A golden chaine of divine aphorismes written by John Gerhard Doctor of Divinitie and superintendent of Heldburg. Translated by Ralph Winterton fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge; Loci communes theologici. English	Gerhard, Johann, 1582-1637.; Winterton, Ralph, 1600-1636.; Cecil, Thomas, fl. 1630, engraver.	1632 (1632)	STC 11769; ESTC S103039	111,208	568

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 ●e 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 Saint 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 waies subject unto errour 27 The Eccl●siasticall Historie witnesseth that in the time of the Primitive Church under the name of Apostolicall Traditions many falsities were broached 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 minde tongue speak plainly and perspicuously Yea certainly he used great care and providence that all men might understand what 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 is 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 easy 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 fame Paul applies to the doctrine of the Apostles Rom. 10.18 Their sound went into all the earth But the Apostles wrote 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 Revel 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 try 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 17.11 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 Greek tongue wherein the books of the Old and New 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 Jeroms 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 attained by the true and lawfull interpretation thereof 51 Seeing that the Scripture is perfect and perspicuous

therefore It is to be interpreted of it self and by it self 52 For that which is perfect ought not to be patched with things of another kinde and that which is perspicuous of it self doth not stand in need of anothers light 53 Yet notwithstanding the Scripture is of it self perspicuous the blinde eyes of our understanding are dazled at the light of it 54 Whosoever therefore will take in hand to interpret Scripture let him with earnest prayers and grones desire to have his understanding enlightened by the Holy Ghost 55 Let the glory of God and the instruction of men unto salvation be the supreme law of interpretation 56 And seeing that every head of celestiall doctrine is in Scripture in one place or other therefore let the interpretation of other places be conformable unto it So shall the Analogie or proportion of faith be kept Rom. 12.6 57 Observe diligently the naturall significations of words 58 In matters of doubt have recourse unto the fountains the Hebrew in the Old Testament and the Greek in the New 59 Have respect and regard to the scope of every word to the circumstances to that which goes before and that which follows after 60 Let the obscurer and fewer places of Scripture be expounded by those that are more cleare and more in number 61 Depart not from the letter in articles of faith especially unlesse the Scripture it self sheweth some impropriety of speech and also expound it 62 Use the writings of the Fathers for an help to leade thee by the hand as it were in the interpretation of the Scripture but see that thou usest them aright 63 Yet count them not for Canonicall but examine them by the Canonicall What in them is agreeable unto the authoritie of divine Scripture embrace with due commendation of them what is not agreeable by their leave reject and refuse August lib. 2. cont Cresc cap. 32. CHAP. III. Wherein are contained Theologicall Aphorismes concerning GOD. THe chief end of all the Scripture is To know God and worship him being known 2 From him alone are all things and To him alone are all things 3 That there is a God even the book of Nature sheweth For The world is the school of the knowledge of God Basil. in Hexam 4 The leaves of this book are especially three Heaven Earth Sea and all things therein contained as Clemens Alexandrinus speaketh 5 But there is a more certain evident and perspicuous knowledge to be fetcht out of the book of holy Scripture 6 The eyes of our understanding are blinded by our fall and from thence it is that we cannot so readily make progresse and proficiency in the book of Nature 7 The end of that Naturall knowledge of God is according to the Apostle To seek the Lord Acts 17.27 8 Nature herself confesseth that her book is imperfect and therefore she must as it were leade us by the hand to finde out a more perfect revelation in the Church 9 The Essence of God transcendeth all created things Therefore the perfect knowledge of God surpasseth all understanding God is incomprehensible so saith Damascen lib. 1. Orth. ●id cap. 1. 10 And from hence it follows That as God is a Spirit above all and cannot properly be found out or comprehended by any understanding So likewise he cannot be defined or determined by any definition August de cogn ver vit cap. 7. 11 We cannot in any words so fully expresse what God is as by confessing our ignorance That we know not what God is Scal. Exerc. 365. Sect. 2. 12 What therefore God would have hidden from us that must we not search into But yet notwithstanding so much as he hath manifested unto us by revealing of himself we must in no wise neglect for fear lest we be found on one side more curious then is lawfull on the other side damnably ingratefull Ambros. 1. de vocat Gent. cap. 7. 13 God gave being unto all things Therefore he is the first chief and independent Being 14 He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is He hath his Being from himself Scal. He is a Being above all beings Dionys lib. 1. de divinis nom cap. 1. 15 He is the Essence of all essences the Creatour of all creatures the Life of all lives the Cause of all causes 16 He it is that giveth all unto all but receiveth not ought from any 17 Above him is nothing without him is nothing beneath him is nothing Vnder him is all in him is all with him is all From him are all things by him are all things in him are all things Aug. de Spec. cap. 33. 18 Between the Essence of God and the essence of the creatures there is an infinite difference Gods Essence is after a singular peculiar and supereminent manner 19 God is a Spirit John 4.24 A Spirit hath not flesh and bones Luke 24.39 Therefore God is incorporeall 20 Whatsoever corporeal things are attributed unto God they are to be understood as it beseemeth the majestie of God not properly spoken but by an Anthropopathie a figure by which that is improperly said to be in God which properly belongeth unto man 21 God condescendeth unto us that we may ascend up unto him and seeing that we are men he vouchsafeth to speak unto us after the manner of men 22 The Scripture by things corporeall teacheth us spirituall and likewise by things visible things that are invisible 23 So God is said to have Eyes which are over the just an Hand by which he giveth food unto all flesh Feet whose footstool the earth is All these are in God in Effect not in Affect Bern. Serm. 4. sup Cant. 24 He is therefore All-eye because he seeth all All-hand because he worketh all All-foot because he is every where August sup Psalm 136. 25 God is Eternall without beginning or end From him are all things but he is from nothing He is subject to no change or succession He alone it is that can say I AM THAT I AM. Exod. 3.14 26 If God had a beginning then he should be subject unto change But he is uncreated without time without beginning without end not subject to alteration Therefore he is truly Eternall 27 But if God be without change or alteration he is also void of all composition whatsoever 28 He alone is truly and properly Simple Besides him all things else are compounded At least Ex Actu Potentia Ex esse Essentia as the School speaks 29 The Essence of God is not onely most Simple but also most Infinite and Immense God is present with all things not onely by his Power by which he conserveth all things but also by his Essence by which he is present with all things created after a more neare and intimate manner then they are with themselves 30 In those words in which it is said That God is every where by his Essence we are to beleeve that there is more contained then any living man is able to

the Soule into nothing but the departing of the Soule out of the House of the Body The Soule cannot be destroyed Matth. 10.28 11 The Scripture maketh mention but of two receptacles of Soules separated from their bodies The one of the godly the other of the wicked 12 Away then with Purgatorie away with that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or night and sleeping of Soules betweene the Day of Death and the Day of Judgement Away with Pythagoras his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Transmigration of Soules away with Apparitions of Soules 13 For there is no middle place where one can be out of Punishment if he be not in the Kingdome no place where one can be out of the Divells companie if he hath not Fellowship with Christ. August de Pecc Mor. Remiss Cap. 2. 14 Before the Vniversall Resurrection the greater world shall passe away and after that shall follow the Vniversall Judgement 15 Many of the ancients were of opinion that the World should passe away by the Change of Qualitie onely and not by the Abolition of Substance 16 But the Scripture useth words very Emphaticall Heaven and Earth shall passe away Matth. 24.35 Luk. 22.33 17 The Key which is to open our Graves and the Pledge of our Resurrection is the Resurrection of Christ our Head 18 The Resurrection of our bodies is confirmed by manifest Testimonies of the Holy Spirit in the Scripture and they are often repeated 19 The Preludes or forerunners of our Resurrection are the particular examples of those which were raised up againe to life in the Old and New Testament whom Tertullian calls the Candidates of immortalitie 20 Man was at the first both in Body and Soule created for immortalitie The Body is the Soules instrument by which it worketh in actions good or bad The body of the godly is the Temple of the Holy Ghost Yea our bodies are fed with the quickning Body and Bloud of Christ. And how then can they alwayes remaine in the Grave 21 God is the Authour of our Resurrection But Christ is the Finisher thereof in and with his humane nature assumed 22 Not onely all flesh but even the same flesh that was shall be raised up againe 23 Their change in a moment which shall be found alive upon Earth at the last day shall be to them in stead of Death and Resurrection from the dead 24 Neither shall Christ onely raise us up but he shall be also our Judge Joh. 5.27 The Father hath given him authoritie to exequute Judgement 25 Christ when he cometh to Judge the world shall appeare in the same nature which he united unto himself by his Incarnation That Flesh shall sit Judge which stood before the Judge That Flesh shall Judge which was it self formerly Judged 26 This Vniversall Judgement Gods Truth Justice do require 27 The exact Forme Manner and Proceeding in Judgement at the last day Experience it self will then better teach then any humane understanding can now conceive 28 Let us whilst we are here pray unto God with sighes and grones to be delivered from the Sentence of Condemnation in that day Let us now heare the Voice of Invitation that then we may heare the Voice of Consolation 29 After Sentence is once passed immediately followes Execution Then shall they which are set at the right hand of the Judge enter into Life everlasting and they which are on the left shall be cast into Everlasting fire Matth. 25.34.41 30 The Blessednesse of eternall Life comprehendeth in it the Privation and Absence of all Evill and the Presence and Fruition of all Good 31 Wee shall be Freed and delivered from all Sinne and from all Punishment due unto sinne 32 Our vile Body shall be fashioned like unto Christ his glorious Body Philip. 3.21 But there shall be great difference in glorie 33 We shall see God Without end we shall Love him alwayes Without loathing and praise him evermore Without being wearied August 22. de Civit. Dei cap. 30. 34 Vision shall succeed in the place of Faith Fruition in the place of Hope and Charitie here onely Inchoate shall be there Consummate 35 God shall be fulnes of Light to the Vnderstanding superabundance of Peace to the Will and continuance of Eternitie to the Memorie Bern. Serm. 11. Super. Cant. Col. 519. 36 The Saints shall Rejoyce for the Pleasantnesse of Place which they shall possesse for the sweet Companie with whome they shall raigne for the Glorie of their Bodies which they shall put on for the World which they have contemned and for Hell which they have escaped Bonavent in Dioet Cap. 50. 37 Let us then Pant and Breathe for earnest desire after that Life whose King is the Trinitie whose Law is Charitie and whose Measure is Eternitie 38 Neither shall our Being be subject unto Death nor our Knowledge unto Errour nor our Love unto Offence Sphinx Phil. pag. 5. 39 We shall see God face to face we shall heare him speake immediately unto us 40 The Elect shall have Wisdome in the highest degree Righteousnesse in full perfection Joy which is everlasting and shall Sing Prayse and Glorie unto God without end 41 All the Elect Salvation shall see But Glorie in a different degree 42 It hath not at any time entred into the heart of man to conceive what glorie God hath prepared for his Elect. 1 Cor. 2.9 And if his Heart is not able to conceive it much lesse is his Tongue able to expresse it 43 To the Eternall Life of the blessed is opposed the Eternall Death of the damned which in the Revelation is called the Second Death 44 The life of the damned shall be to be alwayes dying and the death of the damned to be alwaies living If it be life why doth it kill and if it be death why doth it endure 45 The damned shall so live that they shall be alwayes dying and so dye that they shall be alwayes living Bern. in Med. Devot Cap. 3. Col. 193. 46 In the Flesh shall they be tormented with Fire and in the Soule with the Worme of Conscience Ibid. 47 It is the Eternitie of the Punishments which beyond all measure increaseth their torments laying upon them a weight unsupportable 48 For to be tormented without end this is that which goes beyond all the bounds of desperation Isidor Clar. Orat. 12. 49 Grievous is the Torment of the damned for the Bitternesse of th● Punishments But it is more grievous for the Diversitie of the Punishments But most grievous for the Eternitie of the Punishments Dionys. in 18. Apocalyps fol. 301. 50 The Gate shall be shut upon them Matth. 25.10 Understand the Gate of Indulgence the Gate of Mercie the Gate of Hope the Gate of Consolation and the Gate of Good Works 51 To be for ever deprived of the beatificall vision of God goes beyond all the Punishments in Hell 52 Being squeezed under the unsupportable weight of Punishments they shall wish they had no being but it shall be all in vaine They shall desire to die but death shall ●lee from them Revel 9.6 53 They shall roare for the very disquietnesse of heart they shall rage for madnesse and gnash their teeth There shall be weeping for griefe and gnashing of teeth for madnesse Bern. Ser. 8. in Psal. 91. 54 Of all which some have a tast even in this Life 55 The Companie of the Divells and the Qualiti● of the Place do exc●edingly increase the Torments of the Damned 56 Neither shall the Torments of the Damned be onely Eternall but they shall also be Without all Intermission at any time The smoake of their Torments ascendeth up for ever and ever Revel 14.11 57 As in Heaven one is more glorious then another So likewise in Hell one shall be more miserable then another August in Enchirid. Cap. 3. 58 We are very curious to know where Hell is But we are not so carefull to learne how we may escape it Our thoughts were better spent in meditating upon it 59 When we sit downe to eat and drink and when we rise from table againe when we lye downe to sleepe and when we rise up againe at all times and in all places it is very good to thinke upon Hell 60 For To thinke upon Hell preserves a man from falling into it Chrysost. Hom. 44. in Matth. 61 Doest thou think to quench the flames of Hell by not speaking of it or Doest thou think thou kindlest the flame thereof by speaking of it Whether thou speakest of it or no the flame is alwayes there alike Idem in Homil 2. in 2. Thess. 62 He deliver us from eternall death who himself died for us He bring us unto eternall Life who himselfe is the Prince of Life blessed for ever To whome with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all honour and glorie World without end Amen FINIS