testimonies brought to confirme and demonstrate must be distinguished from the inward operation of the holy Ghost opening our eies to see the light shining in the Scripture and to discern the sense thereof 2. Cor. 1. 22 Q. These reasons may conuince any be he neuer so obstinate but are they sufficient to perswade the heart hereof A. No the testimonie of the 18 Spirit is necessarie q 1. Cor. 2. 14. and onely all-sufficient for this purpose r. 1. Ioh. 2. 20. 27. Expos 18. By nature we are blind in spirituall things 1. Cor. 2. 14. Matth. 15. 14. though therefore the Scripture be a shining light Psal 119. 105. yet vnlesse our eies be opened Psal 119. 18. Act. 26. 18. wee cannot see it no more then a blind man doth the Sunne Ioh. 1. 5. Thâ— Spirit is the author of supernatural light and faith 1. Cor. 2. 8 9. Eph. 1. 17. 1. Ioh. 5. 6. 10. by the inspiration thereof were the Scriptures written 2. Pet. 1. 21. the secrets of God are fully knowne vnto and effectually reuealed by the Spirit 1. Cor. 2. 10. the same law which is written in the Scriptures the Spirit doth write in the hearts of men that be indued therewith Esa 59. 21. Heb. 8. 10. For which reasons it must needs bee that the testimonie of the Spirit is all-sufficient to perswade and assure the heart that the Scriptures are the word of God To preuent mistaking therein obserue these rules 1. The Spirit of God doth assuredly perswade our consciences that the Scriptures are of God by enlightning our eyes to behold the light writing the law in our hearts sealing vp the promises to our consciences and causing vs sensibly to feele the effects therof 1. Cor. 2. 12. Luk. 24. 45. 1. Cor. 14. 37. Ier. 31. 33. 2. Cor. 1. 22. 1. Thes 1. 5. with 1. Thes 2. 13. Act. 16. 14. 2. This perswasion of the Spirit is more certain then can bee prooued with reason or expressed in words for things doubtfull may be proued but things in themselues most cleare and certain be aboue all proofe and reason as the shining of the Sunne needes not to be confirâ—ed by argument to him that hath his eyes open to see the light thereof 3. This testimonie of the Holy Ghost is certaine and manifest to him that hath the Spirit but priuate not publique testifying onely to him who is endued therof but not conuincing others not confirming doctrines to others 4. This testimonie of the Spirit is not to be seuered from the word which is the instrument of the holy Ghost and his publique testimonie It is not therefore iniurious to trie the Spirit by the word of God 1. Ioh. 4. 1. seeing there is a mutuall relation between the truth of the partie witnessing and the truth of the thing witnessed and the holy Spirit the author of the Scripture is euery where like vnto and doth euerie where agree with himselfe 5. The testimonie of the Spirit doth not teach or assure vs of the letterâ— syllabes or seuerall words of holy Scripture which are onely as a vessell to cary and conuey that heauenly light vnto vâ— but it doth seale in our hearts the sauing truth contained in those sacred writings into what language soeuer they be translated Eph. 1. 13. 6. The Spirit doth not lead them in whom it dwelleth absoluâ—ly and at once into all truth but into all truth necessarie to saluation and by degrees Ioh. 16. 13. with Act. 1. 6. 11. 2. so that holy men partakers of the same Spirit may erre in many things and dissent one from another in matters not fundamentall Q. What are the properties of the Scripture A. It is of 19 Diuine Å¿ 2. Tim. 3. 16. authoritie the rule 20 of t Eccl. 12. 10. Gal. 6. 16. faith and manners 21 u Rom. 10. 14. necessarie 22 w Psal 12. 6. pure 23 x Psal 19. 7. perfect and 24 y Prou. 8. 9. plain Expos 19. Such is the excellency of the holy Scripture aboue all other writings whatsoeuer 2. Tim. 3. 15. 2. Pet. 1. 19. that it ought to be credited in all narrations threatnings promises or prophesies 1. Tim. 1. 15. Heb. 11. 11. 2. Pet. 1. 19. and obeyed in all commaundements Iob 22. 22. Ier. 13. 15. Rom. 1. 5. God the Author thereof beeing of incomprehensible wisedome Psa 147. 5. great goodnesse Exod. 18. 9. Psa 34. 8. Rom. 11. 22. absolute power and dominion Gen. 17. 1. Psal 50. 1 â— and truth that can neither deceiue nor be deceiued Rom. 3. 4. Tit. 1. 2. Heb. 6. 18. The authority of the Scripture doth onely and wholly depend vpon God the author of it and therefore though one part may be preferred before another in respect of excellencie of matter and vse Cant. 1. 1. 1. Tim. 1. 15. in authoritie and certaintie euery part is equall and onely Scripture is of diuine authoritie Gal. 1. 8. Mat. 17. 5. 1. Cor. 11. 23. 20. The Scriptures are the word of Christ Col. 3. 16. whose word is vpright Eccl. 12. 10. Phil. 3. 16. the first truth Heb. 13. 8. receiued by immediate diuine reuelation 2. Pet. 1. 21. and deliuered to the Church sufficient to make the man of God perfect in all good workes 2. Tim. 3. 16. 17. the treasury whence all doctrines must be taken 1. Pet. 4. 11. Act 26. 22. Luk. 16. 29. the touchstone wherby they must be tried Act. 17. 11. Esa 8. 20. without which error in doctrine and manners is vnavoidable Matth. 22. 29. 21. In respect of substance the word of God was alwaies necessary Eph. 2. 20 without which we could neither knowe nor worship God aright Heb. 11. 3. 6. Matth. 22. 29. Ioh. 20. 31. 2. Tim. 3 16. Rom. 15. 4. Luk. 24. 26 27. In respect of the manner of reuealing in writing the Scriptures were neeessarie euer since it pleased God after that manner to make knowne his will Deut. 17. 18. Iosh 1. 8. Rom. 15. 4. Luk. 1. 3. Iude v. 3. and so shal be to the end of the world 1. Cor. 10. 11. Reu. 22. 18. 22. This blessed word of God is free from all euen the least staine of follie errour falshood or vniustice Psal 119. 138. 140. Prou. 30. 5. Ioh. 17. 17. all things being laid down holily and truely both for substance circumstance and manner of speaking Psal 51. 1. Matth. 1. 25. 23. Whatsoeuer was is or shall be necessary or profitable to be knowne beleeued practised or hoped for that is fully comprehended in the bookes of the Prophets and Apostles Luk. 16. â—9 31. Io. 5. 39. Rom. 15. 4. Gal. 1. 8. 9. 2. Tim. 3. 15. 16. 17. The perfection of the Scripture will more plainely appeare if we consider 1. That religion for the substance thereof was euer one and vnchangeable Heb. 13. 8. Eph. 4. 5. Iude. 3. Act. 26. 22. Tit. 1. 1. 2. 2. The lawe of God written by Moses and the Prophets did deliuer whatsoeuer
betweene the Scripture generally considered in respect of the manner of reuealing and between the number and order of the Bookes it being one thing to beleeue that the will of God is nowe fully and wholly committed to writing another that this is the distinct order precise number of Bookes 7. Also it is one thing to beleeue that God is the author of this or that booke another to beleeue that it was written by this or that Scribe or Amanuensis so that a difference is to be made between the cheife Author of a booke and the Instrument thereof 1. Cor. 12. 3. Mat. 10. 20. 8. The substance of doctrine necessarie to saluation contained in Scripture is to be beleeued with an expresse historicall and sauing faith but the number and order of bookes is to bee beleeued with faith historicall 8. By the Church we vnderstand not the Pope whome the Papists call the Church virtuall nor his Bishops Cardinalls met in a generall Council whom they call the Church representatiue but the whole companie of beleeuers who haue professed the true faith whether those who receiued the bookes of holy Scripture from the Prophets and Apostles or those who liued after Vnder the name of the Church we comprehend not the Prophets and Apostles as they were immediately chosen and called to be the penmen of holy Scripture for they wrote not as men in the Church but aboue the Church The Church of the Iewes professed the doctrine and receiued the Bookes of the old Testament and testified of them that they were diuine To whose testimony these things giue force 1. To them were committed the Oracles of God Rom. 3. 2. 2. In great miserie they haue constantly confessed the same when as by the onely denying thereof they might haue been partakers both of libertie and rule 3. Notwithstanding the high Priests and others persecuted the Prophets whiles they liued yet they receiued their writings as propheticall and diuine 4. Since obstinacie is come to Israel notwithstanding their great hatred to the Christian religion the holy Scripture of the old Testament is kept pure and vncorrupt amongst them euen in those places which doe euidently confirme the truth of Christian religion Esa 53. 3 4 5 c. The Christian Church hath embraced the doctrine of God and receiued the books both of the Old and New-Testament To whose testimonie two things giue weight 1. their great constancie 2. their admirable and sweet consent for in other matters we may obserue differences in opinions in this a singular and wonderfull agreement This testimonie of Christians is considered three waies 1. Of the vniuersall Church which from the beginning thereof vntill these times professing the Christian religion to bee diuine doth also professe that these bookes are of God 2. Of the seuerall primatiue Churches which first receiued the bookes of the old Testament and the Epistles written from the Apostles to them their Pastors or to some they knew and after deliuered theÌ„ vnder the same title to their successors and other Churches 3. Of the Pastors and Doctors who being furnished with skill both in the tongues and matters diuine vpon due triall and examination haue pronounced their iudgement and approoued them to the people committed to their charge This testimonie is of great weight and importance profitable to prepare the heart and to mooue it to beleeue of all humane testimonies wherby the author of any booke that hath is or shall be extant can be prooued the greatest both in respect of the multitude wisedome honestie faithfulnesse of the witnesses the likenes constancie and continuance of the Testimonie it selfe But this testimonie is onely humane not the onely not the cheife whereby the truth and diuinitie of the Scripture is confirmed neither can it be the ground of diuine faith and assurance 9. The Saints of God of all sorts and conditions noble base rich poore learned vnlearned old young married vnmarried c haue suffered the most grieuous torments vsuall vnusuall speedy slowe euen what hell could inuent or mans malice find out for the defence of this truth All these things a number numberles endured and that with great constancie and ioy euen with a cheerefull heart and merrie countenance so that none can thinke they suffered out of weaknesse pride vaine-glorie or discontent This the patient suffering of the Martyrs is not a testimonie meerely humane but partly diuine for that courage and cheerefulnes which they shewed in the midst of all torments was not from nature but from aboue 10. Many and great wonders such as Sathan himselfe cannot imitate such as exceed the power of any yea of all the creatures in the world such as the most malitious eneâ—ies of Gods truth could not denie to be diuine hath the Lord openly wrougâ—t by the hands of Moses the Prophets and Apostles for the confirmation of this truth Numb 11. 9. and 20. 10. Exod. 19. 16. 1. King 17. 24. Mark 16. 20. Hâ—b 2. 4 Ioh. 5. 36. and 9. 30. 33. Act. 5. 12. These miracles were sufficient to confirme the diuinity of this truth and writing to them who were eie-witnesses thereof Heb. 2. 3. Ioh. 20. 20. Iudg. 2. 7. 10. The vndoubted and cleare narration of them is to vs an inuincible argument thereof 11. That which is most auncient is most true and diuine the purest religion is before all others there must needs be a law before transgression and a commandement giuen vnto man before there could bee place for the Deuill to tempt him But the religion taught in Scripture is of greatest antiquitie the doctrin of the creation and fall is their handled in all other stories whatsoeuer is omitted Q. How else A. By 12 the k Gen. 17. 1. Psal 50. 1. Esa 44. 24. Exod. 20. 1. 2. 1. Cor. 11. 23. Ioh. 3. 36. 1. Cor. 1. 23. Ioel. 1. 1. 2. style l Psal 19. 8. Rom. 15. 4. Rom. 7. 7. Zeph. 2. 11. Zach. 13. 2. Act. 5. 39. Act. 9. 5. 20 21. Phil. 1. 12. 13. Rom. 15. 19. 2. Cor. 4. 8. 9. 10. 13 efficacie sweete m Genes 3. 15. and 49. 10. Esa 9. 6. Dan. 9. 24. Matth. 1. 18. Act. 10. 43. 14 consent admirable n Psa 119. 129. 138. 172. Deut. 4. 5 6. 15 doctrine excellent o Ioh. 20. 31. 16 ende and the witnes p 2. Tim. 3. 16. 2. Pet. 1. 19. 17 of the Scripture it selfe Expos 12. By the style of Scripture we vnderstand not the externall superficies of words but the whole order character frame and comprehension which fitly agreeth to the dignitie of the speaker nature of the argument and is tempered according to the capacity and condition of them for whose sakes it was written Indeed euery Prophet and Apostle almost had a peculiar style Esay is eloquent sweet and more adorned Salomon accurate Ieremie vehement and more rough Amos simple but all are diuine These things declare the maiestie of the style 1. The titles
powers thereof is not of and from it selfe therefore it must proceede from another cause which is power wisedome and vnderstanding it selfe and that is God 2. In the vnderstanding there are certaine principles whereby it diserneth truth and falsehood good and euill this gift man hath not of himselfe therefore it springs froâ— a supreame and most wise vnderstanding the principall cause being euer more excellent then the effect 3. The mind is not satisfied with the knowledge nor the will with the possession of all things in this world but still they seeke and earnestly thirst after some higher good there is therefore a Soueraigne truth and cheife good which being perfectly knowne and enioyed will giue contentment 4. By the power and faculties of the Soule man is capable of happines or of the cheife good but in vaine should he be made capable thereof if there were not a cheife good to be possessed and enioyed 5. By the assaults and suggestions of Satan we feele there is a Deuill may we not then certainly conclude that there is a God 2. Satan labours by all meanes to extinguish the light of the Gospel to lead men on in ignorance error and prophanenesse and to turne them out of the path of holines Now why should Satan warre thus against God his word and Saints why should he seeke Gods dishonour and mans destruction if there were not a God a lawe and an euerlasting life Q. How else A. By the 6 consent of nations 7 defence m Psal 9. 16 and 58. 10. 11. of the Church 8 support and n Ier. 33. 9. comfort of the godly but principally by the o Es 42. 8. Scripture Expos 6. All nations in euery age time and place of the world haue acknowledged that there was a God 2. The Gentiles could not endure him who denied a diuine power 3. They adored stockes stones bruite beasts and the basest creatures rather then they would haue no dietie at all 4. They were zealous and forward in the worship of their Idols which shewes that though they acknowledged not the true God yet they knewe there is a God to whom diuine worship is due 5. Such as haue studied to become Atheists could neuer blot this truth out of their consciences but the maiestie of God hath affrighted and his terrors made them afraid 7. The deuill with great malice and fury and vngodly men with all their might authority malice and policy haue laboured to find out and extirpate all those that call vpon the name of the Lord Iesus but they haue been miracuously hid preserued and defended by the Lord. 2. God hath wonderfully frustrated all the deuises of the wicked enemies of his Church by the meanes they practised to roote it out it was encreased 3. God fought from heauen against the persecutors of his children and executed vpon them the fiercenes of his displeasure dreadfull iudgements did ouertake many of them and such horror fell vpon some that they were forced to leaue their places of honour and rule and betake themselues to a solitarie and priuate life 4. The Lord hath armed his children with inuincible courage and fortitude to endure disgrace contempt pouerty death and the most exquisite torments that hell could inuent he hath supported them vnder the burthen of an accusing conscience and inwardly refâ—â—shed them as it were suddenly with sweete peace and consolation and by the power strength and comfort of the holy Ghost hath enabled them to sing Psalmes in prison and in the midst of the fire which courage strength and comfort of theirs doth plainely demonstrate that there is a God specially if you compare it with that feare faintnes and vnquietnesse vexation and deadnes which is in other men when they suffer any thing Q. What is God A. He is p Ioh. 4. 24. a 9 Spirit hauing q Luk. 24. 39. his being of 10 himselfe Expos 9. God is a spirituall invisible and immateriall substance 1. Tim. 1. 17. Luk. 24. 39. 10. God is without beginning Psal 90. 2. and 93. 2. Esa 43. 1â— and 44. 6. and without cause Apoc. 1. 8. Esa 41. 4. and 43. 10. and 48. 12. and so hee is without composition infinite Psa 147. 5. 145. 3. Exod. 3. 14. eternall Prou. 8. 22 23. Rom. 16. 26. incomprehensible Exod. 33. 22. 23. 1. Tim. 6. 16. 1. Kin. 8. 27. Esa 66. 1. and vnchangeable Iam. 1. 17. Mal. 3. 6. Q. How many Gods be there A. Onely r Deut. 6. 4. 1. Cor. 8. 4. 6. one 11 God and 12 three Å¿ Matth. 28. 19. 1. Ioh. 5. 7. Persons the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Expos 11. There can be but one Omnipotent Dan. 4. 35. infinite eternall most perfect first cause and directer of all things all things are referred to one first Rom. 11. 35. Apocal. 1. 8. and 4. 11. 12. A person generally taken is one intire substance not common to many â—ndued with life and vnderstanding wil and power A person in the Godhead is the Godhead restrained or distinguished by his personall propertie Ioh. 14. 16. and 15. 1. The whole diuine nature being indiuisible 1. Cor. 8. 6. is common to all three persons Farher Sonne and Holy Ghost Act. 4. 24. 2. Cor. 1. 3. Ioh. 1. 1. Rom. 9. 5. Heb. 1. 8. Numb 12. 6. 7. with Act. 1. 16. 1. Pet. 1. 11. Heb. 1. 1. Act. 4. 25. with 2. Pet. 1. 21. and therfore whatsoeuer doth absolutely agree to the diuine nature or is spoken of the diuine nature by relation vnto the creatures that doth agree likewise to euery person in Trinitie Ioh. 1. 1. Prou. 8. 22. Apoc. 1. 8. Matth. 18. 20. Ioh. 3. 13. Iob 26. 13. and 33. 4. Ioh. 14. 26. Luk. 1. 35. Euerie person in Trinitie is equall in glory and eternitie Ioh. 10. 30. Ioh. 17. 5. Phil. 2. 6. Eph. 1. 17. with Ioh. 12. 41. and there is a most neere communion and vnion between them by which each one is in the rest and with the rest Ioh. 14. 10. 11. Io. 1. 1. and cuery one doth possesse loue and glorifie each other Prou. 8. 22. 30. v. Ioh. 17. 5. working the same things Ioh. 5. 19. But the Godhead considered with the personall property of begetting is the Father c. Q. What is the propertie of the Father A. To bee of himselfe and t 1. Ioh. 1. 18. and 3. 18. to 13 beget his Sonne Expos 13. The diuine nature doth neither beget nor is begotten but the Father doth beget his Sonne by an eternall and necessarie communication of his essence wholly and indiuisibly to his Son which yet he wholly retaineth in himselfe Ioh. 1. 1. Pro. 8. 22 23. Q. What is the propertie of the Sonne A. To be u Ioh. 3. 18. begotten of the Father Q. What is the propertie of the Holy Ghost A. To proceed from the w Ioh. 15. 26. Father and x Rom. 8. 9. Gal. 4. 6. the Sonne Q. The nature of