elfe, accufing us accordingly; yet we are not a Sufficient Law unto our felves. Notwithstanding therefore, the Law written in our Hearts, we shall never come to the full Knowledge of that good and acceptable, and perfect Will of God, which is to direct us in this life, but by his Word, which he hath in due times manifefted to us: from whence we may be fully instructed in all things which belong unto our Peace, and Salvation, even the Salvation of our Souls. a. And if any Man fin, (as in many things we offend all) there is no other way of being af Sur'd that we shall not all likewife perish, but from the Scriptures; which acquaint us that we have an Advocate with the Father; and give us an account in what manner, and upon what Terms God is pleafed to reconcile us to himself. b. All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Inftruction in Righteousness; that fuch as defire to serve God truly may be Perfect, throughly furnished unto all good Works. c. Whatsoever things were written aforetime by Holy Men of God, who fpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoft, were written for our Learning, that we, through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures, might have Hope. a. Unto the Jews first were committed the Oracles of God: for God fpake with them from Heaven, and gave them right Judgments, and true Laws, good Statutes and Commandments, by the Hand of Mofes his Servant, who fhewed them the way wherein they were to walk, and the Work that they were to do. b. And the fame God, who, at fundry times, and in divers manners, fpake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets, hath in these laft Days spoken unto us by his Son and that which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard him. c. This is the glorious Gospel of the Bleffed God, which is not after Man, neither was it received of Man, neither was any Man taught it but by the Revelation of Chrift; who taught the way of God truly, and enabled his Apoftles and Minifters to declare unto us all the Counfel of God. d. And, that we might know the Certainty of those things wherein they were inftructed, to whom the Gospel was firft Preached, there is set forth, in order to us, a Declaration of those Rom. 15. 4. Neh. 9. 13, 14. Ex. 18. 20. 3 Gal. 1. 11, 12. Luke 2c. 21, 1 Tim. things things which were most furely believed among them, even as they were delivered by thofe which from the beginning were Eye-witneffes, and Ministers of the Word, and had perfect Understanding of all things: who kept back nothing that was profitable unto us. a. We ought therefore to receive with Meeknefs, and all readiness of Mind, the ingrafted Word, which is able to save our Souls, believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets; and mare efpecially holding faft that form of found Words, and that Faith which was once deliver'd unto the Saints, in the Writings of the New Teftament. b. And, that we may not err concerning the Faith, Let us take care that we do not think of Men above that which is written; That we are not Curious about the Times and Seafons, which we have no need to know; That we avoid fool, ith and unlearned Questions, profane and vain Babblings, and Oppofitions of Science, falfly fo called; That me do not give heed to Jewish Fables, and Commandments of Men that turn from the Truth; And that we strive not about Words to no profit; nor fuffer our felves to be mifled by Philofophy and vain Deceit, after the Tradition of Men, after the Rudiments of the World, and not after Christ. Luk. 1. 1, 2, 3. Act. 20. 20. (a) Jam.1.21. Act. 17.11. Act.24.14. 2Tim.1,13. Jude3. (b) Tim. 6. 21. 1 Cor. 4. 6. 1 Theff. 5. 1. 2 Tim. 2. 23. 1 Tim. 6. 20. Tit. 1. 14. 2 Tim. 2. 14. Col. 2. 8. a. As a. As in the Epistles of St. Paul, so in the other Scriptures also, there are fome things hard to be understood; but we must be both unlearned, and, unstable, if we wreft these to our own Destru&tion; for, generally, the Holy Writers have used great plainnefs of Speech; and they have never handled the Word of God deceitfully so that whoever will do his Will, may know of the Doctrine whether it be of God. b. For, all that is needful for us to know of the common Salvation is so plainly fet forth to us, that he may run that readeth: But if the Gospel be hid, it is hid to them only that are loft, in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not, left the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them. c. The Scriptures then being plain and easy, so far as is neceffary to make us Wife unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus; we ought to read them with the fame Sincerity with which they were written; not corrupting the Word of God, or perverting the Gospel of Christ, after our own Lufts, which make us unwilling to endure found Doctrine. (a) 2 Pet. 3. 16. 2 Cor. 3. (b) Jude 3. Hab. 2. 2.] (c) 2 Tim. 3. 15. 2 Cor. 2. 12. 2 Cor. 4. 2. Joh. 7. 17. B 4 a. And a. And, having confented to wholfome Words, even the Words of our Lord Jefus Christ, and to the Doctrine which is according to Godliness, we ought to continue in the things which we have learned, and have been affured of; without regarding what is faid, either by fuch as teach things that they ought not, for filthy Lucre's fake; or by unruly and vain Talkers and Deceivers, who being pufft up by their fleshly Mind, intrude into thofe things which they have not feen, or by fuch as make the Word of God of none Effect through their Tradition. b. Having therefore received of the Apostles, by the Lord Jefus, how we ought to walk and to please God, Let us receive that which we have heard of them, not as the Word of Men, but (as it is in truth) the Word of God, which effectually worketh in them that believe: The Power and Demonstration of which is fuch, that, whosoever will not hear Mofes, and the Prophets, Chrift, and his Apoftles, yet speaking to us in the Scriptures, neither will he be perfuaded. other way, of the Truth of Religion, tho one rofe from the dead to affure him of it. any c. The Gospel of Jefus Chrift, which, according to the Commandment of the Everlast (a) 1 Tim. 6.3. 2 Tim. 3. 14. Tit. I. II. Tit. 1. 10. Col. 2. 18. Mar. 7. 13. (b) 1 Theff. 4. 1, 2, 1. 1 Theff. 2. 13. 1 Cor. 2. 4. Luke 16. 31. Heb. 11.4. (c) Rom. 16. 25, 26. |