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 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
gaue the Decalogue o Deut. 5 2â— Whereof the Prophets and the rest of the Scriptures are explanations so that as Law and Prophets is here per Synchdochen put for the whole old Testament so else wher is Prophets onely p Acts. 26.27 Ephc. 2.20 So that as the whole lumpe and branches be holy if the first fruites roote be holy q Rom. 11.16 So the testimony given viva voce to the Decalogue is an authorizing of the whole olde Testament God likewise viva voce gaue Testimony to the new Testament when by a voyce out of a cloud r Mat. 17. â— he sayd This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleased heare him Wherein should we heare him To wit In the Gospell which is The word of Reconciliation Å¿ 2 Cor. 5.19 by forgiuenesse of our sinnes and is therefore worthily called The word of Christ t Colos 3.16 Which reconciliation is intimated in these words In whom I am well pleased This word of Christ is contayned in the new Testament Therefore by this voyce testimonie is thereunto given This inference is coÌ„firmed by the Apostle Peter u 2 Pet. 1.16.17 Who by this voyce proveth that the Apostles followed not deceiveable fables but opened the power comming of Christ God also gaue testimony therunto by wonderful works For if Antiquity may be beleeved x Iren. lib. 3 â—ap 25. He confirmed the old Testament by this miracle Ptolomy King of Egypt hearing the books of the Iewes highly exalted set 70. learned Iewes in so many places so as they could not conferre to translate those bookes out of Hebrew into Greeke When they had done the 70. translations so agreed word for word as if all had conferred agreed vpon one translation The number of the bookes being thirtie nine The puacitie and ambiguity of Hebrew wordes and experience of diversity in translating farre more intelligible languages coÌ„sidered this is a great miracle Touching the new Testament the Text sayth plainly that y Mark 16 2â— the Apostles preached every where And the Lord coÌ„firmed the word with signes that followed therefore God gaue testimonie to the new Testament by wonderfull workes Here Papists may be answered who require vs to shew by what miracles we confirme our new Gospell I answere Indeede if the Gospell which we preach were new as they like Iewes z Mark 1.27 doe terme it then it is to be confirmed with new miracles or not to be received But being the same which Christ his Apostles preached it is so sufficiently confirmed by the miracles which Christ his Apostles wrought that wee with Austin a Aug de Civiâ— Dei l. 22. call him a wonder of men who now requireth miracles to that ende God gaue testimony both to the old and new Testament by preserving them miraculously Touching the former it is to be considered that Israell was for a long season without the true God without Priest to teach and without Law b Chro. 15.3 Is it not a speciall worke of God that the Scriptures then being were preserved and that in purity And the rather if we consider how despitefully Iehoiakim cut and burnt Ieremies roule Ier. 36.23 It is yet more remarkeable that the people of God were captiues 70. yeares in Babylon c Iere 29.10 and 27.22 whether also the holy vessels were carried How were the Scriptures preserved al this while otherwise than by the wonderfull providence of God But it is most admirable that Ierusalem and the Temple were twice destroyed once by Nebuchadnezzars servant d 2 King 25. and againe after Christ his ascension e Luke 19.41 to 44 and yet the holy Books kept in the Temple are preserved Touching the latter It is not vnknown that in the first ages of the Church * Acts Moâ—ments p. 30. there were grievous persecutions for three hundred yeares by ten Tyrannicall Heathen Emperours of Rome whereof it may be Christ prophecyed when he told the Churches they should haue tribulation f Revel 2. â— ten dayes or times How were the Scriptures preserved all this terrible time other-wise than by the wonderfull providence of God Againe Since those ten persecutions Antichrist the Pope hath exercised his tyranny over the Churches for the space of about 900. yeares Vnder a type of a King Daniel g Dan. 11.31.36.37 prophecyeth of him which is to be considered For it is sayd His heart shall be against the holy Covenant So the Popes heart is against the new Testament in Christ his bloud to establish his merits by workes It is also sayd On that King's part armes shall stand as now they doe on the Popes part and they shall pollute the Sanctuary and set vp the abhominable desolation So doth the Pope pollute the Churches and setteth vp his abhominable Masse That King Did what he listed cared not for any God but magnified himselfe aboue all Doth not the Pope all this Lastly That King In place of the God of his Fathers honoured the God Mauzzim Doth not the Pope honour in the Masse a God of bread in place of the true God But what may induce vs to suppose that King to be a type of the Pope Besides the many agreements noted It is to be observed that howsoever all things written of that King were true according to the letter yet Christ sayth h Mat. 24.15 When yee see the abhomination of desolation spoken of by Daniell stand in the holy places c Whereby hee applieth this Prophecy to the destruction of Ierusalem and the Temple by the Romane Emperour as doth more plainly appeare in Luke 21.20 conferred with Dan. 9.26.27 Divines not without Analogy apply this prophecy to the Masse that abhomination indeede of Desolation Againe It is to be observed that the Roman Emperour was the first beast i â—evel 13.1 〈◊〉 7.11.12 that the Pope is another beast which doth all that the first beast did And that the Church of Christ is the House of God k 1 Tim. 3. as was the Temple So then as the Romane Emperour destroyed the Temple so the Pope hath persecuted and stil persecuteth the true Church of Christ How did the new Testament so opposite to Popery escape so long a rage and reigne This is the more strange these things considered The old Testament in Hebrew and the new Testament in Greeke were strangers in Israel ever since the Pope was before the Gospell was renewed The Pope will not suffer the Scriptures to bee read to the people in their mother tongue the second Commaundement condemning the worshipping of Images is in popish Catechismes thrust out of the Decalogue So that I may conclude that as Nebuchadnezzar l Dan. 3. â— acknowledged Shadrach Meshach and Abednego to haue beene the servants of God because they escaped the fiery furnace so God giveth a remarkeable testimony to the Scriptures that they bee his vndoubted word by
another example wherein yee may see both the Wisdome of the flesh and obedience of Faith Naaman was directed Å¿ King 5.10 12.13.14 by a messenger from Elisha to wash himselfe in Iordan for cure of his leprosie He went away murmuring But perswaded by his servants to haue due regard of the Prophets word he obeyed and was cured Hereby are condemned 1 rebellious hearers of the word who say The word which thou hast spoken vnto vs in the name of the Lord wee will not heare t Ier. 44.16 but we will doe what we thinke good and as our Princes and Fathers before vs haue done 2 Presumptuous hearers who blesse themselues in their hearts u Deut. 29 1â—.2â— when they heare iudgements out of the word against their sinnes and so adde drunkennesse to thirst but God will not be mercifull to such 3 Hypocriticall hearers who call one vpon another x Ezek. 33.30.31 to heare the word and sit before the Preacher as reverently as others but they make a iest of it and will not obey it And 4 such as pretend obedience to the word out of a sudden flash of zeale like the young man y Mark 10.17.21.22 who came running and kneeling to Christ to know what he might doe for eternall life But when Christ bad him sell and giue all to the poore and follow him hee went away sorrowfull for he was rich So many when the word reprooveth them for drunkennesse are grieved for the present confesse it is their sinne and wish they could leaue it but they doe not I haue told you of some to be condemned for not beleeving and of others for not obeying the word as the word of God Now I must tell you of the Antichristian Synagogue of Rome which shamefully offendeth in both those respects in taking the second Commaundement out of the Decalogue as hath beene said contrary to the expresse word of God who giveth this peremptorie charge a Deut. 12.32 Whatsoever I commaund you take heede you doe it Thou shalt put nothing thereto nor take ought there-from If the Papists did beleeue the word as the word of God durst they thus abuse ignorant people God deliver vs from vnreasonable and evill men b Thes 3.2 for all men haue not faith Now why doe they this Even because they are so addicted to Idolatry that despising the censure of Christ Mat. 5.19 they will neither obey this word of God themselues c Mat. 5 1â— nor suffer the people to obey it in not worshipping Images For they feare that if it were published in their Catechismes the people would in time abhorre that babish and Babylonish Idolatry observing how precisely that commandement forbiddeth the worshipping of Images and how iealous God is thereof And the more when they know and consider that the whole Decalogue was written twice in Tables of Stone d Exod. 3.18 and 3â— and 20 1â— with the finger of God which argueth the perpetuitie thereof and that the Commandement forbidding worshipping of Images is twice recorded by the Spirit e Deut. 5. as the second of the ten Commandements spoken by God himselfe But I pray you take knowledge of most damnable cousenage viz. Because the Scriptures say expressely that God wrote ten Commandements in the two Tables â—eut 10.4 and the people generally know that there must be ten Commandements they divide the tenth Commandement and make Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife the ninth and Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house c. the tenth Note further I pray you as cousenage so grosse absurditie For the Commandement consisteth onely in these words Thou shalt not covet So that it is absurd to say that there be so many Commandements as there be obiects of coveting mentioned as Oxe Asse c. Were it not absurd to make two Commandements of the fifth because therein be mentioned two obiects viz. Father and Mother of Honour the dutie commanded If it be sayd that Honour is but once commanded whereas Coveting is twice forbidden yea so as that Coveting a neighbours wife is first forbidden as if there were a kinde of respect to the seaventh Commandement and Coveting a neighbours house is forbidden afterward as if there were a kinde of respect to the eight Commandement I answer All yet is but Coveting which is twice vrged because more knowledge should be taken of the Commandement For if Paul had not knowne Lust to be a sinne g Rom. 7. â— had not this Commandement forbidden it how would others haue knowne it But further I answere That howsoever indeed not-coveting a wife be first set downe Deut. 5.21 yet not-coveting an house is first set downe Exod. 20.17 Which sheweth that not-coveting house wife c. is forbidden by one and the same Commandement Haue not we cause to thanke God that we are delivered from Popery which is the Mystery of iniquitie Here it may be some will grant that the Word spoken by God or Christ who was God as well as man h â—ath 1.23 is to be beleeved and obeyed absolutely without any doubting or questioning But they thinke that the doctrine of others is not so to be beleeved and obeyed Let such remember that God approoved the minde of the people desiring that GOD would speake to them no more himselfe i 〈◊〉 5.25.26.27.28 and promising to heare and doe whatsoever God shall speake vnto them by his servant Obiect It may be it will be replied Yea we grant that Moses Prophets and Apostles sent immediately from God or Christ their words are to be beleeved and obeyed absolutely But so are not the Sermons of Preachers in these times Indeed Ans the Persons of ordinary Pastors and Teachers are not sent immediately from God or Christ as were the persons of Prophets and Apostles But their Ministery it selfe was immediately k 1 Cor. 12. â— ordeined by Christ wherevnto they having fit gifts for the same are called by the voyce of the Church l Acts. 14 2â— and therefore to be esteemed as Ministers of Christ m 1 Cor. 16.10.11 For they performe the same ordinary worke of the Ministery in disposing the Mysteries of God vnto the aedification of the Church which the Apostles did Therefore the Apostle exhorteth Gods people n Heb. 13 1â— to obey which implyeth hearing and beleeving such as had the charge of their soules If then people are to esteeme their Pastors and Teachers as the Ministers of Christ they must as did Cornelius o Acts. 10.3.33 presume that they will Preach the Word of GOD and be prepared accordingly to heare which implyeth beleeving and obeying I grant that the doctrine of Pastors and Teachers be they never so learned and faithfull is subiect to errour whereas the Prophets and Apostles delivered an infallible truth therefore people may the more diligently so it be with humilitie try the Spirits â— Ioh. 4.1 But if the truth of Gods Word