Gods Effectual Calling, Treatise · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. Of the fift property of the Church, and of the ſeuenth controuerſie.
NOw it reſteth that we proue, that the ſacred Scripture is ſimply moſt neceſſarie. Here then I ſay, that if by Scripture yee vnderſtand the ſubſtance and the verie matter contained in the words written, it cannot be denied that the ſcripture is ſo neceſſarie, that without it there can be no Church in earth, for the church is borne and bred, not Fift propertie, Scripture is moſt neceſſarie.of mortall, but of immortall ſeede, which is the word of God, 1. Pet. 1. 23. But if ye vnderſtand by the ſcripture, the verie writing and forme of reuelation, I ſay, that in this reſpect alſo it is ſo neceſſarie, that without this there cannot be a Church. For the liuely voice of God is ſimply neceſſarie: The ſcripture after a ſort, is the liuely voice of God: therefore ſimply neceſſarie.
I graunt it, that when as the liuely voice of God did ſound, and was heard in the Church; this writing, and this forme of reuelation was not then ſo neceſſarie: but when as God did ceaſe to ſpeake, and that the ſcripture came in place of Gods own voice; then the ſcripture was no leſſe neceſſary, then the liuely voice of God. For the voice of God muſt euer be in the Church, that the church may hauehave her being, and may continue on the earth; yea this voice muſt be heard by the Church, either by it ſelfe, or by that which may beſt ſupply the want of the liuely voice of God. Before Moſes time, this voice it ſelfe was heard: after his time, this voice ſounded and ſpake in, and by the voice and writings of Moſes, and the Prophets: When Chriſt was come, his owne liuely voice was heard: After Chriſts aſcenſion, for a time the 2. Cor. 5. 19. 1. Pet. 2. 19.preaching of the Apoſtles, and the bookes of the old Teſtament were receiued for the liuely voice of God himſelfe, and of his ſonne Ieſus Chriſt. Then followed the Apoſtolicall Scripture, which together with the holy ſcripture of the old Teſtament continue in the Church, to ſupply not only the liuely voice of the Apoſtles, but alſo of God, and of Chriſt himſelfe. By the premiſſes it is euident, yt it is ſimply neceſſary at all times, that the liuely voice of God ſound euer in the Church of God, either by it ſelfe, or by this ſupply, which wee now auouch to be only the ſacred Scriptures of the old and new Teſtament. Wherefore we plainly conclude, the Scripture is moſt neceſſarie.
The Aduerſaries oppoſe themſelues againſt this aſſertion, as againſt the former, and they denie that the ſcripture is ſimply neceſſarie: it is neceſſary (ſay they) that is, it is profitable or commodious for the well being of a Church; but is not ſo neceſſarie for the being; nor no ſuch thing as without which the Church can hauehave no being. And for this cauſe do theſe men denie the neceſſitie of the Scripture, that they may open the doore to their authoritie and traditions, that is, to their owne dreames, which they ſay, be ſimply neceſſary, and preferre them before the ſcripture. They are eaſily anſwered by the rules before ſet downe. For if by ſcripture they vnderſtand the ſubſtance of the ſcripture, it cannot be denied that the ſcripture is ſimply neceſſarie: but if they vnderſtand not the ſubſtance onelyonly, but alſo the verie writing; in this reſpect alſo, we hauehave ſhewed it by cleere demonſtratiō, that the ſcripture is ſimply neceſſarie; for that it is vntounto vsus in place of ye liuely voice of God himſelfe. Wherfore their aſſertion is falſe, howſoeuer they take this word Scripture either in this ſenſe or the other.
But they ſay, the Church wanted the ſcripture neere two thouſand yeares, all which time religion was preſerued by tradition only: Therefore the Scripture is not ſimply neceſſarie. I anſwer: If you vnderſtand by Scripture the verie ſubſtance of the couenant, then your argument followeth not: for the ſubſtance of the ſcripture was in thoſe verie traditions, whereby the Church was edified and kept. But if by this word ye vnderſtand the verie writing; then I grant the ſcripture was not extant ſo manie yeares: and I ſay, that it was not then neceſſarie, for that then the liuely voice of God it ſelfe was heard. If they conclude, that becauſe it was not then neceſſarie, therefore it is not now neceſſarie; or that it was not neceſſarie, after that God had commanded it, and after that it began to be extant: ſurely the conſequence is very euill: for as ages and times hauehave changed, ſo diuers formes of reuelation were neceſſarie.
Or we may more briefly ſet downe this controuerſie in this forme.
THe ſcripture is neceſſarie not onelyonly for the well-being (as Popiſh Schoole-men ſpeake) but alſo for the being of the Church: Et hactenus eſt ſimplex neceſſitas.
And this neceſſitie is in reſpect of time only: for there was not a neceſſitie of the ſcripture in all ages; I vnderſtand The word written not neceſſary in all ages. Heb. 1. 1. 2.by the word Scripture, not onelyonly the ſubſtance of the written word, but alſo the manner or forme of reuelation: but this ſimple neceſſitie muſt bee auouched of the ſubſtance and forme of reuelation in diuers reſpects. For the ſcripture as touching the ſubſtance of it, was neceſſarie to the Church in all ages, but in reſpect of the manner of reuealing the ſame, it was neceſſarie for a certaine time only, to wit, vntill it ſeemed good vntounto Almightie God to teach his church by the ſcripture. ARG. 1. For the Lord God had not giuen his Church the Scripture, if he had not thought it neceſſarie euū for the being of his Church. ARG. 2. The liuely voice of God was neceſſarie in the time appointed for it: ergo, the Scripture alſo is neceſſary in the time the Lord hath decreed for it: for there is but one and the ſame reaſon of both. ARG. 3. It is neceſſarie that Gods will be reuealed and communicated to the Church at all times in one forme or other, either by Gods own liuely voice, or by writing, or by both: but now the liuely voice of God hath ceaſed: therefore now the word written is neceſſarie.
The aduerſaries deny this abſolute neceſſitie, moued hereunto with theſe arguments following. Firſt, from Adam to Moſes there was no Scripture: Ergo. I anſwer, the Lord God thought it not neceſſarie for all that time. But when as the Lord himſelfe began to write, and that the 2. Pet. 1. 18. 19. 21.holy men of God were acted and moued by the holie Ghoſt, firſt Prophets, then Apoſtles; then the Scripture began to be neceſſarie, & euen ſimply neceſſary. ARG. 2. From Moſes vntounto Chriſt, Iob and his friends both beleeued and were ſaued without the Scripture. I anſwer, It is moſt like theſe alſo read the ſcriptures; as may appeare by the Eunuches ſtory, Act. 8. Next, I anſwer, that ſo manie as were called without the viſible Church, God dealt with them in an extraordinary manner. ARG. 3. They did more attend the traditions of the Fathers then the written word, euen in the ſecond age. I anſwer, this is falſe. ARG. 4. In the third age there was no ſcripture of the new Teſtament extant for a long ſeaſon. Ergo. I anſwer, the Apoſtolicall ſcripture beganne not long after Chriſt: Next, all that time, I grant it was not neceſſarie; but when the Apoſtles were dead, and when their liuelie voice ceaſed, then began it to be neceſſary.