beleeved indeed it perswadeth the beleever to make conscience of sinne therefore all are worthy of due consideration Viz. 1. There is a God by name The God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob to be worshipped 2. There is a Word of God Viz. The Bible that is the Booke of Bookes consisting of the olde and new Testament to be beleeved 3. There is a Resurrection both of iust and vniust to be expected And 4. There is a Conscience to be tendered The first ground hath beene layd as surely as I can For none can be religious who doth not beleeue it The second is likewise to be surely layd For if there be no such Word there can be no true religion but superstition The Samaritans a 〈◊〉 4.20.22 and Athenians b 〈◊〉 17.22.23 were superstitious because they worshipped God not according to his Word That therefore we may haue true spirituall comfort in our Christian Religion in which we worship God let vs be well perswaded that the Bible is the Word of God That imposter Mahomet to make the Turkes superstitiously to regard his Alchoran Compiled by himselfe a Iew and a Nestorian heretique so plotted with his Complices that having tolde the Turkes that God would send his vndoubted Word about a Camels necke out of the Wildernesse before the Sermon was ended a Camell came into the Church with the Alchoran about the necke Were not the Bible the vndoubted Word of God we Christians are the most absurd in our Religion of all other For we make him a God and our onely Saviour whom we acknowledge to haue beene a man and crucified But if it be then may wee with comfort avow our Religion against Iewes Turkes and Papists That we may be well grounded in this point I haue determined to proue it not onely by the other three grounds but also by imitating an order of proofes which Christ observeth Ioh. 5.31 to 39. With which I will begin as being most worthy in regard of the Author and as shewing that the Bible which is the Word written may be prooved to be the Word of God by like Arguments as Christ prooveth himselfe to be the Eternall Word â—â—oh 1.1.14 made flesh that is the Messiah Which he prooveth by 4. testimonies 1. Of Iohn Baptist 2. Of his owne Workes 3. Of his Father And 4. Of the Scriptures Reason 1 In imitatition therefore let our first proofe be The Testimony of the Church which throughout all ages hath avowed the Bible to be the vndoubted Word of God Now all true Christians reioyce in the Church as the Iewes did in Iohn Baptist For it is The Pillar of truth d Tim. 3.15 Not because the Church supporteth the Scriptures so as to be the Word of God as Papists would make vs to beleeue Nay The Scriptures support the Church so as to be the Church of God Indeed if there be no other vse of a Pillar but to support then that place of 1 Tim. 3.15 might seeme to make for the Papists but there is another vse of a Pillar viz. To haue that written or engraven therevpon which is to be remembred for ever As in Rev. 3.12 Revel 3.12 Christ sayth Him that overcoÌ„meth I will make a Pillar in the Temple of my God How I will write vpon him the Name of my God and my new Name Indeed The true sense of that to Timothie is this As a Pillar doth preferue the memory of those things which are written thereon So the Church preserveth Truth commended therevnto This sense the place it selfe doth intimate For saith Paul These things I write that if I tarry long thou mayst know how to behaue thy selfe in the house of God that it being the Church of the living God therefore ever-living may as a Pillar preserue Truth which it learneth of thee Hence it is that Aust in sayth â—ntra Epist â—â—md cap. 5. I had not beleeved the Scriptures to haue beene the Word had I not beene mooued with the Churches credite Thus was he mooved indeed when he first turned from his Manichisme But when he was setled in Religion thus he writeth to Maximinus Contra Maxim â—ib 3. cap. 14. Neither must I alledge the Councell of Nice in preiudice of the matter nor you the Councell of Ariminum Let matter striue with matter cause with cause reason with reason by authoritie of the Scriptures And in another place Reade this out of a Prophet De Pastor cap. 14. out of a Psalme out of the Law out of the Gospel out of an Apostle Thence recite I the Church disperst over the whole world and our Lord saying My sheepe heare my voyce So that Austin did like the Samaritans who at the first beleeved Christ to be the Messiah for the saying of the Woman but afterward they professed e Ioh. 4.39.42 Now wee beleeue not because of thy saying For wee haue heard him our selues Reason 2 Now then let vs proceede to the second Testimony from the proper workes of the Scriptures which is greater then the former as was the second Testimony which Christ pleaded I will now take knowledge but of two proper works of the Scriptures The former is Though they be for the most part very simple plaine yet like God they be mighty in operation For the word of God simply preached is the power of God f 2 Cor. 12.9 1 Cor. 3.4 â— It being like fire and an hammer g Ier. 23.29.22 converteth the soule h Psal 19.7 being not carnall casteth downe imaginations exalted and bringeth every thought to the obedience of Christ i 2 Cor. 10.4 â— For it is the sword of the Spirit k Eph. 6.17 because the Spirit of God being authour thereof l Pet. 1.21 by it worketh mightily vpon the spirit of man Heb. 4.12 For it accompanieth the same Isa 59.21 so as a man is compelled to acknowledg the power of Gods word when it is faithfully preached 1 Cor. 4. â— The other is They prophecy many great things which are accomplished in due time As the bondage of Israell in Egypt Ezod 12.41 Captivity in Babilon Ier. 29.10 The succession of foure Monarches Dan. 2.37 to 40. Comming of the Messiah Dan 9.24.25.26 Calling of the Gentiles Isa 2.2.3 And revealing of Antichrist 2 Thess 2.7.8 that is the Pope revealed after the removall of the Emperour from Rome So that as God was acknowledged so to be because he by Daniel opened secrets m Dan. 2.47 and a Prophet is to be acknowledged so to be if his Prophecy come to passe n Deâ—t 18.18 c. I may conclude that because so many and great Prophecies in the Scriptures are duly fulfilled they are therfore the vndoubted word of God Reason 3 Our third Testimony is froÌ„ the Father that is God Gal. 1. I who hath given testimony to the scriptures viva voce by his wonderfull works He gaue testimony viva voce to the old Testament when he
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
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