Scriptures for the Scriptures are understood by the same meanes that other humane writings are many by the skill and use of Logick Rethorick Grammar and those tongues in which they are expressed except in this that there is a singular light of the spirit alwayes to bee fought for by the godly in the Scriptures 27. Yet the Scripture is not so tied to those first tongues but that it may and ought also to bee translated into other tongues for the common use of the Church 28. But among interpreters neither those seventy who turned it into Greeke nor Hierome nor any such like did performe the office of a Prophet so that he should be free from errors interpreting 29. Hence no persons absolutely authenticall but so far forth only as they doe expresse the fountaines by which also they are to be tried 30. Neither is there any authority in Earth whereby any version may be made simply authenticall 31. Hence the providence of GOD in preserving the Fountaines hath beene alwayes famous and to be adored not onely that they did not wholy perish but also that they stould not be maimed by the losse of any booke or deformed by any grievous fault when in the meane while there is no one of the auncient versions that remaines whole 32. Neverthelesse from those humane versions there may be all those things perceived which are absolutly necessary if so be they agree with the fountaines in the essentiall parts as all those versions that are received in the Churches are wont to doe although they differ and are defective in the smaller things not a few 33. Neither therefore must wee alwayes rest in anie version that is received but we must most religiously provide that the most pure and faultlesse interpretation be put upon the Church 34. Of all those bookes being delivered from God and placed as it were in the Chest of the Church there is made up a perfect Canon of Faith and manners whence also they have the name of Canonicall Scripture 35. The Prophets made the Canon of the old Testament and Christ himselfe approved it by his Testimony The Canon of the new Testament together with the old the Apostle Iohn approved and sealed up being furnished with Divine authority Rev. 22. 18 19. For I doe witnesse together to every one that heares the words of the prophesy of this booke if any shall ad to these God shall lay upon him the plagues written in this booke and if any shall take away any thing from the books of his prophesie God shal take away this part out of the booke of life 36. Those bookes which commonly we call apocryphall doe not pertaine to the divine Canon neither were they rightly enough joyned by men of old to the canonicall bookes as a certaine secundary Canon for first in some of them there are manifest fables told and affirmed for true Histories as of Tobith Iudith Susanna Bel the Dragon and such like Secondly because they contradict both the sacred Scripture and themselves Oftentimes Thirdly they were not written in Hebrew nor delivered to the Iewish Church or received by it to which notwithstanding God committed all his Oracles before the comming of Christ. Rom. 9. 4. Fourthly they were not approved by Christ because they were not among those bookes which he set forth when he commanded his to search the Scriptures Fifthly they were never received either by the Aostles or the first Christian Church as a part of the Divine Canon CHAPTER XXXV Of ordinary Ministers and their Office in Preaching 1. ORdinary Ministery is that which hath al its direction from the will of God revealed in the Scriptures and from those meanes which God hath appointed in the Church for the perpetuall edification of the same 2. And hence they are called ordinary because they may and are wont to bee called to Minister by order appointed by God 3. But because in their administration they have that Will of God which was before revealed by extraordinary Ministers for a fixed rule unto them therefore they ought not to propound or doe any thing in the Church which they have not prescribed to them in the Scriptures 4. Therefore also they depend upon extraordinary Ministers and are as it were their successors for although in respect of manner and degree exraordinary Ministers have no successors yet in respect of the essence of administration ordinary Ministers performe the same office toward the Church as extraordinary did of old 5. The right of his Ministery is wont to be communicated by men and in that respect the calling of an ordinary Minister is mediate 6. But this is so to be understood that the authority of administring Divine things is immediatly communicated from God to all lawfull Ministers and the appointing of persons upon which it is bestowed is done by the Church 7. But because the Church can neither confer gifts necessary for this Ministery nor prescribe unto God upon whom he should bestow them therefore she can only chuse those whom before she sees fitted for not as extraordinary Ministers so also ordinary are made fit by their very calling when they were unfit before 8. Hence in an ordinary calling it is necessarily required that a lawfull triall goe before the calling it selfe 1 Tim. 3. 10. Let them be first tried then let them Minister if they be blamelesse 9. Ordinary Ministery is for the preserving propagating and restoring the Church by ordinary meanes 10. There are two parts of this Ministery 1. That in the Name of God he doe those things which are to be done with the people 2. That in the name of the people he doe those things with God which are to be done with him 11. But in these the preaching of the Word doth most excell and so it hath beene alwayes of perpetuall use in the Church 12. The duty of an ordinary preacher is to propound the Will of God out of the Word unto the edification of the hearers 1 Tim. 1. 5. The end or preaching is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfained 13. But because there is chiefly required a serious desire to edify the Church therefore he cannot be a fit preacher who hath not prepared his heart to seeke the Law of the Lord and to keepe it and to teach Israel the statutes and judgements For he that teacheth another ought before and when he teacheth to teach himselfe Rom. 2. 21. Otherwise he is not fitted to edifie the Church 14. This duty is to be performed not only universally in respect of all the heare 〈◊〉 in common but also specially in respect of order and age whatsoever as of old men young men servants Tit. 2. 3. Of teachers 2 Pet. 1. 12. c. Yea of every one 1 Thess. 1. 11. We exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you not publickly onely but privatly also Acts 20. 20. Publickly and from house to house 15. He ought to have this scope
Ecclesiasticall polity 20. The forme of this polity is altogether monarchicall in respect of Christ the head and King but as toching the visible and vicarious administration it is of a mixt nature partly as it were aristocraticall and partly as it were democraticall 21. Hence in the lawfull Ministery of the Church Hierarchy holy principality hath no place but rather Hieroduly or holy Service 22. Therefore one Minister is not subjected unto the power of another in his dispensation but all doe immediatly depend on Christ as those Angells which are inferiors in office to others are immediatly subject unto God not to other Angels 23. This Ministery is either extraordinary or ordinary 24. Extraordinary Ministry is that which hath a certaine higher and more perfect direction then can be attained to by ordinary meanes 25. Hence such Ministers have alwayes gifts and assistance extraordinary so that they doe Minister without error 26. The right of an extraordinary Minister is bestowed properly neither from man nor by man but from God alone by Jesus Christ and the holy Spirit Gal. 1. 1. 27. Hence the calling to such a Ministery is immediate 28. Yet every etraordinary calling is not so immediate that it excludes all Ministery of men as appeares in the calling of Eliseus and Matthias but it excludes onely that Ministery which is destitute of an infallible direction 29. This extrordinary Ministery was very necessary for the Church because that will of God which pertaines unto living well to God could not be found out by humane industry and ordinary meanes as all other Arts and Sciences but it did require men stirred up and sent by God to whom he hath manifested his will that they might be to us in stead of God hemselfe Exod. 4. 15 16. And be thou to him instead of GOD. 30. God hath revealed his will to these extraordinary Ministers 1. By lively voyce Reg. 1. 10. Unto which was often added an apparition and speaking to of an Angell or Christ himselfe as of the Angel of his covenant 2. By vision whereby together with the word the Species of the things to be declared were represented to their eyes waking 3. By dreames whereby such like things propounded to the minds of them being a sleepe 4. Sometime also by a certaine speciall familiarity as it were mouth to mouth without parable Numb 12. 6 7 8. If there be a Prophet among you I will make my selfe Iehova knowne to him in a vision and will speake to him in a dreame My servant Mosiâ—… is not so with him I speake mouth to mouth even apparently and not in darke speeches and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold 31. The manner of this revelation was so powerfull that its dis draw men oftentimes into an extasie or trance whereby they were so caught above themselves that they perceived nothing beside that that was propounded neither all that thing it selfe according to all its circumstances 2 Cor. 13. 3. 4. 32. Yet it is so certaine that the divine truth of it is often confirmed and in a certaine speciall manner sealed to them to whom it is revealed so as it need not another confirmation Gal. 1. 17. 2. 6. Neither did I returne to those who were Apostles before me They who were in estimation added nothing to mee Although sometimes also for the more abundant confirmation miracles are added Iudge 6. 36. 37. 38. 33. This extraordinary Ministery is either for the first instituting of a Church or for the speciall and extraordinary conservation of a Church or finally for the extraordinary restoring of a Church being fallen 34. The Ministery of instituting a Church hath alwayes a testimony of miracles joyned with it Heb. 2 3 4. Which at first began to be spoken c. God also bearing them witnesse with signes and wonders and with divers miracles gifts of the holy Ghost according to his will 35. Yet miracles doe not so give testimony to the doctrine of any as that it may bee presently believed For that doctrine which doth not consent with the knowne will of God ought not to be admitted although it seeme to be confirmed with miracles Deut. 13. 1 2 3. Although that signe or wonder come to passe which he soretold thee saying Let us goe follow other Gods Harken not to the word of that Prophet Gal. 1. 8. Though wee or an Angell from Heaven preach another Gospell beside that we have preached let him be accursed 36. The Ministery of conserving restoring a Church although it be extraordinary and is alwayes confirmed by miracles yet it doth not alwayes or necessarily require a testimony of miracles as appeares in many in the old Testament and in Iohn the Baptist. 37. Extraordinary Ministers were Prophets Apostles and Evangelists 38. Wicliffe Luther Zwinglius and such like that were the first restorers of the Gospell were not to speake properly extraordinary Ministers 39. Yet they are not amisse called extraordinary by some 1. Because they did performe something like those things which were done by extraordinary Ministers of old 2. Because in respect of degree they received some singular gifts from God as occasion did require which also may be affirmed of many among the more famous Martyrs 3. Because order at that time being disturbed and decayed they were of necessity to attempt some things out of the common course 40. It is therefore ridiculous to require miracles of those men to confirme that doctrine which they propounded seeing such an attestation is not necessary no notin all extraordinary Ministers CHAPTER XXXIIII Of the holy Scripture 1. EXtraordinary Ministers were raised up by God to instruct the Church not onely by lively voyce but also by Divine writings that there might be a perpetuall use and fruit of this Ministery in the Church even when such Ministers were taken away 2. For they onely could commit the rule of Faith and manners to writing who by reason of the immediate and infallible direction which they had from God were in that businesse free from all error 3. They received a command of writing from God partly externally both generally when they were commanded to teach and specially sometimes when they were commanded to write Deut. 3. 19. Revel 1. 19. Write yee the Song write those things which thou hast seene and partly by the inward instinct of the spirit 2 Pet. 1. 21. For prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men spake as they were moved by the holy Spirit 2 Tim. 2. 16. All Scripture is inspired by God 4. They wrote also by the inspiration and guidance of the holy Spirit so that the men themselves were as it were instruments of the spirit In the place before Ierem. 1. 9. Behold I put my words in thy mouth Acts 28. 25. Well indeed spake the holy Spirit by Esaias the Prophet 5. But Divine inspiration was present with those writers with some variety for some things to be written were before altogether
unknowne to the writer as doth sufficiently appeare in the History of the Creation past and in foretellings of things to come but some things were before knowne unto the writer as appeares in the History of Christ written by the Apostles and some of these they knew by a naturall knowledge and some by a supernaturall In those things that were hidden and unknowne Divine inspiration did performe all by it selfe in those things which were knowen or the knowledge where of might be obtained by ordinary meanes there was also added a religious study God so assisting them that in writing they might not erre 6. In all those things which were made known by supernaturall inspiration whether they were matters of right or fact he did inspire not onely the things themselves but did dictate and suggest all the words in which they should be written which notwithstanding was done with that sweete attempering that every writer might use those manners of speaking which did most agree to his person and condition 7. Hence the Scripture is often attributed to the holy Spirit as to the author making no mention of the Scribes Hebrewes 10. 15. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witnesse to us 8. Hence also although in the inscriptions of the holy Bookes it is for the most part declared by whose labour they were written yet there is sometimes deepe silence of this matter and that without any detriment of such bookes or lessening their authority 9. Neither yet doth it suffice to make a part of holy writ if a booke be written by some extraordinary servant of God and upon certaine direction of the spirit unlesse it be also publickly given to the Church by divine authority and sanctified to be a Canon or rule of the same 10. The thing it selfe which they committed to writing as touching the summe and chiefe end of the matter is nothing else then that reveale will of God which is the rule of Faith and manners 11. Hence all those things which in the first disputation were spoken of the doctrine of life revealed from God doe properly agree to the holy Scripture For the Scripture is nothing else then that doctrine with the manner of writing joyned to it which manner was not to be handled there but in this place 12. Hence the Scripture in respect of the thing and subject meaning that is as it was the doctrine revealed from God it was before the Church but in respect of the manner in which it is properly called Scripture it is after the first Church 13. It is called the holy Scripture and by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Scripture and the writers themselves are called holy partly in respect of the subject and object matter which is so called the true and saving will of God and partly in respect of that direction whereby it was committed to writing Romans 1. 2. Eph. 5. 5. 2 Pet. 1. 21. 2. 22. 3. 2. Rev. 18. 20. 14. But although divers parts of the Scripture were written upon some speciall occasion and were directed to some certaine men or assemblies yet in Gods intention they doe as well pertaine to the instructing of all the faithfull thorough all ages as if they had beene specially directed to them whence Heb. 12. The exhortation of Solomon which is used in the Proverbs is said to be spoken to the Hebrewes who lived in the Apostles time as to children and 2 Pet. 3. 15. Paul is said to have wrote to all the faithfull in that he wrote to the Romans Hebr. 13. 5. That which was said to Ioshua is said to be spoken to all the faithfull 16. All things which are necessary to salvation are contained in the Scriptures and also all those things which are necessarily required to the instruction and edification of the Church 2 Tim. 3. 15. 16. 17. The holy Scriptures can make thee wise unto salvation that the man of God might be perfect perfectly furnished to every good worke 16. Hence the Scripture is not a partiall but a perfect rule of Faith and manners neither is here any thing that is constantly and every where necessary to be observed in the Church of God which depends either upon any tradition or upon any authority whatsoever and is not contained in the Scriptures 17. Yet all things were not together and at once committed to writing because the state of the Church the wisdome of God did otherwise require but from the first writing those things were successively committed to writing which were necessarily in those ages 18. Neither did the Articles of Faith therefore increase according to succession of times in respect of the essence but only in respect of the explication 19. As touching the manner of delivery the Scripture doth not explaine the will of God by universall and scientificall rules but by narrations examples precepts exhortations admonitions and promises because that manner doth make most for the common use of all kinde of men and also most to affect the will stirre up godly motions which is the chiefe scope of Divinity 20. Also the will of God is revealed in that manner in the Scriptures that although the things themselves are for the most part hard to be conceived yet the manner of delivering and explaining them especially in those things which are necessary is cleere and perspicuous 21. Hence the Scriptures need not especially in necessaries any such explication whereby light may be brought to it from something else but they give light to themselves which is diligently to be drawne out by men and to be communicated to others according to their calling 22. Hence also there is onely one sence of one place of Scripture because otherwise the sence of the Scripture should be not onely not cleere and certaine but none at all for that wich doth not signifie one thing signifieth certainly nothing 23. For the determining of controversies in Divinity there is no visible power as it were kingly or pretorian appointed in the Church but there is laid a duty on men to enquire there is bestowed a gift of discerning both publickly and privatly and there is commanded a desire to further the knowledge and practise of the known truth according to their calling unto which also is joyned a promise of direction and blessing from God 24. But because the Scriptures were given for the use and edification of the Church therefore they were written in those tongues which mere most commonly vulgar in the Church at that time when they were written 25. Hence all those bookes which were written before the comming of Christ were written in Hebrew for to the Iewes were committed the Oracles of God Rom. 3. 2. 9. 4. And upon lice reason they that were written afterward were delivered in the Greeke tongue because that tongue was most common in those parts were the Church did first florish 26. Hence there is some knowledge at least of these tongues necessary to the exact understanding of the
subject to our lust 15. But it comes most often from presumption whereby one is confident that God will doe this or that which he no where promised or at least did not promise that he would doe in that manner and with those meanes that they expect whence also it is that every tempting of God is by some referred to presumption and in respect of arrogancy it is opposed to prayer wherein we doe humbly represent our will to God that it may be performed by him as he pleaseth 16. But it is alwayes opposed to some act of religion wherby wee depend upon the will of God because when we tempt God we doe it that God may as it were depend upon our will 17. To desire some speciall signe of God with some speciall reason inspiration or instinct is to tempt God Matth 16. 1. The Pharisees and Sadduc◅s tempting him required him to shew them a signe from Heaven 18. Yet to refuse a signe offered by God is to tempt or weary him Is. 7. 11 12 13. Aske a signe I will not aske neither will I tempt God Yee weary my God Humbly to seeke a signe of God about some particular necessary thing which otherwise is not sufficiently manifested a believer may sometime doe without sin Gen. 15. 8. How shall I know that I shall inherit the Land 19. Proving or purging of a suspected offence by triall of hot Iron scalding water and the like are temptings of God for there is a certaine miraculous shewing of the power of God expected or required in them to proove an hidden truth without just cause because there are other meanes appointed to find out mens faults which also if they faile such things may be unknowne without any fault 20. Of the same kind are single Duells or monomachies which of old were permitted by publick authority and are yet too much frequented for in them the righteousnesse of the cause is committed to be decided by the singular providence of God from that successe which he is thought to give according to his Iustice without any certaine and just reason 21. Beside these temptings which doe properly pertaine to triall there is also a tempting as it were of inducement towards God when there is required or expected helpe from him to commit some hainous wickednesse 20. Yet those inducements may fithly enough be referred to temptation of triall because the Will of God is tried in them They differ from others in this only that that object about which the Will of God is tried is an action in it selfe unlawfull in which respect the honour of God is specially hurt and violated because together with the temptation there is joyned a certaine most foule mocking of God 23. Tempting or proving of God is sometime taken in good part and is commanded Mat. 3. 10. Try me now in this saith the Lord of Hosts 24. But this tempting is an act of Faith leading us to obey and practise those things which God hath commanded with expectation of that fruit and blessing which God hath promised 25. This lawfull tempting of God doth put back all the tentations of the Devill 26. That unlawfull tempting of God doth lay us open to the tentations of the Devill neither are wee ever overcome by any tentation of the Devill unlesse wee doe in a sort tempt God CHAPTER XIII Of instituted worship 1. INstituted worship is the meanes ordained by the Will of God to exercise and further naturall worship 2. All such like meanes ordained of God are declared in the second Commandement by forbidding all contrary meanes of worship devised by men under the title of Graven and Image which seeing they were of old the chiefe inventions of men corrupting the worship of God they are most fitly by a Synechdoche frequent in the Decalogue put instead of all devises of mans wit pertaining to worship 3. This worship doth not depend In specie and immediatly upon the nature of God or upon that honour w◅ch by vertue of our Creation we owe to God but upon the most free institution of God 4. Hence this worship was divers according to the divers constitution of the Church one befo◅ Christ exhibited and another after 5. It is a meanes having relation to the naturall worship otherwise it were not worship because one cannot give that honour to God which is due to him as touching the essence of the act any other way then by Faith hope and Love whereby we doe receive from God with due subjection those things he propounds to us to be received with the same subjectiō we offer to him those things which may be offered by us to his honour But because the acts themselves are in a speciall manner exercised in those things which God hath instituted for his honour therefore there is in them a certaine secundary worship and a certaine partaking of the former 6. But it hath in respect to that naturall worship the affection of an effect which existeth by vertue of the former and of a meanes and instrument whereby Faith Hope and Love in which that worship is contained doe exercise their acts and of an adjuvant cause whereby they are furthered and also of an adjunct to which thy are subjected 7. But it is properly called worship as it is a meanes and helping cause of that primary worship 8. But because the command of God being put it depends and flowes from the primary worship of God therefore it is oft perswaded and urged by those arguments which are taken from the inward and essentiall manner of worshipping God as in the second precept They that love me and keep by Commandements Deut. 10. 12 13. What doth the Lord thy God require of thee but that thou feare the Lord thy God walke in all his wayes that thou love him worship the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy soule observing the precepts of the Lord and his Statutes 9. That rule therefore of interpreting the Scriptures which is wont to be delivered by some is not universally true that all those duties morall and immutable which have morall and immutable reasons joyned to them except it be thus understood that those duties doe follow upon those reasons no speciall command coming betweene Lev. 11. 44. I am the Lord your God that sanctifie you that ye may be holy as I am holy ◅t defile not therefore your selves with any creeping thing 10. No worship of this kind is lawfull unlesse it hath God for the Author and ordainer of it Deut. 4. 2. 12. 32. Keep you all things which I shall command you Ad not to the word which command you neither take from it every thing which I command you observe to doe ad not to it nor take from it every thing which I command you observe to doe ad not to it nor take from 1. Chron. 16. 13. Our Lord broke in upon us because we did not seeke him aright 11. That is declared in those words