The Scriptures Proved to be the Word of God, To the reader
THE EPISTLE To the READER.
READER,
IF thy heart be not grieved to hear the blaſphemy of thoſe that deny Gods truth, his meſsengers, his ordinances, thou haſt much cauſe to ſuſpect thy love to God, his truth, or ordinances. The firſt ſtep to errour, is, to have our love abated towards the truth. You need not marveil, if thoſe that receive not the truth in the love of it, that they may be ſaved, but deny God to be the authour of the truth,2 Theſ. 2.10, 11, 12. that they are carried on by ſtrong deluſions to believe a lye, that they might be damned: the judgement is long ſince threatned. When men forſake the right way, they muſt needs goe astray. When men forſake the fountain of living water,2 Pet. 2.15 then doe they dig to themſelves broken ciſterns that can hold no water. When ſound doctrine will not be indured,2 Tim. 4.3, 4. then ſuch as turn away from the truth are regarded. Thoſe that deny the ſcriptures to be the word of God, turne to be filthy dreamers, deſpiſing dominion, and ſpeaking evill of dignities,Iude 8. (as Jude ſpeaks) they tell their dreames and pretended revelations to the people, and would perſwade men, they are the word of God;Jer. 23.25, 26, 27. but as the prophet Jeremiah ſaith, The Lord is againſt them that propheſie falſe dreams,Jer. 23.31, 32. that uſe their tongues, and ſay, he ſaith. Beloved, theſe are the latter times (propheſied of long ſince) in which ſome ſhall depart from the faith, giving heed unto ſeducing ſpirits, and Doctrines of Devils: For if ever there were a Doctrine of Devils,1 Tim. 4. or a Deviliſh Doctrine vented on earth, this is one; To perſwade men the ſcriptures are not the word of God, and that they must be guided only by the light within them. If the Divell can but perſwade men to believe this doctrine; it will be eaſie to perſwade them, to deny the uſe of all meanes of grace, and all principles of religion, & to be led altogether by the ſuggestions of Sathan, while he perſwades them it is the light within them, by which onelyonly they muſt be guided: contrary to Iſa. 8.20. Yet theſe men that teach this Deviliſh Doctrine, with many more, would perſwade the world (although they juſtly ſuffer for their ungodly practice) that they are perſecuted, and ſuffer for the cauſe of God. But we know, it is not the ſuffering, but the cauſe, that makes the Martyr: and ſure I am,Mat. 5.10. they ſuffer not for righteouſneſſe ſake; and therefore not for the cauſe of God:2 Cor. 4.4. Ʋnleſſe it be the God of this world, who hath blinded their miuds &c. Shall ſuch as poyſen mens bodies be puniſhed with death? And muſt thoſe that poyſon mens ſouls with Damnable doctrines goe unpuniſhed? You may read at your leaſure, how ſevere God is againſt ſeducers, in Deut. 13. To conclude, art thou one that ſtandeſt firm in the faith? pray to God, thou maiſt keep thy ſtanding; art thou one that art wavering minded? then adhere to and follow after thoſe teachers that are ſound in the faith, whom God hath ſet over you; And know,2 Pet. 2.2.14. that unſtable ſouls are they that are beguiled by falſe teachers: Wherefore hearken not to them, and as Chriſt commands you,Luk. 17.23. go not after them, nor follow them: And make uſe of his following antidote againſt them. And art thou one that art already ſeduced into the errour of denying the ſcriptures to be the word of God, Let me tell thee, that what is written in this book, ſhall either convince thee, or be a witneſſe againſt thee. And if any one receive any benefit by theſe my labours: all that I deſire is, they would bleſſe God for it; and let him have a ſhare in your prayers, who is willing to be
Your Servant, in and for the truth, Sampſon Touneſend.