cause these original tongues are not known to all the people of God who have right unto and inter. eft in the scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God, to read and search them', therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come", that the word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner", and, through patience and comfort of the scriptures may have hope*.

IX. The infallible rule of interpretation of scripture is the scripture itself; and, therefore, when there is a question about the true and full

t John 5. 39. Search the fcriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they whichtestify of me, v. 1 Cor. 14.6, 9, 11, 12. 24, 27, 28. Now brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? - So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be -known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh sball be a barbarian unto me.-Even so ye, for as much as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that you may excel to the edi. fying of the church. But if

all prophesy and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all.If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep filence in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.

w Col. 3. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in pfalms, and hymns, and spiritual fongs, grace in your

Lord.

finging with hearts to the

x Rom. 15. 4. For whatsoever things were written aforctime were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

2

sense of any fcripture, (which is not manifold, but one) it may be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly".

X. The fupreme Judge, by whom all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the fcripture".

IX. y Ads 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.

X. z Mat. 22. 29,31. Jesus answered and faid unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God-But as touching the refurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was

spoken unto you by God. Eph. 2. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-ftone. Acts 28. 25. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Efaias the prophet unto our fathers.

CHAP. II.

Of God, and of the Holy Trinity.

T

HERE is

but one only living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spiritd, invisible, without body, parts,

I. a Deut. 6. 4. Hear, O Ifrael, the Lord our God is, one Lord; I Cor. 8. 4, 6. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in facrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are, all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by nim.

b1 Thess. 1. 9.-Ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, Jer. 10. 10. But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting King.

c Job 11. 7, 8, 9. and 26. 14. Canft thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is high as heaven, what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the fea. -Lo,

f

these are parts of his ways; but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power, who can understand?

d John 4. 24. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship bim in spirit and in truth.

e 1 Tim. 1. 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wife God, be honor and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

f Deut. 4. 15, 16. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye faw no manner of fimilitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in, Horeb out of the midst of the fire. Left ye corrupt yourfelves, and make you a graven image, the fimilitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female. Luke 24. 39. Behold my hands and my feet; that it is I myself. Handle me and fee; for a fpirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye ice me have. John 4.24.

or passions, immutable, immenfe', eternalk, incomprehensible', almightym, most wife", most holy, most free", most absolute, working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will', for his own glory'; most loving, gracious, merciful, longfuffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression and fin"; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him"; and withal most just and terrible in his judgments; hating all fin', and who will by no means clear the guilty.

f Prov. 16. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himself: Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Rom. 11. 36. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things. To whom be glory for ever. Amen. Rev. 4. 11.

t 1 John 4.8. He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love.

v Exod. 34. 6, 7. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-fuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and tranfgreffion and fin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.

w Heb. 11. 6.- For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently feek him.

x Neh. 9. 32, 33- Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and C

mercy; let not all the trouble feem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our proph ets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, fince the time of the kings of Affyria, unto this day. Howbeit, thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly.

y Pfal. 5.5, 6. The foolish shall not stand in thy fight: thou hateft all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leafing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

z Nahum 3. 2, 3. God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth and is furious, the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he referveth wrath for his enemies. - The Lord is flow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. See Exod. 34.7.