Christ is the Scriptures which being the first is to prove not to be proved but in an higher School the Schoole of heaven by evidences unprovable and unreprovable evidences taken from the Prover and Spirit of God Of which hereafter N 2 Of translations How Anabaptists overthrow all Translations I No way like that of Cajetan That to understand the Latine Translation was not to understand the infallible Word of God but the word of the Translatours subject to errour Though he took it from Hierome that to write holy Books proceeded from the Holy Ghost but to translate them into another Tongue was a work of humane skill For if an Ambassadour deliver his minde by an Interpreter are not the words of the Interpreter the words of the Ambassadour Right say you if the Interpreter do it truely So say I a Translation is a translation no further then he doth translate and interpret truely for a false translation as farre as it is false is no translation I have read in a great Papist That it is a great error for a man to think that he can understand or interpret the holy Scriptures without some peculiar guift of the Holy Ghost And sith the Lord hath commanded his people to heare and read the word and the cōmon people cannot read the word but in some translation of other that therefore translations are in special a special Ordinance of God and that therefore God being in his providence very careful that his Church shall not want sufficient provision for their soules hath ever doth and will ever so assist Translatours that for the main they shall not erre I am of minde that there was never any Christian Church but the Lord did so hold the hands and direct the pens of the translators so that the translations might well be called the Word of God The vulgar Latine which the Papists out of a veine of opposition do advance too much is faulty enough yet it is so sound that I think many have beene led by it to their conversion Why may I not think that those many who have been converted from Popery in the Church of Rome and joyned themselves to our Church have beene beholding for the most of them next to God to their vulgar translation as Martyr Zanchius Luther Oecolampadius and a many others The Ephesians were builded in their faith on the Prophets and Apostles the Apostles were living but the Prophets were dead and gone long since they could no way build their faith on the Prophets but on their writings Now the writings of the Prophets in the Original were in Hebrew and I take it for granted that the Ephesians being bred and borne Grecians did not understand the Hebrew tongue and that therefore there were translations of the Prophets which translations were made by such men as were ordinary as ours are subject I confesse to some errour but not such errour but that it did serve to help the Church to faith for the salvation of their souls In the Apostles time I know that they that did know the Apostles to be Apostles and that they did preach they did preach as Apostles they were to take them at their words But when they did heare them preach as the Bereans did not so I think a many else did not look on them as Apostles and infallible speakers And no question there were many Pastours and Teachers then who though many had more then a common gift of prophecying yet had not the infallible spirit of the Apostles Those Prophets had not the same supreame spirit which the Apostles had as saith to me the most Learned amongst the Learned but yet saith he they had a more extraordinary spirit not to write nor to translate but to interpret Scripture then the ordinary Pastors and Teachers had but I think that gift of interpreting died with them Now what the Bereans did to Paul so all stood bound to do to the ordinary Pastors and Teachers even to examine by the Scriptures whither those things they taught were right or not And those who were thus to examine the Sermons of the ordinary Pastors and Teachers were to do it by the Greek Translation sith many did not understand the Hebrew and they that did understand the Hebrew yet were to do it no question by Transcripts made by ordinary men after the Prophets ended with Malachi which Transcripts of the Hebrew text some quarrel at as done by ordinary gifted men which were they say subject to mistake in transcribing as well as translatours might mistake in translating In which neither of them must be looked as free from all mistake Wotton saith saith truly that many thousands were converted and many Churches settled by the preaching of the several Apostles sent abroad to convert the world amongst the Jewes and Gentiles without the knowledge and before the penning of the Books of the New Testament but that they did it without the use and authority of the Old Testament and the Word of God written there there is no proof nor I think can there be any Besides the Apostles carried the Word of God in their bosoms having that holy Library in their Heads by immediate and infalible inspiration I doubt not but the Ephesians were converted by Paul but yet Paul when he did convert them did it by the truth of doctrine left behinde them by the Prophets which is cleare in that the Apostle makes the Prophets the Foundation as well as the Apostles By Prophets I take it for granted he meanes the writing Prophets of the Old Testament not the preaching Prophets of the New And I take it also to be clear of it selfe that the Ephesians living so long after all those Prophets were dead and gone had their writings only so then the Ephesians were converted by the truth of doctrine left for them by the Prophets and preached to them by the Apostles I will also take it for granted till I heare or reade any deny it that the Ephesians understood not the Hebrew In which tongue the Prophets left their doctrine as the Canon of the Church And hence it cannot but follow that saving what help the Ephesians had from Paul they were to have recourse to the doctrine of the Prophets not in Hebrew which they understood not but in some Translation of others which without dispute must be the Greek translation of the Seventy there then being no other translations The Ephesians being also not Jewes but Grecians The resolution 1. As touching the Originals 2. As touching the Translations 1. I cannot but confesse that it sometimes makes my heart ake when I seriously consider what is said That we cannot assure our selves that the Hebrew in the Old Testament and the Greek in the New are the right Hebrew and Greek any further then our Masters and Tutors and the General consent of all the Learned in the world do so say not one dissenting But yet say these
need or use they have of the Scriptures in the Originals or translation Before we come unto the maine of the businesse we cannot skip over a businesse of Mr. Wotton his words are these No man ever dreamed that we commonly build our faith upon our English translation What he would have by the word commonly I know not except his heart did faile his penne when he wrote this and by this word commonly he had a conceit that he might finde by it some shift and starting hole A strange speech it is to me that English men of such he speaks who can understand no language but English should be said not to build their faith on the English translation On what then The Original they know not other translations they understand not And if they must not build their faith on the English translation they are left nothing to build their faith on And what is this but to leave all unlearned in the Originals without a rule And if this be not to steale Atheisme into the hearts of the common people I know not what is sith Atheisme is such a welcome guest to the corrupt heart as it is Which makes me call to mind an Observation of Villeroy a late wise Secretary of France That the maine different Sects of Religion in the East and the fierce opposition they made each against each made the people weary of the Christian Religion and so Mahomet crept in with his religion and was too welcome to almost all who were almost weary of the sundry Heresies and Schisms which were so brief and rife amongst Christians of the East And this saith he overthrew the Christian Church first and the Christian Empires and states next over the East and let in Mahomets Alchoran and Mahomets Sword I doubt there is scarce any strange opinion pressing hither but would be welcome to us The Christian Religion was never in such danger since my time as it is now sith men runne so many and so contrary wayes that few can now tell which is true And since so great a Clerk and so great a Reformer as Wotton hath left the poore English man no rule to prove his own or to disprove the contrary For if the English translation be not to an English man let Elias come and tell us what and which is the rule and on what an English man may build his faith on being that there is nothing left him but his English translation So the old Church after Malachi what was left to the most but the Greek Translation and after the Apostles were dead and gone the Christian Churches were tied to the Greek translation of the Old Testament or else the Old Testament was no rule to them except to a few who understood the Hebrew That which all men say saith Aristotle is not to be doubted but al the learned I think agree that the Church used no translation but the Greek for a matter of six hundred yeares after the birth of Christ for two hundred yeares before So that for my part I look upon it as a position full of danger for men to affirme That translations are not a rule to ground our faith on when we understand no other That say I or none not none therefore that And now at last after the clearing of what is past we come to the maine point to find out what it is that a poore soule who understands not the Originals must rest upon First I say that the Lord is not nor will not be wanting to his Church in things necessary to salvation And to have a rule to build our faith on is absolutely necessary to salvation And that rule for common people must be the Scripture translated or nothing And therefore I take it to be a special Ordinance that the Scriptures should be translated for the use of the Church in several languages For the Original Copies I must subscribe to that of Ganus a Papist who tells us That we are not to receive into the holy Canon both for the Old and New Testament but such books as the Apostles did allow and deliver over to the Church of Christ And as the Church of the Jewes did preserve the Hebrew Original of the Old Testament safe and sure so I doubt not but the same hand of the providence of God hath and doth preserve the Greek Original of the New Testament And for that it is not possible that the Originals should serve the turne of all or immediately of any but of such as have the knowledge of those tongues who are but a poor few in respect of all the world over wherefore I take it for granted that the line of Gods providence hath and doth and will carry the matter in having translations of several languages so intiâ—e as to be a sufficient rule to ground their faith else God in his providence must needs be wanting in providing necessaries for his Church Nor do I think that there was or ever shall be a Church of Christ or a Church of Christians in the belly of Antichrist but have had translations sufficient to rest their souls on I doubt not but the vulgar for all its faults hath sufficient for the saving of some soules Besides among the Papists they have Pagnine allowed by two Popes which runs as pure as any Translation in the world and Arias Montanus a translation without exception Senensis much commends Jacobus de Voragine a Papist Arch-Bishop of Genua his translation into the Italian and Senensis could well tell having great skill in the Originals To me it is much that Senensis so sharp a Papist as he is should in print and that since the Councel of Trent so highly commend a translation of the Bible into the Italian tongue And Leo the tenth Bishop of Rome did just before Luthers dayes print a recommendation of Erasinus translation of the New Testament into Latine So that I look on it as a special providence of God that there were translations and those exact too in the heart of Popery And if so then he will not suffer the visible Church to be without a sufficient translation as a sufficient rule Smith himself the great backbiter of translations saith That if the Translation agree with the Original it may well be said to be the Word of God and if it do not agree with the Original it is not the translation of the Original And now we will draw towards the main conclusion How a simple Countrey-man is to believe our Bible to be the Word Doctor Jackson and Master John Goodwin have set downe many and many excellent things but they flie so high that they are for Eagles One may say of their books as Aristotle said of his books of Philosophy That they were published yet not published seeing not to be understood without his help Now all the considerations these great Sophies have and let there be as much more added to them yet they will not
since the Apostles there are no men in the world but are subject to deceive and to be deceived All infallibility in matters of this nature having long since left the world Again too like unto this is that of Master Wotton who cantell saith he what the signification of the Hebrew and Greek words is even in the Bible but by the report of men And to the like purpose is that observation That the two Tables written immediately by Moses and the Prophets and the Greek Copies immediately penned by the Apostles and Apostolical men are all lost or not to be made use of except by a very few And that we have none in Hebrew or Greek but what are transcribed Now transcribers are ordinary men subject to mistake may faile having no unerring spirit to hold their hands in writing These be terrible blasts and do little else when they meet with a weak head and heart but open the doore to Atheisme and quite to fling off the bridle which onely can hold them and us in the wayes of truth and piety this is to fill the conceits of men with evil thoughts against the Purity of the Originals And if the Fountains run not clear the Translation cannot be clean The best is this doth concern the learned who can best get out of such scruples as these it being made plaine to them by the Jewes themselves no friends to Christian Religion That the Hebrew Text is curiously preserved by them in its integrity For if the Oracles of God were as they were Rom. 3. 2. committed them it deeply concernes the Providence of God to look to it that the Jewes should keepe the Oracles of God not onely safe but pure not onely from not being lost but also from not being corrupted It 's out of question that the same God who committed the Oracles to the Jews did also take care that they should preserve them safe and sure uncorrupt and pure It is the use of Saint Paul much to follow the Greek translation which doth use to use the Greek word translated Oracles to meane the Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets And what if there be scapes in some Copies yet other Copies runne clear But sith this concernes the Learned whom I much look not after from the Originals let us turne to the businesse of the Translations As for other matters about the Greek and Hebrew which it is and what is the meaning of the words I passe as a meere excrement of wit sith this is cried downe by all the learned world whither Christian or unchristian and therefore is not like to take to doe any hurt unto the soules of any 2. As touching Translations IT is granted that translators were not led by such an infallible spirit as the Prophets and Apostles were In the Councel of Trent after much debating by witty and learned heads they concluded That Translators were not Apostles but very near unto them The greatest Papists are of the same mind onely Sixtus Senensis is of opinion the seaventie two Translatours of the old Testament into Greeke were infallible Some are so quite another way that they like not any translations at all Smith the Se-baptist is utterly against reading translations in times of worship Amongst his Reasons two are the chiefest One is that we must worship God with the best we have Translations are not the best but the Originals Yet I hope they that know not the Originals Translations are the best they have If this were true then none can worship God in and by reading of the Scriptures but such as understand the Originals nor is that currant in reason or Divinity that we must serve God with the best There is good there is better there is best of all So that if one do that which is good he sinnes not though he do not that which is better if he do that which is better he sinnes not though he do not do that which is best of all He sinnes not who keepes within the circle of that which is good albeit he do not do that which is better or that which is best of all Againe a thing may be absolutely better in it self yet a lesse good thing in it selfe may be better in some respects and circumstances As simply in it self marriage is simply better then a single life yet in some respects Paul shews that a single life is better then marriage and this is Pauls Divinity Though a man do not that which is better nor that which is best yet as long as he doth do that which is good he sins not His other reason is That we must worship God with our owne gifts not with anothers As Translations are not our doing but made by the gifts and paines of others To this we say that 't is true we must worship God with our owne gifts but it is not true that in the worship of God with the help and by the meanes of that which is anothers we do not exercise our owne gifts The maine of the worship of God is That we worship him in and with the Spirit and truth in the inward parts and so we must and may doe and do do when we make use of Translations When we reade translations we must reade them with Faith and with the Spirit which are our inward gifts and graces else our reading is not to profit our selves withal and what hinderance the translation is to the use of Faith and the Spirit they do not they cannot prove So we are said to sing with the Spirit and yet we sing with the Spirit the better for that and to pray with the Spirit and yet the book is no hindrance to that neither Others gifts as long as they rather further then hinder the use of our own gifts can be no blur in the worship of God The same man doth wrangle with the originals too not denying them but denying the use of the book in the originals themselves in worship for that the Prophets and Apostles wrote books but did never divide their books into Chapters and Verses till Henry Stephens but the other day first made the verses of the New Testament which being man invention is not saith he to be used in the worship of God But whether Stephen Langton Arch-bishop of Canterbury did it first for chapters or Robert or Henry Stephens for the New Testament did it into verses is not material sith we place no Religion in it and this provision is known to be a great helpe to men in the worship of God We passe by this as a giddinesse of a weak braine in this Sebaptist He grants Translations are of good use but not in the worship of God and if of good use elsewhere why not there Saint Paul exhorts the Collossians That the Word of God might dwell in them richly in all wisdome They being Grecians I take it for granted that the most of them were not skilled in the
Hebrew the New Testament being not written not any of it till after Pentecost not all of it nntill John a matter of sixty years after Christs death This to the Colossians could not be meant of the New Testament but of the Old So againe the Thessalonians being Grecians did not understand the Hebrew yet they were commanded to prove all things By what why by the Scriptures and this was the Old Testament which they understanding not the Hebrew then it cannot but be meant of the translation This Conclusion I think is clear sith the Churches of the Gentiles were commanded to read Moses and the Prophets and read them they could not but in a translation therefore translations are commanded by God as an Ordinance and constitution of Heaven it felf The same Smith in the same book falls foule on the Greek translation of the seventy as that it was a grievous sin to translate the Old Testament into Greek or any language else His reason is for that this ought not to have bin done til the fulnes of time of the calling of the * Gentiles other reasons he hath not worth a fig nor is this reason much better It 's known that * Ptolomy King of Egypt had together certaine Learned Jewes skilful in the Greek Language in number seventy two and by them he caused the Old Testament to be done into Greek about two hundred and ninety years before the Birth of Christ And this is observed to be a fit time to have it done for if it had not been done till after the coming of Christ either the Jewes out of envy would have kept and hid the Hebrew Copies or corrupted them or else cast some suspition and evil report of evil doings on the translators All which it being done at this time was prevented Now though this were done before the coming of Christ and so of the time of the full calling of the Gentiles yet it was not so long before but that it was a fit preparative against the calling of the Gentiles whose language since Alexanders conquest generally was Greek and sith there then was no printing no Copies could be scattered abroad but by manuscripts and writing which is great labour and cost and this being such a slow work there needed that this translation should be done some good space before the calling of the Gentiles that so a sufficient number of Manuscript-written Copies might be had and scattered abroad among the Gentiles they all understanding the Greek and but few or none the Hebrew that the books being the foundation of the Prophets might be ready done against the time of the calling of the Gentiles for their need and use * The time of this translation being after the Jewes had been amongst the Gentiles in captivity we finde that the Gentiles being to creep into the Church and now and then some to turn Proselytes and was it not fit that there should be a translation ready to bid them welcome into the Church And what if it were a sinne to attempt the full calling of the Gentiles before the full time yet who can say with any reason that it was a sin to provide a translation which they understood against their calling Nor could this translation be sufficiently provided for number in written Copies and sufficiently scattered till the time of their calling So that this was not to go about to call them before the time was they were to be called but rather an excellent Providence to have Copies ready in a language they understood against the full time of their full calling And whereas it is objected that these Jewes who did put it out of the Hebrew into the Greek were profane men is more then I knowe or then they can prove Againe to make it good that the act of translating the Scriptures into Greek was no unlawful thing I need go no further then to the Apostles who becoming all things to all men to save some were careful in citing places out of the Old Testament to tie themselves much to this Greek translation Insomuch that though they did never vary from the Hebrew in sense yet they did chose rather to follow the phrase and words of the Greek then the Hebrew to condescend as far as might be to the Gentiles who were acquainted with the Greek translation but not with the Hebrew original Wherefore it must needs be the froth of a giddy head in this man to call this act of translation into Greek a grievous sin sith the Apostles did so much use and reverence it and chiefly Paul who chiefly the Apostle of the Gentiles We all do or should know that the Gospel began at Hierusalem from * Hierusalem it went to Judea and Samariah thence to Syria and Cilicia from thence to Ciprus Asia Greece Italy and from these parts to the utmost coasts of the earth according to the commission of Christ Now in all * those parts the Greek was most in use in most onely in use in some and of necessity they had recourse to the Greek translation Smith speaks fowle of it as a false and forged translation I dispute not what it is now but what it was then If it had been such a piece the Apostle Paul would not have looked after it so much as he did nor the church have used it so long as it did is well known to those who know the state of the Church that the church did generally use this Greek translation a Latine one framed out of this scarce any other if any other at all for six hundred yeares after Christ I know Sixtus Senensis and Bellarmine men of great reading do write that the seventy Interpreters though they were not Prophets who wrote Scripture yet that they had a line and light of the spirit which did direct them so that in translating they did not erâ—e at all which perhaps is too much on the other hand however it held very pure I am perswaded along time till the greek tongue began to grow out of use and then came in a world of translations in Latine and popular languages I am cleare of opinion that those Anabaptists who are against all learning are against all translations whatsoever For without the knowledge of the Hebrew and Greek tongues it is not possible to turne the Old and New Testament into any language whatsoever Nor without the understanding of those two languages can any understand the Bible in the Originals neither And on this ground God may be said to binde us to what is impossible I meane to build on the Scripture when we can neither have it by their principles in any Translation nor understand it in the Originals Mr. Wotton saith that the Anabaptists do every one claim a priviledge of not erring for himself yet not for others which opinion he calls a false and lewd opinion And on the matter if that they do so hold I know no great
cannot but call upon and encourage all much that tender their own weale to fall on with more boldnesse and eagerness upon the reading of the holy Scriptures seeing now it is so infallibly proved by this man of a thousand that it is the very Word of God that 's reached to them in that Translation that they have before them in the tongue wherein they were borne We of this Nation have great cause to blesse God for that * learned Prince that caused our last and best Translation which hath gained an high Testimony from a * learned Writer of a forreign Countrey when he calls it the most accurate Translation of the English Honour we then the reading of the Word of God 1. In the publike Congregation Deut. 31. 11. Ezra 8. 2 3. Act. 15. 21. that is attended with the greatest blessing Ezra 8. 14 16. Nehem. 13. 1 3. 2. In our private houses 2 Reg. 22. 10. Jer. 36. 12. 15 16. 3. In our proper Closets or where we can have our opportunities See Acts 8. 30. Apoc. 1. 3. Reade so as we reade all Josh. 8. 34 35. though it be never so difficult 't is given by inspiration and 't is profitable The very a Craggs and Rocks have their physical he bs We are b fed by the clear and tried by the obscure There 's an c immanent where 's not a transient power to edifie Something is a going when we little think it If it be but to humble us that we cannot see the reason of the setting those hard names together The wisdome of God is there though man cannot fathom it Besides it keeps our hearts in order and gives us cause of thanks when we meet with other things that be more facile in things that be most essential And reade in d order young Beginners may take the New Testament first as being the easier and the Old after it The Books be writ in Order Luke 1. 3. Let them be reade in Order Work goes on best when men take it as 't is before them He that reades confusedly will come to little He that takes the Bible as it lies will get most good by it See Neh. 8. 13 14. Reade every day Josh. 1. 8. all the dayes of our lives Deut. 17. 19. Psal. 119. 96. Alphonsus King of Arragon read the Bible over fourteen times with some Comments upon it Reade in thine own book the King was to write him out a Copy of the Law for his own peculiar use Deut. 17. 18. * Theodesius the second had writ out the New Testament with his own hand Men shoot best in their own Bowes work best with their own Tools David did best with his own Scrip and Sling The side of the leafe is remembred when the chapter and verse cannot be thought on Reade with the greatest reverence for it is the Word of God See Neh. 8. 3. 5 6. with the best understanding Mat. 24. 15. with sincerest affection bringing our selves to the Bible not the Bible to us A Veile is upon them that comes with prejudice 2 Cor. 3. 14. and reade with heartie prayer unto God thar he will open our eyes Psal. 119. 18. and sanctifie our hearts Psal. 119. 36. and order our steps Psal. 119. 133. It will be else as a book sealed up to us See Isa. 29. 11 12. The result of all is this We must so reade and so heare besides that there may be both an holy faith and an holy life too Nor this alone not that by its own selfe What God hath set together let not us put asunder 'T will but little availe a man to be sound in his opinion if he be loose in his conversation without holinesse there is no seeing God Heb. 12. 14. Nor will strictness of Life be much advantageous where there be rotten principles He was utterly unclean in the Law that had the Leprosie in his head and under the Gospel men of corrupt mindes have but a sad character for all their forme of godlinesse See 2 Tim. 3. 5 8 13. * Swenck feldius was a man of plausible behaviour and so was * Rotman too for a while 'T is no mean stroke to be given over to strong delusion 2 Theâ— 2. 11 12. Nor was it a light thing which they received as a recompence of their errour and yet it was but meet too Rom. 1. 27. See then that our faith be most holy Jude 20. and that our lives be according 2 Pet. 3. 12. in all holy * conversations and godlinesses How shall we hold up our faces before God before men in all cases conditions and appear without spot in the day of Christ Jesus Give attendance to reading 'T is too little thought on even of some well-minded people The Bible is the Book of Books a full Store-house There be Rules for all sorts of persons young and old Tit. 2. 2 3. rich and poor in all manner of conditions prosperous and adverse in all cases whatsoever we shall be put upon The * exactest Rules too to keep a man so far from usurie that he shall not be as anusurer Exod. 22. 25. And those that will be for his greatest glory too Deut. 4. 6 7 8. even in the eyes of common men Here we shall meet with that that will enlighten our eyes Psal. 119. 130. Dan. 9. 2. humble our hearts Deut. 17. 20. kill our sins Psal. 119. 9. enable us against Satan and all his temptations 1 John 2. 14. Matth. 4. 4 7 10. strengthen our faith Rom. 10. 8. Though we have much ado to beleeve what we reade sometimes yet reading will master it * Antonius Musa complain'd to Luther he had much ado his own self to believe what he preached to others Luther was glad there was any as bad as himself but the Word help't rhem and it will help us Here we shall have that that will over-awe our hearts Psal. 119. 161. that will encrease our patience and our comfort Rom. 15. 4. Here we shall have that that will help in life Prov. 16. 22. 23. and support in death Luke 2. 29. And reade we shall again and again too If 1. We be so truly taken up with God we shall then look upon the Scriptures as upon his * love-letters Hos. 8. 12. 2. If we so truly taste the sweet that 's there See 1 Pet. 2. 2 3. If we taste we shall desire 3. If we be so much advantaged by the use of the other Ordinances See Acts 8. 30. when he had been at Jerusalem So Acts 17. 11. 4. If we be so far above the world as it doth become us Martha was cumbred and could not heare no more then we can reade when we be so clutter'd but Mary sate down at Christs feet Luke 10. 41 42. 5. If we be so willing to order our steps to be so exact in our doings then we shall see to that word that 's a light and
say their Church cannot erre in matters of Faith And why forsooth Because it is infallibly guided by the strait line of the spirit We say The true Church cannot so erre in matters of faith or life as to fall away from Christ and so to fall into damnation And why Because besides other helps the true Church is guided by the certain and infallible direction of the spirit the vicar general to our Lord Jesus Why then may not we twit them rather then they do us with the private spirit Aquinas the first through-Papist that ever was It is Dr. John Rainolds censure of him shall speak last for this point All holy learning is proved out of the Scriptures onely necessarily out of all other authors only probably For our faith doth rest on the revelation made to the Apostles and Prophets who wrote the Canonical Books and not on any other revelation if any be made to other Doctors So he and he was preferred by Innocent the Pope before all Writers next to the Scriptures well might the Pope so do saith the same Dr. Rainolds for that he deserved better of the Papacy then all the Fathers These things are so plaine that to argue more were to weaken them As I have read it to be the observation of Tully That things perspicuous and clear are much obscured by much arguing I hope the Papists for shame will give over fooling against us that we run after private Spirits and revelations since Aquinas the flower of the Papists speaks out as much as we do as touching the sealing of the Spirit The Application of all I have made a long and tedious discourse about the Originals and Translations because I find by my self that things let fall in Print by learned men and great reformers as touching the Originals that none can say this is the Hebrew that the Greek but because Linguists and learned men say so and they may erre Nor that this is the English of the Hebrew or of the Greek which we say is but men subject to trip do so say That the Originals transcribed into many Copies might erre and mistake and for the translations that there be flaws in them too since the transcribers and translators were no Prophets but men though not willing perhaps yet subject to speak and write besides the matter that translations are not the Word of God nor our rule These and such things as these I doubt not do stagger the thoughts of weak of strong Christians too and drive a many towards Atheisme And now saith a sick soule What shall a poore feeble-hearted Christian do My counsel is that when he is come to be certain without actual doubting by reasons arguments consent of times of the Church that our Bible is the Word of God that he would in all humility and sincerity apply himselfe to read it to hear it read to heare it preached and he may promise to himself that by the use of the word the Spirit of God will infuse inspire divine saving faith into his soul and free him not only from all actual but possible doubting that the Bible translated is the word of God And if the translation then the Originals For what ever is the instrument to convert the soul must needs be the pure word of God Some are firme that God never works a miracle but to confirme truth This is past question that the Spirit of God doth never work this miracle to convert the soule but by Gods word So say Now I know that it is the pure word of God for that it is a means to convert my soul so Psal. 19. 7 The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul By this then I know that it is without dispute the perfect Law of the Lord because it doth not only evince and convince me but convert my soul St Austine saith that he was converted by reading the last verse of the thirteenth to the Romans and that did prove to Austine that it was the perfect Law and word of God It is storied that Cyprian was converted by reading the Prophet Jonas And Iunius in his life written by himself saith that he was converted by reading the first Chapter of the Gospel of Iohn For Austine Cyprian I think neither of them had much skill in the Originals no nor Iunius neither at that time wherefore it is plain enough that they were converted by reading translations When then a man doth finde that by reading or hearing translations read or preached upon it hath pleased God to warme thy heart to turn and change thy poor soul to convert thee into a new creature go thy ways doubt nothing its an argument past answer that the Bible even as translated is the Word of God Go on look on it as Gods word read on still be diligent to hear it with the best ears thou hast and thou shalt finde it more and more to convert and sanctifie thee and so by consequence to assure thee by an undoubtful and divine faith inspired and infused into thy poor soul by the Spirit of God that this book no other is the very Word of God By this you see where and how the poor crazy soul may find rest and it is to rest on the translated Word of God waiting therein on the line of the sweet providence who by the use of the word will breath into his soul divine faith infused by the sure influence of the Spirit of God which spirit brings a light with it by which we know that what we know this is done by a divine faith not by humane conjecture being wrought in us by a special providence of God perswading and drawing us to acknowledge the contents therein to be of Divine authority Nor is this as I said to make our private spirit the rule of our faith but we lay all at the foote of the divine providence to put light into our minds and then to work in us a firm assent to the Word of God that it is indeed and truth the very Word of God And none of this is done otherwise then by the Word of God itself and the spirit joyning with the Word In a word nothing can work saving grace in any man to the conversion of his soule but the very Word of God But this the word translated hath wrought in me therefore I know by this that the Scripture translated is the word of God sith nothing but Gods word can turne and convert the soul Make the most of that which some call universal tradition it can bring us no farther then an humane belief little better is it then that which the Papists call the authority of the Church The Ministry of the Church we grant needful and useful but for the authority of the Church we acknowledge none Thus the Jewes are for their Rabbines and their universal tradition So did the Saracens like as the Gentiles