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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A64337 A treatise relating to the worship of God divided into six sections / by John Templer ... Templer, John, d. 1693. 1694 (1694) Wing T667; ESTC R14567 247,266 554

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there can be no difficulty in discerning when they are exceeded and by consequence when a true Miracle is produced 4. The Word of God with its Internal Characters together with a perfect relation of the miraculous External effects whereby it was evidenced are faithfully committed to Writing Supernal direction was given not only about the matter but the manner S. Paul stiles the letters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and saies that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is of Divine Inspiration The Men imployed about this Work were perfectly acquainted with all circumstances Their information was so exact That had they been lest to the conduct of their own private Spirits they could not have been mistaken thro' ignorance in setting down matters of fact Neither have they made any misrepresentation out of design If Moses had been instigated by private regards to compose the Pentateuch he would not have recorded the infamy of his own family If any fraud had been used in the Penning the New Testament no doubt many enemies as well as friends who were Spectators of the Miracles and Auditors of the Doctrin living to see the relation in Writing would have discovered it Yet we never read of any attempt of this nature but on the contrary Porphyry Celsus and Julian in their cavils against Christian Religion suppose the matter of fact That such Doctrin was Preached and such Miracles done 5. This Writing in the Old Testament is digested into four and twenty Books In the New into twenty seven five Historical one and twenty Epistolical one Prophetical For this number we have the most clear Tradition Ezra having consigned the Canon of the Old Testament S. John of the New both of them persons inspired by the Spirit of God and of great Authority amongst Men The Tradition came in so full a stream from their hands that in every age it has born down all the opposition which has been made against it This Tradition we have just reason to embrace altho' we reject others because it adds nothing to the doctrin of the Bible as the Pipe adds nothing to the Water which is conveyed by it It is virtually contained in the Scripture It owes much of its universality to the intrinsick excellency of the Sacred Oracles which upon the first consulting commend themselves to the good opinion of every intelligent Reader It is of greater latitude than any other Tradition which is not formally contained in the Scripture As for others the Romanists are able to produce only the testimony of their party but for this we have not only the Testimony of all which adhere to the Community of Rome but that vast body of Christians which appertain to the Greek Protestant and all the Oriental Churches It must be acknowledged That there was for a time some hesitancy in some persons about some part of the New Testament The Christians concerned being dispersed and kept by persecution from holding correspondencies one with another could not possibly have an information equally early about those Books which were last written Upon this account when they first arrived at their hands they made some demur as the Apostles did at Christ when they believed him to be a Phantasin but upon a deliberate view consulting with those who had a more perfect intelligence they corrected the errour of their apprehension Insomuch That there is no instance which can be produced of any Church or Council which in any Decree or Canon has disallowed their Authority 6. These Books of the Old and New Testament have been transmitted to us without corruption We have the attestation of all sorts of men in every age for their passage thro' it Councils have made them the foundation of their Theological divisions The Fathers appeal to them in their Concertations as the most equal Arbitrators Divines before their Homilies prefix a Text taken out of them The Hereticks in every age have drawn from them whatsoever they conceive may favour their Sentiments Porphyrie's cavils at the Old Testament Hierocles comparing the Life of Christ in the New with the Life of Apollonius Julian's spending his Winter-nights in the refutation of it the Jews calling of it a volume of iniquity argue That they were extant and passed by them in those ages in which they lived Shimei's cursing and throwing stones at David at Bahurim make it evident that he went that way As these Books of the Old and New Testament have passed thro' every age down to us So in their passage they have escaped depravation What is spoken concerning the Essential Word may be applied to the Written Thou wilt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption If the Old Testament in any point material to Religion has been depraved it must be by the common fate which all humane Writings are exposed unto or else out of design by the Jews or by some unadvised neglect in those who copied it out Not the first way It is notorious what a signal discrimination Divine Providence has made betwixt the Scripture and other Writings in point of conservation When the book of the Law was given forth every Master of a family was obliged to have a Copy of it in his house The Prince was bound as is conceived to Write it out with his own hand Every Sabbath it was read in the Synagogues in the audience of the people Peculiar Persons were appointed to prevent any mutation in Words or Letters The Massorites who began in Ezra's time did reckon up all the Verses in every Verse the Words in every Word the Letters and have punctually expressed how many times every Word is used and which is the middle Verse Word and Letter in every Book It does not appear That the like care has been used by Divine Providence for the securing any other Book from depravation The event has been answerable to the care The Writings of the Penmen of the Scripture which they composed by the aid and conduct of their own Spirits have been corrupted and at last are utterly perished as Solomon's natural History But what they composed by the help of the Divine Spirit is preserved in its purity In all Copies of the best account there is a miraculous harmony in all material points The burning of the Book of the Law by Antiochus is very reconcileable with the vigilancy of Providence which has been asserted Tho' he was permitted to destroy some Copies yet his rage was not suffered to reach to all After this The Israelites in Maspha are said to lay open the book of the Law 1 Macc. 3.47 This fire made the Jews more warm in the defence of the Scripture against injurious attempts It is observed That from this time they began to be more Critical about the Text. That which was designed for the ruine of it was by the propitious influence of Heaven improved into a security The burning the sacred Oracles like the burning the Sibyll's books did make the Copies which remained have the greater value set
Properties and Attributes of the most high God 66 c. This truth acknowledged by all sorts of men the Primitive Christians 69. the Jews 71. the Heathen 72. Our not comprehending the difficulties of it no reason against it 73. Some considerations added to lead us thro' 'em ib. 4. Proposition This One God is to be Worshipped For First consider'd as essentially his nature and perfections justly challenge the deepest veneration 75. Then Secondly considered personally the Scriptures require him to be Worshipped 76. 5. Proposition This God only is to be Worshipped This shewn First from Scripture 78. Secondly from Reason 79. Thirdly from Antiquity 81. What the Papists say in opposition to this considered with respect to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Invocation of Saints and Images 84. 1. As to the Eucharist That the Papists pay 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to it ib. and thereby put the greatest affront upon Scripture 91. upon the analogy of Faith 94. upon Antiquity 97. upon Reason 106. and upon Sense 108. The declaration of their Church in this matter and the impossibility of an innovation considered 110. 2. As to Invocation of Saints This injurious to the peculiar honour of God 115. and of Jesus Christ the only Mediator 116. and has not the same grounds and reasons as our praying to each other here below For First the Saints and Angels are at a distance 117. And then Secondly 't is the prerogative of Jesus Christ only to be our Mediator in Heaven 118. as the Primitive Christians thought 119. The Origine of Invocation c. 122. 3. As to Images 123. They who use them are of three sorts First such as say they use them only as memorials to quicken their devotions which has no kindly influence on Religion 124. Secondly such as say they give only inferiour worship to 'em which yet is either vain or sinful 125. Thirdly such as profess to give the same worship to the Image as to the Prototype in kind thô not in degree i.e. relative or respective worship only ib. the vanity of this distinction shewn 126. and that 't is Idolatry 128. contrary to the Second Commandment 132. and unknown to the Primitive Church 135. SECT III. Concerning the True Worshippers of God THE whole reduced to Three Inquiries 142. I. Enquiry Who they are that are obliged to Worship ib. And they are in general all rational Beings as Angels 142. and Men whether secular 143 or more especially Ecclesiastical and consecrated to the performance of Religious Offices 145. the necessity of these shewn ib. such have been in all ages 147. before the floud ib. between that and the Law 150. that the First-born then were Priests 151. such also there were from the giving the Law till Christ 154. as appears from the Priests and Levites ib. from the Schools of the Prophets 155. from their studies there 156 from their Ordination by imposition of hands 157 from the place where they exercised their function 159. such lastly there were under the Gospel ib. II. Enquiry How men are to Worship God 163. This shown in several Propositions 1. Prop. We are to Worship him with all our Soul and heart and strength ib. and 2. Prop. Outwardly with our Bodies 165. 3. Prop. All the modes of external Worship must be decent orderly and to edification ib. 4. Prop. Different deductions from this general rule are no just grounds for distinct Churches to differ among each other and so violate the Vnity of the Vniversal 166. 5. Prop. Yet in the same Church 't is very expedient and desirable That there should be the same external mode of Religion 167 but yet 6. Prop. If contests arise in the same Church about external modes a ready way to compose them is to appeal to Primitive Order and give the preference to those that come nighest to it 169. And 7. Prop. If it cannot be known what the Primitive Order therein was the next step to Peace is to make prudent condescensions on each side before Authority has made any determinations 171. Then 8. Prop. If condescensions cannot be had and yet a determination is necessary all both weak and strong are obliged to acquiesce in such a determination 173. which is neither against nor inconsistent with the perfection of Scripture as a rule 174. nor prejudicial to our Christian Liberty 175. nor yet induces any necessity of violating the Law about scandal 176. III. Enquiry What ends we are to propose in the acts of Religious Worship ib. This shewn in three particulars First and chiefly The Glory of God 177. Secondly The Salvation of our Souls 178. Thirdly The good of the Community 179. The tendency of Religious Worship to all these shewn under each SECT IV. Concerning Assistance relating to Divine Worship THE Introduction from the general and acknowledged depravation of our Natures whereby we want Light to direct and Strength to enable us in the Worshipping God a-right and Merits to render our Services acceptable 185. Against all these God has provided sufficient helps and remedies in that 1. We have the holy Scriptures to direct us 186 2. The Holy Spirit to communicate strength 186 3. The Merits of our Saviour to procure acceptance 186 All which are treated more largely of And 1. Of the holy Scriptures to direct us which that we have grounds to depend on shewn in several Propositions as First The Worshipping God is absolutely necessary to Salvation 187. Secondly Moses and the Prophets Christ and the Apostles did by Oral Tradition reveal all things necessary to this purpose ib. Thirdly What they spoke was evidenced to be the real mind of God by inward characters of Divinity and external miraculous operations ib. Fourthly This word of God thus evidenced was faithfully committed to writing 192. Fifthly This Writing is digested into 24 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New 193. Sixthly These Books have been transmitted to us without corruption 194. Two opinions inconsistent with what has been said considered 1. That the Church of Rome as being infallible is to be our guide in matters of Religion 206. 2. That every one ought to rely upon the conduct of his own reason ib. As to the First Proved that the Pope is not infallible 207. nor a Council ib. nor the body of the People 210. nor all these together ib. nor are the reasons they urge here sufficient such as first The peremptory necessity of such a Guide 211. nor secondly their having all reasonable evidence that the Church of Rome is such a Guide 216. For they have not first The evidence of Scripture ib. shewn as to the chief places they urge 221. nor secondly Vniversal Tradition 228. nor yet thirdly the motives of credibility 232. shewn particularly as to Antiquity Diuturnity Amplitude ib. uninterrupted Succession of Bishops 235. Agreement in doctrine with the Primitive Church 236. Vnion among themselves 237. holiness of doctrine 239. efficacy of it 240. holiness of life 242. Lastly the
upon them From that time the Jews divided the Prophets into Sections Elia. Tisbi vo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and began to read them in their Synagogues As the Books of the Old Testament have not been corrupted by that fate which other Writings are exposed unto So neither designedly by the Jews If they had been guilty in this respect it must be either before or after the coming of the Messias If before this crime would not have been concealed in the New Testament The Apostle who has noted That the Oracles of God are committed to them would undoubtedly have recorded their unfaithfulness in the discharge of their trust in case any such thing had been If it be said That the Apostles have sufficiently discovered their thoughts touching this matter in that they have waved the Hebrew Text in their citations out of the Old Testament and made use of the Greek Version I answer That the Hebrew Text is never waved if the words be not directly followed yet the sence which is the Soul of the Text always is If the Shell be wanting yet we have the Kernel The Pen-men of the New Testament represent the sence of the Old in such words as seem meet to the Spirit of God Those words being of great Authority were put into the Margin of the Greek Version as a good illustration of it Disser in Appen ad Crit. Sacr. Capelli p. 489. and in process of time were inserted by the Transcribers into the Text it self Several insertions of this nature are visible to those who diligently peruse that Version If the corruption pretended was made after the Age in which our blessed Lord and the Apostles lived it is very strange That the Fathers should take no notice of it They speak of the depravation of the Greek Text but never of the Hebrew It is unaccountable why the Corrupters should suffer those Texts to continue in the Bible unaltered which are most pertinent for the refutation of their error We desire no greater advantage against the Jews in our concertations with them than what the Bible as it is now pointed will give unto us None are able to nominate the Text where this fraud has been committed If any such deceit has been used no doubt but those Jews which were converted to the Christian Faith would have disclosed it As the Books of the Old Testament have not been corrupted out of design So neither by any neglect of those which copied them out He who considers their accuracy about Transcribing the Law will not be inclinable to charge them with this crime They were careful that the Ink which they used might have no corrosive ingredients in it The Parchment which they wrote upon was made of the skin of a clean beast and prepared after the most exquisite manner The Columns were measured and a computation made how many lines were to be drawn in every Column These lines were accurately drawn out and the distance betwixt every word and letter limited Tho' many of them did remember the Law by heart yet they did not write a word till they looked upon it in the Authentick Copy All this being duly pondered doth evidence That the Books of the Old Testament are not depraved Neither are the Books of the New In order to the preventing corruption Divine Providence has signally appeared in waving the methods of Art which requires That those things which are homogeneous be put together and in dispersing the fundamental points throughout the whole Volume By this disposition all attempts to deprave it are easily detected If we have several pieces of money it is not difficult to know by comparing of them together whether any of them have been clipt If the Truth should be rased out in one place yet it will be preserved in another It is the pleasure of the Divine Wisdom to divide the important Articles of our belief as Jacob did his flock that in case Esau smite the one the other might escape The divine care is equally conspicuous in ordering That Versions should be made into several Languages and communicated to the World Every Nation is in a capacity to hear the Spirit of God speaking in their own tongue All these people living at a great distance one from another could never combine together to corrupt this sacred Canon If any such attempt had been in any one Nation the Copies preserved in others would presently have discovered the fraud The Premises being seriously considered it will be evident That it is our duty to entertain the Bible both Old and New Testament as the Word of God and depend upon it for our primary conduct in Divine Worship Tradition doth put it into our hand as a complete Directory in the concerns of Religion The Testimony of the Church doth prepare and quicken our minds to look into it and begets a Moral certainty that it is the Word of God There is no reason to question that which has been asserted with so much unanimity in all Ages We may as well doubt of that which we perceive with our senses as that which has been the sence of the best and wisest of Men at all times When we are thus prepared and seriously consult the matter of the sacred Oracles ponder the internal characters of Divinity and the external Seals of the Verity of them we find our Moral Certainty presently translated into a Divine Faith When we receive a letter from a friend we believe it comes from him because it is so asserted by the bearer but when we look upon the hand and seal and find that both are his we are prefently exalted to a higher degree of assurance The inward characters are God's Hand and the Miracles his Seal Those who assert We believe the things contained in the Scripture to be True because God who is True has revealed them and that we believe God has revealed them because it is so affirmed by the Church in all Ages make the foundation of Faith weaker than the superstructure For the Revelation of God is more sure than the Universal Tradition of Men. Those who assert That this Proposition The Bible is the Word of God is capable of no other evidence must ground their perswasion either upon the want of Power or Will in God to impress such Characters upon it as are sufficient to evidence the divine Original of it We cannot reasonably affirm the first For if by the impressions of reason upon a discourse it may be known to be the composition of a Man of excellent Learning why may not such words of Wisdom be spoken by God as need nothing to attest their Original but their innate evidence If God may be known by his Works there is just cause to believe that he may be so by his Words He can imprint peculiar Characters upon the one as well as upon the other The second cannot be asserted For when he gave forth his Word he willed that it should be received as his