Truth Held Forth and Maintained, Part 1 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Concerning the Scriptures, which are the Writings of the holy Men of God wherein is contained, that Jeſus Chriſt is the Everlaſting Word of God, by whom is the Salvation of all Men that are ſaved by his Power, which leads them to believe in his Name.
THe Holy Scriptures, (contained in the Old and Nevv Teſtament) ſignifie Writings in vvhichwhich VVritings are contained the VVords of God, as they vvere received by the living VVord of God, as may be read in the Prophets VVritings, The Word of the Lord came unto them, this vvas not the Letter of the Scripture that came unto them, but it vvas the living VVord of God, vvhichwhich in Scripture is moſt properly and frequently called The Word of God; In the beginning was the VVord, and the Word was God; the ſame was in the beginning with God, all things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made, that was made, Joh 1.1, 2 3 And the VVord was made Fleſh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his Glory as the Glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth. Now conſider what grounds People have to call the Scripture the only Word of God, without any Diſtinction, but by way of Information to the underſtanding of a…unbyaſſed Minds, that my deſign in the following Li… a is not to deprive the holy Scriptures of that honour due unto them, but that Truth and Righteouſneſs may take place; for the holy Scriptures, in their place, are highly to be eſteemed, with that Honour due unto them; for which end … labour is, that by others they may not be diſſplaced, by page missing to underſtand a true diſtinction between the written & declarative Word of God, and the VVord of his Spirit of Grace, Life and Light by Jeſus Chriſt, whom to know is Life indeed; for they that come unto him, it muſt be through Faith, in obedience to the gift of his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit, which opens the dark Underſtanding, and quickens the Mind, and works Grace in the Heart, and ſanctifies the inward Man of him that yeilds Obedience to the Word of his Spirit, without which there can be no true underſtanding of Gods ſaving Truth by Jeſus Chriſt, whom to know is Life Everlaſting; concerning which things the written VVord is large in its Declaration, concerning what God requires of the Sons and Daughters of Men, who, for Power to perform what they find to be their Duty, as by holy Record, they are to come unto Chriſt, the Author and Finiſher of his ovvn Work in them that believe; for the holy Scriptures of Truth vvere given forth by the Spirit of Truth, and living Word of Truth, vvhichwhich vvas the Word of God in His Servants of old; vvhichwhich Word, according to meaſure, remains the ſame to this Day in every ſincere true Believer, vvhoſe vvhole deſire is to give up in obedience to the manifeſtation of Gods good Spirit of Grace, by vvhichwhich they come to a thorovv underſtanding of vvhat they find of his VVill and Mind, recorded in the holy Scriptures of Truth, vvithout vvhichwhich Obedience the Letter kills, but by Obedience the Spirit makes alive; for the holy Scriptures are full in relating of what hath been paſt, and of what is to come; but as to the time when and manner how, the Lord in his own due time, by the Word of his Spirit doth reveal it to his Servants and Meſſengers of his Truth in this Day, even as it hath pleaſed him in days paſt; for as then in that day, the ſame is it with many in this day, who the Scriptures, yet it is ſaid of them, That they had not the Wor… abiding in them, for whom God had …ent, which was Chriſt the Word, him they believed not, Joh. 5.3, … which by the written Word is evident, that the gift of Gods Spirit of Grace, Life & Light by Jeſus Chriſt, is the ſaving Word of God to every Soul that by him is ſaved; for what ſaith it? the Word is nigh thee, in thy Mouth, and in thy Heart, that is the Word of Faith, James 1.21. Rom. 10 7, 8 and this Word is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, Epheſ. 6.17. it ſanctifies the heart of the faithful by the Word of God and Prayer, 1 Tim. 4.5. for the faithful are them that are poor, and of a contrite Spirit, which tremble at the Word of the Lord Iſa. 56.2, 5. Hear ye the Word of the Lord, ye that that Tremble at his Word. And again I have written unto you, Fathers, becauſe ye have known him that is from the beginning; I have written unto you, Young Men, becauſe ye are ſtrong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and you have overcome the wicked One, John 1.14. Now let all People mind by which they may come to a right underſtanding of the Scriptures, which were not from the beginning, neither do they of themſelves, and without the inward Word, give Power to overcome the wicked One; for the VVord of God was before Scripture, & promiſes Life eternal to all that are willing to receive the Word, which is the Promiſe of God in Chriſt before the World began, Ti. 2.3. And this Word hath been a Rule of Life to the faithful of God in all Ages, ſhewing unto Man the Thoughts of his Heart, and intents of his Mind and Obedience to the Word is an acceptable Sacrifice to the Lord and God hath promiſed o… overcome ſin in the faithful by the Power of his Word, which is as a two edged Sword to cut up and beat down all that is contrary to his heavenly divine Life in the heart of every faithful Man and Woman, that is come to yeild their Obedience according … that knowledge which they have received of God in Chriſt, whom to know is Life Eternal, in which Life they have the true ſaving knowledge of God, the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghoſt, which is One God, and One Lord Lord Jeſus Chriſt, & One holy Spirit, God in all, and through all, and over all, the Alpha and O…aega, the beginning and the end, the firſt and the laſt, bleſſed are they that do his Commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, Rev. 22.13, 14. which (as aforeſaid) is that which the Lord by the aſſiſting Power of his Spirit hath made known to me concerning his Word of Life and Light, by which the holy men of God were aſſiſted in giving forth a Declaration of his holy Truth, which they received by his holy Spirit, which is the living Word of all Truth, and will remain the ſame when the Letter of the Scripture ſhall end and be no more; for the Word of the Lord ſhall endure forever. And what is left recorded in the written Word of God, is for this end, that People may learn in the Light of the Lord, to perform that which by the Gift of his Spirit of divine Light & Grace he requires of them to do, the Declaration of which is recorded in the holy Scriptures of Truth, which are profitable for Doctrine, &c. 2 Tim. 3.16 which no man can learn but as he remains faithful to the gift of God, which he hath received for that end, that by ſo doing he may come to grow more and more in Grace, to the Honour of God, and everlaſting Wellfare of his immortal Soul, which will never witneſs Salvation, but by true Faith in Christ Jeſus, the moſt ſure VVord of Prophecy whereunto they will do well to take heed, as unto a Light that ſhineth in a dark place until the day dawn, and the Day ſtar ariſe in their hearts, without which there is no Salvation.