Body of Divinity — Edward Leigh

Body of Divinity · Edward Leigh

CHAP. VIII. Of the Properties of the Scripture.

THe properties which the Scripture must have for the former end, are these:

It is,

1. Of Divine Authority.

2. True and Certain.

3. The rule of Faith and Manners.

4. Necess…ry.

5. Pure and Holy.

6. Sufficient and Perfect.

7. Perspicuous and Plain.

1. Its of Divine Authority, dDivinae autoritas Scriptur… est Infallibilis veritas in verbis & sensibus, ob quam omnes fidem ei & ob… dientiam debent. Altingius. Exod. 32. 16. 2 Tim. 3. 16. 2 Pet. 1. 21. Heb. 11. Joh. 12. 14. 26.we must believe it for its own sake. It is Divine.

1. In its Efficient cause and Original, which is God the Father dictating, in his Son declaring and publishing, by his holy Spirit confirming and sealing it in the hearts of the faithful. He wrote the Decalogue immediately with his own finger, and commanded the whole Systeme, and all the parts of Scripture, to be written by his servants the Prophets and Apostles, as the publique Actuaries and Pen-men thereof; therefore the authority of the Scripture is as great as that of the Holy Ghost, eDivina auctoritas suam trahit originem una ex parte ex immediato Spiritus S. afflat…, & ex alterâ ex sublimitate rerum quas exponit. Waltherus in officina Biblica.who did dictate both the matter and words: Those speeches are frequent, The Lord said, and, The mouth of the Lord hath spoken.

2. In the subject matter, which is truth according to godliness, certain, powerful, of venerable antiquity, joyned with a sensible demonstration of the Spirit, and Divine presence, and with many other things attesting its Divine Authority.

Whence it follows, that the Authority of the Holy Scriptures is

1. Infallible, fMat. 5. 18. Scriptura est foreign Fide digna, & propter se cr… denda, quia foreign est, Divinitus inspirara. Hic illud Pythagoricum valet foreign. We must take heed of believing Scripture to be the word of God, because there is the greatest reason for it, but for its divine Authority. Matth. 24. 35▪which expresseth the minde and will of God, to whom truth is essential and necessary.

2. Supreme and Independent into which at last all faith is resolved, from which it is not lawful to appeal.

By which singular authority the Scripture is distinguished, both from all prophane and Sacred writings, and Paul honors it with this Elogie, A faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, 1 Tim. 1. 15. A more sure word, 2 Pet. 1. 19. the Comparative for the Superlative, in which there is no doubting and uncertainty, but all things firm.

As God is Iehovah of himself, so is his word Authoritative of it self, and is true and to be obeyed, whether thou think it Scripture or no. There is no higher authority for thee to appeal to, it is above opinions of men, conscience, and therefore it must determine all controversies.

2. It is true gThe material parts of Scripture are true Historical narrations, all the Histories ther… related, are undoubtedly true, that of the Creation, fall, of Christ. …. Threatnings the eternal torments in hell are sure as if thou wast already in them. 3. Promises, the Scripture calls them the sure mercies of David. 4. Predictions and Prophesies, in Daniel, Revelation, as the downfall of Antichrist, they speak therefore of things to come in the present tense, to note thereby the certainty of the accomplishment, Isa. 9. 6. Apoc. 18. 2. Veritas est conformitas rei cum Arche…ypo. that is a great excellency of the word of God, to be the word of truth, Ephes. 1. 1…. Iames 1. 18. Acts 26. 27. it is so called, …. In opposition to the shadows and types in the Law▪ 1 Iohn 17. 2. By way of exclusion of all falshood, i… comes from the God of truth. 3. It contains all needful and transcendent truths.and certain, verity is affirmed of the Scriptures primarily, interternally, and by reason of it self, which is called the truth of the object; which is an absolute and most perfect agreement of all things delivered in the Scripture, with the first truth or divine will, of which the Scripture is a symbole and lively image, so that all things are delivered in it as the Holy Ghost hath dictated, whence those honorable Titles are given to it, the Scripture is called A sure word, 2 Pet. 1. 19. Psal. 19. 7. The Scripture of truth, Dan. 10. ult. words of truth, Eccles. 1…. 10▪ Yea, truth it self, Iohn 17. 17. having the God of truth for the Author, Christ Jesus the truth for the witness, the Spirit of truth for the Composer of it, and it worketh truth in the hearts of those which hear it, 2 Pet. 2. 2. The Apostle prefers the Scripture, before the revelation made by Angels, Gal. 1. 8. Christ commend… the certainty of it above all other sorts of revelation, 1 Pet. 1. 19. above information from the dead, Luke 16. 31.

The word of God is not onelyonly true, but eminently true, truth it self, Prim… veritas, and pura hEgo in hu…usmodi quorumlibet …ominum scripti… liber sum quia solis …anonicis scripturis debeo fine ul…a recusatione consensum. August. de natura & gratia. c. 6. The essential form of the word is truth informing the whole and every part, all divine truth is there set down.veritas.

The Scripture hath a twofold truth:

1. Of assection, it containeth no error.

2. Of promise, there is no unfaithfulness in it.

The first truth refer▪ to the matter which is signified, properly called Truth o… Verity.

The second refers to the in…ention of the Speaker, which is properly called veracity or fidelity, the latter is implyed, Psal. 19. Thy Testimonies are sure, and so th… sure mercies of David; the former is implyed, in that the word is purer then gold seven times refined.

There are two signs of truth in the Scripture:

1. The particularity of it, it names particulars in geneolagies, dolosus versat…r in generalibus.

2. Impartiality toward friends and their adversaries; the most holy men have their faults described, they give due commendation to their adversaries.

The truth of Scripture is, 1. More then any humane truth of sense or reason. 2. Above all natural reason; as the Doctrine of the Trinity, the …ncarnation of Christ, Justification by faith in Christ. 3. A truth which evidenceth it self. 4. The standard of all truth, nothing is true in Doctrine or Worship, which is not agreeable to this.

3. The Scripture is the rule of faith and manners. It is termed Canonical generally by the Fathers of the word Canon, iScripturae Sancta appellatur Canonica, & to…um ejus. corpus Canon. Rationem nominis aut omnes, aut ferè omnes esse testantur, quia …it regula fidei. Chamierus. The Scripture is therefore called canonical, because it prescribes a rule of our faith and life, Phil. 3. 16. Gal. 6. 16. Tertullianus appellat Scripturam regulam veritatis. Augustinus de doctrina Christiana l. 2. c. 8. ait in Scripturis inveniri omnia quae continen… fidem mores que vivendi.which signi…ieth a rule, because it contains a worthy rule of Religion, faith and godliness, according whereunto the building of the house of God must be fitted.

These properties (saith Suarez) are required in a rule. 1. That it be known and easie, the Scripture is a light. 2. That it be first in its kinde, and …o the measure of all the rest. 3. It must be inflexible. 4. Universal.

1. It is a perfect rule of faith and obedience, able to instruct us sufficiently in all points of faith or doctrinals, which we are bound to believe, and all good duties or practicals, which we are bound to practise. Whatsoever is needful to believe or to do to please God, and save our souls, is to be found here; whatsoever is not here found, is not needful to beleive and practise for felicity.

Christ proveth the resurrection of the dead, being an Article of our faith against the Sadduces, Mat. 22. 32. and the use of the Sabbath being a rule of life against the Pharisees, by an inference made from the Scripture, Mat. 12. 7.

The heads of the Creed and Decalogue, are plainly laid down in Scripture, therefore there we have a perfect rule of faith and manners.

It is a rule, 1. For Faith. Ierome in his controversie with Helvidius saith, Credimus Advers. Helvid. cap. 9. Sacra Scripturae regula credendi certissima tutissimaque est. Bellarm. de verbo Dei l 1. c. 2.quia legimus, non credimus quia non legimus. We believe because we read, we do not believe because we do not read. Christ often saith, Have ye not read, is it not written, what is written in the Law? Luke 10. 26. Faith and the word of God must run parallel. This we first believe, when we do kHoc primum credimus, cum credimu…, quod nihil ultra credere debemus See Mr. Anthony Bur… on Mark 1. 2, 3. Deut. 5. 29. Isa. 8. 20.believe (saith Tertullian) that we ought to believe nothing beyond Scripture. When we say all matters of Doctrine and Faith are contained in the Scripture, we understand as the Ancient Fathers did, not that all things are literally and verbally contained in the Sripture, but that all are either expressed therein, or by necessary consequence may be drawn from thence. All controversies about Religion are to be decided by the Scripture, Deut. 12. 32. and 4. 2. Iosh. 1. 7. Franciscus de Salis a Popish Bishop, saith, The Gospel was honored so much, that it was brought into the Councel, and set in the midst of them, and to determine matters of faith, as if Christ had been there.

Erasmus in his Epistles, tells us of a Dominican, that when in the Schools any man refuted his conclusion, by shewing it contrary to the words of Scripture, he would cry out, Ista est argumentatio Lutherana, protestor me non responsurum, This is a Lutheran way of arguing, I protest I will not answer to it.

2. It is a perfect rule for our lives and practice Psal. 19. 11. and lVerba Scripturae non sun… legenda sed vivenda. Doctrinae sa…itas servatur confirmando verum, refellendo …alsum, vitae sanctimionia fugiendo malum, saciendo bonum. Satis habet Scriptura quo veritatem doceat, errorent redarguat, iniquitatem corrigat, instituat ad justiciam. Nec haec…tiliter praestat solummodo quae sophistarum cavillatio, sed etiam sufficienter, nempe ut perfectus …it homo &c. Rainoldus.Psal. 119. 9. In Scriptures there are delivered remedies against all vices, and means are there laid down for the attaining of all vertues. We must follow the Scriptures exactly, and not swerve to the right hand or left; a metaphor taken from a way or rule, saith Chamier. When Linacer a learned English man, heard the beginning of the 5 of Matthew read, Blessed are the poor in spirit, &c. he broke forth into these words, Either these sayings are not Christs, or we are not Christians.

1. It is a perfect, not a partial and insufficient rule, as the Papists make it: As God is a perfect God, so his word is a perfect word; if it be but a partial rule, then it doth not perfectly direct, and he that should perfectly do the will of God revealed in Scripture, should not yet be perfect. Secondly, if the Scripture be a partial rule, then men are bound to be wise above that which is written; that is, above the Law and Gospel. Regula fidei debet esse adaequata fidei, aut regula non erit. Whitakerus.

1. All addition and detraction are forbidden to be made by any man to the word, Deut. 4. 2. and 12. 32. Deut. 5. 32. Gal. 1. 8.

2. The Scripture is said to be perfect, to beget heavenly and saving wisdom, Psal. 19. 8. 2 Tim. 3. 15, 16, 17.

3. Men in the matter of Faith mDeut. 17. 18. Isa. 8. 20. Luke 16. 29. Acts 24. 14. Christians shall be judged by that hereafter, Iohn 12. 48. 2 Thess. 1. 8.and Religion are sent to the Scripture onelyonly.

2. The Scripture is an infallible rule, Luke 1. 4. of which thou hast had a full assent. Regula rectè definitur mensura infallibilis quae nullam vel additionem vel detractionem patitur.

3. It is a just rule.

Lastly, It is an universal and perpetual rule, both in regard of time and person; ever since the Scripture hath been, it hath been the onelyonly rule: in the Old Testament, to the Law and the Testimony; in the New, they confirmed all things by the Old, it directs in every case. 2. To all persons, this is able to make a Minister, yea, a Councel, a Church wise to salvation; to reform a yong man whose lusts a…e unbridled, Psal. 119. 9. to order a King, Deut. nIudaei docen… exhoc loco te…eri regem sua ma… sibi legem describere, etiamsi aliàs cum privatus esset, descrip…isset Chamierus Regula fidei est quasi causa exemplaris fidei, quam videlicet fides in omnibus sequi, & cui se conformare debet. Formale objectum …idei est Causa objectiva fidei, seu est principium propter quod fotmaliter & principaliter credimus. Baron. contra Turnebul. Nos discamus ex verbo non tantum sapere, sed etiam loqui. Be … Epist. 7. David, Psa. 119 desires, that all his counsels, thoughts, manners, actions, might be directed according to Gods word. The Scriptures contain, 1. A necessary doctrine, viz. Of the Law and Gospel, Mat. 22 37. Iohn 13. 16. without which we cannot be saved, Rom. 7. 7. It is 2. Necessary in respect of the efficient cause, Of the Form, Matth. 22. 29. 4. The end Iohn 20. 31.17. 29, 30.

Object. Faith was before the Scripture, therefore the Scripture is not the rule of Faith.

Answ. The word of God is twofold. 1. Revealed, that preceded faith. 2. Written, that did not.

Though it be a rule, yet first, it doth not exclude other Ministerial helps, as Prayer, Preaching, the knowledge of the Tongues, and the Ministery of the Church, these are means to use the rule, and subordinate to it, we need no more rules: Therefore it is a vain and absurd question of the Papists, Let a man be lockt up in a study with a Bible, what good will he get by it if he cannot read?

2. There must be reason and judgement to make use of it, and apply it: Iudge What I say, saith Paul, 1 Cor. 10. 15.

The Scripture should rule our hearts, thoughts, and inward cogitations, our words and actions; we should pray, hear, receive the Sacrament according to the directions of it, buy, sell, cloathe our selves, and carry our selves toward all, as that bids us, 2 Sam. 22. 23. the people of God wrote after this copy, followed this rule, Psal. 119. 5, 59, 111. because they desired in all which they did to please God (now God is pleased when his own will is done) and to glorifie him in their lives, and therefore they framed themselves according to his statutes. We cannot better express an high esteem of God and his excellencies, then by following him in all things. Every one esteems that person most excellent, to whom he gives up himself most to be ruled and ordered.

The Scripture is necessary.

In respect of the substance thereof it was always necessary; in respect of the manner of revealing it is necessary, since the time that it pleased God after that manner to deliver his word, and shall be to the worlds end. It is not then absolutely and simply necessary, that the word of God should be delivered to u… in writing, but onelyonly conditionally, and upon supposition. God for a long time, for the space of 2400 years, unto the time of Moses, did instruct his Church with an immediate living voyce▪ and had he pleased still to go on in that way, there had been no necessity of Scripture now, more then in that age; there was a continual presence of God with them, but now there is a perpetual absence in that way; and the word of God was written.

1. For the brevity of mans life. See the 5 & the 11 Chapters of Genesis. The Patriarchs were long lived before and after the flood, to the times of Moses; they lived some centuries of years, therefore afterward the purity of the word could not fitly be preserved without writing. By writing we have the comfort of the holy word of God, which from writing receiveth his denomination, in being called Scripture, which is nothing else but Writing oWriting doth a larger good to a greater number and for a longer time then speaking, Psal. 102 19. vox audita perit, litera scripta manet. To shew how much a more faithful keeper record is, then report, those few miracles of our Saviour which were written, are preserved and believed; those infinitely more that were not written, are all lost and vanished out of the memory of men..

2. That the Church might have a certain and true rule and Canon, whereby it might judge of all questions, doubts and controversies of Religion, Luke 1. 4. Every mans opinion else would have been a Bible, and every mans lust a Law.

3. That the faith of men in Christ which was to come, might the better be confirmed, when they should see that written before their eyes, which was done by the M…ssias, and see all things that were foretold of him, verified in the event.

4. That the purity of Gods worship might be preserved from corruption, and the truth propagated among all Nations.

5. To take off excuses from men, that they did not know, Rom. 10. 18. Civil Laws are written and published that offenders may be inexcusable.

The Pen-men had a command from God. 1. A publike and outward command, as Ieremie 30. 2. and 36. 2. Moses, Exod. 17. 14. and 34. 17. and Iohn was commanded twelve times in the Revelation to write, Rev. 1. 11. and 2. 1. 8. 12, 18. and 3. Ch. 1. 7. and 14. and 14. 13. and 19. v. 9. & 21. 5. 2. an inward command by private inspiration and instinct, 2 Pet, 1. 21.

5. The Scripture is Pure and Holy, it commands all good, and forbids, reproves, and condemns all sin and pAmong the Turks Polygamy is lawful, Theft was permitted among the Spartans.filthiness; it restrains not onelyonly from evil words and actions, but thoughts, glances. Those are frequent adjuncts of the word of …od, holy, pure, and clean, Psal. 12. 6. and 18. 31. and 119. 40. Prov. 30. 5. It is pure in its narrations, it speaks purely of things evil and unclean.

It is termed holy, qLiterae sacrae dicuntur foreign scripturae ut non solùm à saecularihus & pro…anis lit…ris. sed etiam a quibuscunque, quae de sacris rebus agunt discerna… tur.Rom. 1. 2. and 2 Tim. 3. 15. 1. From its efficient principal cause, God who is the holy of holies, holiness it self, Isa. 6. 3. Dan. 9. 24, he is the author and inditer of it, Luke 1. 67. 2. In regard of the instrumental cause, the Pen-men of it were holy men, 2 Pet 1. 21. Prophets and Apostles. 3. From its matter, the holy will of God, Acts 20. 27. the Scripture contains holy and Divine Mysteries, holy precepts of life, holy promises, Psal. 105. 42. holy Histories. 4. From its end or effect, the holy Ghost by the reading and meditation of the Scripture sanctifieth us, Iohn 17. 17. it sanctifieth likewise all the creatures to our use, so as we may use them with a good conscience, 1 Tim. 4. 5.

From the purity rMahomet said his doctrine came from God, but the blasphemy and villany therein contained, sheweth it came from Satan, whereas the purity and▪ perfection of the doctrine contained in the Scripture, sheweth that it is from above. Mahomet puts in some ingredients of the flesh, gives them liberty to revenge themselves, and to have as many wives as they would. There is in the Precepts of Philosophers, little condemning of fornication, and of the desire of revenge.of it, the Scripture is compared to a glass, Iames 1. 23. to fire, Ier. 23. 29. to light, Psal. 119. 105. The reason of it is, because God himself is pure, most pure, Psal. 92. ult. Hab. 1. 13.

It is pure. 1. Subjectively in it self, there is no mixture of falshood or error, no corruption or unsoundness at all in it, Psal. 12. 6. Prov. 8. 6, 7, 8. 2. Effectively, so as to make others pure, Iohn 15, 3. It begets grace, Iames 1. 18. 1 Pet. 1. 23. and preserves and increaseth it. Acts 20. 32. Ephes. 4. 11, 12.

The assertory part is pure; what it affirms to be, is; and what it denies to be, is not; Psal. 19. 7. and 93. 5. Iames 1. 18. 2. What it promiseth shall be performed, and what it threatneth shall be executed, Numb. 23. 19. 1 Sam. …. 30. Zach, 1. 6. 3 What it commandeth is good, and what it forbiddeth is evil. Deut. 4. 8. Psal. 119. 108. and 19. 8, 9. Rom. 7. 12.

In other Books some truth is taught, some good commmended, some kinde orD^r Featleys Preface to Newmans Concordance. part of happiness promised: But in the inspired Oracles of God, all truth is taught, all goodness commanded, all happiness promised; nay, we may invert the words with Hugo de sancto victore, and say, Quicquid ibi docetur est veritas, quicquid pr… cipitur bonitas, quicquid promit…itur felicitas. All that is there taught is truth, all that is there commanded is goodnesse, all that is there promised is happinesse.

It is a wonderful thing, that all the particulars which the Canticles contain, being taken from marriage, sThe General view of the holy Scriptu…es Notatur verecunda & casta scriptur… loquutio ex genere per Synecdochen, designantis specialem congressum, sic 1 Cor. 7. 1. Non est bonum tangere & Gen. 6. 2. ingredi ad filias hominum. Quo major est spurcities eorum, qui ex sacris scripturae loquendi formulis ansam arripiunt sermonis impuri Cartw. in Harm. Evang. in Matth. 1. 18. Quidam Hebraeorum linguam Hebraeam, linguam sanctam dici putant, eò quod nulla propria vocabula in ea inveniantur, quibus pudenda utriusque sexus Egestio, aliaque obs… …na significantur, Paulus Fagius Annotat. in Deut. 25. 11.are handled so sincerely, that no blemish or spot can be found therein.

Therefore the Scriptures should be preached, read and heard with holy tSancta sanctè M^r Gregory in his preface to observations upon some passages of Scriture.affections, and should be reverently mentioned.

The Jews in their Synagogues will not touch the Bible with unwashed hands, they kiss it as often as they open and shut it, they sit not on that seat where it is laid, and if it fall on the ground, they fast for a whole day. The Turk writes upon the outside of his Alcorar, Let no man touch this Book, but he that is pure: I would none might meddle with ours (Alcoran signifieth but the Scripture, you need not be afraid of the word) but such as indeed are, what other men do but think themselves.

6. The Scripture is Perfect uLuke 16. 29. Iohn 5. 39. Psal. 19. and 119..

The perfection of the Scripture is considered two ways:

1. In respect of the matter or the Books in which the holy doctrine was written,Augustinus affirmat, omniaquae contin…t fidem & mores, in illis inveniri, quae apertè posita sunt in scriptura. Chrysostomus manifesta itidem in divinis Scripturis esse perhibet, quaecunque necessaria. Tertullianus adorat Scripturae plenitudinem, Et vae denunciat Hermogeni si quid iis quae scripta sunt vel detra…t▪ vel adiiciat. Rainoldus 1 Thesi. Deut. 4. 2. and 12. 32. all which (as many as are useful to our salvation) have been kept inviolable in the Church, so that out of them one most perfect and absolute Canon of faith and life was made, and this may be called the integrity of the Scripture.

2. In respect of the form, viz. Of the sense or meaning of these Canonical Books, or of Divine truth comprehended in them, which Books contain most fully and perfectly the whole tru…h necessary and sufficient for the salvation of the Elect, and therefore the Scriptures are to be esteemed a sole adequate, total and perfect measure and rule both of faith and manners, and this is the sufficiency of the Scriptures, which is attributed to it in a twofold respect.

1. Absolutely in it self, and that in a threefold consideration. 1. Of the principle; for every principle, whether of a thing or of knowledge, ought to beDe Scripturae plenitudine & perfectione, qu… sentiat Maldonatus, vide ad Joan. 7. 4. De Scripturae integritate vide Estium ad Galat. 3. 10. See Bishop Ushers Body of Divinity▪ p. 18▪ 19. 20, 21. 2 Tim. 3. 16, 17. John 15. 15. Acts 20. 27. Be…e habet, ut iis quae sunt Scripta, contentus si…, Hilary? perfect, since demonstration and true conclusions are not deduced from that which is imperfect, therefore it is necessary that the holy Scripture, being the first onelyonly immediate principle of all true doctrine, should be most perfect.

2. Of the subject, for it hath all Essential parts, matter and form, and integral, Law and Gospel, and is wholly perfect: Both

1. Absolutely, because for the substance, it either expresly or Analogically contains the doctrine concerning faith and manners, which is communicable and profitable for us to know; which may be proved also by induction, that all necessary opinions of faith, or precepts of life, are to be found in the holy Sc…ipture.

2. Relatively, because as it hath a perfection of the whole, so of the parts in theIn every age there was revealed that which was sufficient to salvation, and yet now no more then is sufficient; the Word it self is not now, but the revelation only is more perfect. The Old Testament was sufficient for the Jews, but both the New and Old make but one compleat body for the Church now. Sing…li libri s…t sufficientes sufficientia p…rtium ad quam ordinatio sunt; … …rò s…rip…ur… est sufficiens essentiali sufficientia per …i bros singulos su…. Iun. Animad. … Bellarm Con…r…. P…tmae, c…pi… quarto. whole; that perfection is called essential, this quantitative. For all the Books are sufficient with an essential perfection, although integrally they have not a sufficiency of the whole, but onelyonly their own, yet so that at distinct times every part sufficed for their times; but all the parts in the whole are but sufficient for us.

3. In its effect and operation it makes men perfect, 2 Tim. 3. 16, 17. Rom. 15. 4. Iohn 2. ult. & 5. 39.

2. As opposed to unwritten. Traditions, all which it excludes by its sufficiency; but we do not understand by Traditions generally a Doctrine delivered in Word and Writing; but specially all Doctrine not written by Prophets or Apostles, whether Dogmatical. Historical or Ceremonial; for a perfect reason of the primary opinions belonging to Faith and Manners, is delivered in Scripture; and those things which are out of, beside, or against the Scripture, do not binde the Conscience. 2. Historical, the Sayings and Deeds of Christ and the Apostles, are perfectly contained in the Scriptures, as many as suffice us for our salvation, Iohn 20. 30, 31. Those things which are delivered out of Scripture are to be esteemed mans writings. 3. Ceremonial or secondary opinions concerning Ecclesiastical Rites and Customs are for Essentials, Substantials and Fundamentals, generally contained in the word of God; the accidentals, accessaries, and circumstantials are free and mutable. If Traditions agree with the Scripture they are confirmed by it; if they oppose it, they are disproved by it.

The perfection of the Scriptures is not,

First, Infinite and unlimitted: That is an incommunicable property of God▪ every thing which is from another as the efficient cause, is thereby limitted both for the nature and qualities thereof.

Secondly, we do not understand such a perfection as containeth all and singular such things as at any time have been by Divine inspiration revealed to holy men▪ and by them delivered to the Church of what sort soever they were; for all the Sermons of the Prophets, of Christ and his Apostles, are not set down in so many words as they used in the speaking of them; for of twelve Apostles, seven wroteThe scriptures are a perfect rule for matters of Faith, but not a perfect register for matters of fact. M^r Geree. Whitakerus de Script. c. sexto▪ quaest. 6. Stapleton and Serrarius are more wary then some other Papists; We are abused (say they) when we are said to hold that the Scriture is not perfect; for (say they) a thing is said to be imperfect, not when it wants any perfection, but when it wants a perfection due; as a man is not imperfect, if he have not an Angels perfection, because this is not due unto him; they say it is not a perfection due to the Scriptures, to teach us every thing necessary to salvation. nothing, which yet preached, and did many things; neither are all the deeds of Christ and his Apostles written, for that is contradicted, Iohn 20. 30, 31. and 21. 25. but we mean onelyonly a Relative perfection, which for some certain ends sake agreeth to the Scripture as to an instrument, according to which it perfectly comprehendeth all things which have been, are, or shall be necessary for the salvation of the Church.

Thirdly, The several Books of Scripture are indeed perfect, for their own particular ends, purposes, and uses, for which they were intended of the Lord; but yet not any one Book is sufficient to the common end; the whole Scripture is compleat in all the parts thereof, one speaking of that which another doth wholly pass over in silence, one clearly delivering what was intric…te in another. Paul speaks much of Justification, and Predestination in the Epistle to the Romans, nothing of the Eucharist or Resurrection

Fourthly, Since God did reveal his will in writing those writings which by divine hand and providence were extant in the Church, were so sufficient for the Church in that age, that it needed not Tradition, neither was it lawful for any humane wight to adde thereto, or take therefrom; but when God did reveal more unto it, the former onelyonly was not then sufficient without the latter.

Fifthly, The holy Scripture doth sufficiently contain and deliver all doctrines which are necessary for us to eternal salvation, both in respect of faith and good works, and most of these it delivereth to us expresly, and in so many words andPerinde sunt ea quae ex scripturis coll guntur atque ea quae scribuntur. G. eg. Nazia… zen. l. 5. Theol. Mat. 28. 29. the rest by good and necessary consequence. The Baptism of Infants, and the consubstantiality of the Father and of the Son, are not in those words expressed in Scripture, yet is the truth of both clearly taught in Scripture, and by evident proof may thence be deduced: That Article of Christs descent into Hell, totidem verbis, is not in the Scripture, yet it may be deduced thence, Acts. 2 27. Some Papists hold, That we must not use the principles of Reason or Consequences in Divinity, and require▪ that what we prove be exprest in so many words in scripture▪ These are opposed by Vedelius in his Rationale Theologicum, l▪ 1. c. 3. 4, 5. 8. and l. 2 c. 5. 6. and also by Daillè in his Book entituled, La…foy fondee sur les Sainctes Escritures, 1 Partie, He shews there, That Christ and his Apostles, and the Ancient Fathers in disputing against their Adversaries, used consequences drawn from the scripture, Mat. 12. 32. Acts 17. 2. 3. and 18, 23. Acts 17. 3. opening and alledging. S^t Luke there useth two words very proper for this subject; the first signifies to open, the other to put one thing neer another, to shew that the Apostle proved his conclusions by the scriptures, in clearing first the prophecies, and in shewing the true sense, and after in comparing them with the events; the figures with the things, and the shadows with the body, where the light of the truths of the Gospel of it self shined forth, Mat. 22. 29, 31, 32. He blames them for not having learned the Resurrection of the dead by this sentence of the scripture; therefore they ought to have learned it: Now the sentence which he alledgeth, saith nothing formally and expresly of the Resurrection of the dead, but infers it from what he had laid down, Hic Dominum uti principiis rationis & naturae adeo manifestum est, ut ne Veronius quidem Magister Artis negandi, negare illud possit, Vedel. Rat. Theol. l. …. c. 6. vide plura ibid. &c. 5.

The Ancient Fathers prove by consequences drawn from scripture, that God the Father is without beginning, against the Sabellians; and that the Son is consubstantial with the Father, against the Arrians; that Christ hath two Natures, against the Eutychians. The Papists will not be able to prove their Purgatory, and many other of their corrupt opinions by the express words of Scripture.

We shall now lay down some Propositions or Theoremes about the sufficiency of Scripture:

First, In every Age of the Church, the Lord hath revealed so much supernaturalCatholici in perfectione Scripturae, Papistae in imperfectione, totius causae, id est, omnium controversiarum de Religione proram & puppim constituunt. Chamierus Tom. 1. de Canon… lib. 8. cap. 1. truth as was for that age necessary unto salvation, his wayes he made known to Moses, Psal. 103. 7. and his statutes to Israel, Deut. 4. 6. Psal. 147. 20. Heb. 1. 1. Therefore that is an erroneous opinion, that before the Law written men were saved by the Law of nature, and in the time of the Law by the Law of Moses, and since in the time of the Gospel by the Word of grace.

Secondly, The substance of all things necessary to salvation, ever since the fall of Adam hath been, and is one and the same, as the true Religion hath been one and unchangeable.

1. The knowledge of God and Christ is the summe of all things necessary to salvation, Ioh. 17. 3. Col. 2. 2. but this knowledge was ever necessary, Ier. 9. 23. Act. 4. 12. the fathers indeed saw Christ more obscurely and aenigmatically, we more clearly, distinctly and perspicuously, but yet they knew him and believed in him unto salvation,1 Cor. 10. 1, 2, 3 as well as we, Ioh. 8. 56.

2. The Covenant of grace which God made with man is an everlasting Covenant, therein the Lord hath revealed himself to be one and unchangeable; as in nature so in will, Heb. 13. 8. Rom. 3. 29. shewing that as God is one in nature, truth and constancy, and that as well toward the Gentiles as toward the Jews, so he would justifie both the Circumcision and Uncircumcision, the Jew and the Gentile by one way of Religion; that is to say, through faith and belief in his Sonne Jesus Christ.

3. Christ and his Apostles professed and taught no new Religion, but the same which the Scriptures of the Old Testament did before instruct, Matth. 5. 17. Iohn 5. 39. Acts 10. 43. Luke 24. 25, 26, 27, 44, 45. Acts 18. 28. and 17. 7. and 26. 22. and 28. 23. Rom. 6. 26. Therefore the believing Jews and the converted Gentiles are stiled the children of faithfull Abraham, being justified by Faith as Abraham Mat. 8. 11. Luk. 19. 9. Gal. 3. 7, 8, 29. Rom. 4. 15, 16.was. Whence we may conclude, that before, under, and after the Law, since the fall of Adam, there was never but one true Catholick Religion, or way to Heaven and happiness.

Thirdly, The Word of God being uttered in old time sundry wayes, was at length made known by writing; the Lord stirring up, and by his holy Spirit inspiring his servants, to write his will and pleasure.

Fourthly, So long as there was any truth in any Age, necessary to be more fully and clearly known then was already revealed in the Books of Moses, it pleased God to stirre up holy men whom he divinely inspired, and sufficiently furnished to make the Truth known unto the Church; thus after Moses during the time of the Law, the Lord raised up Prophets, who opened the perfect way of life unto the Church of the Old Testament more clearly, then it was before manifested in the Books of Moses, the Time and Age of the Church requiring the same. The Church of the Jews in the several Ages thereof was sufficiently taught, and instructed in all things necessary to Salvation by the writings of Moses and the Prophets, which appears:

1. In that our Saviour being asked of one, What he should do that he might inherit Some Papists say the Scrip…u…es are not imperfect, because they send us to the Church which is he perfect Rule, and therefore they are perfect implicitè, though not explicitè: but so I might say every rustick were a perfect Rule of Faith, because he can shew me the Pope, who is the infallible Judge. If the Scripture send to the Church to learn that which is not in the Scripture, by this sending she confesseth her imperfection. See Moulins Buckler of Faith, pag. 45.eternal life? answered, What is written in the Law and Prophets? How readest thou? Luke 10. 25, 26. and out of the Scripture he declared himself to be the Saviour of the world, fore-told and promised, Matth. 21. 44. and 26. 31. Luk 4. 21. and 24, 25, 26, 27, 44. Ioh. 3. 14.

2. The answer of Abraham to the rich man, sending his friends to Moses and the Prophets, sheweth that they sufficed to instruct the faithful Jews in all things necessary to Salvation, Luk. 16. 29, 30. by them they might learn how to obtain Life and escape Death, when he saith, Let them hear them, he meaneth them only, as that place is meant, Mat. 17. 5.

The Jews themselves acknowledged the sufficiency of those writings, to lead them unto life and happiness, Ioh. 5. 39.

Fifthly, The Prophets did expound the Law of God, and speak more plainly, precisely and distinctly touching the coming of the Messias, then Moses did; but the last full and clear Will of God touching the Salvation of man was not manife…ed by them; that was together, and at once to be published and taught by the Messias, who also at his coming did establish that order in the Church of God, which was to continue therein for ever. For

1. Christ was ordained of the Father to be the great Doctor of his Church, a Prophet more excellent then the rest that were before him, both in respect of his Person, Office, Manner of receiving his Doctrine, and the excellency of the Doctrine which he delivered.

2. This was well known not only among the Jews, but also among the Samaritans, Joh. 1. 18. & 3. 22.insomuch that the woman of Samaria could say, I know when the Messias is Isa. 61. 1, 2. Heb. 1. 1. & 2. 3 Act. 1. 3. Mat. 11. 25, 27.come, he will tell us all things. Joh. 4. 25.

3. The time wherein God spake unto us by his Sonne, is called the last dayes or the last time, Heb. 1. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 20. to note that we are not hereafter to expect or look for any fuller or more clear Revelation of Divine Mysteries then that which was then delivered.

4. Christ is called a Mediator of the New Testament, or the New Covenant, Heb. 9. 15. because all things are established by him as they ought to continue for ever; for that which is old decayeth and is ready to vanish, but that which is new abideth, Heb. 8. 13.

5. It pleased the Lord in great wisdom to reveal the Covenant of grace to the Church that she might not despair; but obscurely at the first, that she might earnestly long for the coming of that Messiah, who was to make known what he had heard and seen of the Father, which dispensation was needful, that the grace of God might not be contemned, as haply it would have been, if God had fully revealed and made known his bounty unto man, before he had seen his misery, and the necessity thereof. Our Saviour Christ for substance of Doctrine necessary to Salvation, taught nothing which was not before in some sort contained in the writingsMat. 22. 32. Joh. 5. 46. Luk. …4. 44, 45 of Moses and the Prophets, out of whom he confirmed his Doctrine; but that which was in them more obscurely, aenigmatically and briefly, he explained more excellently, fully and clearly; the Apostles proved their Doctrine out of the Book of Moses and the Prophets, Act. 17. 11. and 26. 22. Luke 24. 27. Rom. 1. 2. Act. 28. 23.

Sixthly, All things necessary in that manner as we have spoken, were taughtMontanus held that there was no sufficient instruction given by the Apostles unto the Church, but that there were only certain principles of Religion given by them, being unperfect, and were afterward to be finished and polished by the Comforter, which himself did forge. Tertullian was a Montanist, he often likeneth the Church of God in the Apostles time unto a Tree whose fruit was not bloomed, and unto one which is in his base age Cartw. Reply to Whitgifts 2^d answer 79. and inspired to the Apostles by our Saviour Christ, and there were no new inspirations after their times; nor are we to expect further hereafter, which we prove,

1. By places of Scripture, Ioh. 14. 26. he that teacheth all things, omitteth nothing; Christ said all things to his Apostles, as appears, Iohn 15. 15. and 17. 8. Iohn 16. 13.

2. By reasons drawn from thence, 1. The plentiful pouring forth of the Spirit was deferred till the glorifying of Christ; he being glorified, it was no longer to be delayed; Christ being exalted on the right-hand of God, obtained the Spirit promised, and that was not according to measure, and poured the same in such abundance, as it could be poured forth and received by men, so that was fulfilled which was fore-told by Ioel 2. 28. Acts 2. 33. Iohn 3. 34, 35. Acts 2. 16, 17. 2. The Scripture and the Prophecies of the Old Testament do teach and declare, That all Divine Truth should fully and at once be manifested by the Messias who is the only Prophet, high-Priest, and King of his Church; there is no other Revelation promised, none other needful besides that which was made by him, Isa. 11. 9. Act. 3. 23, 24. Ioel 2. 23. Vide Mercerum in loc. therefore the last inspiration was made to the Apostles, and none other to be expected. The Doctrine of the Law and the Prophets did suffice to Salvation; yet it did send the Fathers to expect somewhat more perfect, 1 Pet. 1. 10. but to the preaching of the Gospel nothing is to be added, we are not sent to wait for any clearer vision.

3. So long as any truth needful to be known, was unrevealed or not plainly taught, the Lord did stir up some Prophet or other, to teach the same unto the Church; therfore the Lord surceasing to speak since the publishing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the delivery of the same in writing, is unto us a manifest token, that the whole will of God is now brought to light, and that no new Revelation is to be expected.

Our seventh Proposition is, Christ and his Apostles were able to propound and teach by lively voice, that Doctrine which pertains to perfection, Iohn 1. 18. and 11. 11, 32. Iohn 8. 26 and the Apostles perfectly taught all things which are or shall be necessary for the Church, Acts 20. 27. Gal. 1. 7, 8, 9. The Doctrine of repentance and remission of sins in the name of Christ, doth summarily contain all things necessarily to salvation, Act. 5. 31. and 11. 11. but this Doctrine the Apostles preached, Act. 13. 38, 39. Luke 24. 47.

The Word of God is not only Milk for Babes, but strong Meat for men of ripe years, 1 Cor. 3. 1, 2. Heb. 5. 14. and 6. 1, 2. therefore it containeth not only matter of preparation, but of perfection.

Our eighth Proposition is, The summe and substance of that heavenly Doctrine which was taught by the Prophets and Apostles, was by them committed to writing; the holy Ghost giving them a commandment, and guiding their hands therein, that they could not erre, so that the Word preached and written by them is one in substance, both in respect of matter, which is the will and word of God, and inward form, viz. the Divine Truth immediatly inspired, though different in the external form and manner of delivery.

Our ninth Proposition is, That nothing is necessary to be known of Christian over and above that which is found in the Old Testament, which is not clearly an… evidently contained in the Books of the Apostles and Evangelists.

Our last Proposition is, that all things which have been, are, or shall be necessary to the salvation of the Church to the end of the world, are perfectly contained in the writings of the Prophets and Apostles, long since divinely inspired, writte… and published, and now received by the Church of God, so that no new Reveltion or Tradition beside *Additio ad Scripturam fit tripliciter. 1. In quo additum est contrarium, & est error…s. 2^o. In quo additum est diversum, & est praesumptionis. 3^o. In quo additum est consonum, & est fidelis instructionis.those inspired, published and comprehended in the Scripture are necessary for the salvation of the Church.

There are three opinions, 1. Of the Papists who altogether deny it. 2. Of the Socinians which would have all things expresly contained in Scripture, and if it be … totidem verbis they reject it. 3. Of the Orthodox, who say it contains all things expresly or by consequence.

Crocius in his Antiweigelius, cap. 1. Quaest. 8. shews, that private Revelation Dreams, Conferences with Angels are not to be desired and expected in matters … faith, the Canon of the Scripture being now compleat. The Weigelians talk of … Seculum Spiritus Sancti, as God the Father had his time, the time of the L… Christ his time, the time of the Gospel; so (say they) the holy Ghost shall … his time, when there shall be higher dispensations, and we shall be wiser then the Apostles. See Mat. 24. 14. and 28. 20. 1 Cor. 11. 26. See M^r Gillesp. Miscel. c. 10.

Some say the Scriptures are but for the training up of Christians during their … nority (as Grammar rules for boyes) and are not able to acquaint the soul … the highest discoveries of God and truth. And most corruptly they serve themsel… with that expression of the Apostle, 1 Cor. 13. 11. This Glasse (say they) is … Scriptures; through which we see something of God indeed (whilst we are … dren in understanding) but very obscurely and brokenly; and therefore (say the… if ye would discern of God clearly, and see him as he is, ye must break the Glasse, and look quite beyond Scriptures; when ye become men ye must put away these childish things. Blow at the Root, p. 82, 83.

The expresse testimonies of Scripture, forbidding even Angels to adde*That Doctrine of Religion, to which God would have nothing added, and from which he would have nothing taken away, must needs be perfect. Illud perfectum in suo genere cui nihil in eo genere aut addi, aut diminui potest. Psal. 19. 8. the Hebrew word signifieth that perfection cui nihil deest. any thing to those things which are commanded by the Lord, do prove the perfection of the Scripture, Deut. 4. 5, 12. and 12. 32. and 30. 10. and 5. 12, 13, 14. and 28. 58. Ioshua 1. 7, 8. Prov. 30. 5. wherefore the Apostle commands, That no man presume above that which is written, 1 Cor. 4. 6. 2 Tim. 3. 15, 16. Divers reasons may be drawn from this last place to prove the perfection of the Scripture.

1. The Apostle teacheth, That the Scriptures are able to make a man wise to salvation: therefore there needeth no further counsel nor direction thereunto, aSalus nostra Christus est, salutis via fides, viae dux, Scripturae. Raynoldus. foreign. It is taken Collectivè not distributivè. Si foreign non totam sed omnem significaret, eo fortius futurum argumentū nostrum: nam si partes singulae sufficerent, tum multo magis omnes. Chamierus.but2 King. 5. 8. 2 Tim. 3. 15, 16, 17. out of the Scriptures.

2. The Scriptures are able to make the man of God, that is the Minister of the Word, perfect and compleat unto every work of his Ministery, whether it be by teaching true Doctrine, or confuting false, by exhorting and putting forward to that which is good, or dehorting from that which is evil.

Paul would not have us think that all and every writing, viz. of Plato, Aristotle, is divinely inspired, for in ver. 15. he not only useth the plural number, calling them the holy writings; thereby to note the word of God, and not one sentence or Book, but all the sentences and Books of the Scripture, and also useth the Article, which hath force of an universal note, therefore the Greek words, the whole Scripture, signifieth the whole altogether, and not every part severally in this place. 2. No one part of holy Scripture is able to make the Minister perfect, therefore it must needs be understood of the whole body of holy Scripture, wherein this sufficiency is to be found. The Ancient Fathers and other Divines, have from this place proved the perfection and sufficiency of the Scripture in all things necessary to salvation.

We do not reason thus (as the Papists charge us) it is profitable, therefore it is sufficient; but because, 1. The Scripture is profitable for all these bNullus Papista aptè & plenè huic argumento unquam respondit, aut respondebit. Whitak.ends (viz. to teach sound Doctrine, to refute false opinions, to instruct in holy life, and correct ill manners) therefore it is sufficient; cIs not the Scripture (said Hawks the Martyr) sufficient for my salvation? Yes, saith one of Bonners Chaplains, it is sufficient for our salvation, but not for our instruction. Hawks answered, God send me the salvation, and take you the instruction. Fox. Martyrol.or it is profitable to all those functions of the Ministery, that a Minister of the Church may be perfect; therefore much more for the people. Argumentum non nititur unica illa voce (utilis) sed toto sententiae complexu. Chamierus.

Hitherto of the perfection of the Scripture absolutely considered, now follows the sufficiency thereof in opposition to unwritten traditions or verities, as the Papists speak.

D Davenant premiseth these things for the better understanding of the sufficiencyEpisc. Daven. de Iudicé Controvers. cap. 5. of the Scripture.

1. We speak of the state of the Church (saith he) in which God hath ceased to speak to men by the Prophets or Apostles divinely inspired, and to lay open new Revelations to his Church.

2. We grant that the Apostles living and preaching, and the Canon of the New Testament being not yet sealed, their Gospel delivered Viva Voce, was no lesse a rule of Faith and Worship, then the writings of Moses and the Prophets.

3. We do not reject all the traditions dNotandum hoc loco verbum Dei, Scripturis seu scripto verbo definiri, quod enim prius Dei verbū seu serm… nem, nunc Scripturas appellat, adversus Pontificios, qui verbum Dei ad non Scriptas Traditiones & Pontificum etiam decreta transferunt. Sed verbum Dei Scripturis cingi & terminari apparet, Rom. 1. 2. deinde 2 Tim. 3. 17. Denique ex hoc loco, cum vitam aeternam conferat, eamque in se inclusam habeat Scriptura, quid est quod ad cam accedere aut adjungi potest? Hanc enim Iudaeorum, de vita aeterna Scripturis comprehensa, opinionem, Christus ipse comprobat. Cartw. in Harm. Evangel. in Joh. 5. 39.of the Church; for we embrace certain Historical and Ceremonial ones; but we deny that opinions of faith or precepts of worship can be confirmed by unwritten traditions.

4. We call that an opinion of Faith; to speak properly and strictly, when a Proposition is revealed by God, which exceeds the capacity of nature, and is propounded to be believed, as necessary to be known to Salvation. Fundamentall opinions are those which by a usuall and proper name are called Articles of Faith.

5. What is not in respect of the Matter an Article of Faith, may be a Proposition to be believed with a Theological Faith, if you look to the manner of revealing, as that the Sun is a great light, the Moon a lesse, Gen. 1. 16. that Rachel was beautifull, Leah blear-eyed.

The Papists do not cease to accuse the Scripture of imperfectioneMinima veritatis particula in Scripturis continetur. Charronaeus. and insufficiency, as not containing all things necessary to salvation. The Councel of Trent, Sess. 4. decret. 1. saith, That the Truth and Discipline is contained in libris scriptis, & sine scripto traditionibus. The Papists fBellarm. de verbo Dei, lib. 4. cap. 3. Rhemists annotat. in Joh. 21. sect. 3. & aunot. in 2 Thess. 2. 16. & annot. in Act. 15. sect. 3. & in Apoc. 10. sect. 1.generally divide the word of God into the word written and traditions. They affirm, that there are many things belonging to Christian faith, which are neither contained in the Scriptures openly nor secretly. This opinion is maintained by the Papists, but it was not first invented by them. The Jewish Fathers did use the traditions of the Elders, and it hath been said of old, Mark 75. Matth. 5. 21. for their errors and superstitions, yea, at length they affirmed that God gave to Moses in Mount Sinai the Scripture and the Cabala, or a double Law, the one written, the other gAsserimus in Scripturis non contineri expressè totam doctrinam necessarian…, five de side five de moribus & proinde praeter verbum Dei scriptum requiri etiam verbum Dei non s…. id est, Divinas & Apostolicas traditiones. Bellarm. lib. 4. de verbo Dei non scripto. Omnes libros veteris & Novi Testamenti, ne… non traditiones ipsas tum ad fidem tum ad mores pertinentes, tanquam vel ore tenus à Christo, vel à Spiritu Sancto dictatas, & continua successione in Ecclesia Catholica conservatas pari pietatis affectu ac reverentia suscipit ac veneratur. Tridentina Synodus. sess. 4. sect. 1.unwritten. The Tridentin Fathers, S…s. 4. do command Traditions to be received with the same reverend affection and piety with which we imbrace the Scripture; and because one Bishop in the Councel of Trent refused this, he was excluded. In the mean space, they explain not what those Traditions are which must be so regarded, none of them would ever give us a List and Catalogue of those Ordinances, which are to be defended by the authority of unwritten Traditions, not of the Word committed to writing; onelyonly they affirm in general, whatsoever they teach or do, which is not in the Scripture, that it is to be put into the number of Traditions unwritten. The cause of it self is manifest, That at their pleasure they might thrust what they would upon the Church, under the name of Traditions. Vide Whitak. de Script. contro. Quaest. 6. c. 5. See also Moulins Buckler of Faith, p. 51.

Lindan the Papist was not ashamed to say, That it had been better for the Church, if there had been no Scripture at all, but onelyonly Traditions. For (saith he) we may do well enough with Traditions though we had no Scripture; but could not do well enough with Scripture, though we had no Traditions.

Baldwin saith, a Testament may be either Scriptum or Nuncupativum, set down in writing or uttered by word of mouth. But a Nuncupative Testament, or Will made by word of mouth without writing, must be proved by solemn witnesses. The solemn witnesses of Christs Testament are the Prophets and Apostles. Let Papists, if they can, prove by them, that part of the Testament of Christ is unwritten.

Any indifferent Reader will conceive, that the Scriptures make most for them, who stand most for their Authority and perfection, as all the reformed Divines do, not only affirming, but also confirming, that the Scripture is not only a most perfect, but the onelyonly infallible rule of faith, Titus 1. 2. Rom. 3. 4. God cannot lie, and Let God be true, and every man a lier, that is, subject to errour and falshood. Every Article of Divine Faith must have a certain and infallible ground, there is none such of supernatural truth but the Scripture.

Because our Adversaries hBellarmin… ha…h a whole Book De verbo Dei non scripto, of the word of God unwrittendo contend for Traditions not written hotly and zealously, against the total perfection of the Scripture, that they might thrust upon us many points (by their own confession) not contained in Scripture; and usurp to themselves irrefragable authority in the Church, it shall not be amisse largely to consider of this matter: And first to enquire of the signification of the words Greek and Latine, which are translated Tradition; and then to come to the matter which is controverted between us and the Papists.

The Greek word signifying Tradition, foreign, which in the New Testament isDo we not allow of all the Apostolical Traditions, which agree unto the Scriptures? Nay more, Do we not translate the word Traditions in the Scripture, when the Text will bear it, according to the Greek original Look upon Mat. 15. and in three several verses, 2, 3, 6. we use the word Tradition. Look upon the 7^th of Mark, and in four severall verses, vers. 3, 8, 9, 13. we translate Traditions. Look upon S^t Paul to the Colossians 2. 8. Gal. 1 14. and upon S^t Peter, 1 Pet. 1. 18. and in all these in the Translation joyned with your Rhemish Testament, you shall finde the word Traditions. D^r Featley's Case for the Spectacles, ch. 8. used onelyonly in these places, Matth. 15. 2, 3, 6. Mark 7. 3, 5, 8, 9, 13. 1 Cor. 11. 2. Gal. 1. 14. Colos 2. 8. 2 Thess. 2. 15. and 3. 6. and in the vulgar Latine is rendred Traditio, Mat. 15. 2, 3, 6. Mark 7. 3, 5, 8, 9, 13. Gal. 1. 14. Col. 2. 6. 2 Thess. 2. 15. and 3. 6. and Praecepta, 1 Cor. 11. 2. Whereto the Rhemists translation (which seemeth to be but a bare translation of the Vulgar Latin) doth wholly agree, using the word Tradition every where, excepting 1 Cor. 11. 2. where they use the word P…ecepts, but set in the margent the word Tradition. Arias Montanus in his interlineal Translation doth render it Traditio. Beza doth commonly express it by the word traditio. In the English Geneva Bible, we translate it by the word Instruction, Tradition, calling mens precepts Traditions, the Apostles Doctrine, Ordinances or Instructions, not that we feared the word Tradition but because we would not have the simple deceived, as though the unwritten verities of the Papists were thereby commended, or as though we had some honourable conceit of them; and what we did herein, the signification of the word doth give us free liberty to do; in our last English Translation we use the word Tradition, as often as the Vulgar Latine or the Rhemists have done; not that we were driven by fear or shame to alter what was done before, but because we would cut off all occasion of carping at our Translation, though never so unjust.

First, We contend not about the name iThe word originally may import any thing which is delivered howsoever, either by word or writing. Thus whatsoever we have received in the Scriptures, was first Tradition as delivered by word, and still is tradition because it is delivered in writing. But though the word in it self have this general and indifferent signification of anything that is delivered, yet in our disputation it is restrained to one onelyonly manner of delivering by word and relation only, and not by Scripture. We deny that either in the Law or Gospel there was any thing left unwritten, which concerneth us to know, for attaining of true Faith and Righteousnesse towards God. Abbot against Bishop.Tradition, the word may lawfully be used, if the sense affixed thereto be lawful. 2. All Traditions unwritten are not simply condemned by us. 3. The Apostles delivered by lively voice many observations dispensable and alterable, according to the circumstances of time and persons, appertaining to order and comelinesse; only we say That they were not of the substance of Religion, that they were not general concerning all Churches. 4. We receive the number and names of the Authors of Books Divine and Canonical, as delivered by tradition; but the Divine Truth of those Books is in it self clear and evident unto us, not depending on the Churches Authority. The Books of Scripture have not their Authority (quoad nos) from the approbation of the Church, but win credit of themselves, and yield sufficient satisfaction to all men of their Divine Truth, whence we judge the Church that receiveth them to be led by the Spirit of God; yet the Number, Authors and Integrity of the parts of those Books, we receive as delivered by Tradition. 5. The continued practice of such things as are neither expresly contained in Scripture, nor the example of such practice expresly there delivered, though the Grounds, Reasons, and cause of the necessity of such practice be there contained, and the benefit and good that followeth of it, we receive upon Tradition, though the thing it self we receive not for Tradition. Of this sort is the Baptism of Infants, which may be named a Tradition, because it is not expresly delivered in Scripture, that the Apostles did baptize …nfants, nor any expresse precept there found that they should so do; yet is not this so received by bare and naked Tradition, but that we finde the Scripture to deliver unto us the ground of it.

Bellarmine and Maldonat kIn Mat. 15.both do confesse, That the Baptism of Infants may be proved by the Scripture; and therefore Maldonat concludes, Nobis verò traditio non est. Bellarmine lVide Whitakerum de Scrip. c. 9. Quaest. 6. p. 405. & 406. In his Book De verbo Dei standing for unwritten Traditions, as a part of the word of God, he will have Baptism of Infants to be one; but when he disputes for Baptism of Infants against Anabaptists, then he heaps up Texts of Scripture. M^r Blakes Birth-Priviledge.(as Whitaker shews) contradicts himself; for first, he saith, That the Baptism of Infants is an unwritten Tradition; and after, That the Catholicks can prove Baptism of Infants from the Scriptures.

To this head mExstat nomen diei Dominicae, Mat. 28 Mar. 16 Apoc. 1. Exstat exemplum Apostolicae Ecclesiae quae eum diem solennem habuit celebratione Coenae, praedicatione verbi Dei, Collectione El…emosynae, Act. 20. 1 Cor. 16. 1. Quod exemplum suum & Ecclesiae praxin cum Apostoli nobis repraesentant in suis scriptis, quis non videt eos praecipere imitationem sui? Vedel. … Epist. Ignatii ad Magnesios c. 7. Vide plura ibid.we may referre the observation of the Lords-day, the precept whereof is not found in Scripture, though the practice be. And if for that cause any shall name it a Tradition, we will not contend about the word, if he grant withall, that the example Apostolical hath the force of a Law, as implying a common equity concerning us no lesse then it did them.

If any man shall call the summary comprehension of the chief heads of Christian Doctrine contained in the Creed, nSymbolum Apostolicum ex traditione est secundum formulam rationemque verborum; at secundum substantiam est Scriptura ipsissima. Junius Animad. in Bellarm. controv. 1. l. 4. Negamus ullum esse in toto Symbolo vel minimum articulum, qui non disertè constet, ac totidem penè dixerim verbis, in Scripture sancta: adeò ut merito dici possit opus tesellatum, u…pote constans ex variis loc is hinc inde excorptis, atque in unum collatis, artificioséque compositis. Chamier.commonly called The Apostles Creed, a Tradition, we will not contend about it. For although every part thereof be contained in Scripture; yet the orderly connexion, and distinct explication of those principal Articles gathered into an Epitome, wherein are implied, and whence are inferred all Conclusions Theological, is an Act humane, not divine, and in that sense may be called a Tradition. But let it be noted withall, that we admit it not to have that credit as now it hath, to be the Rule of Faith; for this is the priviledge of holy Scripture. The Creed it self was gathered out of Scripture, and is to be expounded by the Scripture; therefore it is not given to be a perfect Canon of faith and manners.

By Tradition is noted, 1. Whatsoever is delivered by men divinely inspired and2 Thess. 2. 15. Hoc suit primum Pharisaeorum dog ma, quòd negarunt omnia quae spectant ad Religionem scripta esse. Joseph. Antiq. l. 13. immediately called, whether it be by lively voice, or by writing. 2. In special it notes the word of God committed to writing, 1 Cor. 15. 3. 3. It signifies Rites expresly contained in writing, Act. 6. 14. 4. It betokens that which is not committed to writing but only delivered by lively voice of the Apostles. 5. It signifieth that which is invented and delivered by men not immediately called. In Scripture Tradition is taken, 1. In good part, for any Rite or Doctrine of God delivered to his Church either by word or writing, whether it concern faith and good works, or the external Government of the Church, 2 Thess. 2. 15. 1 Cor. 11. 15. and 23. 2. In ill part, it noteth the vain idle and unwarrantable inventions of men, whether Doctrine or Rites, Mat. 15. 3. Mar. 7. 8, 9.

When the Fathers speak reverently of Traditions, by the word Tradition, either they understand the holy Scripture, which also is a Tradition, it is a Doctrine left unto us; oTraditiones istae non Scriptae Pharisaeorum nunquam in N. Test. dicuntur simpliciter & absolutè Traditiones, sed notantur semper aliquo clogio, ut quum dicuntur, Traditiones seniorum, Traditiones humanae; siquando Traditionis vox pon…tur simpliciter, sum…ur in bonam partem, & ipsum Dei verbum Traditio est. Camer. in Mat. 15.Or by Traditions, they understand observations touching Ecclesiastical policy. Du Moulin.

Reasons confirming the sufficiency of Scripture against Popish Traditions.

1. The whole Church is founded upon the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles;Ephes. 2. 20. Apoc. 21. 24. which were not true if any Doctrine was necessary to Salvation not revealed by the Prophets and Apostles.

2. The Prophets, and Christ and his Apostles condemn Traditions, Isa. 29. 13. Mat. Christ taxeth the ignorance of Scri…ture, commends the knowledge of it, was careful to fulfill the Scripture, did interpret it, and gave ability to understand it.15. 3, 6. Col. 2. 8. Therefore they are not to be received; Christ opposeth the Commandment and Scriptures to Traditions, therefore he condemns Traditions not written. If the Jews might not adde to the Books of Moses, *Deut. 4. 2. and 12. ult.then much lesse may we adde to the Canon of Scripture so much increased since.

3. Those things which proceed from the will of God only, can be made known to us no other way but by the Revelation of the Scripture; all Articles of Faith and Precepts of Manners, concerning substance of Religion proceed from the will of God only, Mat. 16. 17. 1 Cor. 2. 9, 10, 11. pLocus est egregius, coque nostri omnes utuntur, qui contra Papisticas Traditiones aliquid scribunt, Whitakerus. Longè illustrissimus lacus est. Chamierus.Gal. 1. 8. As in this place, the Apostle would have nothing received besides that which he preached, so 1 Cor. 4. 6. He will have nothing admitted above or more then that which is written. See Act. 26. 22.

Iohn 20. ult. Whence it is manifest, that all necessary things may be found in Scripture, since full and perfect Faith ariseth from thence, which eternal salvation followeth.

Bellarmine saith, Iohn speaks only of the miracles of Christ, that he wrote not all, because those sufficed to perswade the world that Christ was the Son of God. Those words indeed in ver. 30. are to be understood of Christs miracles, but those in ver. 31. rather are to be generally interpreted; for the History only of the miracles sufficeth not to obtain Faith or Life.

The Question betwixt the Papists and us is, De ipsa Doctrina tradita, qNobis adversus Papistas non de quibusvis traditionibus controversia est, sed duntaxat de traditionibus dogmatum, quibus continentur fides & mores, hoc est, de ipsa Doctrina. Chamierus lib. 9. de Canone cap. 1.non de tradendi modo, touching the substance of the Doctrine delivered, not of the manner of delivering it, and of Doctrine delivered as the Word of God, not of Rites and Ceremonies. They maintain that there be doctrinal Traditions, or Traditions containing Articles of Faith, and substantial matters of Divine Worship and Religion, not found in the holy Scriptures, viz. Purgatory, Invocation of Saints, Adoration of Images, Papal Monarchy.

Bellarmine (and before him rVir & ob ingenium laboremve, & ob Episcopatus dignitatem inter Papistas non postremi nominis. Chamierus. Vide Maldonat. ad Joan. 16. 12. & Estium ad Rom. 16. 17.Peresius) distinguisheth Traditions both from the Authors and the Matter.

From the Authors, into Divine, Apostolical and Ecclesiastical.

From the Matter into those which are concerning Faith, and concerning Manners, into perpetuall and temporall, universall and particular, necessary and free.

Divine Traditions, that is, Doctrines of Faith, and of the Worship and serviceReceived from Christ himself teaching the Apostles. of God, any of which we deny to be but what are comprized in the written Word of God.

Apostolick Traditions (say they) are such Ordinances as the Apostles prescribed for ceremony and usage in the Church, as the observation of the memorial of the Nativity, Death and Resurrection of Christ, the alteration of the seventh day from the Jews Sabbath, to the day of Christs Resurrection.

Ecclesiastical, ancient Customs which by degrees through the Peoples consentIllud erat explicandum, quo discrimine istae. Traditiones tam multiplices graduque habendae sunt. Nullum discrimen faciunt, forsan ergò volunt, Ecclesiasticas etiam Traditiones parem cum Divinis Scripturis Authoritatem habere. Script. cap. 3. Quaest. 6. obtained the force of a Law.

Traditions concerning Faith, as the perpetuall Virginity of Mary the Mother of Christ, and that there are onelyonly four Gospels; of Manners, as the sign of the Crosse made in the Fore-head, Fasts and Feastings to be observed on certain dayes.

Perpetual, which are to be kept to the end of the World.

Temporal for a certain time, as the observation of certain legal Ceremonies, even to the full publishing of the Gospel.

Universal Traditions, which are delivered to the whole Church to be kept, as the observation of Easter, Whit sontide and other great Feasts.

Particular, which is delivered to one or more Churches, as in the time of Augustine fasting on the Sabbath-day, which was kept only at Rome.

Necessary Traditions, which are delivered in the form of a Precept, that Easter Traditionum janua perniciosa est, hac semel aperta nihil est quod non inde erumpat in ecclesiam. Chamier.is to be celebrated on the Lords Day.

Free, which are delivered in the form of a Councel, as sprinkling of holy Water.

Object. The Scripture is not perfect with a perfection of parts, because many parts are either defective or excessive.

1. Some labour with a defect, as Genes. 11. 12. a person is omitted in the1 Chro. 1. 18. Genealogy of Canaan, which was the Sonne of Arphaxad, but it is reckonedLuk. 3. 36. in Luke in Christs Genealogy, not in the Old Testament, therefore there is a defect.

Answ. Luke reckons it according to the vulgar opinion of the Jews; Iunius inEorum mihi videtur sententia samor, qui negant vel è Lxx, vel à Luca nomen Cainani suisse insertum, existimantes potius al…unde irrepsisse post Evangelium à Lucâ conscriptum, eujus suae conjecturae rationes habent non leves, ut videre est apud Cornelium à Lapide in cap. 11. Genes. Rivet. Isag. ad Scr. pt. Sac. cap. 10. Vide plura ibid. his Parallels would have the fault to be in the Septuagint, whom Luke followed, not approving of their errour, but yielding to the time, least the Gospel otherwise should have been prejudiced; but Beza's opinion is rather to be approved of, that this word is inserted from the Ignorance of those who undertook to correct this Text, according to the Translation of the Seventy Interpreters. For in an Ancient Manuscript which Beza followed, this word Canaan was not to be found, therefore he omitted it in his Translation, and so hath our great English Bible.

Object. There is something found in the Scripture against the Commandment of God, Deut. 4. 2. therefore there is excess as well as defect; for many Books which we believe to be Canonical, are added.

Answ. He doth not forbid adding by Gods Command, but from the will of man, for God himself added afterward.

The Papists Arguments for Traditions answered.

Object. Bellarmine saith, Religion was preserved for two thousand yearsLib. 4. de verbo Dei, cap. 4. Vix ullum videas de Traditionibus agentem, qui non hic magno fastu immoretur Chamie…us. Distinguenda sunt & tempora & personae; Non erant necessariae Scripturae ante legem, ergo ne quidem post legem, non erant necessariae Apostolis, ergo ne nobis quidem: negatur consequenti…. Ratio est, quia aliter Israelitas doceri voluit post legem Deus, aliter ante legem: Aliter Christus Evangelium voluit Apostolis revelari, aliter nobis praedicari. Chamierus. from Adam to Moses onelyonly by Tradition; therefore the Scripture is not simply necessary.

Ans. By the like reason I might argue, That Religion was long preserved, not only without the Pope of Rome, but also without Baptism and the Lords Supper, with the like Institutions; therefore they are not simply necessary; yet none of ours hold the Scriptures simply necessary. 2. It is false, that Religion was preserved all that while by ordinary Tradition only; for the living voice of God sounded most perpetually in the Church, and the Doctrine of Religion was conveyed successively from the Father to the Son; which living voice of God by little and little ceasing, writing afterward succeeded, and hath the same necessity now which Gods living voice had before.

Object. Whatsoever things are commended from Scripture are necessary, but so are Traditions, Ergò, They are necessary. Iohn 16. 12. I have yet many things to say unto you; but ye cannot bear them now; therefore (say they) the Lord spake many things which are not written.John 2. 22. Jansenius affirmat, haec multa non suisse diversa ab illis, quae hactenus docuerat, sed illustriorem illorum explicationem, & …uc adducit illud appositè, quod habetur 1 Cor. 3. Christus testatur se discipulis suis omnia tradidisse, Joan. 15. 15. nihil ergo tac…. it.

Answ. 1. He saith not, that he had many things to tell them, which he had not taught them before, but which they were not now so well capable of: For it appeareth that he taught them that which they understood not, and therefore they needed to be further taught of them by the holy Ghost, which should not teach them any new thing that Christ had not taught, but onelyonly make them understand that which they had been taught of our Saviour Christ.

2. If the holy Ghost did teach them any thing which our Saviour Christ had not before spoke unto them of, yet that makes nothing for Traditions; seeing that which the holy Spirit taught them, he taught them out of the Scriptures.

3. If the holy Ghost should have taught the Apostles some things which neither Christ had told them of, nor the Scriptures had taught them, yet this is rather against the Papists. For that which the holy Ghost taught them, they undoubtedly left in record unto the Church, as being faithful stewards, and revealing the whole counsel of God unto the people.

4. It hath been the practice of Hereticks (as Augustine affirmeth) at all times to cover their dreams and phantasies, with this sentence of our Saviour Christ.

Lastly, If it be asked, What were those grave and great mysteries, which the Apostles could not for their rudeness bear; they are forsooth oyl and spittle in Baptism; Candles light at noon dayes (which was not in the darker time of the Law) baptizing of Bels, and such like gue-gaws, as the grossest and carnallest men are fittest to receive.

Object. 2 Thess 2. 15. Therefore Brethron, stand fast, and hold the Traditions which Hic locus omnium celeberrimus est; Papistisque nostris inter primos in deliciis. Chamierus.ye have been taught, whether by word, or our Epistle. From these words (say our Adversaries) it appears that all things were not written, Et nullum Papistae in Scripturis locum probabiliorem inveniunt, saith Whitaker.

The Hereticks (say the Rhemists on this place) purposely, guilefully, and of ill conscience refrain in their Translations, from the Ecclesiastical and most usual word Tradition, evermore when it is taken in good part, though it expresse most exactly the signification of the Greek word; but when it soundeth in their fond phantasie against the Traditions of the Church (as indeed in true sense it never doth) there they use it most gladly. Here therefore and in the like places, that the Reader may not so easily like of Traditions unwritten, commended by the Apostle, they translate Instructions, Constitutions, Ordinances, and what they can invent else, to hide the Truth from the simple or unwary Reader, whose Translations have none other end, but to beguile such by Art and Conveyance.

Thus farre the Rhemists.

Paul taught the Thessalonians some things by word of mouth, which he taughtVide Grotium in loc. them not in his two Epistles which he wrote unto them; therefore he taught some Doctrins which he wrote not, as if that Paul wrote no more Epistles then these two; whereby that which he taught not them in writing unto them, he taught them by writing unto others.

Secondly, How followeth this Argument? Paul wrote not all the Doctrines of2 Tim. 3. 15, 16 Luk. 16. 29, 31 God unto the Thessalonians, therefore they are not all written in the Prophetical and Evangelical writings: whereas it is plainly testified, that the Old Testament containeth a perfect Rule of the Doctrine of salvation; the New being written for a Declaration of the fulfilling and further clearing of that in the Old Testament.

Thirdly, It appeareth manifestly in the Acts, what was the summe of that whichAct. 17. 3. What the tradition was he preached is expressed, 2 Thess. 3. 6. Paul taught the Thessalonians by word of mouth. For there it is witnessed, that Paul taught out of the Scriptures, that it behoved Christ to suffer and rise again from the dead, and that Jesus was Christ; this teaching then by word is there limited to the Scriptures of the Law and Prophets. Neither ought it to seem strange, that this was the summe of all which the Apostle taught at Thessalonica, where he he tarried so small a while, when amongst the Corinthians (where he remained longest1 Cor. 2. 2. of any place, and consequently taught most) he sheweth that he taught nothing but Christ and him crucified.

Fourthly, The Apostle himself, in this very place, calling (vers. 14.) whatsoever he taught by word, or wrote by the name of the Gospel, doth declare evidently, that he taught nothing but that which is contained in Scripture, seeing the Apostle defineth the Gospel which he preached, to be that which is contained in the Scriptures.

Fifthly, That the Thessalonians had some part of Christian Doctrine, deliveredD. Fulk against Martin in his Preface. by word of mouth; that is, by the Apostles preaching at such time as he did write unto them, and some part by his Epistles, the Text enforceth us to grant. But that the Church at this day, or ever since the Testament was written, had any Tradition by word of mouth necessary to salvation, which was not contained in the Old and New Testament, we will never grant. The Papists sPapistae maximi, qui unquam fuerint Traditionarii. Chamier.do commonly abuse the name of Tradition, which signifieth properly a delivery, or a thing delivered; for such a matter as is delivered onelyonly by word of mouth, and so received from hand to hand, that is, never put in writing, but hath his credit without the holy Scripture of God, as the Jews had their Cabala, and the Scribes and the Pharisees their Traditions besides the Law of God. For the justifying of our Translation, it is true, that we alter according to the circumstances of the place, especially considering that the word Tradition, which of it self is indifferent, as well to that which is written, as to that which is not written, hath been of us and them, appropriated to note forth onelyonly unwritten Constitutions, therefore we must needs avoid in such places as this, the word Traditions, (though our last Translation useth it) where the simple might be deceived, to think that the Holy Gho…t did ever commend any such to the Church, which he would not have committed to writing in the holy Scriptures, and in stead of the word so commonly taken (although it do not necessarily signifie any such matter) we doe use such words as doe truely expresse the Apostles meaning, and the Greek word doth also signifie; therefore we use these words Ordinances, or Instructions, Institutions, or the DoctrineSyrus interpres habet praecepta sive mandata. delivered, all which being of one or near sense, the Greek word foreign doth signifie, and the same doth Tradition signifie, if it be rightly understood.

Object. 1 Timothy 6. 20. O Timothy, Keep that which is committed to thy trust. By the name of pledge (saith Bellarmine) not the Scripture, but the treasure of unwritten Doctrine is understood. Depositum (say the Rhemists) is the whole Doctrine of Christianity, being taught by the Apostles, and delivered their Successors.

Answ. Though other learned men interpret this pledge or gage to be the giftCartw. Annota. on the Rhem. Test. of the Holy Ghost, yet we willingly acknowledge, that it is to be understood of the Doctrine of Christianity, as that which hath best ground both by circumstance of this, and conference of other places. Whence we inferre, That the Doctrine of truth is not the Churches Decrees, but the Lords; given to the Church to keep only, wherewith the Title of a pledge cannot stand, unlesse one may lay to pledge a thing in his own hands, since in Popery the Church her self maketh the Doctrine which her self taketh to pledge: Herein they handle it like a pledge, that they lock it up fast, where the people of God, for whose use it is given to be kept, cannot come unto it.

What had become of the Law of God, if others had not been more faithful keepers of it then the Priests, to whom the principal Copy thereof written withHic Achilles est Papistarum magno fastu ostentatus ab omnibus & singulis qui versantur in hac controversia. Chamier. de Canone, l. 9. c. 8. the finger of God himself was committed?

There are some points of faith not contained in the Scripture, neither in the Old nor New Testament; therefore it is not perfect. In the Old Testament, no doubt but the females had some remedy, whereby they might be purged from original sin as well as the males; circumcision was instituted only for the males, the Scripture mentions not what was instituted for the females.

In the New Testament, the perpetual virginity of Mary the mother of Christ.

Two things are considered in circumcision, tCicumcifio faeminarum continetur sub illa masculorum. Signum in solis masculis crat, pro utrisque tamen saci…bat, si finem & usum ejus spectes. Mariae perpetua virginitas non est fidei articulus, ideò libenter amplectimur eam sententiam quae jam ab initio …mer Christia…os videtur invaluisse, ut virgo fuerit, hoc est, pura à coitu viri non tantùm in toto Christi generationis mysterio, quod sanè ut credamus necesse est, sed etiam toto deinceps vitae tempore. Chamierus de canone l. 9. c. 9.1. Signum. 2. Res signata, or the end and use of the sign.

Answ. The thing signified or efficacy of the outward sign of circumcision, was common both to Males and Females; the very institution of circumcision teacheth that; for it was a sign of the Covenant, the Covenant belonged to all which were of the seed of Abraham, if they renounced it not.

Although there were no decision of the other point out of the Scripture, yet would it not thence follow which the Jesuites pretend, that some necessary point of Christianity wanted the ground of holy Scripture, it being sufficient for us to know, that she was a Virgin when our Savio…r Christ was born of her, as the Prophets did foretel. Yet (as Chamier said well) we believe that she continued a Virgin all her life time, for in those things (said he) which are not properly de side, we hold the authority of the Church is great, if it contradict not Scripture, or produce no other absurdity. Vide Riveti Apolog…am pro Virgine Maria, l. 1. c. 15.

Helvidius would gather from those words, Matth. 1. 25. until, and first-born, that Mary after uQuam pertinaci…èr ludebat Helvidius in primogenito Mariae & fratribus Christi: ut negaret perpetuam virginitatem. Chamierus.had Children by her Husband: The word till doth not import so much. See Gen. 8. 7. and 28. 15, 1 Sam. 15. 35 Sam. 6. 23. Matth. 28. 20. He is called the first-born in Scripture, which first opens the womb, whether others follow or no.

7. The Scripture is plain and Perspicuous.

The Perspicuity of the Scripture is a clear and evident manifestation of the truth delivered in it.

It is Perspicuous Augustinus dicit, nihil ad fidem necessarium obscurè in Scripturis doceri, quin idem apertioribus locis aliis explicetur. Non est traditum Evangelium obscurum & difficile ad intelligendum, tanquam paucissimis profuturum, sed facile, dilucidum, apertum, exp…situm omnibus, ut nemo esset quin petere illinc posset, & tanquam de fonte haurire, quae salnti suae expedirent. Lod. Viv. de ver. Fid. Christ. l 2. c. 9. vide plura ibid.both in respect of it self and us.

1. In respect of it self, as appears:

1. In the things delivered, which although they seem obscure for their majesty and dignity, yet they carry the light of truth before them, yVerbum Dei collatam cum liue, analogia multiplex, Lucis est dispelier… tenebras, omnia manifestare, …l… is lac…re nō sibi; l…renihil purius, illustrius, gra…ius, utilius, faecundius, caelest is ejus cr…go, odio habetur sape à malis, est bonum Commune plurium, penetrat sordes sine inquinamento. Sphanhemius Dub. Evangel parte tertia Dub. 94. Scriptura seclaram prositetur tum formaliter tum effectivè, …umi…osam & illuminantem. Id. ibid, Isa. 59. 21. Jer. 32. 40. and 31. 31.therefore the Scripture is frequently termed a light, Psal. 19. 8. and 119. 105. Deni. 30. 11. Prov. 6. 2. 2 Pet. 1. 19. 2 Cor. 4. 3, 4, 6. the Scripture is a most bright light: The nature of a light is first to discover it self, then all things else. There are two things in Gods revealed will, verbum rei, the word, and res verbi, the mystery. The Scriptures are hard, if we look to the mystery, but not if we look to the word; as for example, the Scripture teacheth that there is one God in three persons, the words are plain and easie: every man understands them, but the mystery contained in those words pas…eth the reach of man; we may well discern these things to be so, though we cannot fully conceive how these should be so.

2. In the manner of delivering, or kinde of stile, which is fitted to the things and persons; shewing the greatest simplicity both in words, either proper or figurative; and in the clear sense and most perspicuous propriety of signification; viz. That one which is called Literal and Grammatical.

2. In respect of us, because the Scripture is to us the principal means and instrument of faith; every Principle ought to be by it self, and in its own nature known and most intelligible; and there being three degrees of faith, knowledge, assent, and full assurance, these cannot consist without the perspicuity of the Scripture; the divine promises also of writing the Law in our heart, and concerning the spreading abroad, and clear light of the Gospel, should be to no purpose, if the Scriptures should not be plain in things necessary to Salvation.

All difficulty zDifficultas dut à rerum ipsarum natura est qu… percipiuntur, aut ab ipfis percipientibus, aut ab its quae intercurrant mediis, Res quae percipiantur natura sua intellectu diffic…les sunt, aut per obscu… it atem, ut res futurae, aut per majestatem ipsarum, ut mysterium S. Trinitatis. Sic quid Sole clarius? quid difficilius aspectu? nam hebescit ac…es oculorum nostrorum vi radiorum illius. A percipientibus difficultatem esse quis sanus neget? nam res quae sunt Spiritus homo naturalis non potest capere A mediis quae Deus ipse ecclesiae obtulit, id est, à Scriptura, negamus difficultatem esse Junius.in understanding the Scripture ariseth not from the obscurity of it, but from the weakness of our understanding, corrupted by natural ignorance, or blinded by divine punishment and curse; therefore it no more follows from thence, that the Scripture cannot be an infallible and onelyonly rule of faith and life, (because some obscure things are found in it, not understood of all) then that the Books of Euclide are not perfect elements of Geometry, because there are some abstruse Theoremes in them, which every vulgar Geometrician cannot demonstrate; or that Aristotles Organon is not a perfect Systeme of Logick, because a fresh Sophister understands not all its subtilties. More distinctly we say, that the Scriptures are plain, and obscure in a threefold respect.

1. They are plain and easie to be understood by all men in Fundamentals, and the special points necessary to salvation, as the Decalogue, the Apostles Creed, the Lords Prayer, and the like, unless by those whose mindes the God of this world hath blinded; if they be obscure in some less principal and circumstantial matters, there is need of interpretation, that the meaning may be more clearly unfolded.

2. A difference of persons is to be considered, either more generally, or more specially.

1. More generally, as they are elect and regenerate, or reprobate and unregenerate;The fundamentals in Scripture are plain to the Elect, who are all taught of God so much as is necessary for their salvation, Iohn 6. 45. the least as well as the greatest. to those the Scripture is plain and perspicuous, to whom alone it is destinated, and whose mindes the Holy Ghost will inlighten by the Scripture, Iohn 7. 17. Rom. 12. 2. 1 Cor. 12. 15. Psal. 19 7. Matth. 11. 5. and 25. 25. Psal. 9. 10, 12, 13, 14. Yet the flesh and unregenerate part in them puts in impediments, but that ignorance is removed at last, Luke 8. 10. The reprobates continue involved in perpetual darkness and blinded with ignorance, hypocrisie, covetousness, pride and contempt of divine learning, even seeing they see not, Psal. 36. 3. Isa. 29. 9. Ier. 5. 21. Isa. 6. 9. 2 Cor. 3. 14. there is a vail over their hearts, 2 Cor. 4. 3, 4. which is the cause why in so many ages under the Papacy, the Scriptures were not understood, because they preferred a lye before the love of the truth. 2 Thess. 10▪ whose ignorance is a deserved punishment of that contempt, which they shewed to the Scriptures and their authority.

2. More specially, the persons are distinguished according to the diversity.I believe, that toward the evening of the world, there shall be more light, and knowledge shal be encreased, Dan. 12. 4 and many things in scripture better understood, when the Jews shal be brought home, and the spirit of grace and illumination more abundantly poured forth, Mr. Gillesp. miscel. c. 10. See Rev. 22. 10.

1. Of Conditions of life and vocations, for so many places of Scripture are hard to this sort of men, which are more easie to another, neither is it required that all things be understood of all men; the knowledge of more places is necessary in a Minister, then a Trades-man and Husbandman; yet it is an infallible rule to every one in his vocation.

2. Of capacities and wits, for every one hath his measure of Gifts; so among Ministers, some understand the Word more obscurely, some more plainly, yet it is to all a perfect Rule according to the measure of Gifts.

3. Of Times, all things are not equally obscure or perspicuous to all Ages, many things are better understood now then in times past; as the Prophecies and Predictions of Christ, and the times of the Gospel: so in the Mysteries of the Revelation the exposition rather of modern Interpreters then Fathers is to be received; because in our times, not theirs, there is an accomplishment of those Prophecies, and many things were more clearly known by them in those days, the Ceremonies and Types of Moses his Law were better perceived by the Jews then us.

God the Author of the Scripture, could speak perspicuously; for he is wisdomIn the first times of the Church, there were no commentaries upon the Scriptures, the fathers had them without, and yet then the Scriptures were understood. Origen (who lived 200 years after Christ) was the first that wrote any Commentary upon Scripture. The pure Text of Scripture was ever read to the people, and never any Commentaries, and yet was understood by them Apoc. 1. 3. it self; and he would speak so, because he caused the Scripture to be written to instruct us to our eternal salvation, Rom. 15. 4. and he commands us to seek in the Scripture eternal life.

We do not account the prophecy of Isaiah touching Christ, which the Eunuch read, to be a dark and obscure prediction; but we know it was clear and plain enough, though the Eunuch, a raw Proselyte, understood not the meaning of it.

The Fathers proved their opinions out of the Scriptures, therefore the Scriptures are more clear then the writings and Commentaries of the Fathers.

To every one which readeth (with humility and invocation of God) the Book of the Apocalipse, the obscurest *Solet obscuritas lectores absterrer…: quo modo ajunt olim quendam dixisse Authorem obscurum à se removentem, Tu non vis intelligi, neque ego te intellige…e.and hardest Book to understand of all other, blessedness is promised, when it cannot befal to any that understandeth nothing, it is manifest that the promise of blessedness includeth a warrant of understanding of it, so much as is necessary to salvation.

We affirm, that many places aEspecially in Genesis, Iob, Canticles, Ezek. Daniel, and the Revelation. In regard of the manner of writing, there are many abstruse phrases in scriptures, as divers Hebraisms, which perhaps were familiar to the Jews, but are obscure to us. All the skill of all the men in the world (from the beginning to the end thereof) wil not be able to finde out all truths contained in scripture, either directly, or by consequence; the full opening of the Book of Scripture, and of providence, will be a great part of the Saints work and happiness in Heaven. D^r Drake in his Preface to his Chronol. M^r Bolton hath almost the same in his four last things. There are many things very difficult and hard to be understood in the Prophecie of Ezekiel, and especially in those Chapters, which are written of the Temple; as Hierome observeth on Chap. 45. and the Jews themselves confess, that there are many things here expressed, which they conceive not; but say, That Eliah when he comes shall expound them; as R. Kimki notes on Ezek. 40 13. and 42. 5. and 45. 18. Aben Ezra thus writes, Urim & Thummim quid suerunt, ignoramus.in the Scripture are very obscure, and that either from the obscurity of the things, as in the Prophecies of future things, the event must interpret them, as Daniels Prophecies of the four Monarchies were in times past very dark, but easier since, when all things were fulfilled; so the coming of Antichrist in the New Testament, drew the Fathers into divers opinions; so even yet there are many things obscure in the Revelation bThe 20 Chapter especially Camierus de Canone l. 15. c. 4. Plato, Aristotle, Euclind, have their nodos, and the Scriptures have their foreign, 2 Pet. 3. 16. in them are dark sayings, Psal. 78. 2. Ridles, Ezek. 17. 2. Parables, Mat. 13. 35. Mysteries, Mat. 4. 13. Mr. Greenhil. That is a very difficult place, 1 Cor. 3. 15. See Laurentius, Augustin saith, This is one of the places of which Peter speaketh, 2 Pet. 3. 16. and that Heb 6. 4. 1 Pet. 3. 19. the last, Luther and Beza say, is one of the obscurest places in the New Testament. Vide Tarnovium in exercitat. Bib. & Cameronis Myroth. Evan.which are not accomplished. So those things which are spoken of the Messiah in the Old Testament are either not understood, or not fully without the New Testament. Sometimes the ambiguity of words breeds a difficulty, as I and the Father are one, the Arians understood it of a union of will, as when Christ prayed, Iohn 17. that the Disciples might be one. Hitherto may be referred those places which are to be understood allegorically, as the Canticles, the first Chapter of Ezekiel, 3. Some places are obscure from the ignorance of ancient Rites and Customs, as that place, 1 Cor. 15. 29. *See Laurentius, and D. Featly on the place, in the last large Annotations on the Bible. Non desunt primarii apud Judaeos Scriptures, qui dicant insaniae …initimum esse sperare cognitionem certam in animalibus immundis, in qua tamen observationem ordicus haeret Judaeorum superstitio, Bibliander de optimo genere Grammaticorum Hebraeorum.of Baptizing for the dead is diversly explained by Interpreters, both old and new. There are six Interpretations of it in Bellarmine l. 1. de purgatorio c. 8. Viginti praeter hujus loci expositiones deprehendo, saith one in a Theological disputation, De baptismo veterum. Ambrose saith, Paul had a respect to that custom of some, who baptized the living for the dead. Piscator and Bucane say, The custom of the ancient Church is noted here, who baptized Christians at the Graves, that so it might be a symbole of their belief and confession of the Resurrection of the Dead: Tarnovius proves that that rite was not in use in the Apostles time; Calvin interprets it of those who were baptized, when they were ready to die; but Beza thinks by Baptizing is understood the Rite of Washing the bodies before the Burial, that ablution used upon the dead, as if the Apostle should thence confirm the Resurrection of the dead, q. d. that that is a cold, vain and foolish Ceremony, if the dead should not rise again. And truly it is certain,Locus sanè obscurus siquis alius & explicatu difficilis, qui multos torquet & vicissim ab illis torquetur. that those words foreign being considered in themselves, may as well be rendred Super mortuos, as pro mortuis. Andreas Hy…rius sheweth in a particular Tract what various opinions there are about this place. Voetius hath written a Tract D… insolubilibus Scripturae. Estius and D^r Hall on the hard places of Scripture. Divers reasons may be rendred, why God would have many things in the Scripture obscure and difficult.

1. To make us diligent both in Prayer to him, to open to us the meaning of theAugustinus de Doctrina Christ. lib. 2. cap. 6. Ita Scripturas dicit à Deo temperatas, ut locis apertioribus sami occurreretur, obscurioribus fastidia detergerentur. Idem Augustinus ait, Nos apertis Scripturae locis pasci, obscuris exerceri. Scriptures, and likewise in Reading, Meditating, searching and comparing the Scriptures.

2. To remove disdain from us; we quickly slight those things that are easie.

3. That we might more prize heavenly Truths gotten with much labor.

4. To tame our arrogance and reprove our ignorance, Ioh. 16. 12.

5. God would not have the holy Mysteries of his Word prostituted to Dogs and Swine; therefore many a simple godly man understands more here then the great Rabbies.

6. That order might be kept in the Church, some to be Hearers, some Teachers and Expounders, by whose diligent search and travel, the harder places may be opened to the people.

Here the Lamb may wade, and the Elephant may swimme, saith Gregory. The Scriptures have both Milk for Babes, and strong Meat for Men, saith Augustine.

It is a note of a learned Interpreter, That the benefit of knowing the Prophecies concerning Apoc. 5. 1. 4, 65 M^r Burroughs on Isa. 66. 10.the Church, Christ before he was slain had it not so as he had after his death; it was the purchase of the blood of Christ to have those things opened.

We do not therefore hold, that the Scripture is every where so plain and evident, that it needs no interpretation, as our Adversaries do slander us, and hereBellarm. l. 3. de verbo Dei, c. 1. they fight with their own shadow. We confesse, that the Lord in the Scriptures hath tempered hard and easie things together. But this we affirm against the Papists:

First, That all points of Faith necessary to Salvation, and weighty matters pertaining to Religion are plainly set forth in the Scriptures.

Secondly, That the Scriptures may with great profit and to good edification be read of the simple and unlearned, notwithstanding the hardnesse of some places, which in time also using the means they may come to the understanding of.

Therefore I might save that labour in answering the Arguments of our Adversaries, since they are of no force against us, nor indeed touch our cause, proving onelyonly that some places in the Scripture are difficult which we deny not; But I shall first take off their Answers, whereby they would evade the strength of our Reasons for the perspicuity of the Scripture, and then refute their own Objections.

First, When we urge divers places to prove the Scripture to be a Light,Psal. 19. 9. and 119. 115. 2 Pet. 1. 19. the use of which is to dispell darknesse, which it would not if it self were obscure.

Bellarmine answereth, That those places are not to be understood of all the Scripture, but only of the Commandments: and that these also are called a Light, not because they are easily understood (although that be true) but because being understood and known, they direct a man in working. 2. If it be understood of all the Scriptures, they are called Light, not because they are easily understood, but… because they illustrate the minde when they are understood. But the Apostle Peter speaks not only of the Precepts of the Decalogue, but of all the Scripture of the Old Testament: which, if it be Light, much more shall the Scripture of the New Testament, and therefore the whole body of Scriptures which the Christians now have▪ shall be Light.

Secondly, That place, Psal. 119. 130. doth not speak of the Precepts alone▪ [Of thy words] by which is signified the whole cGenebrardus testatur aliquos de tota Scriptura locum interpretari, nec loquitur de nostris, sed aut suis, aut autiquis, Hieronymus quidem à parte est ejus opinionis, & Lyranus, & alii multi. Whitak.Scripture; in Psal. 19. David speaketh of the word of God in general, which he adorneth with many Titles, The Law or Doctrine of the Lord, The Testimony of the Lord, The Statutes of the Lord, The Precepts of the Lord, The Fear of the Lord; It is so called Metonymically, because it teacheth us the Fear and Reverence of the Lord, he saith, this Doctrine is perfect, converts the soul, and makes wise the simple, therefore he understands the whole Scripture, the teacher of true and perfect wisdom. 2. It is called a light, because it hath light in it self, and because it illightneth others, unless they be quite blinde or willingly turn away their eyes from this light.

Thirdly, If the Commandments be easie, the rest of the Scriptures is likewise, as the Prophets and historical Books, being but Commentaries and Expositions of the Decalogue.

That evasion of the Papists will not serve their turns, That the Scripture is a Light in it self, but not Quoad nos (as if the Scripture were a light under a Bushell) for that the Scipture is Light effectivè, as well as formaliter, appears by the addition, Giving understanding to the simple. It was a smart answer, whichM^r Durant. a witty and learned Minister of the Reformed Church of Paris gave to a Lady ofD^r Halls Peacemaker, sect. 15. suspected Chastity, and now revolted; when she pretended the hardnesse of the Scripture; why, said he, Madam, what can be more plain, then Thou shalt not commit Adultery?

The Scriptures and Reasons answered, which the Papists bring for the obscurity of the Scripture.

Object. 2 Pet▪ 3. 16. Peter saith there, That in the Epistles of Paul there are foreign, Some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned aend unstable wrest, as they doe also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction.

Answ. First, Peter restraineth the difficulty of Pauls writings to that point himselfHe saith not in which Epistles, but in which points and heads of Doctrine, i. those things which are obscurely set down in Saint Pauls Epistles, may be, and are elsewhere in holy Scripture more perspicuously delivered. then wrote of, touching the end of the world; therefore it is unreasonable that for one hard point in the Epistles the people should be debarred the reading of all the rest.

Secondly, Even in that point he affirmeth, That some things only are hard, and not all.

Thirdly, The understanding of the Scriptures dependeth not principally on the sharpnesse of mens wits for their learning, but on the Spirit of God which is given to the simple that humbly seek it by Prayer; therefore though the whole Scripture were hard to be understood, yet that is no good cause to bereave the people of God from reading of his Word.

Fourthly, Peter assigning the true cause of errour and abuse of the Scripture, to be the unstability and unleardnesse of such as deal with them, cannot thereby be understood to speak that of the body of the Church, and of the people.

Laurentius in his Book intituled, S. Apostolus foreign, hoc est, explicatio locorum difficilium in Epistolis Paulinis, reckons up fourty hard places in Pauls Epistles.

Rom. 1. 19, 20, 28. and 2. 12, 13, 14, 15. and 4, 5. and 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20. and 7. 9, 14, and 8. 3, 4, 19, 20, 21, 22. and 9. 3, 11, 12, 13, 18. and 11. 25, 26. 1 Cor. 2. 15. 1 Cor. 3. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. 1 Cor. 4. 9. and 5. 11. and 6. 2, 3. 1 Cor. 7. 1, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. 1 Cor. 11. 7, 10. and 15. 29, 51. 2 Cor. 2. 15, 16. and 3. 6, 15, 16. Galat. 1. 8. and 2. 14. and 3. 10. 1 Thess. 4. 15, 16, 17. 1 Tim. 1. 9. Heb. 6. 4, 5, 6. and 10. 26.

They say the Scriptures are difficult also in the manner of writing as well as in theAct. …. 31. matter, for which they alledge Psal. 119. 18. the Eunuch, and Luk. 24. 45. also the divers expositions of old and new Writers.

The first place is directly against them: for teaching that it is the gift of Gods holy Spirit obtained by Prayer to understand the Scripture, the Spirit through Prayer, being as well obtained by the simple as learned sort, yea, rather by them then the others, it followeth that the reading of them belongeth to the simple as well as unto the learned.

The like answer serveth for the place of Luk. 24 45. for by that abuse of the place, they may wring the reading of the Scriptures from all men, even Ministers of the Word commanded to attend the reading of them, since they of whom they say, that they understood not the Scriptures, were Ministers of the Word, and that in the highest and most excellent degree of Ministery in the world, which was the Apostleship. The cause of want of understanding then was this, the Spirit of God was not given because Christ was not glorified, which can have now no place. Besides that, in saying they understood not the Scriptures concerning the suffering and glory of Christ, it must needs be understood comparatively, that they did not clearly, particularly, and sufficiently know them. For that place Act 8. it is to be understood comparatively, viz. That a man faithfull and already gained to the truth, as this Eunuch was, cannot understand the Scriptures by the bare reading of them, so well and throughly, as when he hath one to expound them. The Lord which helped the endeavour of the Eunuch searching the Scriptures by sending of Philip▪ will n…ver suffer those which seek him in careful reading of his Word, to go away ashamed without finding that which they seek for, in directing unto him some lawful and sufficient Ministery to instruct him by. The Mystery of the Gospel then (indeed) fulfilled, remained notwithstanding unpublished to the world by the Apostles, which is now by their preaching and writings laid open and made more manifest. The Eunuch which professed that he could not understand the Scripture without an Interpreter, did notwithstanding busie himself in reading of it.

The multitude of Commentaries *There was a time when the Scriptures were read without Cōmentaries, and there was a time when they were hardly understood with Commentaries. D. Ames.was not so necessary (because the Scripture might have been understood without them) although they deserve singular respect amongst all those that are desirous to understand the Scripture, who write learned and elaborate Expositions on the Scripture.

That was a witty speech of Maldonates on Luk. 2. 34. Nescio an facilior hi… locus fu…sset, si nemo eum exposuisset; sed fecit multitudo & varietas interpretationis, ut difficilis videretur.

Secondly, These Commentaries are publisht, that the Scriptures may better and more easily be understood.

Thirdly, The Papists confesse that the Articles of the Apostles Creed being necessary for all, are easie; Yet there are many Commentaries of the Ancients upon the Creed, as Russinus, Augustine, Cyril, Chrysostome, Chrysologus; and of Papists also.

Some Scriptures are hard for the matter which they handle, as are the Books ofCartwrights Letter to Master Hildersham for the study of Divinity. Daniel, Ezekiel, Zachary; or throng of much matter in few words, as are in the Old Testament the Poetical Books, wherein no doubt the verse hath caused some cloud, and amongst them the Proverbs from the tenth Chapter, and the Prophecie of Hosea.

Body of Divinity, Book 1 · Chapter 8

p. 81CHAP. VIII. Of the Properties of the Scripture.

p. 84Object. Faith was before the Scripture, therefore the Scripture is not the rule of Faith.

Object. The Scripture is not perfect with a perfection of parts, because many parts are either defective or excessive.

Object. There is something found in the Scripture against the Commandment of God, Deut. 4. 2. therefore there is excess as well as defect; for many Books which we believe to be Canonical, are added.

Object. 2 Pet▪ 3. 16. Peter saith there, That in the Epistles of Paul there are foreign, Some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned aend unstable wrest, as they doe also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Properties of the Scripture.

Object. Faith was before the Scripture, therefore the Scripture is not the rule of Faith.