Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	old_a	part_n	testament_n	2,968	5	7.9440	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36343	A door opening into Christian religion, or, A brief account by way of question and answer of some of the principal heads of the great mystery of Christian religion wherein is shewed by the way that the great doctrines here asserted are no wayes repugnant, but sweetly consonant unto the light of nature and principles of sound reason / by a cordiall well-wisher to that unity and peace which are no conspiratours against the truth.	Cordiall well-wisher to that unity and peace which are no conspiratours against the truth.; Cordiall well-wisher to that unity and peace which are no conspiratours against the truth. Of the sacraments.	1662 (1662)	Wing D1909; ESTC R26732	293,130	633

What is a fifth argument drawn from the subject-matter of the Scriptures to evince their descent to be from God Answ That heart-searching property which oft discovereth it self in the preaching and opening of them by learned and faithful Ministers yea and sometimes in the diligent and attentive reading and meditating of them by men themselves Many times the secret thoughts inclinations and intentions of mens hearts are presented unto them in and by the Scriptures as their natural faces are shewed to them in a glass Therefore he who only searcheth the heart and trieth the reins of the Children of men that is God can be the Author of the Scriptures Quest 10. What is there in the words phrase or style of the Scriptures which giveth any light whereby to discern them to be from God Answ There is a kind of majestique plainnesse and simplicity in the style of the Scriptures very unlike the strein of humane Eloquence and greatly differing from the style of other writers which giveth strong evidence that their Author and Inditer is God This argument the Apostle Paul taketh notice of where he writeth thus Which things speaking of the things of the Gospel also we speak not in the words which mans wisdome teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth Comparing spiritual things with spiritual or rather fitting spiritual things or spiritual matter with spiritual words or with a spiritual style 1 Cor. 2.13 The force of this argument cannot be well apprehended but by those that are in some measure acquainted with the books and writings of other Authors and so able to compare them in point of style with the Scriptures Quest 11. What other considerations are there besides these taken from the Scriptures themselves which any waies prove them to be from God Answ There are several others of this import but amongst these there are two which seem to have in them a great weight of proof in this kind Quest 12. What is the first of these Answ The special care and interposure of God by his providence in all ages that they neither in whole nor in part should miscarry or be lost no nor yet suffer any such defacing or corrupting but what might and may be healed and restored by men notwithstanding the many revolutions and turnings upside down even in those parts of the world where they have had their beings whereas the rarest choysest and most desirable writings of men otherwise are wholly perished and lost The names of some of them as of Solomons natural History who spake as the Scripture testifieth of trees from the Cedar that is in Lebanon even unto the Hyssop that springeth out of the wall as also of beasts and of fouls and of creeping things and of fishes 1 King 4.33 only remaining and of many others of them some fragments and imperfect sentences only Quest 13. How can you prove that no part of the Scripture is lost Answ The Scriptures of the old Testament called the Oracles of God are said to have been committed unto or intrusted with the Jewes Rom. 3.2 who are known to have been and yet to be very solicitous exact and careful preservers of this Treasure Nor were there any more writings or any other then those now called the books or scriptures of the old Testament committed unto them by God as his Oracles or as given by divine inspiration nor did Christ nor any of his Apostles nor any of the Jewish Nation and Religion ever complain or give the least intimation that these Scriptures were any waies maimed or any part of them lost but rather give Testimony unto their intirenesse and compleatnesse See Job 5.39 compared with 2 Tim. 3. 15.16 17. and Rom. 15.4 And for the Scriptures of the New Testament the same books which are now extant under this account are found named and reckoned accordingly in very ancient Records Neither have any other been owned or cited by the Fathers who have lived and written since the daies of the Apostles as any part or parts of the new Testament but these only Quest 14. Is every thing to be believed as a truth of God which is proved by the Scriptures Answ Every thing that is substantially that is by sound and evident proof proved from the Scriptures ought thus to be believed But many things are pretended and said to be proved by the Scriptures when as there is no more but only a colour of proof brought from hence to prove them as when the places urged and insisted on by way of proof are either mis-understood or else mis-argued or misapplied Quest 15. How may a solid and sufficient Proof of a Doctrine from the Scriptures be distinguished from that which is only colourable and in shew Answ In many cases it requires a great exactness and profoundnesse of judgment and which few Christians if any doe attain unto to distinguish between the one and the other But it is much more easie of the two and will in a great measure relieve a Christian under such a defect to be able to distinguish between a true Doctrine or Opinion and that which is erronious or false For certain it is that every true Doctrine may be substantially proved from the Scriptures though sometimes the proofs that are brought for such a Doctrine be impertinent and weak Quest 16 But how may a true and sound Opinion or Doctrine be discerned from that which is false Answ The Gospel it self being a body or pile of Doctrine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 1.1 that is made and as it were purposely contrived for the advancement of Godliness it must needs be that every particular Doctrine or Opinion which in the native tendency of it is really apt and proper to promote Godliness in the hearts and lives of men is of correspondency with the Gospel and either a branch of it or a true consequence of some branch of it and consequently a truth Quest 17. What is your other Argument of the latter kind to prove the descent of the Scriptures to be from God Answ The wonderful success which the Gospel (a) The Gospel so frequntly avouching the authority of the Scriptures of the Old Testament and universally according with them the same Argument one and all which prove it to be from God prove the whole Systeme or Body of the Scriptures to be of the same Parentage and Original with it found on the first going forth and publishing of it in the world For notwithstanding the Persons that were imployed in the ministry and publishing of it were but few in number comparatively and these of mean ranck and quality in the world some of the chiefest of them being bur poor Fishermen they and others of them illiterate and unlearned yea and notwithstanding the Doctrine and Contents of this Gospel so strongly opposed and were so highly offensive unto the wisdom ways and doings of the world especially of the Rulers and Great-men here yet within a very short time it insinuated and

wrought it self into the most considerable parts of the then known world planted it self took root and prospered in the chief Cities and places thereof notwithstanding the Powers of the Earth set themselves as one man with all their policy rage and indignation to extinguish it and to hinder the course and progress of it Quest 18. What are the Scriptures Or of what Books or Writings do they consist so that none but these and the things contained in them ought to be reputed the Scriptures or any part of them Answ The Scriptures consist partly of the Books of the Old Testament and partly of those of the New and not of any other Books or Writings or of any Traditions whatsoever Quest 19. What are the Books of the Old Testament which make one part of the Scriptures Answ The five Books of Moses which are these Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomie Besides these the Books of Joshua the Judges Ruth the first and second of Samuel the first and second of the Kings the first and second of the Chronicles the Books of Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job the Books of the Psalms the Proverbs Ecclesiastes Canticles or the Song of Solomon the Books and Writings of the Prophets as the Prophecie of Isaiah Jeremiah the Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophecies of Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggie Zachariah Malachi Quest 20. What are the writings of the new-New-Testament which make up the other part of the Scriptures Answ The writing of the Gospel by four Evangelists Matthew Mark Luke and John the Acts of the Apostles written by the Evangelist Luke the Epistle of Paul to the Romans his first and second to the Corinthians his Epistle to the Galathians to the Ephesians to the Philippians to the Colossians his first and second Epistle to the Thessalonians his first and second to Timothy his Epistle to Titus to Philemon the Epistle to the Hebrews the Epistle of James the first and second Epistles of Peter the first second and third Epistles of John the Epistle of Judes the Apocalyps or Revelations Quest 21. Why should these Books and none but these be accounted the Scriptures Answ A sufficient account hereof hath been given already in this Chapter viz. in those Arguments and Considerations by which proof was made that God is the Author of the Scriptures Besides this the Books of the Old Testament lately mentioned and no other but these were as hath been also said committed unto the Jews as the Oracles of God that is to teach and instruct the world in things appertaining unto God and to salvation And for the Books of the new-New-Testament now rehearsed these and no other but these have from the Apostles days been received upon the same account by the general consent of all Churches that have been and are accordingly judged truly Christian and sound in the Faith CHAP. III. Of Christ his Person Eternal Generation and Incarnation in time Quest 1. YOu have affirmed Christ to be the Son of God and of the Virgin Mary In what sense or respect do you mean that he is the Son of God Answ Christ may be called the Son of God three ways First by Nature Secondly by Creation or miraculous Production Thirdly by Adoption Quest 2. How is he or why do you call him the Son of God by Nature Answ The Scripture frequently calleth him in respect of his Divine Nature or God-head the Son of God and the only begotten of God Joh. 1.14 18. Joh. 3.16 18. 1 Joh. 4.9 Heb. 1.2 3 5 8. besides many other places So that Christ considered as God is and may be called the Son of God by Nature because he received this his Being from God the Father in such a way or by some such Eternal and Divine act which holdeth the best proportion and nearest resemblance amongst all actings known unto men and whereof they are capable with the act of natural Generation Quest 3. How is Christ the Son of God by Creation or miraculous Production Answ Because in respect of his Humane Nature and as Man he received his Being from God by the secret and extraordinary operation of his Spirit in the Virgin by which she was inabled to conceive him and did conceive him without the knowledge and co-operation of man Quest 4. How is He the Son of God by Adoption Answ Inasimuch as God the Father chose Him to be and accordingly hath made Him Heir of all things that is Proprietour and Lord of all things under him and for him Heb. 1.2 Joh. 3.35 Quest 5. Why do you affirm him to be also the Son of the Virgin Mary Answ Because as Man he was conceived in her Womb by means of the coming of the Holy Ghost upon her and her being over-shadowed by the power of the most High and was accordingly brought forth by her according to the orderly course of Nature and as other children are usually born of their Mothers respectively Luk. 1.31 35. Mat. 1.20 21. Quest 6. But is it not contrary to reason and above reason to believe that a Virgin should conceive and bring forth a Child Answ It is neither contrary to reason nor above reason to believe that God is able to make a Virgin to conceive and bring forth Nor is it contrary to reason or above reason to believe that God should be willing to cause a Virgin actually to conceive and bring forth when he hath a design requiring such an exercise or interposure of his Power for the regular and due accomplishment of it But it is most contrary unto reason not to believe that a Virgin hath conceived and brought forth when God hath said it and given sufficient proof that he hath said it yea and hath given a most rational account both why such a thing should be I mean that a Virgin should conceive as why he should say and declare it unto the world All this He hath done in the Gospel Quest 7. But is it possible that the two Natures Divine and Humane so vastly yea infinitely differing the one from the other should meet together so as to constitute and make one and the same Person Answ With God the Scriptures saith all things are possible Mat. 19.26 And again The things which are unpossible with men that is which men are apt to judge or think to be impossible are possible with God Luk. 18.27 A kind of shadowey proof of the possibility that two very different Natures may conspire to constitute the same Person we have continually before our eyes in the course of Nature where that spiritual Substance which we call the Soul in due conjunction with an earthly Body make one and the same Person of a Man Quest 8. But was not Christ a compleat Person whilest he yet subsisted in the Divine Nature only and before his assuming of the Nature of Man unto him Answ He was in simple consideration a most compleat Person whilest he subsisted in the God-head only