and by his fingular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical r; fo as, in all controverfies of religion, the church is finally to appeal unto them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have right unto and intereft in the fcriptures, and are commanded, in the fear of God, to read and fearch them t; therefore they are to be tranflated 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, through patience and coinfort of the fcriptures, may have hope x. IX. The infallible rule of interpretation of fcripture, is the fcripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full fenfe of any fcripture, (which is not manifold, VIII. r. Mat. v. 18. For verily I fay unto you, Till heaven and earth pafs, one jot, or one title fhall in no wife pafs from the law, till all be fulfilled. Ifaiah viii. 20. To the law, and to the teftimony: if they fpeak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Acts xv. 15. And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written. John v. 39. Search the fcriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. v. 46. For had ye believed Mofes, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. t John v. 39. Search the fcriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. I Cor. xiv. 6. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what fhall I profit you, except I fhall fpeak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophefying, or by doctrine? v. 9. So likewife you, except ye utter by the tongue wards eafy to be understood, how fhall it be known what is fpoken? for ye fhall fpeak inte but the air. v. II. Therefore, if I know not the meaning of the voice, I fhall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian; and he that fpeaketh fhall be a barbarian unto me. v. 12. Even so ye, forafmuch as ye are zealous of fpiritual gifts, feek that ye may excel to the edifying of the 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. v. 27. If any man fpeak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. v. 28. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep filence in the church; and let him fpeak to himself, and to God. w Cor. iii. 16. Let the word of Chrift dwell in you richly in all wifdom, teaching and admonishing one another in pfalms, and hymns, and fpiritual fongs, finging with grace in your hearts to the Lord. x Rom. xv. 4. For, whatfoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning; that we through patience and comfort of the fcriptures might have hope. IX. y 2 Pet. but one) it must be fearched and known by other places that fpeak more clearly y. X. The fupreme judge, by which all controverfies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of antient writers, doctrines of men, and private fpirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to reft; can be no other but the holy Spirit speaking in the scripture z. CHAP. II. Of God, and of the Holy Trinity. Tinite in being and perfection 6, a most pure spirit d, invi HERE is but one only a, living and true God b, who is IX. y 2 Pet. i. 20. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the fcripture is of any private interpretation. v. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God fpake as they were moved by the holy Ghoft. Acts xv. 15. And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, v. 16. After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen down, and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will fet it up. X. z Mat. xxii. 29. Jefus anfwered and faid unto them, Ye do 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 fpoken unto you by God, faying. Eph. ii. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apoftles and prophets, Jefus Chrift himself being the chief corner ftone. With Acts xxviii. 25. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had fpoken one word, Well fpake the holy Ghoft by Efaias the prophet unto our fathers. 1. a Deut. vi. 4. Hear, O Ifrael, the Lord our God is one Lord. 1 Cor. viii. 4. As concerning therefore the eating fible, of thofe 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. 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. bi Thef. i. 9. For they themselves fhew of us, what manner of entring in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols, to ferve the living and true God. Jer. x. 10. But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting King. c Job xi. 1. Canft thou by fearching find out God? canft thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? v. 8. It is as high as heaven, what canft thou do? deeper than hell, what canft thou know? v. 9. The meafure there. of is longer than the earth, and broader than the fea. Job xxvi. 14. Lo, thefe are parts of his ways, but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can un derstand? d John iv. 24. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, muft worship him in fpirit and in truth. e 1 Tim. fible e, without body, parts f, or paffions g, immutable b, immenfe i, eternal k, incomprehenfible, Almighty m, most wife n, most holyo, most free p, moft abfolute q, working all things according e 1 Tim. i. 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invifible, the only wife God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever.- Amen. f Deut. iv. 15. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourfelves (for ye faw no manner of fimilitude on the day that the Lord fpake unto you in Horeb, out of the midst of the fire) v. 16. Left ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the fimilitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female. John iv. 14. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, muft worship him in fpirit and in truth. With Luke xxiv. 39. Behold my hands and my 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 xiv. II. And when the people faw what Paul had done, they lift up their voices, faying in the fpeech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. v. 15. And faying, Sirs, why do you these things? We alfo are men of like paffions with you, and preach unto you, that ye fhould turn from thefe vanities unto the living God, which made heaven and earth, and the fea, and all things that are therein. b Jam. i. 17. Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variablenefs, neither fhadow of turning. Mal. iii. 6. For I am the Lord, I change not: therefore fons of Jacob are not confumed. ye i 1 Kings viii. 27. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven, and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, how much lefs this houfe that I have builded? Jer. xxiii. 23. Am I a God at hand, faith the Lord, and not a God afar off? v. 24. Can any bide himself in fecret places, that I fhall not fee him? faith the Lord: do not I fill heaven and earth? faith the Lord. I k Pfal. xc. 2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadft formed the earth and the world, even from everlafting to everlafting. thou art God. 1 Tim. i. 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invifible, the only wife God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen. / Pfal. cxlv. 3. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praifed; and his greatnefs is unfearchable. m Gen. xvii. 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. iv. 8. And the four beasts had each of them fix wings about him, and they were full of eyes within, and they reft not day and night, faying, Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. n Rom. xvi. 26. To God only wife, be glory through Jefus Chrift, for ever. Amen. o Ifa. vi. 3. And one cried unto another, and faid Holy, holy, holy' is the Lord of hofts, the whole earth is full of his glory. Rev. iv. 8. (See letter m immediately foregoing.) p Pfal. cxv. 3. But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatfoever he pleaseth. q Exod. iii. 4. And God 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 unto you. r Eph. Chap. II. cording to the counfel of his own immutable and most righteous. will r, for his own glory s; moft loving t, gracious, merciful, long-fuffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniqui ty, tranfgreffion, and fin v; the rewarder of them that diligently feek him w; and withal moft juft 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, goodnefs c, bleffednefs, Eph. i. 11. In whom alfo we have obtained an inheritance, being predeftinated according to the purpofe of him, who worketh all things after the counfel of his own will. s Prov. xvi. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himfelf: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Rom. xi. 36. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. t1 John iv. 8. He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love. v. 16. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. v Exod. xxxiv. 6. And the Lord paffed by 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 thoufands, forgiving iniquity, and tranfgreffion, and fin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; vifiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. w Heb. xi. 6. But without faith it is impoffible to pleafe him: for he that cometh to God, muft believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently feek him. x Neh. ix. 32. Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepeft 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 priefts, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, fince the time of the kings of Affyria, unto this day. v. 3. Howbeit, thou art juft in all that is brought upon us; for thou haft done right, but we have done wickedly. y Pfal.v. 5.The foolish fhall not ftand in thy fight: thou hateft all workers of iniquity. v. 6. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leafing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. z Nahum i. 2. God is zealous, and1 the Lord revengeth, the Lord revengeth and is furious, the Lord will take vengeance on his adverfaries, and he referveth 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 the whirlwind, and in the ftorm, and the clouds are the duft of his feet. Exod. xxxiv. 7. Keeping mercy for thoufands, forgiving iniquity, and tranfgreffion, and fin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; vifiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth' generation. II. a John v. 26. For as the Father hath life in himself, fo hath he given to the Son to have life in himself. b Acts vii. 2. And he faid, Men, bre. thren, and fathers, hearken, The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mefopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran. Pfal. cxix. 68. Thou art good, and nefs d, in and of himfelf; and is alone in and unto himfelf 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 moft fovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth b. 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 /. He is I and doft good, teach me thy ftatutes. d1 Tim. vi. 15. Which in his times he fhall fhew, who is the bleffed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Rom. ix. 5. Whofe are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Chrift came; who is over all, God bleffed for ever. Amen. e Acts xvii. 24. God that made the world, and all things therein, feeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands: v. 25. Neither is worshipped with mens hands, as though he needed any thing, feeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. f Job xxii. 2. Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wife may be profitable unto himself? v. 3. Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makeft thy ways perfect? g Rom. xi. 36. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. h Rev. iv. II. 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. vi. 15. (See letter d immediately foregoing.) Dan. iv. 25. That they fhall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling fhall be with the beafts of the field, and they moft fhall make thee to eat grafs as oxen, and they fhall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and feven times fhall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomfoever he will. v. 35. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or fay unto him, What doft thou? i Heb. iv. 13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifeft in his fight but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. k Rom. xi. 33. O the depth of the riches, both of the wifdom and knowledge of God! how unfearchable are his judgments, and his ways paft finding out! v. 34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counfeller? Pfal. cxlvii. 5. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. / Acts xv. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Ezek. xi. 5. And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and faid unto me, fpeak, 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. Pfal. |