THE 1 E CONFESSION OF FAITH. A 1 CHAP. I. Of the Holy Scripture. LTHOUGH the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence, do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable a; yet are they not fufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation b. Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto I. a Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law unto themselves: v. 15. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their confcience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accufing or elfe excufing one another, Rom. i. 19. Because that which may be known of God, is manifefted in them; for God hath shewn it unto them. v. 20. For the invisible things of him, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; fo that they are without excufe. Pfal. xix. 1. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handy-work. v. 2. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. v. 3. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not man heard. Rom. i. 32. Who knowing the judgment of God, (that they which commit fuch things are worthy of death) not only do the fame, but have pleasure in them that do them. With Rom. ii. 1. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whofoever thou art that judgeft; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest dost the fame things. b1 Cor. i. 21. For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Cor. ii. 13. Which things alfo we speak, not in the words which man's wifdom teacheth, but which the holy Ghoft teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. v. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they ar efpiritually difcerned. B3 Heb. the churchc; and afterwards, for the better preferving and propagating of the truth, and for the more fure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the fame wholly unto writingd: which maketh the holy scripture to be most neceffarye; those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people, being now ceasedf. II. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testament, which are these: Heb. i. 1. God who at fundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets. d Prov. xxii. 19. That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. v. 20. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counfels and knowledge; v. 21. that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? Luke i. 3. It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, v. 4. that thou mightst know the certainty of those things, wherein thou haft been instructed, Rom. xv. 4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning; that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Matth. iv. 4. But he anfwered and faid, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. v. 7. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou thalt not tempt the Lord thy God, Of v. 10. Then faith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Ifa. viii. 19. And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter; should not a people feek unto their God? for the living to the dead? v. 2d. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. 2 Tim, iii. 15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wife unto falvation, through faith which is in Christ Jefus. 2 Pet. i. 19. We have also a more fure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts. f Heb. i. 1. God, who at fundry times, and in divers manners, fpake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets: v. 2. hath in these laft days spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world. & Luke i Paul's Epistles to the | To Timothy II. All which are given by inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and lifeg. : Luke xvi. 29. Abraham faith unto him, they have Mofes and the prophets, let them hear them. v. 31. And he faid unto him, If they hear not Mofes and the prophets, neither will they be perfuaded, though one rose from the dead. Eph. ii. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Chrift himself being the chief corner-stone. Rev. xxii. 18. For I testify unto eve III. The ry 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. v. 19. 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 B4 Tim. III. The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine infpiration, are no part of the canon of the scripture; and therefore are of no authority in the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings h. 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 author thereof; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the word of God i. V. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church, to an high and reverend esteem of the holy scripturek, and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, ! Tim. iii. 16. All scripture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in rightę, oufnefs, III. b Luke xxiv. 27. And beginning at Mofes, and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. y. 44. And he faid unto them, These are the words which I spake 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. Rom. iii. 2. Much every way: chiefly becaufe unto them were committed the oracles of God. 2 Pet. i. 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 2 Pet. i. 9. We have also a more fure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the the day-star arise in your hearts. v. 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. 2 Tim. iii. 16. All fcripture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteousness. 1 Johnv. 9. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God, which he hath testified of his Son. I Theff. ii. 13. For this caufe also thank we God without ceafing, because 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 also in you that believe, V. 1 Tim. iii. 15. But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. John 4 the scope of the whole, (which is to give all glory to God) the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's falvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the intire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the word of God; yet notwithstanding our full perfuafion and assurance 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 hearts/. VI. The whole counsel of God, concerning all things neceffary for his own glory, man's falvation, faith and life, is either expressly fet down in scripture, or'by good and neceffary confequence may be deduced from fcripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of menm. Nevertheless, we 1 1 John ii. 20. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. v. 27. 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 anointing 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 xvi. 13. Howbeit, when the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himfelf, but whatfoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will fshew you things to come. v. 14. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 1 Cor. ii. 10. But God hath reveal ed them unto us by his Spirit, for the Spirit fearcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. v. 11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. v. 12. Now we have received, pot the spirit of the world, but the acknow spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Ifaiah lix. 21. As for me, this is my covenant with them, faith the Lord, My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy feed, nor out of the mouth of thy feed's feed, faith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever. VI. m 2 Tim, iii. 15. And that from a child thou hait known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wife unto falvation, thro faith which is in Chrift Jefus. v. 16. All fcripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. v. 17. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Gal. i. 8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other golpel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accuried. v. 9. As we faid be |