Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	canonical_a	reject_v	scripture_n	1,650	5	6.1041	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39769	The truth and certainty of the Protestant faith with a short and plain account of the doctrine of the Romish Church in its visible opposition to Scripture and the very being of Christianity : to which is adjoined some serious considerations anent popery & the state of that controversy.	Fleming, Robert, 1630-1694.	1678 (1678)	Wing F1277B; ESTC R37829	39,817	62

the Scripture yea a dexterous comparing of one place with another with a prudent use of the judgement and commentaries of such as have written thereon though not implicitely to rest upon them Qu. Bu● hath not the Scripture so various senses as necessarily requires a living and visible Judge to decide when to take it in a literal or in a figurative sense Ans It concerns the Romish Church to impose divers senses on the Scripture that it may have none at all though we deny not some figurative expressions the true sense whereof must be understood from what is the obvious intent as the scope of such a Scripture not the very words themselves Such as Mat. 5 29. If thine eye offend thee pluck it out Psal 91 13. Thou shal● tread upon the lion and the dragon But it is most clear 1. That one true and genuine sense the Scripture only hath from the words rightly understood which is the literal sense and thence only Arguments can be taken to prove any truth 2. That in truths necessary to Salvation is no thing figuratively expressed but what is with greatest plainnesse to the discerning of all held forth 3. What the Romish Church pleads for of an Allegorick Moral and Typical sense they are no different senses of the Scripture but a different application and accommodation of one and the same Scripture divers ways in the use whereof much caution and sobriety is needful and though a necessarie respect is to be had always to the Type and the thing Typified yet even there is the sense still one and the same SECT IV. Qu. HOw know you the Scripture is of God or can be infallibly sure of its Divinity but by the Church and its Testimony Ans We deny not this to be a peculiar motive and inducement for a high and reverent esteem thereof and a ministerial help to our Faith though with no authoritative Dominion over the same But 1. The Scripture is known by its own light and these expresse Characters and marks of Divinity it bears which convincingly shew whose it is so as the meanest Christian may know this without any humane Testimony 2. There needs also the inward work of the Spirit to beget a firm and through perswasion thereof upon the Soul Qu. But how do you know you perceive such a light in the Scriptures as you speak of Or can make it appear to others that you are not deceived therein Ans None will distrust their own eves though by no Arguments they can perswade those who are blind that they really behold so excellent a light as the Sun But it is strange and absurd to demand a reason of Sense or for a blind man to require him who seeth to prove unto him by Argument that he certainly sees and beholds such things Qu. Is not this torun in a round and circle from the Scripture to the Spirit from the Spirit again to the Scripture when th●s you know by the Spirits revealing the Scripture to be the Word of GOD and that revelation to be true by the Scripture Ans No ground is here for any such challenge 1. Because we admit no private or particular Revelation of the Spirit to assure us of the Truth different from what is revealed in the Scripture it self 2. It can be no circle when it is so clear the Scripture and Spirit mutually prove one another by different wayes and not in the same manner for it is by way of Argument that the Scripture proves the certainty of the Spirit holding out such truths whence we know how to discern the Spirit but effectively and as an instrument doth the Spirit prove the Scripture by enabling us to see that marvelous light which is therin 3. As hath been already cleared there are Arguments of another nature and independent on the Testimony of the Spirit by which the Divinity of the Scripture can be solidly known and demonstrated Qu. Can you know the Scripture is Canonical or that these Apocrypha Books which Protestants reject are no part thereof without the Churches decision Ans We know 1. That these were never acknowledged in the Canon of the Scripture by the Jewish Church before Christ to which the Oracles of God were committed nor read and expounded in their Synagogues as their most Ancient Writers and of the greatest credit amongst them witnesse 2. They were not written in Hebrew the language of the Church before the coming of Christ in which all the Books of the Old Testament were generally written 3. Though with that severe caution was the Ancient Church careful to keep the Scripture so as the number of the verses letters thereof was most exactly re●koned and lookt to yet none of these Apocryphal Books was ever received or admitted by them 4. By the Primitive Church after the Apostles such were not owned in the Canon of the Scripture though by some allowed to be read for instruction of manners 5. They are convict of notorious falshood in many places both of Doctrine and History which all may see repugnant to Truth and the Analogy of Faith Qu. Bus what certainty can be on the credit of a Translation that all know to be fallible Ans Nothing can be more for moral assurance when it is so clear 1. That the truth of our translations though in divers times and different Languages yet all agree in the maine and substance 2. That solide relief is at hand to go unto the fountains themselves the original Languages and see with their own eyes if the Translations thereof be not faithful and true which by a little pains and diligent use of helps for such an end is in our power to attain 3. It is not on naked words but on the clear and genuine sense thereof in whatever Language held forth that we found our Faith nor can any deny the Scripture truely rendered in English to be the Word of God though not in the very same Characters in which the Prophets wrote the same 4. These evidences of the Scriptures Divinity that it enlighteneth the eyes and converts the Soul with its Authority over the Conscience we know to be no less discernably and convincingly witnessed in mens vulgar Language through all ages than in the Greek and Hebrew SECT V. Qu. IS the Scripture of a sufficient foundation of Faith for a private Christian which according to the Romish Doctrine must have its A●thority from the Church without which it can be no Scripture nor Canonical Ans They are indeed concerned to put down all Divine Record that they may be alone Judges in their own cause But we know 1. That the Apostolick Church had no such claim 2 Cor. 1 24. Not that we have dominion over your Faith 2. That they did bound their Authority within the limits of the Scripture Gal. 1 8. Though we or an Angel from Heaven preach another Doctrine than that we have preached to you let him be accursed 3. Thus should the