Reader
A Short Treatise Containing the Principal Grounds of Christian Religion · John Ball

A Short Treatise Containing the Principal Grounds of Christian Religion, Catechism · Question 9 – Question 13

Q. What are the properties of the Scripture?

A. It is of 19 Diuine ſ2. Tim. 3. 16.authoritie, the rule 20 of tEccl. 12. 10. Gal. 6. 16.faith and manners, 21 uRom. 10. 14.neceſſarie, 22 wPſal. 12. 6.pure, 23 xPſal. 19. 7.perfect, and 24 yProu. 8. 9.plain.

Expoſ. 19. Such is the excellency of the holy Scripture, aboue all other writings whatſoeuer, 2. Tim. 3. 15. 2. Pet. 1. 19. that it ought to be credited in all narrations, threatnings, promiſes, or propheſies. 1. Tim. 1. 15. Heb. 11. 11. 2. Pet. 1. 19. and obeyed in all commaundements. Iob 22. 22. Ier. 13. 15. Rom. 1. 5. God the Author thereof, beeing of incomprehenſible wiſedome, Pſa. 147. 5. great goodneſſe, Exod. 18. 9. Pſa. 34. 8. Rom. 11. 22. abſolute power and dominion, Gen. 17. 1. Pſal. 50. 1, …. and truth, that can neither deceiue nor be deceiued. Rom. 3. 4. Tit. 1. 2. Heb. 6. 18. The authority of the Scripture doth onelyonly and wholly depend vponupon God the author of it; and therefore though one part may be preferred before another, in reſpect of excellencie of matter and vſe, Cant. 1. 1. 1. Tim. 1. 15. in authoritie and certaintie eueryevery part is equall, and onelyonly Scripture is of diuine authoritie. Gal. 1. 8. Mat. 17. 5. 1. Cor. 11. 23.

20. The Scriptures are the word of Chriſt, Col. 3. 16. whoſe word is vpright, Eccl. 12. 10. Phil. 3. 16. the firſt truth, Heb. 13. 8. receiued by immediate, diuine reuelation, 2. Pet. 1. 21. and deliuered to the Church; ſufficient to make the man of God perfect in all good workes, 2. Tim. 3. 16. 17. the treaſury whence all doctrines muſt be taken, 1. Pet. 4. 11. Act 26. 22. Luk. 16. 29. the touchſtone wherby they muſt be tried, Act. 17. 11. Eſa. 8. 20. without which, error in doctrine and manners is vnavoidable. Matth. 22. 29.

21. In reſpect of ſubſtance, the word of God was alwaies neceſſary, Eph. 2. 20: without which we could neither knowe nor worſhip God aright. Heb. 11. 3. 6. Matth. 22. 29. Ioh. 20. 31. 2. Tim. 3 16. Rom. 15. 4. Luk. 24. 26, 27. In reſpect of the manner of reuealing in writing, the Scriptures were neeeſſarie, euer ſince it pleaſed God after that manner to make knowne his will. Deut. 17. 18. Ioſh 1. 8. Rom. 15. 4. Luk. 1. 3. Iude v. 3. and ſo ſhal be to the end of the world. 1. Cor. 10. 11. Reu. 22. 18.

22. This bleſſed word of God is free from all, euen the leaſt ſtaine of follie, errour, falſhood, or vniuſtice, Pſal. 119. 138. 140. Prou. 30. 5. Ioh. 17. 17. all things being laid down holily and truely, both for ſubſtance, circumſtance, and manner of ſpeaking. Pſal. 51. 1. Matth. 1. 25.

23. Whatſoeuer was, is, or ſhall be neceſſary, or profitable to be knowne, beleeued, practiſed, or hoped for, that is fully comprehended in the bookes of the Prophets, and Apoſtles. Luk. 16. …9. 31. Io. 5. 39. Rom. 15. 4. Gal. 1. 8. 9. 2. Tim. 3. 15. 16. 17. The perfection of the Scripture will more plainely appeare if we conſider; 1. That religion for the ſubſtance thereof was euer one and vnchangeable. Heb. 13. 8. Eph. 4. 5. Iude. 3. Act. 26. 22. Tit. 1. 1. 2. 2. The lawe of God written by Moſes and the Prophets, did deliuer whatſoeuer was needfull for, and behoouefull to the ſaluation of the Iſraelits. Deut. 4. 2. and 12. 32. Pſa. 1. 2. Mal. 4. 4. Hoſ. 8. 12. Luk. 10. 26. 3. Our Sauiour made knowne vntounto his diſciples the laſt and full wil of his heauenly Father. Io. 14. 26. and. 15. 15. and 16. 13. and 1. 18. and what they receiued of him, they faithfully preached vntounto the world. Act. 20. 27. 1. Cor. 15. 1. 2. 3. Gal. 1. 8. 1. Io. 1. 3. and the ſumme of what they preached, is committed to writing. Act. 1. 1. 2. Io. 20. 31. 1. Io. 5. 13. with Act. 8. 5. 1. 1. Cor. 2. 2. Rom. 10. 8. 9. 10. 4. There is nothing neceſſary to be knowne of Chriſtians, ouer and aboue that which is found in the old Teſtament, which is not plainely, clearely, and fully ſet downe, and to be gathered out of the writings of the Apoſtles and Euangeliſts. In the whole body of the Scripture, all doubts and controuerſies are perfectly decided. Eſ. 8. 20. Math. 22. 29. 40. Deut. 17. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 2. Tim. 3. 16. 17. and eueryevery particular booke is ſufficiently perfect for the proper ende thereof. Vnwritten traditions. 1. Cor. 4. 6. newe articles of faith. Ier. 7. 3. and 19. 5. and newe viſions and reuelations are now to be reiected. Heb. 1. 1. Io. 4. 25. Io. 15. 15. and 16. 13. with Matth. 28. 19. 2. Cor. 3. 6. 8. 11. with Heb. 8. 13.

24. In themſelues the whole Scripture is eaſie, Pſal. 119. 105. 2. Pet. 1. 19. Prou. 14. 6. ſuch excellent matter could not be deliuered in more ſignificant and fit words. Act. 1. 16. with Eph. 1. 17. But all things in Scripture are not alike manifeſt. 2. Pet. 3. 16. The Gentiles by nature hauehave the law written in their hearts. Rom. 2. 14. but to a naturall man the Goſpel is obſcure, accounted fooliſhnes. 1. Cor. 1. 21. and. 2. 14. Things neceſſary to ſaluation are ſo clearely laid downe, that the ſimpleſt indued with the Spirit, cannot be altogether ignorant of the ſame. Eſ. 54. 13. Io. 6. 45. Deu. 30. 11. Matth. 11. 25. 2. Cor. 4. 3. But to them who are in part illightned. 1. Cor. 33. 12. many things are obſcure and darke. 1. Cor. 13. 9. to tame the pride of mans nature. 2. Cor. 12. 7. worke in vsus a reuerence to the Scripture. 2. Pet. 3. 16. 17. 18. ſtirre vsus vp with care and diligence to read, pray, heare. &c. and vſe Gods meanes to growe in knowledge. Pro. 2. 3. 4. 5. & acknowledg that all heauenly wiſedome doth come from aboue. Pro. 2. 6. Iam. 1. 5. 1. King 3. 9. Iob. 28. 32.

Q. For what end was the Scripture writt…n?

A. To z2. Tim. 3. 16. 17. Rom. 15. 4.teach, •5 inſtruct, conuince, correct, and comfort.

Expoſ. 25. Faith and obedience is the way to happines, and the whole dutie of man is faith working by louelove, Rom. 1. 5. Tit. 1. 1, 2. 2. Tim. 1. 13. Gal. 5. 6. and 6. 15. which is aſſaulted with ignorance, errour, ſuperſtition & prophanenes. 1. Tim. 1. 6. 19. 20. 2. Pet. 2. 1. 2. 3. and beſet with many afflictions. 2. Tim. 3. 12. Therefore the Scripture which was giuen to ſhewe vntounto man the way of life and ſaluation, was alſo written to teach found Doctrine, improoue errour, correct iniquity, inſtruct to righteouſneſſe, and comfort in the path of holines. 1. Tim. 1. 10. 11. Tit. 2. 12. 1. Theſ. 3. 3. 4. Heb. 12. 1. 2.

Q. Doth the knowledge of the Scriptures belong vntounto all men.

A. Yes: 26 all men are not onelyonly allowed aIo. 5. 39., but exhorted and bDeut. 17. 18. 19. Reu. 1. 3.commaunded to read, heare, and cAct. 8. 30.vnderſtand the Scripture.

Expoſ. 26. The Scriptures teach the way of life. Pro. 2. 9. Luk. 16. 29. Act. 24. 14. and 13. 46. Pſal. 16. 11. Io. 6. 68. ſet forth the duties of eueryevery man in his place and eſtate of life. Deut. 17. 17. 18. 19. 20. Ioſh. 1. 8. Pſal. 119. 28. 2. Chro. 23. 11. 1. Tim. 4. 14. and 5. 1. &c. 2. Tim. 3. 16. 17. are the ground of faith, Rom. 4. 20. 2. Chro. 20. 20. 1. Tim. 1. 15. the Epiſtle of God ſent to his Church. Hoſ. 8. 12. Reu. 2. 1. 8. 12. his Teſtament, wherein we may find what legacies he hath bequeathed vntounto vsus. 2. Cor. 3. 6. 14. Heb. 10. 16. Io. 14. 17. the ſword of the Spirit. Eph. 6. 17. being knowne and embraced make a man happy. Pſal. 119. 97. 98. Luk. 10. 42. and 16. 29. Pſal. 1. 2. Reu. 1. 3. but neglected or contemned, plunge men into all miſery. Heb. 2. 3. Matth. 22. 29. Pſal. 50. 16. therefore all men of what age, eſtate, quality, or degree ſoeuer, ought to acquaint themſelues with the word of God. 1. Io. 2. 14. 15. Pſal. 119. 9. Act. 17. 11. Deut. 6. 7. Act. 18. 25. 28. for it was giuen of God, for the benefite and behoofe of all ſorts. Rom. 1. 14. being milke for babes, and meate for ſtrong men. 1. Cor. 3. 1. 2. Heb. 5. 13. plaine and eaſie to inctruct the ſimple. Pro. 1. 4. Pſa. 19. 7. and full of hidden wiſedome to exerciſe the ſtrong, and ſatisfie the wiſe. Col. 2. 3. 1. Cor. 2. 7. Pro. 1. 5. that both ſorts may be able to try the Spirits. 1. Io. 4. 1. be wiſe vntounto ſaluation, and growe rich in all ſpirituall knowledge and vnderſtanding. Col. 1. 10. and 2. 2. and 3. 16.

Q. The Scriptures were written in Hebrewe and Greeke, how then ſhould all men read and vnderſtand them?

A. They ought to be d1. Cor. 14. 18. 19.tranſlated 27 into knowne tongues, eNeh. 88. Act. 8. 35.and 28 interpreted.

Expoſ. 27. The Prophets and Apoſtles preached their doctrines to the people and nations in their knowne languages. Ier. 36. 15. 16. Act. 2. 6. Immediately after the Apoſtles times, many tranſlations were extant. All things muſt be done in the congregation vntounto edifying. 1. Cor. 14. 26. but an vnknowne tongue doth not edifie. Gen. 11. 4. and all are commaunded to try the Spirits. 1. Theſ. 5. 21. 1. Cor. 10. 15.

28. The expounding of the Scriptures is commaunded by God. 1. Cor. 14. 1. 3. 4. 5. 39. and practiſed by the godly. Luk. 4. 16. and 24. 27. Matth. 1. 23. 1. Cor. 14. 19. profitable both for the vnfolding of obſcure places. Neh. 8. 8. and applying of plaine texts. 1. Cor. 11. 23. 24. 28. 29. It ſtands in two things: 1. In giuing the right ſenſe. Matth. 13. 38. Act. 2. 29. 30. Gal. 3. 16. 2. In a fit application of the ſame. Act. 2. 16. and 1. 16. 1. Cor. 14. 24. 2. Pet. 1. 12. Of one place of Scripture, there is but one proper and naturall ſenſe, though ſometimes things things are ſo expreſſed, as that the things themſelues doe ſignifie other things according to the Lords ordinance. Gal. 4. 22. 23. 24. Ex. 12. 46. with. 10. 19. 36. Pſa. 2. 1. with. Act. 4. 24. 25. 26. We are not tied to the expoſitions of Fathers, or Councels, for the finding out of the ſenſe of the Scripture. Rom. 3. 4. Matth. 5. 27. 28. 31. 32. 33. 34. 38. 39. 43. 44. the holy Ghoſt ſpeaking in the Scripture, is the onelyonly faithfull interpreter of the Scripture. Luk. 1. 70. 1. Cor. 2. 10. 11. 10. 14. 26. Eſ. 55. 4. The meanes to find out the true meaning of the Scripture, are conference of one place of Scripture with another. 2. Sam. 24. 1. with 1. Chro. 21. 1. Eſa. 28. 16. with. Rom. 9. 33. Eſ. 65. 1. 2. with Rom. 10. 20. 21. Mic. 5. 2. with Matth. 2. 6. Matth. 26. 34. with Mar. 14. 30. diligent conſideration of the ſcope and circumſtances of the place. Matth. 22. 31. 32. Act. 2. …9. as the occaſions, and coherence of that which went before, with that which followeth after; the matter whereof it doth entreate. 1. Co. 11. 24. 25. 26. and circumſtances of perſons, times, and places. Act. 13. 36. 37. and conſideration, whether the words be ſpoken figuratiuely or ſimply; for in figuratiue ſpeeches, not the outward ſhew of words, but the ſenſe is to be taken. Io. 15. 1. Matth. 26. 26. Io. 14. 6. Ex. 12. 11. Io. 6. 35. 1. Cor. 10. 16. and knowledge of the Arts and Tongues wherein the Scriptures were originally written. 1. Cor. 12. 10. Act. 2. 3. 4. But alwaies it is to be obſerued, that obſcure places, are not to be expounded contrarie to the rule of faith ſet downe in plainer places of the Scripture. Rom. 3. 18. 20. & 12. 6. 2. Tim. 1. 13. Act. 13. 33. 36. 37. Rom. 6. 7.

Q. What doth the Scripture eſpecially teach v…?

A. The 1 ſauing fIo. 17. 3. Col. 2. 1. 2.knowledge 2 of God 3 and Ieſus Chriſt.

Expoſ. 1. Knowledge is the ground of obedience. 1. Chro. 28. 9. Act. 26. 18. a rich gift of grace. Mar. 4. 11. the firſt grace that God giueth vntounto his children. 1. Io. 2. 20. 27. and 5. 20. Io. 16. 4. and 6. 63. the foundation of all other graces. Pro. 19. 2. Pſal. 9. 10. Hoſ. 4. 4. Eſ. 11. 9. the guide of our affections, and directer of our actions. Pſal. 119. 9. 100. 101. Pro. 2. 10. 11. 12. Eſ. 30. 21. without which zeale is little worth. Rom. 10. 2. ſacrifice was vaine, Hoſ. 6. 6. and deuotion was but ſuperſtition, Act. 7. 22. 23. This when it is made by the work of the holy Ghoſt, to bee effectuall to ſincere faith, louelove, feare, and obedience, is ſauing. Ioh. 17. 3. Eſa. 53. 11.

2. Wee muſt know God, becauſe otherwiſe we cannot deſire, Ioh. 4. 10. obey, 1. Ioh. 2. 4. nor hauehave communion or fellowſhip with him. 1. Ioh. 1. 5, 6, 7.

3. We muſt know Chriſt, becauſe ſin hath made a ſeparation betweene God and vsus, Eſa. 59. 2. ſo that we cannot bee receiued into Gods fauour, or hauehave communion with him, without a Mediator. Eph. 1. 3. 5. Rom. 3. 25. Eph. 2. 18. 1. Ioh. 2. 1, 2. Heb. 10. 21. 22. Ioh. 14. 6. and God in Chriſt, or God and Chriſt, is the obiect of Chriſtian religion. Col. 3. 17. 1. Pet. 1. 21. Ioh. 14. 1. Heb. 1. 6. Chriſt is the image of the inuiſible God, Col. 1. 15. the brightneſſe of his glorie, and the expreſſe image of his perſon, Heb. 1. 3. in whom, with open face we behold, as in a glaſſe, the glorie of the Lord, 2. Cor. 3. 18. Ioh. 14. 9. in whom are hid all the treaſures of wiſedome and knowledge, Col. 2. 3. The Apoſtles who preached vntounto the world the whole counſell of God neceſſarie to ſaluation, did preach nothing, Act. 8. 5. Rom. 10. 8, 9. Act. 28. 31. did deſire to knowe nothing, but Ieſus Chriſt and him crucified. 1. Cor. 2. 2. Phil. 3. 8. of him they wrote, that our ioy might be full. 1. Ioh. 1. 4. and the Lord who forbids vsus to glory in any thing beſide, doth command vsus to glorie in this, that we know him in Chriſt. Ier. 9. 23. 1. Cor. 1. 30, 31. ſo that this knowledge is neceſſarie, eaſie, excellent, ſufficient, ſound and comfortable. 2. Cor. 4. 3. 4. Act. 8. 8.