The Pattern of Wholesome Words, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Of the Scriptures.
2. Tim. 3.16.
For the whole Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God, &c.
THe originall or fountaine of knowledge is the Scripture, that is, the bookes of the old and new Testament, and those bookes were first called Scripture, Two principles about the Scriptures.in the new Testament.
There are two principles concerning the Scripture.
That they are the very word of God, or they flow from God by diuine inspiration.
That they are perfect, without defect or errour, eueryevery way sufficient of themselues alone, to guide vsus in all things needfull to saluation, without adding ought to them, or diminishing ought from them.
For the first, that they are by diuine inspiration, is infallibly euident from the testimony of the Scriptures themselues, such as these. 2. Tim. 3.16. before recited.
2. Pet. 1.20.21. So that ye first know this, that no prophecie of the Scriptures is of any priuate interpretation. For the prophecie came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moued by the holy Ghost.
And for our more abundant satisfaction,The Scripturs are the very word of God, proued by testimonies externall and internall. there are other testimonies, that prooue the Scriptures to bee the very word of God, and these both external and internall.
The externall testimonies are such as these:
The diuine reuelations, with which they were graced from heauen. For God was visibly present with Moses the writer of the Law, and God testified his presence also by the cloud and smoke about the Arke, in the Tabernacle, and Temple: Fier from heauen deuoured the sacrifices, and God gaue answere by the Vrim and Thummim.
The fulfilling of the prophesies vttered in the Scriptures in seuerall ages.
The testimony of the Church in all ages, acknowledging the bookes of Scripture, as the pure word of God.
The finall confession of the Martyrs, who at their death did iustifie so much, and willingly died in the defence of the truths, contained in the Scriptures.
The conuersion of the soules of men by the power of the Scriptures, and the comfort the godly finde in them in all afflictions.
The miraculous calling of the men, as we may see in Moses and the Apostles, that wrote the Scriptures, &c.
The internall testimony is the witnesse of Gods spirit, who in the hearts of the godly doth auouch so much, and this is a testimony proper to the houshold of God.
Thus of the first principle.
The second Principle is, that the scriptures are perfect, which these places shew:
2. Tim. 3.17. That the man of God may bee absolute, being made perfect vntounto all good workes.
Psalm. 19.7. The Law of the Lord is perfect, conuerting the soule: the testimony of the Lord is sure, and giueth wisdome vntounto the simple.
Gal. 1.8. But though that we, or an Angell from heauen preach vntounto you otherwise, then that which we hauehave preached vntounto you, let him bee accursed.
Iohn 1.7. Prou. 30.6. Reuel. 22.18.Duet. 12.32. Therefore whatsoeuer I command you, take heed you doe it: thou shalt put nothing thereto, nor take ought there-from.
Prou. 8.7.8. For my mouth shall speake the truth, and my lips abhorre wickednesse.
All the words of my mouth are righteous & there is no leaudnes, nor frowardnesse in them.
The vses.The consideration of which principles may serue vsus for diuers vses; both for instruction and reproofe: for triall and for consolation: First,1. For instruction. wee should here be perswaded
To study the Scriptures with all diligence, and to striue to get the plenteous knowledge of them; searching those diuine words, and exercising our selues in the morning and euening; accounting so much to bee added to our riches, as wee get of this excellent knowledge.
Iohn 5.39. Search the Scriptures: for in them you thinke to hauehave eternall life, and they are they, which testifie of me.
Col. 3.16. Let the word of God, or Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisdome, teaching and admonishing your owne selues, &c.
Psalm. 1.2. But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Labouring by all meanes to acquaint our children, and family with them.
Deut. 6.7. And thou shalt rehearse them continually vntounto thy children, and shalt talke of them, when thou tariest in thy house, and as thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest downe, and when thou risest vp, &c.
Since they are of God, and so perfect, wee should rest vponupon the directions, and comforts we find in them, and establish our hearts in all things wee learne out of them; Rom. 15.4. For whatsoeuer things are written afore time, are written for our learning, that wee through patience, and comfort of the scriptures, might hauehave hope. They are a sure word; we may rest vponupon them, 2. Pet. 1.20. as beleeuing, that eueryevery word of God is pure, and that God will make them good to such as trust in them, Prou. 30.5.6.
We should care to reade, and heare these Scriptures with al due preparation and attention, and high estimation, receiuing them as the word of God, and not of man: 1. Thes. 2.13. labouring to bring cleane hearts, and a meeke and teachable spirit to them, as being able to saue our soules: Iames 1.21.22. with a resolution to doe whatsoeuer God requireth in them.
We should louelove them aboue all treasures, accounting them more deare, then thousands of gold and siluer, and reckoning the sentences learned out of Scriptures, as the fairest ornament can decke vsus: Deut. 11.18.19. Psalm. 119.72.
We should therefore make them the rule of all our actions, and come continually to them to see, whether our workes bee wrought in God, and shewing the power of the word in the demonstration of the apparant life of it, in commanding all our particular actions, that men may see the light of the word in the light of our good workes.
Phil. 2.15. That wee may bee blamelesse and pure, and the sonnes of God, without rebuke in the midst of a naughty and crooked nation, amongst whom you shine as lights in the world.
Gal. 6.16. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace shall be vponupon them, and mercy vponupon the Israel of God.
Psalm. 119.105. Thy word is a lanterne vntounto my feete, and a light vntounto my path.
Yea we should daily try and search the secrets of our hearts by it, as that which only can doe it. Heb. 4.12. For the word of God is liuely, and mighty in operation, and sharper then any two edged sword, and entreth through euen vntounto the diuiding asunder of the soule and the spirit, and of the ioynts and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Wee should therefore in all questions and controuersies let the Scriptures iudge, and thinke of no man, aboue what is written, Gal. 1.7. 1. Cor. 4.6. Esay 8.20.
Thus much for instruction.
Secondly,2For reproofe. these Principles reprooue the Papists and carnall Protestants, and the godly too:
The Papists are heere reproued,1Of the Papists in 4. things.
1. For making the authority of the Scriptures to depend vponupon the testimony of the Church, whereas the Church is built vponupon the Scriptures, Ephes. 2.20. And are built vponupon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets; Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe corner stone.
2. For not holding it to bee sufficient without traditions, contrary to the expresse word, 2. Tim. 3.17. That the man of God may be absolute, being made perfect vntounto all good works.
3. For with-holding the Scriptures from the common people, keeping from them the sight of their Fathers wil, contrary to the word, Iohn 5.39. Search the Scriptures: for in them you thinke to hauehave eternall life, and they are they which testifie of me.
Col. 3.16. Let the word of God dwell in you plenteously in all wisedome, &c.
4. For iudging controuersies without them: contrary to the commandement, Esay 8.20. To the Law, and to the Testimony. If they speake not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
The carnal Protestants are here reproued:
1. For their miserable neglect of the reading,2Of Carnall Protestants. hearing, meditation, and the care to yeeld obedience to the Scriptures: yea, for the wretched neglect of the very buying of the Bible for their vse, and the vse of their families, and for daring to liue without the preaching of the word in times of spirituall famine.
2. For their vilde audaciousnesse, that dare liue in such sins, as they heare threatned in the Scriptures, prophanely despising the warning daily giuen them, Esay 30.11.12. Ier. 23.9.10.
3. For their scorning and deriding of such, as honour the word, and frequent the hearing of it.
Esay 57.3.4. But you witches children come hither, the seed of the adulterer, and of the whore: On whō hauehave you iested? VponUpon whom hauehave you gaped, and thrust out your tongs? Are ye not rebellious children, and a false seed?
4. For their irreuerence, when they come to the house of God to heare, Eccles. 5.1.
Yea, the godly themselues ought to bee humbled by the consideration hereof:3Of the godly.
1. For their distractions in the hearing & reading of the Word.
2. For neglecting the counsels and directions giuen out of the Word.
3. For not resting vponupon it through vnbeliefe.
4. For too much aptnes to receiue opinions, if they come frō men they account godly, though they hauehave no warrant from the word. There be traditions on the right hand, as well as on the left.
Thus much for reproofe.
Thirdly,3For triall. wee may all try our selues, what we are by our respect of the Scriptures: If we louelove and heare the word, we are of God, Ioh. 8.47. He that is of God, heareth Gods word: ye therefore heare them not, because ye are not of God. Gods people are a people, in whose hearts is Gods Law, Esay 51.7. Psalm. 37.31.
Lastly,4For consolation. it may be a singular consolation to all such, as find the word of God to testifie with thē: it matters not what the world saies, or thinks of vsus; if we can find that the word of the Lord is good cōcerning vsus: our harts may be at rest, when God speakes peace by his word, and we may be sure we are in the right way, when we follow the directions of the word.