Mothe expresses it any thing which they knew before but only called forth proposed and represented to their Minds such of those things which he found there and would have made use of Hence it came to pass that Paul the most learned of the Apostles makes such use of his Learning in his Writings which is not to be found in the Writings of any other of the Apostles As when he quotes some Sayings of the Heathen Poets Of Aratus in his discourse to the Learned Athenians Acts 17 -28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of Menander 1 Cor. 15.33 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of Epimenides Tit. 1.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Spirit of God could have infused such Notions into the other Apostles as he enabled 'em to speak with Tongues which they never learned by infusing the Idea's of all those Languages into their Minds but he made use only of such things as he found in 'em as to this particular And herein I take it does chiefly consist the Assistance and Influence of the Holy Ghost in the Inditement of the greatest part of Scripture All the Historical Dogmatical Doctrinal and Practical Parts of Scripture owe their Original to this Work of the Holy Ghost his calling forth such and such Matter and Words as should be fit for the Edification and Instruction of the People of God in all generations And hence it follows § 28. 7. The Holy Ghost assisted the Pen-men of Scripture by immediate suggesting and dictating to 'em and imprinting on their Minds all such things as were matters of pure Revelation i. e. That could not be known by 'em no otherwise than by Revelation as All things Past of which there was neither Tradition nor Record Such things Present as either they had never heard of or were without the reach of Man's Knowledge as the Thoughts Desires Purposes Inclinations and Sincerity of the Heart which are often declared in Scripture And likewise things to Come the Fore-telling whereof God challenges to himself as his peculiar Prerogative Esa 46.9 10. and 41. 22 23. and 45.21 And here come in under this Head of Assistance all the Prophecies Promises Threatnings which lie scatter'd up and down throughout the whole Book of God These are granted by all except absolute Antiscripurists to be of divine Inspiration in the strictest and most proper sense and the immediate Dictates of the Holy Ghost § 29. 8. Besides the particular Scope of each Book and the Pen-men thereof the Spirit of God had moreover a general and transcendent Super-intendency and Inspection reaching over the whole viz. To make it a compleat perfect Canon and Rule both of Faith and Life containing all the Credenda Agenda Petenda and Speranda that so the Man of God might be perfect throughly furnisht to every good work This was that which could never come within the Compass of any particular Writer's aim but was the Work of the Spirit in the whole That every one should write what and so much as the Spirit saw fit Every one should cast in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Morsel or Share as it 's said of the Apostles in the Creed so that all together it might be a perfect Revelation of the Will of God for the Use of the Church the Body of Christ That it should contain all things necessary to Salvation and whatsoever was profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction and for Instruction in Righteousness 2 Tim. 3.16 17. And thus much for the Sixth Proposition showing the several Branches or Ways whereby the Holy Ghost assisted the Pen-men of Scripture from all which I may well conclude in the last Place § 30. Prop. VII The whole Scripture both in respect of Matter and Words is of divine Inspiration This seems to me to be a plain and natural Consequence of the foregoing Discourse That both Matter and Words were equally under the Direction and Influence of the Holy Ghost Both of 'em had an equal share in his Inspiration in the ways fore-mention'd Such Words as well as Matter were brought into their Minds as the Holy Ghost thought fit This is denied by La Mothe part 2. c. 1. tho' he grants something like it C. 5. § 3. p. 120. where he saith The Words and the Things depend upon one and the same sort of Inspiration both the one and the other proceed from the same Spring and are guided by the same Hand They proceed equally from humane Faculties and are equally directed by the Spirit of God § 31. The Apostle seems to speak expresly to this point concerning the Words 1 Cor. 2.13 Which things also we speak not in the Words which man's Wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth Now if it were so with 'em in their Speaking much more in their Writing if it be not all one and he does not mean the same thing concerning which see above Prop. I. n. 1. because their Writing was of larger Extent than their Preaching viz. for the Use of the Church in all Ages Many passages also in the Scripture seem to look this way and to imply as much As 1. Those general Words 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God must certainly signify more than a bare Direction such as La Mothe asserts p. 121. He lets 'em alone when they go right and when they are about to miscarry he brings 'em back again viz. an immediate Impulse in those ways that have been mention'd So when the sacred Pen-men thereof are said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 born up carried above and beyond themselves to speak his Words and what he endited to ' em Owen of Commun p. 284. 2. It appears also by those words of David 2 Sam. 23.2 The Spirit of the Lord spake by me and his Word was in my Tongue He does not say He spake by the Spirit but the Spirit by him The Spirit was the Principal Agent he but the Instrument Whereas If the Spirit only directed him in what he wrote then he was the Principal and the Spirit only the Subordinate Mr. Pool's Note upon these Words is this The following Words and consequently the other Words and Psalms composed and utter'd by me upon the like solemn Occasions are not to be lookt upon as my private Fancies or humane Inventions but both the Matter and Words of 'em are suggested and govern'd by God's Spirit which is the great Teacher of the Church 3. The Places following seem also to speak thus much Luke 1.70 He spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets Acts 4.25 Who by the mouth of thy holy servant David hast said Mark 12.36 David himself said by the Holy Ghost and more expresly Acts 1.16 Which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before and 28. 25. Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esay the Prophet Heb. 1.1 God spake in the Prophets and 3.7 The Holy Ghost saith To day if you will hear his voice c. What can be more express than these places A bare Guidance and Direction certainly will never comprehend the full Extent and Sense of
me by some learned Men that have seen those Papers That being fit only for the View of the Learned and alas not for all of them neither it should have bin dress'd up and sent abroad in a learned Habit but falling only accidentally upon that Question I spun out my thoughts upon it by degrees after the same rate that I had begun it till I had finisht my Web and don't think it now worth while to put it into a new dress but e'en let it go as it is and approve it self to the Candid Reader as well as it can The Third Discourse treats of a nice and curious Point The Testimony of the Spirit which is not so much a matter of Speculation as Experience Concerning which I know nothing that has bin publisht of late about it distinctly by it self and therefore perhaps it may find the better Acceptance with the Reader especially if he be one that has his Senses exercised about such things Sa. Clark The CONTENTS § 1. THE Unsearchableness of God's Works § 2. Especially of the Work of the Spirit upon the Souls of men § 3. And more especially as to the Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures § 4. La Mothe's Account of it § 5. The Nature of it open'd in several Propositions 1. Prop. The Holy Scriptures contain matters of several sorts § 6. 2. Prop. All Scripture of what sort soever is by Inspiration from God § 7. Proved by Parts 1. Concerning the Scriptures of the Old Testament that they are divinely inspired is proved 1. By the Testimonies of Paul and Peter 2 Tim. 3.16 2 Pet. 1.21 which are open'd § 8. 2. By a distinct consideration of the several Books 1. Of Moses § 9. 2. Of the Historical Books § 10. 3. Of Job § 11. 4. Of the Psalms and Prophets § 12. 3. By many Passages which must be the immediate dictates of the Holy Spirit § 13. 2. The Scriptures of the New Testament proved to be God-inspir'd by several Arguments § 14. 3. Prop. The Persons inspired had the use of their Reason and Understanding § 15. 4. Prop. The Holy Ghost made use of the Natural Abilities of the Persons inspired § 16. 5. Prop. The Holy Ghost accommodated his Inspiration to the particular Genius of every Writer § 17. 6. Prop. This Inspiration included many things in it 1. The Holy Ghost stirr'd 'em up to write § 18. 2. He set 'em their Task § 19. 3. He inlighten'd their minds and gave 'em a distinct understanding of what was to be deliver'd by ' em § 20. Show'd 1. In the Historical Parts § 21. 2. In the Prophetical § 22. 3. In the Writings of the Apostles § 23. The several steps by which knowledge was communicated to them § 24. But to Paul it was all at once Several peculiar Privileges belonging to him § 25. 4. He strengthned their Memories § 26. 5. He directed 'em what Matters of Fact to insert § 27. 6. He call'd forth those images of things which were laid up in their minds § 28. 7. He suggested to 'em immediately what was matter of pure Revelation § 29. 8. He had a general Instruction over the whole to make it a compleat Rule both of Faith and Life § 30. 7th and Last Prop. The whole Scripture both in respect of Matter and Words is of Divine Inspiration § 31. Proved by several Passages of Scripture § 32. And by Testimonies of Learned Men. § 33. The Sum of the whole showing the distinct Share both of the Holy Ghost and Pen-men of the Scriptures There is extant also of the same Author ANnotations on the Bible with Parallel Scriptures much more largely than in any other Edition and a Concordance Sold by Jon. Robinson and Brab Aylmer A Survey of the Bible Or An Analytical Account of the Bible by Chapter and Verse by way of Supplement to the Annotations 4 to Printed for Jon. Robinson Price 8 s. A Brief Concordance of the most usual and useful Places so that one shall seldom have occasion to look into a large Concordance as has been found by Experience In large Twelves Sold by J. Robinson Price 2 s. An Abridgment of the Historical Parts of the Scripture In Twelves Printed for J. Robinson Price 1 s. Of Scandal Wherein these weighty Questions are fully discust 1. Whether things Indifferent become Necessary when commanded by Authority Neg. 2. Whether things Scandalous being enjoined may lawfully be done Neg. 3. How far forth we are bound in Conscience to obey Humane Laws With others Together with An Exercitation on Matth. XV. 1 -9 Sold by T. Parkhurst Price 9 d. An Ordination Sermon on Acts XIII 2 3. Printed for J. Lawrence Scripture-Justification Printed for T. Parkhurst Price 1 s. 6 d. ERRATA In the Exercitation PAge 5. l. 15. for Megittoth read Megilloth p. 6. l. 14 begin the Break at I find and l. 15 16. r. Chapters both between p. 14. l. 16. for 13. r. 3. p. 40. l. 12. for his r. this p. 43. l. last the Hebrew words at the bottom of the page should have been inserted between the Crotchets in the 3d line of the Margin and read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the Testimony Page 8. l. 2. before Nil add This is p. 19. l. 32. for Whetstone r. White stone p. 23. l. 23. for great r. other p. 27. l. 29. for where r. when p. 29. l. 7. for wrapt r. rapt If there be any other Faults the Reader is desired to Excuse 'em for the Author did not see all the Sheets An Exercitation Disquisition or Enquiry into the Nature and Extent of the Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures § 1. THE Works of God in general are very unsearchable by any humane Understanding Great things doth he which we cannot comprehend saith Elihu Job 37. 5 nor find out v. 23. So that No man can know the work that God doth from the beginning to the end as Solomon assures us Eccles 3. 11. Particularly Concerning the Works of Providence the Psalmist pronounces of 'em that they are a great deep Psal 36.6 and again 77.19 Thy way is in the sea and thy path in great waters and thy footsteps are not known This moved Zophar to put the question to Job c. 11. 7 8. Canst thou by searching find out God Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection It is high as heaven What canst thou do deeper than hell what canst thou know The consideration whereof drew that Exclamation or Admiration from the great Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledg of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out Rom. 11.36 § 2. But especially the Work of the Spirit in and upon the Souls of Men is very mysterious and incomprehensible as to the finer strokes of it Our Saviour Christ compares it to the Wind Joh. 3.8 The Wind blows where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof
Prophets strictly taken and Apostles Many things indeed in the Writings of the Prophets are plain enough the Subject of 'em being purely Practical as Instructions to the People about their Duty Reproof for their Sins Promises of Mercy to the Penitent Denunciations of Judgment against the Impenitent and the like and sometimes also there are Matters Historical And when among these any thing was Parabolically Typically or Mystically represented either they had a clear understanding of it themselves or the meaning of it was reveal'd to 'em by the Spirit of God as we find in many instances as In those Visions of an Almond-tree and a Seething-pot with the face towards the North Jer. 1 11-16 So the Types of a linnen Girdle and Bottles fill'd with Wine were expounded Jer. 13 9-14 and in many other places of that Prophecy The like was done to Ezekiel for his lying so many days upon his side Ezek. 4 4-8 and to Amos c. 7. 7 8. and 8. 2. Zech. 1.19 21. and 4 11-14 and 5. 6 c. § 21. Other things were Predictions of what was to come to pass hereafter and that either in a way of Judgment as the Seventy years Captivity in Babylon and many such-like Evils or in a way of Mercy as their Return from Babylon and all those Prophecies concerning Christ and his Kingdom in the latter part of Esay and other places These they understood also for the substance of 'em tho' possibly not every Circumstance for Peter saith They enquired and searched diligently about the Salvation they prophesied of searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify when it testified before-hand the Sufferings of Christ 1 Pet. 1.10 11. However I say they understood at least the Substance of their Prophecies as appears by those words Dan. 10 -1 A thing was revealed unto Daniel and he understood the thing and had understanding of the Vision See also c. 9. 22. and 10. 14. And when he did not understand some things an Angel was employ'd to unfold the meaning of 'em to him as c. 8. 15-19 and 12. 8 11. § 22. Then for the Apostles it is clear that the Holy Ghost did inable them fully to Comprehend or at least to Apprehend all those Mysteries of the Christian Religion which they committed to Writing as Paul testifies of himself Eph. 3. 3 4. How that by Revelation he made known unto me the mystery as I wrote before in few words whereby when ye read ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ And it must needs be so for This Assistance of the Holy Ghost was promis'd to 'em by Christ John 16.13 When the spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak and he will show you things to come and Luke 24.49 Behold I send the promise of my Father upon you That Promise of the Father was the Holy Ghost as appears by Acts 1.4 5. And being assembled with them commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the promise of the Father which saith he ye have heard of me For John truly baptized with Water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence § 23. Yet concerning this I observe That this Knowledge was not communicated to 'em all at once but by degrees For 1. They were train'd up in Christ's Family and under the Influence of his continual Instructions Mark 4.34 When they were alone he expounded all things to his Disciples 2. After his Resurrection he expounded to 'em in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself Luke 24.27 3. After that He open'd their Understandings to understand the Scriptures v. 45. So that they could apply those Scripture-Prophecies which concerned Christ pertinently and patly according to the true meaning of the Holy Ghost in 'em and that beyond the first and immediate sense of the words as in that passage of David Psal 34.20 He keepeth all his bones not one of 'em is broken Wherein David seems to speak only of Righteous men in general and of God's watchful Providence over 'em See Pool there but in John it 's applied to that particular of Christ's bones not being broken John 19.36 4. Some further degrees of Knowledge or the Holy Ghost were doubtless communicated to 'em when Christ breathed on 'em saying Receive the Holy Ghost John 20.22 5. Afterwards they were fill'd with the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost Acts 2.4 And yet 6. After that They were further instructed in some particular Points as Peter was concerning the Calling of the Gentiles and the freedom of Conversation they might take with 'em by Vision Acts 10 9-15 with v. 28 34. By all which ways they were furnish'd at length with such a stock and treasure of Knowledge and Understanding as might enable 'em both in Writing and Preaching to bring forth things new and old Matth. 13.52 By these Ways Steps and Methods all the Mysteries of the Christian Faith were fully and clearly revealed to the Apostles and Prophets of the New Testament Eph. 3 3-6 § 24. But as for Paul it was otherwise with him His Case was peculiar He was not one of those that accompanied with the rest of the Apostles all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out before 'em Acts 1.21 but was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 15.8 an Abortive a Castling one born out of due time not being called while Christ was upon Earth as the other Apostles were but was called in an extraordinary way by an immediate Voice from Heaven therefore besides that stock of common natural Knowledge which he acquired by his learned Education it may seem that his supernatural Knowledge in all the Mysteries of the Christian Religion was communicated to him all at once when he was caught up into the third Heaven whereby he was fill'd with a larger measure of the Spirit than the rest of the Apostles As appears both by his abundant Labours his abundant Sufferings and his abundant Writings 1. His Labours were more abundant than the rest 1 Cor. 15.10 I laboured more abundantly than they all 2 Cor. 11.23 In labours more abundant Now Operari sequitur esse More Labour shows more Power 2. His Sufferings also were more abundant of which he gives us a large Catalogue and Inventory 2 Cor. 11-23-27 3. His Writings and share in the Canon of the New Testament is far more than of any of the other Apostles From all which we may fairly conclude That he has a more abundant Glory than the rest For when Peter said unto Christ Behold we have forsaken all and followed thee What shall we have Christ thereupon replies Verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit on the throne of his glory ye also shall sit on twelve thrones
these Expressions Sure God and the Holy Ghost cannot be said to speak in and by the Pen-men except the very Words they spake and wrote were more than their own § 32. And of this Judgment are many worthy Divines and learned Men whose Testimonies I could produce but I shall content my self with two Eminent ones the one a Protestant the other a Papist The former is the Industrious Judicious Pool in his incomparable Annotations These words He keeps all his bones c. tho' here spoken of righteous Men in general of whom they are true in a Metaphorical sense yet they have a further meaning in 'em being dictated by the Spirit of God which dictated to David not only the Matter but very Words and Expressions to signify a great Mystery That none of Christ's bones should be broken Pool on Psal 34.20 The other is of Estius an Excellent Commentator Rectè igitur verissimè ex hoc loco statuitur omnem Scripturam sacram canonicam Spiritu sancto dictante esse conscriptam ità nimirum ut non solum sententiae sed verba singula verborum ordo ac tota dispositio sit à Deo tanquam per semetipsum loquente aut scribente Est in 2 Tim. 3.16 From this place 2 Tim. 3.16 it is well and rightly gather'd that all the Holy Canonical Scripture was written by the dictate of the Holy Spirit insomuch that not only the Sentences but the very Words and the Order of the Words and the whole disposal is from God as if it were spoken or written by Himself § 33. Now from the foregoing Discourse we may gather what was the peculiar distinct Part and Share both of the Principal and Instrumental Causes of the Scripture which was That that I design'd and aim'd at at first to find out and discover The Holy Ghost first set the Pen-men of Scripture a work and moved 'em to write He set 'em their Task and appointed every one his Share and that according to their several Abilities He furnisht 'em with Matter for their Work by Enlightning their Minds to understand all their Work Strengthning their Memories to recal what was necessary Directing 'em what Matters to make choice of Exciting and Calling forth into Act so much of what they knew before as was to be committed to Writing by 'em Suggesting to 'em and Imprinting upon their Minds such things as they knew not but were Matters of pure Revelation Providing that the whole should be a perfect Rule both of Faith and Life In these several Particulars I conceive with Submission the Inspiration and Assistance of the Holy Ghost to the Pen-men of Scripture did consist This was His Part. Then for the Pen-men themselves their own Reason and Judgment did concur in all they wrote David's Heart indited a good Matter Psal 45.1 David himself spake Mark 12.36 It seemed good to Luke to write Luke 1.3 The Apostle spake generally in their own Persons Hence the Work done is very properly ascribed to both To the Holy Ghost as the Principal Author and Efficient to the Holy Men of God as Instruments imploy'd by Him and in Subordination to Him to be the immediate Authors of the Writings composed by them This is what I have to offer in this Point wherein if there be any thing found which may be useful and shall approve it self to the godly judicious let God have the Glory by whose Assistance alone this hath been begun carried on and brought to Mar. 16.94 5. THE END