A Scripture Catechism, Chapter 3
Chap. 3. Of the Holy Scriptures.
Q. BY What Rule muſt we judge of the Doctrines we heare, we muſt we judge by the Scriptures?
A. Yes, Iſai. 8.20. To the Law, and to the Teſtimony: if they ſpeak not according to this word, it is becauſe there is no light in them. Joh. 5.39. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye thinke ye have eternall life, and they are they which teſtify of me. Act. 17.11, 12. Theſe were more noble than thoſe in Theſſalonica, in that they received the word with all readineſſe of mind, and ſearched the Scriptures daily, whether thoſe things were ſo: therefore many of them believed.
Q. Are we to believe God ſpeaking to us in the Scriptures, as if he ſpake to us audibly by a voice from heaven?
A. 2 Pet. 1.19. We have alſo a more ſure word of prophecy, whereunto ye doe well that ye take heed, as unto a light that ſhineth in a darke place, untill the day-dawn, & the dayſtar ariſe in your hearts.
Q. Are we to believe even an Angel from heaven contrary to the Scriptures?
A. Galat. 1.8. But though we, or an Angel from Heaven, preach any other Goſpel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accurſed.
Q. Ought we to believe the Scriptures rather than one who ſhould come from the dead?
A. Luk. 16.27, 28, 29. I pray thee Father, that thou wouldeſt ſend him to my Fathers houſe, that he may teſtify unto them: Abraham ſaith unto him, They have Moſes and the Prophets, let them heare them.
Q. Would it be more effectuall to have our friends riſe from the dead, and warne us, leſt we come to the place of torment, than to have the Scriptures read and applyed?
A. Luk. 16. laſt. And he ſaid unto him, If they heare not Moſes and the Prophets, neither will they be perſwaded though one roſe from the dead.
Q Did the Prophets of old ſpeak and write the Holy Scriptures by any private motion, or by the incitation or inſpiration of the holy Ghoſt?
A. 2 Tim. 3.16. All Scripture is given by inſpiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, &c. 2 Pet. 1.20.21. Knowing this firſt, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God ſpake, as they were moved by the Holy Ghoſt.
Q. Did the Apoſtles of Chriſt preach the word of God, or the word of man?
A. 1 The. 2.13. For this cauſe alſo thank we God without ceaſing, becauſe when ye received the Word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the Word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh alſo in you that believe.
Q. Did our Saviour Chriſt and the Apoſtles allow their Hearers no try their Doctrine by the Holy Scriptures?
A. Yea. Joh. 5.39. Search the Scriptures, for they are they which teſtify of me. Act. 17.11. Theſe were more noble than thoſe in Theſſalonica, in that they received the word with all readines of mind, and ſearched the Scriptures daily, whether thoſe things were ſo.
Q. Did Chriſt and the Apoſtles, who had the greateſt meaſure, and who were full of the Holy Ghoſt, cite Scripture, and prove by Scripture, or appeal conſtantly to private Revelations, or to a light or word within them, or ſay alway, Thus ſayth the Spirit within us?
A. Luk. 10.26. What is written in the Law? how readeſt thou? Mar. 12.29. And as touching the dead, that they riſe, have ye not read in the book of Moſes, how in the buſh God ſpake unto him, ſaying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Iſaack, and the God of Jacob?
Q. Are the Scriptures and the Spirit joyned together, and doth the Spirit of God goe along with the Scriptures?
A. Iſai. 59.21. As for me, this is my Covenant with them, ſayth the Lord, My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, ſhall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy ſeed, nor out of the mouth of thy feeds ſeed, ſaith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever. Joh. 6.63. It is the Spirit that quickneth, the fleſh profiteth nothing: the words that I ſpake unto you, they are Spirit and they are life.
Q. But are the Scriptures able to make us perfect, and wiſe unto Salvation, without attending to viſions and Revelations?
A. 2 Tim. 3.15, 16, 17. And that from a child thou haſt known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wiſe unto Salvation, through Faith, which is in Chriſt Jeſus. All Scripture is given by inſpiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inſtruction in righteouſneſſe, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furniſhed unto all good workes.
Q. Are the Scriptures of the old Teſtament of uſe unto us, now in the dayes of the Goſpell?
A. Rom. 15.4. For whatſoever things were written afore time, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 1 Cor. 10.1, to the 6th. Moreover brethren, I would not that ye ſhould be ignorant, how that all our Fathers were under the cloud, and all paſſed thorow the Sea, &c. Now theſe things were our Examples, to the intent we ſhould not luſt after evill things, as they alſo luſted, &c. So. v. 11. Now all theſe things happened unto them for enſamples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Q. May the common people read the Scriptures.
A. Yea, Joh. 5.39. Search the Scriptures, for they are they which teſtify of me. Act. 17.11. Theſe were more noble than thoſe in Theſſalonica, in that they received the word with all readineſſe of mind, and ſearched the Scriptures daily, whether thoſe things were ſo. Act. 8.30. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the Prophet Eſaias, and ſaid, Underſtandeſt thou what thou readeſt? 2 Tim. 3.15. And that from a child thou haſt known the holy Scriptures. Iſai. 34.16. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read. Deut. 17.18, 19. And it ſhall be when he ſitteth upon the throne of his Kingdome, that he ſhall write him a copy of this Law in a book, out of that which is before the Prieſts, the Levites: And it ſhall be with him, and he ſhall read therein all the dayes of his life, that he may learne to feare the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this Law, and theſe Statutes to doe them.
Q. May the Scriptures be tranſlated out of the Originall languages into thoſe tongues, which the people underſtand?
A. 1 Cor. 14.18, 19, 27, 28. I thank my God, I ſpeak with tongues more than you all: yet in the Church I had rather ſpeak five words with my underſtanding, that by my voice I might teach others alſo, than ten thouſand words in an unknown tongue. If any man ſpeak in an unknown tongue, let one interpret; but if there be no Interpreter, let him keep ſilence in the Church, and let him ſpeake to himſelfe and to God.
Q. May we quote a tranſlation of Scripture?
A. Heb. 10.5, 6, 7. Wherefore, when he cometh into the world, he ſaith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldeſt not, &c, then ſaid I, Lo! I come to doe thy will O God. Which is a paſſage taken out of the 40th Pſal. verſes 6.7, 8. ſecundum Interpret: 70, &c.
Q. Are the Scriptures to be read in the Church?
A. Luk. 4.16. And he came to Nazareth, and as his cuſtome was, he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day, and ſtood up for to read. Act. 15.21. For Moſes of old time hath in every City them that preach him, being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day.
Q. In which book, that of the Creatures, or that of the Scriptures, may we learne to know God beſt?
A. Pſal. 138.2. I will worſhip towards thy Holy Temple, and praiſe thy Name for thy loving kindneſſe, and for thy truth; for thou haſt magnifyed thy Word above all thy name. Pſal. 19.1, 7, 11. The Heavens declare the glory of God, the firmament ſheweth his handy worke: the Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the ſoul; the teſtimony of the Lord is ſure, making wiſe the ſimple: moreover, by them is thy ſervant warned, and in keeping of them there is great reward. Pſal. 119.105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Q. May Nations know any thing of God by his workes or Creatures?
A. Rom. 1.19, 20. Becauſe that which may be known of God is manifeſt in them, for God hath ſhewed it unto them: For the inviſible things of him from the Creation of the world are cleerly ſeen, being underſtood by the things that are made, even his eternall power and God-head, ſo that they are without excuſe.
Q. Is it a ſpeciall bleſſing to have the word of God?
A. Pſal. 147.19, 20. He ſheweth his word unto Jacob, his ſtatutes and his judgments unto Iſrael: He hath not dealt ſo with any Nation, and as for his judgements they have not known them, praiſe ye the Lord.