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A01637
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The summe of Christian doctrine written originally in Latine by John Gerhard ... and translated by Ralph Winterton ...; Aphorismi succinct et selecti. English
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Gerhard, Johann, 1582-1637.; Winterton, Ralph, 1600-1636.
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1640
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STC 11769.5; ESTC S4062
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111,557
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338
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two wayes either for that which of it self alone is All-sufficient excluding all want or else for that which is but In part profitable and not sufficient of it self without the help of something else It is manifest that the Apostle here speaketh of that which is profitable taken in the first sense 22 By those things which are written we may be taught to beleeve on Christ John 20.31 and be furnished unto all good works 2. Tim. 3.17 And the brethren of the rich glutton by hearing Moses and the Prophets in the Scriptures might have escaped the torments of Hell Luke 16.29 23 Whereupon it follows without forcing that the perfection of the Holy Scripture is such as we assigne unto it For whosoever beleeveth on Christ and is furnished unto all good works and made partaker of eternall life what can he desire more 24 This also is an Argument worthie our consideration That the Apostle S. Paul declared unto the Church of Ephesus all the counsel of God to wit concerning our salvation Acts 20.27 Again the same Apostle said none other things then those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come Acts 26.22 Therefore in Moses and the Prophets is contained all the counsel of God concerning our salvation 25 Now if the Scripture be perfect as indeed it is Away then with Traditions which some would thrust upon us to be received with like affection and to be beleeved with like authoritie as the Scripture 26 For they are full of doubts and sometimes also contradictions being very apt to be corrupted and many wayes subject unto errour 27 The Ecclesiasticall Historie witnesseth that in the time of the Primitive Church under the name of Apostolicall Traditions many falsities were broched and that men of great note have been deceived in former time by the opinion of Traditions 28 Furthermore seeing that the Holy Scripture was by God given unto men to this end to instruct them unto salvation from hence we conclude that The Scripture is perspicuous 29 What Could not God which made both mind and tongue speak plainly and perspicuously Yea certainly he used great care and providence that all men might understand vvhat he spake unto all men Lactant. lib. 6. Div. Institut cap. 21. 30 Ought not that which is to instruct the rude and ignorant and make them wise and learned ought not that I say be perspicuous 31 It is perspicuity which in fit to teach and instruct not obscurity or perplexitie 32 Yet when we say that the Holy Scripture is perspicuous we would not have it so understood as if we meant that whatsoever is contained any where in Scripture were so easie and plain that any man at the first sight may understand it 33 But this is our meaning that The perspicuity of Scripture is such that from thence a man may learn sure and infallible grounds and principles of religion the knowledge whereof is necessary unto every man toward the attainment of everlasting salvation 34 The books of the Prophets and Apostles are the integrall parts of Holy Scripture And that both those are perspicuous it is proved by good testimonies If the parts of Scripture then be perspicuous how can the whole be said to be obscure 35 The Propheticall word in the Old Testament is compared unto a Lamp Light or Lantern Psalme 119.105 And as much is said of the Apostolicall word 2. Pet. 1.19 And again If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost 2. Cor. 4.3 Whereby it appeareth that if the Scripture be obscure and hid it is so onely by accident But of it self and by its own nature it is perspicuous 36 Seeing therefore it is demonstrated that the Scripture is perfect and perspicuous It follows that It is and ought to be the certain infallible and onely rule and judge of all controversies that are moved about points of Christian religion 37 What David saith concerning the Apostles Psal 19.4 Their line or their rule or direction is gone out through all the earth the same Paul applies to the doctrine of the Apostles Rom. 10.18 Their sound went into all the earth But the Apostles wrote and taught the same things 38 Christ also and his Apostles for determining controversies of faith appealed unto no other Judge went by no other Rule but the Holy Scriptures and they send us also to search the Scriptures And what sheep will not follow Christ his Shepherd and Leader and the Apostles his followers 39 The word of Christ contained in the Holy Scriptures Propheticall and Apostolicall shall judge all men in the last day John 12.48 Rom. 2.16 Rev. 20.12 What hinders then but that it may be unto us in this life a Perfect Rule 40 For if there be any part of celestiall doctrine not contained within the Canonicall books How shall the judgement which shall be passed hereafter according unto them be entire 41 Furthermore seeing that it is not onely permitted but also commanded to all Christians to trie the Spirits 1. John 4.1 to beware of false prophets Matth. 7.15 to prove all things 1. Thess 5.21 and thus it lies upon them to discern between divine truth and humane dreams certainly the rule of truth that is the Holy Scripture belongeth unto all men And therefore The common people ought not to be debarred the reading of the Scripture 42 What the Spirit of God approveth and commendeth let not any man say It is forbidden But the Bereans are commended for this that they examined Pauls sermon by the Rule of the Scriptures Acts 17 1â— The elect strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia 1. Pet. 1.1 are commended for attending unto the word of prophesie as unto a light 2. Pet. 1.19 And Coloss 3.16 the diligent study in the Scripture is commended to all Christians 43 And seeing that the common people are altogether ignorant of the Hebrew and Greek tongue wherein the books of the Old and Nevv Testament were written and yet are bound to reade the Scriptures Therefore their pains is to be commended who have translated the Holy Scriptures into the vulgar tongues 44 But yet the Hebrew text onely in the Old Testament and the Greek in the New Testament is Authenticall because they were both written in those tongues 45 Whatsoever floweth not from those fountains hitherto hath not cannot neither must it be accounted Canonicall seeing that it is not inspired by God 46 Therefore that vulgar interpretation which may sooner be said then proved to be Saint Jeromes is without cause exalted to that high throne of authenticall authoritie 47 For there are in it many faults both Graphicall Ellipticall Chronographicall and Dogmaticall faults in writing in leaving out many things in Chronographie and in points of doctrine 48 They have a corrupt judgement that say that the Hebrew text is corrupted 49 Neither do they love pure truth who say that the fountains do not flow pure 50 The end and use of Holy Scripture is
34 The Law is the doctrine of works Therefore it manifesteth unto us the corruption of our nature it terrifieth us and prescribeth unto us the rule of well-doing 35 The Gospel is the doctrine of faith which pointeth at Christ our Mediatour who hath made satisfaction for our sinnes and raiseth up the conscience of man 36 The practice of the Law and the Gospel consisteth in true Repentance 37 Whereunto there is required Contrition to be wrought in us by the Law and Faith by the Gospel 38 Faith apprehendeth the Righteousnesse of Christ offered in the word of the Gospel by which man after Contrition wrought in him by the void of the Law is justified before God and beginneth to be renewed by the receiving of the Holy Ghost 39 For by faith our hearts are purified Acts 15.9 40 Therefore the fruits of true Repentance are good works 41 For Faith worketh by Love Gal. 5.6 And Christ giveth unto us not onely his righteousnesse but also his Holy Spirit which beginneth to renew our nature and bridle in us the concupiscences of the flesh 42 Of Good works there are three ranks some have respect unto God some unto Our selves and others unto our Neighbours 43 For the Summe of Pietie and Christian Religion is this That we live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Tit. 2.12 44 The Sacraments are the Seals of the word appointed for the confirming and strengthening of our Faith And they are the Visible word 45 Such in the Old Testament were Circumcision and the Paschal Lambe and such in the New Testament are Baptisme and the Lords Supper 46 By the Audible Visible word God gathereth together his Church here on earth 47 Whereof there are three Hierarchies ranks or orders The Ecclesiasticall Politicall and Oeconomicall 48 Of the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie the Pope of Rome makes himself Monarch and Head 49 But inasmuch as he setteth himself against Christ he makes himself Antichrist 50 The Ministerie of the word or the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie is ordained at this day by a mediate vocation 51 The Politicall Hierarchie comprehendeth Magistrates both inferiour and superiour 52 Unto the Oeconomicall Hierarchie belongeth Matrimonie which is as I may so call it a certain Seminarie or Nurserie of the Church 53 God in this life puts his Church under the Crosse and that for many weightie and urgent reasons 54 But at length he will glorifie it in the life to come being delivered and freed from all enemies from all evils perils and dangers 55 Death and the Last Judgement without going through any Purgatorie is to the godly and those that beleeve the entrance into everlasting life 56 But the ungodly and unbeleevers shall at length be cast into everlasting fire CHAP. II. Wherein are contained Theologicall Aphorismes concerning the Holy Scripture 1 THe onely Principle of Theologie is The WORD of God contained in Holy Scripture 2 By the name of Holy Scripture properly and strictly taken we understand the books of the Old and New Testament which undoubtedly are Propheticall and Apostolicall 3 Which also are called Canonicall because they are a full and perfect Canon or Rule of the knowledge of God and his worship 4 Such in the Old Testament are Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomie Joshua Judges Ruth two books of Samuel two of the Kings two of the Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job the Psalmes the Proverbs Ecclesiastes the Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezechiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zachariah Malachi 5 The rest of the books of the Old Testament are called by S. Jerome Apocrypha because they were neither wrote by the Prophets nor received by the Jews for Canonicall 6 Again they want the testimonie of Christ and his Apostles 7 Moreover by the most approved Councels and Fathers they are reckoned without the Canon 8 And besides there is to be found in many of them places either expresly repugnant to the Canonicall Scripture or else peccant against the truth of Historie and Chronologie or else Contradictorie one to the other 9 In the New Testament those are called Canonicall which at all times and by all the Churches have been received without doubting for Apostolicall truly and certainly so called 10 Such are The Gospel according to S. Matthew Mark Luke and John the Acts of the Apostles the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romanes two to the Corinthians one to the Galatians one to the Ephesians one to the Philippians one to the Colossians two to the Thessalonians two to Timothie one to Titus one to Philemon the First of Peter and the First of John 11 The rest have not been heretofore received by all with such a common consent as the former in which respect they are called by some Apocrypha 12 Such are the Epistle to the Hebrews the Epistle of James the Second of Peter the Second and Third of John the Epistle of Jude and the Revelation of John 13 But forasmuch as most of the ancients do not so much doubt of their Primarie authour which is the Holy Ghost as of their Secundarie authours therefore for their Authoritie I willingly suffer them to be equall with the Canonicall neither will I contend with any man about this matter 14 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God 2. Tim. 3.16 And holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2. Pet. 1.21 Neither spake they onely but they wrote also 15 The same word of God which with a lively voice was preached and preserved unwritten for along time in the Old Testament and likewise in the New Testament but not so long The same word I say was afterwards by the will of God written and became Scripture Iren. lib. 3. cap. 1. 16 Therefore between the word of God preached and the word written we make no reall difference 17 For it is but an Accident unto the word of God either to be preached or to be written 18 But although the Prophets and Apostles moved by the Holy Ghost have not written their whole sermons yet they have made such a choice of what they wrote that it is sufficient for the salvation of those that beleeve August tract 49. in Joan. 19 And therefore we say that the Holy Scripture is perfect and containeth in it all things necessarie for those that strive for the prize of eternall life which is set before them both for the instructing of them in the faith and the informing them in life 20 That it is perfect it is proved by evident testimonie 2. Tim. 3.16 and 17. where it is said that the Holy Scripture is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works And therefore also the Holy Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation 2. Tim. 3.15 21 Seeing therefore that which is Profitable in relation to Indigencie and want is taken