Sonne hath reuealed him Ioh. 1. 18. Matth. 11. 27. and the Gospel is an hidden misterie 1. Cor. 2. 7. 10. Rom. 16. 25. 26. so that we can knowe nothing of God vntill God himselfe manifesteth it vnto vs. Psal 103. 7. and 147. 19. 20. By the word of God we vnderstand the will of God reuealed to reasonable creatures teaching them what to doe beleeue and leaue vndone Deut. 29. 29. Q. What call you the word of God A. The d 2. Tim. 3. 16. holy Scripture 4 immediately 5 inspired which is contained in the books of the Old and New Testament Expos 4. This word of God hath heretofore been diuersely made known Heb. 1. 1. as by inspiration 2. Chro. 15. 1. Esa 59. 21. 2. Pet. 1. 21. Ingrauing in the heart Rom. 2. 14. visions Numb 12. 6. 8. Act. 10. 10 11. Apo. 1. 10. Dreames Iob 33. 14. 15. Gen. 40. 8. Vrim and Thummim Numb 27. 21. 1. Sam. 30. 7 8. Signes Gen. 32. 24. Exod. 13. 21. Audible voice Exod. 20. 1 2. Gen. 22. 11. 15. and lastly by writing Exod. 17. 14. This word so reuealed is by excellency called the Scripture Gal. 3. 22. Io. 10. 35. and the holy Scriptures Rom. 1. 2. in respect of God the Author Act. 1. 16. and 4. 25. the holy pen-men Luk. 13. 38. 2. Pet. 1. 21. the matter 1. Tim. 6. 3. Tit. 1. 1. and end thereof Rom. 15. 4. 2. Tim. 3. 17. The truth of God was deliuered to the Church in writing Deut. 31. 9. Hos 8. 12. Reu. 2. 1. that it might be preserued pure from corruption 2. Pet. 1. 12 13. 15. be better conueied to posterity Ier. 36. 27 28. Deut. 31. 9. be an infallible standerd of true doctrin and determiner of all controuersies Esa 8. 2. Mal. 4. 4. Deut. 17. 11. that our faith might be confirmed beholding the accomplishment of things prophesied 1. King 13. 2. comp 2. King 23. 16. Act. 17. 10. 11. and for the more full instruction of the Church the time of the Messias euer drawing on Mal. 4. 4. or beeing come Luk. 2. 3. 5. To be immediately inspired is to be as it were breathed and to come from the Father by the holy Ghost without all meanes And thus the holy Scriptures were inspired both for matter and words Luk. 1. 70. 2. Pet. 1. 21. Q. What are the books of the Old Testament A. Moses 6 and e Luk. 24. 27. the Prophets Expos 6. All the books of holy Scripture giuen by God to the Church of the Iewes are called the Lawe Luk. 16. 17. Ioh. 12. 34. and the Prophets Rom. 1. 2. and 16. 25. 26. because they were written by holy men stirred vp sanctified and inspired of God for that purpose 1. Pet. 1. 11. Heb. 1. 1. But ordinarily they are comprised vnder these two heads the lawe and the Prophets Matth. 22. 40. Act. 13. 15. Matth. 7. 12. or the lawe of Moses and the Prophets Act. 28. 23. or Moses and the Prophets Ioh. 1. 45. Luk. 16. 29. Moses beeing distinctly named from the rest because he was the first and cheife of the Prophets as the Psalmes are mentioned particularly Luk. 24. 44. because they are the choise and flower of all other Scripture Q. Which are the bookes of tâ—e newe Testament A. Mathew Marke Luke and the rest as they follow in our Bibles Q. How may it be prooued that those bookes are the word of God immediately inspired by the holy Ghost to the Prophets and Apostles A. 7 By the â— testimonie f 2. Pet. 1. 19. of the Church 9 constancie g Reu. 6. 9. of the Saints 10 miracles h 1. King 17. 24. Ioh. 3. 2. 1. Ier. 6. 16. Heb. 13. 8. wrought to confirme the truth and the 11 Antiquitie i thereof Expos 7. It is very expedient and necessary that all Christians of age and discreation should knowe that the Scriptures are the very word of God the immediate and infallible truth of God that is to be receiued obeied and beleeued For thereby we are the better fitted to heare read and recâ—eiue the word with attention ioy reuerence submission Act. 10. 33. and assurance of faith which being a diuine grace must haue a diuine foundation 2. Tim. 3. 15 16. 1. Ioh 5. 9. and being certaine must haue a sure ground euen the word of God Ioh. 5. 46. Eph. 2. 20. Rom. 4. 18. Also it ministers no small comfort in affliction and temptation that we knowe whom we haue trusted 2. Tim. 1. 12. Act. 5. 29. This must be knowne not by opinion or probable coniecture which may deceiue but by certain and distinct knowledge whereby we conceiue of things certaine certainely as they are and are assured that we conceiue of them none otherwise then as they are that we may be able to stop the mouthes of Atheists and Papists who carp against the truth 2. Cor. 13. 3. We come not to the vnderstanding hereof by sense or discourse of reason this matter is to be discerned and beleeued by faith But for the fuller clearing of the point sundry rules are to bee obserued both concerning faith and concerning the Scripture it selfe 1. Distinction must be made betweene certainty of faith and certainty of sense or sight Things beleeued in themselues are more certaine then things seen but they are not alwaies so apprehended by vs. Certainty of sight excludes doubtings so doth not certainty of faith it is sufficient that it preuaile against them Gen. 15. 6. 8. 1. Cor. 13. 9. 12. Iud. 6. 36 37 38. 2. Implicite faith by which wee confusedly beleeue that such bookes are the word of God not vnderstanding the sense of them is to be distinguished from explicite faith which is euer ioyned with a distinct and certain vnderstanding of the thing beleiued Ioh. 3. 2. 10. 3. Historical faith which stands in the certainty of the mind and beleeues God speaking in his word must bee distinguished from iustifying and sauing faith which containes the perswasion and confidence of the heart whereby we not only beleeue the word of God to be the cheife truth but also do embrace it as containing the cheife good of man Iam. 2. 19. Ioh. 5. 35. Heb. 6. 11. 10. 22. Eph. 3. 12. for all things in Scripture are not alike to be beleeued neither doe the same arguments serue to beget each faith 4. Concerning the Scripture wee must put a difference betweene the doctrine therin contained and the writing for the signe is for the sense and the knowledge and faith of both is not alike necessarie The doctrine was euer necessary to be beleeued the manner of reuealing was not alwaies Ioh. 8. 24. 5. Of doctrines some are simply necessary to saluation containing the maine grounds and cheife heads of Christian religion others are expositions or amplifications of the same very profitable but not of such necessitie 1. Cor. 3. 12. 13. Col. 2. 18. 19. Phil. 3. 15. 6. A distinction is to bee put
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
4. 24. 25. 26. We are not tied to the expositions of Fathers or Councels for the finding out of the sense of the Scripture Rom. 3. 4. Matth. 5. 27. 28. 31. 32. 33. 34. 38. 39. 43. 44. the holy Ghost speaking in the Scripture is the onely faithfull interpreter of the Scripture Luk. 1. 70. 1. Cor. 2. 10. 11. 10. 14. 26. Es 55. 4. The meanes to find out the true meaning of the Scripture are conference of one place of Scripture with another 2. Sam. 24. 1. with 1. Chro. 21. 1. Esa 28. 16. with Rom. 9. 33. Es 65. 1. 2. with Rom. 10. 20. 21. Mic. 5. 2. with Matth. 2. 6. Matth. 26. 34. with Mar. 14. 30. diligent consideration of the scope and circumstances of the place Matth. 22. 31. 32. Act. 2. â—9 as the occasions and coherence of that which went before with that which followeth after the matter whereof it doth entreate 1. Co. 11. 24. 25. 26. and circumstances of persons times and places Act. 13. 36. 37. and consideration whether the words be spoken figuratiuely or simply for in figuratiue speeches not the outward shew of words but the sense is to be taken Io. 15. 1. Matth. 26. 26. Io. 14. 6. Ex. 12. 11. Io. 6. 35. 1. Cor. 10. 16. and knowledge of the Arts and Tongues wherein the Scriptures were originally written 1. Cor. 12. 10. Act. 2. 3. 4. But alwaies it is to be obserued that obscure places are not to be expounded contrarie to the rule of faith set downe in plainer places of the Scripture Rom. 3. 18. 20. 12. 6. 2. Tim. 1. 13. Act. 13. 33. 36. 37. Rom. 6. 7. Q. What doth the Scripture especially teach vâ— A. The 1 sauing f Io. 17. 3. Col. 2. 1. 2. knowledge 2 of God 3 and Iesus Christ Expos 1. Knowledge is the ground of obedience 1. Chro. 28. 9. Act. 26. 18. a rich gift of grace Mar. 4. 11. the first grace that God giueth vnto his children 1. Io. 2. 20. 27. and 5. 20. Io. 16. 4. and 6. 63. the foundation of all other graces Pro. 19. 2. Psal 9. 10. Hos 4. 4. Es 11. 9. the guide of our affections and directer of our actions Psal 119. 9. 100. 101. Pro. 2. 10. 11. 12. Es 30. 21. without which zeale is little worth Rom. 10. 2. sacrifice was vaine Hos 6. 6. and deuotion was but superstition Act. 7. 22. 23. This when it is made by the work of the holy Ghost to bee effectuall to sincere faith loue feare and obedience is sauing Ioh. 17. 3. Esa 53. 11. 2. Wee must know God because otherwise we cannot desire Ioh. 4. 10. obey 1. Ioh. 2. 4. nor haue communion or fellowship with him 1. Ioh. 1. 5 6 7. 3. We must know Christ because sin hath made a separation betweene God and vs Esa 59. 2. so that we cannot bee receiued into Gods fauour or haue communion with him without a Mediator Eph. 1. 3. 5. Rom. 3. 25. Eph. 2. 18. 1. Ioh. 2. 1 2. Heb. 10. 21. 22. Ioh. 14. 6. and God in Christ or God and Christ is the obiect of Christian religion Col. 3. 17. 1. Pet. 1. 21. Ioh. 14. 1. Heb. 1. 6. Christ is the image of the inuisible God Col. 1. 15. the brightnesse of his glorie and the expresse image of his person Heb. 1. 3. in whom with open face we behold as in a glasse the glorie of the Lord 2. Cor. 3. 18. Ioh. 14. 9. in whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge Col. 2. 3. The Apostles who preached vnto the world the whole counsell of God necessarie to saluation did preach nothing Act. 8. 5. Rom. 10. 8 9. Act. 28. 31. did desire to knowe nothing but Iesus Christ and him crucified 1. Cor. 2. 2. Phil. 3. 8. of him they wrote that our ioy might be full 1. Ioh. 1. 4. and the Lord who forbids vs to glory in any thing beside doth command vs to glorie in this that we know him in Christ Ier. 9. 23. 1. Cor. 1. 30 31. so that this knowledge is necessarie easie excellent sufficient sound and comfortable 2. Cor. 4. 3. 4. Act. 8. 8. Q. How may it be prooued that there is a God A. By the 1 g Psa 19. 1. 2. Esa 41. 23. Rom. 1. 20. Act. 14. 17. Iob 12. 7 8 9. workes and h Exod. 8. 19. and 9. 16. 2 wonders which are seene the testimonie i Rom. 2. 15. Esa 33. 14. Psal 14. 5. and 53. 5. of 3 conscience the k Zach. 12. 1. Psal 94. 8 9 10. powers 4 of the soule and the l Reuel 12. 7. 10. practises 5 of Sathan Expos 1. The first creature was made of nothing otherwise it could not bee subiect to change and alteration and all creatures are finite compound imperfect vnable to make or sustaine themselues therefore of necessitie there must bee a first cause in power infinite most perfect and of it selfe that giues beeing and continuance vnto all things 2 Nothing can be the cause of it selfe for then it should be both the cause the effect both before and after it selfe therefore all things haue their beginning from one first and supreame cause which is God 3. Amongst things created we may obserue a series of causes and an order in the things themselues but order is from one first and leads vs vnto one first 4. All things euen things without life sense and reason which cannot moone voluntarily or intend an end are directed orderly vnto an end therfore there is one wise good and cheife directer of all things which is God 5. The greatnesse perfection multitude varietie and concord of things existing the forme and continual sustentation of the world doe shew that all things doe depend vpon some one wise and perfect good from whom they haue their beeing and preseruation 2. By Wonders we vnderstand visible and apparant works extraordinarily wrought not onely aboue the ordinary course of nature but simply aboue the power of nature either in respect of the worke it selfe or the manner of doing which effects doe conuince that there iâ— an infinite power that is aboue and doth ouer-rule all things for euerie principall and primarie cause is more excellent then the effects thereof 3. The conscience doth register bring to remembrance and beare witnesse of â—he cogitations words and actions of all men excuse and comfort in weldoing against the disgraces slaunders and persecutions of the world accuse and terrifie for sinne secretly committed which neuer did nor shall come into the knowledge of men incite to holines and curbe and bridle from Iniquity which is a manifest token and proofe that there is a supreame iudge who hath giuen a law binding the conscience doth obserue all our thoughts deuises words and workes and will call vs to an account and reckoning 4. The soule is a spirituall inuisible and immortall substance endued with power to vnderstand and will but the soule and the