Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
spirit_n scripture_n word_n write_v 7,633 5 6.1357 4 false
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A53727 A short and plain answer to two questions: I. Where was your religion before Luther? II. How know you the Scriuptures to be the word of God? By a Protestant. Owen, John, 1616-1683. 1682 (1682) Wing O806A; ESTC R214595 12,344 27

There is 1 snippet containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

much less to denominate the whole Work from the Translator I may say with good Propriety of speech that that Book was written by the Learned Sir T. Brown though I should find the same in Latine or French and had never seen the Original English Thus I scruple not to say the Rhemists Translation is the Word of God That is for the Substance and main Purpose of it it is not so spoil'd as to lose the Nature of Divine Truth but is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness And to such as cannot procure a better it may doubtless be sufficient to make them Wise unto Salvation But I intend not in the mean time to Entitle God Almighty to the failings or frauds of that Version or of any other The Errors that have been occasioned from various Copies taken and Translations made are either of Infirmity or Knavery As for this latter I suppose it cannot be proved that ever any Person was so audacious as to attempt the palpable Corruption of the Scriptures until the Aspiring Popes had set up an infallible Chair at Rome a Court only fit to protect such Undertakings because indeed it could not be supported without them So that in the Primitive Times the Errors which have crept into the Bible have been first only such failings as have escaped unawares in the Transcribing thereof And secondly afterwards when it came to be Translated into other Languages some difficulty and contest could not choose but arise about the rendring such words as were of various doubtful signification from which I believe there are very few Languages entirely free Now I say it was impossible that both these together whilst Men were sincere and honest should ever stifle or quench the Divine Spirit which breaths every where in those Sacred Writings And we may reasonably suppose that the Christian Church was stockt with a competent number of good Copies before the Mystery of Iniquity came to such a height as to attempt the wilful depravation of the Scriptures Two things are considerable in this matter First That in the Infant State of Christianity Believers were cordial and in good earnest about the business of Religion The power of Godliness prevail'd and those who call'd themselves Christians were really such nor had they yet learn'd those Crafts of Cousnage and Deceit which afterwards the Mystery of Iniquity furnisht the World withall And therefore they would be careful in the highest degree to Transmit faithful Copies of those precious Papers unto Posterity A Duty more especially incumbent on them who had the keeping of the true Originals Secondly That God Almighty having by the Holy Ghost inspired his Pen-Men to deliver his Mind unto the World it is not likely that he should relinquish the same to perish in the hands of ignorant or wicked Men For since the Blessed Spirit did so manifestly appear in it Divine Providence was sure to guard it and will doubtless secure it to the end of the World These inducements with others of like nature are sufficient I count to convince any Man unto whose hands the Bible shall come that it doth contain the words of Eternal Life For it carries that Self-evidencing Light that Majestick plainness that unaffected Gravity and substantial Utility throughout the whole that no Man who will but consider can possibly doubt of its Original And though Mens Corruptions may prevail so far with them as to make them pretend at least to call in question the Being of God as well as the Truth of his Word Yet it shall certainly operate upon them so far as to leave them without excuse I do not believe that Nature ever yet produc'd so profligate a Wretch but would be sensible of some reluctancy and grief to see his Child murder'd his House fir'd and have his Limbs torn asunder without any just cause or provocation given But if these things have no evil in them why should any body be grieved at them If they have why should any one do the like to his Neighbour Now if Men ought not to do wrong in one respect no more ought they to do it in any other From whence ought to follow the universal rectitude of all our actions And where are there such Rules of Equity and Righteousness as the Scriptures afford teaching us to do unto others as we would that they should do unto us The faithful observation of which short Precept would confine Astrea to this lower World and yet banish all her Courts as being useless It would set such a face on things as would far exceed all the imaginary beauties of the Golden Age. From whence now should this proceed but from the Fountain of all Righteousness God Almighty There is yet a further means of assurance that the Scriptures are the Word of God namely from the evidence of the Spirit bearing witness in our Consciences to the truth of those things contained in our Bibles of which there is a Counter-part written in our Hearts and attested by the Holy Ghost There are indeed many false Spirits and many vain pretences to the true one yet a measure thereof is given to every Child of God and promised to all those that seek it with sincerity and perseverance Now I say this Evidence of the Spirit wherever it is doth fill the Mind with assurance and satisfaction about Divine Truth beyond all Arguments It is so convincing that St. Paul calls it a Demonstration And though perhaps it may not have that force to those who deride it in others and stifle its motions in their own Breasts for neither is Geometrical Demonstration of force to them that understand it not yet to a mind enlightened by it and brought under the power of it the Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit is beyond all other Arguments and Demonstrations whatsoever To summ up all we need not to go to a Corrupt and Adulterous Church to have its Authority and Imprimatur stampt upon our Bibles from whence on the contrary it ought to derive its own Authority And it will one day sink under the weight and force of those Laws and Precepts which it now vainly pretends to Authorize I say then the Scriptures are known to be the Word of God beyond all possibility of mistake or dubitation by Evidence of Sense by Arguments of Reason and by Demonstration of the Spirit This Sir is all I shall trouble you with in this Matter till either I have your Objections or some further opportunity of discovering my Zeal to serve you according to the utmost of my power I am Sir c. FINIS These Books following to be Sold by Jonathan Hutchinson in Durham Folio DR Hammond 's Annotation on the New Testament H. Grotii Opera omnia Theologica 4 vol. 1679. Eusebii Socratis Sozomeni Theodoriti Evagrii Historia Ecclesiast Gr. Lat. notis Hen. Valesii 3 vol. Mogunt 1672 77 79. Bishop Taylor 's Course of Sermons for all the Sundays in the Year His Ductor Dubitantium or Rule of Conscience Quarto Bishop Nicholson on the Church Catechism Dr. Donns Pseudo Martyr Rogers on the Thirty nine Articles of the Church of England Octavo Dr. Combars Exposition of the Book of Common Prayer 4 Parts Dr. Hammond 's Practical Catechism Bishop Morton of Episcopacy Dr. Basire of Sacriledge Arraign'd and Condemn'd by St. Paul Twelves Dr. Breviul on the Sacrament Bishop Cousins Devotions THE END