A Light from Christ Leading Unto Christ, Classis 4
The fourth Claſsis, or Company of Queſtions.
1 Queſtion.
VVHat is the word of God? Or what ought a Chriſtian to know concerning the word and will of God?
Anſ. The word of God in the manifeſtation of Gods will and pleaſure 1.Gen. 1. & 2. & 3. & 17.2, 7 & 22.16, 17. Exod. 19.20. Iſa. 8.20. Luke 11.28. Rom. 10.27. Ioh. 5.39 2 Pet. 1.19, &c. Either immediatly by himſelf, as his word of command concerning the Creation of the world in generall, and man in particular, before the fall, and the manifeſtation of his good pleaſure, after the fall, to Adam, Abraham, and other Saints and Sons of men: Or mediatly in Scripture by holy men, as they were inſpired by the holy Ghoſt.
Queſt. 2. Where is this revealed will and word of God written to be found?
Anſ. In the Canonicall Books of the Old and New Teſtament,Pſ. 40.7. Mat. 1.1. Mar. 12.26. Dā. 10.21 Mat. 21.42. Rom. 1.2. Ioh. 5.39 commonly called the Bible and Book of God, and the holy Scriptures.
Queſt. 3. What is there to be known in the holy Scriptures, concerning the will and pleaſure of God?
Anſ. That the holy Scriptures are the moſt perfect rule of Faith and life, above all other writings whatſoever, and that they hold forth the good will of God by way of Covenant, both in the Covenant of works to our firſt Parents before the fall, and in the Covenant of Gods Freegrace in Chriſt ſince, to and for the people of God to the end of the world. Iſa. 8.20. 2 Tim. 3.15, &c. 1 Cor. 15.3. Joh. 5.39. Gen. 2.9.16, 17. & 3.15. & 17.7. Jer. 31.33, 34. Matth. 17.5. John 3.16. Acts 2.28, 22.
Queſt. 4. Are the Scriptures the ancient and firſt written truths of God to be believed?
Anſ. Certainly they are moſt ancient of all written Divine truths, preſerved wonderfully ſo many hundred, yea, thouſand years, as witneſſe them Divine and of moſt Divine Authority indeed.
Queſt. 5. By what means may you be aſſured that theſe Books of the holy Scriptures are the infallible truth of the moſt true God; and that holy men writ them, as they were inſpired by the holy Ghoſt?
Mat. 4.4. & 22.29, 30, &c. Luk. 24.25, &c. Mat 7.12 Ioh 15.35 & 17.17. Act. 2.17. & 17.11. & 24 14.2.Anſ. Not only by the witneſſe of Chriſt the chief Prophet, and of the Saints and Church of God, and by Promiſes and Prophecies fulfilled, by miracles and martyrdoms, whereby the Doctrine hath been confirmed, but by the Divine harmony, perfection, powerfull efficacy of the Scriptures themſelves, and the teſtimony of Gods Spirit in the ſouls of believers.
Queſt. 6. What neceſſity was there of the holy Scriptures and word of God written?
Anſ. The Lord did ſee it needfull to have his word written,Iſa. 8.20. Rom. 15.4. Iſa. 59.20, 21. Rom. 1.20, 21. 2 Tim. 3.16. becauſe men did not learn by the Book of Nature, and work of Creation and government, to keep God in their mindes, but did run into Errors, and fell to worſhip Creatures and falſe Gods, and falſe Religions; Therefore God gave Scriptures as a guide and rule of life and Doctrine to his Church.
Queſt. 7. But is the Old Teſtament needfull for Gods Children in the time of the Goſpel?
Anſ. Yea certainly it is of excellent uſe; for the Old Teſtament holdeth forth Chriſt, and directs to Chriſt, who is yeſterday, and to day, and the ſame for ever: And the whole Scripture is to be ſearched as profitable for Doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inſtruction in righteouſneſſe, that the man of God may be perfect, and throughly furniſhed to every good work, Gen. 3.15. Iſa. 9.6. and 53.1, 2, 3, &c. Zach. 13.1. Mal. 4.2. Heb. 13.8. Rev. 13.8. Joh. 5.39. and 8.5, 6. Rom. 15.4. 2 Tim. 2.16, 17. Pſal. 119.105. Iſa. 8.20. Rom. 3.31. Matth. 5.17, 18. Luk. 10.34. Heb. 8.10, 11.
Queſt. 8. In what languages were the holy Scriptures Originally written? And whether may they be tranſlated and read in our Engliſh and other tongues underſtood of the people?
Nehem. 8.8. 1 Cor. 14.5. & 14.18, 19, 26, 27.Anſ. The holy Scriptures of the Old Teſtament, were chiefly written in the Hebrew tongue, and the New Teſtament in the Greek, (as Originall copies evidence:) But they may be truly tranſlated and read in other Languages, and interpreted as the people of ſeverall Nations may underſtand them, for the perpetuall edification of the Church.
Queſt. 9. Are not the Scriptures ſubject to error?
Pſa 19.7, 8, &c. Prov. 30.5, 6. Pſ 12.6. 2 Pet, 3.15, 16.Anſ. No certainly, the holy Scriptures are moſt true, perfect and pure, and free from error, though ſome men not rightly underſtanding them, have erred to their own deſtruction.
Queſt. 10. What rules may be obſerved for right underſtanding of the Scriptures?
Anſ. There are divers: And firſt, a competent knowledge in the Originall Languages, and inſpection into the fountains themſelves.
Secondly, Prayer for the aſſiſtance of Gods Spirit, and to reveal truth.
Thirdly, A deniall of ſelf-opinion, and Spirituall pride.
Queſt. 11. What is a fourth Rule?
Anſ. Fourthly, a carefull obſervation of the chief ſcope of the holy Ghoſt,Acts 8.20. Rom. 6.14. Eph. 1.16, &c. 1 Cor. 12.10. Col. 3.6. 1 Cor. 14.31, 32. with the coherence and conſequents of the Text, and of proper and figurative ſpeeches, comparing of obſcure and plain places together.
Fifthly, a having reſpect to the Analogy of Faith, and grounds of Divinity drawn out of Scripture.
Sixthly, a humble ſubmitting of the private Spirits, to the Spirits of the Prophets.
Queſt. 12. What is a ſeventh Rule?
Anſ. To eye the chief Iudge of controverſies, namely, the Spirit of God ſpeaking in the Scriptures, and by conſent of plain places, expounding the harder.
Queſt. 13. What is the principle knowledge to be learned out of the Scriptures?
Anſ. How to attain life Eternall by the true knowledge of God,Ioh. 5.39 & 17.3. Rom. 15.14. and of Ieſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent.
Queſt. 14. What is the ſum of the Scriptures held forth ſince the fall of Adam, to this end, that we may be happy for ever?
Anſ. Firſt, the Goſpel or promiſing part, holding forth Chriſt, and Salvation in Chriſt by Faith.Gen. 3.15. & 17.1. Exo. 20. Mat. 5. Iam. 7.2.
Secondly, The Law or commanding part, manifeſting that life and Rule of life in thankfulneſſe by obedience.
Queſt. 15. Whence hath the holy Scriptures its Authority, to require belief and obedience unto it?
Anſ. From God himſelf, who did write part of it with his own finger,Exod. 31.18. & 32.16. & 35.1. Deut. 9.10. 2 Pet. 1.20, 21. or by himſelf and his own power; and the Prophets, Apoſtles, and Pen-men, were the Pen-men of God the holy Ghoſt, writing the Word of the Lord, and what was directed by his holy Spirit, for Gods glory and the good of his Church.
Queſt. 16. But doth not the Scriptures Authority depend upon the Authority of the Church; and doth not the Churches Teſtimony prove the holy Scriptures to be the Word of God?
Anſ. Certainly although the Scripture may be believed with ſome kinde of Faith to be the Word of God, by the Teſtimony of the Church, eſpecially by men out of the Church, moved by the Churches teſtimony to receive the Scripture as Gods Word, (as holy Auguſtine did:) yet the Authority of the Scriptures depends upon God himſelf, and the Saints are moved to believe it as by the excellency of the Scripture it ſelf; ſo by the teſtimony of the ſpirit, witneſſing unto their conſciences, that it is indeed the very Word of God.
Queſt. 17. How may this be illuſtrated further to us?
Anſ. By that Example of the Samaritans, Iohn 4.they firſt believed on Chriſt for the teſtimony of the woman, who ſaid, Chriſt had told her all things that ever ſhe did. But when they had heard Chriſt,Ibid. now ſay they to the woman, We do not believe on Chriſt for thy ſaying, for we have heard him our ſelves, and know indeed that this is very Chriſt.
So likewiſe at the firſt Auguſtine was, and others may be drawn to believe the ſcriptures by the teſtimony of the Church, but when once the minde is enlightned by the holy Spirit, to ſee the Scriptures excellency,Heb. 4.12. and the power of God in the word, how it is quick and alive, yea, mighty in operation, ſharper then a two edged ſword, piercing even to the dividing aſunder of the ſoul and the ſpirit, and of the joynts and marrow of us, and is a diſcerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart; and that the Spirit of God is in the word,2 Cor. 3.8. and the Goſpel is the Miniſtration of the Spirit: Now the ſoul doth not believe and reſt upon the witneſſe of the Church, for the truth and Authority of the Scripture, but by the power of the Spirit of truth it ſelf: The childe of God ſeeth and knoweth, that the holy Scriptures are the Scriptures of truth,Iohn 16.13. and the very word of God himſelf, and ſo to be believed and obeyed of all that look for Salvation.
Queſt. 18. But is not the Scriptures obſcure, and difficult to be underſtood, and ſo dangerous to be read, eſpecially of ignorant and weak people?
Anſ. The holy Scriptures in reſpect of that Doctrine, the knowledge of which is abſolutely neceſſary to Salvation, is not obſcure, but plain and eaſie, by the aſſiſtance of the Spirit, for every regenerate ſoul to underſtand, (the eyes of whoſe minde is enlightned,Pſa. 119.105.) yea, it is a light to our feet, and a lanthern to our pathes, unto which we ought to give heed,2 Pet. 1.19. as unto a light that ſhineth in a dark place, untill the day dawn, and the day ſtar and glory of the Goſpel ariſe in our hearts. But it is true, it is dark and offenſive to blinde eyes,1 Cor. 1.18. and to all that periſh, as in whom the God of this world hath blinded their mindes,2 Cor. 4.4. l…ſt the light of the glory of God ſhould ſhine unto them; and it is obſcure and difficult to be underſtood in ſome parts, (even to Gods Children, though not alwayes:) Firſt, that the Elect people of God might not truſt to their own wiſdom, for underſtanding of the Scripture;Eph. 1.18, 19. but might be ſtirred up to pray for the help of the Spirit of Chriſt,Luk. 24.45. Eph. 3.16, &c, and that Chriſt might dwell in their hearts by Faith, and open their wills to underſtand, that they may be able to comprehend, with all Saints, what is the height, and length, and depth, and to know the love of God, which paſſeth knowledge, that they may be filled with the fulneſſe of God. Secondly, That the Saints may be ſtirred up to diligent reading, meditation, and ſtudy of the Scriptures, that ſo they may better gain the right underſtanding of places difficult and obſcure. Thirdly, That the Saints may ſee that ſometimes they ſtand in need of an Interpreter;Iob 33.23. Acts 8.30, 31. one of a thouſand to underſtand the Scriptures: As the Eunuch did ſtand in need of Philip; and therefore might be taught to ſee the neceſſity and excellency of the ſpeciall office of Chriſts Miniſters,1 Cor. 4.1, 2. 1 Tim. 5.17. and eſteem of them, and honour them, as the Miniſters of Chriſt, unto whom the Lord in a more ſpeciall manner hath given and communicated by his Spirit, the ſpeciall gift of underſtanding and Interpreting of the Scriptures,1 Cor. 12.28, &c. Mal. 2.7. Nehem. 8.7, 8. 1 Tim. 4.13. 2 Tim. 3.15, 16. and of opening the true ſenſe of the holy Scriptures, to the glory of God, and good of Gods Church; and verely the Scriptures may and ought to be read and ſearched of all ſorts, whoſe hearts God moveth to deſire the knowledge of Chriſt; for it hath been obſerved of old, the Scripture is a Sea wherein the Elephant may ſwim, and the Lamb may go on foot; the greateſt Doctors may finde work to underſtand, and the pooreſt Saint may ſee and feel, and finde comfort.
Queſt. 19. What or how manifold is the ſenſe and meaning to be ſought out in the holy Scriptures for our inſtruction?
Anſ. Howſoever the Scriptures in many places may be applied to our uſe and inſtruction, by Typicall, Tropologicall, Figurative, Analogicall, and Parabolicall Interpretations: Yet notwithſtanding there is but one immediate, literall, genuine, certain ſenſe of a place of Scripture which is the true ſcope and intent of the holy Ghoſt in that place; and this is to be ſought out with all diligence, as being the Grammaticall, Hiſtoricall, or poſitive meaning of the Spirit of God, to be reſted in as the truth of God.
Queſt. 20. But from whence muſt we ſeek the true interpretation of the Soripture?
Anſ. From the Spirit of Chriſt ſpeaking, not in the breaſt of the Pope, falſly challenging to himſelf infallibility of Judgement, and certainty of power to Interpret Scripture: Nor ſpeaking in the breaſt of a private man, who can boaſt of the Spirit, and of ſtrange Revelations, (ſometimes) contrary to the Scriptures. But by the Spirit ſpeaking in the Scriptures, out of the Text and Context of Scriptures, out of the Antecedents, and Conſequents, and ſcope of the holy ghoſt, ſearching Scriptures, and comparing one place of Scripture with another,Ioh. 5.39. waiting on Chriſt in prayer and uſe of other means before mentioned, for a right underſtanding of the ſenſe of the holy Ghoſt, held forth in the ſacred Scriptures for our inſtruction and comfort: for the ſpirit is not given to guide men contrary, but according to the holy Scripture,Gal. 1.8, 9. which are the voyce of the ſpirit of God for our good. And whatſoever ſpirit ſpeaketh contrary to the Scriptures,Iſa. 8.20. cannot be the ſpirit of God.
Queſt. 21. What uſe then is to be made of the holy Scriptures?
Anſ. In all caſes of doubt to ſearch the Scriptures,Ioh. 5.39. 2 Pet. 1.19, 20. and take heed to the ſpirit ſpeaking in the Scriptures, untill the daylight of truth dawn, and day-ſtar of truth ariſe in our ſouls, to ſee truth from falſhood and error.