THE PRINCIPLE OF ALL PRINCIPLES Concerning RELIGION OR THE SVMME OF certaine SERMONS Prooving The Scriptures to be the very VVord OF GOD. Ioh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures For in them yee thinke to haue eternall life LONDON Printed by I. D. for Nicholas Bourne At the South entrance of the Royall Exchange 162â— TO THE WORSHIPFVL Mr HVMPHREY BROVVNE Increase of Grace and the saving knowledge of Iesus Christ. AMongst other Doctrines heretofore gathered from my Text viz Act. 24.14.15.16 We learned that Wee are to ground our Faith onely vpon the Word written Which Doctrine arose out of this Observation That Paul doth not say He beleeved all things whatsoever as directions of his worshipping the God of his Fathers but Beleeving all things written in the Law the Prophets so worship I c. This point is worthy due consideration in these prevaricating times wherein Papists doe so fearefully decline the Word written and runne vnto Traditions which they call Vnwritten Verities though indeede Traditionall very lyes they runne I say vnto these as vnto the rocke of their refuge For if they could but in shew iustifie their Antichristian Idolatry and Superstitions by the Word written how boasting they would then be may appeare by their catching at syllables thereof which sound in phantasticall eares to some of their purposes So that Christ his censure vpon the Scribes and Pharises may be iustly layd vpon them viz Yee haue made the Word a Mat. 15.1.6 written of none authoritie by your Traditions But whosoever speaketh not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them b Isa 8.20 For the whole Scripture that is The Word written is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable to teach to convince to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be absolute being made perfect vnto all good works c 2 Tim. 3.15.16.17 Amongst other Vses of the sayd Doctrine this was one If we are to ground our faith only vpon the Word written then all who are wise vnto Salvation must diligently read the same or If they cannot reade diligently heare them read in publique Congregations els-where as they may For to what ende was the Word of God committed to Writing but that Gods people should reade or heare it read diligently Therefore let vs religiously take to heart and consider the wise exhortation of our Master Christ viz Search the Scriptures For in them yee thinke to haue eternall life d Ioh. 5.39 Wherein obserue that He calleth the word of God Scriptures that is Writings and not onely so but The Scriptures that is Writings incomparably excelling all other For indeed they are given by inspiration of God Therefore we are to search them Which word Search implieth Diligence As where we are exhorted e Pro. 2.3 â— to Search for the Knowleage of God as for Treasures But how are Writings searched otherwise than by diligent reading Thus did the Nobly-minded Baereans f Acts. 17 1â— Search the Scriptures daily So that Christ his exhortation is this in effect If ye thinke indeed to haue eternall life in the Scriptures then shew your selues wise vnto salvation by your diligence in reading or hearing them read This point requireth much pressing in these times wherein too many are like those whom Isaiah taxeth g Isa 29.10 VVho being covered with a spirit of slumber dreame of eating but when they are awake their soules are emptie Yet when a Booke is offered them to be read they refuse saying either The Booke is Sealed as doe the Papists or They cannot Reade as doe thousands of irreligious people whose carelesnesse to heare the Scriptures read discovered by their late comming to the Church where the Scriptures be read and their readinesse to heare the reading of vaine Bookes and Ballâ—des doth manifest their want of religious zeale to supply their disability to reade the Scriptures by diligence in giuing attendance to the reading thereof But there may come a time of tryall when the Deafe shall heare the words of the Booke as ISAIAH Prophecieth in the same Chapter Vers 17 1â— VVhich Prophecie implieth that he who sayd He could not reade should yet haue signified desire to heare the Booke read To prevent which tryall if it may so please our most gracious God let 's imitate yea emulate the religious Iewes h Acts. 13.14.15 And 15.21 who so diligently heard the olde Testament read in their Synagogues every Sabbath day that Christ and his Apostles saw it not necessary to quote Chapter and Verse when they preached or wrote And why Because by diligent hearing the Scriptures read their memory was so confirmed that they could presently acknowledge every allegation to be conteined in the Scriptures To which ende viz the confirmation of memory by reading was the Word of God written Yea so That the children of Israel were commanded i Deut. 11.19.18 as well to write Gods words vpon the posts of their houses and vpon their gates as to be speaking of them when they sit walke c. that they might lay them vp in their hearts These things I now write that thereby I may stirre you and others vp by reading to renew and confirme your memory that it may vnto your farther edification reflect vpon this ground of ReligioÌ„ The Scriptures be the very Word of God VVhich indeed is The Principle of all Principles concerning Religion and therefore is as it ought to be esteemed accordingly of all that doe the Truth k Ioh. 3 2â— Deut. 17.19 that is Obey God in Sinceritie so as they come to the light thereof that their deeds may be made manifest that they be wrought according to God Therefore not onely David a King and an olde man professed l â—â—al 37.25 â—â—9 105.9 Gods Word to haue beene a Light to his paths but the Spirit also by way of a Question doth with a strong asseveration affirme That young men if they feare God must redresse their wayes in taking heede to them according to Gods Word To which our most holy God and to the Word of his grace m â—ct 20.32 which is able to build further and to giue you an inheritance amongst all them which are sanctified I heartily commend you THE PRINCIPLE OF ALL PRINCIPLES concerning Religion Act. 24.14.15.16 14. But this I confesse vnto thee that after the way which they call heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers beleeving all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets 15. And haue hope towards God which they themselues also allow that there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the iust and vniust 16. And herein doe I exercise my selfe to haue alwayes a Conscience voyde of offence towards God and toward men IN these three Verses may be observed 4. grounds of Religion whereof every one is prooved by the other three and is of that powerfull truth that if it be
his so wonderfull preservation Now it is time to proceede to the testimony of Scriptures Reason 4 But first I will answer this question Is the testimony which the Scriptures giue to themselues of sufficient credit Yes For the same reasons wherewith Christ m â—ohn 1.13.14.17.18 iustified the record which he bare of himselfe 1 We know from whence the Scriptures came even froÌ„ Gods spirit n Pet. 1.20.21 2 The Father as we haue proved is a witnesse therefore the testimony of two is true and consequeÌ„tly of credit Now Christ saith o â—hn 5.39 The Scriptures that is the old Testament which were before Christ testifie of me If of Christ then of his Word that is his Gospell For the woman of Samaria could tell p â—â—hn 4.25 that the Messiah that is Christ when he came should tell vs all things It may be she had heard that Moses prophecyed of Christ who was to be heard in all things q Acts 7. â—â— Besides Christ is the corner stone of the foundation that is doctrine as of the Apostles so of the Prophets Therefore the Prophets giue testimony to Christ and his word As Moses and the Prophets that is the old Testament giue testimony to Christ and his word which is the doctrine of the new Testament So Christ in those words Iohn 5.39 doth giue an honourable testimony to the old Testament saying In them ye thinke to haue eternall life And two of the chiefe Apostles giue likewise testimony to the old Testament For Peter sayth r 2 Pet. 1. â— Wee haue a most sure word of the Prophets Here Prophets as Eph 2.20 is put for the whole old Testament And Paul sayth Å¿ 2 Tim. 3â— The whole Scripture is given by inspiration Whereby the old Testament without doubt is signified the new Testament may be vnderstood Having finished this course of Testimonies to the word by way of imitation as well as I can I am now to shew how the other three grounds doe proue this â—â—ason 5. The first is There is a God to be worshipped therefore there is a word of God to be beleeved There be many Gods so called t Cor. 8.5 Every one hath his prescribed worship whereby he is honoured according to his owne minde as Saturne had his Saturnalia and drunken Bacchus his Bacchanalia Yea the Scriptures intimate as much u â—cts 7.43 Moloch had his tabernacle and Remphan his Starre So that the true God forbiddeth his people x â—eut 12.30 to enquire how other Nations serue their Gods Now can we think that our great and onely true God is lesse zealous of his glory then false Gods be of their supposed honour Heathen men concluded otherwise For when they heard that the Samaritans were devoured by Lyons they deemed the cause was Not worshipping the God of the Land after his owne manner y 2 King 17.25.26 God hath made all things for his owne sake yea even the wicked for the day of evill z Prov. 16. that he may be glorified as by all things made so by the lust condemnatioÌ„ of the wicked Therefore he hath given a Word that by holy Worship according to it he may be glorified For by such worship especially is He glorified a Levn 10.2.3 and therefore the Glory departed from Israel when the Arke before which Israel worshipped was taken by the Philistims b 1 Sam. 4. â— Exod. 33. So that God did iustly forsake the Gentiles because when they knew him by his Workes of Creation c Rom. 1. c. they did not glorifie him as God by worshipping him according to his will That this consequence may yet better appeare to be good it is to be duely observed that immediately after God in the Decalogue d Exod. 20 3â— required Worship as due to him onely he commandeth that worship to be according to his word and not by mans inventions And that where God forbiddeth to inquire how other Nations serue their Gods e Deut. 12.30.32 he commandeth to take heed to his Word And lastly that when God commanded his people to sanctifie him he presently commanded to binde vp the Testimony f Isa 8.13.16 and to seale vp the Law among his Disciples For indeed no Booke doth so glorifie God as doth the Bible therefore it is the true Word of God g Ioh. 7.18 All that is said being well considered this consequence is good There is a God to wit Iehovah therefore there is a Word of God viz The olde and new Testament The other ground Reason 6 and consequence is this There is a Resurrection of the iust and vniust to be expected therefore there is a Word of God that is the Scriptures to be beleeved For howsoever Cicero held the Immortalitie of the soule yet the Athenian Philosophers deemed the resurrection of the bodie to be an vnheard of point h Act. 17 1â—.32 For indeed it is an Article of Christian faith and not a Tenet of naturall reason So that the Sadduces though Iewes reiected it i Mat. 22.33 Therfore if it be an Article of Faith then the Scriptures being the only booke that doth clearely avouch and proue it must needs be the word of Faith Againe Why must there be a Resurrection That the iust may arise vnto life and the vniust vnto condemnation k Ioh. 5.29 For the last day is The day of the generall declaration of the iust iudgement of God l Rom. 2.5 Dan. 12 2â— Now that God may appeare iust when he iudgeth it is requisite that he make his Will knowne by his Word For where no Law is there is no transgression m Rom. 4.15 Therefore saith Christ If I had not come and spoken to them they should not haue had sinne n Ioh. 15.22 but now they haue no cloake for sinne The Gentiles had not the Law o Rom. 2.12.14.15 how can they be iudged Yes because they haue the effect of the Law written in their hearts The third ground Reason 7 and consequence is this There is a Conscience to be tendered therefore there is a Word of God to be beleeved For the Spirit of God which speaketh in the Scriptures so inlightneth the mindes of Gods people that the Word worketh vpon their Consciences That as face answereth face in Water p Prov. 27.19 So where the Spirit of the Lord is there is such libertie q Cor. 3.17 that is Freedome from the vaile over our hearts that we behold as in a glasse the glory of the LORD with open face and are changed into the same image So that the Apostle doth presently affirme r And 4.1.2 That having this Ministry he did not handle the Word deceitfully but in declaration of the truth he approoved himselfe to every mans Conscience In another place Å¿ â— Tâ—es 4.8 he thus writeth He that despiseth these things despiseth not man but God who
hath even given you his holy Spirit Which is as if he should say The Spirit of God in your reading cannot but acknowledg the same Spirit in me writing therefore take heede how yee despise those things It may be obserued that the more godly any is the more readily doth his Conscience reflect vpon the Word Which is intimated by the Apostle saying t 1 Cor. 2.6 I speake Wisedome among them that are perfect Nay the Consciences of them who are not perfect are mooved by the Word The vnlearned man the secrets of whose heart are made manifest by Prophecy u 1 Cor 14.24.25 that is powerfull Preaching the Word is compelled in Conscience to say God is in the Preacher indeede And Agrippa was by Pauls Preaching though he a prisoner compelled in conscience to say x Acts. 16.27.28 Almost thou perswadest me to become a Christian So that the conscience giueth an evident testimony to the Word of God All then duely considered we may collect and conclude c. First if the Church of God throughout all ages haue avouched the olde and new Testament to be the Word of God Secondly if howsoever the Scriptures be for the most part simple and plaine yet Gods Spirit working by them they be mightie in operation Thirdly if the Scriptures conteine many Prophecies of great things which accordingly came to passe in due time Fourthly if God gaue testimony to the olde and new Testament by a voyce from heaven Fiftly if he confirmed them by miracles Sixtly if he haue wonderfully preserved them vnto this time Seventhly if the olde Testament giue testimony to the new and the new to the olde as Moses to Christ and Christ to Moses Eightly if it follow that If there be a God to be worshipped viz. The God of Israel there must needes be a Word viz the Scriptures that according to them he may be worshipped Ninthly if it be a good consequence A Resurrection of the iust and vniust is to be expected therefore there is a Word of God viz. the Scriptures that God may appeare iust when he iudgeth in the last day And tenthly if this be a sound Enthymeme There is a Conscience therfore the Scriptures be the Word of God Because the Conscience both of perfect Christians and other doth giue an evident testimony to them then There is a Word of God viz. the olde and new Testament to be beleeved Here perhaps some would expect a resolution of the question betweene the Papists and vs touching the Apocryphall Writings viz. Esdras Tobit c. Whether they be parts of the Canonicall Scriptures or no. I told you when I first entred vpon this Text that it offereth iust occasion of discussing many points of Religion fitter for the Schooles than for this Auditory Yet because many take occasion to deeme those Writings to be Canonicall because they are ordinarily bound in the midst of them notwithstanding the wall of separation prudently and providently set by Authoritie betweene the Bookes of the olde Testament and them I meane the title Apocrypha with a declaration of the meaning therof I will shew you my iudgment in a few words I deeme them or most of them Writings worthy of reverend estimation for their antiquitie and many things worthy diligent reading But I deny them to be Canonicall that is the wordes of God or Rules whereby our Faith is to be squared For we are to be builded onely vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Christ himselfe being the corner stone y Ephes 2.20 For reverence to those Writings and for my words sake I forbeare to note obliquities in them such as are sufficient to demonstrate that they be not endited by the Spirit of God I therefore desire you to consider but this one Argument If they be parts of Canonicall Scriptures they are parts either of the olde or of the new Testament But they are parts of neither Therefore they are no parts of the Canonicall Scriptures I never heard that any Papist affirmed them to be parts of the new Testament And indeed their antiquitie and contents doe manifest that they were written before any part of the new Testament was written To prooue that they be not parts of the olde Testament I will not vrge a reason of Hierom z In Prologâ—â— Galeato viz They are not in the Register of divine Bookes which the Iewes preserved but desire this to be coÌ„sidered that they be in Greeke whereas all the Bookes of the olde Testament be in Hebrew So without doubt had these beene likewise had they beene written by inspiration of the Holy Ghost For the Oracles of God the giving of the Law the service of God and the promises pertained to the Israelites a 〈…〉 If these were amongst them should they not haue beene in the same Language Againe The Law and the Prophets were read in the Synagogues of the Iewes b 〈…〉 â—1 â—7 If these Writings were amongst them should not they also haue beene read But surely Popery had not then prevailed to perswade the Scriptures to be read in a strange language to the people assembled on the Sabbath day Therefore I may conclude that the Apocryphall Writings are no parts of the Canonicall Scriptures Now am I to proceede on to Vses to be builded vpon this ground of Religion There is a Word of God viz The Bible consisting of the olde and new Testament to be beleeved If this be true indeed then the holy Scriptures are to be highly esteemed as the vndoubted Word of God For as when we know God if we doe not glorifie him as God c Rom. 1 2â— he will not be better pleased with vs than he was with the Gentiles so if we acknowledge the truth of this Doctrine and doe not esteeme the Word as the Word of God wee shall be iudged as despisers of it For not to regard as we should is to despise As Timothy had beene despised d 1 Cor. 1â— 10.11 if notwithstanding his youth the Corinthians had not convoyed him on his Iourney towards Paul seeing he wrought the worke of the Lord as Paul did And Christ maketh not hearing and despising the Word Preached by the seventie e Luk. 10.16.11 to be aequivalent How indignely this despising is taken shaking of dust and lessening of the iudgments of Tyrus and Sidon in comparison doe demonstrate Therefore let vs imitate David who esteemed the Word better than Gold yea than much fine Gold f â—al 19.10 and the Merchant who solde all he had to buy a Pearle of price g â—â—at 13.45 â—6 And let vs deserue the commendations which Paul giveth to the Thessalonians h Thes 2.13 for receiving the Word not as the Word of men but as the Word of God Suppose a true religious man had the onely Bible in the world would he part with it thinke yee for the richest Iewel in the World If a Booke being the Workmanship
of a man be worthily so to be esteemed for the Contents sake how highly are we to esteeme the doctrine of the Bible being the Word of God But how are we to manifest our high estimation of the Word of God Not chiefely by binding the Bible faire though that sheweth some good respect thereof Nor by setting it handsomely in the Window or some eminent place and never or seldome reade therein But by hearing beleeving and obeying it as the Word of God In such hearing Vse 2 two things are required Readie diligence and Religious reverence Touching the former it is Prophecied That in the last dayes Christ his people shall come willingly at the time of Assembly as an Army in holy beautie i Psal 110â— and That many people shall flow to the house of the Lord k Isa 2.2 inciting one another And why Because the Word of the Lord goeth from Ierusalem This is to seeke after the knowledge of Gods will in his Word as for treasure l Prov. 2. According to those Prophecies The Kingdome of God was Preached and every man pressed vnto it m Luk. 16. after the comming of Iohn Baptist The Apostles would not goe from Christ n Ioh. 6.67.68 as some Disciples did because He had the words of eternall life And Cornelius a Captaine when he heard that Peter should tell him what he ought to doe sent immediately for him and having called together his kinsmen and speciall friends waited for him o â—ct 10.5.6.7 â—4 33 and were ready to heare whatsoever he should say from God Hereby are condemned such as haue small zeale in repairing to the Word but absent themselues vpon small occasions as prooving of Oxen p â—uk 14.19 â—1 with whom God is angry Such as remember not the Sabbath day so as to dispose of their businesse that they may be ready in due time to attend the Word They will remember and pleade that it is a day of rest sleepe the longer that day But they forget that the rest must be holy to the Lord q â—od 31.15 Yea such are hereby condemned who though they seeme to haue some mind to heare the Word Preached and therefore cast to come to that betime yet are not diligent to come to heare the Word read As if the Word read be not to be regarded as the Word of God and As if it be not necessary that Gods people should know in some measure the letter and body of the Scriptures Wherevnto they cannot attaine by hearing onely those small Texts wherevpon Preachers Discourse Therefore Christian Churches haue well imitated the auncient people of God r Act. 13.1 15 21â— in appointing the Scriptures to be read in the great Congregations especially on the Lords day so as the body thereof may be read over againe and againe in time Wherevnto if the people doe not diligently resort especially such as want learning leisure or Bibles to reade doe they esteeme the Word read as the Word of God Vse 3 A second thing required in hearing the word as the word of God is religious reverence When we pray we speake to God then we kneele Å¿ Psal 95â— or should doe when the word is read or preached God speaketh to vs and shall we not heare him with religious reverence We heare the Iudge giving a charge in the Assises with vncovered heads and all civill reverence and shall not our demeanure be religiously reverent when God speaketh vnto vs in his word Moses was to put off his shooes because of the presence of God speaking out of a burning bush t â—od 3.4.5.9.10.11.17 And the people were to be sanctified when they were to meete with God speaking the tenne Commaundements When we heare the word preached wee are in Gods speciall presence therefore wee are exhorted by the Spirit u â—â—cles 5.1 to looke to our feete before we enter into the house of God and bee more ready to heare than to offer the sacrifice of fooles And Christ stood when he read his text x â—â—ke 4.16.20 but he sat after when he preached All this doth shew that the word is to be heard with religious reverence Yea there be some learned Divines who hold that men ought to be vncovered that is put off their hatts the whole Sermon while But for my part I dare not precisely binde the conscience of any man to this or that particular demonstration of religious reverence Though I graunt that a Sermon is to be heard with religious reverence as well as the word read For Ministers of the Gospell are the messengers of God as were the Priests of the Law z Mal. 2.7 2 Cor. 5. â— 1 Cor. 4. 〈◊〉 and it is to be presumed that their lips also preserue knowledge therefore people must with religious reverence hearken to the word from their mouth Heereby are condemned such as come to Wisedomes feast a Prou 9.3 without a wedding garment b Math. 22. that is due preparation and fitnesse As also such as sleepe talke gaze about or otherwise haue their minds drawne from hearing the word Is this to haue either their eyes fastned c Luke 4 2â— vpon the Preacher or to haue hearts opened by the Lord d Acts 16. 〈◊〉 to hearken to his word Vse 4 It is not a sufficient estimation of the Word to repaire therevnto with diligence and to heare it with reverence except we beleeue it as the Word of God For if the Word be not mixed with Faith in those that heare it e Hebr. 4.2 it will not profit them vnto either reformation aedification or consolation which are the effects of Prophecy f 1 Cor. 14.3.24.25 that is of powerfull Preaching Againe He who beleeveth the Word so as to receiue g Ioh. 1.12 that is to beleeue the testimony thereof doth seale that God is true h 〈◊〉 3.33.34 But God is true I may adde Absolutely and to be iustified in his wordes i Rom. 3.4 I may adde because they be absolutely true as God is Therfore they are to be heard with Faith resting vpon them absolutely without all doubting of their truth For the Word of God is called the Faith of God k Rom. 3.3 Which intimateth that if we beleeue Faith to be in God we must beleeue his Word accordingly This is a maine difference betweene the Word of God which is to be heard with Faith howsoever it crosse our iudgement for Faith surmounteth Reason and the Word of man which is no further to be beleeved than it agreeth with the Word which is Truth it selfe l Ioh. 17 1â— For every man is by nature a Lyar m Rom. 3. â— and therefore is not to be iustified in all his wordes So that Gods people may lawfully so it be with Discretion and Humilitie examine the Doctrine by what Preacher soever delivered whether it be warranted by the Scriptures or no if
the truth thereof be not evident to them as did the nobly-minded Beraeans n Acts. 17 1â—.11 But if the truth of the Word be delivered to their Consciences then must they beleeue it without any demurring So the Apostles beleeved that Christ his flesh is meat indeed and his bloud drinke indeed o Ioh. 6.55 â—â— 61.66.67.6â— and followed him without any offence because he had the words of eternall life whereas other seeming Disciples were offended and gaue over following Christ because it seemed to their naturall reason to be an hard saying So Abraham p â—om 4.18.19.20.21 aboue hope in regard of his olde age and his wife's barrennesse but vnder hope in regard of Gods power beleeved the Word of God promising to make him a Father of many Nations So Hezekiah q â—sa 39.5.6 â— 8 though a King was not angry with the Prophet prophecying most grievous things to him but beleeved his Prophecy so crossing natural affections as the VVord of God and sayd The Word of the Lord is good Here I suppose it will be some comfort to know how yee may iudge of your selues in the time of hearing whether the VVord be mixed with faith I 'le shew you If your hearts answer Gods VVord as did Davids when God sayd r Psal 27.8 Seeke yee my face his heart answered O Lord I will seeke thy face For Faith is such an assent to every VVord of God as produceth affections and actions answerable to the VVord wherevnto the heart assenteth So that when Iohn Baptist Preacheth Repentance Å¿ Math. 11 1.16.17.18.1â— we grieue in the sense of sinne and when Christ Preacheth the Gospell we are comforted in hope of forgiuenensse Hereby are condemned such as are like those proud men t Iere. 43.2 who tolde Ieremy that he spake falsely when he delivered the Word of God which crossed their purposes Secondly Such as be like the Prince u 2 King 7.1.2.17 who contraried the Word of God touching suddaine cheapnesse of Corne because it was contrary to his sensuall reason But the Word was fulfilled and he perished And thirdly Mockers x 2 Pet. 3.3.4 which in these last dayes will walke after their lusts not beleeving the promise of Christ his comming to iudgement because it is deferred Yea fourthly those weake ones who are like to David y Psal 116.11 who sayd in his feare All men be lyars meaning especially Samuel who annointed him to be King z Sam. 16.13 But before he got the Crowne Saul so persecuted him that he doubted of the word which Samuel had spoken Fiftly Much more are they hereby condemned who out of an humour troubled by the Word doe cavill against it contrary to the Apostle Iames his exhortation a Tam. 1.21.19 That we should receiue the Word with meeknesse and therefore should be swift to heare slow to speake slow to wrath For Wrath because the VVord crosseth our mind stirreth vp the tongue vnto gain-saying and therefore the VVord is not beleeved as the Word of God Sixtly Hereby are condemned such as despayre in the time of affliction and doe not liue by Faith b Hab. 2.3.4 waiting for the appointed time when the vision will speake comfort And seaventhly such as like the Elders of Israel c Ezek. 14.1.3 set vp Idols in their hearts which are stumbling blockes of iniquitie stopping the way betweene the VVord and Faith so as they cannot be mixed in them that heare I meane those who heare the Word with preiudicate opinions Papists or other who will stop their eares and not heare the Word so as to beleeue it as the Word of God charme the charmer never so wisely d Psal 58.5 Vse 5 The third thing required to manifest our high estimation of the Word is To obey it as the Word of God For to heare the Word and not to obey it is deemed by God a casting it away e 1 Sam. 15.22.23 Therefore wee deceiue our selues though we be hearers if we be not doers also of the Word f Iam. 1.22 But what is required of vs that we may obey the Word as the Word of God I answere many things Among the rest especially Absolute obedience to whatsoever the Word commandeth without making any question or difficultie For God is of absolute authoritie and therfore we pray g Math. 6.10 Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven and His Word is perfect and right h Psal 19.7.8 Therefore our absolute obedience is not blinde as is the obedience of Iesuites to their superiours whom they must obey though they command the killing of Princes not inquiring after the lawfulnesse of such a Commandement But their superstitious and blinde obedience condemneth vs if we yeeld not absolute obedience to the Word of God which is of absolute authoritie and altogether without errour So be not the Commandements of the Pope or of any humane Superiour whomsoever Let vs consider some few examples of obedience to the Word as to the Word of God That vnmatchable example of Abraham may well be Instar omnium who obeying the Word of God spared not Isaac his onely sonne i Gen. 22.1.2 â— 9.10.16 begotten in his olde age k And 21.2 and in both these respects dearely beloved Yea the Sonne of Promise l Gal. 4.28 with whom and his seede God promised to establish an everlasting Covenant m Gen. 17.19 But without pleading any of these things n Zach. 12. arose early to goe to sacrifice him with his owne handes Now wheras Abraham is the Father of all o Rom. 4.1 who walke in the steps of his Faith I will tell you one other example of his obedience to the Word of God which is remarkeable too the rather because the Spirit of God taketh speciall notice thereof p Heb. 11. shewing vs that Abraham obeyed God commanding him to goe he knew not whither VVhich last words imply that he obeyed readily without questioning whether dangers were in the way and what commodious dwelling was in the place wherevnto he should goe therefore it is said that by Faith he obeyed So also it is written in the same Chapter Verse 17. that Abraham offered vp Isaac by Faith Whereby the Spirit of God intimateth that in both these obediences Abraham esteemed the Commandements as the words of God I shall expresse this point yet more plainely by an example of Peters walking vpon the Sea at Christ his bidding q â—at 14.34 â—â— 36.37 â—8 39 But note that Peter perceiving that it was Christ and not a Spirit as he and his fellowes feared who walked on the Sea in the night sayd Master if it be thou bid me come vnto thee on the water Which sheweth how highly he esteemed of Christ his Word perswaded that obeying it he should neither tempt God r 〈◊〉 4.5.6.7 nor perish by going on the water I will adde but
be declared to their Consciences let them remember what Christ sayth p Luk. 10.1.16 speaking not of the Apostles but of the seaventie Disciples He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me Lastly let it be considered Whether Naaman could haue excused his not-washing in Iordan q 2 King 5.10 by saying He was commanded so to doe by a messenger and not by the Prophet Elisha seeing that which the Messenger commanded was the Word of God as well as if Elisha had spoken it Vse 6 If then Gods people are to say one to another much more to their owne hearts as did the people in Ezechiels time r Ezek. 33.30 but with better mindes Let vs goe and heare what is the Word that commeth from the Lord. When they goe to heare their Pastors and Teachers they must not bring with them eares either Antichristian to hearken after Doctrines strange or not grounded vpon the Word For Christ his Sheepe know his voyce and follow him Å¿ Ioh. 10.4 They know not the voyce of a stranger nor follow him or itching t 2 Tim. 4.3 to hearken after the enticing speech of mans wisedome u 1 Cor. 2.4.5 as if their faith dependeth thereon But let them be of Davids minde who professed that he loued Gods Word x Ps 116.113 but hated vaine inventions Much lesse are they to be so obstinate and wicked as to say either in their hearts or with their mouthes y Isa 30.10 Let not our Seers Prophecy right things but errours and flattering things Againe Vse 7 if people must come to Sermons with minds expecting onely Doctrine grounded vpon Gods Word such as they must beleeue and obey as the Word of God then the Preacher must be wise to seeke out the wordes of truth z â—ccles 12.9 â—0 and faithfull to Preach them as the wordes of God * Pet. 4 11. that is with all authoritie a Tit. 2.15 in the plaine evidence of the Spirit b Cor. 2.4 For if any man Preach not according to the Word what reading soever he make shew of he hath no light in him c Isa 8.20 And howsoever his affected humane eloquence be applauded by itching eares yet he doth but make Merchandize of the Word of God d 2 Cor. 2.17 Let Ministers therefore speake as God himselfe admonisheth e Ier. 23.28 the Word faithfully For what is chaffe to the wheate Lastly Vse 8 Whereas I haue sayd that every one of the afore-mentioned grounds of religion is of that powerfull truth that if it be beleeved indeed it perswadeth the beleever to make Conscience of sinne I must make it good touching this ground viz. There is a Word of God to wit the Bible to be beleeved This is soone done both these Propositions being prooved 1. Whosoever beleeveth the Word as the Word of God maketh Conscience of sinne and 2. Whosoever maketh not Conscience of sinne beleeveth not the Word as the Word of God Touching the former What other cause can be supposed why the Word was as a fire in Ieremy f Ier. 20.7.9.10 compelling him to speak in the name of God though in a strong passion he had said he would not but that he verily beleeved that it was the Word of GOD which he was commanded to speake which coÌ„manded him to speake The answer which Abraham gaue to the rich man in hell torments desiring that Lazarus might be sent vnto his brethren to prevent their torments viz. g Luk. 16 2â—.28.29 They haue Moses and the Prophets let them heare them that is their doctrine sheweth plainely that whosoever heareth the words of God as the Words of God cannot but make conscience of sinne And Paul telleth the Romanes h Rom. 6.17 that howsoever they had beene servants of sin yet after they were delivered vnto the forme of doctrine that is heard the Word as the Word of God they obeyed that forme from the heart that is made conscience of sinne 2. That whosoever maketh not Conscience of sinne beleeveth not the Word to be the Word of God whatsoever he pretend briefely thus appeareth That wicked one who hath Gods Word in his mouth i Psal 50.16.17 and yet will not be reformed is iudged by God himselfe to cast his words behinde him The remnant of the people of Iudah and their Chieftaines prayed Ieremiah k Ier. 42.1.2.3 6.19.20.21 â—â— 43.1.2 to enquire of God whether they might not fly into Egypt to saue themselues from the Caldeans protesting to obey the Word of God whatsoever it should be Yet when the VVord crossed their purpose to fly into Egypt they would not beleeue it And when the rich man in hell further pressed Abraham to send Lazarus he had this further answere l Luk. 16 3â— If they heare not with Faith Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rise from the dead againe Both the Propositions are confirmed by these wordes of Christ m Ioh. 3.20.21 He that doth evill hateth the light that is doth not beleeue the Word as the Word of God But he that doth the truth commeth to the light that his deedes might be made manifest that they be wrought according to God To whom be glory by all men in their obedience of FAITH Amen FINIS