Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	authority_n	church_n	err_v	2,923	5	9.8588	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39662	An exposition of the assemblies catechism with practical inferences from each question as it was carried on in the Lords Days exercises in Dartmouth, in the first year of liberty, 1688 / by John Flavell.	Flavel, John, 1630?-1691.; Mather, Increase, 1639-1723.; Westminster Assembly (1643-1652). Shorter catechism.	1692 (1692)	Wing F1160; ESTC R25088	171,235	224

world might have a sure known standing Rule to try and judge all things by and not to be left to the uncertainty of Traditions Iohn 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have Eternal Life and they are they which testify of me Q. 7. Doth not the Authority of the Scriptures depend on the Church Fathers and Councils A. No the Scriptures are not built on the Authority of the Church but the Church on them Ephes 2.19 20. And are built on the Foundations of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ himself being the chief Corner Stone And for Councils and Fathers the Scriptures are not to be tried by them but they by the Scriptures Isa. 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word 't is because there is no light in them Q. 8. VVhat may be fairly inferr'd from this Proposition That the Scriptures are the word of God A. Three things may be thence inferr'd First The perfection of the Scriptures which being the only rule given by God must therefore be perfect Secondly That it is the right of common People to read them Iohn 5.39 Search the Scriptures Acts 17.11 These were more noble than those of Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and search the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Thirdly That we owe no obedience to the Injunctions of men farther than they are sufficiently warranted by the written Word Mat. 15.9 But in vain do they worship me teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men. Of Faith and Obedience Quest. 3 VVHat do the Scriptures principally teach A. The Scriptures principally teach what Man is to believe concerning God and what duty God requires of Man Q. 1. VVhy is Faith conjoyned with Obedience and put before it A. Because Faith is the principle from whence all Obedience flows and no man can perform any duty aright in the estate of unbelief Heb. 11.6 But without Faith it is impossible to please him for he that cometh to God must believe that he is Q. 2. Can there be no saving Faith where the Scriptures are not known and preached A. No for the Apostle saith Rom. 10.14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent And v. 17. So then Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the VVord of God Q. 3. Are not we bound to believe what Learned men teach us as Points of Faith though the things ●hey teach be not contained in the VVord of God A. No if the things they teach be not contained expresly or by necessary consequence in the Word of God we are not obliged to believe them as points of Faith Isa. 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them Gal. 1.8 Though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed And Christ hath charged us Mat. 23.10 To call no man Master for one is your Master even Christ. Q. 4. Are there some things in Scripture more excellent than others Because it 's said the Scriptures principally teach matters of Faith and Duty A. Every part of Scripture is alike pure Prov. 30.5 Every word of God is pure and of equal authority but not of equal weight as several pieces of Gold are alike pure and of the same stamp but not of equal value Q. 5. What may be inferred hence for Use A. First Hence 't is our duty to examine what we hear by the Word and not receive any Doctrine because men confidently affirm it but because the Scriptures require it Acts 17.11 These were more noble than those of Thessalonica in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether these things were so Secondly That Christian Religion is not notional but practical and that impractical Faith saves no man Iam. 2.20 Faith without Works is dead God is a Spirit Quest. 4. WHat is God A. God is a Spirit Infinite Eternal and Unchangeable in his Being Wisdom Power Holiness Iu●tice Goodness and Truth Q. 1. Can the Nature of God be defined so as men may express properly and strictly what God is A No Iob 11.7 Canst thou by searching find out God canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection We do then conceive most rightly of God when we acknowledge him to be unconceiveable and therefore one being ask'd the question what God is answered rightly If I fully knew that I should be a God my self for God only knows his own Essence Q. 2. How many ways are there by which men may know and describe the Nature of God tho still with imperfect Knowledge A. There are two ways of knowing God in this Life First By way of affirmation affirming that of God by way of eminence which is excellent in the Creature as when we affirm him to be Wise Good Merciful c. Secondly By way of Negation when we remove from God in our Conceptions all that is imperfect in the Creature so we say God is Immense Infinite Immutable and in this sense we also call him a Spirit i. e. he is not a gross corporeal Substance Q. 3. How many sorts of Spirits are there And of which sort is God A. There be two sorts of Spirits created and finite as Angels and the Souls of Men are Secondly Uncreated and Infinite and such a Spirit God only is infinitely above all other Spirits Q. 4. If God be a Spirit in what sense are we to understand all those Scriptures which speak of the Eyes of the Lord the Ears and Hand of God A. We are to understand them as Expressions of God in condescention to the weakness of our understandings even as the Glory of Heaven is exprest to us in Scripture by a City and the Royal Feast These shadows are useful to us whilst we are in the Body but we shall know him in Heaven after a more perfect manner Q 5. What may be inferr'd from the Spiritual Nature of God A. Hence learn that it is both sinful and dangerous to frame an Image or Picture of God Who can make an Image of his Soul which yet is not so perfect a Spirit as God is And as it is sinful to attempt it so it is impossible to do it Deut. 4.15 16. Take ye therefore good heed unto your selves for ye saw no manner of Similitude on the day that the Lord spoke to you in Horeb out of the ●●ast of the Fire lest ye corrupt your selves and make you a graven Image the similitude of any figure c. Q. 6. What else may be inferr'd from thence A. That our Souls are the most noble and excellent part of

4.13 Even so them also which sleep in Iesus will God bring with him Q. 12. What is the last Inference A. That Christless ones are immediately in Hell Luke 16.22 23. The rich man also died and was buried and in Hell he lift up his eyes being in torment Of rest in the Grave Quest. 1. WHY must Believers come to the Grave A. Because where Sin has been Death by the Law must follow Rom. 5.12 Wherefore as by one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Q. 2. What is the First priviledge of their Bodies there A. 'T is the priviledge of their Bodies to be there in union with Christ. 1 Thes. 4.14 Them also which sleep in Iesus will God bring with him Q. 3. What is their Second priviledge A. Their Graves are places of Rest not Prisons but Beds of Rest. Isa. 57.2 He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness Q. 4. W●at is the First evil they rest from A. All the toils and troubles and afflictions of this life Rev. 14.13 They may rest from their labours and their works do follow them Q. 5. What is the Second evil they rest from A. They rest from all persecutions from men Iob 13.17 There the wiked cease from troubling and there the weary be at rest Q. 6. What is the Third evil they rest from A. They rest from Sin never to feel temptation or inclination to sin Heb. 12.23 And to the spirits of just men made perfect Q. 7. How long shall the Bodies rest in the Grave A. Not for ever but till the Day of the Resurrection Iob 19.26 For though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God Q. 8. What is the First inference from hence A. That union with Christ redounds to the singular advantage of the Body as well as the Soul Rom. 8.11 But if the spirit of him that raised up Iesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you Q. 9. What is the Second inference A. That Death dissolves not the union betwixt Christ and the Souls or Bodies of his Mat. 22.33 I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob God is not the God of the dead but of the living Q. 10. What is the Third inference A. That seeing our Bodies are to have so long and so sweet rest in the Grave we should not spare them in God's Service now 2 Pet. 1.13 14. Yea I think it meet as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stir you up by putting you in remembrance knowing that shortly I must put off this my Tabernacle even as our Lord Iesus Christ hath shewed me Q. 11. What is the Fourth inference A. That Christians should neither too much fear their own nor sorrow for others death Rom. 8.38 For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. 1 Thes. 4.13 I would not have you to be ignorant concerning them which are asleep that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope Of the Resurrection Quest. 1. IS the Resurrection a credible Doctrine A. Yes it is Acts 26.8 Why should it be ●●ought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the ●ead Q 2. Why then doth it seem incredible to man A. Because they err not knowing the Scriptures and ●he Power of God Mark 12.24 Do ye not therefore err because ye know not the Scriptures neither the power of God The Power of God assures us it may be so and the word of God tells us it must be so Q. 3. Is it sinful to doubt of the Doctrine of the Resurrection A. 'T is not only a sin to doubt it but an heresy to deny it it being a fundamental Article Heb. 6.2 And of the resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15.13 14. But if there be no resurrection of the dead then is Christ not risen and if Christ be ●●t risen then is our preaching vain and your faith is also ●●in Q. 4. Who must rise again at the Resurrection A. All men good and bad must rise again Acts 24.15 And have hope towards God which they themselves also allow that there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and the unjust Rev. 20.12 13 14. And I saw the dead ●●all and great stand before God c. Q. 5. What is the first difference betwixt the Resurrection of the just and unjust A. Saints rise by virtue of their union with Christ. Rom. ● 11 But if the spirit of him that raised up Iesus from the dead well in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also ●uicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you But 〈◊〉 wicked by his power Q 6. What is the second difference A. The second and main difference will be in the contra●y ends to which they rise some to life and some to condemnation Dan. 12.2 And many of them that sleep in the ●ast of the earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some 〈◊〉 shame and everlasting contempt Q. 7. What is the glory to which Saints bodies shall 〈◊〉 raised A. In the likeness of Christ's glorious Body Phil. 3.21 Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like to 〈◊〉 glorious body Q. 8. What is the First inference from hence A. That every man should strive to the uttermost to attain to the Resurrection of the just Phil. 3.10 11. That I may know him and the power of his Resurrection and the fellowship of the sufferings being made conformable unto his death if by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead Q. 9. What is the second Inference A. Comfort to them that now groan under manifold Distempers and Deformities of Body they being made equal to Angels Mark 12.25 For when they shall rise from the dead they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are as the Angels which are in heaven Q. 10. What is the third inference A. Get union with Christ by Faith as you expect a joyful Resurrection Iohn 11.25 Iesus said unto her I a● the resurrection und the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live Q. 11. What is the fourth Inference A. Saints should not fear Death Gen. 46.3 Fear not to go down into Egypt Q. 12. What is the last Inference A. Imploy your Bodies for good now Of Christ's acknowledging Believers Quest. 38. WHAT benefit do Believers recieve from Christ at the Resurrection A. At the Resurrection Believers being raised up in glory shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the Day of Iudgment and made