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Imprimatur. V.
; f o. NICHOLAS.
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Junli io. 1678.
Chrittians, birthright £C duty, in the custody. ££ ttst of ttte koltj Scripture.
..
THE
Lively Oracles given to us.
O R
The Chriftians Birth-right and Duty, in the cuftody and life of the
If: HOLY SCRIPTURE.
By the Author of the WHOLE DUTY o F MAN, &c.
Search the Scriptures, Jo. y. 39.
At the THEATER in OXFORD, 1671.
.'A
THE
PREFACE
IN the Treatife of the Government of the Tongue publijht by me heretofore, 1 had occafion to takg, notice among the exorbitances of that unruly part , which fets on fire the whole courfe of nature, and its felf is fet on fire from hell ,Jam. 3.6. of the impious vpnity prevailing in this Age , whereby men flay with facred things , and exercife their wit upon thofe Scriptures by which tbey fliall be judg'd at the laft day, Job.- 12.48.
But that holy Book, not only fufering ly the petulancy of tie Tongue , but the malice of the heart , out of the abundance whereof the mouth fpeaks, Mat. 1 2. 34. and alfo from that irreligion, prepoffefjion^ and fupinefs ^ which the purfuit of fen-
fual
The Preface.
fual pkfures certainly produces ; the mif- chiefis too much diffused, and deeply root ed \ to be controul d by a few cafual refle- ftions. I have therefore thought it necef- fary, both in regard of the dignity and im portance of the fubjeft , a* alfo the preva lence of the oppofition , to attemt a profefl and particular vindication of the holy Scriptures, by delaying their native ex cellence and beauty ; and enforcing the •veneration and obedience that i* to be paid unto them.
This / de{igri*d to do in my ufual me thod, by an addrefs to the affeftions of the Pleader ; foliating the feveral pajfions of love, hope, fear, Jhame and forrow , which either the mayfly of God in his fublime being, blsgoodnefs derivd to ut , or our ingratitude returndto him, could aftuate in perfons not utterly obdurate.
But whereas men, when they have learnt
to
The Preface.
lo do amijs, quickly difpute and diflate*, I found my felf concerned to pafs fomtimes within the verge ofcontroverjy, and to dif- courfe upon the principles of reafcn^and de+ duflionsfrom Testimony ^ which in the mojl important tranfaflions of human life are juftly takfn for evidence. In which whole performance I have Jludied to avoid the en tanglements of Sophiftry , and the ambi tion of unintelligible quotations ; and kfpt my felf within the reach of tbe un learned Chriftian Reader ; to whoje ufes , my labors have bin ever dedicated*
All that I require > is that men would bring as much readinefs to entertain the holy Scriptures , as they do to the reading profane Authors ; I am ajhamd to fay ^ as they do to the incentives of vice and folly ; nay , to tbe libels and invettives that are leveW d againft the Scriptures.
I obtain this , I will make no doubt
that
The Preface*
that I fiatt gam a farther point ; that from the perufal of my imp erf eft conceptions ^ the Reader mil proceed to the ftudy of the Scriptures them/elves : there tail and fee how gracious the Lord is^Pf. 34. 8. and as the Angel commanded Saint Johnr Rev. 10.9. eat the Book ; where he mil experimentally find the words of David verified, PI. 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is an undefiled Law , converting the foul: the teftimony of the Lord is fure, and giveth wifdom to the fimple. The Statutes of the Lord are right,and rejoice the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure , and giveth light to the eies. The fear of the Lord is clean and endureth for ever , the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous alto gether. More to be defir'd are they then gold ,yea., then much finegold,iweeter al- fo then hony and the hony-comb. More over
The Prefaced
over by them is thy fervant taught, and in keeping of them there is great reward. // is [aid 0/Mofes, Ex, 34. 29. that having received the Law from God , and converft with him in Mount Sina forty daks together , his face ftone, and had a brightnefs fixt upon it that dazjed the beholders ; a pledg and Jbort effay not only of the appearance at Mount Ta bor, Mat. 17. i. where at the Trans figuration he again was- feen in glory : but of that greater, and yet future change when he Jhall fee indeed his God face to face, and foare his glory unto all e- ternity. The fame d'nrine Goodnefs gives fiill his Law to every one of tit. Let ut receive it with due regard and venera~ tion • converfe with him therein , injiead of forty daies ^ during our whole lives ; and fo anticipate and certainly affufe our intereft in that great Transfiguration,
b when
The Preface.
when all the faithful fhall put of their mortal flejh , be tranflated from glory to glory, eternally behold their God^ fee him as he is, and jo enjoy him.
Convention bat every where an affimi* latingfower , we are generally fuch at are the men and Books , and bufinefs that we deal with : but furely no familiarity ha* fo great an influence on Life and Manners^ as when men hear God freaking to them in his Word. That Word which the Apoftle^ Heb. 4. 12. declares to be quick and powerful, (harper then any two-edg'd fword, piercing even to the dividing a- funder of foul and fpirit , and of the joints and marrow, and is a difcerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The time will come when all our Books however recommended , for fubtilty of dif* courfe , exafincfs of method , variety of matter jr eloquence of Language ; when all
our
The Preface.
our curious Afts , like thofe mention d Ad. 19. 19". flhall be brought forth.and burnt before all men: When the great Book of nature , and heaven it felf ftiall depart as a fcroul rolPd together, Rev. 6. 14. At which important feafon "twill be more to purpofe , to have ftudied well ^ that isjranfcritidinpraftice this one Book* then to have run thro all befides , for then the dead fmall and great fhall Hand be fore God,and the Books (hall be opened, and another Book (ball be open'd which is the Book of Life , and the dead (hall be judged out of thofe things which were written in the Books, according to their works, Rev. 20. 12.
In vain Jftall men allege the want of due conviftlon, that they did not know how penal it would be , to difregard the San- ttions of Gods Law, which they would have had enforced by immediat miracle • the
appari-
The Preface*
apparition of one fent from the other world , who might teftify of the place of torment. This expeflation the Scri pture charges every where with the guilt of temting God^ and indeed it really in volves this infdlent propofal , that the Al mighty Jhould be obliged to break, his own Laws , that men might be prevailed with to keep hi*. But fiould he think,fit to com ply herein, the condefcention wouldbe as fuccefslefs in the event, as 'tis unreafonable in the offer. Our Savior afjures, that they who hear not Mofes and the Prophets, the inftruftions and commands laid down in holy Scripture , would not be wrought upon by any other method , would not be perfwaded, by that which they allow for irrefiftible conviction*, tho one rofe again from the dead, Luke 16* 31.
The
SECT. I. i
THE •
LIVELY ORACLES
GIVEN TO US,
Or the Chriftians Birth-right and Duty in the cuftody and ufe of the
HOLY SCRIPTURE.
' ^" : S £ C T. I.
The f ever al Methods of Gods communicating the knowledg of himfelf.
O D , as he is invifible to human eies,fo is he unfathomable by hu man underftandings ; the per fection of his nature, and the im- potency of ours, fetting us at too great a diftance to have any clear perception of him. Nay, fo far are we from a full comprehenfion , that we can difcern nothing at all of him, but by his own light ; thofe difcoveries he hath bin pleas'd to make of himfelf.
2. THOSE have bin of feveral forts s The firft was by infuiion in mans creation , when
A God
The Chrijiians Birth-right,
God interwove into Mans very conftitution and being the notions and apprehenfions of a Deity : and at the fame inllant when he breath' d into him a living foul, impreft on it that native religion , which taught him to know and reverence his Creator , which we may call the initind: of humanity. Nor were thofe principles dark and confus'd, but clear and evident,proportionable to the ends they were defign'd to., which were not only to contemplate the nature , but to do the will of God; practice being even in the ftate of innocence preferrable before an unadiive Speculation.
3 . BUT this Light being foorx eclips'd by 4dams difobedience , th^re remain a to his benighted poiterity, only fom faint glim merings , which were utterly infufficient to guide them to their end , without frefti aids, and renew'd manifeftations of God to them. I tpleas'd God therefore to repair this ruine, and by frequent revelations to communicate hunfelf to the Patriarchs in the firft Ages of the World -, afterwards to Prophets, and o- ther holy men ; till at laft he revealed him- felf yet more illuftrioully in the face of Jefu* Chnft, 2 Cor. 4. 6.
4. THIS is the one great comprehensive Revelation wherein all the former were m- volv d,and to which they pointed ; the whole myftery of Godlinef* being coinphs'd iii this
of
SECT. I. Gods Methods of Commun. 3
of Gods being mamfefted in the flejh, and the confequents thereof, i Tim. 3. id. whereby our Savior as he effected our reconciliation with God by the facrifice of his death ; fo he declar'd both that , and all things elfe that it concern9 d man to know in order to blifs , in his dodrin and holy life. And this Teacher •being not only fent from God, Jo. 3. but be ing fiimfelf God blefled forever; it cannot be that his inftru&ions can want any fupple- ment. Yet that they might not want atte- ftation neither , to the incredulous world ; he confirni'd them by the repeted miracles of his life , and by the teftimony of thofe who faw the niore irrefragable convi&ion of his Refurredtion and Afcenfion. And that they alfo might not want credit and en ticement, the Holy Spirit fet to his feal , and by his miraculous defcent upon the Apoftles, both aflerted their commiffion, and enabled them for the dilcharge of it ; by all gifts ne- ceflary for the propagating the Faith of Chrift over the whole World.
y. THESE were the waies by which God was pleafed to revele himfelf to the Fore fathers of our Faith , and that not only for their fakes, but ours alfo, to whom they were to derive thole divine didtats they had re- ceiv'd. Saint Stephen tells us, thofe under the Law receivd the lively Oracles to deliver down to their pofterity, Aftsj* 38. And thofe un-
A 2 der
The Chrijlians Birth-right,
der the Gofpel , who receiv d yet more lively Oracles , from him who was both the Word and the Life, did it for the like purpofe > to tranfmit it to us upon whom the ends of the world are come. By this all need pf repeted Revelations is fuperieded , the faithful deri ving of the former, being fufficient to us for att things that pert ainto life andgodlinefs, z Pet.
6. AND for this, God (whofe care is equal for all fucceffions of men ) hath gracioufly provided , by caufing Holy Scriptures to be writ ; by which he hath deriv'd on every fuc- ceeding Age the illuminations of the fotr mcr. And for that purpofe endowed the Writers not only with that moral fidelity requifite to the truth of Hiftory , but with a divine Spirit, proportionable to the great de- fign of fixing an immutable rule for faith and manners. And to give us the fuller fe- curity herein, he has chofen no other pen men of the New Teftament, then thofe who were the firft oral promulgers of our Chri- ftian Religion ; fo that they have left to us the very lame do6trin they taught the Pri mitive Chriftians ; and he that acknowledges them divinely infpir'd in what they preach'd, cannot doubt them to be fo in what they .writ. So that we all may injoy virtually and cffe&ively that wifh of the devout Father, who defir'd to be Saint Pauls Auditor : for he
that
SECT. I. GodsMethodsofCommun. $
that hears any of his Epiftles read, is as really ipoke to by Saint Paid , as thofe who were within the found of his voice. Thus Godrvho in times paft ffal(e at fandry times, and in diverfe manners to our Fathers by the Prophets , and in the latter daies by his fon, Heb. i. 1,2. continues ftill to fpeak to us by thefe infpir'd Writers, and what Chrift once faid to his Difciples in relation to their preaching, is no lefs true of their writings : He that dejpifeth you, defpifeth we, Luke 10. id. All the contemt that is at any time flung on the,fe facred Writings, re bounds higher , and finally devolves on the firft Author of thofe do&rins , whereof thefe are the regifters and tranfcripts.
7. BUT this is a guilt which one would think peculiar to Infidels and Pagans, and not incident to any who had in their Ba- ptifm lifted themfelves under Chrifts ban ner : yet I fear I may fay, of the two parties, the Scripture has met with the worft treat ment from the later. For if we mefujre by the frequency and variety of injuries , I fear Chriftians will appear to have outvied Hea thens : Thefe bluntly disbelieve them , ne- gledt , nay perhaps icornfully deride them. Alas Chriftians do this and more ; they not only put contemts , but tricks upon the Scri pture , wreft and diftort it to juftify all their wild fancies , or fecular defigns ; and fuborn its Patronage to thofe things it forbids , and tells us that God abhors. 8. In-
The Chriflians Birth-right,
8 . INDEED fo many are the abufes we ofrer it , that he that confiders them would fcarce think we own'd it for the words of a fenflble man, much lels of the great omnifcient God. And I believe 'twere hard to affign any one fo comprehenfive and efficacious caufe of the universal depravation of manners, asthedif- valuing of this divine Book, which was de- fign'd to regulate them. It were therefore a work worthy another infpired writing, to at- temt the reicue of this , and recover it to its juft eftimate. Yet alas, could we hope for that , we have fcofFers who would as well de- fpife the New as the Old ; and like the Huf- bandmen in the Gofpel, Mat. 21. $6. would anfwer fuch a fucceffion of meffages by re- peting the fame injuries.
9. T o fuch asthele 'tis I confefs vain for man to addrefs j nay 'twere infolence to ex- pedfc that human Oratory fhould fucceed where the divine fails ; yet the fpreading in fection of thefe renders it neceflary to admi- nifter antidotes to others ; And befides , tho ( God be blelt) all are not of this form, ^yet there are many who, tho not arriv'd to this contemt , yet want (otn degrees of that juft reverence they owe the facred Scripture,who give a confus'd general aflent to them as the word of God, but aiiord them not a confide- ration and refped: anfwerable to fuch an ac knowledgment. To fuch as thefe,! ftiall hope
it
SECT. I. Gods Methods of Commun. 7
it may not be utterly vain to attemt the ex citing of thole drowfy notions that lie un- adive in them , by prefentingto them fom cpnfiderations concerning the excellence and ufe of the Scripture : which being all but neceffary confequences of that principle they are fuppofed to own, vi^. that they are Gods word, I cannot much queftion their affent to the fpeculative part : I wilh I could as proba bly aflure my felf of the pradtic.
10. INDEED were there nothing elfe to be faid in behalf of holy Writ,but that it is Gods word , that were enough to command the moft awful regard to it. And therefore it is but juft we make that the firft and principal confederation in our prefent difcourfe. But then 'tis impoffible that that can want others to attend it j fince whatfoever God faies is in all refpe&s compleatly good. I lliall there fore to that of its divine original add fecond- ly the confideration of its fubjed: matter; thirdly, of its excellent and no lefs diffufive end and defign -, and fourthly , of its exa6t propriety and iitnefs to that dcfign,which are all luch qualifications , that where they con cur, nothing more can be required to com mend a writing to the efteem of rational men. And upon all thefe tells, notwithftan* ding the cavil of the Romaniits and others, whole force we fliall examin with the unhap py irfue of contrary counfels, this law of God
will
The Chfiftians Birth-right,
will be found to anfwer the Pfalmifts chara cter of it,Pf. 1 9 .7 .The Law of God isperfecl: and will appear that the cuftody and ufe thereof, is the birth-right and duty of every Chriftian. All which feverals being faithfully deduced; it will only remain that I add fuch cautions as will be neceflary to the due performance of the aforefaid duty -y and our being in Ibm degree render'd peried: , as this Law of God, and the Author thereof himielf is perfed,
SECT.
SECT. II. Divine Original of Holy Scripture.
SECT. It.
The divine Original, Endearments, and Authority of the Holy Serif Mire.
ME N s judgments are fo apt to be biaft by their affections 5 that we often find them readier to conlider who fpeaks , then what is fpoken : a temper very unfafe , and the principle of great injuftice in our infe rior tranfadtions with men ; yet here there are very few of us that can wholly diveft our felves of it 3 whereas3when we deal with God (in whom alone an implicit faith may fe- curely be repofed ) we are nice and wary, bring our fcales and mefures ; will take no thing upon his word which holds not weight in our own balance. "Tistrue, he needs not our partiality to be juftifiedinhis fayinvs, Pfal. f i . 4 . His words are purs , even as the fiher tryed feven times in the firey Pfal. 12. 6. able to pafs the ftri&eft teft that right reafon ( truly lo called) can put them to. Yet it fhews a great perverfenels in our nature , that we who lo eafily relign our underftandings to fallible men,ftand thus upon our guard againlt God ; make him difpute for every inch he gains on us i nor .will afford him what we daily grant
B to
I..O
The Chriftians Birth-right,
to any credible man ; to receive an affirma tion upon truft of his veracity.
2. I am far from contradicting our Saviors Precept, of Search the Scriptures , Jo. 7. or Saint Pauls, of proving all things, i Thef^ f. 21. we cannot be too induftrious in our inqueft after truth , provided we ftill referve to God the decifive vote , and humbly acquiefce in his fenfe , how diftant foever from our own ; fo that when we confult Scripture ( I may add reafon either ) 'tis not to refolve us whe ther God be to be believed or no in what he hasfaid , but whether he hath faid fnch and iuch things : for if we are convinc't he have ; reafon as well as religion commands ouraf- ient.
3. WHATEVER therefore God hasfaid, we are to pay it a reverence merely upon the account of its Author -, over and above what the excellence of the matter exacts : and to this we have all inducements as well as obli gation: there being no motives to render the words of men eltimable to us , which are not eminently and tranfcendently appliable tothofeofGod.
4. THOSE motives we may reduce to four: firft, the Autority of the Speaker -, fecondly, his kindnefs; thirdly , his wifdom; and fourth ly, his truth. Firft,tor that of Autority ; that may be either native , or acquired ; the na tive is that of a parent, which is luch a charm
of
II
SECT. II. Divine Original of Holy Scripture.,
of obfervance, that we fee Solomon, when he would imprefs his counfels , a flumes the per- fbnof a Father; Hear 0 my children the in- Jfrutltons of a Father, Prov. 4. i. And gene rally through that whole Book he ufes the compellation of my Son , as the greateit en dearment to engage attention and reve rence. Nay fo indifpenfible was the obliga tion of children in this refpedt , that we fee the contumacious child that would not hear ken to the advice of his Parents , was by God himfeif adjudged to death. Deut. 21.20.
f. NOR have only Gods, but mens Laws exacted that filial reverence to the did:ats of Parents. But certainly no Parent can pre tend fiich a title to it as God, who is not only the immediate Father of our perfons, but the original Father of our very nature ; not on ly of our flefh,bitt of our fpirits alfo, Heb. i z.g. So that the Apoftles Antithefis in that place is as properly applied to counfels as corre ctions; and we may as rightly infer , that if we give reverence to the advices of our earth ly Parents , much more ought we fubjed: our ielves to this Father of our fpirits. And we have the very fame reafon wherewith to en force it : for the Fathers of our flefh do as often didate , as correct according to their own plefures ; prefcribe to their children not according to the exadt mefures of right and wrong, but after that humor which moft pre-
B 2 domi-
The ChriJ'Hans Birth-right,
dominates in themfelves. But God alwaies dire&s his admonitions to our profit , that tve may he partakers of his holinefs , Heb. 12. n. So that we are as unkind to our felves, as irre verent towards him, whenever we let any of his words fall to the ground -> whofq claim to this part of our reverence is much more irre fragable then that of our natural Parents.
6. BUT befides this native Autority there is alfo an acquired ; and that we may diftin- guilh into two forts ; the one of dominion, the other of reputation ; To the firlt kind be longs that of Princes, Magistrates, Mailers, or any that have coercive power over us. Andv our own intereft teaches us not to flight the wojrds of any of thefe , who can fo much to our coft fecond them with deeds. Now God lias all thele titles of jurifdidion ; He is the great King, Pf. 4$. 2. Nor was it only a Complement of the Pfalmifts; for himfelf owns the itile, lama £reak I\ing, Mai. i. He is the Judg of all the World; Gen. 18. yea, that Ancient ofd ;?>/, before whom the Books were open'd, Dan. 7.10. He is our Lord and Ma- fter by right,both of creation and redemtioni and this Chrift owns even in his Hate of ina nition; yea, when he was about the moft fervile imploiment ; the wafhing his Difciples feet : when he was molt literally in the form qf a fervant ; yet he fcruples not to aflert his right to that oppolite title s You call me Mafar.,
and
SECT. II. Divine Original of Holy Scripture. 1 3
and Lord; and ye fay n> ell, for fo I am ; Jo. 13. Nor are thefe emty names, but efic&ively at tended with all the power they denote. Yet fo ftupid are we , that whilit we awfully re ceive the dictates of our earthly Superiors, we flight and negled: the Oracles of that God who is King of Kings , and Lord of Lords. When a Prince fpeaks, we are apt to cry out with Herods Flatterers, the voice of aGoa, and not of a man, Adt. 12. Yet when it is indeed the voice of God, we chufe to lillen to any thing elfe rather then it. But let us fadly re- member,that notwithftanding our contemts, this wordfhall ( as our Savior tells us ) judg us atthelaftdav, Jo. 12. 48.
7. A fecond Tort of acquired Autority is that of reputation. When a man is famed for fome extraordinary excellencies, whether moral or intellectual , men come with appe tite to his difcourfes, greedily fuck them in, nor need fuch a one belpeak attention ; his very name has don it for him , and prepoffeft him of his Auditors regard. Thus the Rab- bies among the Jews,the Philofophers among the Greeks, were liftened to as Oracles , and to cite them was ( by their admiring Difci- ples) thought a concluding argument. Nay, under Chriftianity this admiration of mens perfons has bin fo inordinate, that it has crumbled Religion away in little infignifi- cant parties j whilft not only Paul, ^po/fo., or
1 4 The Chrijtians Birth-right, &c .
Cephas , but names infinitly inferior , have be come the diftindive charaders of Seds and and feparate Communions. So eafily alas are we charm'd by our prepoffeffions , and with itching ears run in queft of thole do- drins which the fame of their Authors,rather then the evidence of truth commend to us.
8. AND hath God don nothing to get him a repute among us ? has he no excellencies to deferve our efteem ? Is he not worthy to prefcribe to his own creatures ? if we think yes, why is he the only perfon to be difregard- ed ? or why do we fo unleafonably depart from our own humor, as not to give his Word a reverence proportionable to that we pre tend for him ; nay, which we adually pay to men of like pailions with our felves ? A con- temt fo abfurd as well as impious , that we have not the example of any the moft barba rous people to countenance us. For tho fom of them have made very wild miftakes in the choice of their Deities , yet they have all a- greed in this common principle , that what ever thofe Deities faid,was to be receiv'd with all poffible veneration ; yea , fuch a defe rence gave they to all fignifications of the divine will, that as they would undertake no great enterprize without confulting their Auguries ; fo upon any inaufpicious figns they relinquifiit their attemts. And certainly if we had the fame reverence for the true God
which
SECT:. II. Divine Original of Holy Scripture, if
which they had for the falfe , we fhould as frequently confult him. We may do it with much more eafe and certainty : we need not truft to the entrails of Beafts , or motion of Birds : we need not go to Delpbos , or the Ly- bian Hammon for the refolving our doubts ; but what Mofes laid to Ifrael is very applica ble to us , the Word is nigh thee, Deut. 30. 14. That Word which Davtd made his Counfellor,, Pfal. 119.24. his Comforter, vex. yo. his Tre- /#n?, ver. 72. his Study, ver. 99. And had we thofe awful apprehenfions of God which he had , we fhould pay the like reverence to his Word. Did we well ponder how many titles of Autority he has over us, we fhould furely be afham a to deny that refpedt to him in whom they all conlpire ; which we dare not deny to them feparately in human Supe riors.
9 . A fecond motive to efteem mens words, is the kindnefs of the fpeaker. This has fuch a fafcinating power , as nothing but ex treme ill nature can refill. When a man is affuf d @f the kindnefs of him that fpeaks, whatever is fpoken is taken in good part. This is it that diftinguifhes the admonitions of a friend from the reproches of an enemy ; and we daily in common converfation re ceive thofe things with contentment and ap- plaufe from an intimte and familiar , which if fpokeu by a ftranger or enemy would be •b . defpis'd
1 6 The Chriflians Birth-right, &t .
defpis d or ftomach'd. So infinuating a thing is kindnefs , that where it has onee got it felt believ'd, nothing it faies after is difputed -, iv iupplesthe mind, and makes it ductile and pliant to any impreffions.
10. BUT what human kindnefs is there that can come in any competition with the Divine ? it fiirpafles that of the neareft and deareft relations ; Mothers may forget , yet will not I forget thee, Ifa. 49. 1 5*. And the Pfalmift found it experimentally true , When my Father andmyMother for fake me, the Lord taketh me up, Pf. 27. 10. the tendereft bowels compared to his are adamant and flint : io that 'tis a moft proper epithet the Wife man gives him -, 0 Lord , thou hver of fouls ; Wif. n. 26. Nor is this affedion merely mental , but it attefts it felf by innumerable eftedts. The etie&s of love are all reducible to two heads, doing and fuf- fering •> and by both thefe God has moft e- minently attefted his love to us.
u. FOR thefirft, we cannot look either on our bodies or our fouls, on the whole Uni- verfe about us,or that better World above us ; but we fhall in each lee the Lord hath fan great things for us , Pfal. 114. Nay, not only our cnjoiments , but even the capacity to enjoy, is his bounty. Had not he drawn mankind out of his original clay3 what had we bin con- cern'd in all the other works of his Creation. So that if we put any value either upon what
we
SECT. II. Divine Original of Holy Scripture, i ?
we have or what we are , we cannot but ac count our felves fo much indebted to this his adive love. And tho the paffive was not pra- dicable b/ the divine Nature fimply and a- part , yet that we might not want all ima ginable evidences of his love, he who was God blefled for ever , linkt his impaflible to ourpaffible nature ; aflum'd our humanity, that he might efpoufe our forrows , and was born on purpofe that he might die for us. So that fure we may fay in his own words , grt** ttr love then this hath no man s lo. i f. 1 3 .
12. AND now tis very hard, iffuchanun- parallel'd love in God , may not as much af* ted us, as the flight benefactions of every or dinary friend ; if it cannot fo much recom mend him to our regard , as to refcue his word from contemt , and difpofe us to re ceive impreffions from it ; (efpecially when his very ipeaking is a new ad of his kindnefs* and defign'd to our greateft advantage. )
1 3 . BUT if all he has don and fuffer d for us cannot obtein him fo much from us, we muft furely confefs, our difingenuity is as fuperla- tive as his love. For in this inftance we have no plea for our felves. The difcourfes of meii 'tis true may fomtime be fo weak and irra tional , that tho kindnefs may fuggeft pity* it cannot reverence ; But this can never hap pen in God, whofe wifdom is as infinite as his love. He talks not at our vain rate who
C oftea
i g The Chriftians Birth-right, &c.
often talk only for talkings fake* but his words are directed to the moft important ends and addreft in fuch a manner as befits him in whom are all the trefures of wifdom and knowledg. Col. 2. And this is our third confideration, the wifdom of the Speaker.
14. How attractive a thing Wiidom is, we may obferve in the inttance of tke Quetn of Sbeba, who came from the utmoft parts of the earth, as Chriftfaies Mat. 12. 42. to hear the Wifdom of Solomon. And the like is noted of the Greek Sages, that they were addreft to from all parts, by perfons of all ranks and q ualities,to hear their Ledures. And indeed tne rational nature of man do's by a kind of fympathetic motion clofe with whatever hath the ftamp of reafon upon it. But alas , what is the profoundeft wifdom of men, compar'd with that of God ? He is the ef- fential reafon ; and all that man can pretend to is but an emanation from him ; a ray of his Sun , a drop of his Ocean : which as he gives , fo he can alfb take away. He can in fatuate the moft fubtil defigners ; And ( as he faies of himfelf ) mattes the diviners mad; turns the wife men back^> *nd makes their tvifdom foolijhnefs, Efay 44. 25*.
1 5*. How impious a folly is it then in us, to Idolize human Wifdom with all its imperfe- dions, and defpife the divine ? yet this every man is guilty of, who is -not attraded to the
ftudy
SECT. II. Divine Original of Holy Scripture. 19
ftudy of facred Writ by the fupereminent wifdom of its Author. For fuch men muft either affirm that God has not fuch a fuper- eminency, or that, tho he have in himfelf, he hath not exerted it in this writing : The for mer is down-right blafphemy ; and truly the later is the fame, a little varied. For that any thing , but what is exactly wife can proceed from infinite wifdom , is too abfurd for any man to imagin, And therefore he that charges Gods Word with defe& of wifdom, muft interpretively charge God fo too, For tho 'tis true , a wife man may fomtimes fpeak foolifhly; yet that happens through that mixture of ignorance, or paffion which is in the moft knowing of mortals : but in God, who is a pure ad: , and effential wifdom, that is an impoffible fuppofition.
16. NAY, indeed it were to tax him of fol ly beyond what is incident to any fenfible man$ who will ftill proportion his inftru- ments to the work he defigns. Should we not conclude him mad, that Ihould attemt to fell a mighty Qak with a Pen-knife,or ftop a Tor rent with a wifp of Straw ? And fure their conceptions are not much more reverend of God, who can fuppofe thar a writing defign'd by him for fuch important ends3as the making men wife unto falvation, ^ Tim. 3.15*. the cajt- down all that exalts it felf againfl the obedience 2 Cor. 10. f . fliould it felf be foolilh C z and
*Q The Chriftians 'Birth-right, tic.
?ind weak: or that he ftiould give it thofe great attributes of being Jbarper then a trvo^ edged fword, piercing even to the dividing afunder ofjoul awdjpirit, of the joints and marrow, Heb. 4. 14. if its difcourfes were fo flqt and infipid as feme in this profane Age would reprefent them.
17. 'Tis true indeed, 'tis not , as theApor jftle fpeaks the rvifdom ofthi* world, i Cor. 2. £, The Scripture teaches us not the arts of un dermining governments, defrauding and cir-? cumventing our brethren -y but it teaches us that which would tend much more even to our temporal felicity ; and as reafon promts us to afpire to happinefs , fo it muft acknow-; Jedg that is the higheft wifdom >vhich teaches us to attain it.
1 8 . AND as the Holy Scripture is thus recom mended to us by the wimom of its Author ; fo in the laft place is it by his truth , without which the other might rather raife our jea- loufy then our reverence. For wifdom with out fincerity degenerates into ferpentinc guile ; and we rather fear to be enfnar'd then hope to be advantag'd by it. The moft fubtil ^ddrefles , and moft cogent arguments pre vail not upon us , where we fufpedl fom infi- dious defigu. But where wifdom and fidelity meet in the fame perfon , we do not only at tend , but confide in his counfels. And this Qualification is moft eminently in G.od. The
children
SECT. II. Divine Original of Holy Scripture. 21
children of men are deceitfull upon the weights, Pfal. 62.9. Much guile often lurks indilcer- nibly under the faireft appearances : but Gods veracity is as effentially himfelf , as his wif- dom, and he can no more deceive us, then he can be deceiv'd himfelf. He is not man that he Jhould He, Num. 23. 19. He defigns not (as men often do ) to fport himfelf with our cre dulity , and raife hopes which he never means to fatisfy : he fates not to the feed of Jacob, fee^ ye me in vain, Ex. 45-. 19. but all his promifes are yea and Amen, 2 Cor. i. 20. He is perfect ly fincere in all the propofals he makes in his Word : which is a moft rational motive for us to advert to it, not only with reverence but love.
19. AND now when all thefe motives are thus combined -, the authority, thekindnefs, the wifdom, the veracity of the fpeaker,what can be requir'd more to render his words of weight with us ? If this four-fold cord will not draw us, we have fure the ftrength, not of men , but of that Legion we read of in the Gofpel, Mat. y. / . For thefe are fo much the cords of a man , fo adapted to our natures, nay to our eonftant ufage in other things, that we muft put off much of our humanity, difclaim the common mefures of mankind, if we be not attracted by them. For I dare appeal to the breaft of any fober, induftrious man, whether in cafe a perfoa , who he were
fure
The Chriftians Birth-right, &c.
Jure had all the fore-mention'd qualifica tions, fhould recommend to him fom rules as infallible for the certain doubling, or tre bling his eftate , he would not think them worth the purfuing , nay, whether he would not plod and ftudy on tnem , till he compre hended the whole Art. And fhall we then when God in whom all thofe qualifications are united, and that in their utmoft tranfcen- dencies,(hall we , I fay, think him below our regard , when he propofes the improving our interefts, not by the fcanty proportions of two or three , but in fuch as he intimated to j4brabam,when he fliewed him the Stars,as the reprefentative of his numerous off-fpring, Gen. if.?, when he teaches us that higheft, and yet moft certain Alchimy , of refining and multiplying our enjoyments , and then perpetuating them ?
20. ALL this God do's in Scripture; and we muft be ftupidly improvident , if we will take no advantage by it. It was once the complaint of Chriit to the Jews , / am come in my Fathers name and ye receive me not, if another Jhall come in his own name, him ye will receive. Jo. y. 43. And what was laid by him the eternal eflential Word , is no lefs applicable to the written; which coming in the name, and upon the meflage of God , is defpis'd and flighted, and every the lighted compofure of men preferr'd before it. As if that lignature
of
SECT. II. Divine Original of Holy Scripture, z $
of Divinity it carries/erved rather as a Brand to ftigmatize and defame , then adorn and recommend it. A contemt which ftrikes immediatly at God himfelf , whofe refent- ments of it, tho for the prefent fupprefi by his long-fuffering, will at laft break out upon all who perfevere fo to affront him, in a judgment worthy of God. Wif. 12. 26.
2 1 . BUT after all that has bin faid, I fore* fee fom may fay, that I have all this while but beaten the air , have built upon a principle which fom flatly deny, others doubt of, and have run away with a fuppofition that the Bible is of divine Original , without any at- temt of proof. To fuch as thefe I might juft- ly enough objed: the extreme hard mefure they offer toDivijiity above all other Sciences* For in thofe , they ftill allow ibm fundamen tal maxims , which are prefuppofed without proof; but in this they admit or no Poftulata, no granted principle on which to fuperftrud:. If the fame rigor mould be extended to fecu- lar cafes , what a damp would it ftrike upon commerce ! For example, a man experts fair dealing from his neighbor, upon the ftrength of thole common notions of Juitice he pre- fumes writ in all mens hearts : but according to this mefure , he mutt firft prove to every man he deals with , that fuch notions there are, and that they are obligatory : that the wares expos' d to fale are his own j that domi nion
24 The Chrtftians j$irth-rigbt> &c .
nion is not founded in grace , or that he is in that ftate , and fo has a property to confer upon anotherjthat the perfon dealtwith,paies a juft price j do's it in good mony ; and that it is his own s or that he is in the ftate of grace ; or needs not be fo , to juftify his purchafe* and at this rate the Market will be as full of nice queftions as the Scholes. But becaufe complaints and retortions are thecommoa refuge of caufes that want better Arguments, I fhall not infift here -, but proceed to a de fence of the queftion'd Aflertion > that the Bible is the Word of God.
22. IN which I fhall proceed by thefe de grees. Firft, I {hall lay down the plain grounds upon which Chriftians beleive it. Se condly , I ftiall compare thofe with thofe of iefs credibility which have generally fatisfied mankind in other things of the like nature. And thirdly , I {hall confider whether thofe who are difTatisfied with thofe grounds would not be equally fo with any other way of at- teftation.
23. BEFORE Tenter upon the firft of thefe, I defire it may be confider'd, that matters ot fad: are not capable of fuch rigorous demon- ftrative evidences as mathematical propofi- tionsare. To render a thing fit for rational belief, there is no more requir'd , but that the motives for it do overpoife thofe againft it ; and in that degree they do fo/o is the be lief ftroager or weaker. 24. Now
SECT. II. Divine Original of Holy Scripture. 2 5*
24. Now the motives of our belief in the prefent cafe > are Inch as are extrinlic , or intrinfic -to the Scriptures; of which the ex- trinfic are firft, and preparative to the other ; and indeed all that can reasonably be infilled on to a gainfaier , who muft be iiippos'd no competent judg of the later. But as to the former I {hall adventure to fay , that the di vine Original of the Scripture hath as great grounds of credibility as can be expected in any thing of this kind. For whether God infpir d the pen-men of Holy Writ, is matter of fad: , and being fo is capable of no other external evidence but that of teftimony : and that matter of fad: being alfo in point of time fo remote from us, can- be judg'd of only by a feriesof teftimoniesderiv'd from thatAge wherein the Scriptures were written, to this : and the more credible the teftifiers , and the more univerial the teftimony •, fo much the more convincing are they to all confidering men.
25-. AND this atteftation the Scripture hath in the higheft circumftances 3 it having bin witnefs'd to in all Ages , and in thole Ages by all perlons that could be prefum'd to know any thing of it. Thus the Old Teftament was own'd by the whole nation of the jews 3 as the writings of men infpir' d by God 3 Stthat with fuch evidence of their miffion , as abun dantly fatisfied thole of that Age, of their
D being
2 6 The Chriflians Birth-right, &c .
being fo infpired; and they deriv'd thofe Writings with that atteftation to their po- fterity . Now that thofe of the firft Ages were not deceiv'd, is as morally certain as any thing can be fuppos'd. For in the firft part of the Bible is contain'd the hiftory of thofe mi racles wherewith God refcued that people out of Egypt , and inflated them in Canaan. Now if they who liv'd at that time knew that fuch miracles were never don, 'tis impoflible they could receive an evident Fable as an in- fpird truth. No fingle perfon, muchlefsa whole Nation can be hippos' d fo ftupid. Eut if indeed they were eie-witnefles of thofe mi racles , they might with very good reafon conclude , that the fame Mojes who was by God impower d to work them, was fo alfo for the relating them; as alfo all thofe prece dent events from the Creation down to that time, which are recorded by him.
26. So alfo for the preceptive parts of thofe Books, thofe that faw thofe formidable folemnities , with which they were firft pub- lilh'd, had lure little temtation to doubt that they were the diftats of God , when written. Now if they could not be deceiv'd them- felves/tis yet lefs imaginable that they fliould confpire to impofe a cheat upon their pofte- rities ; nor indeed were the Jews of fo eafy a credulity, that 'tis at all probable the liiccee- ding Generations would have bin fo impos'd
on :
SECT. II. Divine Original of Holy Scripture. 27
on : their humor was ftubborn enough , and the precepts of their Law fevere and burden- fom enough to have temted them to have caft off the yoak, had it not bia bound upon them by irrefiftible convi&ions of its coming from God. But befides this Tradition of their Elders , they had the advantage of li ving under a Theocracy, the immediat gui dance of God; Prophets daily rais'dup a- mong them, to fore-tell events , to admonifh them of their duty , and reprove their back- flidings : yet even thefe gave the deference to the written Word ; nay , made it the teft by which to try true infpirations from falle : To the Law and to the Testimony 3 if they fyeat^ not according to it , there is no light in them, Efay 8.20. So that the veneration which they had before acquir'd,was ftill anew excited by frefh infpirations, which both attefted the old, and became new parts of their Canon.
27. NOR could it be efteem'd a fmall con firmation to the Scriptures, to find in fuccee- ding Ages the fignal accomplifhments of thole prophecies which were long before re- giftred in thofe Books ; for nothing lefs then divine power and wifdom could foretell, and alfo verify them. Upon thefe grounds the Jews univerfally through all fucceffions re- ceiv d the Books of the Old Teltament as di vine Oracles , and lookt upon them as the greateft truft that could be committed to
D 2 them :
28 The Chrijtians Birth-right, &c.
them : and accordingly were fo fcrupuloufly vigilant inconfervingthem , that their Mar forits numbred not only the {editions , but th# very words, nay letters , that no fraud or in advertency might corrupt or defalk the leaft iota of what they efteem'd fo facred. A far ther teftimony and fepiment to which , were the Samaritan, Chaldee, and Greek verfions : which being made ufe of in the Synagogs of Jews, in their difperflons, and the Samaritans ntSichem could not at thofe diftances receive a uniform alteration , and any other would be of no effed:. Add to this , that the Origi nal exemplar of the Law , was laid up in the Sandtuary, that the Prince was to have a Co-
Ey of it alwaies by him, 'and tranfcribe it with is own hand ; that every Jew was to make it his conftant difcourfe and meditation, teach it his children , and wear part of it up on his hands and forehead. And now fure 'tis impoffible to imagin any matter of fad: to be more carefully deduced , or irrefraga- bly teftiried, nor any thing believ'd upon ftronger evidence.
28. THAT all this is true in reference to the Jews , that they did thus own thefe Wri tings as divine , appears not only by the Re cords of pall Ages, but by the Jews of the pre- fent , who itill own them , and cannot be fu- ipedled of combination with the Chnftians. And if thefe were reafonable grounds of con-
SECT.!!. Divine Original of Holy Scripture. 29
vidion to the Jews, ( as he muft be moft ab- furdly fceptical that fhall deny ) they muft be fo to us Chriftians alfo ; who derive them from them : and that with this farther ad vantage to our Faith , that we fee the clear completion of thofe Evangelical prophecies which remain' d dark to them, and confe- queritly have a farther Argument to confirm us, that the Scriptures of the Old Teftament are certainly divine.
29. THE New has alfo the like means of probation: which as it is a collection of the dodtrin taught by Chrift and his Apoftles, muft if truly related be acknowleged no lefs divine then what they orally deliver'd. So that they who doubt its being divine, muft either deny what Chrift and his Apoftles preacht to be fo •> or elfe diftruft the fidelity of the relation :• The former ftrikes at the whole Chriftian Faith ; which if only of men, muft not only be fallible, but is adually a deceit , whilft it pretends to be of God, and is not. To fiich Obje&ors we have to oppofc thofe ftupendous miracles with which the Gofpel was attefted ; fuch as demonltrated a more then human efficacy. And that God fliould lend his omnipotence to abet the falfe preteiifions of men , is a conceit too unworthy even for the worft of men to enter tain.
30, 'Tis true, there have bin by God per
mitted
3 o The Chriftians Birth-right, &c.
mitted lying miracles ; as well as true ones have bin don by him : Such as were thofe of the Magicians in Egypt, in oppofition to the other of Mofes $ but then the difference be tween both was fo confpicuous , that he muft be more partial and difmgenuous , then even thofe Magicians were, who would not ac- knowledg the difparity, and confefs in thofe which were truly fupernatural , tie finger of God, Exod. 8.19. Therefore both in the Old and New Teftament it is predicted, that falfe Prophets Jhould arife , and do Jigns and wonders , Deut. 13.1. Mat. 24. 11.24. as a trial of their fidelity who made profeffion of Religion ; whether they would prefer the few and trivial Heights which recommended a deceiver , be fore thofe great and numberlefs miracles which attefted the facred Oracles deliver'd to the fons of men by the God of truth. Whe ther the trick of a Barchocheba* to hold fire in his mouth ; that of Marcus the heretic , to make the Wine of the Holy Sacrament ap pear bloud; or that of Mahomet, to bring a Pidgeon to his ear, ought to be put in balance againft all the miracles wrought by Mofes,ovr Savior, or his Apoftles. And in a word , whe ther the filly ftories which lamblicbus folzm n- ly relates of Pythagoras, or thofe Philojtratu* tells of JlpoUonius Tyaneus , deferve to rival thole of the EvangeMs. It is a mott juft judgment, and accordingly threatned by
Almighty
SECT.!!. Divine Original of Holy Scripture. 3 1
Almighty God , that they who would not obey the truth Jhould believe a lie, 2 Thef. 2. n. But ftill the Almighty , where any man or devil dos proudly , it evidently above Aim, Exod. 18. n. will bejuftified in bis Jayings,and be clear when he is judged, Rom. 3.4.
31. BUT if men will be Sceptics,and doubt every thing,they are to know that the matter call a into queftion, is of a nature that admits but two waies of folution ; probability , and teftimony . Firft for probability,let it be con- fider'd , who were the firft promulgers of Chrifts miracles. In his life time they were either the patients on whom his miracles were wrought , or the common people , that were Ipedators : the former , as they could not be deceiv'd themfelves , but muft needs know whether they were cur'd or no $ fo what ima ginable defign could they have to deceive o- thers?Many indeed have pretended impoten- cy as a motive of compaffion •> but what could they gain by owning a cure they had not ? As for the Spectators, as their multitude adds to their credibility 5 (it being morally im- poffible that fo many mould at once be delu ded in a matter obvious to their fenfes ) fo do's it alfo acquit them from fraud and com bination. Cheats and forgeries are alwaies hatcht in the dark , in clofe Cabals , and pri- vat Jun&o's. That five thoufand men at one time, and four thoufand at another , fhould
coafpirc
3 ^ The Chriflians Birth-right, &f.
confpire to fay , that they were miraculoufly fed,when they were not ; and all prove true to the fidion, and not betray it : is a thing as irrational to be fuppos'd, as impoffible to be parallel'd.
32. BESIDES, admit it poffible that fo many could have join'd in the deceit, yet what ima ginable end could they have in it > Had their lie bin fubfervient to the defigns of fom po tent Prince that might have rewarded it , there had bin fom temtation : but what could they exped: from the reputed fon of a Car penter, who had not himfelf where to lay his head ? Nay,who difclaim'd all fecular power ; convei'd himfelf away from their importuni ties , when they would have forc'd him to be a King : And confequently , could not be lookt on as one that would head a Sedition, or attemt to raife himfelf to a capacity of re warding his Abettors. Upon all thefe confi- derations , there appears not the leaft fhadow of probability j that either thofe particular perions who publifli'd the cures they had re- ceiv'd,or thole multitudes who were witnefles and divulgers of thofe, or his other miracles ; could do it upon any finifter defign, or indeed, upon any other motive but gratitude and ad miration.
35. In the next place, if we come to thofe miracles which fucceeded Chrifts death, thofe moil important, and convincing , of his Re- fur-
SECT. I. Divine Original of Holy Scripture 3 3
furredtion and Afcenfion , and obferve who were the divulgers of thofe,we fhall find them very unlikely to be men of defign ; a fet of il literate men , taken from the Fifher-boats , and other mean occupations: and fuch as needed a miracle as great as any of thofe they were to aflert (the defcent of the Holy Ghoft) to fit them for their office. What alas could they drive at , or how could they hope that their teftimony could be received, fo much a- gainft the humor and intereft of the prefent rulers; unlefs they were afTur'd not only of the truth of the things, but alfo of fom fuperna- turalaids to back and fortify them? Accor dingly we find , that till they had received thofe ; till by the defcent of the Holy Ghoft they were endued with power from on high, Luk. 24. 49. they never attcmted the difcovery of what they had feen : but rather hid them- felves, kept all their afTemblies in privacy and concealment for fear of the Jews, Jo. 20. 19. and fo were far. enough from projecting any thing befides their own fafety. Afterwards, when they began to preach , they had early effays , what their fecular advantages would be by it; threatnings and revilings , fcourg- ings and imprifonnlents, 4$. 4. 2.0. y. 18. 40. And can it be imagined, that men who a lit tle before had {hewed themfelves fo little in love with fuSering , that none of them durft Ibck to their Mafter at his apprehenfion , but
E one
34 The Chriftians Birth-right y &c.
one forfwore , and all forfook him ; can it, I lay, be imagin'd that thefe men fhould be fo much in love with their own Fable, as to ven ture all forts of perfecution for the propaga ting it ? Or if they could , let us in the next place confider what probability there could be of fuccels.
34. THEIR preaching amounted to no lefs then the Deifying of one , whom both their Roman and Jewifh Rulers, nay, the generali ty of the people had executed as a malefa ctor : fo that they were all engag'd , in de fence of their own Ad, to fift their teftimony with all the rigor that confcious jealoufy could fuggeft. And where were fb many con- cern'd inquifitors , there was very little hope for a forgery to pafs. Befides the avow'd dif- plelure of their Governors made it a hazar dous thing to own a belief of what they afler- ted. Thofe that adher'd to them could not but know , that at the fame time they mult efpoufe their dangers and iufiferings. And men ufe not to incur certain mifchiefs, upon doubtful and fufpicious grounds.
35-. YET f arther,their dodtrin was defign'd to an end to which their Auditors could not but have the greateft reludrancy: they were to ftru^gle with that rooted prepofleffion which the Jews had for the Mofaical Law, which their Gofpel out-dated ; and the Gen tiles for the Rites and Religion of their An-
celtors ;
.IL Divine Original of Holy Scripture. 3 ;
ceftors ; and , which was harder then either* with the corruptions and vices of both : to plant humility and internal laiuStity , fo con trary to that ceremonial holinefs, upon which the Jews fo valued themfelves , and defpis'd others : and Temperance Juftice,and Purity, fo contrary to the practice, nay, even the re ligion of the Heathen : and to attemt all this with no other allurement , no other promife of recompence but what they muft attend in another world , and pafs too through re- proches and afflictions , torments and death. Thefe were all fuch invincible prejudices , as they could never hope to break thorow with a lie, nay, which they could not have en counter' d even with every common truth, but only with that , which being divine , brought its aids with it ; without which 'twas utterly impoffible for all the skill or oratory of men to overcome fuch difadvantages.
36. AND yet with all thefe did thele rude inartificial men conteft, and that with fignal fuccefs : no lefs then three thoufand Profe- lytes made by Saint Peters firft Sermon ; and that in Jerusalem , the Scene where all was acted, and confequently where 'twas the moft impoffible to impofe a forgery. And at the like miraculous rate they went on, till as the Pharifees themfelves complain, they had filed Jerufalem rvitb their do£lrin,K&$ y. 2 8 . nor did Judea fet bounds to them ; their found went
E 2 out
3 6 The Cbrijtians Birth-right, &c.
out into all Nations, Rom. 10. 18. and their dodrin fpred it felf through all the Gentile world.
37. AND iiire fo wonderful an event, fo contrary to all human mefures^do's fiifficient- ly evince there was more then man in it. No thing but the fame creative Power that pro- duc'd light out of darknefs, could bring forth effects fo much above the proportion of the caule. Had thefe weak inftruments aded on ly by their natural powers , nothing of this had bin achiev d. Alas,could thefe poor rude men learn all Languages within the Ipace of fifty daies,whidi would take up almoft as ma ny years of the moft induftrious Student, and yet had they not bin able to fpeak them,they could never have divulg'd the Gofpel to the feveral Nations , nor fo effectually have con- vinc'd the by-ftanders, ^ff . 2. that they aded by a higher impulfe. And to convince the world they did fo , they repeted their Mafters miracles as well as his dodtrin ; heal'd the fick., caftout devils, raisd the dead; And where God communicated fo much of his power 3 we may reafonably conclude he did it to promote his own work , not the work of the devil , as it muft have bin if this whole Scene were a lie.
38. WHEN all this is welgh'd, I prefume there will remaine little ground tolufped:, that the firft planters of Chriftian Faith had
any
SECT.!!. Divine Original of Holy Scripture. 37
any other defign then what they avowed, vi\. the bringing men to holinefs here , and falvation hereafter. The fufpicion therefore, if any3muft reft upon later times ; and accor dingly fbm are willing to perfwade them- felves and others , that the whole Scheme of our Religion , is but a lately devis'd Fable to keep the world in awe ; whereof Princes have made fom ufe, but Clergy-men more; and that Chrift and his Apoftles are only adors whom themfelves have conjured up upon the ftage to purfue their plot.
39. IN anfwer to this bold, this blafphe- mous fuggeftion, I fhould firft defire thefe furmilers to point out the time when, and the perfons who began this defign; to tell us exadly whence they date this politic Reli gion, as they are pleas'd to fuppofe it. If they cannot,they are manifeftly unjuft to rejedt our account of it when they can give none them felves ; and fail very much of that rigid de- monftration they require from others. That there is fuch a profeffion asChriftianity in the world , is yet ( God be bleft ) undeniable ; (tho at the rate it has of late declin'd, God knows how long it will be To : ) we fay it came by Chrift , and his Apoftles , and that it is attefted by an uninterrupted teftimony of all the intervening Ages, the fuffrage of all Chri- ftian Churches from that day to this. And fure they who embraced the dodriu , are the
moft
3 8 The Chriflians Birth-right, &c .
inoft competent witnefles from whence they received it.
40.. YET left they fhould be all thought parties to the defign , and their witnefs exce- pted againft,it has pleafed God to give us col lateral afliirances.and made both^Jewifh and Gentile Writers give teftimony to the Anti quity of Chriftianity. Jofephus do's this, lib. 2,0. chap. 8. and lib. 18. chap. 4. where, after he has given an account of the cru cifixion of Chrift exactly agreeing with the Evangelifts; he concludes, And to this day the Chrijtian people , who of him borrow their name ceafe not to increafe. . I add not the perfonal elogium which he gives of our Sa vior ; becaufe fbm are lo hardy to controul it : alfo I pafs what Philo mentions of the reli gious in Egypt , becaufe feveral Learned men refer it to the Eflens , a Sed: among the Jews,or fom other. There is no doubt of what Tacitus and other Roman Hiftorians fpeak of Chrift as the Author of the Chriftian do&rin ; which it had bin impoffible for him to have don, if there had then bin no fuch dodtrin, or if Chrift had not bin known as the Founder of it. So afterward Plinie gives the Emperor Trajan an account both of the manners, and multitude of the Chriftians; and makes the innocence of the one,and the greatnefs of the other, an Argument to flacken the perfecuti- on againft them. Nay, the very bloody Edicfo
of
SECT.!!. Divine Original of Holy Scripture. 3^
of the perlecuting Emperors, & the feoffs and reproches of Celjus,Porpbyri, Lucian^nd other profane oppolers of this Dodtrin, do undeni ably aflert its being. By all which it appears, that Chriftianity had in thofe Ages not only a being, but had alfo obtain' d mightily in the world , and drawn in vaft numbers to its pro- tfeffion ; and vaft indeed they muft needs be, to furnifh out that whole Army of Martyrs, of which profane , as well as Eccleliaftic wri ters fpeak. And if all this be not fufficient to evince that Chriftianity ftole not clancu- larly into the world , but took its rife from thofe times and perfons it pretends , we muft renounce all faith of teftimony , and not be lieve an inch farther then we fee.
41. I fiippofe I need fay no more to {hew that the Gofpel, and all thofe portentous mi racles which attefted it , were no forgeries, or dtratagems of men. I come now to that doubt which more immediatly concerns the Holy Scripture, vi%. whether all thofe tranfadlions ibe lo faithfully related there , that We may believe them to have bin dictated bv the fpi- irit of God. Now for this, the procefs need be ibut fliort , if we confider who were the pen men of the New Teftament ; even for the moft part the Apoftles themfelves : Matthew, and John who wrote two of the Gofpels were ^certainly fo : andM^r^, as all the Ancients aver, was but the Amanuenfis to Saint Peter,
who
40 The Chriflians Birth-right, &c.
who dictated that Gofpel. Saint Luke indeed comes not under this firft rank of Apoftles ; yet is by fom affirm* d to be one of the feven- ty Difciples : however an Apoftolical perfon 'tis certain he was , and it was no wonder for fuch to be infpired. For in thofe firft Ages of the Church men a6ted more by immediat inflation of the Spirit then fince. And accor dingly we find Stephen, the but a Deacon, had the power of miracles; and preacht as divine ly as the prime Apoftles, Aft. 7. And the gift of the Holy Ghoft was then a ufual concomi tant of converfion , as appears in the Story off0r;z£/m,A<9:s 10.45-, 46. Befides,Saint Luke was a conftant attendant on Saint Paul (who derived the Faith not from man, but by the im mediat revelation of Jefus Chrift , as himfelf profeffes , GaL i. 12.) and is by fom faid to have wrote by diktat from him , as Marl^ did from Saint Peter. Then as to the Epiftles they all bear the names of Apoftles, except that to the Hebrews , which yet is upon very good grounds, prefum'd to be Saint Pauls. Now thefe were the perfbns commiffionated by Chrift to preach the Chriftian clod:nn,and were fignally affifted in the difcharge of that office; fo that as he tells them, itwaswlf^fy, who ffiake , but the fyirit of the Father that fpal^c in them, Mat. 1 3 . 1 1 . And if they fpake by di vine infpiration , there can be no queftion that they wrote fo allb. Nay, indeed of the
two.
SECT. II. Divine Original of Holy Scripture. 4 1
two , it feems more neceffary they fhould do the later. For had they err'd in any thing they orally deliver d , they might have re tra ded and cured the mifchief : but thefe Books being defign'd asaftanding immutable rule of Faith and manners to all fucceffions , any error in them would have bin irreparable, and have entail'd it felf upon pofterity ; which agreed neither with the truth , not goodnefs of God to permit*
42. Now that thefe Books were indeed writ by them whole names they bear, we have as much aflurance as 'tis poffible to have of: any thing of that nature , and that diftance of time from us. For however fom of them may have bin controverted ; yet the greateft part have admitted no difpute 3 whofe do- d:rins agreeing exactly with the others , give testimony to them. And to the bulk of thole writings 3 it is notorious that the firfl Chri-- ftians receiv'd them from the Apoftles3and fo tranfmitted them to the enfuing Ages, which receiv'd them with the like efteem and vene ration. They cannot be corrupted, laies Saint jduftin in the thirty iecond Book againft Fau« flus the Manich. c. 16. becaufe they are and have bin in the bands of 'all Chrijiians. And, who- fbeverjhouldfirji attemt an alteration., he would be confuted by the injpeftion of other ancient er Copies. Bcfidcsjhe Scriptures are not in fom one Language^ but translated into many : jo that the faults ofons
F '
42' The Chrijiians Birth-right, &c.
BooJ^ivouldbe cor relied by others more ancient, or in a different Tongue.
43. And how much the body of Chriftians were in earneft concerned to take care in this matter,appearsby very coftly evidences; mul titudes of them chufing rather to part with their lives then their Bibles. And indeed 'tis a fufficient proof, that their reverence of that Book was very avowed and manifeft ; when their heathen Perfecuters made that one part of their perfecudon. So that as wherever the Chriitian Faith was receiv'd , this Book was alfo , under the notion we now plead for, t>/£. as the writings of men infpirdby God : fo it was alfo contended for even unto death ; and to part with the Bible was to renounce the Faith. And now, after fuch a cloud of te- ftimonies,we may fure take up that (ill-appli ed) faying of the high Prielt , Mat. 26. 6$. what farther need have we ofrvitnejjes.
44. YET befides thefe, another fort of wit- neflfes there are, I mean thofe intrinfic evi dences which arife out of the Scripture it felf ; but of rhefe I think not proper here to infill , partly becaufe the fubjed: will be in a great degree coincident with that of the fecond general confideration ; and partly becaufe tkefe can be argumentative to none who arc not qualified to difcern them. Let thofe who doubt the divine Original of Scripture , well digeft the former grounds which are
witbin
SECT. II. Divine Original of Holy Scripture. 43
within the verge of reafon ; and when by thofe they are brought to read it with due reverence , they will not want Arguments from the Scripture it felf to confirm their veneration of it.
4^. IN the mean time 3 to evince how pro per the former difcourfe is to found a ratio nal belief that the Scripture is the word of God ; I fhall compare it with thofe meiiires ofcredibilty upon which all human tranfa- d:ions move, and upon which men truft their greateft concerns without diffidence or dif- pute.
4<*. THAT we muft in many things truft the report of others is fo neceffary, that with out it humane fociety cannot fubfift. What a multitude of fubje&s are there in the world, who never faw their Prince , nor were at the making of any Law ? if all thefe fliould deny their obedience, becaufe they have it only. by hear-fay, there is fuch a man , and iucli ' Laws , what would become of goverment ? So alfo for property , if nothing of teftimony •may be admitted , how fhall any man prove ihis right to any thing ? All pleas muft be ^decided by the fword , and we fhalt fall into thatftate ( which fom have fancied the pri mitive) of univerfal hoftility. In'like man ner for traffic and commerce ; how fhould any Merchant firft attemt a trade to any foreign part of the world, if lie did not be-
F 2 lieve
44 The Chriflians Birth-right, &c.
lieve that fuch a place there was ? and how could he believe that , but upon the creclitof thofe who have bin there ? Nay indeed how could any man firft attemt to go but to the next Market Town 3 if he did not from the report of others, conclude that fuch a one there was ? io that if this univerfal diffidence fhould prevail , every man fliould be a kind of Plant agnus, fixttothe foil he firltfpnmg up in. The abfurdities are indeed fo infinite , and fo obvious , that I need not dilate upon them.
47. BUT it will perhaps be faid , that in things that are told us by our contempora ries , and that relate to our own time , men will be lefs apt to deceive us , becaufe they know 'tis in our power to examin and difco- ver the truth. To this I might fay , that in many inftances it would fcarce quit coft to do fo j and the inconveniences of trial would exceed thofe of belief. But I lhall willingly admit this probable Argument, and only de- fire it may be applied to our main queftion, by confidering whether the primitive Chri- ftianswho receiv'd the Scripture as divine, had not the fame fecurity of not being de- ceiv d.,who had as great opportunities ot exa mining 3 gnd the greatell concern of doing it throly , fince they were to engage not only their future hopes in another world, but ( that which to nature is much more fenfible }
all
SECT, II. Divine Original of Holy Scripture. 47
all their prefent enjoiments , and even life it felf upon the truth of it.
48. BUT becaufe it muft be confeft that we who are fo many Ages remov'd from them, ha ve not their means of affurance, let us in the next place coniider, whether an af- fent to thofe teftimonies they have left be hind themf be not warranted by the common pra&ice of mankind in other cafes. Who is there that queftions there was fuch a man a$ William the Conqueror in this Ifland? or, to lay the Scene farther ; who doubts there was an Alexander^ Julius Cafar}an Auguftus ? Now what have we to found this confidence on be- fides the faith of Hiftory ? And I prefume e- ven thofe who exad: the fevereft demonftra- tions for Ecclefiaftic Story ,would think him a very impertinent Sceptic that fhould do the like in thefe. Soalfo, as to the Authors of Books ; who difputes whether Homer writ the Iliads, or Virgil the .flEneidSjOr Ciefar the Com- mentaries,that pafs under their names? yet none of thefe have bin attefted in any degree like the Scripture. 'Tis faid indeed, that Ca- far ventured his own life to fave his Com mentaries , imploying one hand to hold that above the water, when it fhould have affifted him in fwiming. But who ever laid down their lives in atteftation of that, or any hu man compofure, as multitudes of men have don for the Bible ?
BUT
4 6 The Chrijtia ns Birth-right, &c .
49. BUT perhaps 'twill befaid, that the fmall concern men have, who wrote thefe, or other the like Books , inclines them to ac- jquiefce in the common opinion. To this I mull fay , that many things inconfiderable to mankind have oft bin very laborioufly dif- cuft,as appears by many unedifying Volumes* both of Philofophers and Schole^tnen. But whatever may be faid in this inftance, 'tis ma- Alifeft there are others, wherein mens real and greateft interefts are intruded to the teftimo- iiiesof former Ages. For example, a man poflefles an eftate which was bought by his great Grand-father, or perhaps elder Proge nitor : he charily preferves that deed of pur- chafe, and never looks for farther fecurity of his title : yet alas, at the rate that men objed: againft the Bible , what numberlefs Cavils might be rais'd againft fuch a deed? How fliall it be known that there was fuch a man as either Seller or Purchafer ? if by the witnef- fes ; they are as liable to doubt as the other ; it being as eafy to forge the Atteftation as the main writing : and yet notwithftanding all thefe poffible deceits , nothing but a pofitive proof of forgery can invalidate this deed. Let but the Scripture have the fame mefure, be allowed to ftand in force , to be what it pretends to be , till the contrary be ( not by iurmifes and poffible conjectures) but by evi dent proof evinc'd; and its greateft Advocats will ask no more. fo. A
SECT. II. Divine Original of Holy Scripture. 47
jo. A like inftance may be given in public concerns : the immunities and rights of any Nation, particularly here, of our Magna Char- ta 3 granted many Ages fince , and depofited among the public Records : to make this fignify any thing, it muft be taken for grant ed, that this was without falfification prefer- ved to our times ; yet how eafy were it to fug- geft that in fo long a fucceffion of its keepers, lorn may have bin prevail'd on by the in fluence of Princes to abridg and curtail its conceffions, others by a prevailing fa&ion of the people to amplify and extend it ? Nay, if men were as great Sceptics in Law , as they are in Divinity, they might exad: demonftra- tions that the whole thing were not a forge ry. Yet,for all thefe poflible furmiles,we itill build upon it, and fhould think he argued ve ry fallacioufly , that fhould go to evacuate it, upon the force of fuch remote fuppofitions.
f i . Now I defire it may be conlider'd whe ther our fecurity concerning theholyScripture be not as great, nay, greater then it can be ot this. For firft, this is a concern only of a par* ticular Nation , and fo can exped: no foreign latteftation ; and fecondly , it has all along refted on the fidelity of its keepers ; which has either bin a fingle perfon ^ or at belt fom fmall number at a time ; whereas the Scri ptures have bin witnefs'd to by perfons of all Nations, and thofe not fingle , but collective
Bodies
4 8 The Cbriftians Birtb-rijrht, &c .
Bodies and Societies , even as many as there have bin Chriftian Churches throout the world. And the fame that are its Atteftors have bin its Guardians alfo , and by their multitudes made it a very difficult , if not an impoffible thing to faliify it in any confide- table degree; it being not imaginable, as I Jhew'd before from St. Auftin , all Churches fliould combine to do it : and if they did not, the fraud could not pafs undetected : and if no eminent change could happen , much lefs could any new , any counterfeit Gofpel be obtruded , after innumerable Copies of the firft had bin tranflated into almoft all Lan guages, and difperft throughout the world.
$-2. THE Imperial Law compil'd by fa* ftinian, was foon after his death , by reafon of the inroads of the Goths, and other barbarous Nations , utterly loll in the Weftern world ; and icarce once heard of for the fpace of five hundred years , and then came cafually to be retriv'd upon the taking viAmalfis by the Pi- fans, one fingleCopy being found thereat the plundering of the City. And the whole credit of thofe PandecSts, which have everfince govern'd the Weftern world, depends in a manner on that fingle Book , formerly call'd the Pifan ; and now,after that Pifa was taken by the Florentines, the Florentine Copy. But notwithftanding this -, the body of the Civil Law obtains ; and no man thinks it reafon-
able
SECT. II. DivineOriginalof Holy Scripture.
able to queftion its being really what it pre tends to be , notwithttanding its lingle , and fo long interrupted derivation. I might draw this parallel thro many other inftances , but thefe may fuffice to fhew,that if the Scriptures might find but fo much equity,asto be tried by the common mefures of other things , it it would very well pafs the teft.
$-3. BUT. men feem in this cafe (like our
late Legiflajtors ) to fet up new extraregular
Courts of Jabice , to try thofe whom no or
dinary rules will call , yet their defigns re-
require fhouldbe condemn'd: And<we may
conclude, 'tis not the force of reafon, but
of prejudice^ that makes them fo unequal to
themlelves as to rejed: the Scriptures, when
they receive every thing elfe upon far weaker
grounds. The bottom of it is, they are re-
iolv'dnottoobey its precepts •> and therefore
think it the fhorteit cut to difavow its au-
tority : for Ihould they once own that, they
would find themfelves intangled in the moft
inextricable dilemma ; that of the Pharifees
about John ¥>aptijt : If we fay from heaven , he
will Jay, tvhy then did you not believe him ? Mat.
2 1 . 2f . If they contefs the Scriptures divine ,
they muft be felf-condemn'd in not obeying
them. And truely men that have fuch prein-
gagements to their Iuits5that they muft admit
nothing that will difturb them; do but pre
varicate when they call for greater evidences
G ' and
The Chriftians Birth-right,
and demonftrations : for thofe bofom Sophi- fters will elude the moft manifeft convidionss and like Juglers , make men disbelieve even their own fenles. So that any other waies of evidence will be as difputable with them , as thofe already offer'd: which is the third thing I propofed to confider. ,r
^4. IT has bin fomtimes feen in popular. mutinies , that when blanks have bin fent them, they could not agree whatJfo ask : and were it imaginable that God Anauld fo far court the infidelity of men, as to allow them to make their own demands , to fet down what waies of proof would perfwade them ; I doubt not there are many have obftinacy enough,to defeat their own methods, as well as they now do Gods. 'Tis fure there is no ordinary way of conviction left for them to ask , God having already ( as hath alfo bin fhew'd) afforded that. Theymuft therefore relort to immediat revelation, expert in- ftant aflurances from heaven , that this book we call the Bible is the word of God.
f f. MY firft queftion then is, in what manner this revelation muft be made to ap pear credible to them. Thebeft account we. have of the feveral waies of revelation is from the Jews , to whom God was pleas'd upon new emergencies fignally to revele himfelf. Thefe were firft dreams •> fecondiy, vifions ; by both which the Prophets recei
ved
SECT.IL Divine Original of Holy Scripture, yi
ved their infpirations. Thirdly, Vrim and Thummim. Fourthly , the Bath- col ( as they term it ) Thunder and voice from Heaven. Let us confider them diftin&ly , and fee whe ther our Sceptical men may not probably find fomwhat to difpute in every one of thefe. And firft for dreams ; it is among us fo hard to di- ftinguiih between thofe that arife from con-r ftitution, prepofleffion of phancy, diabolical or divine infufion , that thofe that jsave the moft critically confider'd them, do rather dif ference them by their matter , then any cer tain difcriminating circumftances : and un- lefswehadfbm infallible way of difcerning, our dependence on them may more probably betray then dire<9; us. Tis unquestionable that ufually phancy has the greateit ftroke in them. And if he that fhould commit himfelf to the guidance of his waking phancy, is not like to be over-wifely govern'd, what can we expedt from his fleeping ? All this and more may doubtlefs be foberly enough obje&ed a- gainft the validity of our common dreams.
56. BUT admit there were now fuch di vine dreams as brought their evidence along with them ; yet fure 'tis poffible for prejudic'd men, to refift even the cleareft convictions. For do we not fee fom that have made a Ihift to extinguifh that natural light , thofe no tions which are interwoven into the very frame and c®nftitution of their minds, that
G 2 fo
f 2 The Chriftians Birth-right, &c.
fo they may fin more at eafe, and without re- lu£tancy ? and lure 'tis as poflible for them to clofe their eies againft all raies from without too , to refift revelation as well as inftmd: ; and more likely , by how much a tranfient caufe is naturally lefs operative then a per manent. Aninftanceof this we have in Ba laam; who being in thele nightly vifitations prohibited by God to go to BalacJ^; and tho ne knew then, what he afterwards faies, Num. 23. ip. that God was not a man that he Jhould lie, nor the f on of man that he fljould repent : yet he would not take God at his firft word , but upon a frefli bait to his covetoufnefs, tries a- gain for an anfwer more indulgent to his in- tereft. Befides.if God Jliould thus revele him- felf to fom particular perfon?, yet 'tis beyond all prefident or imagination , that he fhould do it to every man -, and then how fhall thofe who have thefe dreams3be able to convince o- thers that they are divine >
?7. 'Tis eafy to guefs what reception a man that produces no other autority. would have in this ludicrous Age : he would certain ly be thought rather to want deep , then to have had revelations in it. And if Jacob and the Patriarchs, who were themfelves acquain ted with divine dreams, yet did not believe Jofephs ; any man that Ihould now pretend in that kind , would be lure to fall under the fame irony that he did3to be entertain'd with
a be-
SECT.!!. Divine Original of Holy Scripture. 5-3
a behold this dreamer cometh,Gen. 37. 19.
5-8. THE fecond way of revelation by vifion was, where the man was wrapt into an extafy, his fpirit for a while fufpended from alj. fenfi- ble communication with the body , and en tertain d with fupernatural light. In thefe * the Prophets faw emblematical repreienta- tions of future events , receiv'd knowledg of divine Myfteries, and commiffion and ability to difcharge the whole prophetic office. Now fuppofe God fliould now raife us Prophets., and infpire them after this manner ; what would the merry men of this time fay to it ? Can we think that they who rally upon all that the former Prophets have writ, would look with much reverence on what the new ones fhould fay? Som perhaps would conftrue their ra ptures to be but like Mahomets Epilepfy ; o- thers a fit of frenzy , others perhaps a being drunl^Tvith new wine ; Adi. 2. 13. but thofe that did the moft foberly confider it , would ftill need a new revelation to atteft the truth of this : there being far more convincing ar guments to prove the Scriptures divine, then any man can allege to prove his infpiration to be fo. And 'tis fiire a very irrational me thod , to attemt the clearing of a doubt , by fomwhat which is it felf more doubtful.
79. A third way, wasby^rm and Thum- mim, which Writers tell us was an Oracle re- fulting from the Letters which were graven
in
f 4 The Cbriftians Birth-right, &c.
the High Priefts Pectoral, to which in all im portant doubts the Jews of thoic Ages refor- ted , and receiv'd refponfes ; but whether it were by the fuddain prominency , or refplen- dency of the letters , or by any other way, is not material in this place to enquire : one thing is certain, that the Ephod, and confe* quently the Pectoral was in the Priefts cufto- ay, and that he had the adminiftration of the whole affair. Now I refer it to confideration, whether this one circumftance would not (to thofe prejudiced menlfpeakof) utterly eva cuate the credit of the Oracle. They have taught themfelves to look on Prieft-hood , whether Legal or Evangelical, only as a bet ter name for impofture and cofenage : and they that can accufe the Priefts for having kept up a cheat for fo many Ages ; muft needs think them fuch omnipotent Juglers,that no thing can be fence againft their Legerde main : and by confequence, this way of reve lation would rather foment their difplefure at the Ecclefiaftics , then fatisfy their doubts of the Scripture.
60. LASTLY, for the fourth way, that of thunder and voice from Heaven , tho that would be a fignal way of convidion to unpre judiced men , yet it would probably have as little effed as the reft upon the others: men that pretend to fuch deep reafoning would think it childifli to be frighted out of their
opinion
SECT.!!. Divine Original of Holy Scripture, y 5*
opinion by a clap of Thunder -, fom philo- fophical reafon fliall be found out , to fatisfy them that 'tis the effed: only of fom natural caufe, and any the moft improbable fhall ferve turn to fupplant the fear of its being a divine tellimony to that, which they are fo unwilling fhould be true. As for the toice from Heaven , it muft either be heard by o- thers, and related to them ; or elfe imediatly by themfelves : if the former, 'twill lie under the fame prejudice which the Bible already do's ; that they have it but by hear-fay, and reporters would fall under the reproach ci ther of defign or frenzy •, that they meanx to deceive, or were themfelves deceiv'd by their own diftemper'd phancy. But if themfelves fhould be Auditors of it ; 'tis odds but tkcir bottomlefs jealoufies in divine Matters would fuggeft a poffibility of fraud , tho they knew not how to trace it : nay 'tis more then poffi- ble that they will rather disbelieve their own fenfes, then in this inftance take their te- ftimony with all its confequences.
tf i. NOR is this a wild fuppofition : for we fee it poffible not only for fingle men, but multitudes to disbelieve their fenfes , thro an excefs of credulity -, witnefs the dodrin of Tranliibftantiation, Why may it not then be as poffible for others to do the like thro .a greater excels of incredulity ? Befides3mens ;prepoffeffions and affections have a ftrange
influence
The Chriflians Birth-right,
influence on their Faith : men many times will not fuffer themfelves to believe the molt credible things , if they crofs their inclina tion. How often do we fee irregular patients that will not believe any thing that their ap petite craves will do them hurt, tho their Phylitians, nay , their own even fenfitive ex perience atteit it to them ? And can we think that a diieasd mind, gafping with an Hy dropic thirft after the plelures of fin, will ever aflent to thole premifes,whofe conclufion will engage to the renouncing them ? Will not a luxurious voluptuous perfon be willing rather to give his cars the lie , to disbelieve what he hears , then permit them more deeply to dif- oblige his other fenfes , by bringing in thole reftraintsand mortifications which the Scri pture would impole upon them ?
62. THUS we fee how little probability there is, that any of thefe waies ot revelation would convince thefe incredulous men. And indeed, thofe that will not believe upon fuch inducements as may fatisfy men of fober rea- foii, will hardly fubmit to any other method, according to that Affertion of Father Abra ham ; If they hear not Mofes and the Prophets, neither will they be perfn>adedy tho one rojefrom the dead, Luk. 16. 31. Now at this rate of infidelity, what way will they leave God to manifelt any thing convincingly to the world? which is to put him under an impo-
potency
SECT .II. Divine Original of Holy Scripture f?
potency greater then adheres to humanity : For we men have power to communicate our minds to others, to tell whether we own fuch or fuch a thing , to which we are intitled 5 and we can fatisfy our Auditors that it is in deed we that fbeak to them: but if every method God ufes, do's rather increafe then fatisfy mens doubts, all inter courfe between God and man is intercepted; and he muft do that of neceffity, which Epicurus phancied he did of choice ; vi^. keep himfelf uncon- cern'd in the affairs of mortals, as having no way of communicating with them. Nay ( what is yet, if poffible,more abfurd) he muft be fuppos'd to have put the works of his Crea tion out of his own reach, to have given men difcourfive faculties , and left himfelf no way of addrefs to them.
6$. THESE inferences how horridly fo- ever they found, yet I fee not how they can be difclaim'd by thofe, who are unfatisfied with all thofe waies by which God hath hitherto fevel'd himfelf to the world. For can it be imagin'd , that God who created man a rea- fbnable creature , that himfelf might be glo- £ified in his free and rational obedience ; ( when all other creatures obey upon impulie andinftind:) can it, I fay, be imagin'd, that he fhonld fo remifly purfue his own delign, as to let fo many Ages pafs lince the Creation, and never to acquaint mankind with the
H parti-
$• g The Chrijtians Birth-right, &c.
particulars wherein that obedience was to be exercis'd. This lure were fo difagreeable to his wifdom and goodnefs , that it cannot be charg'd upon his will; and confequently they who own not that he has made any fuch revelation, muft tacitly tax him of impo tence , that he could not do it. But if any man will fay he has, and yet rejedt all this which both Jews and Chriftians receive as fuch, let him produce his teflimonies for the others, or rather ( to retort his own mefure ) his demonftrations. And then let it appear whether his Scheme of doCtrin , or ours, will need the greater aid of that eafy credu lity he reproches us with.
64. I have now gon thro the method I propofed for evincing the Divine Original of the Scriptures , and fliall not defcend to examin thole more minute and particular Cavils which profane men make againft them s the proof of this, virtually fuperieding all thofe. For if it be reafonable to believe it the Word of God , it muft be reafonable alfo to believe it of perfection proportionable to the Author ; and then certainly it muft be ad- vancd beyond all our objections. For to^ thole who except to the ftile,the incoherence, the contradictions, or whatever elfe in Scri pture ; I fhall only ask this one queftion, whe ther it be not much more poffible that they
( who can pretend, to be nothing above fal-
i'ii lible
SECT.!!. Divine Original of Holy Scripture. 5-9
liblemen) may misjudg, then that the infal lible God fliould didate any thing juftly lia ble to thofe charges ; I am lure they muft de part as much from Reafon as Religion, to affirm the contrary. But alas, inftead of this implicit fubmiffion to Gods Word, men take up explicit prejudices againft it ; condemn it without ever examining the truth of the Al legation. 'Tis certain , that in a writing of fuch Antiquity, whofe original Language has Idioms and Phrafes fo peculiar , whofe Coun try had cuftoms fo differing from the reft of the world •> tis impoffible to judg of it with out reference to all thofe circumftances. Add to this , that the Hebrew lias bin a dead Lan guage for well nigh two thoufand years , no where in common ufe : nor is there any other ancient Book now extant in it, befides thofe, yet not all neither, of the Old Teftament.
tfy. Now pf thofe many who defame Holy Writ , how few are there that have the indu- ftry to inquire into thofe particulars ? And when for want of knowledg , fom paflages feem improper, or perhaps contradictory; the Scripture muft bear the blame of their ignorance, and be accus'd as abfurd and un^t intelligible, becaufe themfelves are ftupid and negligent. It were therefore methinks but a reafonable propofal, that no man fliould araign it , tilt they have ufed all honeft dili gence, taken in all probable helps for the un-
H 2 derftand-
6 o The Chrijtians Birth-right , &c.
clcrftanding it : and if this might be obtaind, I believe moft of its Accufers would like thofe of the woman in the Golbel, Jo. 8. 9. drop a- way, as confcious of their own incompeten- cy : the loudeft out-cries that are made a- gainft jt, being commonly of thofe who fall upon it only as a fafhionable theme of dif- courfe , ana hope to acquire themfelves the reputation of wits by thus charging God foo- liihly. But he that would candidly and up rightly endeavor to comprehend before he judges.and to that end induftrioufly uie thofe means which the providence of God by the labors of pious men hath afforded him , will certainly find caufe to acquit the Scripture of thofe imputations which our bold Critics have caft upon it. I do not fay that he fhall have all the obfcurities of it perfectly clear' d to him ; but he lhall have fo many of them as is for his real advantage , and fliall difcern fuch reafbns why the reft remain unfathom able , as may make him not only juftify , but celebrate the wifdom of the Author.
66. YET this is to be expeded only upon the fore-rnention'd condition, vi^. that he come with fincere and honeft intentions -, for as for him that comes to the Scripture with defign, and vvilhes tofind matter of cavil, and ac'ciifations ; there is little doubt but that ipirit of impiety and profancfs which fent him thither , will meet him there as a fpirit
of
SECT. II. Divine Original of Holy Scripture. 6x
of delufion and occecation. That Prince of the Air will call fuch mifts , raife fuch black vapors 5 that as the Apoftle fncaks , the light of the glorious Gcfyel of Chrijtjhall not Jkine un to him , 2 Cor. 4. y. Indeed were iiich a man left only to the natural efficacy of prejudice, that is of it felf fo blinding , fo infatuating a thing , as commonly fortifies againft all con viction. We fee it in all the common in- ftances of life ; mens very lenfes are often en- flav'd by it : the prepoffeffion of a ftrong pliancy will make the objeds of fight or hear ing appear quite different from what they are. But in the prefent cafe , when this (hall be added to Satanical illufions, and both left to their operations by Gods with-drawing his illuminating grace , the cafe of fuch a man anfwers that defcriptionof the Scrip ture.TA^y have eies and fee not , ears have they and hear «0£,Rom.i i. 8. And that God will fo withdraw his grace , we have all reafon to believe ; he having promis'd it only to the meek ; to thofe who come with malleable dudlile fpirits , to learn, not to deride or cavil. Saint Peter tells us, that the unlearned andunflable wrejt the Scripture to their own dcJlruHion, 2 Pet. 3. iy. And if God permit fuch to do fo, much more will he the proud and malicious.
67. I iay not this, to deter any from the ftudy of Holy Scripture , but only to caution them to bring a due preparation of mind a-
long
6 z The Chriftians Birth-right, &c .
long with them > Gods Word being like a ge nerous foveraign medicament ; which if fim- ply and regularly taken, is ot the greateit be nefit > but ifmixtwith poilon, ferves only to- make that more fatally operative. To con clude , he that would have his doubts folv'd concerning Scripture, let him follow the me thod our blefled Lord has prefcrib'd: Let him do the will of God , and then hejhall know of the doftrin, whether it be of Gvd, Jo. 7. 17. Let him bring with him a probity of mind, a wil- lingnels to aflent to all convi<5tions he fliall there meet withrand then he will findgrounds fufficient to affure him that it is Gods Word, and confequently to be receiv'd with all the fubmiffion and reverence , that its being fo. exads.
SECT.
SECT. III. Subjeft Matter of Holy Scripture. 6$
SECT. III.
The fubjeff matter treated of in the Holy
Scripture is excellent, a* is alfo
its end and defign.
WE have hitherto confider'd the holy Scripture only under one notion, as it is the Word of God ; we come now to view it in the fubjedt matter of it, the feveral parts whereof it conlifts -3 which are fo various and comprehenfive, as fhews the whole is derivd from him who is all in all , i Cor. 19.28. But that we may not fpeak only loofely , and at rovers , we will take this excellent frame in pieces , and confider its moil eminent parts diftindtly. Now the parts of Holy Writ feein to branch themfelves into thefe feverals. Firft, the Hiftorical j fecondly , the Prophetic j thirdly, the Dodrinal; fourthly, the Prece ptive ; fifthly, the Minatory , fixthly,the Pro- miflbry. Thefe are the feveral veins in this rich Mine , in which he who induftrioufly la bors, will find the Pfalmift was not out in his eftimate, when he pronounces them more to be dejird then gold, yea , then much fine gold, Pfal. 19. 10.
2. To fpeak ffHi of the Hiftorical part;
the
The Chriflians Birth-right,
the things which chieflly recommend a HH ftory are the dignity of the fubjed: , the truth of the relation , and thole plefant or profita-* ble obfervations which are interwoven with it. And firft , for the dignity of the fubjed, the Hiftory of the Bible mutt be acknowledg ed to excel all others: thofe ftiew the rife and progrels of fom one people or Empire ; this Ihews us the original of the whole Uni- verie ; and particularly of man^for whofe ufe; and benefit the whole Creation was defign'd. By this mankind is brought into acquain tance with it felf ; made to know the ele ments of its confutation , and taught to put a differing value upon that Spirit which was breattid into it by God, Gen. 2. 7. and the flcfll whofe foundation is in the dujl, Job 4.19. And when this Hiftorical part of Scripture con* tradts and draws into a narrow channel,when it records the concerns but of one Nation, yet it was that which God had dignified a- bove all the reft of the world, markt it out for his own peculiar; made it the repofitory of his truth , and the vifible itock from whence the Meffias fhould come, in whom all the Na tions of the earth -were to be bleffed.Gcn.i$. ig« fo that in this one people of the Jews.was vir tually infolded thehigheft and moil impor tant intereftsof the whole world; and it mutt be acknowledg'd ., no Story could have a no bler iubjeft to treat of.
3. SE-
SECT.!!!. Subjctt Matter of Holy Scripture. 6?
3. SECONDLY, as to the truth of the rela tion, tho to thofe who own it Gods Word there needs no other proof, yet it wants not human Arguments to confirm it. The moft undoubted fymtomc of fincerity in an Hiftorian is impartiality. Now this is very eminent in Scripture writers : they do not record others faults , and baulk their own; but indifferently accufe thenjfelves as well as others. Mofes mentions his own diffidence and unwillingneis to go on Gods mcffage, Ex. 4. / 3. his provocation of God at the wa ters of 'Meribab, Num. 20. Jonah records his own fullen behavior towards God , with as great aggravations as any ot his enemies could have don. Peter in his dictating Saint Marks Gofpel, neither omits nor extenuates his fin; all. he feems to fpeak fhort in, is his repentance. Saint Paul regifters himfelf as the greateft of finners.
4. AND as they were not i%lulgent to their own perfonal faults, fo neither did any nearnels of relation , any relpecSt of quality bribe them to a concelement : Mofes relates the oieace of his filter Miriam in muti- ning. Num. 12. i. of his brother Aaron in the matter of the Cal£ Ex. 32. 4. with asdtttle diiguife as that of I\orab and his company. D^^^tho a King,- hath his adultery and mur der diiplaied in the bla eke ft -characters' ; and
little vanity of Ihewing his I treiuves.
66 The Chriftians Birth-right, &c.
trefures, do's not efcape a remark. Nay, even the reputation of their Nation could not biafs the facred Writers ; but they freely tax their crimes: the Ifraelites murmurings in the wildernefs; their Idolatries in Canaan, are fet down without any palliation or ex- cufe. And they are as frequently branded for their ftubbornefs and ingratitude, as the Canaanites are for their abominations. So that certainly no Hiftory in the world do's better atteft its truth by this evidence of im partiality.
f . IN the laft place it commends it felf both by the plefure and profit it yields. The rarity of thole events it records fiirprizes the mind with a delightful admiration ; and that mixture of fage Difcourfes , and well- coucht Parables wherewith it abounds , do's at once pleafe and inftrudt. How ingenuouily apt was Nathans Apologue to David, where by with holji artifice he enfnafd him into re pentance ? And it remains Itill matter of in- itrudtion to us , to (hew us with what unequal fcales we are apt to weigh the fame crime in others and our felves. So alfo that long train • of (mart calamities which fucceeded his fin , is fet out with fuch particularity^that it feems to be exactly the crime reverft. His own lult with Bathjheba y was anfwerd with Amnons towards Thamar -, his murder of Vriah with that of Amnw -9 his trecherous contrivance
of
•
Subj ell Matter of Holy Scripture. 6 7
of thatmurder,with Abfoloms traiterous con- fpiracy againft him. So that every circum- ftance ofhispunilhmeut , was the very echo and reverberation of his guilt. A multitude of the like inftances might be produc'd out of holy Writ ; all concurring to admonifh us, that God exa&ly marks , and will repay our crimes $ and that commonly with fuch pro priety, that we need no other clue to guide us to the caufe of our fufferings,then the very fuffcrings themfelves. Indeed innumerable are the profitable obfervations arifing from the hiftorical part of Scripture, that flow fb ealily and unconftrein'd ; that nothing but a ttupid inadvertence in the reader can make him baulk them : therefore 'twould be im pertinent here to multiply inftances.
6. LET us next confider the prophetic part of Scripture, and wefhail find it no lefs ex cellent in its kind. The prophetic Books are for the.moft part made up (as the prophetic Office was) or two parts ; predidtion and in- ftrudtion. When God rais'd up Prophets, 'twas not only to acquaint men with future events , but to reform their prefent man ners : and therefore as they are called Seers in one reipcdt , fo they are Watch-men and Shepherds in another. Nay, indeed the for mer was often fubfervient to the other as to the nobler end : their gift of foretelling was to gain them autarky , to be as it were the
I 2 feat
6 8 The Cbriflians Birth-right, &c.
feal of their commiffion; to convince men' that they were fent from God : and io to ren der them the more pliaut, to their reproofs ai}d admonitions. And the very matter of their prophecies was ufually adapted to this end : the denouncing of judgments being the molt frequent theme , and that defign'd to bring men to repentance; as appears ex perimentally in the cafe pi Nineveh. And in this latter part of their office, the Prophets acted with the grcateft incitation and vehe mence.
7. WITH \yhat liberty and zeal do's Elijah arraign Akab of Nab-oths murder, and fore*- tel the fatal event of it , without any fear of his power, or reverence of his greatnefs ? And Samuel when he delivers Saul the fatal jneflage of his rejection , do's paffionately and convincingly expoftulate with him con* ccrning hislin, i Sam. if. 17. Now the very fame Spirit trill breaths in all the prophetic Writings : the fame truth of prediction, and the lame zeal againft vice.
8. FIRST, for the predictions whatfignal completions do we find ? How exactly are all the denunciations of judgments fulfil'd/where repentance lias not intervened? He that reads the 28. chap. vtDcut. and compares it with the Jews calamities, both under the Aflyrians and Babylonians , and efpecially iindci the Rouifinaj would think their op?
prefTors
5ECT.III. Subjeft Matter of Holy Scripture. 69
preflbrs had confulted it , and tranfcrib'd their fe verities thence. And -even thefe Na-^ tions , who were the inftruments of acconv- pi ifhing thofe difmal prefages, had their own ruins foretold, and as punctually executed. And as in Kingdoms and Nations , ib to pri vate perfons none of the prophetic threat- nings ever return' d einty. The fentence pronounc'd againft Ahab I Je^abel^ and their porterity3\vas fulfill'd even to the moft minute circumftances of place and manner; as is^ evident by comparing the denunciation of Elijah,* l\fngs. 21.19.23. with their tragical ends recorded in the following chapters. And as for Jehu , whofe fervice God was pleated toufemthat execution, tho he rewarded it with entailing the crown of Ifirael on him for four defcents ; yet he foretold tliofc fliould be the limits ; and accordingly we find J^achartab3the fourth defcendent ot his line, was the laft of it that fate on that throne, 2 Kings TJ-. io. So alfo the cleftrudtion oi j4chitopbel and Judas , the one 'immediat , the other many hundred years remote, are fore-told by David, Pfal. 109. and we find exactly aniwer'd in the event.
9. NOR was this exadnefs confin'd only to the fevere predictions , but as eminent in the more gracious. ' All the ble flings which God by himfelf, or the Miniftry of his Prophets, promis'd, were ftill infallibly made good.
At
7 o The Chrijitans Birth-right, &c .
At the time of life God return'd and vifited Sarah with conception. ; notwithftanding thofe natural improbabilities which made her not only dittruft, but even deride and laugh at the promife. Gen. i g. The pofterity of that ,Son of • - romife ; the whole race of Abraham was deliverd from the Egyptian bondage, and po:^itof ^;//-#;^atthepreciie time which G od had long before fignified to Abraham, Gen. 15*. So likewife the return of the Jews from the Babvloniih captivity , was fore-told many years before their deporta tion , and Cyrus named for their reftorer , before he had either name or being fave only inGodsprefcience, If. 44. 28, But I need not multiply inftances of national or perfonal promifes. The earlieft, and rnoft compre- henfive promife of all was that oftheMef- fiah , in whom all perfons and Nations of the norldivere tobe bleft, Gen. 22. n. that feed of the no man that Jhould bruife the Serpents bead, Gen. 3.15-. To him give all the Prophets nitnefs, as Saint Peter obferves, Ails 10. And lie who was the fubjed:, rhade himfelf alfo the expounder of thofe prophecies in his walk to Emmaus with the two Difciples,L#. 24. 13. beginning at Mofes, and all the Prophets, he expounded io thtm in all the Scriptures, the things concerning In mfelf.
io. THIS as it was infmitly the greateft Welling afforded mankind, fb was it the moft
fre-
SECT. III. Subject Matter of Holy Scripture. 71
frequently and eminently predidied^andthat with the moft exadt particularity as to all the circumftances. His immaculate conception, the union of his two natures implied in his name Immanuefc Behold a v ir gin jb all conceive and bear afon3andjhall call his name Immanuel; is moft plainly foretold by//.' Chap. 7- 14. Nay the very place of his birth fo punctually fore-told 5 that the Priefts and Scribes could readily refolve Herods queltion upon the ftrengthof the prophecy,and aflure himChriit muft be born in Bethlehem, Mat. 2. 5-. As for the whole bufinefs and defign of his life 3 we find it io defcrib'd by Ifaiah chap, 61. as Chrift himfelf owns it, Luk. 4. ig.'T/^ fpirit of the Lordis upon me, becaufe he hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek^t he hathfent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives , and recover ing of fight to the blind , to fet at liberty them that are bruijed , to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
ii. IF we look farther to his death, the greateft part of the Old Teftament has a diredt afoed: on it. All the Levitical oeco- nomy OJT Sacrifices and Ablutions were but prophetic Rites, and ocular Predictions of that one expiatory Oblation. Nay, moft of Gods providential difpenfations to the Jews , carried in them types and prefigurations of this. Their refcue from Egypt > the fprin-
kling
The Cbriflians Birtb-rijrbt,
kling of blood to iecure from the de- ftroying Angel , the Manna with which they were ted, the Rock which {applied the iii water: thefe and many more reterr'd to Chriit , as their final and higheil fignifiea- tion.
12. BUT befides thefe darker adumbra tions, we have (as the Apoftle (peaks) a more jure word of prophecy. Saint Peter in his calcu lation begins with A/0/i^takes in Samuel and the whole fucceffion of Prophets after him, as bearing witnefs to this great event of Chriils pailion, Ails 4. 22. 24. And indeed hd that reads the Prophets confideringly, fhall find ft fo punctually delcrib 'd, that the Evan- gclifts do not much more fully inftriuSt him in the circumltances of it. Daniel tells us, his death, as to the kind of it, was to be violent: The Me/Jiabjhall be cut off-., and as to the de- fignof it, 'twas not for bimfelflDzn. 9. 26. But the Prophet Ifaiah gives us more then a bare negative account of itj and exprclly faies, be rcas wounded for out tranf^rejjions , be was bruifed for our iniquities ; the cbajti foment of our peace was on him , and by bis Jtnpes we were healed, chap. ^3. f. And again, ver. 10. Thou Jhult ma^e bis foul an offering for Jin ± and ver. 1 1 . my righteous Servant fo all] uji if y liiany, for bejhall bear their iniquities. Nor is Job an 1- dumean much fhort of even this Evangelical Prophetjin that fliort Creed of liis,-wherei« he
owns
SECT.!!!. Subjett Matter of Holy Scripture 75
owns him as his Redeemer , I l^norv that my J^edeemerliveth, &c. Job. 19. 25-.
13. AND as the end, ib the circumftance* of his fufferings are moft of them under pre diction : His extenfion upon the Crofs is men- tion'd by the Pfalmift : They pierced my hands, and my feet ; I may tell all my bones, Pfal. 22. 16. 17. As for his inward dolors , they are in that Pfalm fo pathetically defcribed , that Chrift chofe that very form to breath them out in : My God, my God, why haft thou for fallen, me? ver. i. So his revilers did alfo transcribe part of their reproches from ver. 8 . He tru* jied in God > let him deliver him now if be will have him, Mat. 27.43. That vinegar which was offer' d him on the crofs, was a comple tion of a prophecy ; In my thirft they gave m* vinegar to drinf^y Pf. 69.21. the piercing of his fide was exprefly fore-told by ^achary ; they jhattlook^ on him whom they have pierced, Z^ach. 10. 12. The company in which he fuf- fer d , and the interment he had, are alfo in timated by Ifaiah 9 he made his grave with the rvick^d,anawith the rich in his death, Ifai. 73.9. Nay even the difpofal of his garments was not without a prophecy : they parted my gar ~ ments among them, and upon my vefture did they caft lots, Pf. 22 . 1 8 . Here are a cloud of wit* neflfes, which as they ferve eminently to atteft the truth of Chriftian Religion ; fo do they to evince the excellency of facred Scri-
K pture 3
74 The Cbriftians Birth-right, &c.
pture -, as to the verity of the prophetic part. 14. As to the admonitory part of the prophetic Writings , they are in their kind no way inferior to the other. The reproofs are autoritative and convincing. What piercing exprobrations do we find of Jfraels ingratitude ? How often are they upbraided with the better examples of the bruit, crea tures ? with the Ox and the Afs by Ifaiab, chap. i. 3. with the Stork, and the Crane, and theSwallow,by5^r^^,chap. 8. 7. Nay the conftancy of the Heathen to their falie gods is inftanc'd to reproch their revolt from the true. Hath a Nation changed their gods which yet are no gods ? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not pro- fa, Jer. 2. 1 1 . What awful, what majeftic re- prefentations do we find of Gods power, to awake their dread ! Fear ye not me faith the Lord? will ye not tremble at my pre fence ; who have placed the f and for the bounds of the fea by a perpetual deer eejhat it cannot pafs over ; and t ho the waves thereof tofs themfelve s , ye t can they not prevail s tho they roar yet can they not pafs over it, Jer. 22. And again, Tkusjaith the high and lofty one that inhabzteth eternity, whoje name is holy : I dwell in the high and holy place., If. 5-7. i y. So we find him defcrib'd as a God glorious in bolinefs, fearful in praifes^ do- i?igwonders,1^yi. if. u. Thefe and many o- thcr the like heights of diviiie eloquence we
SECT.HI. Subjeft Matter of Holy Scripture. 7?
meet with in the prophetic Writings: which cannot but ftrike us with an awful reverence of the divine Power.
iy. NOR are they lefs pathetic in the gentler ftrains. What inftance is there of the greateft tendernefs and love which God has not adopted to exprefshis by ? He perfonates all the neareft and moft endearing relations ; that of a Husbands I will marry tbee to my felf9 Hof. 2.19. of a Father ; / am a Father to lfrael,#WEphraim is my fir ft born : nay, he vies bowels with the tender lex ; and makes it more poffible for a mother to renounce her compajjions towards the fon of her womb , then for him to withdraw his , I/a. 49. i?. By all thefe endearments, thele cords of a ?nany tbefe bands of love, asdiimfelf ftiles them, Hof. 77.4. endeavoring to draw his people to their du ty, and their happinefs. And when their per- verfenefs fruttrates all this his holy Artifice ; how paffionately do's he expoftulate with them ? how folemnly proteil his averlhefs to their ruin ? Why will ye die 0 houfe o/lfrael ? for I have no plefure in the death of him that dieth , faith the Lord God, Ezek. .18. 31, 32. with what regrets and relentings do's he think of abandoning them > HowjhalL I give thee up Ephraim ? how Jhall I deliver tbee If- raei f bow Jhall I maJ^c thee as Admah ! how Jhalilfet tbee as Zcboim ? my heart is turn d within me> my repent ings are kindled together $
K 2 Hof.
The Chriftians Birth-right,
Hof. ii. 8. In fhort, 'twere endlefs to cite the places in thefe prophetic Books, wherein God do's thus condefcend to lolicit even the lenfitive part of man ; and that with fuch moving Rhetoric , that I cannot but wonder at the exception fom of our late Critics make againft the Bible, for its defed in that parti cular : for Oratory is nothing but a dextrous application to the affections and paffions of men. And certainly we find not that don with greater advantage any where then in fa- cred Writ.
16 . YET it was not the defign of the Pro phets ( no more then of the Apoftle ) to take men with guile; 2 Cor. 12. 16. to inveigle their affe&ions unawares to their underftan- dings; but they addrefs as well to their rea- ibns, make folemn appeals to their judicative faculties. And now judg I pray between me and my vineyard, faies Ifa. ?. 3. Nay, God by the Prophet £^^/ folemnly pleads his own caufe before them , vindicates the equity of his proceedings from the afperfions they had caftonthem; and by moft irrefragable Ar guments refutes that injurious proverb which went currant among them 5 and in the clofe appeals to themfelves, 0 houfe ^jTlfrael are not my wates equal , are not your Tvazes unequal ? 5zek. 1 8. the evidences were fo clear that he remits the matter to their own determina tion, And generally we fliall find that firnong
ail
SECT.IH. Subjett Matter of Holy Scripture. 77
all the Topics of diflwafion from fin , there is none more clofely preft, then that of the fol ly of it. Idolatry was a fin to which Ifrael had a great propenfion , and againft which moft of the Prophets admonitions were directed. And certainly it can never be more expos'd, and the fottifh unreafonablenefs of it better difplaied, then we find it in the 44. chap, of Ifaiab. In like manner we may read the Pro phet Jeremy difTwading from the lame fin by Arguments of the moft irrefragable convi- <ftion, Jer. 10.
17- AND as the Prophets omitted nothing as to the manner of their addrefs, to render their exhortations effectual , the matter of them was likewife fo confiderable as to com mand attention; It was commonly either the recalling them from their revolts and Apoftacies from God by Idolatry , or elfe to convince them of the infignificancy of all thofe legal ceremonial performances they fo much confided in ; when taken up as zfuper- fedeas to moral duties. Upon this account it is, that they often depreciate, and in a man ner prohibit the folemneft of their worfhips. To what purpofe are the multitude of your fa- crifices unto me ? bring no more vain oblations ; incenfe is an abomination to me ; the new moons andfabbatbs, the calling of ajjemblies I cannot away with: it ts iniquity even your folemn meetings ^c. If, j . 1 1 . 1 3 . Not that thefe things
were
78 The Cbriftians Birth-right, &c.
were in themfelvcs reprovable ; for they were all commanded by God ; but becaufe £he Jews depended fo much on thefe external obfervances, that they thought by them to commute for the weightier matters of the Law (as our Savior after ftiles t\\tn\) judgment, mercy and faith, Mat. 23.23. lookt on thefe rites which difcriminated them from other Nations , as difpenfations from the univer- fal obligations of nature and common ju- ftice.
1 8 . THIS deceit of theirs is fliarply upbraid ed to them by the Prophet Jeremy ; where he calls their boafts of the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, lying words -y and on the contrary, laies the whole ftrefs of their obedience , and expectation of their happi- nefs on the juftice and innocence of their converfation, ch. 7. 4, And after do's fmart- ly reproch their infolence in boldly reforting to that houfe , which by bringing their fins along with them , they made but an Afylum, and Sandtuary for thofe crimes. Will ye Jieal^ murder and commit adultery, andfwear falfely, and burn incenfe to Baal, andwalk^ after other gods whom ye kjiow not, and come and ft and be fore me in this houfe ? Is this houfe which is cal led by my name become a den of robbers in your, ties? chap. 7. 9, 10, n. Indeed all the Pro-, phets leem to confpire in this onedefign, of making them look thro lhadows and ceremo-.
nies,
SECT.HI. Subjett Matter of Holy Scripture. ?p
nies, to that inward purity , Juftice and HO_ nelly, which they were defign'd to inculcate, not to fupplant. And this defign as it is in it felf moft excellent , moft worthy the com mand of God, and the nature of man; fo we have feen that it has bin purfued by all the moft apt , and moft powerful mediums, tha* the thing or perfons addreft to were ca-
Eable of j and fo that the Prophets are no *fs eminent for the difcharge ofthisexhor- tatory part of their office , then they were in the former, of the predicting.
19. THE next part of Scripture we are to confider, is the Doctrinal -, by which I fhall not in this place underftand the whole com plex of Faith and Manners together ; but re- itrain it only to thofe Revelations which are the objed: of our Belief: and thefe are fo fu- blime , as fliews flefh and bloud never revel d them. Thofe great myfteries of our Faith, the Trinity, the Incarnation , the Hypoftati- cal union, the Redemtion of the world by making the offended party the facrificefor the oflence -> are things of fo high and abftrufe Ipeculation, as no finite underftanding can fully fathom. I know their being fo , is by fom made an Argument for disbelief ; but doub tie fs^ very unjuftly: for (not to infift upon th'e ' different natures of Faith and Science , by which that becomes a proper ob- of the OIIG which is not of the other ) our
noil-
g o The Chriflians Birth-right, &c.
non-comprehenfion is rather an indication that they have a higher rife ; and renders it infinitly improbable that they could fpring from mans invention. For 'twere to fuppole too great a difproportion between human fa culties to think men could invent what them- felves could not underftand. Indeed thefe things lie fb much out of the road of human imagination, that I dare appeal to the brefts of the moft perverle gain-faiers, whether ever they could have fallen into their thoughts without fuggeftion from without. And there fore 'tis a malicious contradiction to rejed: thefe truths becaufe of their difTonancy from, human reafon, and yet at the fame time to afcribe their original to man. But certainly there can be nothing more inconfiftent with mere natural reafon , then to think God can be or do no more then man can comprehend. Never any Nation or perfon that own'd a Deity,did ever attemt fo to circumfcribe him: and it is proportionable only to the licentious profanelsof thefe later daies, thustomefure immenlity and omnipotence by our narrow fcantling.
20. THE more genuine and proper effect of thefe fupernatural truths is,to raiie our ad
it , and the higheft of that reafon wherein we
fo
SECT.!!!. Subjeft Matter of Holy Scripture, g
fo pride our felves. And the great propriety thefe dodtrins have to that end , may well be reckon d as one part of their excellency.
21. INDEED there is no part of our holy Faith , but is naturally productive of fom pe culiar vertue ; as the whole Scheme together engages us to be univerfally holy in all man ner of converfation, i Pet. i. if. And it is the fupereminent advantage true Religion hath over all falfe ones ; that it tends to fo lauda ble ah end.
22. THE Theology of the Heathens was in many inftances an extract and quintel- ience of vice. Their moft folemn Rites, and facredeft Myfteries were of fuch a nature,that inftead of refining and elevating , they cor rupted and debaled their Votaries ; immerft them in all thofe abominable pollutions which fober nature abhorred. Whereas the principles of our Faith ferve to fpiritualize and rectify us, to raife us as much above mere manhood as theirs caft them below it.
23. AND as they are of this vaft advantage to us, fo allb are they juft to God, in giving us right notions of him. What vile unworthy apprehenfions had the Heathen of their Dei ties , intitling them not only to the paffions, but even to the crimes of men : making Ju piter an adulterer, JMercury a thief, Bacchus a drunkard , &c. proporrionably of the relt? Whereas our God is repreiented to us as an
L eilence,
8 2 The Chriftians Birth-right, &c. . ,
eifence, fofpiritual, and incorporal, that we mult be unbodied our felves before we can perte&ly conceive what he is : fo far from the impotent afte&ions and inclinations of men, that he has neither parts , nor paffions -, and is fain to veil himfelf under that difguife, to fpeak lomtimes as if he had , merely in con- defcenflon to our grofler faculties. And a- gain, fo far from being an example, a patron of vice, that his eies are too pure tv beboldini- quity, Hab. 1.13. Holinefs is an eflential part of his nature, and he mull deny himfelf to put it off.
24. THE greateft defcent that ever he made to humanity, was in the incarnation of the lecond perfon : yet even in that tho he linked with a finful nature , yet he preferved the perfon immaculate j and while he had all the iins ot the world upon him by imputa tion , lufter'd not any one to be inherent in him.
25-. To conclude, the Scripture defcribes our God to us by all thofe glorious Attributes of infinity., Power and juiliee, which may ren der him the proper objed: of our Adorations and Reverence: and it defcribes him alfo in thofe gentler Attributes of Gooclnefs,Mer- cy and Truth , which may excite our love of, and dependence on him. Thefe are reprefen- tations ibmthing worthy of God, and iiich as imprets upon our mind great thoughts of him.
2d. BUT
SECT.IH. Sub jefl Matter of Holy Scripture. 83
2.6. BUT never did the divine Attributes fo concur to exert themfelves as in the my- ftery of our Redemtion : where his Juftice wasfatisfied without diminution to his Mer cy ; and his Mercy without entrenching oil his Juftice : his Holinefs moft eminent in his indignation againft fin , and yet his love no lefs fo in fparing finners: thefe contradi- dtions being reconcil'd , this difcord com* pos'd into harmony by his infinit Wifdom. This is that ftupendous Myftery into which the Angels dejirdto loot^ i Pet. 1.12. And this is it which by the Gofyel is preach'd unto us ; as it follows, ver. 25-.
27. AND as the Scripture gives us this knowledg of God, fo it do's alfo of our felves ; in which two all profitable knowledg is com- prifed. It teaches us how vile we were in our original duft $ and how much viler yet in our fall: which would have funk us below our firft principles ; fent us not only to earth, but hell. It fhews the impotence of our lapfed eftate ; that we are not able of our felves fo much as to tiling a good thought : and it fhews us alfo the dignity of our renovated eftate, that we are heirs of God , and fellow-heirs with Chrijt, Ro. 8.17. yet left this might puff us up with miftaken hopes ; it plainly acquaints us with the condition on which this depends ^ that it muft be our obedience both active and paffive, which is to intitle us to it: that we
I, 2 mult
84 T&* Cbrijtians Birth-right, tic.
muft be faithful to death if we mean to inherit a crown of life, Rev. 2. 10. and that roe muft fuffer with Chriji, if we will be glorified with him, Jlo. 8.17. And upon fuppofition that we per form our parts or the condition , it gives us the moft certain aflurance, engages Gods ve racity that he will not fail on his. By this it gives us fupport againft all the adverfities of life y afluring us the fujfer ings of it are not wor thy to be compared with the glory we expett, Rom. 8. 18. yea, and againft the terrors of death too; by alluring us that what we look on as a diflblution , is but a temporary part ing ; and we only put off our bodiesthat they may put off corruption , and be clothed with immortality.
28. THESE and the like are the dodlrins the holy Scripture offers to us: and, we may certainly fay , they are faithful fayings , and worthy of all acceptation, i Tim. 4. 15-. The notions it gives us of God are fo fublime and great , that they cannot but affed: us with re verence, and admiration : and yet withal, fo amiable and endearing that they cannot but raife love and gratitude, affiance and de light.
29. A N D, which is yet more, thefe milder Attributes are apt to infpiritus with a gene rous ambition of affimilation ; excite us to tranfcribe all his imitable excellencies: in which the very Heathens could difcern con-
fitted
SubjeS Matter of Holy Scripture. 8
lifted the accompliftiment of human feli city.
30. AND then the knowledg it gives us of our felves , do's us the kindeft office imagina ble: keeps us from thofe Iwelling thoughts we are too apt to entertain , and (hews us the neceffity of bottoming our hopes upon a fir mer foundation: and then again keeps us from being lazy or fecure , by Jhewing us the neceffity of our own endevors. In a word, it teaches us to be humble and induftrious •> and whoever is fo ballafted can hardly be ihip- wrackt.
31. THESE are the excellencies of the do&rinal part of Scripture,which aifo renders them molt aptly preparative for the prece ptive. And indeed , fo they were defign'd : the Credenda, and the ^Agenda being fuch infe- parable relations , that whoever parts them, forfeits the advantage of both. The moftfo- lemn prcfeffion of Chrift, the moft importu nate invocations, Lord, Lord, will fignify no thing to them which do not the things which he /i*W,Mat> 7. And how excellent, how ratio nal thofe precepts are which the Scripture propofes to us from him , is our next point of confideration.
32. THE firft Law which God gave to mankind was that of nature. And tho the impreffions of it upon the mind be by Adams fall exceedingly dimm'd and defac'd; yet
that
8 6 The Cbrijtians Btrtb-rigbt,
that derogates nothing from the dignity and worth of that Law -y which God has bin fo far from cancelling , that he feems to have made it the rule and fquare of his lubfequent Laws : fo that nothing is injoin'd in thofe, but what is confonant and agreeable to that. The Moral Law given in the Decalogue to the Jews, the Evangelical Law given in the Gofpel to Chriftians , have this natural Law for their baiis and foundation. They licence nothing which that prohibits, and very rare ly prohibit any thing which it licences.
33. 'Tis true, Chrift in his Sermon on the Mount, raifes Chriftians to a greater ftridhiefs then the Jews thought themielves oblig'd to ; but that was not by contradicting cither the natural, or moral Law,but by refcuing the la ter from thofe corruptions which the falfe glofles of the Scribes and Pharifees had mixt with it; and reducing it to its primitive in tegrity, and extent. In a word , as the Deca logue was given to repair the defacmgs , and renew the impreffions of the natural Law ; Ib the precepts of the Gofpel were defign'd to revive and illuftrate both. And accordingly we find Chrift in the matter of divorce calls them back to this natural Law ; In the bcgin- inv it was notfoJsHzt .19.8. I fay not but that even thefe natural notions are in fom in- ftances refin'd and elevated by Chrift ; the fe- cond Adarn being to repair the fall of the firft
with
SECT.III. Sub] eft Matter of Holy Scripture. 87
with advantage : but yet he ftill builds upon that ground-work , introduces nothing that is inconfiftent with it.
34. AND this accordance between thefe feveral Laws is a circumftance that highly re- eommends Scripture precepts to us. We can not imagin but that God who made man for no other end but to be an inftruinent of his glory , and a recipient of all communicable parts of his happinefs, would aflign him fuch rules and mefures as were moft conducive to thofe ends. And therefore lince the Scri pture injunctions are of the lame mould, we muft conclude them to be fuch as tend to the perfection of our being ; the making us what God originally intended us : and he that would not be that, will certainly chufe much worfe for himfelf.
3 y . I know there have bin prejudices taken up againft the precepts of Chrift,as if they im- pos'd unreafonable , unfupportable ftricknef- les upon men , and fom have aflum'd liberty to argue mutinoufly againft them; nay, a- gainft God too for putting fuch natural appe tites into men, and then forbidding them to fatisfy them.
36. BUT the ground of this cavil is the not rightly diftmguifhing of natural appe tites , which are to be di.ierencd according to the two ftates of rectitude and deprava tion : thofe of the firft rank are the appetites
God
8 8 The CbriJHans Birth-right,
God put into man ; and thofe were all regu lar and innocent ; fuch as tended to the pre- fervation of his being : nature in its firft inte grity mefiiring its defires by its needs. Now Chrifts prohibitions are not directed againft thefe : he forbids no one kind of thele de- fires. And tho the precept of felf-denial may fomtimes reftrain us in fom particular adts -y yet that is but proportionable to that re- ftraint Adam was under in relation to the for- bidden tree , a particular inltance of his obe dience and fence of his fafety. So that if men would confider nature under this its firft and belt notion ; they cannot accule Chrift of being fevere to it.
37. BUT 'tis manifeft they take it in a^o- ther acception , and mean that corruption of nature which inordinatly inclines to ienfitive things ; and on this account they call their riots, their luxuries, appetites put into them by God : whereas tis manifeft this was fuper- induced from another coaft : The wife man gives us its true pedigree in what he iaies of death , which is its twin-fifter : By the envy of the devil came death into the world, Wif. 2. 2.4. And can they exped: that Chrift who came to deftroy the ivories of the devil i Joh. 3.8. fliould frame Laws in their favor , make A<5ts of to leration and indulgence for them? This were to annul the whole defign of his coming into the world , which was to reftore us from our
lapft
SECT.HI. Sutjcft Matter of Holy Scripture. 89
lapft eftate , and elevate us to thofe higher degrees of purity which he came not only to prefcribe but to exemplify to us^
38. BUT in this affair men often take nature ina yet wider and worfe notion 5 and under natural delires comprehend whatever upon any fort of motive they have a mind to do* The awe of a fuperior , the importunity of a companion, cuftom, and example make men do many ill things, to which their nature would never promt them ; nay, many times fucli as their nature reludts to , and abhors, 'Tis certainly thus in all debauchery and ex- cefs. 'Tis evident-.it gratifies no mans nature to be drunk , or to lie under undigefted loads of meats : thefe are out-rages and violence^ upon nature ; take it only in the moft fenfi- live notion ; fuch as {he ftruggles to avert : and yet men make her bear not only the op- preffion, but the blame too.
39. BUT befides 'tis to be confider'd , that the nature of a man includes reafon as well as fenfe , and tci this all forts of luxury are yet more repugnant: as that which clouds the mind, and degrades the man (who in his cbnftitution is a rational being) and fets him. in the rank of mere animals: and certainly thefe can be no appetites of nature , which ihus fubvert it,
40. THE like may be faid concerning re- tenge, particularly "that abfurdeflt fort of it,
M dush
9 o The Chrijiians T$irth*rigbt> &c.
duels ; which certainly are as great contradi- ftions to nature as can be imagined , the unravelling and cancelling its very firft prin-^ ciple of felt-prefervation, (which in other in- ftances men bring in bar againft duty. ) And yet men will fay the generality of their na tures compels them to it; fo making their na tures a kind of felo de fe$ to promt the de- ftroying it felf : when alas 'tis only the falfe notion they have got of honor that fo enga ges them. And if men would but foberly confider , they muft be convinc'd that there is nothing more agreeable to reafon then that precept ofChrift of not retaliating in juries ; which is in efied: but to bid us to chufe a fingle inconvenience before a long train of mifchiefs. And certainly if nature even in its deprav'd eftate were left to determine , it would refolve it a better bargain to go off with a reprochful word, then to loofe a limb, perhaps a life in the revenge of it. There being no maxim more indifputable , then that of evils the leaft is to be chofen. And the innate principle of felf-love do's more itrong- ly biafs nature to preferve it felf, then any external thing can to deftroy it.
41, I know 'twill be laid to this, that re venge is a natural appetite : but I fay ftill,felf- prelervation is more fo -, and would prevail againft as much of revenge as is natural, were it uot heightned and fortified by pliancy, and
SECT.!!!, Subjeft Matter of Holy Scripture. 9 r
that Chimera of point of honor,which,as it is now ftated,is certainly one of the moft emty nothings that ever was brought in balance with folid interefts. And indeed 'tis to belie nature , and fuppofe it to have forfeited all degrees of reafon, as well as vertuc, to faften fo abfurd a choice upon her. But admit re venge to be never fo much the dictate of cor<- rupt nature -, 'tis certain 'tis not of primitive regular nature. Revenge is but a relative to injury : and he that will fay God put the ap petite of revenge into ijian , muft fay he put the appetite of injury into him alfo: which is fuch an account of the fixth daies creation, as is hardly confiftent with Gods own tcfti* jnony of its being very good, Gen. i.
42. BESIDES 'tis certain all the defires God infus'd into human nature, were fuch as tended to its prefervation ; but this of re venge is of all other the moft deftrudive, as is too fadly attefted by the daily tragical effedfo of it. In fhort, the wifeman gives a good fummary of the whole matter : God made man upright , but he fought out many in* ventions. Eccl. 7. 29.
43. Now if man have by his own volun tary a£t deprav'd himfelf , it would be nei^ ther jult nor kind in God to warp his Laws to mans now diftorted frame ; but it is both, to keep up the perfect rectitude of thofe 3 and call upon man to reduce himfelf to a confor*
M z
22 The Chriftians 'Birth-right.,
mity with them : and when to this is added fiich a iupply of grace as may filence the plea of difability, there can nothing be imagin'd more worthy of God, or more indulgent to man.
44. AND all this Chrift do's in the Gofpel , in thofe precepts which the blind world makes the fubjed of their cavil or fcorn. It were an eafy task to evince this in every par ticular precept of the Gofpel ; but I mall content my felf with the inftances already given, and not fwell this Tradtby infifting upon what has already bin the fubje&of fo many pious and excellent difcourfes , as muft already have convinc'd all but the obftinate.
45-. WE proceed therefore to a view of the promiflbry parts of Scripture ; in which we are firft in general to obferve the great goodnefs pf God , in making any promifes at all to us y and next to examin of what na ture and excellence thefe promifes are. And firft if we confider how many titles God has to our obedience , we muft acknowledg he may challenge it as his undoubted right. We are the work of his hands 5 and if the Potter have power over the clay (the mate rials whereof are not of his making ) much more has God over his creatures, whofe mat ter as well as form is wholy owing to him. We are the price of his blood. And if men account purchafe an indefeifible title ? God
muft
Subjeft Matter of Holy Scripture. 93
mufthave abfolute dominion over what he has bought , and at fo dear a price too as hi? own blood. Laftly we depend upon him for the fiipport of that being he has given us : we live merely upon his bounty , fpend upon his ftock. And what Patron will not expe& ob- lervance from one who thus fubfifts by him >
4.6. YET as if God had none of thefe claims , thefe preingagements upon us , he defcends to treat with us as free-men ; by way of Article and compact ; buies his own of us, and engages to reward that obedience, which he might upon the utmoft penalties exad: which is fuch an aftonifhing indul* gence as our higheft gratitude cannot reach : and of this the facred Scriptures are the evi dences and records -y and therefore upon that account defeive at once our reverence , and our joy.
47. BUT this will yet farther appear, if we look in the fecond place into the promifes themfelves s which are fo extenfive as to take in both our prefent and future ftate : accor ding to that of the Apoitle ; Godlinefs hath the promife of this life , and of that -which u to come, Tim. 4. 8. For the prefent they are propor tion d to the feveral parts of our compofition; the body3and the mind: the outward and the inward man , fo ftretching themfelves to all we can really be concern'd for in this world.
48. AND flrft for the body , the Old Te-
ftament
5>4 The Chrijtians Birth-right, &c.
ftament abounds in promifes of this fort, The firft part of the 28 of Deut. contains a full catalogue of all temporal bleffings ; and thofe irreverfibly entail'd upon the Israelites obedien,ce, ver. r. The Pfalmift tells us, they that fear the Lordjhall l&c kjiothing , Pf. 34. p. that they /hall not be confounded in the perillous time , and in the dates of dearth they Jhall have enough, Pfa. 37. 19. And Solomon, that the Lord will not fuffer the righteous to famifh , Pro. 10. 3. And thq under theGofpel, the promifes of temporal affluence feem not fo large ; (its defign being to fpiritualize us, and raiie our minds to higher injoiments ; ) yet it gives us ample fecurity of fo much as is real-? ly good for us. It fuperfedes our care for our felves by alluring us all thefe things Jhall be ad" dedtous; Mat. 6. 33. that is, all thofe things which our heavenly Father knows we have need qf> ver. 32. which is all the limitation the context gives. And certainly we have little temtation to fear want, who have him for our provider -y whofe are all the beafts of the Forreff, find the cattel upon a thoufand hills, Pfal.fo. iof 49. AJND when we are thusfecur'd of all things neceffary , it may perhaps be an equal mercy to fecure us from great abundance ; which at the belt, is but a lading ones felf with thicl^clay , in the Prophets phraie, Hab. 2. 6* but is often a fnare as well as a burden. jo, B E s i p E s, the Gofpel by its precepts
pi:
SiCT.IIL Subjetl Matter of Holy Scripture. 9?
of temperance and felf-denial , do's fo con- trad; our appetites , that a competence is a more adequate promiie to them then that of fuperfluity wbuld have bin : and 'tis alfo the mefure wnerein all the true fatisfa&ion of the fenles confift 5 which are gratify'd with mo derate plefures, but fuftocated and over- whelm'a with exceffive. The temperat man tafts and rcliflies his portion ; whilft the volu ptuous may rather be faid to wallow in his plenty then injoy it.
7 1. AND as the neceflaries of life, folife it felf, and the continuance of that, is a Scri pture promife. The fifth Commandment af fixes it to one particular duty : but it is in a multitude of places in the Old Teftament annex'd to general obedience. Thus it is, Deut.n.g. and again, ver. 21. AndSolomon propofes this practical wifdom as the multi plier of daies : By me thy dates Jhall be multi~ ptid, and the years >{of thy lifejtiall be increasd, Pro. 9. ii. and chap. 3. Length of daies is in her right hand, ver. id, And tho we find not this promife repeted in the New Teftament, yet neither is it retraded : 'tis true, the Go- Ipel bids us be ready to lay down our lives for Chrifts fake ; but it tells us withal, that he that will lofe his life, fhall fave it : which tho it be univerfally true only in the Tpiritual fenfe , yet it often proves fo in a literal. It, did fo eminently in the deftru&ion of Jerufa-
iem,
The Chriftians Birth-right,
lem , where the moft refolute Chriftians e- fcap'd,while the bafe eompliers perifh'd toge ther with thofe they fought to endear; This is certain, that if the New Teftament do not exprefly promife long life , yet it do's by its rules of temperance and fobriety, contented- nefs and chearfulnefs, very much promote it : and fo do's virtually and efficaciowfly ratify thofe the Old Teftament made.
5-2. THE next outward bleffing is repu tation : and this alfo is a Scripture pro mife. The wife Jhall inherit glory > Prov. 3. 38. And the vertuous woman Solomon defcribes is not only blefledby her children andhuf- band,buty/?£ ispraifedin the gate, Pro. 3 1 . ult. Nay , this bleffing is extended even beyond life : The memory of the jujt Jhall be blejfedy Pro. ID. 7. Nor do's the Gofpel evacuate this promife ; but rather ptomts us to the waies of having it made good to us : by advifing us to abjlain from all appearance of evil, i Thef. 5. 2,2. to provide for nonejt things , not only in the Jight of'God, but alfo in the (ight ofmen> 2 Cor*
£.21.
^3. 'Tis true indeed^ Chrift fore-warns his Difciples that they fhall be revil'd , and have all manner of evil fyoken againjt them falfly, for his names fake : but then the caufe transformed the fufferings, and made it fo ho-1 norable, that they were to count it matter of joy, Mat* f. ii.i2. Neither was this any pa
radox
SECT .III. Subjett Matter of Holy Scripture. 97
radox even in relation to theh4 reputation ; whicjb tho fullied by a few ill men of that Age, yet has bin moft illuftrions among all Ages fince. Their fufierings and indignities gave them a new title of honor , and added the Martyr to the Apoftle. And the event has bin proportionable in all fucceffians fince. Thofe holy men that fill'd up the Pagan pri- Ibns , fill'd up the Churches Diptics alfo, and have bin had as the Plalmift fpeaks , in ever* lafting remembrance, Pf. 112. 6.
J4- -AND as Scripture promifes thus take in all the concerns of the outward man, fo do they alfo of the inward. The fundamental promife of this kind , is that of fending Cbrijl into the world, and in him ejtablijhin<r the new Covenant -y which we find, Jer. 3i. 3t. and is referred to by the Author to the He brews , I will put my Laws in their hearts , and write them in their minds 5 and their fins and iniquities will I remember n& more, Heb. i o, 161
5-5-. AND this is fo comprehenfive a pro-> mife as includes all the concerns of the in-* ward man. The evils incident to the mind of man may be reduc'd to two ; impurity, and inquietude : and here is a cure to both. The divine Law written in the heart , drives thence allthofe fwarms of noyfom liifts^whicli like the Egyptian Frogs over-run and putrity the foul. Where that is leated and enmrin'd, tliofe can no more ftand before it > then Da^
N £**
p g The Ckrijtians Birth-right, &c.
gon before the Ark. This repairs the divine Image in us (in which confifts the perfection of our nature ) renews us in the fyirits of our minds., Eph. 4. 22. and purges our consciences from deaawork*, Heb. 9.4. which all the Ca thartics and Luftrations among the Heathen, all the facrifices and ceremonies of the Law were not able to do.
ftf. SECONDLY, this promife fecures the mind from that reftleihels and unquietnefs, which attends both the dominion and guilt of fin. To be fubjed: to a mans lufts and cor rupt appetites is of all others the vileft vaflal- lage : they are the cruelleft task-mafters, and allow their flaves no reft, no intermiffion of their drudgery. And then again, the guilt that tortures and racks the mind with dread ful expectations , keeps it in perpetual agita tion and tumult ; which is excellently deicri- bed by the Prophet Ifaiab , The wicked is like the troubled fea^when it cannot rejt ; whofe wa ters cajt out mire and dirt : there is no peace faith my God to the wicked, If. 48. 22. How profperous foever vice may feem to be in the world, yet there are fuch iecret pangs and horrors that dog it, that as Solomon faies, even in laughter the heart isforrowful, Prov. 14. 13.
5-7- BUT this Evangelical promife of be ing merciful to our iniquities y and remem- bring our fins no more., calms this tempeft, in troduces peace and ferenity in.to the mind,
and
SECT,!!!. Subjett Matter of Holy Scripture. 9^
and reconciles us at once to God and our felves. And lure we may well fay with the A- poftle , thefe are great and precious promifes, 2. Pet. 1.4.
5-8. THERE are befides many other which fpring from thefe principal , as fuckers from the root : fuch are the promifes of firefh fup- plies of grace upon a good imploiment of the former. To him that hathjhall be given >, Mat, ay. 29. Nay, even of thefource and foun tain of all grace. He Jh all give the holy $>irit to them that asJ^him , Mat. 7. n. Such is that of fupportino; us in all difficulties and at- faults: the not Buffering us to be temted above that tve are able, i Cor. 10. 13. which like Gods borvfet in the clouds. Gen. 9. is our fecu- rity, that we fhall not be over-whelm'd by any deluge of temtation: and (to inftance no more ) fuch is that comprehenfive pro- mife of hearing our praiers, Ask^anditjhall be given you, Mat. 7. 7. This puts all good things within our reach 3 gives us the key of Gods Store-houfe, from whence we may fur- nifh our felves with all that is really good for us. And if a few full Barns could temtthe rich man in the Gofpel, to pronounce a Re quiem to his foul ; what notes of acquiefcence may they fing, who have the command of an inexhauitible (tore; that are fuppli'd by him whofe is the earth, and the fulnels thereof.
f$. AND certainly, all thefe promifes to-* N 2. Aether
JOO
TheChriJtians Birth-right,
gether muft be ( to ufe the Apoftles phrafe ) Jirong confolation ; fueh as may quiet and Calm all the fears and griefs , all the tumults and perturbations of the mind, in relation to its prefent ftate. But then there are others ^ relating to the future of a much higher eleva tion : thofe glories and felicities of another world , which are fo far beyond our narrow conceptions, that the comprehenfion and in- joiment mult begin together. The Scripture fhadpws it out to us by ail the notions, we have of happinels : by£/0ry,Rom. 8. 18. by a king dom > Mat. 25-. 14. by joy, Mat. 25-. 21. and which comprehends all,by being with the Lord, i Thef. 4. 17 .feeing him face tofacs, i Cor. 1 3 . 12. being like to him, i Jo. 3. 2. In a word tis blifs jn the utmoft extent : immenle for quan tity, and eternal for duration.
<So. AND furely this promife is fb excellent for kind, fo liberal in its degree, fo tntnfcendent- ly great in all refpe£ts,that did it ftand fingle, ftoipt of all thofe that relate to this life , it a- lone would juftify the name of Gofpel, and be the beft tidings that ever came to mankind. For alas , if we compare the hopes that other Religions pyopofe to their Votaries with thele, how bafe, how ignoble are they ! The Heathens Elyfium, the Mahumetan Faradiie, were but higher gratifications of the fenfual part, and confequently were depreffions and debafeixients of the rational. SQ that iu en^d:
they
SECT.IH. Subjett Matter of Holy Scripture. 101
they provided a heaven for the beaft, and a hell for the man. We may therfore confident ly refume our conclufion ; and pronounce the Scripture promifes to be fo divine and excel lent, that they could as little have bin made, as they can be perform'd by any but an holy and almighty Author.
6 1. NOR is their being conditional any impeachment to their worth, but an enhanfe- ment. Should God have made them (asfom phancy he has his decrees) abfolute and irre- ipe&ive i he had let his promifes at war with his precepts , and thefe Ihould have fuperfe* ded what thofe injoin. We are all very nig gardly towards God, and (hould have bin apt to have ask'd Judas 's queftion j to rvbatpurpofe istbisTvaft? Mat. 26. 8. What needs the la^ bor of the courle if the prize be certain ? And it muft have bin infinitly below the wifdom and majefty of the fiipreme Legiflator, to make Laws , and then evacuate them by di- Ipencing rewards without any afped: on their obfervance. 'Tis the Sanction which inlpi- rits the Law, without which the divine*as well as the human , would to molt men be a dead letter.
62. BUT againftthis God has abundant ly provided , not only by the conditionally of the promifes,but by the terror of his threats too ; which is the laft part of Scripture which falls under conlideration. And thele are of
the
102
The Cbriflians Birth-right,
the moft direful kinds ; and cannot better be illuftrated then by the oppofition they ftand in to the promifes : for as thofe included all things that might make men happy either as to this life or the next , fo thefe do all that may make them miferable. If we make our reflection on all the particulars of the promi- ies, we fh all find the threats anfwering them as their reverfe or dark fhadow.
63. AND firftas concerning the outward ftate , if we look but into the 28 of Deut. we fliall find, that after all the gracious promifes which begun the chapter, it finally ends in thunder, in the moft dreadful denunciations imaginable ; and thofe adapted by a moft peculiar oppofition to the former promifesras the Reader may fee at large in that Chapter.. And the whole tenor of the Scripture go's in the like ftile. Thus, Pfal. 140. n. Annexed f erf on Jhatt not pro/per in the earth , evill Jhall bunt the wicked man to overthrow him. The Lord m/l not fuffer the righteous to famijh 9 but he cajleth out the fubjtance of the nicked; Pro. 10.3. And again , the righteous eateth to the fatisfying of bis foul , but the belly of the wicked jhallivant, Pro. 13. 25". Multitudes of like ge neral threatnings of temporal improfperi- ty there are every where fcatter'd throout the Scripture; and many more appli'd to particular vices, as floth , unmercihilnefs ,
luxury,
SECT.III.i$fci;>S Matter of Holy Scripture. 103
luxury , and the like ; which would be here too long to enumerate.
64. AND altho thefe threatnings may feem fomtimes to be literally confuted by the wealth and opulency of wicked men , yet they never mils of being really and vertually verified. For either their profperities are very fhort , and only preparative to a more emi nent ruin , which was the Pfalmilts refolu- tionof this doubt, Pfal. 72, orelfe if God leave them the matter of temporal happi- nefs , yet he fubftra&s the vertue and fpirit of them , renders them emty and unfatisfy- ing. This is well expreft by thePfaimiftin the cafe of the Ifraelites : He gave them their defire , and. fent leanefs rvithall into their foul , Ffa. 106. if. and by J^opbar, Job 20. 22. where fpeaking of the wicked, he faith ; In the fulntfs of hisfufficiencyjhall be be injlraits. And to this Solomon feems to refer , when he faith 5 the blejfing of the LordmaJ^eth rich , and be addeth nojorrow with it, Pro. 10 .22.
65-. NEITHER is it only the com forts of life , but life it felf that is threatned to bs taken from wicked men : untimely death is throout the Old Teftament frequently men- tion'd as the guerdon of impiety : 'tis often affign'd judicially in particular cafes: He Jhattbe cut off from Ins people, being the ufual fentence upon moft offenders under the Le- vitical Law. But 'tis alfo menaced more gene rally
1 04 The Cbriflians Birth-right, &c.
rally as an immediat judgment from God : The blood-thirfty and deceitful men Jhallnot live outhalf their daies , Pfal. ff . 23. farther yet, their names {hall putrify as foon as their Car- kaflfes: the name of the wicked Jhatt rot -, Pro. 10. 7. Nay both their infamy and their ruin are intail'd upon their pofterity. The feed of evil doers Jhall never be renorvrid. Prepare flaugbter for his children \ for the iniquity of their fathers s Ifa. 14. 20. 21.
66. I F now we look on Scripture threat- nings in relation to the mind of man , we fliall find them yet morefevere: wilful im penitent finners being cut off from the bene fits of the new covenant ; nor barely io 5 but look'd upon as defpifers of it, and that blood of Chrift in which it was feal'd ; Heb. io. 29. nay asthofe murtherous Wretches that flied it: They crucify to themfelves th0 Son of God afrejh ; Heb. 6. 6. And this is the fatalleft fentence that can fall on any man in this life i to be thus disfranchifed of all the privi leges of the Gofpel , and rankt as well in punifhment as guilt, with the moft criniinous of mankind.
67. FROM hence 'tis confequent , that the mind remains not only in its native im purity , but in a greater and more incurable one : whilft that bloud which alone could cleanfe it a ferves but to embrue and pollute it 5 and as it were fiufli , and excite it to all
irnina-
. Subjeft ^Latter of Holy Scripture.
immanities and vilenefles : and he that is thus filthy , 'tis the doom pronounc'd againft him, t\&*htJbaU be filthy JtiU, Rev. 12. n.
68. AND then in the fecond place, what calm can there be to fuch a mind > what re mains to fuch a perfon , but that fearful expectation of wrath and fiery indignation , which the Apoftle mentions, Heb. 10. 27. In deed, were there none but temporal mif- chiefs to fear ; yet it were very unplefant to think ones felt , like Cain, out-law'd fr@m the prefence and protection of God ; to be afraid that every man that meets us Jhould flay us , Gen. 4. 14. Nay, thofe confus'd indiftindl fears of indefinite evils which attend guilt, are very unquiet uneaiy inmates in the mind. This is excellently delcrib'd by Mofes ; The Lord Jhatt give thee a trembling hearty and fail* ing ofeies, and for row of mind, and thy life Jh all hang in doubt before thee , and thou Jhalt feaf day and night > in the morning thou Jhalt fay^ would Goa it were evening and in the evening would God it were morning , Deut. 28. <5y, 66, 67.
6$. AND what can be more wretched then to have a mind thus agitated and toft , rackt and tortur'ds especially when thro all thefe clouds it fees a glimpfe of the eternal To- phet ; and knows , that from the bilknvs of this uneafy ftate, it mvt be tolt into that Lake of fire. And this is indeed the dregs of
O the
1 06 The Cbrijtians Birth-right, &c.
the cup of Gods wrath , the dreadfullcft and molt aftonifhing of all Scripture denuncia tions. This comprehends all that the nature of man is capable of fuifering. Divines di* ftinguifh it into the pain of fenfe, and of lofs : that of fenfe is reprefented to us in Scripture by fire; and that acceaded, and render' d noyfom as well as painful by brimftone , that afflids the fmell as well as the touch : fom- times by outer darJ^nefs , wailing and gnajh- ing of teeth, to grate the ears , and coniume the eies ; by intolerable thirft,to torment the palate. Not that we are to think the fenfi- tive pains of Hell do not infinitly exceed all thefe ; but becaufe thefe are the higheft me- fures our prefent capacities can make,and are adequate to thofe fenles for whofe carnal fa- tisfadions we incur them.
70. THE pain of lofs is yet more difmal ; as being feated. in tjae foul ; whofe fpiritual nature will then ferve it only to render its torments more refin d5 and acute. With what anguifh will it then fee it felf baniflVd from the prefence of God ; and confequently from all that may give fatisfadion and blifs to the creature ? But yet with how much deeper an guifh will it refled: on it felf as the Author of that deprivation ? How will it recoiled: the many defpis'd tenders of grace, the eafy terms on which falvation might have bin had ? And how ladly will confcience then re venge
SECT.HI. Subjett Matter of Holy Scripture. 107
all its ftifled admonitions by an unfilenceable clamor, that worm which never dies., Mar. 9.48. How wounding will it then be to fee Abra ham, If z&c and Jacob , and all the Saints in the kingdom of God, Luk. 13. 28. (nay, that poor Lazarus .whom here men turnd over to the charity of their dogs ; ) and it felf in the company of the devil and his angels -y who will then upbraid what they once inticed to.
71. NATURE abhors nothing more then to have our mifery infulted over by thofe who drew us into it : yet that no circum- ftance may be lacking to their torment , this muft be the perpetual entertainment of damn'd fouls. And to all this Eternity is the difmal adjund; ; which is of all other circum- ftances the moft dilconfolate ; as leaving not fo much as a glimpfe of hopes ; which here ufes ftill to be the referve , and laft refort of themilerable.
72. THIS Eternity is that which gives an edg, infofes a new acrimony into the tor ments : and is the higheft ftrain, the vertical point of mifery. Thefe are thofe terrors of the Lord, with which the Scripture acquaints us : and fure we cannot fay that thefe are flat contemtible menaces; but fuch as fuit the dreadful Majefty of that God who is a confu- ming fire, Heb. 12* 29. So that thefe are as aptly accommodated for the exciting our dread , as the promifes were of our love :
O 2 both
2 P 8 'The Chrijiians Birth-right;
both jointly concur to awake our induftry.
7 3 . FOR God has bin fo good to mankind, as to make the threats conditional as well as the promifes: fo that we as well know the way to avoid the one , as we do to attain the other. Nor has he any other intendment or end in propofing them, but that we may do fo. See to this purpofe, with what folemnity he protefts it by Mofes ;I call heaven and earth to record againji you this day, that Ihavefet be fore you life and death , blefjm^ and curfing >• therefore chufe life , that both thou and thy feed may live, Deut. 50. 19.
74. I have now run thro the feveral parts of Scripture I propofed to fpeak of. And tho I have in each given rather fliort inftances and eflaies then an exaft defcription , yet even in thefe contracted lineaments the ex- quilit proportions may be difcern'd. And if the Reader fhall hence be incourag'd to ex tend his contemplations, and as he reads ho ly ScripturejObferve it in all its graces, and fall dimenfions; I doubt not he will pro nounce from his experience, that the matter of the divine Book is very correfpondent to the Author: which is the higheft Eulogy imaginable.
7j- IN the next place we are to confider
(ihe holy Scripture in relation to its end and
tleiign ; in proportion to which every thing
Js mpreorJeft valuable The moft exquifit
framea
SECT. III. Sub j eft Matter of Holy Scripture. 109
frame, and curious contrivance , that has no determinat end or ufe, is but a piece of indu- ftrious folly , a Spiders web , as the Prophet fpeaks, Ifa, 59. ?. Now thofe defigns have al- waies been elteem'd the moft excellent that have had the moft worthy fubjeds 3 and bin of the greateft extent. Accordingly thofe who have projected the obliging and bene fiting of other men (tho but within a privat Sphere) have alwaies bin lookt on as men of generous and noble defigns. Thofe who have taken their level higher , and direded their aim to a more public good , tho but of a Ci ty or Nation, have proportionably acquir d a greater efteem. But thofe who haveafpi- r'd to be univerfal benefadors, to do fom- thing for the common benefit of the world, their fame has commonly reach 'd as far as their influence ; men have reverenc'd , nay fomtimes (according to the common excef- fes of mans nature ) ador'cl them. Many of the heathen deities (efpecially their demi gods ) having bin only thofe perfons, who by introducing lorn u(eful Art , or other part of knowledg, had oblig'cl mankind. So we fee what a natural gratitude men are apt to pay to worthy and generous defigns. And if we will be content but to ftand to this common award of our nature , the Scripture will have the faireft claim imaginable to our reverence th*mkfulnef$ , upon this very account,
of
no
The Chrijtians Birth-right,
of the excellency of its defigns.
76. NOR ncea we borrow the balance of the San&uary to weigh them in -, we may do it in our own fcales ; for they exactly anlwer the two properties above mention'd, of profit and diffiifivenefs: which in fecular concerns are the ftandard rules of good defigns. For firft, it is the fole fcope and aim of Scripture, the very end for which 'twas writ , to benefit and advantage men ; and that fecondly,not only fom fmall feled: number, fom little an gle or corner of the world , but the whole race of mankind -, the entire Univerfe ; and he that can imagin a more difiufive defign, inuft imagin more worlds alfo.
77- Now for the firft of thefe , that it is the defign of the Scripture to benefit men ; we need appeal but to Scripture it felf ; which furely can give the beft account to wh t ends 'tis directed ; and that tells us, it u to maJ^e us wife untofalvation, 2 Tim. 3. iy. In which is comprehended the greateft benefit that mans nature is capable of: the making us wife while we live here, and the faving us eternal ly. And this fure is the moft generous , the moil obliging defign , that 'tis poffible even for the Creator to have upon the creature : and this is it which the holy Scripture nego tiates with us.
78. AND firft , the making us wife, is fo inviting a propofal to humanity , that we fee
when
SKT.TLI.Subje8 Matter of Holy Scripture, m
when that was much wifer then now it is , it caught at a fallacious tender of it $ the very found of it , tho out of the devils mouth , fa- fcinated our firft Parents , and hurried them to the higheft difobcdience , and certaineft ruin. And therefore now God by the holy Scriptures makes us an offer as much more fafe , as it is more fincere j when he fends his Word thus to be a lamp to our feet ,and a light to our paths 3 Pf. 119. iof. to teach us all that is good for us to know,our affectation of ignorance will be more culpable then theirs of knowledg, if we do not admire the kind- nefs, & embrace the bounty of fuch a tender. 79. Now the making us wife muft be un- derftood according to the Scripture notion of wifdom,which is not the wifdom of this world, nor of the trine es of this world , which come to nought, as the Apoftle fpeaks , iCor.2.?. but that wifdom which defc ends from above , Ja. 3. 17. which he there defcribes to be firft pure, then peaceable, gentle and eafy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrify. Indeed the Scripture ufually comprehends thefe and all other graces under Wifdom $ for it makes it fyno- nymous to that which includes them all, vi^. the fear of the Lord. Thus we find throout the whole Book of Proverbs thefe us d as terms convertible. In fliort, Wifdom is that practical knowledg of God and our felves
which
112
The Chrijhans Birth-right,
which engages us to obedience and duty ; and this is agreeable to that definition the Wife man gives of it; The tvifdom of the pru dent is to underftand his way, Pro. 14* g. With out this> all the moft refin'd and aerial fpecu- lations, are but like Tbaless ftar-gazing; which fecufd him not from falling in the water ; nay > betrai'd him to it. In this is all folid wifdom compris'd.
80. THE utmoit all the wife men in the world have pretended to,is but to know what true happinefs is , and what is the means of attaining it : and what they fought with fo much ftudy , and fo little fuccels , the Scri pture prefents us with in the greateft certain ty , and plaineft characters , fuch as he that runs may read, Hab. 2. 2. It acquaints us with that fupreme felicity, that chief go©d where of Philofophy could only give us a name ; and it fliews us the means, marks us out a path which will infallibly lead us to it. Accor dingly we find that Solomon after all the ac curate iearch he had made to find what was that good for the fons of men ; he iliuts up his inqueft in this plain conclufion : Fear God and keep his commandments ; for God Jhall bring every TV or kjmto judgment, Ecclef. 12. 13, 14. The regulating our lives fo by the rules of Piety , as may acquit us at our final account, is the moft eligible thing that falls within hu man cognizance j and that not only in rela tion
SECT. III. Subjett Matter of Holy Scripture. 1 1 3
tion to the fuperlative happinefs of the next world, but even to the quiet and tranquillity of this. For alas, we are impotent giddy crea tures , fwai'd fomtimes by one paffion , ibm- times by another ; nay often the interfear- ing of our appetites makes us irrefolute which we are to gratify ; whilft in the interim their ftrugling agitates and turmoils the mind. And what can be more defirable in fuch a cafe , then to put our felves under a wifer condudl then our own -, and as oppreft States ufe to defeat all leiTer pretenders by becom ing homagers to fom more potent : fo for us to deliver our felves from the tyranny of our lufts, by giving up our obedience to him whofe fervice is perfect freedom.
8 1. WERE there no other advantage of the exchange, but the bringing us under fixt and determmat Laws, 'twere very confidera- ble. Every man would gladly know the terms of his fubjedtion, and have fom ftanding rule to guide himfelf by ; and Gods Laws are fo ; we may certainly know what he requires of us: but the mandats of ourpaflions arc arbitrary and extemporary : what pleafes them to day difgufts them to morrow ; and we muft alwaies be in readinefs to do we know not what, and of all the Arbitrary governments that men either feel or fear , this is doubtlefs the moft miferable- 1 wifh our apprehenlions of it were but as fenfible : and.
P thea
ii4 The Chriftians Birth-right, &c.
then we fhould think the holy Scripture did us the office of a Patriot , in offering us a refcue from fo vile a flavery .
82. AND that it do's make us this offer, is manifeft by the whole tenor of the Bible. For firft it rowzes and awakes us to a fenfc of our condition , Ihews us that what we call liberty, is indeed the f addeft fervitude ; that he that commit tcth Jin is the fervant of Jin ; Jo. 8.34. thatthofe vices which pretend to ferveand gratify us, do really fubdue and enflave us, and fetter when they feem to embrace : and whereas the will in all other oppreffions re tains its liberty , this tyranny brings that al- fo into vaffallage: renders our fpirits fo mean and fervile , that we chufe bondage ; are apt to fay with the Ifraelites , Let us alone that we mayjervethe Egyptians, Ex. 14. 12.
83. AND what greater kmdnefs can be don for people in this forlorn abjed: con dition, then to animate them to caft off this yoke, and recover their freedom. And to this are mod of the Scripture exhortations addrefts as maybe feen in a multitude of places, particularly in the fixth chapter to the Romans , the whole fcope whereof is di- redly to this purpofe.
84. NOR do sit only found the alarm, put us upon the conteft with our enemies^but it af- fills us in it , furnifhes us with that whole armor efGod which we find defcrib'd, Eph.t.i 3. Nay
further
SECT.HI.SvbjeS Matter of Holy Scripture. 1 1 ;
further it excites our courage , by affiiring us that i£we will not bafely furrender our felves, we can never be overpowered if we do but ftand our ground ', refill our enemy, he rvillfly fromm ; Ja. 4. 7. And to that purpofe it di- re&s us under what banner we are to lift our felves > even his who bath fyoildprineipalities and powers, Col. 2. iy. to whofe condudt and difcipline if we conftantly adhere, we cannot mifsof vi&ory.
8f. AND then laftly it fets before us the prize of this conqueft ; that we fliall not only recover our liberty, manumit our felves from the vileft bondage to the vileft and cruellelt oppreffors ; but we (hall be crown d for it too , be rewarded for being kind to our felves, and be made happy eternally hereafter for being willing to be happy here.
86. AND fure thefe are terms fo appa rently advantageous,thathe muft be infinitly ftupid (fooltfhto deftra&ion) that will not be thus made wife unto falva^ion, that defpi- fes or cavils at this divine Book , which means him fo much good , which defigns to make him live here generoufly and accor ding to the dignity ot his nature, and in the next world to have that nature fublimated, and exalted , made more capacious of thofe refin'd and immenfe felicities, which there await all who will qualify themfelves for them 5 who ( as the Apoftle fpeaks) by patient
P 2 con-
1 1 6 The Cbrijlians Birth-right , &c.
continuance in well doing feeJ^ for glory , and honor, and i mmortality ^eternal life, Rom. 2. 7.
87. BUT beficles the greateft and princi pal advantages which concern our fpiritual mtereft, it takes in alib the care of our fecu- iar, directs us to fuch a managery ofourfelves, as is naturally apt to promote a quiet and happy life. Its injunction to live peaceable wich all men, keeps us out of the way of many mifadventures, which turbulent unruly fpirits meet with, and fo fecures our peace. So alfo as to wealth, it puts us into the faireft road to riches by prefcribing diligence in our cal lings : what is thus got being like found flefh, which will ftick by us; whereas the hafty growth of ill-gotten wealth is but a tumor and impoftume, which the bigger it fwells,the fooner it burfts and leaves us lanker then be fore. In like manner it fliews us alfo how to guard our reputation , by providing bonejt things not only in the fight of God , but alfo in thejight of men, Cor. 8. 28. by abjlaining even from all appearance of evil, i Thef. f . 2 2 . and making our ligLt Jhine before men, Mat. 5-. 16. It provides too tor our eafe and tranquillity , iiiperfedes our anxious cares and follicitud's, bv directing us to caji our burden upon the Lord, Plal. yf. 22. and by a reliance on his provi dence how to fecure to our felves all we really want. Finally it fixes us in all the changes 3 ftipports us under all the preflures,
com-
SECT.III. SubjeS Matter of Holy Scripture. 117
comforts us amidft all the calamities of this life, by affiiring us they fhall all worl^ together for good to thofe that love God 3 Ro. 8.28.
88. NOR do's the Scripture defign to pro mote our interefts coniider'd only fingly and perfonally, but alfo in relation to Societies and Communities; it gives us the beft rules of diftributive and commutative Juftice •, teaches us to render to all their dues , Ro. 13.7- to keep our words , to obferve inviolably all our pads and contracts ; naytho they prove to our damage, Pfa. if. 4. and to preferve exad: fidelity and truth ; which are the finews of human commerce. It infufes into us noble and generous principles, to prefer a common good before our private : and that higheft flight of Ethnic vertue , that of dying for ones Country, is no more then the Scripture prefcribes even for our common brethren, i Jo. 3. 1 6.
89. BUT befides thefe generals,it defcends to more minute directions accommodated to our feveral circumftances > it gives us ap propriate rules in reference to our diftmft relations, whether natural, civil, ecclefiafti- calor oeconomical. And if men would but univerfally conform to them , to what a blef- fed harmony would it tune the world ? what order and peace would it introduce ? There would then be no oppreffive Governors , nor mutinous Subjects 5 no unnatural Parents,nor
con-
1 1 8 The Chrijlians Birth-right,
contumacious Children : no idle Shepherds, or ftraying Flocks : none of thofe domeftic jars which oft difquiet, and fomtimes fubvert families: all would be calm and ferene j and give us in reality that golden Age , whereof the Poets did but dream.
90. THIS tendency of the Scripture is remarkably acknowledged in all our public Judicatories , where before any teftimony is admitted, we caufe the perfon that is to give his teftimony , firft to lay hold of with his hands , then with his mouth to kifs the holy Scriptures : as if it were impoffible for thofe hands , which held the myfteries of Truth, to be immediatly emploi'd in working falfe- hood y or that thofe lips which had ador'd thofe holy Oracles , fliould be polluted with perjuries and lies. And I fear, the civil Go vernment is exceedingly fliaken at this day in its firmeft foundation, by the little regard is generally had of the holy Scriptures, and what is confequent thereto , the oaths that are taken upon them.
91. Tis true, we are far removd from that ftate which Efaiah prophecied of under the G of pel, tho we have the Bible among us ; that when the Lawjhouldgo forth 0/Sion, and the Word of the Lord from Jerufalem ; they jhould beat their fivords into plow-Jhares , and their fyears into pruning hooks , Ef. 2. 4. but that is not from any defedtin it , but from
our
SECT.IH. Sub j eft Matter of Holy Scripture. 119
our own perverfnefs: rvebaveit, but (as the Apoftlefpeaks in another fenle) as if we had it not, i Cor. 7. 29. We have it (that is, ufe it) to purpofes widely different from what it means. Som have it as a Superfedeas to all the duty jt injoins ; and lo they can but cap texts, talk glibly of Scripture , are not at all con- cern'd to practice it : fom have it as their Ar- fenal , to furnifh them with weapons, not a- gainft their fpiritual enemies , but their fecu- lar: applying all the damnatory fentences they there find , to all thofe to whofe perfons or opinions they have prejudice. And fom have it as a Scene of their mirth , a topic of raillery, drefs their profane and fcurrilous jefts in its language ; and ftudy it for no o- ther end but to abufe it. And whillt we treat it at this vile rate , no wonder we are never the better for it. For alas, what will it avail us to have the molt foveraign Balfom in our pofleffion , if inftead of applying it to our wounds, we trample it under our teet ?
92. BUT tho we may fruftrate the ufe, we cannot alter the nature of things, Gods defign in giving us the Scripture was to make us as happy as our nature is capable of being ; and the Scripture is excellently adapted to this end: for as to our eternal felicity, all that believe there is any fuch ftate , muft ac- knowledg the Scripture chalks us out the rea dy way to it : not only becaufe 'tis didated
120 The Chriflians Birth-right, &c.
by God who infallibly knows it , but alfo by its prefcribing thole things which are in themfelves beft ; and which a fober Heathen would adjudg fitteft to be rewarded. And as to our temporal happinefs , I dare appeal to any unprejudic'd man, whether any thing can contribute more to the peace and real happinefs of mankind , then the univerfal practice of the Scripture rules would do. Would God we would all confpire to make the experiment ; and then doubtlefs, not on ly our reafon, but our fenfe too would be con- vinc'd of it.
93. AND as the defign is thus beneficial, fo in the fecond place is it as extenfive alfo. Time was when the Jews had the inclofure of divine Revelation ; when the Oracles of God were their peculiar depofitum , and the Heathen had not the knowledg of his Laws, Pf. 147. ult. but fince that by the goodnefs of God the Gentiles are become fellow-heir j,Eph. 3.6. he hath alfo deliver d into their hands the deeds and evidences of their future ftate, given them the holy Scriptures as the exadt and authentic regifters ot the covenant be tween God and man, and thefe not to be like the heathen Oracles appropriated to fom one or two particular places ; fo that they cannot be conlulted but at the expence of a pilgrimage ; but laid open to the view of all that will believe themlelves concern d.
94. IT
I2t
SECT.IH. Subjeft Matter of Holy Scripture.
94. I T was a large commiffion our Savior gave his Difciples : go preach the Gofyelto eve ry creature, Mar. 1 6. if, (which in the nar- roweft acception muft be the Gentile world ) and yet their oral Gofpel did not reach far ther then the written : for wherever the Chri- ftian Faith was planted , the holy Scriptures were left as the records of it ; nay as the con- fervers of it too -3 the Handing rule by which all corruptions were to be detected. 'Tis true, the entire Canon of the New Teftament, as we now have it , was not all at once deliver'd to the Church ; the Gofpels and Epiftles be ing fuceeffively writ , as the needs of Chri- ftians , and the encroachments of Heretics gave occalion ; but at latt they became all together the common magazine of the Church , to furnifh arms both defenfive and cffenfive. For as the Gofpel puts in our hands the fliield of Faith , fo the Epittles help us to hold it, that it may not be wrefted out of our hands again, either by the force ofperfecu- tion , or the fly insinuations of vice or he- refy.
5^5-. THUS the Apoftles like prudent lea ders have beat up the Ambufhes , difcovefd. the fnares that were laid for us 3 and by dif- comfiting Satans forlorn hope, that earlieft Set of falfe teachers and corrupt practices which then invaded the Church ; have laid a, fouudation of vi&ory tp the fucceedingAges,
if
122
The Cbriftians Birth-right,
if they will but keep clofe to their conduit, adhere to thofe lacred Writings they have left behind them in every Church for that purpofe.
96. Now what was there depofited , was defign'd for the benefit of every particular member of that Church. The Bible was not committed (like the fiegalia, or rarities of a Nation) to be kept under lock and key (and confequently to conftitute a profitable office for the keepers) but expos'd like the Brazen Serpent for univerfal view and benefit : that facred Book (like the common air) being every mans propriety,yet no mans inclofure : yet there are a generation of men whofe eies have bin evil , becaufe Gods have bin good : who have leal'd up this fpring , monopoliz'd the word of Life ; and will allow none to par take of it but fuch perfons , and in fuch pro portions as they pleafe to retail it : an attemt very infolent in refped: of God , whofe pur pofe they contradict ; and very injurious in reipedt of man, whofe advantage they ob- ftrud:. The iniquity of it will be very appa- rant if we confider what is offer d in the fol lowing Sedion.
SECT.
SECT. IV. Cuflody of Holy Scripture. 123
SECT. IV.
The Cuftody of the holy Scripture is a privi lege and right of the Chriftian Church, and every member of it ; which cannot without impiety to God^and injuftice unto it andthem^ be taken away orernpeacht.
BESIDES the keeping of the divine Law, which is obfequious , and imports a due regard to all its Precepts , commonly expreft in Scripture by keeping the commandments , bear tying to, and obeying the voice of the Lords availing in his waies , and observing and doing his Jtatutes and his judgments : there is a poi- feffory keeping it , in reference to our felves and others j in refpedt whereof ,. Almighty God, Deut.6. a ndelfewhere frequently , ha ving enjoin d the people of Ifrael, to love the Lord their God with all their heart , and with all their foul ', and with all their might, and that the words which he commanded them foould be in their heart, he adds, that they Jh all teach them diligently to their children, and Jh all talk^of them when they Jit down in their houfes,and when they wallaby the way ,and when they lie down^and when they rife up : and that they bind them for d Jign upon their hand, and that they Jhall be as
front-
124 The Chriftians Birthright, &c.
frontlets between their eies , and that they Jb all write them upon, khe pofls af their, houfe 3 and on their gates. So juftly was the Law call'd the Scripture, being written by them, and worn upon the ieveral parts of the body , infcrib'd upon the walls of their houies , the entrance of their dores, and gates of their Cities ; and in a word , placed before their eies wherever they convers'd.
2. AND this was granted to the Jews, as matter of privilege and favor. To them, laies Saint P#///,Rom. 9. 4. pertaineth the adoption, and the glory > and the covenants ^ and-the giving of the Law. And the fame Saint Paul -, at the 3. chap. 2. v. of that Epiftle , unto the que- ftion, what advantage hath the Jew, or what profit is there of circumcijion , anfwers that it is much every way , chiefly becaufe unto them were committed the Oracles of God. This depolituni or trait was granted to the Fathers , that it (liould be continued down unto their chil dren. He made a covenant , iaies David , Pi. 78. v. f. with Jacob , and gave Ifracl a Law , which he commanded our Fore-fathers to teach their children., that their pojhrity might fyon> it, and the children which were yet unborn: to the intent that when they came up^ they might Jheiv their children the fame. Which Scripture by a perpetual fuccellion was to be handed down unto the Chriltian Church ; the Apoftles ori all occaiipns appealing unto them , as beirig
read
SECT. IV. Cuftody of Holy Scripture. 1 2 f
read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day, A6t. 13.27. and alfo privatly , in their hands ; fo that they might at plefure fearch into them, Jo. f. 39. A£t 17. ii. Hereupon the Jews are by Saint dujtin call'd the Cafforii, or fervant* that cattied the Chriftians books. And Atha- nafius in his Trad: of the Incarnation, faies, The Law was not for the Jews only, nor were the Prophets fent for them alone ; but that Nation was the Divinity-Scbole of the whole world; from whence they were to fetch the knowledg of God, (indthe way offyiritual living : which amounts to what the Apoftle faies , Galat. 3. 24. That the Law was a Schole-majte-r to bring us unto Chrijt.
3 . A N D 'tis obfervable that the very fame word, fym. 3. 2. in the Text even now reci ted , which exprefles the committing of the Oracles of God to the Jews, is made ufe of conftantly by Saint Paul, when he declares the truft and duty encumbent on him in the preaching of the Gofpel : of which, fee / Cor. 9. //. Gal. 2. 7. i Thef. 2. 4. i Tim. z. / /. Tit* i . 3. And therefore, as he faies, / Cor. p. Tho I preach the Gofyel , I have nothing to glory of; for necejjity is laid upon me, yea, wo is unto me if I preach not the Gofyel , for if Ida this thing wil~ li.#gly> I have a rewards but if againjl my will, a dijpenfation of the Gofycl is committed unto me: Sb may all Chriftians fay; if we our felves keep and tranfmitto our pofterities the
holy
1 2 6 The Cbrijtians Birth-right, &c.
holy Scriptures , we have nothing to glory of, for a neceffity is laid upon us, and wo be unto us if we do not our felves keep , and tranfmit to our pofterity the holy Scriptures. If we do this thing willingly, we have a reward -, but if againft our will, the cuftody of the'Gofpel, and at leaft that difpenfation of it , is com mitted to us. But if we are Traditors.and give up our Bibles,or take them away from others $ let us confider how black an apoftacy and fa- crilege we fhall incur.
4. THE Mofaic Law was a temporary con- ftitution , and only a foadow of good things to come9Heb. 10. i. but the Gofpel being in its duration as well as its \ntendment,everlaftmg, Jftev. 14. 6. and to remain when timejhall be no more, Rev. lo.tf. it is an infinitly more precious depofitum , and fo with greater care and folemner atteftation to bepreferv'd. Not only the Clergy, or the people of one parties lar Church , nor the Clergy of the univerfa! are entrufted with this care,but 'tis the charge, the privilege and duty of every Chriftian man, that either is , or was, or fhall be in the world j even that collective Church which a- bove all competition , is the pillar and ground of truth, i Tim. 3. if. againft which theaf- faults of men and devils, and even theg^j- of helljhallnotprevail,1sla.t. 16. ig.
5". THE Gofpels were not written by theif holy Pen-men to inftrud the Apoftles , but to
the
SECT. IV. Cujtody of Holy Scripture. 127
the Chriftian Church , that they might believe Jeftts was the Chrift, thefon of God, and that be lieving they might have life thro his name y Jo. 20. 31. The Epiftles were not addreft pecu liarly to the Bilhops and Deacons, but all the holy brethren , to the Churches of God that are fanftified in Jefus Chrijt , and to all thofe that call upon the name of the Lordjefus C/;r^Rom« i. 7. i Cor. i. 2. 2 Cor. i. r. Galat. i. 2. Eph. i. i. Col. 4. 16. i Thef. f. 27. Phil. 1. 1. Jam* 1. 1. i Pet. i. i. 2 Pet. i. i. Revel, i. 4. Or if by chance fom one or two of the Epiftles were addreft to an Ecclefiaftic perfon,as thofe to Timothy and Titus, their purport plainly refers to the community of Chriftians, and the depofitum committed to their truft ; Tim. 6. 20. And Saint John on the other fide di- reds his Epiftles to thofe who were plainly fe- cular s to fathers, young men, and little chil dren s and a Lady and her children, Epift. i. chap. 2. 12, 13, 14. andEpift. 2. 1. 1.
6. BUT befides the intereft which every Chriftian has in the cuftody of the Scripture upon the account of its being a depofitum cntrufted to him ; he has alfo another no lefs forcible ; that tis the Teftament of his Sa vior, by which he becomes a Son of God , no more a Servant but a Son s and if he be a Son, it is the Apoftles inference , that he is then an heir, an heir of God thro Cbrift, Gal. 4, 7. Now as he who is heir toaa eftate, is alfo to the
deeds
The Chriftians 'Birth-right,
deeds and conveiances thereof ; which with out injury cannot be deiain'd , or if they be, there is a remedy at Law for the recovery of them: So it fares in our Chriftian inheri tance; every believer by the privilege of faith, is made a fon of Graham , and an heir of the promifes made unto the fathers,where- by he has an hereditary interell in the Old Teftament; and alfo by the privilege of the fame Faith he has a firm right to thepurchaft poJfi/ioritEph. i. 14. and the charter thereof, the New. Therfore the detention of the Scri ptures, which are made up of thefe two parts > is a manifeft injuftice and facrilegious inva- lion of right, which the perfon wrong d is em power' d , nay is ftridly oblig'd by all law-* tul means to vindicate.
7. WHICH invafion of rights will ap pear more flagrant when the nature and im portance of it is confider'd; which relating to inens fpiritual intereft * renders the violation infinitly more injurious then it could be in anyfecular. I might mention feveral detri ments coniequent to this detention of Scri pture, even as many as there are benefits ap- pendant to the free ufe of it ; but there is one of fo fundamental and comprehenlive a na ture , that I need name no more ; and that is , that it delivers men up to any delufion their teachers lhall impole upon them , by depriving them of means of detecting them.
Where
SECT. IV. Cuflody of Holy Scripture. 129
Where there isnoftandard or mefures, 'tis eafy for men to falfify both ; and no lels ea- fy is It to adulterate do&rins , where no re- xxnirfe can be had to the primary rule. Now that there is a poffibility that falfe teachers may arife , We have all affurance ; nay we have the word of Chnft, and his Apoftles that it fhould be fo : and all Eccleliaftic ftory to atteft it has bin Ib, And if in the firft and pureft times ( thofe Ages of more immediat illumination) the God of this rvorldfoimd. in- ftruments whereby to blind mens minds , 2 Cor. 4. 4. it cannot be fuppos'd impoffibie or improbable he fhould do fo now.
8. BUT to leave generals, and to fpeak to the cafe of that Church which magifterially prohibits Scripture to the vulganfhe manifeft- ly ftands liable to that charge of our Savior, Luk. ii 5-2. Te have taken away the i(ey of knowledg : and by allowing the common people no more Scripture then what Hie air fords them in their Sermons and privat Ma- nuals,keeps it in her power to impofeon them what fhepleafes. For 'tis fure thofe portions fhe feled:s for them , fhall be none of thof® which clafli with the do&rins fhe recom mends : and when ever fhe will ufe this power to the corrupting their faith, orworihip (yea, or their manners either) they muft brutiflily fubmittoit, becaufe they cannot bring her
R , Bur
130 The Chriftians Birth-right, &c.
9. BUT 'twill be faid, this danger fhe wards by her dodrin of infallibility : that is , fiie enervates a probable fuppofition attefted by event , by an impoffible one confuted by e- vent. For 'tis certain , that all particular Churches may err 5 and tho the confciouf- nefs of that, forces the Roman Church upon the abfurd pretence of univerfality , to aflert her infallibility ; yet alas, Tyber may as well call it felf the Ocean, or Italy the world , as the Roman Church may name it felf the u- niverfal -, whileft 'tis fo apparent that far the the lefs part of Chriftians are under her com munion. And if fhe be but a particular Church, fhe has no immunity from errors,nor thofe under her from having thofe errors (how pernicious foever) impos d upon them. As to her having adtually err'd, and in diverfe particulars , the proof of that has bin the work of fo many Volumes , that 'twould be impertinent here to undertake it : I fhall on ly inftance in that of Image-worfhip $ a pra- ftice perfectly irreconcileable with the fe- cond Commandment ; and doubtlefs, clear ly difcern'd by her to be fo : upon which ac count it is , that tho by Tranflatibns and Pa- raphrafes fhe wrefts and moulds other Texts to comply with her doftrins, yet fhe dares not truft to thofe arts for this : but takes a more compendious courfe,and expunges the Com- rnaudmeiit; as is evident in her Catechifms
and
SECT. IV. Cujiody of Holy Scripture. 131
and other Manuals. Now a Church that cap: thus facrilegioufly purloin one Command ment (and fuch a one as God has own'd him- felf the moft jealoufly concern' d in) and to delude her children fplit another to make up the number , may as her needs require, fub- ftradt and divide what others file pleafe : and then whilft all refort to Scripture is obftru- (Sted; how fatal a hazard muft thofe poor fouls run.who are oblig'd to follow thefe blind , or rather thefe winking guides into the ditch >
10. BUT all thefe criminations fhe retorts, by objecting the dangers of allowing the Scriptures to the vulgar ; which fhe accufes as the fpring of all Se&s, Schifms, and Here- iies. To which I aniwer firft , that fuppofing this were true, 'twas certainly fore-leen by God, who notwithftanding laid no reftraint ; probably as fore-leeing , that the dangers of implicit faith (to which fuch a reftraint muft fubjed: men) would be far greater : and if God faw fit to indulge the liberty, thofe that (hall oppofe it , muft certainly think they do not only partake , but have tranfplanted in fallibility from God to themfeives.
11. BUT fecondly, 'tis not generally true, that Se&s, Schifms,and Herefies are owing to this liberty: All Ecclefiaftical Story Ihews us that they were not the illiterat Lay-men, but the learned Clerks who were ufually the broachers of Herefies. And indeed many of
R 2 them
132 The Ckrijtians ~Birth-rigbt> &c.
them were fb fubtil and aerial, as could never have bin forg'd in grofler brains ; but were founded not on Scripture merely miftaken, butrackt anddiftorted with nice criticifms, and quirks of Logic , as feveral of the An cients complain: fom again fprang from that ambition of attaining, or impatience of miffing Ecclefiaftical dignities : which appro priates them to the Clergy. So that if the a- bufe infer a forfeiture of the ufe, the Learned have of all others the leaft title to the Scri ptures ; and perhaps thofe who now ingrofs them, the leait title of all the Learned. *
12. ON the other fide, Church-ftory in deed mentions fom lay-propugners of Here- Jies ; but thofe for the moft part were either fo grofs and beftial , as dilparag'd and confuted themfelves and Authors.and rofe rather from the brutifh inclination of the men , then from their miftakcs of Scripture : or elfe they were by the immediat infufion of the devil, who backt his heretical fuggeftions with for- ceries and lying wonders , as in Simon Magus- , lMenander,&c. And for later times, thofom- times there happens among the vulgar a few pragmatic fpiiits , that love to tamper with theobfcurefts Texts, and will undertake to expound before they underftand ; yet that is not their common temper : the generality are rather in the other extreme , ftupid and uiiobiervaut even of the plaineft dodrins.
And
SECT, IV. Cuftody of Holy Scripture. 133
And if to this be objeCted the multitude of Quakers and Fanatics , who generally are of the ignorant fort ; I anfwer , that 'tis mani- feft the firft propugners of thofe tenets in Germany were not feduc'd into them by mi- ftakes of Scripture , but induftrioufly form'd them, at once to difguife and promote their villainous defigns of fedition and rapine : and as for thofe amongft us , it is not at all certain that their firft errors were their own productions: there are vehement prefum- tions that the feeds were fown by greater Ar tificers 5 whofe firft bufmefs was to unhinge them from the Church , and then to fill their heads with ftrange Chimera's of their privi leges and perfections ; and by that intoxica tion of fpiritual pride3difpofe them for all de- lufions : and thereby render them , like Sam- fons Foxes,fit inftruments to fet all in combu- ftion.
13. BUT admit this were but a conjecture, and that they were the fole Authors of their own frenzy •, how appears it that the liberty of reading the Scripture was the caufe of it ? Had thefe men bin of the Romifh commu nion , and fp bin interdicted privat reading, yet iom broken parts of Scripture would have bin in Sermons and Books of devotion com municated to them; had it not bin as poflible for them to have wrefted what they heard as what they read? In one refpeCt it feems ra ther
j 34 The Cbriftians Birtb-rigbt, &c.
ther more likely : for in thofe loofe and inci dental quotations the connexion is fom+ times not fo difcernable : and many Textf there are whofe fenfe isfb interwoven with the context, that without confulting there may be very pernicious mifta&es : which account it is probably more fafe the Auditors Ihould have Bibles to confult. So that this reftraint of Scripture is a very fal lible expedient of the infallible Church. And indeed themfelves have in event found it fo $ for if it were fo foveraign a prophylactic a- gainft error, how comes it to pafs that fb ma ny of their members who were under that dif- cipline have revolted from them into that which they call herefy ? If they fay , the defecation was made by fom of the Learned to whom the Scripture was allow'd, why do they not (according to their way of arguing) take it from them alfo upon that experiment of its mifchief, and confine it only to the infal lible chair ? but if they own them to have bin unlearn'd ( as probably the Albigenfes and Waldenfes , &c. were ) they may lee how in- fignificant a guard this reftraint is againft error: and learn how little is got by that policy which controles the divine Wifdom.
14. NOR can they take flicker in the ex ample of the primitive Chriftians, for they in the conftant ufeof the holy Scriptures yiel ded not unto the Jews. Whereas the Jews had
the
SECT. IV. Cuftody of Holy Scripture. 13^
the Scriptures read publicly to them every Sabbath day ; which Jofephus againft Apptort thus expreffes :Mofes propounded to the Jews the mojl excellent and necejjary learning oftheLaw* not by hearing it once or twice , but every fe- •venth day laying ajide tbeirworks,he commanded them to ajjemblefor the hearing of the Law, and throughly andexaftly tolearn z>. Parallel to this was the practice of the primitive Church, per form' d by the Le£tor,or Reader,of which Ju- ftin Martyr in his 2. Apol. gives this account. On the day c all' d Sunday, all that abide in towns , or the countries about, meet in one place , and the "writings of the Apojlles and Prophets are read, Jo far as there is place. So Tertullian in his A- pol. defcribing the offices in the publicAffem- blies : We feed our faith with the f acred Words > rve raife our hopes, andeftablijh our reliance.
if. AND as the Jews thought it indecent for perfons profeffing piety, to let three daies pafs without the offices thereof in the con gregation s and therefore met in their Syna gogues upon every Tuefday and Thurfday in the week , and there performed the duties of fafting, praier, and hearing the holy Scri ptures j concerning which is the boaft of the Pharifee,L^. 18.12. in conformity here to the Chriftians alfo , their Sabbath being brought forward from the Saturday to the day following ; that the like number of daies might not pals them without performing the
albre-
1 3 6 The Cbriflians Birth-right, &c.
aforefaid duties in the congregation -, met together on the Wednefdaies and Fridaies, which were the daies of Station,fo frequently mention'd h\Tertullian , and others, thefirft writers of theChurch.Tertullzan exprefly faies, that the Chriftians dedicated to the offices o£ Piety, the fourth andfixth day of the tveeJ^: and Clemens Alex, faies of the Chriftians, that they underjtood the fecret reafons of their weekly fafts, to wit , thofe of the fourth day of the Tveekj and that of preparation before the Sabbath* commonly calld Wednesday and Friday. Where* by the way, we may take notice what ground there is for the obfervation of the Wednef day and Friday in our Church, and the Lita nies then appointed, fo much negleded in this profligate Age.
itf. BUT fecondly, as the Jews were dili gent in the privat reading of the Scripture ; being taught it from their infancy : which cuftom Saint Paul refers to i Tim. 3. if. vrheteofjofephus againft Appion faies, That if a man asj^any Jew concerning the Laws, he will tell every thing readier then his name : for learning them from the fir Ji time they havefenfe of any thing, they retain them imprint edin their minds. So were the firft Chriftians equally induftrious in improving their knowledg of divine Truth. The whole life of a Chnjtian, faies Clem. Alex. Strom. L 7. is a holy folemnityz there his facrijioes are praicrs and praijes s be~
fore
SECT. IV. Cuftody of Holy Scripture. 1 3 7
fore every meal be has the readings of the holy Scriptures ; and Pj alms, and Hymns at the time of his meals. Which Tertullian alib defcribes in his Apol. and Saint Cyprian in the end of the Epiit. to Donatus.
17. AND this is farther evidenc'd by the early and numerous verfions of the Scriptures into all vulgar Languages; concerning which Theodoret fpeaks in his Book of the Cure of the Affe&ions of the Greeks , Serm. f . We Chrijtians ( faies he ) are enabled to Jhew the power of Apojiolic andprophetic doclrins, which have fill'd all Countries under Heaven. For that which was formerly utter d in Hebrew , is not only translated into the Language of the Gre cians, but alfo the JK^o mans, Egypt tans, Perfians, Indians, Armenians, Scythians, Samaritans-, and in a word to all the Languages that are usd by any Nation. The fame is faid by Saint Chry- foftom in his firft Homily upon Saint lohn.
1 8 . NOR was this don by the blind zeal of mconfiderable men, but the moft eminent Doctors of the Church were concern'cl herein: fuch as Origen who with infinit labor contriv'd the Hexapla. Saint Chryfojtom, who tranlla- ted the New Teftament , Pfalms , and loin part of the Old Teftament into the Armeni an Tongue, as witneffes Geor. Alex, in the life of Chryfojt. So Vlpbilas the firft Biiliop of the Goths tranflated the holy Scripture into the Gothic ; as Socrat, Eccl. HijL I. 4. cap. 33.
S and
1 3 8 The Cbrijtians Birth-right,
and others teftify. Saint Jerom , who tran- flated them not only into Latin from the He brew, the Old Italic verlion having bin from the Greek -, but alfo into his native vulgar Dalmatic: which he faies himfelf in his Epi- ille to Sophronius.
19. BUT the peoples having them for their privat and conftant ule appears farther, by the Heathens making the extorting of them a part of their perlecution : and when diverfe did faint in that trial , and bafely furrender'tl them , we find the Church level'd her feverity only againit the offending per- fons , did not ( according to the Romim e- quity ) punifh the innocent , by depriving them of that f acred Book , becaufe the others had fo unworthily proltituted it (tho the pre vention of luch a profanation for the future had bin as fair a plea for it as the Romanifts do now make : ) but on the contrary the pri mitive Fathers are frequent , nay indeed im- portunat in their exhortations to the privat itudy of holy Scripture , which they recom mend to Chriftians of all Ranks, Ages, and Sexes.
20. As an inftance hereof, let us hear Cle mens ofjflex. in his Exhort. The Word,faies he, is not hid from any $ it is a common light- thatjhineth to all men -3 there is no obfcurity in it y hear it you that be far off, and hear it you that are nigh*
21. To
SECT. IV. Cujtody of Holy Scripture. 13$,
21. To this purpofe St. Jerom /peaks in his Epiftle to Let a , whom he directs in the edu cation of her young daughter , and advifes, that injtead of gems andfil^ Jhe be enamour d with the holy Scripture ; wherein not gold, or st(insy or Babylonian embroideries , but a cor- retl and beautiful variety producingfaith y rvill recommendits felf. Let herfirjt learn the Pfal- ter, and be entertain d with thofe fongs ; then be injtruttedunto life by the Proverbs of Solo mon : let her learn from Ecclefiaftes to defpife worldly things ; tranfcribe from Job the pra- Rice of patience and vertue : let her pafs then to the Gofyels , and never let them be out of her hands : and then imbibe with all the faculties of the mind, the Afts of the jfpojtles, andEpiJtles. When Jhe has enrich d the Jtore-houfe of her breaft with thefe trefures, let her learn the Pro- phets, the Heptateuch, or boo](s c/Mofes , Jo- fliua and Judges, the booJ^s pjf Kings tf^Chrb^ nicies , the volumes 0/~Ezra and Either; and laftly the Canticles. And indeed, this Father is fo concern'd to have the unletter'd female iex skilful in the Scriptures>that tho he fharp- ly rebukes their pride and over-wening ; he not only frequently refolves their doubts concerning difficult places in the faid Scri ptures, but dedicates leveral of his Commen taries to them.
22. THE fame is to be faid of Saint Au+ in his Epiftles to unletter'd Laics,en- S 2
140 The Chrijtians Birth-right, &c.
courages their enquiries concerning the Scri pture, alluring Volufianns Ep. 3 . that itfpeaks thoje things that are plain to the heart of the learned and unlearned, as a familiar friend ; in the myfterious , mounts not up into high phrafes which might deter a flow and unlearned mind, (as the poor are in their addreffes to the rich ; ) but invites all with lowly fpeech, feeding with manifejl truth , and exercijingwith fecret. And Ep. 1.21. tells the devout Proba, that in this world where we are abfent from the Lord, and wallaby faith and not by fight, the foul is to thinly it Jelf defolate , and never ceafe from prater 9 and the words of divine and holy Scri pture, &c.
23. SAINT Chryfojtom in his third Homi ly of Lazarus thus addreffes himfclf to mar ried p erf bns, houje-holdcrs, and people cngagdin trades and fecular profejfions y telling them, that the reading of the Scripture is a great de- fenfative agxinji Jin $ and on the other J/de, the ignorance thereof is a deep and head-long pre cipice ; that not to fyion the Law of God, is the utter lofs of falvatwn ; that this has cans' dhe- rejies, and corruption of life , and has confounded the order of things : for it cannot be by any means , that his labor jhould be fruit left , who emploies In mf elf in a daily and attentive read ing of the Scripture.
24. I am not /aies the fame St. Chry. Horn. 9* QnColof\3. a jMoujt^, I have wife and children,
and
SECT. IV. Cuflody of Holy Scripture. 141
and the cares of a family. But 'tis a opinion , that the reading of the Scripture per tains only to thofe who have addicled themf elves to a monastic life ,• when the reading of Scripture is much more neceffary for fecular perfons : for they rvho converfe abroad , and receive frequent wounds , are in greatefl need of remedies and prefervativesfo Horn. 2 . on Mat. Hearken all you that are fecular, how you ought to order your wives and children^andhowyou are particularly enjoin d to read, the Scripture s^and that not per- funilorily, or by chance, but very diligently.
2?. LIKEWISE Horn. 3. on La%. What faiejt thou, 0 man ? it is not thy bujinefs to turn over the Scripture , being di (trailed by innume rable cares s noy thou hajl therefore the greater obligation : others do not fo much Jlandin need of the aids of the Scripture, as they who are con- v erf ant in much bujinefs. Farther, Horn. 8. on Hcb. y. / befeech you negleft not the reading of the Scriptures s but whsther we comprehend the meaning of what is fyok^n or not, let us alwaies be conversant in them : for daily meditation jtrengthens the memory ; and it frequently hap pens , that what you now cannot find out , if you attemt it again , you will the next day dif cover : for God of Iris goo dnefs will enlighten the mind. It were endlefs to tranfcribe all the Exhorta tions of the ancient Dodors and Fathers of the Church; they not only permitted3but ear- neftly preft upon all Chriftians,whatever their
eftate
142 The Chrijiians Birth-right > ($c.
eftatc or condition were , the conftant read ing of the holy Scripture. Nor indeed was their reftraint ever heard of till the Church of Rome had eipous'd fuch dodtrins as would not bear rhe teft of Scripture : and then as thofe who deal in falfe wares are us'd to do, they found it neceflary to proportion their lights accordingly.
2.6. THIS Peter $utor in his fecond Book cap. 22. of the Tranflation of the Scripture honeftly confefTes, faying, that whereas many things are enjoind which are not exprcjly in Scri pture, the unlearned obferving this , mil be apt to murmur and complain that Jo heavy burthens are laid upon them, and their Chrijtian liberty infringd. They will eajily be with-drawn from observing the Conjtitutions of the Church , when they find that they are not contain d in the Law ofChriJt. And that this was not a frivo lous fiiggeftion , the defperat attemt of the Romanifts above mention'd, in leaving out the fecond Commandment in their Primers and Catechifms which they communicate to the people , may pafs for an irrefragable evi dence; For what Lay-man would not be ftlocktjto find Almighty God command,#0£ to make any graven image, nor the hkenejs of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth be- neath.or in the water under the earthrfhat no one Jhouldbow down to them, nor worjlrip them : when he fees the contrary is praftic'd and com manded by the Church. J 27- BUT
SECT. IV. Cujtody of Holy Scripture. 143
27. BUT would God none but the Roma- manift were impeachable of this detention of Scripture : there are too many among us that are thus falfe and envious to themfelves : and what the former do upon policy and pre tence of reverence, thofe do upon mere ofci- tancy and avow'd profanefs; which are much worfe inducements. And for fuch as thefe to declaim againft detention of the Scripture , is like the Law-fuits of thofe who contend only about fuch little punctilio's as themfelves defign no advantage frpm,but on ly the wording their Adverfaries: and it would be much fafer for them to lie under the interdict of others, then thus toreftrain themfelves: even as much as the errors of obedience are more excufable, then thofe of contemt and profanefs.
28. AND here I would have it ferioufly confider'd that the Edid: of Diocletian for the demolifiiing the Chriftian Churches , and the burning their Bibles -, became the cha racter and particular aggravation of his moft bloudy perfecution. Now fbould Almighty God call us to the like trial, fhould Antichri- ftian violence,whether heathen or other,take from us our Churches and our Bibles , what comfort could we have in that calamity , if our contemt of thofe bleffings drove them from us s nay, prevented perfecution,and be reft us of them even whilft we had them in
ou,r
144 The Chrijtians Birth-right,
our power > He who neglects to make his conftant refort unto the Church , which by Gods mercy now ftands open; or to read di ligently the holy Scriptures , which by the fame divine Goodnefs are free for him to ufe, is his own Diocletian ; and without the ter rors of death, or torments, has renounc'd, if not the Faith, the great inftruments of its conveiance, and pledg of God Almighties prelence among the ions of men.
29. BUT what if men either upon the one motive or the other, will not read ;' yet the Scriptures continue ftill moft worthy to be read: they retain ftill their propriety for all thofe excellent ends to which God de- fign'd them : and as the Prophet tells the Jews, jB^. 2. y. whether they will bear, or whe- . thcr they will forbear, they Jh all know there has bin a Prophet among them-, fo whether we will take the benefit or no , we fhall one day find that the holy Scriptures would have made us wife untojalvation. if thro our fault alone they fail to do fb , they will one day aflame a lefs grateful office j and from guides and affiftants, become accufers and witneffes againft us.
SECT.
SECT. V. ' Propriety of Holy Scripture. 145-
SECT. V. -•:-'.- '4?-
"cripture has great propriety and fit- nefs tovpard the attainment of its - excellent end.
WE are now in the next place to confi- der how exactly the holy Scriptures are adapted to thofe great ends to which they are directed : how fufficient they are for that important negotiation on which they are.fent: and that we fhall certainly find them, if we look on them either intrinncally, or circurhftantially. For the firft of thefe m> tions we need only to reflect on the third part of this difcourfe , where the Scripture in refped: of the fubjed: Matter is evinc'd to be a iyftem of the moft excellent Laws,backt with the moft tranfcendent rewards and pu- nifliments ; and the certainty of thofe con firm' d by inch pregnant inftances of Gods mercies and vengeance in this world 3 as are the fureft gages and earnefts of what we are bid to expect in another.
2. Now what method imaginable can there be ufed to rational creatures of more force and energy ? Nav it feems to defcend
"
The Chriftians Birth-right, &c.
even to our paflions and accommodates it felf to our feveral inclinations. And feeing how few Profelytes there arc to bare and naked vertue, and how many to intereft and. advantage s God clofes with them upon their own terms , and do's not fo much injoin as buy thofe little fervices he asks from us.
3 . B u T becaufe fom mens natures are fo difingenuous as to hate to be oblig'd no lefs then to be reform'd, the Scripture has goads and fcourges to drive fuch beafts as will not be led 5 terrors and threatnings , and thofe of moft formidable forts, to affright thofe who will not be allur'd. Nay left incredulous men fhould queftion the reality of future re wards or punifhments , the Scripture gives as fenfible evidence of them as we are capable of receiving in this world $ by regiftring fuch fignal protections and judgments propor- tion'd to vertue and vice , as fufficiently at- tefts the Pfalmifts Axiom : Doubtlefs there is « God that judpetb the earth, Pfal. f8, n. and leaves nothing to the impenitent finner, but a fearful expectation of that fiery indignation threatned hereafter ; Heb, 10. 27.
4. AND now methinks the Scripture feems to be that net ourSavior fpeaks ofyhat caught of every fort JA&t. 1 3, 47, it is of fo vaft a com- pafs , that it muft, one would think/etch in all kind of tempers : and fure had we not ciixt natures wit$%ja45? §outra<3;cd fom of
their
SECT. V. Propriety of Holy Scripture. 147
their malice and obftinacy , mere human pravity could not hold out.
y. AND as the holy Scripture is thus fitly proportion' d to its end in refped: of the iub* je6t matter,fo is it alfo in reference to its cir- cumftances , which all confpire to render it > the power of Goduntofalvation, Ro. i. id. In the firft rank of thofe we muft place its divine original, which ftamps it with an uncon- troulable autority , and is an infallible fecu- rity that the matter of it is perfectly true : fince it proceeds from tha't eflential verity which cannot abufe us with fraudulent pro- mifes or threatnings : and from that infinite power that cannot be impeded in the execu tion of what he purpofes.
6. YET to render this circumftance effi cacious, there needs another; to wit, that its being the word of God be fufficiently te- ftifi'd to us:and we have in the fore-going dif- courfe evinced it to be fo -> and that in the utmoft degree that a matter of that kind is capable of ; beyond which no fober man will require evidence in any thing. And certain ly thefe two circumttances thus united, have a mighty force to imprefs the diftats of Scri pture on us. And we mult rebel againft God and our own convictions too , to hold out againft it.
7. A third circumftance relates to the frame and compofure of this divine Book ,
both
14 & The Chrijlians Birth-right,
both as to method, and ftile : concerning which I have already made fom reflexions. But now that I may fpeak more diftindtly, I obferve it takes its rife from the firft point of time wherein 'twas poffible for mankind to be concern'd ; and lo gradually proceeds to its fall and renovation : fhews us firft ©ur need of a Redeemer , and then points us out who it is , by types and promifes in the Old Teftament, and by way of hiftory and com pletion in the New. In the former it ac quaints us with that pedagogy of the Law which God defign'd as our Schole-mafter to bring us to Chrift, Gal. 3. 25-. and in the Gof- pel mews us yet a more excellent way •, pre- ients us with thofe more fublime elevated do- d:rins, which Chrift came down from heaven to revele.
8. As for the ftile, that is full of grateful variety , fomtimes high and majeftic , as becomes that high ana holy one that inhabi- teth eternity : Efai. 5-7.15-. and fomtimes fo humble and after the manner of men , as agrees to the other part of his Character , his dwelling is with him that is of an humble fpirit^ Elay 77. 15-. I know profane wits are apt to brand this as an unevennefs of ftile : but they may as well accufe the various notes of Mufic as deftrudive to harmony ,or blame anOrator for being able to tune his tongue to the moft diiierent ftrains.
SECT. V- Propriety of Holy Scripture. 149
9 . ANOTHER excellency of the ftile , is its propriety to the feveral fubjefts it treats of. When it fpeaks of fuch things as God would not have men pry into ; it wraps them up in clouds and thick darknefs ; by that means to deter inquifitive man (as he did at Sinai} from breaking into the mount , Ex. 20. And that he gives any intimation at all of fuch, feems defign'd only to give us a juft eftimate how fliallow our comprehenfions are ; and excite us to adore and admire that Abyfs of divine Wifdom which we can never fa thom.
10. THINGS of a middle nature, which may be ufeful to fom , but are indifpenfibly neceflary to all, the Scripture leaves more ac- ceffible ; yet not fo obvious as to be within every mans reach : but makes them only the prize of induftry , praier, and humble ende- vors. And it is no fmall benefit , that thofe who covet the knowledg of divine Truth, are by it engag d to take thefe vertues in the way. Befides there is fo much time requir'd to that ftudy , as renders it inconfiftent with thofe fecular bufineffes wherein the genera^ lity of men are immerft : and confequently 'tis neceffary that thofe who addid: them- felves to the one , have competent vacancy from the other : And in this it hath a vilible ufe by being very contributive to the main taining that fpiritual fubordination of the
people
j / o The Cbrijtians Birthright, &c .
people to the Paftors ; which God has efta- blifh'd. Miriam and Corahs Partifans area pregnant inftance how much the opinion of equal knowledg unfits for fubjeftion: and we fee by fad experience how much the bare pretence of it has difturb'd the Church , and made thofe turn preachers who never were underftanding hearers.
ii. BUT befides thefe more abftrufe, there are eafier truths in which every man is con cern' d -y the explicit knowledg whereof is ne- ceffary to all : I mean the divine Rules for faving Faith and Manners. And in thofe the Scripture ftile is as plain as is poffible : con- defcends to the apprehenfions of the rudeft capacities : fo that none that can read the Scripture but will there find the way to blifs evidently chalk' d out to him. That I may ufe the words of Saint Gregory , the Lamb may wade in thofe waters of life, as well as the E~ lephant may fwim. The Holy Gboft, as St. Au-« fin tells us, lib. 2. of Chriilian do6trin, cap. 6. has made in the plainer places of Scripture ma^ gnificent and healthful proviji on for our hunger -y and in the obfcure^a^ainjtfatiety. For there are fcarce any things drawn from obfcure places^ nhich in others are not fpol^en moji plainly. And he farther adds, that if any thing happen to be no where explain d, every man may there abound Zn his ownjenfe.
*2. So again, in the fame Book, cap. 9,
he
SECT. V. Propriety of Holy Scripture. 1 5 x
he iaies , that all thofe things -which concern Faith and Manners , are plainly to be met with in the Scripture : and Saint Jerom in his Com ment on Ef. i p. tells us, that 'tis the cuftom of the Scripture to clofe obf cure fay ings -with thofe: that are eafy , and what was firjl expreft dark^ ly , to propofe in evident words : which very thing is faid likewife by Saint Chryfoftom y Horn. 9. 2 Cor. 4. H. who in his fiiit homily on Saint Mat. farther declares, that the Scri- ftures are eafy to be understood, andexpasd tv vulgar capacities.
13. Hefaies again,, Horn, upon Efay, that the Scriptures are not mettals that require the help of Miners , but afford a trefure eajily to be had to them that feek^the riches contain d in them. It is enough only to jioop down , and looj^ upon them, and depart replenijtidwith wealth z it is enough only to open them., and behold the fylendor of thofe Gems. Again, Horn. 3 . on the iecond Ep. to the ThefT. 2. .All things are evi dent andjirait, which are in the holy Scripture* whatever is necejfary is manifejt. So alfo Horn. 3. on Gen. 14. It cannot be that he who is Jtu- dious in the holy Scripture Jhould be rejected: for tho the injiruftion of men be wanting , the JLordfrom above will inlighten our minds., jhine in upon our reafon 3 revile what is fecret , and teach what we do notJ^now.SoHom.i.QnJo.ii* Almighty God involves his doflrin with no mifts^ andd&rknefs 3 as &d th? fhi.lofophers : his do*
firm
The Chriftians Birth-right,
ilrin is brighter then the Sun-beams , and more illuftrious * and therefore every where Aiffusd : and Horn. 6. on Jo. n. His doftrin is fo facile, that not only the wife , but even women , and youths muji comprehend it. Horn. 13. on Gen. 2. Let ns go to the Scripture as our Mar^ which if its own interpreter. And icon after faies, that the Scripture interprets itfelf, and fuffers not' itr Auditor to err. To the fame purpofe faies Cyril in his third Book againft Julian. In the Scripture nothing u difficult to them , who are conversant in them as they ought to be.
14. It is therefore a groundlefs cavil which men make at the obfcurity of the Scripture * fince it is not obfcure in thofe things wherer- in 'tis our common intereft it (hould be plain : which fufficiently juftifies its propriety to that great end of making us wife unto Jhlvation. And for thofe things which feem leis intel ligible to- us, many of them become fo,not by the innate obfcurity of the Text , but by ex- trinfic circumftances (of which perhaps the over-buiy tampering of Paraphrafts, plealed with new notions of their own, may be reckon'd for one.) But this fubjeft the Reader may find fo well purfued in Mr. Boyls Trad: concerning the ftile of Scripture, that I fhall be kindeft both to him and it , to refer him thither; as alfo for aniwer to thofe other que rulous objections which men galled with the feufe of the Scripture, have made to its ftile.
*. A
SECT. V. Propriety of Holy Scripture. i y 5
15-. A third circumftance in which the Scripture is fitted to attain its end, is its being committed to writing, as that is diftinguifh'd from oral delivery. It is moil true, the word of God is of equal autority and efficacy which way foever it be deliver'd : The Ser mons of the Apoftles were every jot as divine and powerful out of their mouths, as they are now in their ftory. All the advantage there fore that the written Word can pretend to, is in order to its perpetuity ; as it is a fecurer way of derivation to pofterity , then that of oral Tradition. To evince that it is io, I fhall firft weigh the rational probabilities ori either fide. Secondly , I fhall confider to which God himfelf appears in Scripture to give the deference.
16. FOR the firft ofthefe , I fhall propofc this confideration ; which I had occafion to intimate before ; that the Bible being writ for the univerfal ufe of the faithful , 'twas as univerfally difperft amongft them : The Jews had the Law not only in their Synagogues^ but in their privat houfes , and as loon as the Evangelical Books were writ, they were fcat- tefd into all places where the Chriftiaix Faith had obtained. Now when there was fiich a vail multitude of copies , and thofe fo revered by the poffeffors, that they thought it the higheft pitch of facrilege to expofe the my it muft lureiy be next to impoffible eiitirely to?
¥
1 5*4 The Chriflians Birth-right, &c.
fupprefs that Book. Befides it could never be attemted but by fom eminent violence , as it was by the heathen Perfecutors ; which ( ac cording to the common eiied: of oppofition ) ferv'd to enhance the Chriftians value of the Bible ; and confequently when the ftorm was paft , to excite their diligence for recruiting the number. So that, unlefs in after Ages3all the Chriftians in the world fhould at once make a voluntary defection, and confpire to eradicate their Religion , the Scriptures could not be utterly extmguifh'd.
17. AND that which fecures it from total fuppreffion, do's in a great degree do fo from corruption and falsification. For whileft fo many genuine copies are extant in all parts of the world, to be appeal'd to , it would be a very difficult matter to impofe a fpurious one; efpecially if the change were fo material as to awaken mens jealoufies. And it muft be only in a place and age of grofs ignorance, that any can be daring enough to attemt it. And if it fhould happen to fucceed in liich a particular Church,yet what is that to the uni- Verfal ? And to think to have the forgery ad mitted there, is (as a learned man faies) like attempting to poilon the fea.
1 8. ON the other fide, oral Tradition leems much more liable to hazards, error may there infinuate it felf much more mfen- fibly. And tho there be no univerfal confpi-
racy
SECT. V. Propriety of Holy Scripture.
racy to admit it at firft; yet like a fmall eruption of waters , it widens its ownpaflage, till it caufe an inundation. There is no im- preffion fo deep , but time and intervening accidents may wear out of mens minds 3 e- fpecially where the notions are many, and are founded not in nature , but pofitive infti- tution , as a great part of Chriftian Religion is. And when we confider the various tem pers of men, 'twill not be ftrange that ltu> ceeding Ages will not alwaies be determin d by the Traditions of the former. Som are pragmatic, and think themfelves fitter to prescribe to the belief of their pofterity, then to follow that of their Anceftors : fom have interefts and defigns which will be better fer- v'd by new Tenets: and fbm are ignorant and miftaking , and may unawares corrupt the do&rin they fhou'ld barely deliver : and of this laftfort we may guefs there may be many, lince it falls commonly to the mo thers lot to imbue children with the firft ru diments.
19. Now in all thefe cafes how poffible is it that primitive Tradition may be either loft or adulterated ; and confequently , and in proportion to that poffibility , our confi dence of it muft be ftagger'd. I am fure ac cording to the common eftimate in feculars it muft be fo. For I appeal to any man whe ther he be not apter to credit a relation which
U 2, x comes
The Cbriftians Birth -right,
comes from an eie-witnefs then at the third £>r fourth, much more at the hundredth re bound : ( as in this cafe. ) And daily experi ence tells us 5 that a true and probable ftory by paffing thro many hands , often grows to an improbable lie. This man thinks he could add one becoming circumftance ; that man another : and whilft moft men take the liberty to do fo , the relation grows asmon- •ftrous as fuch a heap of incoherent phancies can make it.
20. IF to this it be faid^that this happens only in trivial fecular matters, but that in the weighty concern of Religion mankind is cer tainly more ferious and fincere: I anfwer that ?tis very improbable that they are; fmce 'tis obvious in the common practice of the world, that the interefts of Religion are poftpon'd to every little worldly concern. And there fore when a temporal advantage requires the bending and warping of Religion , there will never be wanting fbm that will attemt it.
21. BESIDES there is ftill left in human nature lo much of the venom of the Serpents firit temtation , that tho men cannot be as God, yet they love to be prefcribing to him, and to be their own Afleflbrs as to that worfhip and homage they are to pay him.
22. BUT above all 'tis confiderable that
SECT. V* Propriety of Holy Scripture.
in this cafe Sathan has a more peculiar con cern, and can ferve himfelf more by a falfi- fication here then in temporal affairs. For if he can but corrupt Religion, it ceafes to be his enemy , and becomes one of his mod ufefulengins, asfufficiently appear din the rites of the heathen worlhip. We have therefore no caufe to think this an exemt cafe, but to prefume it may be influenced by the fame pravity of human nature, which prevailes in others; and confequently are oblig'd to blefs God that he has not left our fpiritual concerns to fuch hazards, but has lodg'd them in a more fecure repofitory, the written Word.
23. BUT I fore- fee 'twill be objed:ed,that whilft I thus difparageTradition,! do vertual- ly invalidate the Scripture it felf , which comes to us upon its credit. To this I anfwer firft that fince God has with-drawn immedi ate revelation from the world, Tradition is the only means to convey to us the firft no tice that this Book is the word of God: and it being the only means he affords , we have all reafon to depend on his goodnefs , that he will not fuffer that to be evacuated to us: and that how liable foever Tradition may be to err , yet that it fhall not actually err in this particular.
24. BUT in the fecond place; This Tra dition feems not fo liable to fallification as o-
thers*
i y 8 The Chriftians Birth-right, &c.
thers : It is fo very (hort and fimple a propo- fition ; fuch and fuch writings are the word of God , that there is no great room for Sophiftry or miftake to pervert the fenfe; the only poffible deception rnuft be to change the fubjedt, and obtrude fuppofititious writings in room of the true, under the title of the word of God. But this has already appear d to be impracticable , becaule of the multitude of copies which were difperft in the world ; by which fuch an altemt would foon have bin detected. There appears more reafon as well as more neceffity , to rely upon Tradition in this,then in molt other particulars.
25-. NEITHER yet do I fo farr decry oral Tradition in any , as to conclude it im- poffible it fhould derive any truth to pofterity: I only look on it as more cafual , and confe- quently a lefs fit conveiance of 'the moll im portant and neceflary verities then the wri- ten Word : In which I conceive my (elf jufti- fi'd by the common fenie of mankind ; who ufe to commit thofe things to writing, which they are moft folicitous to derive to pofterity. POJS any Nation truft their fundamental Laws only to the memory of the prefent Age , and take no other courfe to tranfmit them to the future ? do*s any man purchaie an c- ftate, and leave no way for his children to lay claim to it, but the Tradition the prefent witnefles fhall leave of it ? Nay do's any con-
fidering
SECT. V. Propriety of Holy Scripture.
fidering man ordinarily make any important pad-tor bargain ( tho without relation to po- fterity) without putting the Articles in wri ting ? And whence is all this caution but from a univerfal confent that writing is the fureft way of tranfmitting ?
16. BUT we have yet a higher appeal in this matter then to the fuffrage of men : God himfelf feems to have determined it -y And what his decifion is,'tis our next bufinefs to in quire.
27. AND firft he has given the moftreal and comprehenfive atteftation to this way of writing , by having himfelf chofe it. For he is too wife to be miftaken in his eftimate of better and worfe , and too kind to chufe the worft for us : and yet he has chofen to com municate himfelf to the latter Ages of the world by writing •, and has fumm'd up all the Eternal concerns of mankind in the facred Scriptures , and left thole facred Records by which we are to be both inform'd and go- vern'd -, which if oral Tradition would infal libly have don, had bin utterly needlefs: and God fure is not fo prodigal of his fpirit , as to inlpire the Autors of Scripture to write that, whole ule was fuperfeded by a former more certain expedient.
28. NAY, under the Mofaic oeconomy? when he made ufe of other waies of reveling himfelf, yet to perpetuate the memory even
of
1 6 o The Chriflians Birth-right, &c.
of thofe Revelations ; he cliofe to have them, written. At the delivery of the Law , God Ipake then viva voce , and with that pomp of dreadful folemnity , as certainly was apt to make the deepeft impreffions; yet God fore-fa w that thro every fucceeding Age that ftamp would grow more dim , and in a long revolution might at laft be extindl. And therefore how warm foever the Israelites ap- prehenfions then were , he would not truft to them for the perpetuating his Law , but committed it to writing; Ex. Si. 18* nay wrote it twice himfelf.
29. YET farther even the ceremonial Law tho not intended to be of perpetual ob ligation; was not yet referr'd to the traditkv nary way,but was wrote by Mofes, and depoli- ted with the Priefts, Deut. 31. p. And after- event fhew'd tliis was no needleis caution. For when under Manajfes, Idolatry had pre- vail'd in Jerufalem , it was not by any dor mant Tradition,but by the Book of the Law found in the Temple, that Jo/tab was both excited to reform Religion, andinftrud:ed how to do it; 2. things 22. 10. And had not that or fom other copy bin produc d.theyhad bin much ill the dark as to the particulars of their reformation , which that they had not bin convei'd by Tradition,appears by the fudden Itartling of the King upon the rea^ ding of the Law $ which could not have Wnv
had
SECT. V. Propriety of Holy Scripture. 1 6 1
had he bin before poffeft with the contents of it. In like manner we find in Nehemiah, that the obfervation of the Feaft of Taber nacles was recover d by confulting the Law; the Tradition whereof was wholly worn out ; or elfe it had lure bin impoffible that it could for fo long a time have bin intermitted, Neh. 8. 18. And yet mens memories are common ly more retentive of an external vifible rite, then they are of fpeculative Propolitions , or moral Precepts.
30. THESE inftances Ihew how fallible an expedient mere oralTradition is for tranf- miffion to pofterity. But admit no fuch in- ftance could be given , 'tis argument enough that God has by his own choice of writing, given the preference to it. Nor has he barely chofen it , but has made it the ftandard by which to mefare all fucceeding pretences. 'Tis the means he prefcribes for diftinguifh- ing divine from diabolical Infpirations : To the Law and to the Tejtimony : iftheyfteat^not according to this Word, there is no tight in them, Ifai. 8. 20. And when the Lawier interroga ted our Savior what he fliould do to inherit eternal life , he fends him not to ranfac Tra dition, or the cabaliltical divinity of the Rabbins, but refers him to the Law: What i* written in the Law? how readejl thou ? Luk. -10.25. And indeed, throout theGofpel, we (till find him in his difcourfe appealing to
X Sen-
1 62 The Chrijtians Jtirtb-rigbt> &c.
Scripture , and nfferting its autority : as on the other fide inveighing againft thofe Tra ditions of the Elders which had evacuated the written Word : Te make the Word of God of none ejjeU by your Tradition, Mat. iy. 6. Which as it abundantly Ihews Chrifts adhe rence to the written Word, fo 'tis a pregnant inftance how poffible it is for Tradition to be corrupted , and made the inftrument of im- pofing mens pliancies even in contradi&ion to Gods commands.
31. AND fince our blefled Lord has made Scripture the teft whereby to try Traditions, we may ftirely acquielce in his decifion , and either embrace or rejedt Traditions , accor ding as they correfpond to the fupreme rule, the written Word. It muft therefore be a ve ry unwarrantable attemt to fet up Tradition in competition with (much more in contra- diftion to) that to which Chrift himfelf hath fubje&ed it.
32. Saint Paul reckons it as the principal privilege of the Jewifh Church,that it had the Oracles of God committed to it; i.e. that the holy Scriptures were depofited , and put in its cuitody: and in this the Chriftian Church fiicceeds it, and is the guardian and confervator of holy Writ. I ask then, had the Jewifh Church by vertue of its being keeper, a power to fuperfede any part of thofe Ora cles intrufted to them? if fo, Saint Paul was
much
SECT. V. Propriety of Holy Scripture. 163
much out in hiseftimate , and ought to have reckon' d that as their higheft privilege. But indeed , the very nature of the truft implies the contrary; andbefides, 'tis evident, that is the very crime Chrift charges upon the Jews in the place above cited. And if the Jewifli Church had no fuch right, upon what account can the Chriftian claim any ? Has Chrift enlarged its Charter ? has he left the facred Scriptures with her , not to preferve and practice, but to regulate and reform ? to fill up its vacancies , andfupplyits defedsby her own Traditions? if fo , let the com mil lion be produc'd ; but if her office be only that of guardianfliip and truft , fhe muft nei ther fubftrad from , nor by any fuperaddi- tions of her own evacuate its meaning and efficacy : and to do fo , would be the fame guilt that it would be in a perfon intruded with the fundamental Records of a Nation, to foift in fuch claufes as himlelt pleafes.
3 3 . I N ihort , God has in the Scriptures laid down exad rules for our belief and pra- dice, and has entrufted the Church to convey them to us : if fhe vary , or any way enervate them, Hie is falfe to that truft, but cannot by it oblige us to recede from that rule flie fhould deliver, to comply with that fhe obtrudes up on us. The cafe may be illuftrated by an eafy refemblance. Suppofe a King have a forreign principality for which he compofes
X 2 a bo-
1 64 The Cbriftians Birth-right, &c.
a body of Laws ; annexes to them rewards and penalties , and requires an exa£t and in- difpenfable conformity to them. Thefe be ing put in writing , he fends by a feledt mef- ienger:"now fuppofe this meflenger deliver them, yet faies withall, that himfelf has auto- rity from the King to fuperfede thefe Laws at his plefure ; fo that their laft refort muft be to his diktats, yet produces no other teftimony but his own bare affirmation. Is it poffible that any men in their wits fliould be fo ftu- pidly credulous , as to incur the penalty of thoie Laws upon fo improbable an indemni ty ? And fure it would be no whit lefs mad- nefs in Chriftians, to violate any precept of God, on an ungrounded fuppofal of the Churches power to difpenfe with them.
34. AND if the Church univerfal have not this power, nor indeed ever claim' d it,it muft be a itrange iniblence for any particular Church to pretend to it, as the Church of J^o me do's ; as if we fliould owe to her Tra dition all our Scripture , and all our Faith ; infomuch that without the fupplies which fhe afords from the Oracle of her Chair, our Re ligion were imperfect , and our falvation in-* fecure. Upon which wild dictates I fliall take Jiberty in a diftindSe&ion, farther to anim» Advert,
SECT.
SECT. VI. Suffrage of the Church.
-V-. :j. ;:;;.. SECT. VI. ^f-,
The fuffrage of the primitive Chriftian Church^ concerning the propriety and fit- nefs which the Scripture has towards the attainment of its excellent end.
AGAINST what has bin hitherto faid to the advantage of the holy Scripture, there oppofes it felf ( as we have already in timated) the autority of the Church ottyme ; which allows it to be only an imperfed: rule of Faith , faying in the fourth Seffion of the Council of Trent, that Chrijhan faith and dif- cipline , are contain d in the Sooi(s' written , and unwritten Tradition. And in the fourth rule of the Index put forth by command of the faid Council, the Scripture is-declar'd to be (o far from ufeful , that its reading is pernicious if permitted promifcuoujly in the vulgar Tongue , and therefore to be with held : infomuch that the ftudy of the holy Bible is commonly by perfons of the Roman Communion, imputed to Proteftants as part of their herefy ; they being call'd by them in contemt the Evangelical men , and Scriptu- rarians. And the Bible in the vulgar Tongue of any Nation, is commonly reckoned among prohibited Books, and as fuch.publicly burnt
when
j 66 The Cbriflians Birth-right , &c.
when met with by the Inquifitors : and the perfon who is found with it, or to read there- in,is fubjecfted to ievere penalties.
2. Fo R the vindication of the truth of God, and to put to fliame thofe unhappy In novators , who amidft great pretences to an tiquity, and veneration to the Scriptures pre- varicat from both : I think it may not be a- mifs, to fliew plainly the mind of the primi tive Church herein ; and that in as few words as the matter will admit.
3 . FIRST I premife that Ireneus and T*r- tullian having to do with Heretics, who boaft- ed themfelves to be emendators of the Apo- ftles, and wifer then they ,- defpifing their au- tority,reje<fting feveral parts of the Scripture, and obtruding other writings in their fteed, have had recourfe unto Tradition, with a feeming preference of it unto Scripture. Their adverfaries having no common prin ciple befides the owning the name of Chri- ftians; it was impoffible to convince them, but by a recourfe to fuch a medium which they would allow. But thefe Fathers being to let down and eftablifh their Faith,are moft exprefs in refolving it into Scripture: and when they recommend Tradition, ever mean fuch as is alfb Apoftolical.
4. I R E N E u s in the fecond Book, 47. c. tells us, that the Scriptures areperfeft, as ditta- tcd by the rvord of God and bis Jpirit. And the
fame
SECT. VI. Suffrage of the Church. 16 7
fame Father begins his third Book in this manner, The dijpojition of our falvation is no otherwife known by us , then by thofe by whom the Gojpel was brought to us j which indeed they frftpreactid , but afterward deliver d it to us in the Scripture, to be the foundation and pillar of our Faith. Nor may we zmagin, that they began to preach to others , before they themfehes bad perfeft knowledg , as fom are bold to fay -y boaft- ing themfelves to be emendators of the Jlpoftles. For after our Lords Refurreftion , they were in dued with the power of the holy Spirit from on, high, and havtng perfect tyowledg, went forth t0 tne ends of the earth y preaching the glaa tidings- of falvation, and eel eftzalprai fe unto men. Each and all of whom had the Gojpel of God. So Saint Matthew wrote the Gojjtel to the Hebrews , in their tongue. Saint Peter &nd Saint Paul preactidat Rome, and there founded a Church : Mark the Difciple and interpreter 0/Peter, de liver d in writing what he had preacbd, and Luke the follower of Paul fet down in bis Boo^ the Gofyel he had deliver d. Afterward Saint John at Ephefus in Afia publijh'd his Gofyel, &c. In his fourth Book,c. 66. he direds all the Heretics with whom he deals, to read di ligently the Gofyel deliver d by the ^poflles ^ and alfo read diligently the Prophets , alluring they Jhall there find every aftion 9 every doftrin, and every fuffering of GUT Lord declared by them.
5*, THUS
i 6 8 The Chriftians Birth-right, &c.
f. THUS Tcrtullian in his Book of Pre- fcriptions, c. 6. It is not lawful for us to intro duce any thing of our own will , nor maJ^e any choice upon our arbitrement. We have the Apo- Jtles of our Lord for our Authors , rvho themfelves up nothing on their own will or choice ; but
faithfully imparted to the Nations the difcipline winch they had receivd from Chrift. So that if an Angel from heaven jhould teach another do- ftrin, he were to be accurft. And c. 2f. "7ii madnefs , faies he of the Heretics, when they confejs that the Apoflles were ignorant of no thing, nor taught things different .-> to think^tkat they did not revele all things to all : which he enforces in the following chapter. In his Bookagainlt Hermogenes, c. 23. he difcourfes thus ; / adore the .plenitude of the Scripture, which dif covers to me the Creator., and what was created. Aljo in the Gojpel I find, the Word was the Arbiter and Agent in the Creation. That all things were made ofpreexiflent matter I never read. Let Hermogeh.es , and his journy-men Jherv that it is written. If it be not written^ let him fear the woe, which belongs to them that add or detratt. And in. the 39. ch. of his Prefcript. Wt feed our faith ^ raife our hope y andejiablijh our reliance with thefacredWords.
6. IN like manner Hippolytusmthz Ho mily againtt Noetic declares, that we acknow- ledg only from Scripture that there is one God. And whereas fccular Philofophy is not to be had,
but;
SECT. VI. Suffrage of the Church.
but from the reading of the doftrin of the Philo- fophers ; fo whofoever of ti* -will preferve piety towards God y he cannot otherwise learn it then- from the holy Scripture. Accordingly Origer* in the fifth Homily on Leviticus, faies, that in the Scripture every word appertaining to Gody if to be fought anddifcujl j and the ^nowledg of all things is to be receiv'd^
7. WHAT Saint Cyprians opinion was in this point , we learn at large from his Epiftle to Pompey. For when Tradition was objec3> edto him, he anfwers; Whe nc e u this Tradi tion ? is it from the autority of our Lord and his Gofyel ; or comes it from the commands- of the j4poftles in their Efiftles ? Almighty God declares that what is written Jhould be ebefd and prafticd* The Boo^ of the Law ± faies he in Jofhua , Jhall not depart from thy mouth , but thou Jhalt meditate in it day and night j that you may obferve and k^eep all that is -written therein. So our Lord fending his *dpo* jtles , commands them to baptise all Nations, and teach them to obferve all things that he had commanded. Again , what objtinacy and pre- Jumtion is it to prefer human Tradition t& di vine Command : not conjidering that Gods wrath ti kindled as often M his Precepts are dijfilvd andneglefted by reafon of human Traditions* Thus God warns and fyeak* by Ifaiah: This peo» fie honors me with their lips , but their heart is. for front me k fat in VMK do they werjhip me,
\ teaching
170 The Cbriftians Birth-right, &c.
teaching for doHrins the commandments of men* sflfo the Lor din the Gofael checks and reproves, faying ; you rejett the Law of God, that you may ejtablijh your "Tradition. Of which Precept the jfpojtle Saint Paul being mindful , admonijhes and injtrufts, faying ; If any man teaches other- wife, andhearJ^cns not to found doftrin , and the words of our Lordjefus Chrijt , he is proudfaow- ing nothing : From fuch we muji depart. And again he adds , There is a compendioivs way for religious and/incere minds , both to de.pojit their errors, andjmd out the: truth. For if we return to the Jburce and original of divine Tradition^ human error will ceafe , and the ground of hea venly Myjieries being feen, whatsoever was hid with clouds and darkgefs , will be manifest by the light of truth* If a pipe that brought plen tiful fupp lies of water fail on thefuddain, do not men look^to the fountain ^ and thence learn the cauf'e of the defeft , whether the faring it felf be dry 3 or if running freely , the water is flopt in its pajfage -y that if by interrupted or brol(en conveiances , it was hindred to pafs ,. they being repair d^-t may again be brought to the City, with the fame plenty as it flows from the faring? And this Gods Priejis ought to do at this time, obeying the commands of God, that if truth havefwerva or fail' d in any particular , we go bac^ardto the fource of the Evangelical and dpojlolical Tradition , and there found our attings $ from whence their order and origination began.
8. IT
SECT. VI. Suffrage of the Church. 171
8. IT is true Bellarmine reproches this dif- courfe as erroneous ; but whatever it might be in the inference which Saint Cyprian drew from it, in it felf it was not fo. For Saint Au-
Jtin, tho fuffieiently engag'd againft Saint Cy prians conclufion allows the pofition as moft Orthodox ; faying , in the fourth Book of Baptifm, c. 35-. Whereas he admomjhes to go bacJ^ to the fountain, that is , the Tradition of the Apoflles , and thence bring the Jlream down to our times ; 'tis mojt excellent , and without doubt to be don.
9. THUS £&/£#//# expreffeshimfelf in his fecond Book againft Sqbellius. As it is a point pfjloth, not tojeekjnto thofe things, -whereof one may enquire ; fo '£r infolence to be inquijitive in others. But what are thofe things which we ought to enquire into ? Even thofe which are to be found in the Scriptures : thofe things which are not there to be found y let us not feek^after. For if they ought to be fyown , the holy Gbojt had not omittedthem in the Scripture.
10. ATHANASIUS in his Trad of the Incar- nation,faies, It is fit for us to adhere to the word of God, and not relinquijh it , thinking by fyl- logifms to evade, what is there clearly deliver d. Again in his Trad to Scrap, of the holy Ghoft: As kjiot, faies he, concerning the 'Tri nity, but learn only from the Scriptures. For the ^njtrufl;ions which you will find there, are juffi- cienl. And in his Oration againft the Gen-
Y 2 tiles,
172 The Cbrijtians Birth-right,
tiles, declares , That the Scriptures are tunt to the manifcjlation of the truth*
ii. AGREEABLE to thefe is Optatut in his f. Book againft Parmen. who reafons thus, Ton fay 'tis lawful to rebapti^e , we fay 'tis not lawful : betwixt your faying and our gain-fay ing the peoples minds are amusd. Let no man believe either you or us. All men are apt to be Contentious, therefore fudges are to be call d in* Cbrijtians they tannot be •> for they will be fartics -, and thereby partial. Therefore a fadg is to be looJ^t out from abroad. If a Pagan , h& knows not the myfteriet of our Rchgion. If a Jervy be it an enemy to our baptifm. There is therefore no earthly Judg • b.ut one is to be fought from heaven. Tet there is no need of a refort tot heaven a when we have in tthe Gojpel a Tefta- went : and in this cafe , celejtixl things may bt iompafd to earthly. So it is as with a Father who has many children ; while he is prefent b& orders them all, and there is no need of a written Will : Accordingly Chriji when he was prefent upon earth , from time, to time commanded the j4poftles whatsoever wits neceffary. ~But as the, earthly father finding himfelf to be at the point of death , and fearing that after his departure his cbildr en Jhjuld quarrel among themfelves9 he calls wiunejfes, ana puts bis mind in writing and if any difference arife among the brethren y they go not to their Fathers Sepulcher , but repair to his Will and Tcjtament 5 and b? who rejls in kis
grave,
SECT. VI. Suffrage of the Church. 173
grave, fyeaksjlill in bis writing, as if he were a- live. Our Lord who left his Will among us, is now in heaven , therefore let wfeekjju commands in the Gofyel, as in his Will.
12. THUS Cyrilofleruf.C&t, 4.. Nothing, no not the leajl concernment of the divine and holy Sacraments of our Faith, is to be deliver d without the holy Scripture : believe not me un- lefs I give you a demonstration of what I fay from the Scripture.
13. SAINT ~Bafil in his Book of the true Faith faies, If God be faithful in all hisfayings, bis words, and workj, they remaining for ever> and being don in truth and equity ; it mujl be an evident fign of infidelity and pride, if any one Jhall rejeft -what is written , and introduce what is not written. In which Books he generally declares that he will write nothing but what he receives from the holy Scripture : and that he abhors from taking it elfewhere. In his 29. Homily againft the Antitrinit. Believe , faies he, thofe which are written ; fee \ not thofe which are not written. And in his Eth. reg. 26. Every word and aftion ought to be confirm d by the tejtimony of the divinely infpird Scriptures to the ejtablijhment of theFaithofthegood.and reproof of the wicfyd.
14. SAINT ^mbrofe'm thefirft Book of his Qffic. faies : How can we make ufe of any thing which is not to be found in Scripture ? And in his Jnftit. qf Virgins. / read be is tbefrji, but
read
J74 The Chrijtians ftirth-ri^ht,
read not he u the fecund \ let them who fay he is fecond, Jhew it from the reading.
if. G K E a. Nyffen in his Dial, of the foul and refurred:. faies, "/// undeniable jtbat truth *s there only to beplacd, where there if the Jeal if Scripture T«Jtiniony.
16. SA^NT Jrrom againft Helvidius de clares. 4s we deny not that which is written, fo iverefuft thofe which are not written. And in his Comment on the 9 8 . yf. Every thing that roe aflert, we mujl Jhew from the holy Scripture. The word of him that //>eaJ(s has not that auto~ rity of Gods precept. And on the 8 7 . Pf. Itfjat- *ver /f /aid after the Jpojtles, let it be cut off] nor have after war dt autority. 'Tho one be holy fifter the .dftojtlcs , tho one be eloquent ; yet has fa not autority.
*7> SAINT jfajtin in his Tra6t of the uni ty ot the Church, c. 12. acknowledges that he^could not be convincd but by the Scriptures v( what he was to believe ; and adds they are read with fuch man? fixation , that he who be lieves them mujt confefs the docirin to be mojt trul. in the lecond Book ot Chriltiau do- rtrin, c. 9. he faies, that in the plain places cf Scripture are found all thofe things that concern Faith and Manners. And in Epilt. 42. sill things which have bin exhibited heretofore as don to mankj-nd) anil what we now fee anil deli ver to o?ir fjojhnty, the Scripture has not pajt them tti Jihnce, Jo far forth M they concern
SECT. VI. Suffrage of the Church.
the I cu nli or defence of our Religion. Jnhis Trait of the good oj: Widowhood, he faies to Julian, the perfou to whom he addrefles. // hatjhalll teach you more then that we readin the jjjjojtle : for tie holy Scripture fettles the . rule of our doffrin j that we thinkjiot any thing more then we ought to thinly but to thinly fo- berly, as God Iw dealt to every man the me/ur* of Faith. There] ore my teaching # only to ex* pound the words of thts Dottor, lip. if 7. Where #ny (ubje'd M vbfcure 9 and pajjcs our compre* henjion , and the Scripture dos not plainly af* fordits help , there bu?nan conjecture is prefum- tuous in defining.
1 8. THEOPHILUS ctlAlex. ia his fecond Palchal homily, tells us, that'll'; thefuggejtion of a diabolical jpirit to thinly that any thiny bcjides the Scripture has divine authority. Alia in his third he adds, that the Doctors of the Church having the Tejtimony of the Scripture , lay firm foundation of their doclrin.
19. CHKYSOSTOM in his third Homily on the firit of the Tkeffal. aflerts, that from the alone reading or hearing of the Scripture one may learn all things necejjary. So Horn. 34. on Adt. if. he declares. A neat hen comes and jaies : I would willingly he a Chnjtian , but / kjiow not who to join my felf to j for there are many contentions among y ou ,m any f editions and tumults 5 fo that lam in doubt what opinion I
chufc , Each man Jaies , what J Jay is
true*
1 7 6 The Chrijlians Birth-right,
true i and I know not whom to believe > each pretends to Scripture which I am ignorant of* 'Tis very well the iffueis put here : for if the ap peal were to reafon + in this cafe t&ere would oe jujt occafion of being troubled : but when we ap~ peal to Scripture , and they arejtmple and cer~ tain, you may eajily your felf judg* He that agrees with the Scripture u a Cbrijltan , he that rejijls them js far out of the way. And on Pf.^y. If any thing be faid without the Scripture ± the mind halts between different opinions ifomtime* inclining as to what is probable , anon rejecting us what is frivolous : but when the tejiimony of holy Scripture isproducdjhe mind both offyeal(er andheareris confirm d. And Horn. 4. on La- ?{ar. Tho one Jhould rife from the dead, or ari jingelcome down from heaven , we muji believe the Scripture, they being fr am d by the Lord of jfngels, and the quickjind dead. AndHom. 13. 2 Cor. 7. Is it not an abfurd thing that when we deal with men about mony , we will trujt no body, but caji up thefum, and make ufe of our counters ; but in religion* affairs , Juffer out f elves to be led ajide by other mens opinions, even, then when we have by an exa& Jcale and touch* Jfone, the diSat of the divine JLawt Therefor* I pray and exhort you , that giving no heed tot what this or that man Jaies , you would confute the holy Scripture, and thence learn the divine riches, andpurjue what you have learnt. And Horn, 78. on Jg* 10. i. 'Tistht wart^ofa thief ±
thtt
SECT. VI. Suffrage of the Church. 1 77
that he comes not in by the dor e% but another way ; now by the dor e the testimony of the Scri* pture is fignified. And Horn, on Gal. r. g. Thg dpojile faies not > if any man teach a contrary do fir in let him be accursd, or if he fubvert tb& whole Gofyel ; but if he teach any thing befide the Go/pel which you have receivd > or vary any little thing, let him be accursd.
20. CYRIL of Alex, againft Jul. /. 7. faies^ The holy Scripture isfufficient to mal^e them whv are inftruHedin it^wife unto falvation ^ and en* duedwith mojt ampfaknorvledg.
21. THEODORET Dial, i. tarn perfwadeJ tnly by the holy Scripture. And Dial. 2. / an* notfo bold to affirm any thing > not fyoken of in the Scripture. And again, qu. 45-. uponGenefi We ought not to enquire after what is pdjt ev&i injilence, but acquiefcein what is written.
22. IT were eafy to enlarge this difcourfe into a Volume j but having taken, as they o£- ferd themfelves,the fiiffrages of the writers o£ the four firft Centuries , I (hall not proceed to thofe that follow. If the holy Scripture were a perfect rule of Faith and Manners to all Chriltians heretofore, we may reafonably a£ fure our felves it is fo ftill ; and will now guide us into all neceffary truth , and confequeiitly inake us wife unto falvation^without the aidof oral Tradition, or the new mintage of £ H-» Ving infallible Judg of contrbvesly < And the
j 7 8 The C'hriftians Birth-right, &c.
impartial Reader will be enabled to judg whether our appeal to the holy Scripture , in all occafions of controverfy, and recommen- 4ation of it to the ftudy of every Chriftian, be that herefy and innovation which it isfaid tbbe.
VKfcj. IT is, we know, feverely imputed to the Scribes and Pharifees by our Savior , that they took from the people the key of kpowledg, iLuk. ii. ? 2. and had made the word of Godef none effett by their Traditions, Mat. if. 6. but they never attemted what has bin fince pra- ifticed by their Succeffors in the Weftern Church , to take away the Ark of the Tefta- ment it felf, and cut off not only the effica cy 5 but very pofleffion of the word of God by their Traditions. Surely this had bin ex ceeding criminal from any hand: but that the Biihops and Governors of the Church, and the univerfal and infallible Paftor of it, who claim the office to interpret the Scri ptures, exhort unto , and affift in the know- ledg of them , ftiould be the men who thus rob the people of them; carries with it the higheft aggravations both of cruelty and breach of truft. If any man Jhall ta^g away from the words of the Boo^ of this prophecy, faies Saint John, Revel. 22. 19. God Jhall ta\e away his part out of the Book^of Lift , and QUt of the holy City 9 and from the things
whick
SECT. VI. Suffrage of the Church. 1 7 j
rvtych are written in this Boo^. What ven geance therefore awaits thofe , who have ta ken away not only from one Book, but at once the Books themfelves , even all the Scri ptures, the whole word of God ?
SECT,
1 8 o The Chrijlians Birthright, tic.
SECT. VII.
reflexions upon the events which have happened in the Church fince the with-drawing of the holy Scripture.
TWILL in this place be no ufelefs con-? tertoplation toobferve, after the Scri ptures had bin raviflit from the people in the Church of'Jfyme; what pitiful pretenders were admitted to lucceed. And firft becaufe .Lay-men were prefum'd to be illiterate, and eafily feducible by thofe writings which were in themfelves difficult , and would be wrefted by the unlearned to their own deftruftion-, pi- <5tures were recommended in their fteed, and complemented as the Books of the Laity , which foon emprov'd into a neceffity of their worfhip, and that grofs fuperftition which renders Chriftianity Abominated by Turks, and Jews, and Heathens unto this day.
2. I would not be hafty in charging Idola try upon the Church of Home , or all in her communion ; but that their Image-worfhip is a moft fatal fnare , in which vaft numbers of unhappy fouls are taken , no man can doubt who hath with any regard travail'd in Popifli Countries. I my felt, and thoufands of others,
whom
SECT. VII. Events of withdrawing H. Scrip. 1 8 1
whom the late troubles , or other occafions fent abroad, are and have bin witneffes there of. Charity, 'tis true, believes all things,but it ,do's not oblige men to disbelieve their eies. 'Twas the out-cry of Micah againft the Da- nites , Jud. /#. 24. ye have taken away my Gods which I have made , and the Prieft, and are gon away^ and what have I more f but the Laity of the Roman communion may enlarge the complaint , and fay ; you have taken away the oracles of our God , and fet up every where among us graven and molten Images , and Teraphims , and what have we more > and 'twas lately the loud , and I doubt me is ftill, the unanfwerable complaint of the poor Americans, that they were deni'd to worfhip their Pagod once in the year,when they who forbad them, worfhip'd theirs every day.
3 - T H E Jews before the captivity , not- withftanding the recent memory of the Miracles in Egypt and the Wildernefs , and the firft conqueft of the Land of Canaan with thofe that fucceeded under the Judges and kings of Ifrael and luda ; as alfo the ex- preis command of God , and the menaces of Prophets , ever and anon fell to downright Idolatry : but after their return unto this daya have kept themfelves from falling into that {in^tlio they had no Prophets to inftru£t them, no miracles or government to encourage or conftrainthein. The reafonof which a very
learned
1 8 2 The Chriftians
learned man in his difcourfe of religious Af- femblies takes to be , the reading and teach ing of the Law in their Synagogues ; which was perform'd with great exadnefs after the return from the captivity, but was not fo per form'd before. And may we not invert the obfervation , and impute the Image-worfliip now fet up in the Chriftian Church, to the for bidding the reading of the Scriptures in the Churches, and interdicting the privat ufe,and inftitution in them ?
4. F o R a farther fupplement in place of the Scriptures, whofe Hiftory was thought not edifying enough , the Legends of the Saints were introduc'd; ftoriesfb ftupid, that one would imagin them defign'd as an experi ment how far credulity could be impos a up on 5 or elfe fram'd to a worle intent, that Chriitianity by them might be made ridicu lous. Yet thefe are recommended to ufe and veneration, while in the mean time the word of God is utterly forbidden, whereby the par ties to this unhappy practice ( that I may fpeak in the words of the Prophet Jerem. 2.13.) have committed two evils, they have for fallen the fountain of living waters , and hewed thorn out: crjterns , broken cijlerns that canho-ld no wa ter.
y. FARTHER yet, the fame unreasonable tyranny which permitted not the Laity to un- derlland Almighty God fpeakiag to them m
the
SECT. VII. Events of witk-dr awing H.Scrip. 183
the Scripture j hinder' d them from being fuf- fer'd to underftand the Church or themlelves Ipeaking to him in their praiers; whilft the whole Roman office is fb difpos'd, that in defiance of the Apoftles difcourfe, i Cor. 14. be that occupies the room of the unlearned mujt fay amen , to thofe praters andpraijes which he has no compreken/ionof:and by his endlefs repetitions of Paters, Ave's and Credo's, falls into that battology reprov'd by our Savior, T^lat, 6. 7. and as 'twas faid to the woman of Samaria, Jo. 4. 22. knows not what he worjhips. Yet this unaccountable practice is fo much the darling of that Church , that when in France about eighteen years fince,the Roman Miflal was traniiated into the vulgar Tongue, and publifh'd by the direction of feveral of their Biihops ; the Clergy of France rofe up in great fury againft the attemt , anathemati zing in their circular Epiftles , all that fold, read, orusd the faid Book^: and upon com plaint unto Pope Alex, the 7. he refented the matter fo deeply , as to iffue out his Bull a- gainft it in the following words.
6. WHEREAS fonsofperdition^endevorintrthe dejtruffiion of fouls , have tranflatedtbe Roman MiJJal into the French Tongue , andfo attemt ed to throw down and trample upon the majefy of the holy Rites comprehended in Latin words : j4s we abominate and deteji the novelty, which mil deform the beauty of the Church, andprodvce
1 8 4 The Chriflians Birth-right,
difobedience , temerity, boldnefs y /'edition and fchifm -, fo we condemn, reprobate andforbid,the faid andall other JuchTranflations , and inter- di£l the reading and keeping, to all and Jingular the faithful, of whatever f ex, degree, order, con* dit ion, dignity, honor, or preeminence, &c. un der pain of excommunication, jlndwe command the copies to be immediatly burnt, &c. So mor tal a fin it feems 'twas thought for the Laity to underftand the praiers in which they miift communicate.
7. NOR is this all; agreeable to the other attemts upon the holy Scripture, was the bold infolence of making a new authentic Text,in that unknown Tongue in which the offices of praier had bin, and were to be kept difguis'd ; which was don by the decree of the Council ofTrent in the fourth Seflion. But when the Council had given this Prerogative to the Verfion which it call'd vulgar, the lucceeding Popes began to confider what that Verfion was ; and this work fius the fourth and fifth fet upon ; but prevented by death feil'd to complete it , io that the honor of the perfor mance fell to Sixtus the fifth, who in the ple nitude of his Apoftolic power,the Tranflation being reform'd to his mind, commanded it to be that genuine ancient Edition , which the Trent Fathers had before made authentic,and under the pain of excommunication requir'd it to be fo received : which lie do's in this
. Events of with-dr awing H.Scrip. 1 8 ^
form. Of eur certain knowledg , andthe pleni tude of Afojlolic power , we order and declare that vulgar Edition which has bin receivdfor au thentic by the Council 0/Trent , is without doubt or controversy to be efteenid this very one, which being amended as well as it is pojjlble, and printed at the Vatican Prefs , we publijh to be read in the whole Chrijtian Republic 9 and in all Churches of the Chnjtian worla. Decreeing that it having bin approv'd by the confent of the holy universal Church, andthe holy Fathers, and then by the De cree of the general Council fl/^Trent, and now by the Apoftolic autority deliver d to us by the Lord ; u the true, legitimate , authentic, and undoubted , which is to be received and heldin all public and priv at Difyutations, Lectures, Preach ings 9 and Expojitions, &c. But notwithitan- ding this certain knowledg, and plenitude of Apoftolic power, foon after came Clement the eighth, and again refumes the work of his Predeceffor Sixtus, difcovers great and many errors in it , and puts out one more reform'd, yet confeft by himlelf to be imperfect ; which now ftands for the authentic Text , and car ries the title of the Bible put forth by Sixtus, notwithftanding all its alterations. So well do s the Roman Church deferve the honor which flie pretends to , of being the rniflrefs of all Churches ; and ib infallible is the holy Chair in its determinations : and laftly , fo authen tic a Tranfcript* of the word of God (con-
A a cerning
1 8 6 The Cbrijtians Birth-right;
eerning which 'tis faid, Mat. y. 18. one jot or one title Jhall not fail] is that which fheefta- blillit, and that has receiv'd fo many, and yet according to the confeffion of the infallible Corrector, wants ftill more alterations.
8. DEPENDENT upon this, and as great a mifchief as any of the former, confequent to the with-drawing of the Scripture, I take to be the ftep it made to the overthrow of the ancient and moft ufeful difciplin of the Church in point of Penance , whofe rigors alwaies heretofore preceded the poffibility of having abfolution. Now of this we know a folemn part was the ftate of Audience , when the lapit perfon was receiv'd after long atten dance without dores,proftrations, and lamen tations there, within the entrance of the Church ; and was permitted with the Cate chumens orCandidats of.Baptifm, to hear the readings of the Scripture , and ftay till praier began, but then depart. He was ob- lig'd to hear the terrors of the Lord, the threats of the divine Law againft fin and fin- ners, to Hand among the unbaptiz'd and hea then multitude, and learn again the ele ments of that holy Faith from which he had prevaricated ; and fo in time be render' d capable of the devotions of the faithful , and afterward the reception of the Eucharift. But when the Scriptures were thought ufelefs or dangercras to bs uadsrftood sod heard, it
was
SECT. VII. Events of rvitb-dr awing H.Scrip. 187
was confcquent that the itate of Audience fliould be cut off from Penance, and that the next to it, upon the felf-fame principle fhouhl be difmift : and fo the long probation for merly requir d Qiould be fupplanted ; and the compendious way of pardoning firft, and re penting afterwards, the endlefs circle of fin ning and being abfolv'd, and then finning, and being abfolv'd again,fhould prevail upon the Church. Which ftill obtains,notwithftan- dingthe complaints,and irrefragable demon- ftrations of learned men even of the Romifh Communion , who plainly fhew this now re- ceiv'd method , to be an innovation ground- lefs and unreasonable , and moft pernicious in its confequents.
9. AND, by the way, we may take notice that there cannot be a plainer evidence of the judgment of the Church, concerning the neceffity of the Scriptures being known, not only by the learned but mean Chnftian, and the intereft they have therein ; then is the ancient courfe of Penance, eftablifht by the the practice of all the firft Ages , and almoft as many Councils, whether general or local, as have decreed any thing concerning difci- plin 5 with the penitentiary Books and Ca nons which were written for the firft eleven hundred years in the whole Chriftian world. For if even the unbaptiz d Catechumen, and the lapft finner > notwithftanding their flen-
Aa 2 der
1 8 8 The Chriftians Birth-right,
der knowledg in the myfteries of Faith , or frail pretence to the privilege thereof, had a r'ght to the ftate of Audience, and was ob- lig d to hear the Scripture read; furelythe meanelt unobnoxious Laic , was in as advan- tagious circumftances, and might not only be trufted with the reading of thofe facred Books , but might claim them as his birth right.
9. I may juftly, over and above what has bin hitherto allegd , impute to the Gover nors of the fame Church , and their with holding from the Laity the holy Scripture ; the many dangerous errors, grofs ignorances, and fcandaious immoralities which have pre- vail'd among them both. It is no new me thod of divine vengeance, that there Ihould be Unpeople lil^e Priefl^ Hof. 4. 9. andtbat the Idol Jhepherd who lea his floc^into the ditch,
Jbould fall therein himfelf\ Mat. ij. 14. And as the Prophet ^achary defcribes it, c. n. 17. The fword fball be upon his arm, and upon his right eie : his arm jh all be clean dried up, and his right eiejhallbe utterly dar^ned.
10. BUT no confequence can be more ob- vioufly deducible from that practice , then that men Ihould juftify the with-holding of the Scripture, by leffening its credit, and de preciating its worth : which has occafion'd thofe reproches which by the writers of the Church of fyme 9 of belt uote? have bin caft
upon
ofrvith-drarvingH.Scrip.
upon it. As that it was a Nofe of wax, a leaden rule, a deaf and ufelefs deputy to God in the of- fice of a Judg; oflef's autority then the J^oman Churchy and of no more credit then Efops Fables 9 but for the teflimony of the Jaid Church ± that they contain things apt to raife laughter or in dignation , that the Latin Tranflation in the ComplutenfianBible is placed between theHebrew Text , and the Septuagint Verfion^ as our Savior TVCIA at his Crucifixion between tno thieves , and that the vulgar Edition is of fuch autority that the Originals ought to be mendectby it , ra ther then itjhould be mended from them : which are the complements of Cardinal Beliarmin , Hofius, Eckius, Perron, Ximenes, Coqueus, and others of that Communion : words to be anfwer'd by a Thunderbolt, and fitter for the mouth of a Celfus or a Porphyrie , then of the pious fons, and zealous Champions of the Church of Chriit.
ii. T i s to be expecfted that the Romanifts fhould now wipe their mouths, and plead not guilty 5 telling us that they permit the Scri pture to the Laity in the«ir mother Tongue : And to that purpofe the Fathers of Rhemes and Doway have publifht an Englifh Bible for thofe of their communion. I fhall therefore give a Ihort and plain account of the whole ariair as really it itands , and then on Gods name let the Romanifts make the beft of their Apology,,
12. THE
190 The Chrifltans Birth-right , tfr.
13. THE fourth rule of the Index of prohibited Books composed upon the com mand and aufpice of the Council of Trent, and publifh'd by the autority of Pius the fomth^ixtus the fifth,and Clement the eighth, runs thus ; Since 'tis manifejt by experience Jbkat tf the holy Bible be fufferd promifcuoujly in the vulgar Tongue, fuch is the temerity of men, that greater detriment then advantage will thence a- rife s in this matter let the judgment of the Bi- Jhoporlnquijitorbejtoodto: tnat with the ad vice of the Cur at or Confejfor ,tl?ey may give leave for the reading of the Bible in the vulgar Tongue, tranflated by Catholics , to fuch as they know will not receive damage , but increafe of Faith and Piety thereby. Which faculty they jhall have in writing, and whofoever without fuch faculty Jhall prefiime to have or to read the Bible, he Jhall not till he have deliver d it up, receive abfolution of his fins* Now (to pafsover the iniquity of ob liging men to ask leave to do that whichGod Almighty commands ) when 'tis confider d how tew of the Laity can make means to the Bifnop or Inquifitor, or convince them, or the Curat or Confeffor , that they are fuch who will not receive damage, but encreaie of Faith and Piety by the reading of the Scri pture ; and alib have intereft to prevail with them for their favor herein : and after all can and will be at the charge of taking out the faculty, which is fo penally requir'd : 'tis
eafy
SECT.VH.Events of with -drawing H. Scrip. i<>i
eafy to guefs what thin numbers of the Laity are likely , or indeed capable of reaping be nefit by this Indulgence pretended to be al lowed them.
14. BUT, befides all this, what fhall we fay, if the power it felf of giving Licences be a mere fnew , and really fignifies juft nothing ? In the observation fubjoin'd to this fourth rule it is declafd, that the Imprejjion and Edi tion thereof gives no new faculty to Bijhops , or Inquijttors, or Superiors of regulars to grant Li cences of buying, reading , or retaining Bibles publijht in a vulgar Tongue ; fence hitherto by the command ana practice of the holy J^oman and univerfal Inquifition , the power of giving fuch faculties , to read or retain vulgar Bibles, or any parts of Scripture of the Old or New Te- Jiament, in any vulgar Tongue ; or alfo fumma- ries, or hijiorical compendiums of the faid Bibles or Books of Scripture , in whatfoever Tongue they are written, hat bin ta\en away. And lure if a Lay-man cannot read the Bible without a faculty , and it is not in any ones power to grant it ; 'twill evidently follow that he can not read it : And fo the pretence of giving liberty, owns the {harne of openly refufing it, but has no other effedt or conieqoence. And if any Romanift among us , or in any other Proteftant Country enjoies any liberty here in, 'tis merely by connivance, and owed to a fear leaft the Votary would be loft, and take
the
192 The Chriftians Birth-right, &c.
the Bible where it was without difficulty to be had , if ftridnefs fhould be us'd. And ftiould Popery , which God forbid , become para mount ; the Tranflations of the Scripture into our Mother Tongues, would be no mote endur'd here, then they are in Spain: and they who have formerly bin wary in commu nicating the Scriptures •, remembring how thereby their errors have bin detected, would upon a revolution effectually provide for the future , and be fure to keep their peo ple in an Egyptian darknefs , that might it lelf be felt, but that allow'd the notices of no other objeft. They would not be content with that competition of the Ammonite , to thrujt out all tne right eies of thofe that fiib- mitted to them , / Sam. 11.2. but would put out both ; as the Philiftins did to &*fw/0«,that they might make their miferable captives for t\t\: grind in their Mill, Jud. 16. 21.
14. B tr T this heavieft of judgments will never fall upon the reform'd Churches, till, by their vicious practice and contemt of the di vine Law,they have deferred their profeffion ; and made themfelves utterly unworthy of the bleffings they enjoy, and the light of that Gofpel which with noon-day brightnefs has fhm'd among them. Upon which account, I fuppofe it may not be impertinent in the next place to lubjoin foni plain directions, and cautionary advices , concerning the ufe of thefefacred Books. ' SECT.
SECT. VIII. Cautions in reading Holy Scrip. 193
\--J^~ s E c iy VIIL
Nece/ary cautions to le us" din the reading of the holy Scriptures.
IT is a common obfervation, that the moft generous and fprightly Medicins , are the ftioft unfafe , if not appli'd with due care and fegimen : And the remark holds as well in fpiritual as corporal remedies. The Apoftle aflerts it upon his own experience , that the do&rin of the Gofpel , which was to fom the favor of life unto life , was to others the favor of death, i Cor. 2.15-. And the lame effect that the oral Word had then , the written Word may have now -y not that either the one or the other have any thing in them that is of it felf mortiferous3 but becomes fo by the ill dif- pofition of the perfons who fo pervert it. It is therefore well worth our inquiry, what quali fications on our part are neceffary to make the Word be to us what it is in it &l£}the porver of God unto falvation? Rom. i. 16. Ofthefe fom are previous before our reading, fom are concomitant with it, and fom are fubfequent and follow after it.
2, O F thofe that go before , fincerity is a mofteffentialrequifit : by fincerity, I mean
Bb aa
1 9 4 The Chrijtians Birth-right, &c.
an upright intention, by which we diredt our reading to that proper end for which the holy Scriptures were defign'd j vi%. the know ing Gods will in order to the practicing it. This honeft fimplicity of heart is that which Chrift reprefents by me good ground, where a- lone it was that the feed could frudify, Mat. J3.8. And he that brings not this with him, brings only the fhadow of a Difciple. The word of God, is indeed, Jharper then a two-edged fivord, Heb. 4. 12. but what impreffion can a fword make on a body of air ; which ftill flips from, and eludes its thrufts ? And as little can all the practical difcourfes of holy Writ make on him, who brings only his fpeculative faculties with him, and leaves his will and af- fed:ions behind him ; which are the only pro per fubjeds for it to work on.
3. To this we may probably impute that ftrange inefficacioufnefs we fee of the Word. Alas, men rarely apply it to the right place : our moft inveterat difeafes lie in our morals; and we fuffer the Medicin to reach no farther then our intellects. As if he that had an ulcer in his bowels fliould apply all his balfoms and fanatives only to his head. 'Tis true,the holy Scriptures are the trefuries of divine Wifdom; the Oracles to which we fliould re fort for fa- ving knowledg: but they are alfo the rule and guide of holy Life : and he that covets to know Gods will for any purpofe but to pra-
SECT. VIII. Cautions in reading Holy Scrip. 19 y
d:ice it, is only ftudious to entitle himfelf to the greater number of Jlripes, Luk. 12. 47.
4. N A Y farther , he that affeds only the bare knowledg , is oft difappointed even of that. The Scripture, like the Pillar of fire and cloud,enlightens the Ifraelites, thofe who fincerely refign themfelves to its guidance; but it darkens and confounds the Egyptians, Ex. 74. 20. And 'tis frequently feen, that thofe who read only to become knowing, are toll'd on by their cunofity into the more ab- ftrufe and myfterious parts of Scripture,where they entangle themfelves in inextricable ma zes and confufions 5 and inftead of acquiring a more fuperlative knowledg,loofe thofe ealy and common notions which lie obvious to every plain well meaning Reader. I fear this Age affords too many , and too frequent in- ftances of this -, in men who have lolt God in the midft of his Word , and ftudied Scriptuse till they have renounc'd its Author.
5-. AND fiire this infatuation is very juft, and no more then God himfelf has warn'd us of, who takes the wife in their own craftinefs, Job.?. 12. but appropriates his fecrets only to them that fear him , and has promis'd to teach the meekhis way, Pfal. 25-. 9. 14. And. this was the method Chrift obferv'd in his preaching -y unveiling thofe truths to his Difciples , which to the Scribes and Phariiees , his inquilitive, yet refradory hearers,he wrapt up in parables :
B b 2 not
1 9 6 The Chriftians Birth-right,
not that he diilik'd their defire of knowkdg, but their want of fincerity : which is io fatal a defedt as blafts our purfuits, tho of things in themfelves never fo excellent. This we find exemplifid in Simon Magus, A6ts 8. who tho he coveted a thing in it felf very defirable, the pow^r of conferring the holy Ghoft , yet de- firing it not only upon undue conditions, but for iinifter ends, he not only mift of that, but was (after all his convincement by the Apo-r ftles miracles, and the engagement of his Ba- ptifm) immerftm the gall of bitternefs ; and at laft advancd to that height of blafphemy, as to fet up himfelf for a God ; fo becoming a lafting memento, how unfafe it is to prevari cate in holy things.
6. BUT as there is a fincerity of the Will In order to practice , fo there is alio a finceri ty of the underftanding in order to belief; and this is alfo no leis requifit to the profitable reading of Scripture. I mean by this, that we come with a preparation of mind, to embrace indifferently , whatever God there reveles as the objed: of our Faith : that we bring our own opinions, not as the clue by which to un fold Scripture , but to be tried and regulated by it. The want of this has bin of very per nicious confequence in matters both of Faith and fpeculation. Men are commonly pre- pofleit ftrongly with their own notions, and their errand to Scripture is not to lend them
light
. Cautions in reading Holy Serif. 197
light to judg of them > but aids to back and defendtnem.
7. O F this there is no Book of controverfy that do's not give notorious proof. The So- cinian can eafily over-look the beginning of Saint John,t\\nt fa i^TheWordwas God, Jo. i.i. and all thofe other places which plainly af- fert the Deity of our Savior j if he can but di vert to that other more agreeable Text , that the Father is greater then I. Among the Ro- manifts, Peters being faid to be fir ft among the ^poftles, Mat. 10.2, and that on that I^ocl^ Chrift would build his Church, Mat. 16. 18. car ries away all attention from thofe other places where Saint Paul faies he was not be hind the very chief eft of the ^poftles^z Cor. i i.f. that upon him lay the care of all the Churches, 2 Cor. 11.28. and that the Church was not built upon t\& foundation offom one, but all the twelve j4p fifties i Revel. 21.14. So it fares in the bufinefs of the Eucharift : This is my body, Mat. 26. 2.6. carries it away clear for Tran- fubftantiation, when our Saviors calling that which he drunk the fruit of the vine, Mat. 26. 29. and then Saint Pauls naming the Ele ments in the Lords Supper feveral times over Bread and Wine j The Bread that rve breasts it not the Communion of the Body ofChrift : the Cup that we blefsjs it not the Communion ,&£• i Cor. 10. id. And again, He that eats this Bread, and drinks phis £up unworthily , &c. i Cor. 1 1 .
29.
198 The Cbrijlians Birth-right, &c.
29. can make no appearance of an Argu ment.
8. THUS men once engag'd ranfac for Texts that carry fom correipondency to the opinions they have imbibed ; and thofe how do they rack and fcrue to bring to a perfed: conformity ; and improve every little pro bability into a demonllration ? On the other fide, the contrary Texts they lookon as ene mies, and confider them no farther then to provide fences and guards againft them : So they bring Texts not into the fcales to weigh, but into the field to skirmifh , as Par- tizans and Auxiliaries of fuch or fuch opi nions.
5>. BY this force of prepoffeffion it is, that that facredRule, which is the mefure and ftandard of all rectitude, is it lelf bow'd and diftorted to countenance and abet the moft contrary tenets : and like a variable picture, reprefents differing fhapes according to the lightin which you view it. And fure we cannot do it a worfe office then to reprefent it thus diflbnant to it felf. Yet thus it muftftillbe till men come unbiaft to the reading of it. And certainly there is all the reafon in the world they fliould do fo : the ultimate end of our faith is but thefalvation of our fouls, i Pet. i. p. and we may be fure the Scripture can beft diredfc us what Faith it is which will lead us to that end.
JQ. WHY
Cautions in reading Holy Scrip.
10. WHY fiiould we not then have the fame indifference which a traveller hath,whe- ther his way lie on this hand or that 5 fo as it be the dired: road to his journies end ? For al- tho it be infinitly material that I embrace right principles, yet 'tis not fo that this fhould be right rather then the other : and our wifhes that it fhould be fo, proceed only from our prepoffeffions and fondnefs of our own conceptions, then which nothing is more apt to intercept the clear view of truth^It there fore nearly concerns us to depofit them , and to give up our felves without referve to the guidance of Gods Word , and give it equal credit when it thwarts , as when it complies with our own notions.
n. WITHOUT this, tho we may call Scripture the rule of Faith , and judg of con- troverfies ; yet 'tis manifeft we make it not fo, but referve ftill the laft appeal to our own prejudicat phancies : and then no wonder,tho we fall under the fame occoecation which our Savior upbraids to the Tews, that feeing we fee not, neither do we understand, Mat. 13. 14. For he that will not be fav'd Gods way, will hard ly be lo by his own. He that refolves not im partially to embrace all the Scriptures di ktats , comes to them as unfincerely , as the remnant of the Jews did to Jeremiah to in quire of the Lord for them, which he no |ooner had dou , but they proteft againft his
mef-
a oo The Chriftians Birth-right,
fage, Jer.42.2o. and may expert as fatal an event.
12. BUT there are a fet of men who deal yet more infincerely with the Word,- that read it infiduoufly, on purpofe to colled: mat ter of objection and cavil : that with a mali cious diligence compare Texts in hope to find contradictions -y and read attentively, but to no other end then to remark incoherences and defeats in the ftile ; which when they think they have ftarted , they have their de- fign -, and never will ufe a quarter of the fame diligence in confidering now they may be folv'd , or confulting with thofe who may affift them in it. For I think I may appeal to the generality of thole who have rais'd the loudeil clamors againft the Scripture, whe ther they have endeavored to render them- felves competent judges of it by inquiring in to the Originals, or informing themfelves of thofe local Cuftoms, peculiar Idioms,and ma ny other circumftances , by which 'obfcure Texts are to be clear'd. And tho I do not af firm it neceflary to falvation that every man fliould do this ; yet I may affirm it neceflary to him that will pretend to judg of the Bi-* ble : and he that without this condems it,do's it as manifeft injury , as a Judg that ftiould pafs fentence only upon the Indidment* without hearing the defence.
13. AND certainly there cannot be any
thing
SECT. VIII. Cautions in reading Holy Scrip. 201
thing more unmanly and difingenuous, then for men to inveigh and condemn before they inquire and examin. Yet this is the thing upon which fo many value themfelves , affu- in ing to be men of reafon , for that for which the Scripture pronounces them brute beafts, viz. the fyeafyng evilofthofe things they under - Jt and not, z Pet. 2. 12. Would men ufe due di ligence , no doubt many of thofe feeming contradictions would be reconcil'd , and the obfcurities clear'd : and if any fliould after all remain , he might find twenty things fit ter to charge it on , then want of verity or difcourfe in the inipir'd writers.
14. ALAS what human writing is there of near that Antiquity, wherein there are not many pafTages unintelligible ? And indeed, unlefs modern times knew all thofe national cuftoms, obfolete Laws, particular Rites and Ceremonies , Phf afes and proverbial Sayings, to which fuch ancient Books refer, 'tis im- poffible but fom paffages muft ftill remain ob- icure. Yet in thefe we ordinarily have fo much candor , as to impute their unintelligi- blenefs to our own ignorance of thole things which Ihould clear them , the improprieties of ftile, to the variation that times make in dialeds, or to the errors of Scribes , and do not prefently exclame againft the Authors as falfe or impertinent , or difcard the whole Book for fom fuch paflages.
Cc 1-. AND
2O2
The Chriflians Birth-right:, &c.
15-. AND fure what allowances we make to other Books , may with more reafon be made to the Bible ; which having bin writ fo many Ages fince , paft thro infinit variety of hands , and (which is above all) having bin the object of the Devils , and wicked mens malice, lies under greater difadvantages then , any human compofure : And doubtlefs men would be as equitable to that as they are to others , were it not that they more wifh to have that falfe or irrational then any other Book. The plain parts of it, the precepts and threatnings {peak clearer then they defire , gall and tret them ; and therefore they will revenge themfelves upon the obfcurer : and {eem angry that there are fom things they underftand not, when indeed their realdif- plefure is at thole they do.
1 6. A fecond qualification preparatory to reading the Scripture is reverence. When we take the Bible in our hands , we fhould do it with other fentiments and apprehenfions then when we take a common Book ; confi- dering that it is the word of God , the inftru- ment of our falvation ; or upon our abufe of it, a promoter of our ruin.
17. AND fure this if duly apprehended, cannot but ftrike us with a reverential awe, in ike us to fay with Jacob, Gen. 28.17. farely God-is in this place ,- controle all trifling plian cies, and make us read, not for cuftom or di-
vertife-
SECT.VHI- Cautions in reading Holy Scrip. 203
vertifement , but with thofe folemn and holy intentions which become the dignity of its Author. Accordingly we find holy men have in all Ages bin affeded with it ; and fom to the inward reverence of the mindjiave join'd the outward of the body alfo, and never read it but upon their knees : an example that may both inftrud and reproach our profa- nefs^ who commonly read by chance, and at a venture : If a Bible happen in our way, we take it up as we would do a Romance , or Play-book 5 only herein we differ , that we difmifs it muchfooner, and retain lefs of its inipreffions.
1 8. IT was a Law of Numa> that no man fhould meddle with divine things, or worfhip the Gods,in paffing,or by accident, but make it afet and folemn bufinefs. And every one knows with how great ceremony and folem- nity the heathen Oracles were confulted. How great a fliame is it then for Chriftians to defalk that reverence from the true God, which heathens allow'd their falfe ones ?
19. Now this proceeds fomtimes from the want of that habitual reverence we fliould alwaies have to it as Gods word,and fomtimes from want of actual exciting it , when we go to read : for if the habit lie only dormant in us, and be not awak'd by adual confidera- tion>-it avails us as little in our reading, as the habitual ftrength of a man do's towards la-
Cc 2 borj
204 The Chrijlians Birth-right,
bor , when he will not exert it for that end.
20. WE ought therefore,as to make it our deliberat choice to read Gods word ; fo when we do it, to ftir up our felves to thofe folemn apprehenfions or its dignity and autority , as may render us malleable, and apt to receive its impreflions: for where there is no reve rence , 'tis not to be expected there Ihould be any genuine or lafting obedience.
21. SAINT Aujtin in his Trad; to Hono* ratur, of the advantage of believing, makes the firft requifit to the knowledg of the Scri ptures to be the love of them. Believe me, laies he, every thing in the Scripture is fubhme and divine , its truth and doHrin are mofl accommodate to the refrejhment, and building up of our minds: and in allrejpefls fo order dy that every one may draw thence what is fuffi- ctent for him -3 provided he approach it with devotion, piety , and religion. The proof of this may require much reafoning anddifcourfe. But this lamfirjl to perfrvade , that you do not hate the Authors^ and then that you love them. Had roe an ill opinion of Virgil , nay , if upon the ac+ count of the reputation he has gaind with our Predecejfors , tve didnot greatly love before tve underjtood him ; n>e Jhould never patiently go thro all the difficult quejiions Grammarians raijc about him. Many employ themfelves in com* minting upon him -, roe ejteem him moftjwhofe ex- pojition mojl commends the Boo^ andjheivs that
the
SECT. VIII. Cautions in reading Holy Scrip. 20 y
the Author, not only was free from error, but did excellently well where he is not under 'flood. And iffuch an account happen not to be given , we impute it rather to the Interpreter then the Poet.
22. THUS the good Father ; whofe words I have tranfcrib'd at large, as being remark able to the prefent piirpofes he alfo fliews that the mind of no Author is to be learnt from one averfe to his do&rin : as that 'tis- vain to enquire of Arijlotles Books from one of a different Se£t : Or of Archimedes from Epicurus : the difcourfe will be as difpleafing as the fpeaker ; and that fhall be efteem'd ab- furd, which comes from one that is envi'd ordefpis'd.
23. A third preparative to our reading fhouid be praier. The Scripture as it was di lated at hrft by the holy Spirit , fo mult ftill owe its effeds and influence to its coopera tion. The things of God, the Apoftle tells us, are fyiritually difcern'd, i Cor. 2. 14. And tho the natural man may well enough apprehend the letter , and grammatical lenie ot the Word ; yet its power and energy , that infi- nuative perfwahve force whereby it works on hearts , is peculiar to the fpirit ; and there fore without his aids , the Scripture whilft it lies open before our eies , may ftill be M a
that is feal'dy Efai. 29. n. be as ineffe- as if che-chara&ers were illegible.
24. 65-
The Chriftians Birth-right,
24. BESIDES our Savior tells us the devil is ftill buiy tofteal away the feedasfoon as it is fown, Mat. 13. 17. And uniefs we have fom jbetter guard then our own vigilance , he is fure enough to profperin his attemt. Let it therefore be our care, to invoke the divine Aid ; and when ever we take the Bible into our hands , to dart up at leaft a hearty ejacu lation, that we may find its effe&s in our hearts. Let us lay with holy David, open thou mine eies 0 Lord y that I may fee the wondrous things of thy Law. Bleffed art thou 0 Lord, 0 teach me thy ftatutes, Pf. 119. Nay indeed 'twil be fit matter of a daily folemn devotion, as our Church has made it an annual in the Colled: on the fecond Sunday in Advent : a praier fo apt and fully expreffive of what we flioulddefireinthisparticular5that if we tran- fcribe not only the example , but the very words,! know not how we can form that part of our devotion more advantageoufly.
2f. IN the fecond place we are to confi- der what is requir'd of us at the time of read ing the Scripture; which confifts principally in two things. The firft of thefe is attention, which is fo indifpenfably requifit.thatwithout it allBooks are alike.and all equally infignifi- cant: for he that adverts not to thefenfe of what he reads, the wifeft difcourfes fignify no more to himathen the moft exquifit mufic do's to a man perfectly deaf. The letters and fyl-
lables
SECT. VIII. Cautions in reading Holy Scrip. 207
lables of the Bible are no more facred then thofe of another Book 3 'tis the fenfe and meaning only that is divinely infpir'd : and he that confiders only the former,may as well entertain himfelf with a fpelling-book.
2.6. W E muft therefore keep our minds fixt and attent to what we read : 'tis a folly and lightnefs not to do fo in human Authors; but 'tis a fin and danger not to do fo in this divine Book. We know there can fcarce be a greater inftance of contemt and difvalue, then to hear a man fpeak, and not at all mind what he faies : yet this vileft affront do all thofe put upon God, who hear or read his Word , and give it no attention. Yet I fear the practice is not more impious then it is frequent ; for there are many that read the Bible, who if at the end of each Chapter they fhould be call'd to account,! doubt they could produce very {lender collections : and truly 'tis a fad confideration,that that facred Book is read rnoft attentively by thofe , who read it asfompreach the Gojfpel, Phil. i. if. out of envy and Jtrife. How curioufly do men in- fped:, nay ranfac and embowel a Text to find a pretence for cavil and objedion,whilft: men who profefs to look there for lite and falva- tion, read with fuch a retchlefs heedlefnefs, as if it could tell them nothing they were concern'd in : and to fuch 'tis no wonder if their reading bring no advantage. God is
not
z o 8 The Chriflians Birth-right,
not in this fenfe found of thofe that feet^ hint not, Efai. rff . i. 'tis Satans part to ferve him- lelf of the bare words and characters of holy Writ , for charms and amulets : the vertuc God has put there confifts in the fenfe and meaning, and can never be drawn out by droufy inadverting Readers.
27. THIS unattentivenefs fore-ftalls all poffibility of good. How fhall that convince the underftanding,or perfwade the affedions, which do's not io much as enter the imagi nation. So that in this cafe the feed feems 'more caft away then in any of thole inftances the parable gives, Mat. 13. In thofe it ftill fell upon the foil, but in this it never reaches that ; but is fcatter'd and diffipated , as with a mighty wind , by thofe thoughts which have prepoflels d the mind. Let no man therefore take this facred Book into his hand, till he have turn'd out all diftrafting phan- cies , and have his faculties free and vacant for thofe better objects which will there pre- lent themfelves. And when he has fo difpos'd himfelf for attention, then let him contrive to improve that attention to the beft advan tage.
28. To which purpofe it may be very con ducive to put it into lorn order and method, As for inftance, when he reads the doctrinal part of Scripture, let him firil and principally advert to thofe plain Texts which contain
the
SECT .VIII. Cautions in reading Holy Scrip.
the neceflary points of Faith : that he may not dwehis Creed only to his education , the inftitution of his Parents or Tutors ; but may know the true foundation on which it is bottom'd, w\. the word of God, and may thence be able to juftify his Faith : and as Saint Peter exhorts , be ready to give an an- fwer to every man that asks him a reafon of the hope that is in him, i Pet. 3. 15-. For want of this it is, that Religion fits fo loofe upon men, that every wind of do&rin blows them intd diftind: and various forms j till at laft their Chriftianity it felf vapors away and difap- pears.
29. BUT let men be careful thus to fecure the foundation, and then 'twill be commen dable in them ( who are capable of it ) to afpire to higher degrees of fpeculation : yet even in thefe it will be their fafeft courfe chiefly to purfue fuch as have the moll imme- diat influence on practice, and be more indu- ftrious to make obfervations of that fort,then curious and critical remarks , or bold conje- £tures upon thoie myfteries on which God has Ipread a veil.
30. BUT befides a mans own particular Collections , it will be prudence in him to ad- vantage himfelf of thofe of others , and to conlult the learned'ft and belt expofitors; and that not only upon a prefent emergency ,; when he is to diipute a point, ( as molt dp )
Dd We
210 The Chriftians Birth-right, &c.
but in the conftant courfe of his reading , wherein he will moft fedatly , and diipaffio- natly judg of the notions they offer.
31. As to the choice of the portions of Scripture to be read in courfe, tho I fliall not condemn that of reading the whole Bible in order , yet 'tis apparent that fom parts of it ( as that of the Levitical Law ) are not fb aptly accommodated to our prefent ftate , as others are ; and confequeptly not fo edifica- tory to us : and therefore I cannot fee why any man fhould oblige himfelf to an equal frequency in reading them. And to this our Church feems to give her fuffrage ; by exclu ding fuch out of her public Leifons. And if we govern our privat reading by.her mefures, it will well exprefs our deference to her judg ment -, who has fele&ed fom parts of Scri pture, not that fhe would keep her children in ignorance of any , but becaufe they tend molt immediatly to practice.
32. NEITHER will the daily reading the Scripture in the rubricks order , hinder any man from acquainting himfelf with the reft. For he may take in the other parts as fuper- numeraries to his conftant task , and read them ashis leifure and inclination fliall promt. So that all the hurt that can accrue to him by this method , is the being invited to read fomtimes extraordinary proportions.
3 j. I F it be objected , that to thofe who
daily
SECT. VIII. Cautions in reading Holy Scrip. 211
daily hear the Church Service/twill be a kind of tautology , firft to read thofe Leflbns in privat , which foon after they fliall hear read publicly , I anfwer that whatever men may pleafe to call it/ twill really be an advantage: For he that fliall read a chapter by himfelf with due confideration , and confulting oi good Paraphrafts , will have div'd fo far into the fenfe of it, that he will much better comprehend it when he hears it read : as on the other fide3the hearing it read fo imediat- ly after will ferve to confirm and rivet the fenfe in his mind. The one is as the conning, the other the repeating the LeiTon ; which every cchole-boy can tell us is beft don at the neareft diftance to* each other. But I ftiall not contend for this , or any particular me thod ; let the Scriptures be read in proportion to every mans leifure and capacity , and read with attention ; and we need not be fcru- pulous about circumftances, when the main duty is fecur'd.
34. BUT as in the do&rinal, fo in the preceptive part, there is a caution to be us'd in our attention. For we are to diftingifh be tween thofe temporary precepts that were a- dapted to particular times and occafions, and fuch as are of perpetual obligation. He that do's not this may bring himfelf under the JewifhLaw, or believe a neceffity of felling all and giving it to the poor becaufe 'twas
Dd* Chrifts
212
TheCkriftians Birth-right, &c.
Chrifts command to the rich man , Mat. 19. or incur other confiderable mifcheifs,
3 f. THUS frequently commands are put in comprehenfive indefinite words, but con cern only the Generality to whom the Law is written; and not thole who are entrufted with the vindication of their contemt. Ac cordingly 'tis faid, thoa Jbalt not kitty Mark. 10. 19. which concerns the private perfon; but extends not to the Magiftrate in the exe cution of his office, who is a revenger appoin ted by God, and bears not the fwordin vain, Rom. 13.4. So the injunction not to /wear at all, Mat. y. 34 refers to the common tranC- actions of life; but not thofe folemn occa? fions where an oath is to give glory to God , and is the end of all ftrife , Heb. 6. 16. Yet thefe miftakes at this day prevail with Ana- b^ptifts and Quakers , and bottom their denial of die Magiftrates power to proted his Subjects by war ; and to determin differences in Peace , by the oath of witneffes in judicial proceedings.
5 6- THERE is another diftin&ion we are to attend to ; and that is between abfolute and primary commands.and fecundary ones : the tormer we are to fet a fpecial remark upon,as thofe upon whofe obfervance or violation our eternal life or death infeparably depends.And therefore our firft and molt folicitous care muft be concerning them. I mention this,
not
SECT. VIII. Cautions in reading Holy Scrip. 213
not to divert any from afpiring to the higheft degrees of perfection : but to reprove that prepofterous courfe many take , who lay the greateft weight upon thofe things on which God laies the leaft; and have more zeal for oblique intimations , then for ex- prefs downright commands -, nay think by the one to commute for the contemt of the other. For example , fafting is recommen ded to us in Scripture , but in a far lower key then moral duties : rather as an expedient and help to vertue , then as properly a ver- tue it felf. And yet we may fee men fcrupu- lousinthat, whoftartle not atinjuftice, and oppreffion ( that clamorous fin that cries to heaven ) who pretend to mortify their ap petites by denying it its proper food, or being luxurious in one fort of it -, and yet glut their avarice , eat up the poor > and devour widows boufes, Mat. 23.
37. To fuch as thefe 'twould be good ad vice to fix their attention on the abfolute commands, to ftudy moral honefty, and the effentials of Chriftianity ; to make a good progrefs there , and do what God indilpen- fably requires : and then it may be feafonable to think of voluntary oblations : but till then they arc fo far from homage , that they are the moft reprochful flattery ; an attemt to bribe God againft himfelf ; and a facrilege , like that oiDionyfasi who took away Jf ol ios
214 The Chriflians Birth-right, &c.
Id s golden robe, and gave htm a ftuff one.
38. THE fecond thing requifit in our rea ding is application : this is the proper end of our attention : and without this we may be very bufyto very little purpofe. The moft laborious attention without it , puts us but in the condition of thofe poor flaves that labor in the mines : who with infinit toil dig that ore of which they fhall never partake. If therefore we will appropriate that rich tre- fure, we muft apply, and 10 make it our own.
39. LET us then at every period of holy Writ , refle6l and look on our felves as the perfons fpoke to. When we find Philip giving baptiim to the Eunuch upon this condition that he believe tvith all his heart , Ad. 8. let us confider that unlefs we do fo ; our baptifm (like a thing furreptitioufly obtain'd) conveis no title to us j will avail us nothing.
40. WHEN we read our Saviours denun ciation to the Jews, except ye repent,yejhall all likeroife perijh\ Lu. 13. y. we are to look on it as if adureil immediatly to our ielves ; and conclude as great a neceffity of our repen tance. In thofe black catalogues of crimes which the Apoftle mentions, i Cor. 6. 10. and Gal.?. 19,20,21. as excluding from the King dom of heaven , we are to behold our own guilts arraign'd, and to refolve that the lame crimes will as certainly fhut heaven gates a- gainit u>,as thofe to whom thole Epiftles were
immc-
SECT. VIII. Cautions in reading Holy Scrip. 21?
immediatly directed. In all the precepts of good life, and Chriftian vertue, we are to think our felves as nearly and particularly concern' d , as if we had bin Chrifts Auditors on the Mount. So proportionately in all the threats and promifes we are either to tremble or hope, according as we find our felves ad here to thofe fins or vertues to which they are affixt.
41. THIS clofe application would ren der what we read operative and effective, ivhich without it will be ufelefs and infignifi- cant. We may fee an inftance of it in David-, who was not at all convinc'd of his own guilt by Nathans parable ( tho the moft appo- fite that was imaginable ) till he roundly appli'd it , faying, thou art the man : 2 Sam. 12. And unlefs we treat our felves at the fame rate , the Scripture may fill our heads with high notions, nay with many fpecula- tive truths , which yet amounts to no more then the Devils theology, Ja. 2. 19. and will as litte advantage us.
42. IT now remains that wefpeakof what we are to do after our reading ; which may befumm'd up in two words: Recoiled: and practice. Our memories are very frail as to things of this nature. And therefore we ought to imprefs them as deep as we can , by receding on what we have read. It is an ob-
fervation out of the Levitical Law , thaj;
thofe
2 1 6 The fhriftians Birth-right , &c.
thofe beafts only were clean, and fit for fa- crifice,£/;0£ chewd the cudj^tv. 11.4. And tho the ceremony were Jewifh, the moral is Chri- ftian, and admonifhes us how we fliould re volve and ruminate on fpiritual inftrudtions. Without this what we hear or read flips in- fenfibly from us,and like letters writ in chalk, is wip't out by the next fucceeding thought - bat recollection engraves and indents the characters in the mind. And he that would duly ufe it , would find other manner of im- preffions; more afte&ive 'and more lafting r then bare reading will leave.
43. WE find it thus in all Sciences: he that only reads over the rules, and laies afide the thoughts of them together with his Book, will make but a flow advance $ whileft he that plods and ftudies upon them,repetes and rein* forces them upon his mind , foon arrives to aneminency. By this it was that David aN taind to that perfection in Gods Law as to out-ftrip his teachers, and under ft and more then the Ancients, Pfal. 119.99, 100. becaufe it was his meditation as himfelf tell us, ver. 97. 99.
44. L E T us therefore purfue the fame me thod ; and when we have read a portion of Scripture , let us recollect what obfervable things we have there met with : what exhor tations tovertue, or determents from vice 5 what promifes to obedience , or menaces for the contrary:- what examples of Gods ven geance*
SECT. VIII. Cautions zti readingHoly Scrip, ii /
geance againft fuch or fuch fins , .or . what in* itances of his blefling upon duties. If we dq this daily, we cannot but amafs together a great ftock of Scripture documents , which will be ready for us to produce iipon every occafion. Satan can affault us no where, .but we fhall be provided of a guard •;? a Sc riptum eft y which we fee was the fole armor the ca-? ptain of our falvation us'd in his encounter with him. Mat. 4. ver. 4. 7. and 20. and, wilt be as fuccefsful to us, if we will duly, mk? nageit.' li rn^rt
4f. THE laft thing requif das confequentj to our reading, is practice. 'This is the ul:tiq mate end, to which all the fore-going qmaH4 fications are directed. And if we fail here.; the moft alOSduous diligence in all the fornies will be but loft labor. Let us mean never iq well, attend never fo clofe, recoiled: never for exactly ; if after all we do not prad:ice,all the reft will ferve but to enhance our guilt . Chri- ftiamty isan adive Science, and the Bibje was given us not merely for a theriie of fpeeu- lation, but for a rule of life,
46. And alas, what will it avail us that our dpinions are right , if our manners be crogk-. ed > When the Scripture has fhew'd us what. God requires of us ^ nay, hasevinc'd to us the; reafonablenefs of the injundions,the great a« greeablenefs which they have to the excel lency of our nature: and has backttliis with
E e the
2 1 8 The Cbriftians Birth-right,
the aflurance that in keeping of them there Jhall be a great reward, Pf. 19. n. if in the midft of fuch importunate invitations to life wewillchufe death 5 we are indeed worthy, as the wife man fpeaks, to take part with it, Wif. i. 16. our crimes are hereby increased to a monftrous bulk, and alfo depriv'd of that veil and flicker which darknefs and igno rance would have given them. And a vicious Chriftian may have caufe at the laft day to wifli that he had ftudied the Alcoran rather then the Bible. His fenfualities might then have pleaded , that they were but the antici-
Eating his Paradice , taking up that before and , which his Religion proposed to him as hi; fummum bonum, his final and higheft aim. But with what confufion muft a Chriftian then appear , whofe inftitution obliges him to mortify the flefh : and yet has made it the bufinefs of his life , not only to fatisfy , but even to enrage , and enflame its appetites > that has fet up a counter-difcipline to that of the Gofpel iie profefles ; and when that re quires aufterities and felf-denials , to reduce corrupt nature to a tamenefs and fubje£tion i has not only pull'd off the bridle, but us'd the fpur ; contriv'd Arts to debauch even corru ption it felf i and has forc'd his relucting na ture upon itudied and artificial leudnefs? Such men may be thought to have read the Scri pture with no other delign but to be fure to
run
. Cautions in reading Holy Scrip. 219
run counter to it •> that by informing them- felves of Gods will , they may know the more exactly how to affront and contradict it.
47 • NAY, fo it is , too many unto malice add contemt ; are not content only fullenly to refift its Precepts , but defpife and revile themalfoj arraign the wifdom of God, and pronounce the divine Laws to be weak and impertinent ; lay their Scenes of ridiculous Jnirth in the Bible ; rally in the facred Dia led:, and play the Buffoons with the moftfe- rious thing in the world. An impious licen- tioufnefs which is now grown to that height, that it is one of the wonders of Godslong- fuffering, that there are not as many eminent inftances of the vengeance, as there are of the guilt. I have formerly complain d of it, and muft ftill crave leave to do fo. It is indeed fo fpreading an infection , that we can never be fufficiently arm'd againft it. Som degrees of it have tainted many who have not utterly renounc'd their reverence for the Bible: there being thofe who in their folemn moods own it as Gods word, and profefs they muft finally Hand or fall by itsverdid:; who yet in their jocular humors make light and irreverent applications of its phrafes and fentences, fur- nim out their little jells in its attire, and ufe it as if they thought it good for nothing elle.
48. AND certainly this abufe in men that own the Bible, is infinitly more monftrous
Ee 2 then
220
TbeChriftians Birth-right,
then in thofe who defy it : the later look oil it as a. common thing, and ufe it as fuch : but for thofe who cotifefs it facred , thus to pro- ftitute it , is a flat contradiction as mucha- gainit the rules of Difcourfe as Religion : 'tis to offer the fame abufe to Chrift in his Word, which the rude fbldiers did to his perfon ; to bow the knee before it , and yet expofe it as an objedt of fcorn and laughter. But. fure there cannot be two things more inconfiftent, then the avowing it to be dictated by God in order to the moft important concern of man , and yet debafe it to the vileft pur- pofes ; make it the drudg and hackney to our fportfiil humors ., and bring it out as the Philiftims didSatnfbn, only to make us mer ry, Jud. 16. 2?.
49. INDEED one would wonder how that fnould become a proper inftrument for that purpofe, that thoie dodtrins of righteoufnefs, temperance and judgment to come (every where fcatter'd thro that Book) which fet heathen Felix a trembling , fhould fet Chri- ftians a laughing: and yet fliould men cite the fame things and phrafes out of another Author, there would be no jeft in it. It ieems therefore that the fpirit and efTence of this fort of wit lies in the profanenefs. How ab- furd is it then for men that do not utterly abjure Religion, to affe£t this impious fort of raillery, which lias nothing but daring wick
ed nefs
Cautions in reading Holy Scrip.
221
ednefs to recommend it ? For certainly,of all the waies of difcourfe that ever pretended to wit, this has the leaft claim to it.
fo. WHAT ftrength of reafon, or height
of phancy is there, in repeting of phrafes and
fragments of Books , when what they would
fay, they might much more properly exprefs
in their own words ? In any other inftance
but this of the Bible , it would pafs rather for
a defe£t then an excefs of wit. But that which
I fuppofe renders it fo taking,is, that it is the
cheapeft expedient for men to arrive to that
reputation. Men that cannot go to the coft
or any thing that is truly ingenious , can by
•this means immediatly commence wits ; if
they can but charge their memories with halt
a dozen Texts , they need no other furniture
for the trade : thefe mangled and tranfpo-
fed, will be ready at all turns, and render
them applauded by thofe who have no other
mefure of wit, but its oppofition to Piety. But
would God,men would look a little before
them , and confider what the final reckoning
will be for fuch divertifements ; and it the
whole world be an unequal exchange for a
foul , what a miferable Merchant is he that
barters his for a bald infipid jeft ? fuch as a
fober man would avoid were there no fin
in it.
5*1. I know men are apt to flatter them- felves , that thefe lighter frolics will pals for
nothing,
222
The Chrijlians Birth-right, &c.
nothing , fo long as they do not ferioufly and malicioufly oppofe Gods word : but I fear they will find God in earneft , tho they be in jeft. He that has magnified his Word above all things, Pfal. 138. 2. cannot brook that we fliould make it vile and cheap, play and dally with it. And if it were a capital crime to convert any of the perfume or the San&uary to common ufe, Ex. 3o. 32. can we think God canbepleas'd to fee his more lacred Word, the theme of our giddy mirth , and have his own words echoed to him in profane drol lery ?
72. BUT befides'tis to be confider'd that this wanton liberty is a itep to the more fo- lemn and deliberate contemt of Gods word : cuftom do's ftrangely prefcribe to us ; and he that a while has us d any thing irreverently, will at laft bring his practice into argument, and conclude that there is no reverence due to it. God knows we are naturally too apt to flight and eafy apprehenfions of lacred things -, and had need to ufe all Arts and In- Itruments to imprefs an awe upon our minds.
f5. IT will lure then be very unfafe for us to trifle with them , and by fo undue a fa miliarity draw on that contemt which we fliould make it our care to avoid. The wife man faies , he that contemns final! things, Jhali fall by little and UttleJLcd. 19.1. And tho no degree of irreverence towards God or his
Word,
SECT. VIII. Cautions in reading Holy Scrip.
Word, can be call'd a final! thing abfolutely confider'd , yet comparatively with the more exorbitant degrees it may : and yet that fmal- ler is the feed and parent of the greateft. It is fo in all fins ; the kingdom of Satan,like that of God , may be compaf d to a grain of mu- liar d feed, Mat. 13. 31. which tho little in it felf, is mighty in its increafe.
f 4. N o man ever yet began at the top of villany , but the advance is ftill gradual from one degree to another; each commiffion fmoothing and glibbing the way to the next. He that accuftoms in his ordinary difcourfe, to ufe the facred Name of God with as little fentiment and reverence , as he do's that of his neighbor orfervant ; that makes it his common by-word , and cries Lord and God upon every the lighteft occafion of exclama tion or wonder, this maB has a very fliort ftep to the ufing it in oaths, and upon all frivolous voccafions ; and he that (wears vainly, is at no great diftance from fwearing falfely. It is the fame in this inftance of the Scriptures : He that indulges his wit to rally with them, will foon come to think them fuch tame things that he may down-right fcorn them : AndVhen he is arriv'd to that , then he muft pick quarrels to juftify it , till at laft he ar rive even to the height of enmity.
5- 5*. LET every man therefore take heed of fettingfo much as one ftep in this fatal
circle *
224 The Cbrijlians Birtb-right> &c.
circle 5 guard himfelf againft the firft infi- nuation of this guilt : and when a jeft offers it felf as a temtation, let him balance that with a fober thought , and confider whether the jeft can quit the coft of the profanation. Let him pofieis his mind with an habitual awe* take up the Bible with folemner thoughts, and other kind of apprehenfions then any human Author : and if he habituate himfelf to this reverence , every claufe and phrafe of' it that occurs to his mind,will be apter to ex cite him to devout ejaculations then vain laughter.
fd. IT is reported of our excellent Prince, King Edward the fixth ; that when in his! Council Chamber, a Paper that was call'd for happen'd to lie out of reach , and the Perfort concerned to produce it, took a Bible that lay by,and ftanding upon it reacht down the Paper : the King obferving what was don, ranhiinfelf to the place, and taking the Bible in his hands, killed it, and laid it up again. Of this it were a very defirable moral , that Princes , and all perlons in au- tority, would take care not to permit any to' raife themfelves by either a hypocritical or* profane trampling upon holy things. But befides that , a more general application of fers its felf j that all men of what condition foever , fliould both themfelves abftain from every adion that has the appearance of at
con-
SECT. VII. Events of voitk-dr awing H.Scrip. 22 5-
contemt of the holy Scripture ; and alfo when they obierve it in others , difcountenance the infolence: and by their words and adtions give Teftimony of the veneration which they have for that holy Book, they fee others fo wretchedly defpife.
f 7. BUT above all let him who reads the Scripture ferioufly, fet himfelf to the practice of it, and daily examin how he proceds in it : he that diligently do's this, will not be much at leifure to fport with it : he will fcarce meet with a Text which will not give him caufe of reflection , and provide him work within his own breft: every duty injoin'd will promt him to examin how he has perform 'd ; eve ry fin forbid, will call him to recoiled: how guilty he has bin, every pathetic ftrain of de votion will kindle his zeal, or at leaft upbraid his coldnefs: every heroic example will excite his emulation. In a word, every part of Scri pture will, if duly appli'd, contribute to fom good and excellent end. And when a thing is proper for fuch noble purpofes, can it be the part of a wife man to apply it only to mean and trivial? Would any but an Idiot waft that Soveraign Liquor in the wafhing of his feet* which was given him to expel poifon from, his heart > And are not we guilty of the like folly when we apply Gods word to ferve only a ludicrous humor : and make our felves mer-* jrywith that which was defign'd for the moft
F f feriou!
The Chriftians Birth-right,
ferious and moft important piirpofej thefal- vation of our fouls. And indeed who ever takes any lower aim then that , and the ver- tues preparatory to it in his ftudy of Scripture, extremely debafes it.
5- 8 . LET us therefore keep a fteady eie up on that mark,and prefs towards it as the Apo- ftle did ; Phil. 3. 1 4. roal^by that rule the holy Scripture propofes -, faithfully and diligently obferve its precepts, that we may finally par take its promifes. To this end continually pray we in the words of our holy mother the Church unto Almighty God , who has cans' d all holy Scripture to be written for our learn ing ; that we may in fuch wife hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digeft them, that by patience and comfort of his holy Word , we may embrace and ever hold faft the bleffed hope of everlafting Life, which he has given in our Savior Jefus Chrift,
THE
THE CONTENTS.
SECTION.
Se%. /. The fever al methods of Gods communi* eating the knowledg of himfelf. Pag. i.
Self. 2. The divine Original, Endear merits, and Autority of the Holy Scripture. p. 9*
Se%. 3. The Subjett Matter treated of in the ho ly Scripture is excellent, as is alfo its end and dejign. P- 6 3 •
SeSl. 4. The Cujtody of the holy Scripture is ct
privilege and right of the Chrijhan Church,
and every member of it, which cannot without
impiety to God, andinjujtice unto it and them,
be taken away or empeacht. p« 123.
SeS. ?. The Scripture has great propriety and ftnefs toward the attainment of its excellent end. P- i4f-
Se&.-6. The fujfrage of the primitive Chrijtian Church, concerning the propriety and fitnefs which the Scripture has , toward the attain ment of its excellent end. p« 16 7-
$e£f. 7. Htftorical reflexions upon the events which have happen d in the Church, Jince the with-df awing of the holy Scripture. p. 1 8 o.
Sell. 8. Neceffary Cautions to be us d in the reading of the holy Scripture. p- 1 9 3 •
FINIS.