Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	law_n	new_a	testament_n	2,758	5	8.1711	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93700	The first addresses to His Excellencie the Lord General, with the Assembly of elders elected by him and his Council for the management of the affairs of this Commonwealth; as also, to all the cordial officers and souldiers under his command. Containing certain rules & directions how to advance the kingdome of Jesus Christ over the face of the whole earth. By John Spittlehouse, a late member of the Army, and a servant to the saints of the most high God, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and whom all dominions shall serve and obey, Dan. 7.27.	Spittlehouse, John.	1653 (1653)	Wing S5008; Thomason E703_19; ESTC R203632	22,947	31

that they used such language no otherwise then to edification as in 1 Cor. 14. where the Apostle plentifully discovereth the vanity of speaking with tongues unless to edification And if so what need is there of Latine Greek and Hebrew here in England where the whole Nation is bred up in the English tongue And therefore why may not Englishmen edifie one another in the English tongue albeit they are ignorant in the aforesaid languages of Latine Greek Hebrew Yea albeit they may be as justly termed unlearned and ignorant men in their English or mother-tongue as the aforesaid Peter and John was in theirs Again have not the people of God in this Nation the same immediate teachings of the Spirit as had the Prophets and Apostles of Jesus Christ are the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament any other then the dictates of the Spirit of God 2 Pet. 1. 19 20 21. Are they not the same in print as they were in the Apostles writings and the same in their writings as they were in their words and the same in their words as they were in their thoughts and the same in their thoughts as they were in their conceptions and the same in their conceptions as in the infusion and the same in the infusion as they were in the Infusor viz the Holy Ghost and therefore as Jesus Christ saith in another case unto his Apostles He that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me So may I say of the printed word of God which whosoever despiseth despiseth not only that but also the Apostles that writ the same as also the Holy Ghost it self who infused the same into their minds and thoughts as also Jesus Christ and GOD the Father from whom the said Holy Ghost did proceed they being a manifestation each to other as printing is a manifestation of writing writing of a word and a word of a thought so is the Holy Ghost of Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ of God and therefore to speak evil of the printed Bible is to speak evil even of God himself who was the Original Author thereof Againe are not the said Scriptures appointed to that very purpose of edification as also of instruction and direction as to the management of such an office yea and that to every particular thereof as in the Epistles of Timothy and Titus and particularly in 2 Tim. 3. 16. viz. 1. In that they are given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and therefore a far more excellent way of teaching the minde and will of God then to read the conceits of heathen and Antichristian Rhetorick Logick Philosophy and the rest of the rabble of such-like trumpery whereof the Apostle exhorteth the people of God to beware In which very things the students in Universities do spend the greatest part of their time they can spare out of the Taverus and Ale-houses 2. In that the Scriptures of themselves are profitable for doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in Righteousness and that in such a measure as to make the man of God whether teacher or hearer perfect and thorowly furnished to all goods works viz. a compleat teacher and hearer and that to all ends and purposes instance Timothy whose very breeding in Theology was solely from that School-book being trained up therein from his childhood and not in vain Philosophy as aforesaid As also in Apollos who is likewise applauded by the Apostle in that he was mighty in the Scriptures which is able to make men wise unto salvation and I I know no greater thing to be aimed at 3. In that the Scriptures are the very meanes which Jesus Christ himself hath appointed for that very purpose as in John 5. 39. where he inviteth all men thereunto as the chief testimony of him Yea I challenge the whole tribe of the Priesthood in this nation to prove either by precept or practise of Jesus Christ and his Apostles that ever there was any other course prescribed or practised by them to fit or prepare labourers for Christs Vineyard or worke of the holy Ministery for succeeding times 4. I would gladly know what fruits of the Spirit are to be obtained in Colledges that may not be obtained out of them or rather what vices are there in all the Nation that are not practised there Yea are they not the very fountains of Atheism and Antihristianism and nests to breed such ravenous Rooks in as pester the whole Nation by their forcing Tithes from such as know it is a sinne to pay the same and that by means of your predecessors acts yet in force to that purpose yea and that under pain of treble damages for which things sake with other their unjust actions their glory hath gone out like the snuff of a tallow Candle 5. What are the Authors which their Libraries are stuffed withal other then Heathenish and Antichristian Again is there any promise annexed to the practice of reading them Yea doth not experience teach that most if not all such Commentaries Expositions c. which have been composed by such Heathens and Antichristians are found to be light as vanity instance the voluminous Volumes of Philosophers and ancient Fathers as they call them yea so light as that they are of no esteem at all amongst the people of God that are come out of Babylon which I hope you very well know whereas he that readeth the book of the Psalms will finde that godly David became wiser then his teachers by reading and meditating in the Law and Prophets And if so then what need have we of other teaching then is expressed in the Old and New Testament Certainly he that putteth in practise what is there prescribed will finde it sufficient to bring him to the port of heaven whereas as I said before the other are even rejected to be cited by the people of God as a testimony to the Truth All which doth evidently demonstrate the teachings of men quatenus men to be invalid in comparison to the teaching of the Scriptures And if so what need is there of Universities to breed Divines since the holy Scripture alone is sufficient to compleat a practitioner in that Profession as aforesaid as also inasmuch as he whosoever of the people of God that is able to speak to the edification exhortation and comfort of their brethren are compleat Prophets of God what need have we of such devouring Wolves as aforesaid Object But I know some amongst you will yet say How shall illiterate ignorant and unlearned men know the Original which if they do not then they must of necessity take the Translation upon trust which Scholars do not Answ In answer to which I deny the conclusion for he that can read the Bible in English takes it no more upon trust then he that can read the same in Hebrew Greek c. For unless such persons as the later can produce the very copie which Moses writ and have also

Law-giver and their King and their Saviour And if so then there ought not to be two Law-makers muchless a compound of the Law of God and the corrupt reason of William the Conqueror or any either before or after him who have dealt with the moral and judicial law of God even as Antichrist or that whore of Rome hath dealt with the injunctions of Jesus Christ in the Gospel scruing them to suite with their Dragon-like and whorish pleasures in all things the one setting up corrupt reason in stead of that reason which was incorrupt and the other an abolished Priesthood with the appendances thereunto belonging in stead of that which then was and is as permanent as Mount Sion which cannot be removed by which Tyrannical and subtil practice of the aforesaid Dragon or Beast on which the aforesaid whore is said to sit they have been the death of many millions of the Saints of the Most High Whereas I affirme that the life of no man ought to be taken away by any other Law then of the aforesaid Law-giver who alone is able to save and to destroy as in James 4. 12. as aforesaid Againe Reason it self teacheth that he that gave the life hath only the power to take it away by his own laws and if so then not by the laws of any the aforesaid persons whatsoever Consider then what judgement and punishment have our Judges incurred to themselves by taking away the lives of men for simple theft whereas according to the Laws of God they ought not to have dyed but to have made restitution and therefore without controversie a dreadful wo will light upon you if you repeal not that law before you send the otherwise merciless Judges to sit in judicature upon such persons no mans life being to be taken away otherwise then by the direct law of the aforesaid onely Law-giver and that by particular precept or General Rule For if you be Christians then are you no other then Gods Ministers and if so then are you bound in duty and conscience to execute justice only according to the will of God and not according to any different lawes made by the aforesaid persons that have onely usurped that Soveraign power unto themselves to take away the lives of men at their pleasure or lusts or malice of their own hearts or any private revenge of their own or others For as the Apostle saith in another case It is requisite in Stewards that they be found faithful 1 Cor. 4. 2. but the will of God in point of judicature appeareth not otherwise then in his word And therefore inasmuch as that which is not of Faith viz. firme perswasion is sin Rom. 14. 23. As also inasmuch as faith ought to be grounded upon the word of God as being wrought thereby Rom. 10. 17. how can such Acts of justice be either approved in the sight of God or good men as are not warranted by the said word And therefore by how much you permit any laws that differed from the aforesaid precepts or presidents in Scripture by so much you do absolutely declare your selves to be the brood of the aforesaid Pagan or tyrannical Dragon which is said to persecute the Church or people of God Rev. 12. and that as much as if you your selves had contrived the same Yea I appeal to impudence it self whether the aforesaid judicial laws of God be not the best expositors of the moral law And if so what is there wanting in the moral law that is requisite to a Commonwealth either in the Negative or Affirmative part thereof Again inasmuch as the said judicial Law is not in the least repealed why ought it not to be in the like repute with you as it was to the ancient people of God unto whom it was first delivered viz. the Jews seeing that it cannot be denyed that believing Gentiles are as well the seed of Abraham which the Apostle affirmeth Gal. 3. 9. 23. and so consequently Jews aswel as they yea and that in a far more transcendent relation by how much the unbelieving Jews are esteemed no Jews in comparison of the other as the same Apostle likewise affirmeth And therefore according to Captaine Norwoods rule though quite contrary to his opinion in that he claimeth the aforesaid laws of corrupt reason as his fathers patrimony and therefore setteth an invaluable esteem of them in his late book c. I say in the behalf of the aforesaid moral and judicial laws of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ that we will have no other laws then them inasmuch as they are our birthright and patrimony as also in that it is our heavenly Fathers will that we should be obedient thereunto even as it was the will of Jonadab the son of Rechab ' that his sons should drink no wine as also in that they are as well now the mark of distinction betwixt the people of God and heathens as they were betwixt the Jews and the Gentiles at the time of the giving thereof and therefore you are bound in duty and service to propagate the same and annihilate the other which Captain Norwood would so gladly have preserved bidding defiance even to God himself to alter them in a most impious manner whereas there is not one text of Scripture that giveth liberty to any Magistrate whatsoever either to add or detract from the aforesaid Laws or anywise to alter them as to fit them with their humour either as to point of time or manner of the Country where they live And if not then doth it not argue a gross presumption in those that do so yea do they not by such means take upon them to be wiser then God himself by such their altering and leaving those directions and rules of justice which he hath set down as irrevocably unalterable in respect to man in the least Iota or tittle thereof Mat. 5. 17 18 19. and that upon pain of incurring the displeasure of the great God of heaven and earth As also inasmuch as the foolishness of God is wiser then the wisdom of men 1 Cor. 1. 25. yea surpassing the deepest subtilties or State-policies in the world Again Is it not the boasting of the supporters and practitioners of our present Heathenish Laws that they are founded upon the laws of God and if so I would gladly know of them what laws of God they mean if not the aforesaid lawes Yea certainly every of them will be ready to confess the same and think they much honor the present lawes by so saying And if so then how dare any of them to slight any one tittle of them Lawes which they have hitherto so much magnified for their own advantage Judge therefore I pray you wherefore it is that they have not made use of the Original it self from whence they say the present laws are derived viz. whether it be because the laws of God are less politick or less profitable less tedious or less chargable less inconsistent with