Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	write_a	write_v	year_n	113	3	4.7506	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89503	A practical commentary, or An exposition with notes on the Epistle of Jude. Delivered (for the most part) in sundry weekly lectures at Stoke-Newington in Middlesex. By Thomas Manton, B.D. and minister of Covent-Garden.	Manton, Thomas, 1620-1677.	1657 (1657)	Wing M530; Thomason E930_1; ESTC R202855	471,190	600

of folly mixed with popular Rites and Customs There are many things necessary to Religion which the Angels themselves could not have known if they had not been revealed therefore their knowledg increaseth by observing Gods dispensations to the Church Ephes 3. 10. The way of Salvation by Christ is such a Mystery as could not have entred into the heart of any creature no not of an Angel If an Angel had been to set down which way man should be redeemed nay if all the Cherubim and Seraphim Thrones Dominions and Powers had met together in a Synod and Council and had taken in all the world to their assistance it would have posed them all to have found out such a Way as God hath appointed But not to speak of Mysteries There is in the Word some Moralities suitable to the Law of Nature which was once written upon mans heart but alas now there remains only some scattered fragments and obscure characters so defaced that they cannot be read and how blind are we in these things without the Word Witness the sottish Idolatry of those Nations that want it worshipping stocks or stones yea a piece of red cloth or what ever they saw first in the morning And witness those brutish Customs among other Nations whereby uncleanness and unnatural sins have been authorized by a Law Therefore 't is a great mercy that something is delivered and given out as a Rule of Faith and Manners 2. That this Tradition is written and put into a stated course in those Books which we call Scriptures If the Revelation of Gods Will had been left to the tradition of men of such a rank or order what a liberty might they take of coyning Oracles and obtruding their fancies upon the world 'T is a great mercy that our faith doth not depend upon uncertain suggestions but some main publique Records to which all may appeal and find satisfaction Heretofore the Lord revealed himself by Visions Oracles and Dreams to persons of ancient holiness and sanctity that they might instruct others which course was sure enough while the people of the world were but a few families and the persons intrusted with Gods message had authority and credit sufficient with the present age and lived long to continue the tradition with the more certainty to future ages But afterwards the Lord was pleased to speak to his Church both by Word and writing His Word was necessary for further revealing and clearing up the doctrine of Salvation and writing was necessary because when Precepts were multiplyed it was needful for mens memories that they should be written the long life of Gods Witnesses was lessened corruptions began to increase Satan giving out lying oracles and visions idolatrous Rites and customs crept into the best families the people of God were grown numerous enough to make a Comm●nwealth and Politick Body therefore to avoyd mans corruptions and Satans deceits the Lord thought fit that we should have a written Rule at hand as a publique Standard for the tryal of all Doctrines God himself wrote the first Scripture with his own Finger upon tables of stone and he commanded Moses and the Prophets to do the same Exod. 17. 14. and 34. 17. which dispensation of Word and Writing continued till Christs time who as the great Doctor of the Church perfected the Rule of Faith and by the Apostles as so many publique Notaries consigned it to the use of the Church in all Ages When the Canon began to be compleat the latter Apostles pressed the receiving of it and John as the last and as one who outlived all the rest closeth up his Prophecy thus Rev. 22. 18 19. If any man add c. and if any man take away c. which doth not only seal up the Book of the Revelations but the whole Canon and Rule of Faith which indeed was a great mercy to the world the Lord knew to what a liberty we inclined in divine things and therefore we needed to be tyed up to a Rule which here is given us 3. The mercy of God appeareth in preserving it that it may be delivered from one age to another No Doctrine so ancient as the Doctrine of the Scriptures it describeth the whole History of the World from the very Creation and the original of all things Where are there Records so ancient and yet they have been preserved even to our time We have some ancient writings of the Heathens though nothing so ancient as Scripture but these are not contrary to mens lusts and have been cherished by them and yet they have felt the tooth of time and are in a great measure mangled but the Word of God hath been maligned and opposed and yet it continueth and holdeth up its head in the world not only the main Doctrine of the Scriptures hath been continued but no part of the Word hath been falsified corrupted destroyed the world wanted not malice nor opportunity the powers of the world have been bent against it and corrupt persons in the Church have been always given to other gospelling but still the Scriptures have been wonderfully preserved as the three children in the furnace not an hair singed not a jot and tittle of Truth perished 4. That God doth continually stir up men in the Church and bestow gifts upon them for the opening and application of this faith and doctrine of Salvation Christ that hath given Prophets and Apostles to the Church to write Scripture hath also given Pastors and Teachers to open and apply Scripture that so still it might be delivered to the Saints and also to vindicate the doctrine of it when opposed Every age that hath yeilded the Poyson hath also yeilded the Antidote that the world might not be without a Witness if there hath been an Arrius there hath been an Athanasius if a Pelagius there is also an Austin the Church hath never wanted help in this kind Look as in War as the Arts of Battery and methods of destruction do increase so also doth skill in Fortification and in the Church God still bestoweth gifts for the further explication of Truth 5. That the Light cometh to us and shineth in this Land The Gospel is a great National Priviledg To you is this Word of Salvation sent Acts 13. 26. Pray mark 't is sent he doth not say we have brought it to you but 't is sent 't is a token sent from Heaven in love there is a mighty Providence accompanieth the Gospel the journeys of the Apostles as I said but now were ordered by the Spirit as well as their doctrine Acts 8. 26. The Angel of the Lord said to Philip Arise and go towards the South towards the way that goeth down to Jerusalem They went not as their own good affection carryed them but according to the Spirits direction So Acts 17. 7 8 9. The Spirit suffered them not c. as prophecy came not by the will of man 2 Pet. 1. 20. that is the doctrine it self

the better side Well then let your memories be as an Ark or Chest in which the Tables ore kept lay up a good stock of knowledge that you may have truths always fresh and present with you will be an help to prayer Eph. 6. 17 18 Take the sword of the spirit which is the word of God praying always c. a check to temptations to sin Psal 119. 9. I have hid thy word in my heart that I might not sin against thee a support in afflictions Heb. 12. 5. a remedy against errour John 14 26. The next Clause is the words spoken before The Prophesies of Scripture evince the truth of it things are there spoken long before they fall out not only before the event but before the causes or remorse tendencies to such an event wise men may guess when they see probabilities and foretel that which dependeth on natural causes the Devil can many times shrewdly interpret the predictions of the word but a certain precience of what is future and meerly in it self contingent is the prerogative of God Isa 41. 22. Let them foretel things to come c. this is done in the Scripture Cyrus is mentioned by name an hundred years before he was born Isai 25. 1. The birth of Josiah 300. years before it came to pass 1 King 13. 2. The building of Jericho 500. years before it was re-edified Josh 7. 26. with 1 King 16. 34. The great promise of Christ in Paradice accomplished a thousands of years afterward the people of the Jews were ever warned by Prophesie of the good or bad that befel them Scripture was to them not only an Authentick Register but an infallible prognostication these two signal providences of the reje●ion of the Jews and the calling of the Gentiles were they not abundantly foretold and accordingly came to pass Can there be any compact here When the Jews were the keepers of the Oracles of God would they foyst in Prophesies against themselves Well then venture upon the truth of the word more than you have done God hath ever hitherto stood to his word rather then he would go back from it he would not only cast off his ancient people but send his own Son to suffer a shameful and an accursed death he that hath been faithful hither to is he like to fail at last I go on in the Text of the Apostle of our Lord Jesus That the words of the Apostles are the Rule of faith these were legati a latere sent from the side of Christ they had an extraordinary mission and call immediately from Christ as Christ from the Father John 17. 18 and John 20. 21. they had extraordinary gifts as infallibility quod hoc as to the work of an Apostle the power of working miracles c. and ordinary gifts in an extraordinary manner as tongues c. they were to write Scripture and to consign a Rule to the use of the Church in all ages This word of the Kingdom must be Preached till the end come Mat. 24. 14. and Christ prayed for no more then do believe through their word John 17. 20. and to them he said Matth 28. I am with you to the end of the world no other doctrine can we expect till we come to study Divinity in the Lambs face Once more these Apostles of the Lord were Paul and Peter 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 3 4 Peter 2 Pet. 3. 2 3. From whence Jude taketh many passages 'T is not unlawful to make use of the writings of other men Compare the fifteenth and sixteenth Chapters of Isaiah with the 48 of Jeremiah especially Isa 16. 8 9 10 11 verses with Jer. 48. 32 33 34 35 36. and you shall see how they agree almost word for word the gifts and labours of others are for our use not to ●eed laziness but to exercise industry in some cases if we speak iisdem paene literis syllabis as Melanchthon wished Divines would in the same words 't is not a fault in controversies and positive truths better make use of old words then coin n●w matter many now scoff at common truths as if Preachers did but talk like clocks one after another Doctrine cannot be varied a good scribe indeed must bring forth out of his Treasury things both new and old represent common things in a fresh savory way yet 't is not altogether unlawful to make use of the words of others where they are poinaunt and emphatical not lazily to go on in the tract but as improving their conceptions Yet again Jude an Apostle quoteth Apostles Daniel a Prophet read in the Prophesies of Jeremiah Dan. 9. 2. Peter was conversant in the Epistles of Paul 2 Pet. 3. 16. Paul himself had a care of the Parchments that is as some suppose the Volumes and Books of Scripture 1 Tim. 4. 13. Certainly the Scripture is not only for novices and young beginners but for the highest a study becomming the most eminently gifted there is a passage Psal 119. 75. Let those that fear thy name turn unto me those that have known thy testimonies that turning to him some understand of joyning with him in friendship and familiarity as certainly godly men by a secret inclination are moved to joyn one with another others make the end of turning to him to behold in him a pattern and example of the Lords grace but the Chaldee paraphrase thus turns to my Doctrine those that know let them come to know more Well then do not rest in the light you have and think that you are above these helps you may be further instructed and established if you had all knowledg there are affections to be wrought upon you may be quickned if not learn Ministers and those that abound in knowledg may be stirred up by the admonitions and exhortations of others Verse 18. How that they told you that there should be Mockers in the last time walking after their own ungodly lusts HOw that they told you he meaneth not in word but in writings they told the Church in general but the Apostle applyeth it to them places are every where 1 Tim 4. 1. 2 Tim. 3. 1. Acts 20. 29 30. in the last time The days when the Gospel was first Preached are so called in a double sense either with respect to the approaching judgements on the Jews 1 Iohn 2. 18. Little children now it is the last time the lease of our mercies was running out a pace so James telleth the carnal Jews Iames 5. 3. Ye have heaped up treasure for the last days when God was pulling down and plucking up they were scr●ping and hoarding up wealth and so became a greater prey to the destroyer 2. Or because then the last dispensation began which God would continue without change unto the worlds end Heb. 1. 2. He hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son the Lord hath now fully revealed his mind and the Doctrine of salvation is put into a settled