Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	apostle_n	epistle_n	write_v	1,746	5	6.0427	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A33290	The divine authority of the Holy Scriptures asserted in two discourses the former shewing the nature and extent of the inspiration vouchsaf't by the Holy Ghost to the penmen of the Scriptures ... : the latter shewing the divine authority of the vowels and accents in the Hebrew text ... in a discourse concerning the division of the Bible into chapters and verses : to which is added, A discourse concerning the testimony of the Spirit on Rom. 8. 16. / by Sam. Clark ...	Clark, Samuel, 1626-1701.	1699 (1699)	Wing C4490; Wing C4991_CANCELLED; ESTC R14562	28,221	56

come aliunde yea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from above must be put into 'em by the immediate Dictate of the Spirit of God § 13. Secondly the Scriptures of the New Testament are equal sharers with those of the Old Testament in this Priviledg and Prerogative to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-inspired For 1. The Writings of the New Testament are comprehended in the word Scripture and call'd by that name as well as the Writings of the Old Testament Peter gives this Title to Paul's Epistles 2 Pet. 3.16 As also in all his Epistles in which there are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do the other Scriptures to their own destruction implying that Paul's Epistles stand upon the same ground and have as good a title and claim to the word Scripture as any other Writings whatsoever 2. The Scriptures of the Apostles are the foundation of our Faith as well as the Scriptures of the Prophets Eph. 2.20 3. Paul was endued with Divine Wisdom in what he wrote 2 Pet. 3.15 and expresly affirms of himself that what he spake and wrote was The Word of God 1 Cor. 7-40 14.37 1 Thes 2.13 4. The Gospel-dispensation being much more glorious in many respects than that of the Law 2 Cor. 3 7-11 and the Apostles being the chief Officers in the New Testament they must at least have an equal assistance with the highest under the Law Nay rather as he that is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he that was greater than all the Prophets so the Divine Abilities of the Apostles must much more excel those of the Prophets 5. Otherwise all the Promises and Threatnings delivered by the Apostles would be of no force nor efficacy nor could have any influence upon the Conscience the contrary whereto is found by daily experience and therefore their Writings must be immediate dictates of the Holy Ghost as well as those delivered by the Prophets and which Christ spake with his own mouth And if these Promises and Threatnings were utter'd by the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost then also what goes before and what follows after for they are so nearly linkt together and interwoven one with another that they must proceed from the same Spirit For can any one think that the Holy Ghost assisted the Apostles by Suggestion in one Verse and passage and only by Direction i. e. by watching over 'em that they should not err in the next Look over all those precious Promises wherewith the Apostolical Writings are bespangled as the Sky with Stars which I have recited in the Table of the Promises at the end of my Annotations on the Bible and judg whether they could proceed from any but one immediately acted and assisted by the Holy Ghost in the writing of ' em And then further consider 'em with the Antecedents and Consequents and the close intimate Union between 'em and then judge whether they don't evidently discover the same kind of Assistance in the whole I 'le instance but in one viz. that Promise Rom. 6.14 For sin shall not have dominion over you Observe how the Apostle brings it in in the same thread or tenor of discourse with what goes before and therefore they must be all of the same stamp and if the Promises and so for the Threatnings be the immediate Dictates of the Spirit so must the rest also It is not with the Writings of the Apostles as with a piece of Embroider'd work which is first wrought in the Loom by one hand and then Embroider'd by another but like a piece of rich Silk inwrought with Flowers of Gold and Silver all of a piece wrought by the same hand all at the same time yet one part is richer than another So it is with these composures though one part be richer than another yet all is the work of the same hand 6. Yet we may observe some difference between the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles in these three respects especially 1 The Prophets deliver'd all in the Name of the Lord Thus saith the Lord whereas the Apostles wrote in their own Names so most of the Epistles begin and have the Name of the Penman set in the Front 2 The Books of the Prophets are but a Collection or aggregate Body of several Prophecies or Visions added one to another whereas the Writings of the Apostles are carried on in a continued tenor of Discourse with●ut any such interruptions and breaking off the thread of the Matter as in the Prophets 3. The Prophets had not a constant uninterrupted influx of the Spirit but he fell upon 'em at certain Times and Seasons according to his own pleasure therefore you have the several Prophecies of the same Prophet bearing date at several times and Ezekiel was made dumb in some respect till a certain season c. 3. 26 27. and 24. 27. See my Annotations there So when the Captains of the Forces and Johanan came to Jeremy for direction from him Jer. 42 1-3 it is said v. 7. that after ten days came the Word of the Lord to Jeremiah Whereas the Apostles seem to have had a constant assistance of the Spirit upon all occasions so that wheresoever they came they were ready to preach the Word of God to the People of those places And therefore in this respect the Apostles had much the pre-eminence and advantage of the Prophets as was hinted just now n. 4. So then the whole Bulk and Body of Scripture contain'd in the Writings of the Old and New Testament is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-inspired which is the second Proposition § 14. Prop. III. This Inspiration did not deprive the Persons inspired of their Reason and Understanding Thus indeed it befel those by whom the Devil deliver'd his Oracles for the Evil Spirit that possest 'em used to swell and blow up their Bodies especially their Breasts and Bellies like a Bladder or Bottle as it is recorded of the Pythian Prophetess or Witch rather and to cast 'em into a kind of Frenzy and then deliver'd his Oracles by 'em with a hoarse or hollow Voice as if they spake out of their Bellies thence call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Greeks or out of a Bottle whence they had their Name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Hebrew But it was not so with those that were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were not mente capti and so used only as Pipes to convey such and such things thorow 'em to which they contributed nothing at all except the Writing but were meerly Passive Bede on 2 Pet. 1.19 mentions and confutes some in his time that maintain'd this foolish fancy Neither were they used as meer Amanuenses to write what the Holy Ghost dictated word for word to 'em without the use of their own Judgment but the Holy Ghost imploy'd 'em as reasonable Persons endu'd with abilities of Understanding Judgment and the like Their Faculties were not laid aside nor

appear in what follows § 6. Prop. II. It is the Property and Prerogative of all Scripture of what sort soever to be by Inspiration of God This not being my main business but only in order to it as I pass along I shall not go far for evidence but content my self with such Proofs as are ready at hand and offer themselves willingly to my thoughts § 7. This Proposition I shall prove particularly and by Parts in reference to the Scriptures both of the Old and New Testament Wherein it is not so much my purpose to convince or confute Antiscripturists this has been done abundantly and unanswerably by many more able and learned Pens as to confirm honest humble Souls that are willing to be satisfied by such plain intrinsick Arguments as are contained in and taken out of the Bowels of the Scripture it self First The Scriptures of the Old Testament are by Inspiration of God This I shall prove 1. By the Testimony of the two great Apostles Peter and Paul It is expresly affirmed by the Apostle Paul 2 Tim. 3.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All Scripture not only some parts of such and such Books but the whole Scripture and whole of Scripture Whatsoever comes under the name of Scripture without any distinction or difference by whomsoever written is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-inspired Not All Scripture that is God-inspired as the Polonian-Merchants would have it as if there were some that were not so for the Verb Substantive must needs be understood between 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not between 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because the Conjunction comes between which renders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be the second Epithet of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the first Here are two things affirmed concerning the Scripture as Estius observes 1. It s Authority that it is from God 2. It s Utility that it is profitable for the Ends and Purposes following This then must needs include at least all the Scriptures of the Old Testament Again The Apostle Peter also affirms the same 2 Pet. 1.21 For the prophecy came not in old time or rather at any time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Where observe 1. The Subject he speaks of with the Title whereby he expresses it Prophecy which is not to be understood strictly for the Foretelling of things to come or the Writings only of the Prophets but largely for any Revelation or Discovery of the Will of God to the Penmen of Scripture This appears by v. 19. where he saith We have a more sure word of Prophecy that is of the Revelation of the Will of God viz. in Scripture in contradistinction to the Revelation of God's Will in that Voice that came from Heaven to Christ at his Transfiguration whereto you do well to give heed This is a duty that belongs to the whole Scripture of the Old Testament as well as to the Prophetical parts and therefore includes the whole Hence all the Penmen of the Old Testament are called Prophets Eph. 2.20 Rom. 16.26 And therefore the word Prophecy here must include the whole Of this Voice he shews the Original and that both Negatively It came not by the Will of man It was not the Conception Composure Indictment or Product of mens own Brains nor the Suggestion of their own Spirits They were not the first Movers in this Work But Positively holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Where observe 1. The primum mobile or first Mover the Holy Ghost 2. The Instrumental Cause or Instruments he made use of holy men of God Such were all the Penmen of the several Books of the Old Testament 3. What befel 'em How it fared with 'em in this Work when they wrote these Books they were moved by the Holy Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As the Writings of the Scriptures were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to Paul so the Writers were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to Peter here acted and moved by the Holy Ghost under his immediate Conduct and impulse As the Spirit came upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost as a rushing mighty wind Act. 2.2 the same word is used there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so he rushed in a powerful manner upon these holy men of God the Penmen of the holy Scriptures 4. When or upon what Occasion it was thus with 'em It was in reference to what they spake which includes their Writing also For the Prophets did deliver all their Prophesies to the People by word of mouth first and then wrote 'em down afterwards as appears by some Passages in Jeremy But for some other parts of Scripture they were only written yet this Writing or what was so written was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Paul assures us in the place beforementioned Besides The Subject that Peter is here treating of is the whole Scripture as appears by the Context v. 19. and I proved before And so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used concerning the whole Scripture Acts 2.31 David spake of the Resurrection of Christ viz. Psal 16.10 i. e. wrote So Acts 3.24 All the Prophets from Samuel and those that follow after as many as have spoken have likewise foretold of these days Rom. 3.19 Whatsoever the law i. e. the whole Scripture of the Old Testament as appears by the foregoing words saith it saith to them that are under the law Hence the Scriptures in general are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Oracles of God Rom. 3.2 § 8. 2. That the Scriptures of the Old Testament are by Divine Inspiration I prove by a distinct view and consideration of the several Books of the Old Testament whereby it will appear that there is an evident character and stamp of Divinity imprinted upon ' em First For the Books of Moses They contain an account of many things before his own Time which he must have either by Revelation Tradition or Writings and Records 1. Some things must of necessity be by Revelation As What God said to Cain Gen. 4.6 7 9 c. for it 's very unlikely that Cain himself would tell it to any So Lamech's Speech to his Wives v. 23 24. God's purpose to destroy the Old World by the Flood ch 6. 3 c. God's accepting of Noah's Sacrifice ch 8. 21. he said in his heart What God said concerning the building of Babel ch 11. 6 7. The cause of the Plague on Pharaoh and his House ch 12. 17. God's dealing with Abimelech concerning Sarah ch 20. 3. c. The Passages between Abimelech and Isaac concerning his Wife ch 26. 8. c. What God said to Laban in a Dream ch 31. 24. Rachel's sitting upon the Images v. 34. The Conspiracy of Joseph's Brethren against him ch 37. 18 c. The reason why

judging the twelve tribes of Israel And every one that hath forsaken house or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my name's sake shall receive an hundred-fold and inherit everlasting life Matth. 19 27-29 And again When the Sons of Zebedee desired to sit one on his right hand and the other on his left in his Kingdom Christ asks 'em Whether they could drink of his cup and be baptized with his baptism Mark 10.37 38. implying That the greatest Sufferers shall be the greatest Gainers and be most highly advanc'd in his Kingdom Hence then I say we may conclude That since Paul's Sufferings as well as his Labours and Writings were the greatest That he shall not only sit on a particular Throne but on the highest Throne of all the Apostles and they were above all the Tribes and that he shall have the highest degree in the University of Heaven as he was the highest Scholar in Christ's School on Earth But this by the Bye § 25. 4. The Holy Ghost assisted the Pen-men of Scripture by strengthning and refreshing their Memories to recollect and recall whatsoever they had seen or heard before which He saw fit to be inserted into their Writings This kind of Assistance was afforded chiefly in relation to the Historical Parts of Scripture wherein Matters of fact which they had been Eye or Ear-witnesses of are recorded And this was expressly promis'd by Christ John 14.26 The Comforter shall come who shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you and accordingly it was made good unto 'em as we see in the Writings of the Evangelists which contain a Narrative of the Birth Life Doctrine Miracles Sufferings Death Resurrection and Ascension of Christ in an harmonious Discord This was necessary for the Writers of all the Historical Parts of Scripture that they might not be guilty of any omission or the least mistake which would have defaced and fullied the Beauty of the whole Eccl. 10.1 § 26. 5. He assisted 'em by Directing 'em among a Multitude of Matters of Fact what to Omit and what to Commit to Writing and to make Choice of such particulars as he in his infinite Wisdom saw fit to be left upon Record for the use of succeeding Generations This is plain by those passages John 20.30 31. Many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his Disciples which are not written in this book but these things are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his Name and 21. 25. There are also many other things which Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose that even the World it self could not contain the books that should be written Now which of these were to be written and which to be left unwritten what might be of use and what not it was impossible for any humane Understanding to comprehend and determine and therefore must be the work of the Holy Ghost In general All things were written for our Learning Rom. 15.4 and Admonition 1 Cor. 10 -11 and particularly either as Sea-marks by way of Caution to warn us to shun those Rocks and Shelves which others had split upon 1 Cor. 10 6-10 or as Land-marks to show us how to steer our Course that we may arrive safe in the Harbour of true Happiness Rom. 15 -4 That we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope or by way of Encouragement to quicken us to the Performance of those Duties or Exercise of those Graces wherein the People of God in former times have been Eminent Rom. 4.23 24. Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him c. No humane Understanding could judge of these things what was fit and useful and what not so that herein the Direction and Conduct of the Holy Ghost was absolutely necessary And herein among other particulars his Wisdom was admirable in directing Moses in that compendious History of things written by him to record the Artifice of Jacob concerning the Sheep Gen. 30. which may seem at first view to be beneath the Majesty of the Holy Ghost and Gravity of an inspired Writer But if it be well consider'd we may find that Excellent use may be made of it to teach us how that the Providence of God is exercised over his Church and People which was then confin'd within the bounds of Jacob's Family for the most part for their Preservation and Provision and also To warrant the use of natural means such as that was at least in part in the pursuit of lawful Ends. And this Direction of the Holy Ghost was necessary to prevent stuffing their Writings with frivolous and impertinent Stories fabulous Legends and Jewish Fables wherewith their Talmud and some of their Targums and their Midrashim do abound which therefore the Apostle cautions against 1. Tim. 1.4 and 4.7 Tit. 1.14 § 27. 6. The Holy Ghost assisted the Pen-men of Scripture by exciting and calling forth those Idea's and Images of things which were treasur'd up in their Memories As it sometimes comes to pass in Prayer and Preaching the Holy Ghost brings into the Mind such passages of Scripture and other matters as are pertinent and suitable to the occasion tho' not with that Power Evidence and Infallibility which attended the divinely-inspired Writers but in a lower way yet however it is something of the same kind and nature Hereby tho' he did not suggest any new Matter or Notion to 'em which they knew not before yet he brought such things into their Minds as by his infinite Wisdom he saw meet to be made use of to other ends and purposes than the Pen-men were aware of viz. for the Relief of the People of God upon all occasions in all their Doubts Fears and Troubles and for Direction in all the Occurrences of life hence proceed those Multitudes of Directions about particular Duties in Paul's Epistles All that Stock of habitual Knowledge of what sort soever whether Natural Acquired or Infused wherewith they were furnish'd before was hereby educed and reduced into Act so far forth as was needful for the general Design of the Scripture and there was occasion for it What they knew before whether by the Light of Nature Study Conversation or divine Revelation was all Materials for the Spirit to work upon or with in this way As a Carpenter when he builds a House chooses out such Timber Stones and other Materials as are fit for his work and lets the other alone or As a Physician chooses out of the Apothecary's Shop such Drugs and Medicines as are proper and suitable to his purpose so did the Holy Ghost We need not say that the Spirit did teach or infuse into 'em whisper in their Ears as La