appointment But the only wise God who certainly could foresee all these things thought it best to have his Word written and yet made no extraordinary provision for transcribing them upon occasion or preventing such questions as are now made by some Sure we are that our Saviour calls the Jews to Scripture and they do not excuse themselves by saying they know not whether they have the Law of Moses as it was first delivered nay they confess that God spake by Moses and they knew it And our Saviour pu s the question whether he were the Ch in to be proved by Scripture Strange that the only wise God should not foresee this quarrel miâ—…h be made in after ages which Pâ—…pists make now For might not the 〈◊〉 the Law of Moses and the writings of the Prophets were no Rule of faith and manners to them because they could not evidence their own certainty so as to ascertain them And how could they â—…icertain them then more then us new But Tradition is it which must secure all by its affidavit made to Scripture And what do we then believe in believing Scripture the authority of God or men If Scriptures authority as to us depends upon the Churches Testimony in our belief of Scripture we believe men and not God at least we believe God for the Testimony of men And what kind of faith that is let them who question us so much about Scripture resolve us For the various readings that are in the Originals we acknowledge them and think they happened much through the mistakes of those who transcribed the Copies from time to time However they happened for we stand not much upon it Papists know that the Jews Masoreth hath well provided for the Old Testament And though the New hath very many we stand to maintain that all those various readings put together let the worst be made of them can never be improved to prejudice the authority of Scripture in one Article of Faith For all the written and printed Copies of the Original Bibles do concurre in the whole main doctrine of Christ throughout And thereupon we challenge Papists to shew any alteration that clashes with the doctrine first delivered notwithstanding all the various readings in so great a multitude of Copies Hence we conclude as a learned man hath it That the true and proper foundation of Christian Religion is not ink and paper nor any writing or writings whether Originals or Translations but that substance of matter those gracious counsels of God concerning the salvation of the world by Jesus Christ which are indeed represented and 〈◊〉 both in Translations and Orginals but are really and 〈◊〉 distinct from both and no wayes for their natures and beings depending on either of them The writing as he saith declares the nature or tenour of the bargain which was in reality and compleatness of being before the writing and consequently the wâ—…iting can be no part of it In like manner the good pleasure of God concerning mans salvation bad its being in God himself long before any part of it was imparted unto the world by any writing For it was savingly imparted first By immediate inspiration of God unto some men And secendly By word of mouth from these to many others long before any part of it was ordered by God to be set down in writing So that no Book or writing whatsoever is either in whole or in part the Word or Will of God and consequently no foundation of Christian Religion unless we make some other foundation besides the Word of God As for the Originals we are assured that they are intire and not defective as any can be sure of any thing that is of so long standing And therefore we are bold to think that they who question us as they do in this kind might rather have questioned God himself for representing his mind and will in writing when he could not but foresee that such manner of questions might be put in after-ages as are made now adayes None dare say that God never ordered his will to be written And seeing it is so ordered by him why should we question the wise and gracious hand of his providence in contriving the preservation of these antient Records unto all posterity for whom he intended them Methinks it were a more direct course for our Adversaries to take if they would say downright that God never committed his mind and will to writing then now to say as they do that no man can be sure that these writings are the same which were at first For this seems to cast an aspersion upon God for taking such a way of representing his mind unto the sons of men as must leave those of these latter ages of the world under invincible doubtings about his will that respects their greatest and only concernments As for their expedient of Tradition what doth it other then resolve all the Divine authority of Scripture into the authority of men For they say Scripture cannot ascertain us concerning it self nor can any thing else but Tradition which yet is no more then the Testimony of men And so the Testimony of God as to us must be less then that of men To the second Querie we need not say much in way of answering it seeing the Books accounted by us Apocryphal do sufficiently shew what account we are bound to make of them while they confute themselves by their own contents That the Maccabees are a story of which there is good use we deny not and that Ecclesiâ—…sticus and the Book of Wisdom c. contain many and sundry moral instructions we do not question no more then that the like are found in other Books which yet pretend not to Divine authority But this proves them not to be Canonical as the Church of Rome hath determined Once the Jewish Church never owned them for part of the Canon nor were they ever written in their language as the other parts of the Old 〈◊〉 True they have been allowed to be read in some Churches for instruction in manners But the Christian Church never received them into the Canon of Scripture nor will it ever be proved The Romish Church indeed for what cause she best knows hath Canonized these Books But what is that to us who can as easily distinguish in this case as we can between light and darkness But we appeal to the Churches Testimony and say that the true Christian Church had no other Canonical Books then what we own for such There were indeed some who questioned some particular Books of the New Testâ—…ment but that question continued not long and if some also gave too much to these Apocryphals that is not enough to countervail the general vote of the whole Church which alwayes rejected them from having any place in the Canon Hence our answer is that we know what Books are Canonical by that light and lustre of Divine truth which shines out and shews it self in
to multiply arguments in this kind as so many evidences of Gods speaking to us in â—…he Scriptures But I shall forbear â—…nd proceed to somewhat that comes nearer to the Question concerning â—…he Rule of Faith It is well known that this Question hath been much disputed between us and our Adversaries for many years and that two things especially have been insisted on by them to prove the Scripture no competent Rule of Faith viz. the obscurity and the imperfection 〈◊〉 it In this dispute they have laboured to puzzle and plunge us by putting us to shew how Scripture proveâ—… it self to be what we account it the Word of God To this we may justly think it 〈◊〉 sufficient answer to say as one yea many have said long since thaâ—… in every profession the Principles aâ—… indemonstrable assented to without discourse and the Scriptures are thâ—… Principles of Christian Religion anâ—… therefore first we must grant them to be the very Word of God and therâ—… say they contain all points needfull to be known And since Scripture avoucheth it self to be the word of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. 2 Pâ—…t 1. 20 21 Luke 1. 70. it is rational in us to believe it Notwithstanding our Adversaries are not satisfied but insisâ—… much on this Question viz. How we know that the Scripture that saith it is the Word of God is so in very deed To this the Protestants have long since answered That they know this first and principally by the illumination of Gods Spirit as the inward means and then by the restimony of the Scriptures themselves as the outward means and lastly by the ministry of the Church inducing us to assent Here we say not that the certainty of the Scripture is written in any particular place or Book of it but the vertue and power that sheweth it self in every line and leaf of the Bible proclaimeth it to be the Word of the eternal God and the sheep of Christ discern the voice and light thereof as men discern light from darkness and as children are known by their faces and favours resembling their parents As the purity and perfection of the matter and many particulars else some of which I have hinted before and whoever will see them more fully may find them in a large and learned discourse of the Divine authority of Scripture which I name the rather because it is a Book which the vulgar may better understand then many others that handle this question Though the grounds I have hinted and others which I have omitted induce us strongly to believe the Scriptures Divine authority and we may count them sufficient to fence us against the cavils of our Adversaries yet it is one thing to answer the arguments of men and another to satisfie the doubts and fears of our own consciences Therefore we stand to this That no man can be effectually perswaded of the Scriptures authority as he ought to be in order to a sound and saving belief of the truths therein contained unless he be taught of God by the teachings of his Spirit which alone teacheth to know spiritual things in a spiritual manner God we say is the best witness to his own Word and his Spirit the best seal that can be put to it In the particulars fore-mentioned and many others we see evident tokens of God speaking to us in the Scriptures But the faith that saves us must have this foundation viz. Gods sealing the truth of Scripture by the special grace of his own Spirit to our souls And when this is done then is a man fully perswaded and confident indeed so as he can say and swear too if there be need the doctrine of Christ in Scripture is that which God hath revealed to lead and guide me to my happiness in the enjoyment of God for ever Then and not before a man hath comfort and peace in believing having not only a grant of eternal life but the great seal of the Kingdom of Heaven put to it Such a man so assured and sealed by the Spirit unless in a fit of temptation never troubles himself about this Question Whether Scripture be the Word of God His trouble is most about his own deceitfull and unbelieving heart that he can trust God no better when he hath so good security for all that is needfull in order to his happiness He never thinks what some have said that the Scriptures have been corrupted and are not what once they were He knows that Gods Word is pure and perfect and is only troubled at the corruption of his own heart Papists to shew what good will and respects they have to Scripture have a long time been quarrelling it as if some part of the Canon were lost and some of ours seem to yield somewhat to this thinking no prejudice to come thereby to it But others conceive that no part or member of Scripture that ever was Canonical is lost buâ—… that we have it as whole and compieat as ever it was Indeed aâ—… one faith if any Book were lost oâ—… those which were commended to the whole Church it must argue a strang conspiâ—…acy of this whole Church iâ—… carelessness and negligence such aâ—… is not lightly incident to this generation of men We grant that some particular Churches and single persons have doubted some parts oâ—… Scripture now generally acknowledged for Canonical But we deny that the whole Church hath ever done any such thing As for the old Testament who can justly suspect â—…he Jews for corrupting them when â—…heir zeal for them even almost to â—…uperstition hath been so notorious â—…n all ages and is so still even to this â—…ay Our Saviour blamed them â—…uch and often for their vain Traâ—…itions but never spake one word â—…out their corrupting the Scripture â—…hich questionless he would have â—…ne had there been cause since was a matter of such high concernent And if any had attempted it had been impossible for them to complish it when there were so any Copies dispersed in all places â—…d Countries which were many â—…erein the Jews dwelt If any â—…ereticks had essayed it since the â—…w Testament was written how â—…uld one party have observed anoâ—…er and so prevenâ—…ed the design â—…d to say no more it is impossible â—…ess we imagine that all and every one who had a Bible should at once with one consent in all places oâ—… the world resolve to corrupt those antient Records commended to mankind as the Word of God To clear this further having inserted it here occasionally The Scriptures have been written in parchment and papeâ—… which are things perishable and ic are subject to the injuries of time But who knows not the difference that is between the Word of God and the paper and parchment anâ—… ink which have been used to preserve and conveigh it to us Gods Woâ—… must and shall stand when all theâ—… parchments and paper Records shâ—… be no more And whatever alteâ—… tion there hath been we stand to iâ—…
it was so agreed very early we have reason to think because Coâ—…stantine in the first Nicene Council would not else have perswaded the Fathers assembled to examine and try all questions and controversies by the Canon of Scripture For had it been otherwise it had been rational to move them first to resolve what the Canon was Once we know the Christian Church had need to be resolved of a Rule of faith even from the beginning at least so soon as the Apostles had departed this life For if any thing surely this is of concernment to the Church viz. To have the Rule of faith stated as the standard whereby all doctrines are to be weighed and measured And this we think was done even from the Apostles times and that upon the determination which they had made so as there was no such Question of old about the Rule of faith such as Papists have made of late That some have questioned the authority of some Books of the New Testament we know but we say they were only some and not the whole Church Besides to question the authority of some few Books is not to question the authority of the whole Scripture And indeed this question was never made till of latter times when Papists could no more defend their Tenets by this Rule of faith 5. We would know how the Church came to know all the mysteries of Christian Religion And this we have reason to question because Papists make so much of the Churches Testimony as if Scripture had no authority as to us at least without it Whatâ—… did the Church devise the whole model of the Christian faith out of her own heart No certainly this will never be said by any that are sober What then Questionless she was taught it of God and in this I hope we all agree Well And how was she taught it was it not by the Revelation of Jesus Christ And where is this Revelation if it be not in Scripture But I proceed and say the Christian Church learnt the doctrine of Christ from Scripture the Spirit working with the Word For the Apostles did not in preaching the Gospel bring to light what had never been heard of or thought on before But they only declared to the world the performance of what God had foretold and promised in the old Testament concerning his Son made of a woman and made under the Law when once the fulness of time was come And so the Apostle avows Acts 26. 22. that his doctrine was no other then what Moses and the Prophets had signified before And did not Christ come to fulfill the promises made to the Fathers which promises were recorded in the old Testament Yea and Christ himself expounded the Scriptures concerning himself Lukâ—… 24. 27. And vers 25. he up 〈◊〉 he two Disciples with their not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what the Prophets had spoken 〈◊〉 iâ—… the Church in all ages 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 themselves knew the 〈◊〉 of Christ by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is enough to shew us 〈◊〉 is the only Rule of faith Once 〈◊〉 If Scripture be not the Rule 〈◊〉 let Papists tell us what it serve â—…or Truly we are so ignorant as if it be not the Rule of our faith we know no use of it And if that be granted which our Adversaries plead for why may we not hearken to the Church and her Tradition and never look on Scripture more For they have of late framed a Rule of faith that is all-sufficient and tell us plainly Scripture is not so Surely if we thus let go the Word and take up Tradition we had best let God go also and content our selves with the Church But there are some Questions to be answered and till this be done we talk to no purpose whatever we say of Scripture or against Tradition For how know we 1. Whether the Originals be entire and the same with those which were first ponned by the Prophets and Apostles 2. What Books of Scripture are Canonical and what not 3. Whether the Originals are rightly translated into the English and other vulgar languages 4. Whether they are truly senâ—…'d and interpreted c. and what not These and such like are pressed upon us to enervate the sorce of Scriptures authority and prove it no Rule of faith For the Rule of faith say Papists must be easie to be understood of all and it must evidence it self so as we may be ascertained of it that it is the Word of God and how can the vulgar be sure of this when the wisest and most learned are not well agreed about it What shall become of the unlearned and such as make any doubts about these things And there are many such whereof some are Rational and others Sceptical and others no question are Atheistical to an high degree To all these we count our selves bound to answer and our answer in general is I. That if Scripture were never so plain and certain there will be some doubters and dissenters and enemies to it also There are too many who question and some who deny the Existence of God Is there no certainty therefore of Gods Existence Or hath not God sufficiently shewed himself to be known as he is so did Christ give evidence enough of himself though the blind Pharisee could nor or rather would not see him to be what he was We know there are many in the world who are dissenters to the Rules of common honesty and righteousness and yet they are plain enough and Papists I am confident think so It is abundantly sufficient if Scripture prove it self so far as all honest sober and uninterested persons may be satisfied These I am sure will be contented with such proofs as the matter in question will bear And who that is reasonable will expect arguments in this case to prove more then a moral certainty alwayes excepting that inward assurance which a gracious soul hath by the seal of Gods Spirit 2. We answer That the Rule may be easie though all men do not understand it And such is Scripture easie we say to be understood by all that will use means for that end What! do our Adversaries think it may be known by dreaming of it or shall we think that God hath not sufficiently provided for our souls because we cannot come to the knowledge of the Truth and Salvation by it without pains-taking This is to say no more unreasonable What can be learnt without using means and taking pains 3. We may justly look on these Queries about Scripture as if a man should ask another How do you know light from darkness white from black sowre from sweet For Scripture gives as clear a discovery of it self as things white and black sowre and sweet shew their taste and colour But I shall endeavour to answer particulars as they lye in order To the first Question about the Originals we answer 1. That we know them to be entire and not defective and the same with those that
ΛΟΓΟΣ ΑΥΤΟΠΙΣΤΟΣ OR Scriptures Self-Evidence TO PROVE Its Existence Authority Certainty in it Self and Sufficiency in its kind to ascertain others That it is Inspir'd of God to be the Only Rule of Faith PUBLISHED As a Plea for Protestants in the Defence of their Profession and intended only for the use and instruction of the Vulgar sort Isa. 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony John 5. 39. Search the Scriptures c. Canonica autoritas veteris novi Testamenti quae Apostolorum consirmata temporibus per successiones Episcoporum propagationes Ecclesiâ—rum tanquam in sede quâdam sublimitèr constituta est Aug. contr Faust. Ma. 1. 11. c. 5. LONDON Printed for Edward Brewster and are to be sold at Mr. Marriotts a Scrivener over against Hicks-Hall in St. Johns street 1667. TO ALL Well-meaning Protestants Who desire and resolve to hold fast their Profession Especially those who are least able to Dispute Controversies SIRS I Marvel not if you think your selves well grounded in your Religion whiles you are able to give a Reason of the hope that is in you by proving the Articles of your Faith out of Scripture For in this perswasion you are of 〈◊〉 same mind with me whoever you are However I must admonish you that what pleases you and me doth not satisfie all For there are still as of late have been such as will ask you How you are able to prove Scripture to be the word of God and the only Rule of Faith Therefore it concerns you and me too as the times are to bethink our selves what to Answer when we shall be put to the Question And that you may have some what to reply I have in this ensuing Discourse given you some of those thoughts which I have taken up by occasion of this Question that may be put to us I know well That divers Learned both English and Outlandish Divines have bestowed their pains to prove the authority of Scripture such as we account it and that it is the only Rule of Faith But the labours of those Learned men are such either for language or somewhat else as they would be to you if you had them by you as the word of a Book that is sealed I have therefore composed this Discourse in a plain English style and phrase and of no great price to ease your purses that you may have by you somewhat to answer your Adversaries In it I use and urge Scripture very little or nothing at all in a manner because I will cut off occasion from our Adversaries who will else say I prove my Conclusion by that which is the thing in Question How necessary it is for you to be well informed in this Case and to be fortified against the assaults of such as lie in wait to undermine you and turn up the foundations of your Faith I must leave you to be Judges For our Adversaries I am resolved never to draw the Saw against them partly because of mine insufficiency many wayes to enter the Lists with such Giant-like men and especially because there are so many worthies on our side whose great abilities and advantages such as I want cannot but encourage them to what I dare not undertake All my design is to instruct the ignorant whose desire is to learn And to such I offer these weak endeavours of mine in hope they may suggest somewhat that may serve to stay and uphold the weak till they be further established by the help of some more able hand And if this be I have all my design so as God may have all the glory SCRIPTURE THE Only Rule of Faith PRotestants have alwayes counted the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the Inspiration of God and the only Rule of Faith and Manners And that they may abide and increase more and more in this perswasion is and shall be my hearts desire and prayer to God for them But though they hold Scripture for a Principle and Ground-plot of their Faith yet they are called upon somewhat methinks besides the Laws of Science to prove it And this Task I am willing in their behalf to undertake because the Lord hath commanded us to be alwayes ready to give a reason of the hope that is in us For this consideration and nothing else hath emboldned me to let the World know the rational Grounds which Protestants have to perswade them that Scripture is the Word of God and written by his command to be the only Rule of Faith unto all Christians And what I have to say upon this account I shall reduce unto these two particulars 1. I shall alledge some of those rational Grounds by which Protestants are induc'd to believe the Scripture to be divinely inspir'd with the Conclusion which we think must unavoidably follow viz. That it is the only Rule of Faith 2. I shall a little discuss the Queflion wherher Tradition the Churches Testimony or any thing of that nature can be rationally allowed this great Priviledge of being a Rule of Faith and then conclude all with an Answer to the grand Objection of Papists against Scripture because as it is all they can say worth our notice so it is look't on by them as an invincible Achilles and a short but serious admonition to all Protestants who mind the concernments of their souls or may be perswaded to it The former Part Shewing the Rational Grounds upon which Protestants believe Scripture to be inspir'd of God c. SCripture is as it calls it self a Light and therefore is best seen in and by and of it self though there be nothing else to shew it Hence it is that when we have said as much as we can to prove its Divine authority we must â—…i I leave it to be seen in its own Light and to prove it selâ—… the Manitestation of Gods mind and will made to the sons of men And upon due consideration it will appear so to any that are judicious and impartial For how can it be prov'd to be what it is by any argument besides the attestation given it by God and his Spirit and the evident tokens of God speaking in it And so it proves it self just as a Learned man proves himself a Scholar by his learned Exercises when he is called to them or as God proves himself to be what he is by what he saith and doth However we are put to prove our Principles and we are contented so to do as well as we can I say as well as we can because all Scholars know that Principles are most hardly prov'd against such as have impudence enough to deny them And here I must in order to my intended work request the Reader to grant me somewhat which seems very reasonable and I hope will be supposed such by all that are indifferent and impartial 1. That in this Case I can alledge no rational Arguments other then such as Scripture yields and offers to prove it self inspired of