Capels Remains, Part 1
1. Of the Scriptures.
IN all buildings the maine is to ſettle the Foundation. Firſt of all, next to Chriſt the foundation is laid upon the Prophets and Apoſtles. So Paul, (are built upon the foundation of Eph. 2. 20the Apoſtles and Prophets) meaning the foundation which the Apoſtles and Prophets laid: Laid where? In their doctrinePrelect. 17. p. 140 Joh. 5. 39 contained in their Writings: So Doctor John Rainolds the famous. Hence that of Chriſt, ſearch the Scriptures, for in them ye think to have eternal life. By which place it is put beyond all Queries and Queſtion, that the Scriptures are the foundation of Religion, ſith in them is ſaid, Ye think (and ye think well in it) to have eternal life. So againMat. 22. 29 ye erre (ſaith Chriſt to the Sadd…ces)Act. 18. 28 not knowing the Scriptures. And again, Apollos ſhewed, and convinced the Jewes publickly by the Scriptures, that Jeſus was Chriſt: and once more, all 2 Tim. 3. 16Scripture is given by inſpiration (by the breath of God.) Now by Scripture is meant the Word of God written. Written then, Printed now; (by the way note and grant that written and printed come all to one; written then, printed now) ſo then by Scriptures we meane the Word of God written.
Now here the firſt caſe is, What ground there is that we ſhould ground our ſelves on the Scriptures, ſith for a matter of two thouſand years the Church was without Scripture, and many went to heaven when there was (before Moſes) no Scripture at all, and the Chriſtian Church was beſt and pureſt before the New Teſtament was written at all? This was pleaded in the Councel of Trent to juſtle out the Scriptures, and to place Traditions in the place of the Scriptures. All this ſhould not ſhake and totter the heart of a Chriſtian. Before Moſes the Lord did teach by tradition, without Scripture, and the Church did by the providence of God walk by as certaine rules then, as now. For this they whoTit. of Traditions will may ſee Dr. Abbot againſt Biſhop.
Many Reaſons are given why then the written word was not neceſſary as 'tis now; as that the Church was in families: after it came to be all one Nation over, now over all Nations. As alſo that the Patriarchs then had a ſpirit we have not. Anabaptiſts ſay they have an infallible ſpirit, which Wotton calls (a lewd opinion) yet they ſay this as onelyonly for themſelves But ſure the Patriarchs, and the Church under the Patriarchs, had a certain and infallible rule to walk by, which was to them as the Scriptures are to us Their rule was the Word of God (but not written) ours is the ſame Word of God (but written) It is enough that the Law hath now tied us to the Word of God written. And for the Apoſtles time, the Apoſtles, men immediately inſpired being living, and other infallible men (not Apoſtles) as Mark, Luke, there was no ſuch neceſſity to have the Word of God written, as there was after. Wherefore they did provide for this ere they died, and committed the Word of God to writing, when there ſhould be no ſuch men to conſult with.
Let us then ſit down by the Scriptures, the Word of God written, as the onelyonly ſure card, and rule to guide us in all matters of faith, and life: For if we leave this once, there is nothing but Sea and Aire, no place for this poor Dove, this poore ſoul of ours to reſt her foot; without which, when, and where to ſtay, none can tell.
That then we may not run from opinion to opinion, from Chriſt to Chriſt, from Church to church, till we have run our ſelvs out of all, our onelyonly ſure way is to flie to the Scriptures, to the written VVord of God, as to an Anchour, that ſo we may have hope, if hope, then faith.
Before we go further we muſt take it as cleare, that by Scriptures, Chriſt and his Apoſtles do meane the VVord of God written. Our enquiry is, What written word? Not the Original Copy, for that was in the Ark, and there onelyonly, and not1 King. 8. 9 Heb. 9. 4 to be ſeen of every body, if of any body, but the high Prieſt: and I know nothing but thoſe Tables periſhed with the Temple. Nor can it be, that when he did call upon them to ſearch the Scriptures he did ſend them to the Ark, which then was not. I doubt not but he meant by the Scriptures, the writings of Moſes & the Prophets. Now who can think that Chriſt and his Apoſtles did turn over the Church and people of God to the Scriptures written by Moſes and the Prophets own hands? thoſe were not then extant, nor when extant to be ſeene of every body. What then? when he bade them ſearch the Scriptures, he muſt needes meane ſome tranſcribed Copies, or ſome Tranſlations For Copies in the Hebrew, I doubt me whether the common people did then underſtand the Hebrew, and amongſt the Bereans, who did ſearch the Scriptures, I think it paſt queſtion, that there were many ordinary people, and perhaps Coblers or Taylors, or ſuch, as Dr J. Rainolds ſeems to judg.
If this be granted that thoſe who were commanded to ſearch the Scriptures, and commended for ſearching the Scriptures, did not, could not ſearch the Original Hebrew, what ſhall we think then? No other can be imagined but ſome Tranſlations, which they did underſtand, Syriack, Chaldee, but chiefly the Greek Tranſlation, which the moſt, if not all, underſtood.
But you will ſay, the Tranſlators were ſubject to miſtake, and erre, or worſe, being no Prophets; and if they did underſtand the Hebrew, yet ſith they could not come by the firſt Original Copy, they muſt needs have recourſe to ſome tranſcribed Copies. Whether the Church were to repaire to Tranſlations, or to tranſcribed Copies, all comes to one, ſith neither Tranſcribers nor Tranſlators were Prophets. Very good men let them be, yet men they were, and ſubject to errour. May I ſpeake my Opinion, I think when Chriſt ſaid ſearch the Scriptures, he meant the Sc iptures tranſlated into Greek, and by Scriptures, the Apoſtles meant the Greek Tranſlation, which tongue, if not in Chriſts time, yet in the Apoſtles times in a manner all did underſtand. VVherefore when the Apoſtle ſaith (is given by inſpiration, and is profitable) he meanes it is profitable to be read, or heard read in the Greek Tranſlation. And the rather am I of this minde, becauſe Schollars do know that the New Teſtament doth cite the places out of the Old Teſtament according to the Greek Tranſlation, and moſt an end are very punctual in it. However, whither we look on Tranſlations, or Tranſcriptions, ſith the firſt Table written by God himſelfe was loſt with the Temple, and the Original Greek Copy of the Tranſlation of the Old Teſtament was, the Learned think, (and I think they think well in it) burned by Julius Coeſars Army, when they fired Alexandria, and the famous Library there.
The Epheſians were built on the Prophets and Apoſtles; the Apoſtles they had with them, but the Prophets were dead and gone; Malachi was the laſt; the Apoſtles they might conſult with and they had their writings, but for the writings of the Prophets, the Epheſians being Gentiles (I take it for granted) underſtood not the Hebrew, at leaſt the body of them, but being Grecians, they might and did underſtand the Greek tranſlation, which I doubt not was purer then, then it is now: yet then being but a tranſlation, and the Original it ſelf but carried up and down in tranſcribed Copies, it is conſented unto by all parties, that the Tranſlators and Tranſcribers might erre, being not Prophets, nor indued with Nullos alios libros Canonicos babemus five veteris five Novi Teſtamentiquam quos Apoſtoli probaverunt atque Eccleſi…e tradiderunt. Can. l. 2. cap. 7that infallible ſpirit in tranſlating, or tranſcribing, as Moſes and the Prophets were in their Original writings.
The tentation lies on this ſide, how the Epheſians then, and much more ſith there are no Prophets, no Apoſtles, no nor any infallible ſpirits in the Church, how can we build on the foundation of the Prophets and Apoſtles now, ſith the Scriptures in their tranſlated Copies are not free from all poſſible corruptions, in the Copies we have either by tranſcribers or tranſlators
Beſides, many are unlearned, and cannot read a Letter. For theſe laſt, though they cannot read, yet they can hear it read to them. Do not we ſee many blinde men in Schooles come to great learning by hearing others read Philoſophy, and Divinity, and the body of other Arts & Sciences to them? & ſo it is with the Scriptures, they cannot read them, but they can hear them read & preached by others.
Dr. Jackſon in his firſt book of his Commentaries on the Creed, and Mr. John Goodwin in a ſet and large Treatiſe to juſtifie the authority of the Scriptures, have ſhewed much learning, and taken great paines in this Argument. But like two Elephants, they both ſwimme ſo deep, that the benefit and comfort of it can reach but to a few, we muſt fight lower and in a briefer way (leaſt we weary the Reader and charge the Printer) and ſet down the brief of the matter in it, ſo that common people, and men of ordinary braines, (who are moſt ſubject to Tentation) may find a way to ſpell out the right of this, how faith can be had, and the ſoule built on the foundation of the Prophets and Apoſtles, ſith this foundation was in their Writings, and their Writings are under no other notion to any, but either the Original tranſcribed or tranſlated.
Take it either way, it is done by ordinary men, not by Prophets or ▪ poſtles, and ſo ſubject to miſtake, inſomuch that Cajetan was wont to ſay, That to believe tranſlations of the Scripture was not to beleeve the Word of God, but the words of men: Yet the Papiſt is more to ſeek then the Proteſtant; for the Papiſt hath no Tranſlation to compare as we have: moſt of them allow, no not Schollars to correct their tranſlations, as we all do. The Papiſt doth allow no tranſlation to be read in Churches, no nor in Houſes (but under caution) but the Latine; none in the mothertongue, which all the people underſtand. And therefore they are to take up their faith on the credit of the Prieſt, and he many times little wiſer then a foole, little better then a ſon of Belial.
Hiſt. of Trent. p. 155.Cajetan did much rely on the words of Hierome, who ſaid, That to propheſie and write holy Books proceeded from the Holy Ghoſt, but to tranſlate them into another tongue was a work of humane skill. Nay, for the Originals themſelves Wotton is bold to Print, That no man can tell what the ſignification of the Hebrew and Greek Word is, even in the Bible, but by the report of man; And another as learned as he tells us, That we can know further that that is the Hebrew tongue, or Greek tongue, wherein the Old and New Teſtaments are in the Originals, but by the credit of men, who tell us ſo.
In the Councel of Trent, there were many great wits, and men of great learning too, who did toſſe this Argument up and down about Tranſlations, and when they had done, left it little better then they found it. Upon theſe grounds the third of the Popiſh Articles, (paſſing under the name of Wrights Articles) in termes is thus. All Proteſtants who are ignorant of the Greek and Latine Tongues are Infidels: and why? becauſe (forſooth) he relies upon the Miniſters, who may and do erre. The ſecond Article is, That all learned Proteſtants are Infidels; ſo that by his ſentence, all Proteſtants, learned and unlearned are Infidels, becauſe they relie on a private ſpirit. Thus with him and the reſt of that Tribe, all Proteſtants are damned. All this is to take us off from the Scriptures, and to caſt us, and our conſciences on the authority of the Church.
We liſt not to diſpute with them about the Infallibility of that which they call their Church. For I doubt not but that the learned among them do not themſelves beleeve what themſelves do write. But our work lies not in that road. We grant what they would have as touching the Church by way of Miniſtry; but for that which they call the Churches Authority, we know not any ſuch authority, the Church as Church, 2 Cor. 1. …being not a Domination, but a Miniſtration.
But that we may not leave any rubb in the conſciences of the weak, as touching the authority of the Scriptures, as touching the Originals and Tranſlations, we will ſhut up all in brief.
For the Originals, though we have not the Primitive Copies written by the finger of God in the Tables, or by Moſes and the Prophets in the Hebrew, or by the Apoſtles, and the reſt in the Greek for the New Teſtament, yet we have Copies in both languages, which Copies vary not from the Primitive writings in any matter which may ſtumble any. This concernes onelyonly the learned, and they know that by conſent of all parties, the moſt learned on all ſides amongſt Chriſtians do ſhake hands in this, that God by his providence hath preſerved them uncorrupt.
What if there be variety of readings in ſome Copies? and ſome miſtakes in writing or Printing? this makes nothing againſt our doctrine, ſith for all this the fountaine runs clear, and if the fountain be not clear all tranſlations muſt needs be muddie.
Beſides, 'tis a ſaying of a wiſe Philoſopher, That, what ſome ſay is like to be falſe, what many ſay, may be falſe; But what all ſay is more then like to be true. Now Chriſtians of all parties do agree, as touching the Originals that they are kept pure: OnelyOnly ſome of and among the Papiſts, paſſionate men do bite at the Originals; but herein they do but bl…t their own vulgar tranſlation, ſith they confeſſe it to be drawn out of the Originals. I confeſſe ſome men by their picking quarrels with the Originals, as a matter whereof they talk, as though there were no certainty of faith as touching them, have troubled the ſpirits of ſome men with a thorny tentation, which my b…ſineſſe is to do what I can to remove, which I now endeavour to do as briefly as I can.
The foundation I firſt lay is, That we may have a certainty moral of things whereof we have no evidence: which is ſufficient to ſettle us in an acquired faith, free from all feare, and material doubt of the contrary. We beleeve without making any queſtion of it, thatScot. prole. Sent. q. 2. quart. there is ſuch a place as Rome, though we never ſaw it, that ſuch a man is our father, ſuch a woman our mother, and we out of conſcience do duties to them, albeit we have no evident certainty of it, but by belief that ſuch a Prince is true heir to a Crown, and out of conſcience we do performe obedience, and yet we can have Howard. p: 37.no more certainty of this but moral: For who hath or can have an evidence of this, that ſuch an heire is the true begotten of ſuch a King.
It's agreed on by almoſt all Divines of all ſides, that if one of the Propoſitions be in the Scripture, and the other be but a moral certainty which leaves no dubitation behinde it, the concluſion bindes the conſcience. As thus, every childe is bound in conſcience to honour his Parents (this is an act of faith grounded on the Scripture) ſuch or ſuch a man is my father, this is but a moral certainty, yet hence it followes, that in conſcience I ſtand bound, in conſcience to honour ſuch a man as my Father. And that he is my Father, all the certainty I can have is but moral, built on the credit of my mother. If theſe reaſonings were not firme, it would deſtroy all Policy and Order in this life, nor could Gods Law to honour father and mother binde the conſcience, nor can a man tell that he was baptized in his youth but by ſuch Teſtimonies as theſe.
De conciliis l. 2. 0. 9.Therefore I like that of Bellarmine, who ſtands upon it, that of ſuch like things a certainty may be had from the teſtimonies of men, in ſome ſort▪ comparable to natural evidence it ſelf, for that it leaves no ſcruple or dubitation in our minds: But what of all this? Why it ſhewes that the general conſent of (in a manner) all Hebricians and Grecians in the Chriſtian world, conſenting that our Originals are by the good hand of God preſerved uncorrupt, and pure, is a ſufficient perſwaſion, to breed a moral certainty anſwerable to natural evidence, excluding all reaſonable dubitation to the contrary.
That the Originals were for the proviſion and food of the ſoules of his Church kept pure and uncorrupt by the Prophets and Jewes for the old; by the Apoſtles and Chriſtian Churches for the New Teſtament,Scot l. 1. D. 26. contra iſtam. ſealed up by St. John the Secretary of Chriſt, as Scotus calls him. Elſe the Lord muſt have been wanting to his Church, which cannot be imagined. And that acquired faith makes way for infuſed faith to act I have Lib. 3. D 34. q. 1. ad queſtionem.learned long ſince out of Scotus.
Thus the caſe ſtands. The Originals are to be received and believed. That the Hebrew and Greek are the true Originals we believe by humane teſtimonies, which leave the mind without perplexitie, without all doubting, and ſo it follows, that by mans teſtimonie the Originals are to be received, and believed by us, ſo that the heart ſtands free from any true cauſe of any doubting at all, which being equivalent to the higheſt certainty that is, it cannot but lay a foundation to build our faith upon, this certainty being a meanes by which we come to the other of the Scriptures, being the laſt ground on which we build our faith; we are not to look for demonſtrations in arguments of this nature. It's a fooliſh thing to expect from a Mathematician to deale by perſwaſion: his Art lies in evident and ocular demonſtration. Now 'tis as abſurd to expect demonſtration from an Orator or Moraliſt; his buſineſſe lies in perſwaſion. But yet in our point in hand, our perſwaſions muſt be grounded on ſuch moral certainty as is to us without queſtion, and without feare of the contrary. It is a piece of wiſe counſel of Ariſtotle, That it is Eth. l. 1. c. 3the wiſdome of a learned man ſo farre forth to ſeek after proofs of truth in any matter as the nature of the ſubject matter will beare. And it is agreed upon, that in all learning, in the higheſt ſcience of all, the principles are proving, but not proved: For that which is the firſt cannot be proved by any thing before it; elſe the firſt were not the firſt; as the firſt mover is never moved And in all Inferiour Sciences, the firſt principles of that Science, muſt be proved in an higher Schoole. Now the firſt principle in the School of Chriſt is the Scriptures, which being the firſt is to prove, not to be proved but in an higher School the Schoole of heaven, by evidences unprovable, and unreprovable evidences taken from the Prover, and Spirit of God. Of which hereafter.