The Scriptures Proved to be the Word of God, Tract
THE SCRIPTVRES Proved to be the Word of God.
DAN. 10.21.
I will ſhew thee that which is noted in the Scripture of Truth.
HAving undertaken to maintain againſt the Quakers theſe two Propoſitions:
I. That the Scriptures contained in the Books of the Old and New Teſtament, commonly called the Bible, is the revealed Will and Word of God.
II. That the Scriptures, which is the Word of God, is the only foundation for our faith, and the only rule for our obedience.
I begin with the firſt: And I ſhall prove, that the Scriptures is the Word of God; Firſt, by Scripture it ſelf; Secondly, by Reaſon: He that will not believe the Scriptures, is an Infidel; That will not hear the voice of Reaſon, is a Beaſt. The Scriptures ought to convince us as Chriſtians; Reaſon, as rational men. And I doubt not but by both to clear up to every one (that reſolves not to be wilfully blind) that the Scriptures are the revealed Will of God.
1. I ſhall prove, that the Scriptures are the Word of God, by the teſtimony of the Scriptures. We find throughout the Scriptures in ſeveral places, that God is ſaid, 1. To ſpeak them. 2. To write them: or, 3. To cauſe them to be written. 4. They bear Gods name and title upon them. Laſtly, by the titles that are given to the Miniſters that declare them. I ſhall give you ſeveral inſtances in Scripture for all theſe.
1. The Scriptures declare in a multitude of places, That God ſaid the words that are therein written; I ſhall give you ſome few for all: Gen. 1.3. God ſaid, &c. and in ſeveral places in that Chapter, and throughout the Book it is often written, God ſaid, and the Lord ſaid; and in Exod. 3.14. And God ſaid unto Moſes, I am that I am. And in many places it is ſaid, The Lord ſpake to Moſes, and it is written what God ſaid to him. Exod. 20.1. God ſpake all theſe words, ſaying, &c. Lev. 10.3. This is that the Lord ſpake, ſaying, I will be ſanctified in them that come nigh me. Num. 11.25. And the Lord came down in a Cloud and ſpake unto him. Deut. 5.22. Theſe words the Lord ſpake unto all your aſſembly. Joſh. 24.2. And Joſhua ſaid unto all the people, Thus ſaith the Lord God of Iſrael. Joſh. 7.13. Thus ſaith the Lord, There is an accurſed thing in the midſt of thee O Iſrael. 1 Sam. 2.30. Wherefore the Lord God of Iſrael ſaith, I ſaid indeed, &c. 1 Sam. 15.2. Thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts. 1 Kin. 8.15. Bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael, which ſpake with his mouth unto David my Father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, ſaying, &c. 1 Chron. 21.9. And the Lord ſpake unto Davids Seer, ſaying, &c. Iob 1.7, 8. And the Lord ſaid unto Satan. Pſal. 50.1. The mighty God, the Lord hath ſpoken, &c. Pſal. 12.5. Now will I ariſe, ſaith the Lord. Iſa. 24.3. The Lord hath ſpoken this word. And in many places he ſaith, Thus ſaith the Lord. Ier. 1.1, 2, 4, 9. The words of Ieremiah, &c. to whom the word of the Lord came, &c. The Lord ſaith unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth; and in many places in that Book he ſaith, Thus ſaith the Lord. Ezek. 7.1. The word of the Lord came unto me, ſaying; and in many places alſo he ſaith, Thus ſaith the Lord. Hoſ. 1.1. The word of the Lord that came unto Hoſea. Ioel 1.1. The word of the Lord that came to Joel. Amos 3.1. Hear the Word that the Lord hath ſpoken; and Ver. 8. The Lord hath ſpoken, who can but propheſie? And in many places he ſaith, Thus ſaith the Lord. Obad. 1. The viſion of Obadiah, Thus ſaith the Lord. Ionah 1.1. Now the Word of the Lord came to Jonab. Micah 1.1. The Word of the Lord that came to Micah. Nabum 1.12. Thus ſaith the Lord. Zepha. 1.1. The Word of the Lord which came unto Zephaniah. Hag. 2.1. The Word of the Lord by the Prophet Haggai, ſaying. Zach. 1.1. The Word of the Lord came unto Zachariah. Mal. 1.1. The burden of the Word of the Lord to Iſrael by Malachi. Thus have I noted ſome few of a multitude of Scriptures in the Old Teſtament, that declare, What is written in the Scriptures, is no other but what God ſaid, and therefore his Word. I ſhall now alſo mention a few of the many Scriptures in the New Teſtament, that declare it to bee the Word of God, becauſe the Lord did ſpeak it. Luke 12.20. But God ſaid, Thou fool, &c. Heb. 1.1, 2. God, who at ſundry times, and in divers manners ſpake in time paſt unto the Fathers by the Prophets, hath in theſe laſt daies ſpoken unto us by his Son. And in every place almoſt throughout the 4 Evangeliſts, the verie words of our Saviour Chriſt the Son of God, God and Man, are mentioned, Mat. 4.4, 7.10. In all which places, Jeſus Chriſt repels the Devils temptations, by telling him what God hath written in the Old Teſtament. I ſhall not need to mention the ſayings and doings of our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, which are frequently recorded in the New Teſtament. And hence it is, that it is called the Word of Chriſt. Col. 3.16. Let the Word of Chriſt dwell in you. And the Goſpel is called the Goſpel of Chriſt. Mark 1.1. The beginning of the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt the Sonne of God. Rom. 1.16. I am not aſhamed of the Goſpel of Chriſt. I ſhall not need to multiply more Texts of Scripture. It is called the Word of the truth of the Goſpel. Col. 1.5. Becauſe Jeſus Chriſt that is the Truth, (John 14 6.) is the Authour of it. And thus it appears the Scriptures are the Word of God, becauſe as the Prophet Micah ſaith, Micah 4.4. The mouth of the Lord of Hoſts hath ſpoken it. For it is all one to ſay the Scripture ſaith, and God ſaith. Heb. 13.5. He (that is God) hath ſaid, I will never leave thee nor forſake thee. And where ſaith he it? In the Scripture, Joſh. 1.5. The word Scripture is put for God ſpeaking in the Scripture. Gal. 3.22. The Scripture hath concluded all under ſin, that the promiſe by faith of Jeſus Chriſt might be given to them that believe. And in Rom. 11.32. (it is ſaid) God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. And thus it clearly appears, that the Scriptures are the Word of God, becauſe God hath ſpoken them.
2. I ſhall prove, that the Scriptures are the Word of God, becauſe God writ them. The two Tables of ſtone delivered unto Moſes, were written with the finger of God. Exod. 31.18. Deut. 9.10. Exod. 32.16. And the Tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the Tables. Hoſ. 8.12. I have written to them the great things of my Law. And thus it appears the Scriptures are the Word of God, becauſe they are written by God. But here ariſes an Objection, that I muſt needs reſolve before I goe any farther, and that is this.
Object. How can the Scriptures be the Word of God, when we know the Prophets and Apostles writ much of them?
Anſw. To which I anſwer, God is ſaid to have written the Scriptures in theſe two reſpects:
Firſt, becauſe the Ten Commandments were undoubtedly written by God himſelf, (as before was proved) and all the reſt that is written in the Volume of the Book, is but as it were a Comment or Expoſition of thoſe ten Precepts.
Secondly, God is ſaid to have written the Scriptures, (though men were the inſtruments) becauſe that what they writ was by the appointment of God, and by the help and aſſiſtance of God; God appointed them to write it, Exod. 17.14. And the Lord ſaid unto Moſes, Write this for a memorial in a Book. Iſa. 8.1. Moreover, the Lord ſaid unto me, Take thee a great Roul, and write it with a mans pen, &c. Jer. 30.2. Thus ſpeaketh the Lord God of Iſrael, ſaying, Write thee all the words that I have ſpoken to thee in a Book. Jer. 36.1, 2. This is the word that came unto Ieremiah from the Lord ſaying, Take unto thee a Roul of a Book, and write therein all the words that I have ſpoken unto thee, &c. Hab. 2.2. And the Lord anſwered me, and ſaid, Write the Viſion, and make it plain upon Tables, that he may run that readeth it. And Iohn in the Revelations, is commanded by Chriſt, to write the things which he had ſeen, and the things which are, and things which ſhall be hereafter, Rev. 1.19. And in Rev. 14.13. I heard a voice from Heaven, ſaying unto me, Write Bleſſed, &c. And thus it appeares the Scriptures are the written Word of God, becauſe God himſelf writ them, and cauſed them be written.
3. I come now in the third place to prove by Scripture, that they are the Word of God, becauſe what the Prophets and Apoſtles writ, it was written as from the mouth of the Lord, by the help and aſliſtance of the Spirit of God. Hence it is ſaid, That God ſpake by their mouths. Luke 1.70. As he ſpake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which have bin ſince the world began. Acts 1.16. This Scripture muſt needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghoſt by the mouth of David ſpake. And Acts 3.18, 21. But thoſe things, &c. which God hath ſpoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets ſince the world began. Iſa. 51.16. I have put my words in thy mouth, Ier. 1.9. And ſaith David, 2 Sam. 23.2. The Spirit of the Lord ſpake by me, & his Word was in my tongue; By all which Scriptures it clearly appears, that God helpt them to ſpeak, he gave them a mouth, and wiſdome to declare his mind. And we find that they ſpake by the help of the Spirit of God. Neh. 9 30. Yet many years didſt thou forbear them, and teſtified againſt them, by thy Spirit in thy Prophets. 2 Pet. 1.21. For the propheſie came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God ſpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoſt. 2 Tim. 3.16. All Scripture is given by inſpiration of God. And thus you ſee the Pen men of the Scriptures were inſpired by the Holy Ghoſt to write them. And they were ſo aſſiſted by God in that work, as God is ſaid to ſpeak by their mouths; and therefore the Scriptures muſt needs be the Word of God.
4. I come in the fourth place to prove by Scripture, that it is the Word of God, by the ſeveral Epithets or Titles that are given to the Scripture. I ſhall inſtance in ſome few of the many that are throughout the Scriptures. They are called the Law of the Lord, Pſa. 1.2. And often in the 119 Pſa. David acknowledges it to be Gods Law; and Pſ. 81.4. The Law of the God of Iacob. They are called the Oracles of God Rom 3.2. 1 Pet. 4.11. The Counſel of God, Act. 20.27. Pſa. 33.11. Prov. 19.21. The Will of the Lord, Eph. 5.17. the Myſtery of Gods will, Eph. 1.9. the Goſpel of God, 1 Theſſ. 2.9. the glorious Goſpel of the bleſſed God, 1 Tim. 1.11. the Goſpel of Chriſt, Rom. 1.16. Rom. 15.19. the words of the Lord, Ier. 36.8. the words of the living God, Ier. 23.36. the words of the Lord Jeſus, Acts 20.35. and very frequently they are called the Word of God, Iſa. 40.8. Mark 7.13. Rom. 10.17. and very remarkable is that place in 1 Theſſ. 2.13. For this cauſe thank we God without ceaſing, becauſe when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth the Word of God. And to conclude this, God himſelf calls the Scriptures his Word. Zach. 1.6. My Word and my Statutes. Micah 2.7. Does not my Word doe good to him that walks uprightly? And Ezek. 2.7. Thou ſhalt ſpeak my words unto them. And ſaith Chriſt, Mark 8.38. Whoſoever ſhall be aſhamed of me and of my words. By all which places it clearly appears, that the Scriptures are the Word of God, becauſe they bear the title and name of God upon them, and God himſelf acknowledges them to be his words.
Laſtly, in the fifth and laſt place, I come to prove, that the Scriptures are the Word of God, by the titles that are given to the Miniſters that declare the Scriptures: they are called the Meſſengers of the Lord, Hag. 1.13. then ſpake Haggai the Lords Meſſenger in the Lords Meſſage unto the people. Mal. 2.7. The Prieſts lips ſhould preſerve knowledge, and they ſhould ſeek the Law at his mouth, for he is the Meſſenger of the Lord of Hoſts. And 2 Chron. 36.15, 16. The Lord God of their Fathers ſent to them by his Meſſengers, &c. But they mocked the Meſſengers of God, and deſpiſed his words. And they are called the Lords Miniſters, Ioel 1.9. and Iſa. 61.6. Ye ſhall be named the Prieſts of the Lord; men ſhall call you the Miniſters of our God. And the Apoſtle calls them, Miniſters of the New Teſtament. 2 Cor. 3.6. Miniſters of Chriſt, and ſtewards of the myſteries of God, 1 Cor. 4.1. Ambaſſadours for Chriſt, 2 Cor. 5.20. Now if the Scriptures be not the Word of God, how can thoſe that declare them, be truly called the Meſſengers of God, and the Miniſters of God and of Chriſt, and the ſtewards of the Myſteries of God, and Ambaſſadors for Chriſt? but they are thus called in the Scripture; therefore the Scriptures are the Word of God, elſe the Meſſengers thereof could not be the Lords Meſſengers. And thus have I done with the firſt thing propounded, To prove by the teſtimony of Scripture it ſelf, that they are the Word of God; and that becauſe God ſpake them, writ them, or cauſed them to bee written: And they are frequently in Scripture called the Word of God; and the Meſſengers that declare them are called the Meſſengers and Miniſters of God, and Ambaſſadors for Chriſt, and therefore they muſt needs be the Word of God.
2. I come now in the ſecond place, to ſhew by Reaſons that the Scriptures are the Word of God. I ſhall lay down ſeveral Reaſons.
Reaſon 1. The Antiquity of the Scriptures do clearly prove them to bee of God: For man could not write of things done before ever he had a beeing. But the works of the five firſt dayes Creation are mentioned in Scripture, and man was not made till the ſixt day, Gen. 1. therefore they muſt needs be the Word of God.
Reaſon 2. They diſcover thoſe things man could not declare: As that the world was made of nothing; that man was at the firſt made of the duſt of the Earth; that there is but one God in eſſence, and yet that in this one eſſence there ſhould be three Perſons; that a Virgin ſhould bring forth a Son; that God ſhould take the nature of man upon him, and ſuffer, &c. theſe things cannot come into the thoughts of man; but the Scriptures declare theſe things; therefore they are the Word of God.
Reaſon 3. No word of man can diſtinguiſh the true God from the falſe; but this doth the Scriptures, Iſa. 41.20. to 24. therefore they are the Word of God.
Reaſon 4. No word of man can work a change in his heart, and make the ſtouteſt heart to tremble at the hearing thereof: But the Scriptures convert the ſoul, and work grace, Pſal. 19.7. Iohn 15.3. Iames 4.5.6. and the opening thereof will make the heart burn and tremble, Luke 24.32. Acts 24.25. therefore they are the Word of God.
Reaſon 5. No word of man is able to make a man wiſe unto ſalvation. But the holy Scriptures are able to make a man wiſe unto ſalvation, 2 Tim. 3.15. therefore they are the Word of God.
Reaſon 6. No man, only by his own writings, can diſcover Jeſus Chriſt. But the Scriptures diſcover Jeſus Chriſt, Acts. 18.28. Iohn 1.45. Therefore they are the Word of God.
Reaſon 7. No man can make Laws for mens thoughts: But the Scriptures diſcover mens thoughts, and make Laws for them, Heb. 4.12. Eccleſ. 10.20. Therefore they are the Word of God.
Reaſon 8. Men make Laws to binde thoſe that are under them. But the Scriptures make Laws to bind the greateſt Rulers upon the Earth. Therefore they are the Word of God.
Reaſon 9. It ſpeaks in a lofty ſtyle, to the King, and the ſubject, and to all men alike. But thus doth not the word of man; for that puts a diſtinction between perſons. Therefore the Scriptures are the Word of God.
Reaſon 10. No writings of man can procure eternal life to them that obſerve and do them. But to believe and to do what the Scriptures require, will bring eternal life; Iohn 5.24, 29. Deut. 32.46, 47. Ezek. 20.11. Iohn 6.68. Iohn 20.31. Therefore they are the Word of God.
Reaſon 11. No word of man can be truly called righteous, pure, or holy; For who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Iob 14.4. But the Scriptures are righteous, pure, and holy, Pſ. 19.8, 9. Pſ. 119 151, 172. Rom. 7.12. Therefore it is the Word of God.
Reaſon 12. If the Scriptures be not the Word of God, but of man, then Miniſters ought to teach nothing contained in the Scriptures, for Doctrines or Rules for Gods worſhip, Mat. 15.9. In vain do they worſhip me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, Iſa. 29.13. Col. 2.22. But Miniſters ought to teach no other doctrine, but what is contained in the Law and in the Goſpel, Iſa. 8.20. 1 Tim. 1.3, 10, 11. And if any man bring any other Goſpel then what is already received, he is accurſed, Gal. 1.9. Or any that ſhall adde or diminiſh from the propheſie of the Book of the Scriptures, Rev. 22.18. Deut. 4.2. Prov. 30.6. And the Scriptures alſo teach us an holy life, 1 Pet. 1.16. Lev. 11.44. and how we are to worſhip God, Acts 24.14. Therefore they muſt needs be the Word of God.
Reaſon 13. The ſweet Harmony of the Scriptures prove them to be the Word of God; for no writings of man do ſo debaſe man, exalt God, and preſſe men to obedience. But the Pen-men of the Scriptures doe all agree together in theſe things; and although there were many Pen-men, yet there is no contradiction in their writings, but the Old Teſtament witneſſes to the New, and the New to the Old. It is not thus in the writings of men. Therefore they muſt needs be the Writings of God.
Reaſon 14. If they were written by man, they were written either by good men or bad men. But they were not written by bad men, for they hate the purity of the Scriptures; and to be ſure they were not written by good men, (as the Authours thereof) for they abhor to lie, and ſay The Lord ſaith, if the Lord hath not ſaid the Word. Therefore they muſt needs be the written Word of God.
Reaſon 15. The wonderful calling of Moſes, the Prophets, and Apoſtles, to make known the Scriptures, doe manifeſtly prove them to be the Word of God; ſee for Moſes, how he was called, Exod. 2.7, 10. and 3.2. Acts 7.20, 21. and Amos, and divers of the Apoſtles were unlearned men, which had not been brought up in the ſchools of men, Amos 7 14, 15. Mark 1.16. And yet theſe declared the Scriptures, which manifeſt more wiſdome then all the wiſe men in the world can declare; yea, the Apoſtles that were unlearned and ignorant men, ſpake in ſeveral tongues the wonderful works of God, to the admiration of the hearers, Acts 2.11. and 4.13. this could not come from man. Therefore it muſt needs be the Word of God.
Reaſon 16. No writings of man could declare the heavy wrath of God againſt ſin, and the remedy how to get rid of that wrath. But this doth the Scriptures, Pſa. 9.17. Rom. 5.9. 1 Theſſ. 5.9 Luke 21.36. therefore they are the Word of God.
Reaſon 17. If the Scriptures were not the Word of God, but of man, then certainly God would not have wrought ſo many miracles to confirm the truth of mans ſayings. But there are many miracles both in the Old and New Teſtament, to confirm the truth of the Scriptures. Therefore they are the Word of God.
Reaſon 18. No creature, Angels, men or Devils, if all were put together, could ever be able to declare before hand, what particular perſons ſhould be born, and what ſhould be their names, and what they ſhould do, ſome thouſand and hundred years before their parents were born. But this do the Scriptures, as we read of the Meſſias Gen. 3.15. Iſa. 9.6, 7. and Ioſiah, 1 Kings 13.2. 2 Kings 23.16, 17. Therefore it is the Word of God.
Reaſon 19. No man will write and declare to the world their own failings and infirmities. But many of the Penmen of the Scriptures do declare their own failings and infirmities, which they would never have done, had they not been moved thereunto by the Spirit of God. Therefore the Scriptures muſt be the Word of God.
Reaſon 20. All the prophecies of the Scripture from time to time have been punctually performed and fulfilled. But ſo are not all mans prophecies. Therefore they are the Word of God.
Reaſon 21. The word of man is often broken. But the Scripture cannot be broken, Iohn 10.35. Therefore it is the Word of God.
Reaſon 22. If the Scriptures were not the Word of God, the Churches of God would long before this time have found them out to be only the word of man; as Jeremiah found out Hannaniah, Jer. 28.15, 16. and as the Church of Epheſus found out the falſe Apoſtles, Rev. 2.2. But the truth of Gods Word in the Scriptures hath ever been held forth by the Churches of God, as a Proclamation upon a pillar, 1 Tim. 3.15. Now as a Proclamation receives not its authority from the pillar, nor the light from the Candleſtick that bears it: So neither do the truths of the Scriptures receive their authority from the Church, or any member thereof, but from God which is the onelyonly Authour thereof, and ſo all Chriſtian Churches acknowledge. And thus you ſee, that the Scriptures are the Word of God, 1. Reaſon ſhews it. 2. The Spirit of God perſwades it, Iſa. 59.21. 3. The Scriptures themſelves affirm it; and 4. The Churches of God have ever received it as the Word of God. Therefore it muſt needs be the Word of God.
To conclude this: If the Scriptures be not the Word of God, but of man only; then 1. Man ſhould teach himſelf his duty towards God. 2. We ſhould have no certain rule for our Faith and Religion. 3. There ſhould be no neceſſity of reading and hearing the Scriptures. 4. If we deny the Scriptures to bee the Word of God, we caſt off all means which God hath appointed for eternal life, Iohn 5.39. And laſtly, doubting of this, expoſes us to all Atheiſme, and contempt of Religion and Juſtice. Therefore, ſeeing (as hath been fully proved) the Scriptures themſelves, and Reaſon alſo make it apparent, that the Scriptures are the Word of God, let us believe they are ſo; And as the Apoſtle exhorts, Phil. 3.16. Let us walk by the ſame rule, and mind the ſame thing. And thus have I done with the firſt Propoſition, That the Scriptures contained in the Books of the Old and New Teſtament, commonly called the Bible, is the revealed Will and Word of God.
Prop. II. I come now to the ſecond Propoſition; That the Scriptures which is the Word of God, is the only foundation for our faith, and the only rule for our obedience.
This Propoſition falls into theſe two parts: 1. That the Scriptures is the only foundation for our faith. 2. That it is the only rule for our obedience. I ſhall very briefly ſpeak to both theſe things.
Firſt, That the Scriptures is the only foundation of our faith.
1. The Scriptures are the means by which faith is wrought, Rom. 10.17. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, Eph. 1.13. In whom ye alſo truſted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the Goſpel of your ſalvation. And ſaith Chriſt, John 5.24. He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that ſent me, hath everlaſting life. And the Word is called the word of Faith, Rom. 10.8. The myſtery of Faith, 1 Tim. 3.9. The faith of the Goſpel, Phil. 1.27. And all this to teach us, that all true faith is wrought by and founded upon the Word of God.
2. It is the very end why the Scriptures are written, John 20.31. That we might make them the foundation of our faith and hope in God, 1 John 5.13. Theſe things have I written, &c. that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Rom. 15.4. Whatſoever things were written afore time, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope.
3. The Scriptures muſt needs be the only foundation to build faith on, becauſe we find the faithful in Scripture did ever make it the only foundation of their faith. Abraham the father of the faithful, he believed according to that which was ſpoken, Rom. 4.18. and David, Pſal. 119.42. I truſt in thy Word. And the Diſciples, Iohn 2.22. they believed the Scriptures, and the Word which Jeſus had ſaid. And obſerve S. Pauls Confeſſion, Acts 24.14, 15. I confeſs unto thee, that after the way which they call Hereſie, ſo worſhip. I the God of my Fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets, and have hope towards God, &c. And the Bereans, Acts 17.11, 12. ſearched the Scriptures, whether thoſe things were ſo; therefore many of them believed. And thus you ſee, they made the Scriptures the only foundation for their faith.
4. They cannot have faith in Chriſt, that believe not the Scriptures; this is clearly proved by theſe Scriptures, Ioh. 5.46, 47. For had ye believed Moſes, ye would have believed me, for he wrote of me; But if ye believe not his writings, how ſhall ye believe my words? Luke 16 31. If they hear not Moſes and the Prophets, neither will they be perſwaded, though one riſe from the dead. And ſaith Chriſt, Ioh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures, for in them ye look to have eternal life, and they are they which teſtifie of me. By theſe Scriptures it is clear, that thoſe that believe not the Scriptures, cannot have faith in Chriſt by any other means. And therefore the Scriptures muſt needs be the only foundation of faith.
5. It is only faith in the written Word of God, that will fill the ſoul with ſpiritual joy, Rom. 15 12.13. and hence it is, that David ſaith, Pſal. 119.162. I rejoice in thy Word, as one that findeth great ſpoil; and ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Iohn 1.4 Theſe things have I written unto you, that your joy may be full. There can be no ſpiritual joy in thoſe that build not their faith in the written Word and promiſes of God. It is by faith in the Word, that believers of old (and at all times) obtained promiſes, Heb. 11.33. And Chriſt, when he was upon the Earth, prayed for ſuch as ſhould believe on him through the Word (written by the Apoſtles and Evangeliſts) John 17.20. Therefore the written Word of God muſt needs be the only foundation of faith.
Laſtly, we are commanded to make the Word of God the ground of our faith; and it is condemned as a ſin, not to believe the Word of God, 2 Chro. 20.20. Believe in the Lord your God, ſo ſhall you be eſtabliſhed; Believe his Prophets, ſo ſhall ye proſper. Pſ. 106.24. They believed not his Word. Heb. 4.2. The Word preached did not profit them, not being mixt with faith in them that heard it. And thus you ſee God commands we ſhould build our faith upon the Scriptures: therefore they muſt needs be the only foundation of faith. Before I conclude this, take this Caution: Although the Word of God be the only foundation for us to build our faith on;Caution. yet the Word as it conſiſteth of letters and ſyllables, hath no ſtrength to beget faith in mens hearts, for many hear, but do not believe, Iſa. 6.9, 10 And therefore it is only from the Spirits working, together with the Word, that faith is wrought, 1 Theſſ. 1.5. Our Goſpel came not in word only, but alſo in power and in the Holy Ghoſt. The Word works not faith without the Spirit, neither doth the Spirit work faith without the Word; but the Spirit by the Word, works ſanctification, and a lively faith founded upon the Word, as ye may ſee in theſe Scriptures, John 17.17. John 6.63. Iſa. 59.21. Hag. 2.5. And thus have I proved the firſt part of the Propoſition, That the Scriptures is the only foundation of faith.
Secondly, I come now to the ſecond; That the Scriptures which are the Word of God, are the only rule for our obedience. I might for proof of this give you many teſtimonies of Scripture; but I ſhall name a few for all. Deut. 5.32, 33. Ye ſhall obſerve to do therefore, as the Lord hath commanded you; ye ſhall not turn aſide to the right hand nor to the left; ye ſhall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you. Deut. 6.25. And it ſhall be our righteouſneſs, if we obſerve to do all theſe Commandments before the Lord, as he hath commanded us. Joſh. 23.6. Keep and do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moſes. The Word of God in the Old and New Teſtament, is a perfect Law, Pſ. 19.7. James 1.25. Rom. 8.2. And hence it is the Scriptures are ſaid to bee able to make the man of God perfect, 2 Tim. 3.17. And it muſt needs be ſo, becauſe where there is no tranſgreſſion of the Law of God, there is no ſin; for all ſin is the tranſgreſſion of the Law of God, 1 Ioh. 3.4. And therefore God promiſes to all thoſe he enters into Covenant with, To write his Law in their hearts, Ier. 31.33. Heb. 8.10. And of every righteous man it is ſaid, The Law of God is in his heart, Pſ. 37.31. By all which, it appears the Word of God is the only rule for our obedience. It may alſo yet farther appear, if ye conſider,
1. The Lord is the only Law-giver, Iam. 4.12. and his Word is the only right rule for our obedience, Pſ. 33.4. and therefore it is called the ſure Word, 2 Pet. 1.19. it will never fail.
2. It is an everlaſting rule ſo long as we live on Earth, 1 Pet. 1.25 The Word of the Lord endureth for ever.
3. No man can be blameleſs in his life, unleſs his converſation be ordered according to the Word of God, Pſal. 119. 9 Luke 1.6. Titus 2.5.
4. Every man ſhall be judged according to what is written in the Book of Gods Word, Iohn 12.48. Rev. 20.12.
Laſtly, there are many promiſes made to the keeping of Gods Word, and many threatnings denounced againſt ſuch as walk contrary to the rules of Gods Word, Gal. 6.16. Rev. 22.14. Luke 11.28. And for threatnings read Deut. 28.15. &c. Before I conclude, take theſe two Cautions:
Caution 1. Although the written Word of God be a perfect rule of righteouſneſs, and the only rule for our obedience; yet know, that no man can, or does perfectly fulfill the Law of God, for, Iames 3.2. In many things we offend all; and Prov. 20.9. Who can ſay, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from ſin? The moſt eminent believer ſins in many things; but the unbeliever ſins in all things, Heb. 11.6. Yet every godly man hath reſpect to all, and deſires and endeavors to keep all the Commandments of God, Pſ. 119.5, 6. and do not willingly allow himſelf in any conſtant violation of Gods Law, but delights in it in the inward man, Rom. 7.15, 16. and the 22 verſe.
Caution 2. Take this Caution; although believers are freed from the condemning power of the Law, yet are they not freed from the commanding or directing power thereof, 1 Cor. 9.21. 1 Tim. 1.8. To conclude, they that make not the Word of God the rule for their actions, are led either by their own fancies, or the Devils temptations, or both.
FINIS.
End of the text · Sampson Townsend, The Scriptures Proved to be the Word of God (1654)