All which are given by inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life". III. The books commonly called Apocrypha not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the fcripture; and therefore are of no authority in the church of God, nor to be any II. g Eph. 2. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-ftone. Rev. 22. 18, 19. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book; And if any man shall take away, from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 2 Tim. 3. 16-All fcripture is given by inspirationof God, andis profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings". IV. The authority of the holy fcripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God, (who is truth itself) the au thor thereof; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the word of God'. V. We may be moved and induced by the teftimony of the church to an high and reverend efteem for the holy scripture; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole, (which is to give all glory. to God) the full discovery it makes of the only the III. h Luke 24. 27. And beginning at Mofes and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the fcrip fcriptures, things concerning himself. Ver. 44. And he faid unto them, These are the words which I fpake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Mofes, and in the prophets, and in the pfalms, concerning me. 2 Pet. 1. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. IV. i Tim. 3. 16. All fcripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. i John. 5. 9. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: For this is the witness of God which he hath teftified of his Son. 1, Thess. 2. 13. For this cause alfo thank we God without ceafing, becaufe, 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, which effectually worketh alfo in you that believe. V. k 1 Tim. 3. 15. But if'l tarry long, that thou mayeft know how thou oughteit to behave thyself in the houfe of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. way of man's salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the word of God; yet, notwithstanding, our full perfuafion and affurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness, by and with the word, in our hearts1. VI. The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's falvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in fcripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come.-He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.-1 Cor. 2. 10. 11, 12. But God hath re 11 John 2. 20, 27. But ye have an unction from the Holy One and ye know all things.But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the fame avealed them unto us by his Spi nointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie; and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. John 16. 13, 14. Howbeit, wben he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatfoever he rit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God.-For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of a man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. revelations of the Spirit or traditions of men. Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the word"; and there are some circum. stances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and christian prudence, according to the general rules of the word, which are always to be observed. VI. m 2 Tim. 3. 16. All fcripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: Ver. 17. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Gal. 1. 8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gofpel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.-2 Thess. 2.2. That ye be not foon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, as that the day of Chrift is at hand. n John 6. 45. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me. 1 Cor. 2.9, 10. 12. But as it is written, Eye hath not fseen, nor ear heard, neither have entered in to the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him -But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. o 1 Cor 11. 13, 14. Judge in yourselves: Is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? I Cor. 14. 26, 40. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done to edifying. Let all things be done decently and in order. VII. All things in scripture are not alike plaîn in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation, are fo clearly propounded and opened in some place of fcripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them. VIII. The Old teftament in Hebrew, (which was the native language of the people of God of old) and the New testament in Greek, (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations) being immediately inspired by God, and by his fingular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical; fo as in all controverfies of religion the church is finally to appeal unto them. But be VII. p 2 Pet. 3. 16. As alfo in all bis epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wreft, as they do also the other fcriptures, unto their own destruction. q Pfal. 119. 105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ver. 130, The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the fimple. VIII, r Mat. 5. 18. For ve rily I say unto you. Till heaven and earth pafs, one jot or one tittle shall in no wife pafs from the law, till all be fulfilled. s Ifai. 8. 20. To the law and to the teftimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Acts 15. 15. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, John 5. 46. For had ye believed Mofes, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. |