kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical r; fo as, in all controverfies of religion, the church is finally to appeal unto them f. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have right unto and interest in the fcriptures, and are commanded, in the fear of God to read and search them t; therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come v, that, the word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner w, and, thro patience and comfort of the Scriptures,may have hope x. IX. The infallible rule of interpreptation of Scipture,is the Scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full fenfe of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one) it must be searched and know by other VIII. r Mat. 5. 18. For verily I fay unto you, till heaven and earth pafs, one jot, or one title fhall in now wife pafs from the law,till all be fulfilled. 1 Ifaiah 8.20. To the law, and to the teftimony: if they speak not according to this word,itisbe caule there is no light in them. Acts 15.15. And to this agree the words of theprophets,as it iswrit, ten. John 5.39. Search the fcriptures, for in then ye think yehave eternal life,and theyare they which tellify of me,v.46. For had ye believed Mofes,ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. t John. 5.39. Search the fcriptures, for in them ye thinkye have eternal life, and they are they which teftify of me. VI Cor.14.6.Now, brethren, if I come unto you fpeaking with tongues,what shalll profityou,except I fhall speak to you either by revelation,or by knowledge, orby prophefying, or by doctrine? v.9. So likewife you,except ye utterby the tongue wordseafy to be underftood, how fhall it be known what is fpoken? for ye fhall fpeak into the air. v.11. Therefore,if I know places not the meaning of the voice, I fhall be unto him that fpeaketh a barbarian; and he that speaketh fhall be a barbarian unto me.v. 12. Even fo ye, forafmuch as ye are zealous of fpiritual gifts, feek that ye may excel to the edifyingofthe church.v. 24.But if all prophefy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all.. 27. If any man fpeak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the moff by three, and that by courfe, and let one interpret. v. 28. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep filence in the church; and let him fpeak to himfelf and to God. w Col. 3. 16. Let the word of Chrift dwell in you richly in all wisdom,teaching and admonishing one another in pfalms, and hymns,and fpiritual fons, finging with grace in your hearts to the Lord. x Rom. 15. 4. For whatfoever thingswerewritten aforetime,were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope. IX, y 2 Pet. X. The fupreme judge, by which all controverfies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opiniof antient writers, doctrines of men, and private fpirits, are to be examined, and in whofe fentence we are to reft; can be no other but the holy spirit speaking in the Scrip places that speak more clearly y. ons ture z. CHAP. II. Of God, and of the holy Trinity. THE HERE is but one only a, living and true God b, who is infinite in being and perfections c,a moft pure fpirit d, invi IX.y 2 Pet. 1.20. Knowing this firit that no prophecy of thefcripture is ofany privateinterpretation v. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will ofman: but holy menot Godipake as they were moved bythe holy Ghost. Acts15. 15. And to this agree the words of the prophets,as is written, v. 16. After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacleof David which is fallen down, and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will fet it up. X.zMatt.22. 29. Jefus anfwered and faid unto them, Yedo err,not knowing the fcriptures, nor the power of God. v.31.But as touching the refurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was Spoken unto you by God, faying. Eph.2.20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jefus Chrifthimfelf beingthe chiefcorner-ftone.with Acts28,25. And when they agreed notamong themfelves, theydeparted,afterthat Paul had fpoken one word, well fpake the holy Ghoft by Efaias the prophet unto our fathers. I I.a Deut.6. 4.Hear,O Ifrael,the Lordour God isone Lord. Cor.8.4. As concerningtherefore the eating of thofe things that are offered in facrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, & that there is none other God but one.v.6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jefus Chrift,by whom are all things, and we by him. brThef.1.9. For theythemselves fhew of us,what manner ofentring in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols,to ferve theliving and true God. Jer. 10.10. But the Lord isthe true God, he is the living God,and an everlasting King. cjob11:1. Canft thou byfearch ing find out God? canft thou find out the Almighty untoperfection? v. 8. It is as high as heaven,what canft thou do? deeper than hell, what canft thou know? v. 9. The meafure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the fea. Job26.14. Lo,thefeare 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 fpirit, and they that worship him, muft wor fhip him in fpirit and in truth. 'I Tim 31 invifible e, without body, parts f, or paffions g, immutable h, immenfei, eternal k, incomprehenfible 1, almighty m, most wife a, moit holy o, moft free p, moft abfolute q, working all things according to the counfel of his own immutable and e1 Tim. 1. 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invifible, the only wife God, be honour and glory,for ever and ever. Amen. f Dut. 4.15. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves(forye law no manner of fimilitude on the day that the Lord fpake unto you in Horeb, out of the midst of the fire.). 16, Left ye corrupt your felves, and make you a graven image, the fimilitude of any figure, the likeness of maleorfemale. John 4. 24.God is a fpirit,and they that worthip him muft worthip him in Spirit and in truth.With Luke24. 39. Behold my hands andmy feet, that it is I myfelf: handle me, and fee, for a fpirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye fee me have. g Acts 14.11.Andwhen the people faw what Paul had done, they lift up their voices, faying, in the Speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. v. 15. And faying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We allo are men of like paflionswith you, andpreachunto you,thatye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven and earthand the fea,and allthings that are therein. h Jam. 1. 17. Every good gift, andevery Perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is novariable nefs, neither fhaddow of turning. Mal. 3. 6. For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye fons of Jacob are not confumed. i 1 Kings 8.27. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven,and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee,howmuchlefs this houfe thatI have builded? Jer. 23. 23. Am I a God at hand, faith the Lord, and not a God afar off? v. 24. Can any hide himself in fecret places, that I fhall not fee him; faith the Lord: do not I fill heaven and earth? faith the Lord. k Plalmgo. 2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth & the world,even from everlasting to everlafting, thou art God.1 Tim.. 17.Now unto the king eternal,immortal,invifible,theonly wifeGod, be honour and glory,for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Pfalm 145.3.Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praifed; and his greatnefs is un'earchable. m Gen.17, 1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and faid unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me,and be thou perfect. Rev. 4. 8. And the four beafts had each of them fix wings about him, and they were full of eyes within, and they reft not day andnight,faying,Holy,holy,holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. n Rom. 16.16. ToGod only wife, be glory through Jefus Chrift for ever. Amen. o Ifa. 6. 3. And one cried unto another, and faid, Holy,holy,holy is the Lord of hoftsthe whole earth is full of his glory. Rev. 4.8. (See letter m immediately foregoing) p Pfal. 115. 3. But our God is in the heavens; he hath done whatloever he pleafeth. q Exod. 3. 14. AndGod faid unto Mofes, I AM THAT I AM: And he faid, thus fhalt thou fay unto the children of Ifrael, I AM hath fent me upto you. r Eph. and most righteous will r, for his own glory f; most loving t, gracious, merciful, long-fuffering, abundant in goodness & truth, forgiving iniquity, tranfgreffion and fin v; the rewarderof themthat diligently feek him w; and withal most just and terrible in his judgments x, hating all fin y, and who will by no means clear the guilty z. II. God hath all life a, glory b, goodness c, blessednefs, r Eph. I. II. In whom allo we have obtained an inheritance, being predeftinatedaccording to the purpofe of him, who worketh all things afterthe counsel of his own will. f Prov. 16. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himfelf: yea, eventhewicked for theday of evil. Rom, 11. 36. For of him,and thro' him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. t John4.8.He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for Godislove: v.16.And we have known andbelived the love that God hath to us,God is love: and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. vExod.34.6. And the Lord paffedby before him,and proclaimed, The Lord,the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long fuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, v.7.Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and tranfgreffion and fin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; vifiting the iniquity of thefathers uponthe children, and upon the childrens children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. wHeb.11.6.But withoutfaith it is impoffible to pleafe him: for he that cometh to God, muft believe thathe is.and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently feek him. x Neh..32.Now therefore,our God: the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepelt covenant and 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 prophets,and on our fa thers, and on all thy people, fince the time of the kings of Affyria, unto this day. v.33.Howbeit,thou art juft in all that is broughtupon us; for thou haft done right, but we have done wickedly. y Pfal.5.5.The foolish shall not ftand in thy fight; thou hateft all workers of iniquity. v. 6. Thou fhalt destroy them that fpeak leafing: the Lord willabhorthe bloody and deceitful man. z Nahum 1. 2. God is zealous. and the Lord revengeth,the Lord revengeth and is furious, the Lord will take vengeance on his adverfaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. v.3. The Lord is flow to anger, and great in power,and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in thewhirlwind, and in the storm, and the clouds are the duft of his feet. Exod34.7.Keepingmercyforthou. fands,forgiving iniquity & tranfgreffion and fin,and that will by no means clear the guilty; vifiting the iniquity ofthefathers upon the children, and upon the childrens children, unto thethird and to the fourth generation. II.a John 5. 26. For as thefather hathlife inhimfelf,fo hath he given to the Son to have life in himself. b Acts 7.2. And he faid,men,brethren,& fathers, hearken,the God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham,when hewas in Mefopo tamia,before he dwelt in Charran. c Pfal.119.68.Thou art good,& doft good, teach me thy ftatutes, da Time nefs d, in and of himfelf; and is alone in and unto himfelr All-fufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made e; nor deriving any glory from them f, but only manifefting his own glory, in, by, unto, and upon them: He is the alone fountain of all beings, of whom, through whom,and to whom are all things g; and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleafeth h. In his fight all things are open and manifeft i; his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature k, fo as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain 1. He is most holy in all his counfels, diTim.6.15.Which inhistimes he fhallfhew,whois the bleffed and only potentate,the Kingof kings, and Lordof lords.Rom.9.5. Whofe are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Chrift came: who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. e Acts17. 24. God that made the world,and all things therein, feeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth notintemplesmade with hands: v.25. Neither is worfhipped withmenshands,as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. f Job. 22. 2.Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wife may be profitable unto himfelf? v. 3. Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thoumakeft thy ways perfect? g Rom. 11. 36. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things: to whom be gloryfor ever. Amen. h Rev. 4. 11. Thou art worthy O Lord,to receive glory, and honour, and power; for thou haft created all things,and for thy pleafure they are, and were created. 1 Tim. 6.15 (fee letterd immediatelyforegoing)Dan. 4.25.That they fhall drive thee frommen,and thydwellingfhall be withthebeafts of the field, and they fhall make in thee to cat grafs as oxen,and they fhall wet thee with the dewof heaven,andfeven times fhallpafsover thee, till thou know that the most highrulethinthe kingdomof men, andgivethittowhomfoever hewill. v. 35. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he dothaccordingto his willin the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can ftay his hand, or lay unto him, What doelt thou? i Heb. 4. 13.Neither is thereany creature that is not manifest in his fight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. k Rom, 11.33.0 the depthofthe riches, both of the wifdom and knowledge of God!how unfearchable are his judgments, and his ways paft finding out! 34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counfeller? Pfal. 147. 5. Great is our Lord, andof great power: his understanding is infinite. Acts 15. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Ezek. 11. 5. The Spirit of the Lord fell upon me,and faid unto me,fpcak, Thus faith the Lord, Thus have ye faid O houfe of Ifrael: for I know the things that come into your mind every one of them. |