The divine authority of the scriptures a sermon preached at St. Martins in the Fields, Sept. 2. 1695 : being the sixth of the lecture for the said year, founded by the honourable Robert Boyle, Esquire / by John Williams ...
         Williams, John, 1636?-1709.
      
       
         
           1696
        
      
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             The divine authority of the scriptures a sermon preached at St. Martins in the Fields, Sept. 2. 1695 : being the sixth of the lecture for the said year, founded by the honourable Robert Boyle, Esquire / by John Williams ...
             Williams, John, 1636?-1709.
             Boyle, Robert, 1627-1691.
          
           [2], 36 p.
           
             Printed for Ri. Chiswell, and Tho. Cockerill, Senr & Junr ...,
             London :
             1696.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
             Half title: Dr. Williams's sixth sermon at Mr. Boyl's lecture, 1695.
             Errata: p. 36.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           D
           r
           
           WILLIAMS's
           SIXTH
           SERMON
           AT
           Mr.
           BOYL'S
           Lecture
           ,
           1695.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           The
           Divine
           Authority
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           .
        
         
           A
           SERMON
           Preached
           at
           St.
           
             Martins
             in
             the
             Fields
          
           ,
           Sept.
           2.
           1695.
           
           BEING
           THE
           Sixth
           of
           the
           LECTURE
           For
           the
           said
           YEAR
           ,
           Founded
           by
           the
           Honourable
           
             ROBERT
             BOYLE
          
           ,
           Esquire
           .
        
         
           By
           
             JOHN
             WILLIAMS
          
           ,
           D.
           D.
           Chaplain
           in
           Ordinary
           to
           His
           Majesty
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           for
           Ri.
           Chiswell
           ,
           and
           Tho.
           Cocke●ill
           ,
           Sen
           r
           &
           Jun
           r
           :
           At
           the
           Rose
           and
           Crown
           in
           St.
           
           Paul's
           Church-Yard
           ;
           and
           at
           the
           
             Three
             Legs
          
           in
           the
           Poultrey
           .
           M
           DC
           XC
           VI.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             HEB.
             I.
             1
             ,
             2.
             
          
        
         
           
             God
             who
             at
             sundry
             times
             ,
             and
             in
             divers
             manners
             spake
             in
             time
             past
             unto
             the
             Fathers
             by
             the
             Prophets
             ,
             hath
             in
             these
             last
             days
             spoken
             unto
             us
             by
             his
             Son
             ,
             &c.
             
          
        
         
           IN
           these
           words
           we
           have
           (
           as
           has
           been
           observed
           )
        
         
           1.
           
           A
           description
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           't
           is
           God's
           speaking
           ,
           or
           declaring
           his
           Will
           to
           Mankind
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Certainty
           of
           that
           Revelation
           ,
           't
           is
           by
           way
           of
           Declaration
           ,
           
             God
             who
             at
             sundry
             times
             ,
             and
             in
             divers
             manners
             spake
             ,
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           3.
           
           The
           Order
           observed
           in
           delivering
           that
           Revelation
           ,
           as
           to
           Time
           ,
           Manner
           ,
           and
           Persons
           ;
           
             In
             time
             past
             by
             the
             Prophets
             ,
          
           and
           
             in
             the
             last
             days
             by
             his
             Son.
             
          
        
         
           4.
           
           The
           Conclusion
           and
           Perfection
           of
           that
           Revelation
           ,
           't
           is
           
             in
             the
             last
             days
             by
             his
             Son.
             
          
        
         
         
           Under
           the
           Second
           I
           have
           shewed
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           there
           has
           been
           such
           a
           Revelation
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           the
           Scripture
           is
           of
           Divine
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           has
           upon
           it
           the
           Characters
           belonging
           to
           such
           Revelation
           .
        
         
           For
           the
           better
           disposing
           of
           what
           I
           had
           to
           say
           
           under
           this
           Head
           ,
           I
           proposed
           Four
           Questions
           to
           be
           resolved
           ,
           viz.
           
        
         
           Q.
           1.
           
           How
           we
           can
           prove
           the
           Matter
           of
           Scripture
           to
           be
           true
           ?
        
         
           Q.
           2.
           
           How
           we
           can
           prove
           the
           Matter
           of
           Scripture
           to
           have
           been
           of
           Divine
           Revelation
           ?
        
         
           Q.
           3.
           
           How
           we
           can
           prove
           the
           Books
           of
           Scripture
           to
           have
           been
           of
           Divine
           Inspiration
           ?
        
         
           Q.
           4.
           
           How
           we
           prove
           these
           Books
           that
           are
           now
           extant
           ,
           and
           received
           by
           the
           Christian
           Church
           as
           Canonical
           ,
           to
           be
           those
           very
           Books
           ?
        
         
           I
           have
           already
           Treated
           of
           the
           Two
           former
           ,
           and
           shall
           now
           take
           the
           Two
           latter
           into
           Consideration
           .
        
         
           Where
           we
           may
           observe
           somewhat
           as
           to
           the
           Writers
           ,
           and
           then
           as
           to
           Inspiration
           .
        
         
         
           1.
           
           As
           to
           the
           Writers
           ;
           of
           whom
           we
           may
           reckon
           Three
           sorts
           .
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           Merely
           Human
           ;
           such
           as
           St.
           Luke
           speaks
           of
           ,
           that
           out
           of
           a
           good
           and
           pious
           intent
           ,
           
             took
             in
          
           
           
             hand
             to
             set
             forth
             in
             order
             a
             declaration
             of
             those
             things
             which
             were
             most
             surely
             believed
             .
          
           And
           this
           may
           be
           done
           without
           any
           material
           Error
           by
           Persons
           duly
           qualified
           for
           it
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           Those
           that
           had
           what
           they
           wrote
           immediately
           dictated
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           approved
           by
           such
           Persons
           as
           were
           inspired
           .
           So
           Eusebius
           saith
           that
           the
           
           Gospel
           of
           St.
           Mark
           was
           approved
           by
           St.
           Peter
           ,
           and
           St.
           
           Luke's
           by
           St.
           Paul.
           
        
         
           (
           3.
           )
           Such
           as
           were
           immediately
           Inspired
           in
           the
           writing
           ,
           as
           St.
           Peter
           and
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Divine
           Writers
           are
           supposed
           to
           have
           been
           .
        
         
           Now
           though
           the
           first
           of
           these
           may
           be
           sufficient
           in
           ordinary
           cases
           ,
           and
           of
           good
           use
           in
           the
           extraordinary
           ,
           where
           there
           is
           no
           better
           ;
           yet
           where
           the
           Salvation
           of
           Mankind
           is
           concerned
           ,
           there
           is
           somewhat
           farther
           necessary
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           ,
           that
           the
           Persons
           that
           write
           should
           be
           assisted
           and
           guided
           by
           the
           Holy
           Spirit
           of
           God
           ,
           or
           write
           by
           the
           direction
           and
           approbation
           of
           those
           that
           are
           Inspired
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           As
           to
           the
           Inspiration
           ,
           that
           is
           Twofold
           :
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           Either
           when
           the
           Matter
           ,
           Words
           ▪
           and
           Order
           ,
           are
           immediately
           Dictated
           by
           God
           
           
           himself
           ;
           as
           the
           Decalogue
           was
           ,
           and
           all
           that
           was
           Revealed
           by
           Voice
           ;
           for
           then
           it
           was
           as
           Discourse
           with
           us
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           Or
           ,
           When
           Persons
           Selected
           wrote
           by
           Direction
           or
           Command
           from
           God
           ,
           what
           was
           Revealed
           to
           them
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Matter
           only
           ,
           whether
           by
           way
           of
           Declaration
           ,
           or
           Representation
           .
        
         
           In
           which
           last
           case
           the
           Persons
           Inspired
           took
           their
           own
           way
           ;
           which
           is
           the
           reason
           of
           the
           difference
           in
           Style
           and
           Phrase
           between
           their
           several
           Compositions
           ;
           that
           ,
           for
           example
           ,
           Isaiah
           writ
           in
           a
           lofty
           courtly
           Style
           ;
           and
           that
           Amos
           ,
           a
           Herdsman
           ,
           writ
           after
           a
           more
           Rustical
           way
           .
           So
           Erasmus
           saith
           of
           St.
           Luke
           ,
           that
           he
           writ
           in
           a
           purer
           and
           clearer
           Style
           ,
           because
           of
           his
           skill
           in
           the
           Greek
           Tongue
           .
        
         
           Here
           the
           Office
           of
           the
           Divine
           Spirit
           was
           to
           suggest
           the
           Matter
           ,
           or
           to
           represent
           the
           case
           ,
           to
           assist
           and
           supervise
           ,
           so
           that
           no
           Error
           should
           be
           in
           the
           Original
           Copy
           ;
           though
           he
           left
           each
           to
           the
           liberty
           of
           their
           own
           way
           in
           expressing
           it
           .
           As
           if
           we
           were
           to
           send
           several
           Messengers
           upon
           the
           same
           Errand
           ,
           we
           deliver
           the
           Message
           to
           them
           ,
           and
           tell
           them
           what
           they
           are
           to
           say
           ;
           but
           leave
           every
           one
           of
           them
           to
           express
           it
           as
           they
           think
           fit
           ,
           and
           as
           they
           are
           able
           :
           Each
           of
           which
           is
           a
           faithful
           and
           wise
           Servant
           ,
           though
           he
           keeps
           not
           exactly
           
           to
           the
           very
           words
           of
           his
           Master
           ,
           and
           all
           agree
           in
           the
           drift
           and
           substance
           ,
           though
           they
           differ
           in
           the
           expression
           or
           circumstance
           .
           So
           it
           is
           in
           the
           Evangelists
           ,
           where
           they
           all
           agree
           in
           the
           material
           parts
           of
           the
           History
           ,
           though
           they
           differ
           often
           in
           the
           words
           ,
           and
           sometimes
           ,
           perhaps
           ,
           in
           some
           minute
           passages
           relating
           to
           it
           .
        
         
           In
           one
           or
           other
           of
           these
           two
           senses
           ,
           the
           Scripture
           may
           be
           said
           to
           be
           wrote
           by
           Divine
           Inspiration
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           either
           by
           immediate
           and
           verbal
           Suggestion
           ,
           or
           by
           Direction
           :
           And
           this
           I
           shall
           now
           endeavour
           to
           prove
           ,
           by
           answering
           the
           Third
           Question
           ,
           viz.
           
        
         
           Q.
           3.
           
           How
           we
           do
           prove
           the
           Books
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           which
           contain
           the
           matter
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           to
           have
           been
           of
           Divine
           Inspiration
           ?
        
         
           In
           proceeding
           upon
           this
           I
           shall
           premise
           :
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           the
           proper
           course
           for
           proving
           the
           Divine
           Authority
           of
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           is
           to
           begin
           with
           the
           Matter
           ,
           abstracted
           from
           the
           Books
           ,
           (
           as
           I
           have
           already
           done
           )
           and
           then
           to
           proceed
           from
           thence
           to
           the
           Books
           .
        
         
           And
           therefore
           they
           begin
           at
           the
           wrong
           end
           ,
           that
           would
           disprove
           the
           truth
           of
           the
           Revelation
           ,
           or
           Matter
           contained
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           by
           such
           Objections
           as
           they
           make
           from
           the
           Writing
           ,
           and
           the
           Books
           .
           For
           the
           Matter
           stands
           upon
           a
           proof
           and
           
           evidence
           of
           its
           own
           (
           as
           I
           have
           shewed
           )
           and
           will
           stand
           ,
           though
           the
           written
           Word
           ,
           or
           Scripture
           ,
           should
           fail
           of
           supporting
           its
           own
           Authority
           .
        
         
           Therefore
           those
           that
           will
           venture
           upon
           disproving
           the
           Revelation
           ,
           must
           in
           reason
           begin
           with
           the
           Matter
           ;
           let
           them
           there
           try
           their
           skill
           ,
           and
           call
           in
           question
           the
           proof
           by
           which
           that
           is
           supported
           .
           But
           this
           we
           have
           already
           prevented
           ,
           by
           having
           proved
           the
           Matter
           of
           Scripture
           to
           have
           been
           of
           Divine
           Inspiration
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Though
           there
           seems
           not
           to
           be
           so
           clear
           and
           full
           a
           proof
           for
           the
           Inspiration
           of
           the
           Books
           ,
           as
           there
           is
           for
           the
           Matter
           ,
           since
           the
           Matter
           has
           the
           utmost
           attestation
           it
           is
           capable
           of
           ,
           viz.
           Miracles
           ;
           but
           there
           were
           no
           Miracles
           wrought
           to
           prove
           these
           Books
           to
           have
           been
           of
           Divine
           Inspiration
           ,
           
           (
           as
           has
           been
           before
           observed
           )
           :
           Yet
           if
           we
           prove
           that
           the
           Books
           were
           written
           by
           Inspired
           Persons
           ,
           and
           that
           what
           they
           Wrote
           is
           the
           same
           with
           what
           they
           Taught
           ,
           it
           is
           equivalent
           ,
           and
           much
           of
           the
           same
           Force
           and
           Authority
           .
        
         
           For
           what
           need
           was
           there
           of
           Miracles
           to
           prove
           the
           Books
           to
           be
           written
           by
           Inspiration
           ,
           when
           the
           Persons
           writing
           them
           were
           Inspired
           ,
           and
           that
           what
           they
           wrote
           is
           the
           same
           with
           what
           they
           taught
           ,
           and
           when
           what
           they
           taught
           was
           confirmed
           
           by
           the
           Miracles
           which
           they
           wrought
           ?
        
         
           Therefore
           while
           the
           Authors
           were
           in
           being
           ,
           there
           needed
           no
           Miracles
           to
           prove
           these
           Writings
           to
           be
           theirs
           ,
           when
           they
           themselves
           asserted
           them
           so
           to
           be
           :
           And
           after
           their
           decease
           we
           have
           as
           much
           reason
           to
           believe
           the
           Scriptures
           which
           they
           wrote
           to
           have
           been
           of
           Divine
           Inspiration
           ,
           as
           what
           they
           taught
           to
           be
           a
           Revelation
           ;
           both
           now
           depending
           upon
           the
           like
           Evidence
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           Testimony
           ,
           as
           to
           which
           we
           have
           no
           more
           proof
           of
           the
           Matter
           ,
           than
           we
           have
           of
           the
           Books
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           From
           hence
           it
           follows
           ,
           That
           not
           to
           believe
           the
           Scripture
           to
           have
           been
           of
           Divine
           Inspiration
           ,
           is
           in
           effect
           to
           reject
           and
           deny
           the
           Revelation
           therein
           contained
           :
           The
           Scripture
           being
           the
           best
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           present
           circumstances
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           the
           only
           means
           left
           for
           the
           conveyance
           of
           it
           ;
           I
           say
           ,
           in
           the
           present
           circumstances
           ,
           it
           is
           the
           only
           means
           ;
           for
           when
           the
           circumstances
           were
           other
           than
           they
           are
           now
           ,
           or
           have
           been
           for
           Sixteen
           hundred
           Years
           and
           upwards
           ,
           there
           was
           then
           no
           such
           absolute
           need
           of
           a
           written
           Word
           :
           When
           the
           Instructors
           of
           Mankind
           had
           their
           Lives
           protracted
           to
           a
           vast
           extent
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           with
           the
           Patriarch's
           of
           Old
           ;
           or
           when
           there
           were
           Inspired
           Persons
           alive
           to
           teach
           and
           rectify
           any
           mistakes
           that
           might
           arise
           and
           disturb
           the
           Peace
           of
           the
           
           Church
           ;
           as
           it
           was
           in
           the
           times
           of
           the
           Apostles
           .
        
         
           But
           when
           things
           fell
           into
           an
           ordinary
           course
           ,
           and
           that
           fallible
           Persons
           (
           as
           all
           afterwards
           were
           )
           might
           mistake
           in
           their
           reports
           of
           Doctrine
           ,
           &c.
           and
           the
           weak
           memories
           of
           others
           not
           retain
           what
           they
           had
           been
           taught
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           insincere
           would
           wrest
           what
           was
           taught
           to
           serve
           their
           perverse
           designs
           ;
           the
           case
           being
           thus
           alter'd
           from
           extraordinary
           to
           ordinary
           ,
           so
           was
           the
           means
           of
           conveyance
           .
           And
           God
           ,
           that
           committed
           the
           Divine
           Oracles
           to
           be
           taught
           by
           Persons
           whom
           he
           thought
           fit
           to
           inspire
           ,
           employed
           the
           same
           Persons
           to
           commit
           that
           Revelation
           to
           writing
           for
           the
           future
           Preservation
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           the
           conveying
           it
           down
           safe
           and
           intire
           to
           Posterity
           .
           Without
           which
           Mankind
           ,
           in
           these
           circumstances
           ,
           neither
           could
           themselves
           have
           been
           certain
           of
           what
           they
           were
           to
           believe
           ,
           nor
           could
           they
           have
           sufficiently
           proved
           to
           others
           what
           it
           was
           they
           were
           obliged
           to
           receive
           and
           to
           believe
           ,
           as
           wanting
           Authentick
           Monuments
           and
           Records
           for
           it
           .
           So
           that
           we
           have
           sufficient
           reason
           to
           believe
           that
           the
           same
           Divine
           Goodness
           ▪
           that
           did
           make
           known
           his
           Will
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           would
           take
           the
           best
           means
           ,
           and
           did
           take
           the
           best
           means
           for
           the
           continuing
           and
           preserving
           it
           .
        
         
         
           And
           Scripture
           being
           the
           only
           means
           of
           that
           kind
           ,
           becomes
           a
           Rule
           of
           Faith
           ;
           and
           so
           is
           of
           Authority
           sufficient
           to
           oblige
           us
           to
           receive
           and
           obey
           it
           .
        
         
           If
           the
           Matter
           of
           Scripture
           be
           true
           and
           of
           Divine
           Inspiration
           ,
           we
           are
           obliged
           by
           it
           ,
           though
           the
           Writing
           ,
           or
           Book
           containing
           it
           ,
           should
           be
           only
           of
           Human
           Composition
           ;
           because
           it
           is
           the
           Doctrine
           ,
           and
           not
           the
           way
           of
           delivery
           ,
           that
           passes
           the
           immediate
           Obligation
           upon
           us
           :
           But
           when
           the
           Book
           containing
           that
           Matter
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Matter
           it self
           ,
           is
           of
           Divine
           Authority
           ,
           and
           composed
           by
           Divine
           Appointment
           ,
           Direction
           ,
           or
           Inspiration
           ,
           it
           obligeth
           us
           by
           vertue
           of
           the
           Composition
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Matter
           ;
           and
           both
           are
           to
           be
           jointly
           received
           as
           proceeding
           from
           one
           and
           the
           same
           Original
           and
           Authority
           .
        
         
           But
           having
           asserted
           this
           ,
           That
           the
           Scripture
           is
           the
           only
           means
           of
           conveyance
           of
           the
           Will
           of
           God
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           and
           what
           becomes
           a
           Rule
           of
           Faith
           to
           us
           ;
           it
           is
           fit
           to
           return
           to
           the
           Question
           proposed
           ,
           viz.
           
        
         
           How
           we
           can
           prove
           the
           Scripture
           to
           have
           been
           of
           Divine
           Revelation
           ;
           or
           that
           those
           Books
           ,
           so
           called
           ,
           were
           wrote
           by
           the
           Direction
           and
           Command
           of
           God
           ,
           or
           by
           Inspiration
           from
           him
           ?
        
         
         
           A.
           1.
           
           I
           Answer
           in
           the
           same
           way
           as
           before
           ,
           That
           as
           there
           is
           no
           Revelation
           ,
           if
           the
           Scriptural
           Revelation
           be
           not
           that
           Revelation
           ;
           so
           there
           is
           no
           written
           Revelation
           ,
           if
           the
           Scripture
           be
           not
           that
           Book
           ,
           and
           be
           not
           Inspired
           .
           And
           then
           we
           should
           want
           the
           only
           certain
           means
           of
           conveyance
           ,
           which
           is
           Writing
           ,
           or
           should
           have
           been
           wholly
           left
           to
           the
           doubtful
           and
           uncertain
           hand
           of
           Tradition
           ,
           for
           the
           knowledge
           and
           preservation
           of
           Revelation
           .
        
         
           Now
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           this
           to
           be
           an
           Argument
           of
           considerable
           force
           for
           the
           Divine
           Authority
           of
           Scripture
           ;
           that
           without
           this
           means
           we
           should
           after
           a
           Revelation
           be
           in
           effect
           without
           a
           Revelation
           :
           For
           so
           it
           will
           be
           if
           the
           Scripture
           contain
           not
           that
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           that
           we
           have
           no
           sufficient
           Record
           ,
           if
           that
           be
           not
           the
           Authentick
           Record
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           come
           nearer
           the
           point
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           I
           Answer
           ,
           That
           there
           is
           as
           much
           proof
           for
           the
           Inspiration
           of
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           as
           the
           matter
           is
           well
           capable
           of
           ,
           and
           as
           much
           as
           is
           sufficient
           ;
           and
           if
           that
           be
           so
           ,
           then
           't
           is
           unreasonable
           to
           reject
           it
           ;
           for
           they
           who
           do
           so
           ,
           can
           do
           it
           upon
           no
           less
           pretence
           ,
           than
           that
           they
           would
           have
           such
           a
           proof
           as
           the
           matter
           is
           not
           capable
           of
           ,
           and
           more
           than
           is
           sufficient
           for
           the
           proof
           of
           it
           .
           But
           that
           there
           is
           such
           a
           proof
           for
           the
           Divine
           Authority
           
           of
           Scripture
           as
           is
           sufficient
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           will
           be
           evident
           if
           we
           shew
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           the
           Scriptures
           have
           for
           proof
           of
           their
           Inspiration
           ,
           the
           Testimony
           of
           such
           as
           were
           Inspired
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           they
           were
           written
           by
           Persons
           Inspired
           ,
           and
           that
           were
           Inspired
           when
           they
           writ
           them
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           That
           they
           are
           worthy
           of
           such
           Authors
           ,
           and
           have
           upon
           them
           the
           Characters
           of
           such
           Inspiration
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           Scriptures
           have
           for
           proof
           of
           their
           Inspiration
           ,
           the
           Testimony
           of
           such
           as
           were
           Inspired
           .
           The
           Testimony
           of
           Persons
           Inspired
           is
           as
           much
           a
           Proof
           of
           Inspiration
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           had
           been
           a
           matter
           they
           themselves
           were
           Inspired
           with
           ;
           and
           therefore
           the
           Evidence
           that
           we
           have
           for
           the
           Inspiration
           of
           such
           Persons
           ,
           is
           a
           sufficient
           Evidence
           for
           the
           Inspiration
           they
           give
           Testimony
           to
           .
           As
           for
           instance
           ,
           suppose
           that
           we
           have
           not
           as
           good
           evidence
           for
           the
           Inspiration
           of
           the
           Old
           Testament
           as
           we
           have
           for
           the
           New
           ;
           yet
           if
           the
           New
           doth
           justify
           the
           Inspiration
           of
           the
           Old
           ,
           quotes
           it
           as
           such
           ,
           and
           bestows
           that
           Character
           upon
           it
           ;
           then
           by
           vertue
           of
           such
           a
           Testimony
           ,
           we
           have
           as
           good
           Evidence
           for
           the
           Old
           as
           we
           have
           for
           the
           New.
           The
           meer
           Quotation
           
           of
           a
           Book
           by
           an
           Inspired
           Person
           ,
           whether
           as
           to
           the
           Author
           ,
           Words
           ,
           or
           Matter
           ,
           doth
           not
           give
           the
           like
           Authority
           to
           that
           with
           what
           he
           himself
           
           doth
           write
           by
           Divine
           Inspiration
           ;
           for
           then
           Aratus
           and
           
             Menander
             ,
             Epimenides
          
           and
           Callimachus
           ,
           who
           were
           Heathens
           ,
           and
           are
           Quoted
           by
           St.
           Paul
           ,
           would
           become
           Inspired
           Writers
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           Scriptures
           of
           the
           Old
           Testament
           are
           cited
           by
           our
           Saviour
           and
           the
           Apostles
           as
           the
           Oracles
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           as
           Books
           of
           Divine
           Authority
           ,
           and
           which
           they
           produce
           and
           appeal
           to
           upon
           all
           occasions
           in
           justification
           of
           the
           Doctrine
           which
           they
           taught
           :
           So
           we
           are
           told
           that
           
             all
             Scripture
          
           ,
           
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           or
           the
           whole
           Scripture
           (
           as
           
             Dionysius
             Carthus
          
           .
           expounds
           it
           )
           
             is
             given
             by
             Inspiration
             of
             God.
             
          
        
         
           And
           what
           is
           meant
           by
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           is
           no
           other
           than
           what
           was
           generally
           received
           by
           the
           
           Jewish
           Church
           as
           such
           ,
           and
           which
           our
           Saviour
           distributes
           after
           their
           manner
           into
           the
           Three
           known
           parts
           ,
           viz.
           The
           Law
           of
           Moses
           ,
           the
           Prophets
           ,
           and
           the
           Psalms
           :
           Which
           division
           comprehended
           in
           it
           all
           the
           several
           Books
           ;
           the
           Prophets
           containing
           not
           only
           the
           Books
           properly
           so
           called
           ,
           but
           also
           the
           Historical
           ,
           as
           written
           by
           Inspired
           Persons
           ;
           and
           the
           Psalms
           containing
           all
           the
           Poetical
           .
        
         
         
           And
           they
           descend
           yet
           lower
           ;
           for
           of
           the
           Thirty
           nine
           Books
           of
           the
           Old
           Testament
           ,
           there
           are
           very
           few
           ,
           not
           above
           Seven
           or
           Eight
           ,
           but
           what
           are
           quoted
           in
           the
           New
           Testament
           by
           Name
           ,
           or
           for
           some
           remarkable
           Passage
           ,
           and
           as
           Books
           of
           the
           same
           Character
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           if
           we
           can
           prove
           our
           Saviour
           to
           be
           infallible
           ,
           and
           the
           Evangelists
           and
           Apostles
           inspired
           (
           as
           we
           have
           done
           before
           ,
           when
           we
           proved
           the
           Matter
           revealed
           by
           them
           to
           have
           been
           of
           Divine
           Authority
           )
           ,
           at
           the
           same
           time
           we
           prove
           the
           Scriptures
           of
           the
           Old
           Testament
           to
           be
           of
           Divine
           Inspiration
           ;
           because
           they
           had
           this
           Testimony
           and
           Credit
           given
           to
           them
           by
           those
           that
           were
           themselves
           Infallible
           and
           Inspired
           .
        
         
           
             The
             like
             Testimony
             have
             we
             for
             the
             Divine
             Authority
             of
             St.
          
           Paul
           
             's
             Epistles
             ,
             by
             St.
          
           Peter
           ,
           
           
             who
             gives
             them
             the
             same
             Title
             of
          
           Scripture
           
             with
             the
             Books
             that
             were
             of
             the
          
           Jewish
           Canon
           ;
           Our
           beloved
           brother
           Paul
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           wisdom
           given
           unto
           him
           ,
           hath
           written
           unto
           you
           ,
           as
           also
           in
           all
           his
           Epistles
           :
           —
           Which
           they
           that
           are
           unlearned
           and
           unstable
           wrest
           ,
           as
           also
           the
           Other
           Scriptures
           .
        
         
           But
           though
           this
           be
           a
           good
           and
           sufficient
           Proof
           ,
           where
           it
           may
           be
           had
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           not
           applicable
           to
           all
           ;
           since
           the
           last
           of
           the
           Inspired
           Writers
           could
           have
           no
           such
           Evidence
           ;
           as
           Malachi
           among
           the
           
           Jews
           ;
           and
           St.
           John
           in
           the
           Primitive
           Church
           ,
           who
           survived
           all
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Divine
           Penmen
           .
           And
           therefore
           where
           this
           Proof
           of
           the
           Attestation
           given
           to
           some
           is
           wanting
           as
           to
           others
           ,
           we
           must
           have
           recourse
           to
           other
           Arguments
           that
           will
           supply
           what
           is
           deficient
           .
           The
           Old
           Testament
           has
           the
           Testimony
           of
           the
           New
           to
           vouch
           for
           its
           Divine
           Authority
           ;
           but
           what
           can
           thus
           testify
           to
           the
           New
           ,
           when
           there
           is
           no
           other
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           no
           Inspired
           Persons
           to
           come
           after
           ?
        
         
           But
           this
           will
           be
           help'd
           by
           the
           next
           Evidence
           ,
           which
           is
           ,
           That
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Scriptures
           were
           written
           by
           Persons
           Inspired
           ,
           and
           that
           were
           Inspired
           in
           the
           writing
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           They
           were
           written
           by
           Persons
           Inspired
           :
           Thereby
           is
           meant
           ,
           that
           whoever
           were
           the
           Authors
           ,
           known
           or
           unknown
           ,
           we
           have
           yet
           good
           and
           sufficient
           Evidence
           that
           the
           Penmen
           were
           Inspired
           both
           as
           to
           the
           Matter
           and
           Manner
           or
           Way
           of
           Writing
           .
           (
           But
           this
           belongs
           to
           another
           place
           .
           )
           Or
           that
           the
           Authors
           of
           those
           Books
           were
           the
           same
           that
           before
           taught
           by
           Inspiration
           .
        
         
           That
           the
           Writers
           of
           the
           Old
           Testament
           were
           of
           this
           kind
           ,
           we
           have
           already
           proved
           from
           the
           Testimony
           of
           the
           New
           ,
           as
           far
           as
           that
           is
           of
           Authority
           to
           verify
           it
           .
        
         
         
           And
           that
           the
           Evangelists
           and
           Apostles
           ,
           whom
           we
           have
           before
           proved
           to
           be
           Inspired
           ,
           were
           the
           Authors
           of
           the
           Books
           of
           the
           New
           Testament
           ,
           we
           have
           as
           good
           Assurance
           as
           the
           Jews
           had
           that
           the
           Pentateuch
           was
           written
           by
           Moses
           ,
           or
           the
           Psalms
           by
           David
           ;
           or
           that
           ever
           there
           were
           such
           Philosophers
           as
           Plato
           and
           Aristotle
           ,
           or
           such
           Physicians
           as
           Hippocrates
           and
           Galen
           ,
           or
           any
           Books
           writ
           by
           them
           .
        
         
           Nay
           ,
           so
           much
           the
           stronger
           Evidence
           have
           we
           ,
           as
           it
           has
           been
           the
           Duty
           (
           as
           they
           thought
           )
           and
           the
           Interest
           of
           so
           considerable
           a
           part
           of
           mankind
           as
           the
           Christians
           are
           ,
           to
           preserve
           these
           Records
           safe
           and
           entire
           ,
           and
           to
           take
           care
           that
           they
           be
           such
           in
           all
           points
           as
           they
           received
           them
           ;
           and
           consequently
           according
           to
           their
           sense
           of
           them
           they
           are
           of
           Divine
           Inspiration
           ,
           and
           wrote
           by
           those
           Inspired
           Persons
           .
           And
           for
           which
           there
           can
           be
           no
           greater
           Evidence
           than
           this
           sort
           of
           Tradition
           ;
           unless
           we
           would
           have
           God
           reveal
           to
           every
           particular
           person
           ,
           That
           the
           Authors
           of
           those
           Books
           were
           Inspired
           ;
           or
           point
           it
           out
           by
           some
           special
           Miracles
           ,
           which
           shall
           serve
           as
           the
           Star
           to
           the
           Wise
           Men
           ,
           to
           direct
           us
           to
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           since
           this
           is
           wanting
           ,
           and
           cannot
           reasonably
           be
           expected
           ,
           we
           must
           rest
           satisfied
           with
           that
           which
           is
           the
           only
           possible
           Evidence
           ,
           and
           
           which
           not
           only
           the
           Primitive
           Christians
           did
           admit
           as
           sufficient
           ,
           but
           was
           not
           contested
           by
           the
           most
           violent
           Adversaries
           of
           their
           Religion
           :
           Among
           whom
           the
           Question
           was
           not
           ,
           Whether
           the
           Persons
           reputed
           to
           be
           Inspired
           ,
           were
           the
           Authors
           of
           those
           Books
           ?
           or
           ,
           Whether
           those
           whose
           Authors
           are
           not
           known
           ,
           were
           of
           the
           same
           condition
           with
           those
           that
           were
           known
           ?
           but
           ,
           Whether
           the
           matters
           of
           that
           supposed
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           contained
           in
           those
           Books
           ,
           were
           true
           ,
           and
           that
           those
           Authors
           were
           sincere
           Relaters
           of
           it
           ?
        
         
           And
           whereas
           there
           were
           some
           Books
           of
           Scripture
           that
           were
           not
           so
           early
           and
           universally
           embraced
           as
           others
           ,
           yet
           they
           were
           not
           so
           much
           
           doubted
           of
           as
           to
           their
           Authority
           ,
           as
           the
           Authors
           ,
           (
           such
           as
           the
           Epistle
           to
           the
           Hebrews
           ,
           the
           second
           and
           third
           of
           St.
           John
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Revelation
             )
          
           ;
           unless
           it
           were
           by
           the
           Alogi
           that
           Epiphanius
           writes
           of
           ,
           who
           rejected
           the
           Works
           of
           St.
           John
           as
           not
           agreeable
           to
           their
           Opinion
           ,
           That
           Christ
           was
           a
           mere
           Man.
           
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           The
           Sacred
           Penmen
           were
           Inspired
           in
           their
           Writing
           ,
           in
           the
           sense
           before
           spoken
           of
           ,
           p.
           4.
           
           For
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           There
           was
           as
           much
           need
           to
           Write
           ,
           as
           to
           Teach
           ;
           to
           Write
           with
           respect
           to
           the
           absent
           ,
           and
           to
           Posterity
           ;
           as
           to
           Teach
           and
           Preach
           to
           the
           
           present
           ;
           for
           there
           is
           no
           other
           way
           to
           Teach
           in
           those
           cases
           ,
           than
           by
           Tradition
           or
           Writing
           .
           But
           the
           Defect
           which
           those
           Holy
           Men
           found
           all
           their
           Discourses
           labour'd
           under
           as
           to
           their
           Conveyance
           by
           Tradition
           ,
           through
           the
           infirmity
           of
           Human
           Nature
           ,
           and
           an
           incapacity
           of
           transmitting
           the
           Matters
           now
           contained
           in
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           to
           future
           Ages
           in
           that
           way
           ,
           without
           Prejudice
           ,
           Corruption
           ,
           and
           Abuse
           ,
           disposed
           them
           ,
           under
           the
           direction
           of
           the
           Holy
           Spirit
           ,
           to
           commit
           them
           to
           Writing
           .
           So
           St.
           John
           20.
           31.
           
           
             These
             things
             are
             written
             ,
             that
             ye
             might
             believe
             .
          
           So
           St.
           Peter
           ,
           2
           Pet.
           1.
           5.
           
           
             I
             will
             endeavour
             that
             ye
             may
             be
             able
             after
             my
             decease
             to
             have
             these
             things
             always
             in
             remembrance
             .
          
        
         
           2.
           
           There
           was
           as
           much
           need
           to
           Write
           by
           Inspiration
           ,
           as
           to
           Teach
           by
           Inspiration
           ,
           for
           Writing
           is
           but
           another
           way
           of
           Teaching
           .
           And
           if
           the
           Apostles
           had
           the
           Assistance
           of
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           in
           all
           matters
           of
           moment
           when
           they
           Taught
           ,
           it
           is
           reasonable
           to
           suppose
           (
           had
           we
           no
           other
           Evidence
           for
           it
           )
           that
           in
           the
           same
           Circumstances
           they
           had
           the
           same
           Assistance
           in
           what
           they
           Writ
           .
        
         
           Nay
           ,
           so
           much
           the
           more
           might
           it
           reasonably
           be
           expected
           ,
           that
           they
           should
           have
           the
           Assistance
           of
           that
           Divine
           Power
           operating
           upon
           their
           Minds
           ,
           and
           guiding
           ,
           as
           it
           were
           ,
           their
           Pen
           in
           
           what
           they
           Writ
           ;
           as
           what
           they
           Writ
           was
           to
           continue
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           a
           Standard
           of
           Faith
           ,
           and
           Rule
           of
           Life
           to
           all
           Ages
           :
           Whereas
           what
           they
           Taught
           could
           continue
           no
           longer
           than
           the
           Memories
           of
           fallible
           men
           could
           retain
           it
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           we
           may
           conclude
           ,
           That
           if
           they
           Taught
           and
           Preach'd
           by
           the
           special
           Assistance
           of
           the
           Holy
           Spirit
           ,
           they
           were
           also
           under
           the
           Conduct
           of
           it
           when
           they
           Writ
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           Those
           Divine
           Penmen
           conceived
           themselves
           to
           be
           alike
           Inspired
           in
           what
           they
           Writ
           ,
           as
           in
           what
           they
           taught
           .
           Therefore
           we
           generally
           
           find
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           and
           St.
           Paul
           always
           ,
           unless
           when
           he
           writes
           in
           conjunction
           with
           others
           ,
           to
           begin
           their
           Epistles
           with
           a
           Declaration
           of
           their
           Commission
           and
           Authority
           by
           virtue
           of
           their
           Office
           ,
           
             Paul
             an
             Apostle
          
           ,
           &c.
           requiring
           the
           same
           regard
           and
           the
           like
           submission
           to
           what
           they
           Writ
           ,
           as
           to
           what
           they
           Spoke
           when
           present
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           they
           thus
           magnified
           their
           Office
           ,
           so
           they
           writ
           as
           from
           Christ
           himself
           ,
           after
           this
           and
           the
           like
           form
           ,
           
             Grace
             be
             to
             you
             ,
             and
             peace
             from
             God
             our
             father
             ,
             and
             the
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
          
           Rom.
           1.
           7
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           
             Nay
             ,
             they
             insist
             upon
             their
             Inspiration
             ,
             which
             they
             received
             when
             they
             writ
             ,
             to
             gain
             it
             Authority
             with
             those
             they
             wrote
             to
             .
             So
             St.
          
           Paul
           ,
           
           
             Gal.
             1.
             1.
          
           
           Paul
           an
           Apostle
           ,
           not
           of
           men
           ,
           neither
           by
           man
           ,
           but
           by
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           &c.
           
           
             Ver.
             11
             ,
             12.
          
           
           I
           certify
           you
           ,
           brethren
           ,
           that
           the
           Gospel
           which
           was
           preached
           of
           me
           ,
           is
           not
           after
           man
           ;
           for
           I
           neither
           received
           it
           of
           man
           ,
           nor
           was
           I
           taught
           it
           but
           by
           the
           Revelation
           of
           Jesus
           Christ
           .
           
             And
             that
             Apostle
             expresly
             saith
          
           ,
           The
           things
           that
           I
           write
           unto
           you
           are
           the
           commandments
           of
           the
           Lord
           ,
           
             1
             Cor.
             14.
             37.
             2
             
             Cor.
             1.
             13.
             
          
        
         
           
             So
             St.
          
           Peter
           ,
           
             1
             Epist
             .
             5.
             12.
          
           
           I
           have
           written
           briefly
           ,
           exhorting
           and
           testifying
           ,
           that
           this
           is
           the
           true
           grace
           of
           God
           ,
           wherein
           ye
           stand
           .
        
         
           Now
           if
           they
           conceived
           themselves
           to
           be
           Inspired
           in
           Writing
           ,
           who
           themselves
           were
           Inspired
           (
           as
           has
           been
           before
           proved
           )
           and
           did
           Write
           with
           the
           same
           Apostolical
           Authority
           as
           they
           Taught
           ,
           it
           is
           certain
           that
           they
           were
           Inspir'd
           in
           Writing
           ;
           for
           they
           were
           the
           best
           Judges
           of
           their
           own
           Inspiration
           ,
           and
           could
           best
           know
           when
           they
           were
           Inspired
           .
           And
           therefore
           if
           any
           would
           undertake
           to
           disprove
           the
           Divine
           Authority
           or
           Inspiration
           of
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           ,
           they
           must
           first
           of
           all
           prove
           that
           those
           Writers
           were
           not
           inspired
           ,
           nor
           did
           ever
           give
           sufficient
           Evidence
           that
           they
           were
           Inspired
           .
           But
           if
           they
           were
           Inspired
           ,
           and
           do
           withal
           declare
           that
           they
           Wrote
           those
           Books
           by
           Inspiration
           ,
           we
           have
           as
           much
           reason
           to
           receive
           those
           Books
           as
           such
           upon
           their
           Affirmation
           ,
           as
           we
           
           have
           no
           believe
           that
           they
           themselves
           were
           Inspired
           ,
           or
           did
           ever
           Teach
           by
           Inspiration
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           There
           is
           the
           same
           Proof
           for
           the
           Inspiration
           of
           the
           Apostolical
           Writers
           ,
           in
           their
           Writing
           ,
           as
           their
           Teaching
           ,
           as
           what
           they
           Write
           is
           the
           same
           with
           what
           they
           Taught
           ;
           and
           therefore
           what
           they
           Taught
           being
           confirmed
           by
           sufficient
           Evidence
           to
           be
           from
           God
           ,
           so
           must
           what
           they
           Writ
           ;
           the
           same
           Proofs
           that
           belong
           to
           the
           one
           ,
           belonging
           to
           the
           other
           .
           And
           accordingly
           they
           in
           their
           Writings
           often
           appeal
           to
           what
           they
           Taught
           ,
           as
           concordant
           with
           what
           they
           Writ
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           Testimony
           given
           to
           the
           one
           for
           the
           confirmation
           of
           the
           other
           .
        
         
           
             They
             appeal
             to
             what
             they
             Taught
             :
             So
             St.
          
           Paul
           ,
           
             2
             Cor.
             2.
             13.
          
           
           I
           write
           none
           other
           things
           to
           you
           ,
           than
           what
           you
           read
           ,
           
             or
             know
          
           and
           acknowledge
           .
           
             So
             Gal.
             1.
             8
             ,
             9.
             
          
           Though
           we
           or
           an
           angel
           from
           heaven
           preach
           any
           other
           gospel
           unto
           you
           than
           that
           ye
           have
           received
           ,
           let
           him
           be
           accursed
           .
        
         
           So
           they
           appeal
           to
           the
           Evidences
           of
           their
           Inspiration
           in
           Teaching
           ,
           for
           a
           confirmation
           of
           what
           they
           Writ
           :
           So
           2
           Cor.
           12.
           12.
           
           
             Truly
             the
             signs
             of
             an
             Apostle
             were
             wrought
             among
             you
             in
             all
             patience
             ,
             and
             signs
             and
             wonders
             ,
             and
             mighty
             deeds
             .
          
           Gal.
           3.
           5.
           
           
             He
             that
             ministreth
             to
             you
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             and
             worketh
             miracles
             among
             you
             ,
             doth
             he
             it
             by
             the
             works
             of
             the
             Law
             ,
             or
          
           
           
             the
             hearing
             of
             Faith
          
           ?
           From
           whence
           it
           is
           that
           the
           Apostles
           challenge
           the
           same
           regard
           to
           be
           paid
           to
           their
           Writings
           ,
           as
           their
           Teaching
           ;
           which
           they
           could
           not
           have
           done
           ,
           were
           not
           their
           Writings
           of
           as
           good
           Authority
           as
           their
           Teaching
           ,
           and
           were
           they
           not
           alike
           directed
           and
           assisted
           in
           the
           one
           as
           the
           other
           .
           So
           St.
           Paul
           ,
           1
           Cor.
           4.
           1.
           
           
             Let
             a
             man
             so
             account
             of
             us
             as
             of
             the
             ministers
             of
             Christ
             ,
          
           or
           Apostles
           .
           1
           Cor.
           5.
           3
           ,
           4.
           
           
             I
             verily
             ,
             as
             absent
             in
             body
             ,
             but
             present
             in
             spirit
             ,
             have
             judged
             already
             as
             though
             I
             were
             present
             ,
             &c.
             in
             the
             name
             of
             the
             Lord
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             when
             ye
             are
             gathered
             together
             ,
             and
             my
             Spirit
             ,
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           All
           which
           is
           to
           give
           Authority
           to
           what
           they
           writ
           ;
           but
           what
           Authority
           could
           that
           be
           of
           to
           oblige
           others
           to
           receive
           it
           ,
           if
           they
           themselves
           received
           it
           not
           by
           Inspiration
           ;
           and
           that
           their
           Teaching
           and
           Writing
           were
           not
           the
           same
           ,
           and
           obtained
           in
           the
           same
           way
           ?
        
         
           3.
           
           The
           Holy
           Scriptures
           are
           worthy
           of
           such
           Authors
           as
           were
           Inspired
           ,
           and
           have
           upon
           them
           the
           Characters
           of
           such
           Inspiration
           .
        
         
           
           I
           have
           before
           proved
           ,
           That
           the
           Matter
           contained
           in
           Scripture
           has
           upon
           it
           the
           Characters
           of
           a
           Divine
           Revelation
           .
           But
           the
           Design
           before
           us
           now
           is
           ,
           to
           shew
           ,
           That
           the
           Writing
           it self
           has
           upon
           it
           such
           Characters
           as
           
           will
           entitle
           it
           to
           Divine
           Inspiration
           ,
           and
           is
           worthy
           of
           such
           Persons
           to
           write
           ,
           as
           were
           Inspired
           .
           And
           that
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           If
           we
           consider
           who
           the
           Persons
           were
           that
           were
           the
           Penmen
           of
           the
           Sacred
           Writ
           ;
           that
           were
           as
           well
           Ignorant
           and
           Illiterate
           ,
           as
           Learned
           .
           
           Thus
           we
           find
           in
           the
           Old
           Testament
           ,
           an
           Amos
           that
           was
           no
           Prophet
           ,
           nor
           Prophet's
           Son
           ,
           nor
           bred
           up
           in
           their
           Schools
           ,
           but
           an
           Herdman
           ,
           and
           Gatherer
           of
           Sycamore
           ▪
           fruit
           ,
           is
           made
           at
           once
           a
           Prophet
           ,
           and
           as
           Inspired
           ,
           as
           the
           Great
           ,
           the
           Noble
           ,
           and
           Eloquent
           Isaiah
           :
           And
           under
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           we
           find
           a
           Matthew
           and
           a
           John
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           a
           Luke
           ;
           a
           Peter
           as
           well
           as
           a
           Paul.
           For
           when
           the
           Workmanship
           proceeds
           not
           from
           the
           Hand
           ,
           but
           the
           Intelligent
           Mind
           ;
           not
           from
           the
           Instrument
           ,
           but
           the
           Efficient
           ;
           it
           is
           not
           what
           the
           Hand
           ,
           the
           Instrument
           ,
           and
           Agent
           is
           ,
           but
           what
           the
           Efficient
           pleases
           ;
           and
           so
           God
           could
           make
           an
           Apostle
           and
           an
           Inspired
           Person
           out
           of
           an
           Illiterate
           Fisherman
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           out
           of
           him
           that
           sate
           at
           the
           Feet
           of
           Gamaliel
           .
           For
           
             God
             chose
             the
             foolish
             things
             of
             the
             world
             to
             confound
             the
             wise
             ,
             and
             the
             weak
             things
             of
             the
             world
             to
             confound
             the
             things
             which
             are
             mighty
             ,
             &c.
             that
             no
             flesh
             should
             glory
             in
             his
             presence
             ,
          
           1
           Cor.
           1.
           27.
           
        
         
         
           And
           as
           it
           was
           in
           Preaching
           ,
           so
           it
           is
           in
           Writing
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           in
           which
           God
           no
           less
           gave
           them
           a
           Mind
           to
           indite
           ,
           than
           a
           Mouth
           and
           Wisdom
           in
           Teaching
           ,
           to
           speak
           .
           So
           that
           they
           needed
           no
           
           more
           to
           meditate
           before
           ,
           what
           to
           write
           ,
           than
           in
           that
           case
           what
           they
           should
           answer
           .
           It
           was
           there
           
             as
             the
             Spirit
             gave
             them
             utterance
             ,
          
           and
           here
           as
           that
           did
           direct
           ,
           and
           assist
           ,
           or
           suggest
           .
           St.
           Paul
           exhorts
           Timothy
           ,
           
             to
             give
             attendance
             to
             reading
          
           ,
           till
           he
           himself
           should
           come
           to
           give
           him
           farther
           Instruction
           ;
           and
           to
           
             meditate
             and
             give
             himself
             wholly
             to
             them
             ,
             that
             his
             profiting
             might
             appear
             to
             all
             ,
          
           1
           Tim.
           4.
           13
           ,
           &c.
           
           But
           we
           find
           no
           such
           dependance
           on
           human
           means
           in
           what
           they
           wrote
           :
           Then
           it
           is
           
             Paul
             an
             Apostle
             ,
             not
             of
             men
             ,
             neither
             by
             man
             ,
             but
             by
             Jesus
             ,
             and
             God
             the
             Father
          
           ;
           the
           Gospel
           he
           wrote
           was
           the
           same
           he
           taught
           ;
           and
           which
           when
           he
           wrote
           ,
           he
           no
           more
           received
           from
           man
           ,
           than
           when
           he
           taught
           ,
           and
           which
           he
           was
           
             taught
             by
             the
             revelation
             of
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
          
           Gal.
           1.
           1
           ,
           11
           ,
           12.
           
        
         
           And
           therefore
           where
           all
           was
           by
           Revelation
           ,
           it
           was
           not
           as
           the
           Man
           was
           ,
           but
           as
           he
           was
           made
           :
           And
           as
           St.
           Peter
           was
           as
           much
           an
           Apostle
           ,
           an
           Inspired
           Teacher
           ,
           so
           he
           was
           as
           much
           a
           Divine
           Writer
           as
           St.
           Paul
           ,
           and
           writes
           with
           the
           same
           Divine
           Power
           and
           Authority
           ,
           and
           with
           as
           much
           Certainty
           and
           Infallibility
           .
        
         
         
           So
           that
           there
           are
           as
           few
           Objections
           (
           if
           we
           strictly
           consider
           it
           )
           made
           against
           the
           most
           Illiterate
           as
           the
           most
           Learned
           of
           the
           Inspired
           Writers
           ;
           against
           St.
           Matthew
           and
           John
           ,
           as
           against
           St.
           Luke
           ;
           against
           St.
           Peter
           ,
           as
           St.
           Paul.
           But
           now
           if
           those
           Writers
           had
           wrote
           
             after
             man
          
           (
           in
           St.
           
           Paul's
           Phrase
           )
           and
           purely
           from
           themselves
           ,
           As
           it
           was
           naturally
           impossible
           that
           ever
           those
           Unlearned
           Persons
           should
           apply
           themselves
           to
           study
           at
           the
           Age
           of
           St.
           Peter
           ,
           and
           write
           of
           the
           most
           sublime
           Arguments
           more
           to
           the
           satisfaction
           of
           Mankind
           than
           the
           profoundest
           Philosophers
           ;
           so
           it
           was
           impossible
           but
           that
           in
           their
           Compositions
           they
           should
           have
           been
           guilty
           of
           manifold
           Mistakes
           ,
           when
           they
           wrote
           of
           such
           various
           Points
           ,
           and
           Points
           of
           no
           small
           difficulty
           to
           explicate
           .
           But
           when
           the
           Unlearned
           of
           them
           are
           as
           free
           from
           Error
           as
           the
           Learned
           ,
           and
           as
           little
           liable
           to
           exception
           in
           what
           they
           writ
           ,
           't
           is
           evident
           they
           writ
           from
           the
           same
           Spirit
           with
           ,
           and
           had
           the
           same
           Assistance
           as
           the
           Learned
           .
        
         
           And
           therefore
           the
           supposed
           Errors
           in
           any
           of
           them
           could
           not
           proceed
           from
           Inadvertency
           ,
           or
           Unskilfulness
           ,
           or
           want
           of
           right
           Information
           ;
           but
           are
           rather
           Errors
           supposed
           and
           imaginary
           ,
           than
           real
           ;
           the
           Mistakes
           of
           the
           Reader
           or
           Transcriber
           ,
           rather
           than
           of
           the
           Penmen
           ;
           as
           I
           have
           already
           shewed
           .
           
             (
             Serm.
          
           IV.
           )
        
         
         
           For
           if
           the
           Errors
           had
           proceeded
           immediately
           from
           the
           Writer
           ,
           they
           would
           have
           appeared
           more
           in
           the
           Composures
           of
           the
           Unlearned
           than
           the
           Learned
           :
           But
           when
           the
           Unlearned
           are
           as
           free
           from
           them
           as
           the
           Learned
           ,
           't
           is
           an
           unquestionable
           sign
           that
           the
           Unlearned
           wrote
           from
           the
           same
           Spirit
           as
           the
           Learned
           ,
           and
           both
           from
           a
           Spirit
           that
           is
           Divine
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Scriptures
           will
           appear
           to
           be
           worthy
           of
           such
           Authors
           as
           are
           Inspired
           ,
           if
           we
           consider
           the
           way
           in
           which
           they
           are
           written
           ,
           which
           though
           not
           with
           
             excellency
             of
             speech
             ,
             or
             of
             wisdom
             ,
          
           that
           is
           ,
           
           human
           ,
           yet
           have
           such
           a
           Majesty
           and
           Authority
           shining
           through
           the
           whole
           ,
           as
           gives
           them
           a
           Lustre
           as
           much
           beyond
           other
           Books
           ,
           as
           the
           Bodies
           of
           Angels
           which
           they
           assumed
           for
           some
           special
           service
           ,
           excelled
           those
           of
           Mortals
           ,
           and
           that
           were
           of
           a
           Natural
           Composition
           ;
           and
           of
           which
           we
           may
           say
           in
           the
           like
           Phrase
           as
           Nicodemus
           of
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           That
           none
           could
           write
           after
           this
           manner
           ,
           
             except
             God
             were
             with
             them
          
           .
        
         
           I
           freely
           acknowledge
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           not
           written
           according
           to
           the
           ordinary
           Rules
           of
           Art
           and
           Method
           ,
           which
           Almighty
           God
           is
           no
           more
           obliged
           to
           observe
           ,
           than
           he
           is
           to
           govern
           the
           World
           by
           the
           Methods
           and
           Rules
           that
           are
           ordinarily
           observed
           among
           Mankind
           .
        
         
         
           For
           as
           in
           the
           Government
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           where
           there
           are
           different
           Ends
           to
           pursue
           ,
           and
           divers
           Means
           to
           be
           made
           use
           of
           ,
           God
           confines
           not
           himself
           to
           act
           as
           we
           would
           in
           such
           cases
           ,
           but
           acts
           above
           all
           Rule
           known
           to
           us
           ,
           and
           sometimes
           punishes
           where
           we
           would
           spare
           ,
           and
           spares
           where
           we
           would
           punish
           ;
           sometimes
           gives
           to
           those
           that
           we
           would
           deprive
           of
           such
           Favours
           ,
           and
           deprives
           those
           of
           them
           to
           whom
           we
           should
           think
           fit
           to
           give
           :
           So
           it
           is
           in
           the
           Divine
           Composures
           ,
           in
           which
           he
           makes
           use
           of
           different
           Hands
           and
           Instruments
           ,
           as
           there
           are
           different
           Tempers
           in
           Mankind
           :
           He
           makes
           use
           of
           the
           Poetical
           Vein
           in
           David
           ,
           the
           Oratory
           of
           an
           Isaiah
           ,
           the
           Rusticity
           of
           an
           Amos
           ,
           the
           Elegancy
           of
           a
           Luke
           ,
           the
           Plainness
           of
           a
           Peter
           ,
           the
           Profoundness
           of
           a
           Paul
           ,
           to
           serve
           the
           common
           Design
           of
           instructing
           Mankind
           in
           the
           knowledge
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           their
           Duty
           to
           him
           ,
           without
           that
           Artificial
           Method
           which
           the
           Learned
           Part
           of
           the
           World
           expect
           to
           find
           ,
           and
           think
           fit
           to
           observe
           .
        
         
           The
           Heavens
           and
           the
           Earth
           have
           upon
           them
           the
           Signatures
           of
           an
           Almighty
           Power
           and
           Wisdom
           ,
           and
           which
           we
           may
           with
           David
           employ
           our
           most
           serious
           Hours
           in
           the
           Contemplation
           of
           ,
           with
           Pleasure
           and
           Advantage
           .
           But
           yet
           there
           is
           no
           strict
           Order
           visible
           to
           us
           ,
           nor
           can
           
           be
           observed
           by
           us
           in
           the
           Situation
           of
           the
           Constellations
           ;
           nor
           can
           we
           give
           a
           reason
           why
           Orion
           and
           the
           Pleiades
           ,
           or
           Arcturus
           ,
           are
           placed
           in
           that
           Quarter
           of
           the
           Heavens
           which
           is
           assigned
           them
           :
           And
           the
           Earth
           is
           not
           like
           a
           Garden
           laid
           out
           in
           order
           ,
           but
           rather
           there
           seems
           to
           us
           a
           rude
           Variety
           in
           the
           disposition
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           yet
           notwithstanding
           ,
           who
           is
           there
           that
           doth
           not
           under
           all
           these
           seeming
           Disadvantages
           ,
           find
           out
           the
           Traces
           of
           a
           Divine
           Original
           ,
           and
           enough
           to
           entitle
           God
           to
           the
           Creation
           of
           all
           ?
           And
           so
           it
           is
           in
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           ,
           where
           there
           often
           seems
           wanting
           the
           Accomplishments
           of
           Human
           Eloquence
           ,
           
             the
             enticing
             words
             of
             man's
             wisdom
             ,
          
           and
           that
           Decorum
           and
           Artifice
           which
           the
           Books
           of
           Human
           Contrivance
           and
           Invention
           are
           embellished
           with
           :
           But
           as
           the
           Apostle
           saith
           ,
           when
           he
           declined
           
             the
             words
             which
             man's
             wisdom
          
           (
           whether
           of
           Philosophers
           or
           Orators
           )
           teacheth
           ,
           it
           was
           that
           their
           
             Faith
             might
             stand
             not
             in
             the
             wisdom
             of
             men
             ,
             but
             in
             the
          
           
           
             power
             of
             God
          
           :
           So
           we
           may
           see
           under
           the
           Veil
           of
           a
           seeming
           Irregularity
           so
           much
           Beauty
           shining
           forth
           ,
           and
           experiment
           so
           much
           Virtue
           proceeding
           from
           it
           ,
           that
           it
           will
           evidently
           appear
           ,
           that
           the
           less
           there
           is
           of
           Man
           in
           the
           Composure
           ,
           the
           more
           there
           is
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           can
           have
           none
           for
           its
           Author
           and
           Inditer
           but
           him
           ;
           and
           which
           
           Irregularity
           can
           no
           more
           detract
           from
           the
           Authority
           and
           Divine
           Inspiration
           of
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           than
           it
           can
           be
           questioned
           whether
           the
           Sun
           be
           the
           Fountain
           of
           Light
           ,
           because
           of
           what
           we
           that
           are
           at
           a
           vast
           distance
           from
           it
           ,
           call
           Spots
           .
           For
           we
           are
           at
           a
           great
           distance
           from
           the
           Apostolical
           Age
           ,
           and
           much
           more
           from
           the
           latest
           times
           of
           the
           Inspired
           Writers
           of
           the
           Old
           Testament
           ,
           and
           so
           must
           needs
           be
           under
           some
           difficulties
           from
           our
           unacquaintedness
           with
           the
           Style
           and
           Way
           of
           Writing
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Customs
           of
           those
           Ages
           .
           And
           there
           will
           be
           therefore
           some
           Spots
           and
           Dark
           Places
           in
           them
           as
           there
           are
           in
           the
           Sun
           ,
           not
           for
           want
           of
           Light
           and
           Elegance
           originally
           in
           them
           ,
           no
           more
           than
           for
           want
           of
           Light
           in
           the
           Sun
           ;
           but
           because
           of
           some
           Deficiency
           in
           our selves
           ,
           that
           are
           at
           a
           Distance
           ,
           and
           under
           such
           Circumstances
           as
           intercept
           our
           Sight
           ,
           and
           hinder
           us
           from
           making
           true
           and
           exact
           Observations
           .
           But
           if
           we
           could
           but
           stand
           ,
           as
           we
           are
           to
           judge
           of
           Pictures
           ,
           in
           the
           same
           Light
           in
           which
           they
           were
           drawn
           ;
           and
           had
           lived
           in
           the
           same
           Ages
           in
           which
           those
           Books
           were
           written
           ,
           we
           should
           be
           able
           to
           make
           a
           much
           truer
           Judgment
           ,
           and
           penetrate
           much
           farther
           into
           the
           meaning
           of
           them
           ,
           than
           we
           now
           can
           do
           .
        
         
         
           But
           now
           though
           all
           the
           Parts
           of
           Scripture
           are
           not
           equally
           alike
           ,
           but
           like
           the
           Inspired
           Writers
           themselves
           ,
           of
           whom
           some
           were
           bred
           up
           in
           the
           Nurseries
           of
           Learning
           ,
           and
           others
           fetch'd
           from
           the
           Fishery
           and
           the
           Sheepfold
           ;
           yet
           are
           they
           all
           plain
           in
           the
           same
           essential
           Doctrine
           ,
           and
           in
           which
           the
           Salvation
           of
           Mankind
           is
           concerned
           .
        
         
           And
           not
           only
           so
           ,
           but
           the
           Style
           and
           Order
           of
           Words
           ,
           if
           thoroughly
           understood
           as
           to
           their
           Propriety
           ,
           Elegance
           ,
           and
           Use
           ,
           would
           be
           very
           surprizing
           (
           if
           we
           may
           judge
           of
           what
           we
           do
           not
           know
           ,
           by
           what
           we
           do
           )
           ;
           which
           has
           not
           been
           unobserved
           even
           by
           some
           of
           the
           Heathens
           .
           It
           was
           
             Dionysius
             Longinus
          
           the
           Rhetorician
           ,
           that
           admired
           the
           Majesty
           and
           Sublimity
           of
           
           Moses's
           way
           of
           writing
           .
           It
           was
           Amelius
           the
           Platonist
           ,
           that
           at
           the
           same
           time
           as
           he
           call'd
           St.
           John
           a
           Barbarian
           (
           a
           Title
           which
           the
           Greeks
           and
           Romans
           bestow'd
           upon
           
           all
           but
           themselves
           )
           found
           in
           his
           Gospel
           the
           Wisdom
           of
           a
           Philosopher
           .
        
         
           But
           above
           all
           ,
           we
           may
           see
           the
           Footsteps
           of
           a
           Divine
           and
           Extraordinary
           Assistance
           in
           the
           admirable
           Discourses
           of
           our
           Saviour
           and
           the
           Apostles
           upon
           several
           occasions
           .
           Let
           us
           ,
           for
           instance
           ,
           take
           a
           view
           of
           our
           Saviour's
           last
           Discourse
           with
           the
           Disciples
           just
           before
           his
           Death
           ,
           as
           recorded
           by
           St.
           John
           ,
           chap.
           14.
           &c.
           Turn
           we
           again
           to
           
           that
           of
           St.
           Paul
           about
           a
           Future
           State
           ,
           and
           a
           Resurrection
           to
           it
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           subject
           of
           1
           Cor.
           15.
           
           See
           it
           again
           in
           the
           close
           and
           sensible
           Argumentations
           of
           the
           Author
           to
           the
           Hebrews
           .
           See
           it
           also
           in
           the
           very
           Digressions
           which
           those
           Holy
           Pen-men
           sometimes
           ,
           by
           breaking
           off
           from
           their
           Subject
           in
           hand
           for
           a
           while
           ,
           do
           fall
           upon
           ;
           where
           we
           shall
           find
           that
           which
           is
           equivalent
           to
           what
           is
           ordinarily
           said
           by
           the
           Prophets
           in
           the
           Messages
           they
           ▪
           delivered
           ,
           
             Thus
             saith
             the
             Lord
             ▪
          
           and
           what
           is
           as
           expresly
           said
           ,
           and
           will
           as
           much
           be
           found
           to
           be
           of
           Divine
           Revelation
           .
           It
           was
           certainly
           as
           much
           an
           effect
           of
           the
           Divine
           Power
           to
           Direct
           ,
           and
           Assist
           ,
           and
           even
           Inspire
           those
           Writers
           with
           such
           sublime
           Notions
           ,
           such
           convincing
           Arguments
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           of
           the
           Divine
           Commission
           to
           send
           the
           Prophets
           with
           Authority
           to
           publish
           the
           Divine
           Commands
           and
           
           Decrees
           .
           And
           therefore
           it
           is
           a
           very
           frivolous
           Exception
           which
           a
           late
           Author
           makes
           against
           the
           Divine
           Authority
           of
           the
           Apostolical
           Writings
           ,
           That
           they
           consist
           of
           long
           Deductions
           and
           Argumentations
           ;
           whereas
           ,
           saith
           he
           ,
           
             God
             doth
             not
             reason
             ,
             but
             command
             ,
          
           as
           he
           did
           by
           the
           Prophets
           .
           But
           how
           often
           do
           we
           find
           in
           the
           Prophets
           God
           arguing
           with
           the
           Jews
           about
           the
           Vanity
           of
           their
           Idolatry
           ,
           from
           the
           Incomprehensible
           Perfections
           of
           his
           Nature
           ,
           &
           c.
           ?
           How
           often
           
           using
           Arguments
           to
           convince
           them
           of
           their
           Immoralities
           and
           Impieties
           ?
           How
           often
           exhorting
           them
           to
           Repentance
           and
           Reformation
           ,
           from
           the
           most
           powerful
           Considerations
           ?
           And
           therefore
           why
           are
           the
           Apostles
           less
           inspired
           for
           that
           reason
           than
           the
           Prophets
           ?
           When
           God
           speaks
           to
           Men
           ,
           and
           teaches
           one
           man
           by
           another
           ,
           it
           is
           often
           after
           the
           manner
           of
           men
           ;
           and
           therefore
           as
           he
           doth
           sometimes
           require
           absolute
           Obedience
           to
           his
           Commands
           ,
           so
           at
           other
           times
           he
           condescends
           so
           far
           as
           to
           shew
           them
           the
           Equity
           and
           the
           Reasonableness
           of
           them
           ,
           both
           equally
           becoming
           the
           Divine
           Majesty
           ,
           and
           which
           are
           a
           glorious
           Instance
           of
           the
           Divine
           Wisdom
           conspicuous
           throughout
           the
           Holy
           Scripture
           ;
           thereby
           adding
           both
           to
           the
           Excellency
           and
           the
           Usefulness
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           advancing
           it
           in
           both
           above
           any
           Book
           in
           the
           World.
           And
           for
           this
           ,
           take
           the
           Word
           of
           one
           (
           who
           is
           
           otherwise
           no
           Friend
           to
           our
           Religion
           ,
           or
           to
           the
           Divine
           Authority
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           )
           though
           in
           contradiction
           to
           himself
           .
        
         
           
             As
             the
             Lustre
             of
             an
             Oriental
             Diamond
             is
             more
             clearly
             perceived
             when
             compared
             with
             Counterfeit
             Stones
             ;
             so
             Christianity
             appears
             in
             its
             greatest
             Glory
             and
             Splendor
             ,
             when
             compared
             with
             the
             Obscurity
             of
             Paganism
             ;
             the
             Deformity
             of
             the
             one
             serving
             as
             a
             Foil
             to
             the
             
             other
             .
             Nor
             doth
             the
             Divinity
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             ever
             better
             appear
             ,
             than
             when
             compared
             with
             the
             Follies
             of
             the
             Talmud
             ,
             the
             Alchoran
             ,
             or
             the
             Constitutions
             of
             the
             Heathen
             Law-givers
             ;
             which
             is
             an
             infallible
             sign
             of
             their
             Excellence
             ,
             that
             they
             so
             well
             bear
             the
             Test
             of
             Comparison
             .
          
           Thus
           〈◊〉
           he
           .
        
         
           IV.
           General
           .
        
         
           How
           we
           prove
           the
           Books
           that
           are
           now
           extant
           ,
           and
           received
           by
           the
           Christian
           Church
           as
           Canonical
           ,
           to
           be
           those
           very
           Books
           that
           were
           writ
           by
           Persons
           Inspired
           ?
        
         
           Now
           this
           will
           receive
           a
           sufficient
           Answer
           ,
           if
           we
           prove
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           there
           were
           once
           such
           Books
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           these
           are
           the
           very
           Books
           which
           were
           once
           said
           to
           be
           Canonical
           and
           Inspired
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           That
           these
           Books
           are
           not
           corrupted
           ,
           so
           as
           not
           to
           be
           the
           Books
           now
           which
           once
           they
           were
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           first
           of
           these
           is
           not
           denied
           by
           the
           most
           violent
           Adversaries
           ,
           such
           as
           Appion
           was
           to
           the
           Jews
           ,
           and
           Celsus
           to
           the
           Christians
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           these
           are
           the
           Books
           which
           were
           heretofore
           Penn'd
           by
           Inspired
           Persons
           ,
           and
           received
           by
           the
           Universal
           Church
           as
           such
           ,
           we
           have
           as
           much
           Evidence
           as
           we
           have
           or
           can
           have
           for
           any
           thing
           past
           or
           distant
           in
           time
           or
           place
           from
           us
           ,
           
           and
           which
           we
           our selves
           have
           not
           seen
           :
           And
           if
           we
           call
           in
           question
           the
           Sufficiency
           of
           the
           Evidence
           ,
           or
           the
           Truth
           of
           what
           is
           proved
           by
           it
           ,
           we
           take
           away
           all
           the
           Evidence
           that
           we
           can
           have
           ,
           and
           the
           Truth
           and
           Certainty
           of
           whatever
           has
           been
           ,
           or
           is
           ,
           which
           we
           have
           not
           seen
           our selves
           .
           So
           that
           either
           these
           are
           those
           Books
           ,
           or
           there
           is
           nothing
           of
           that
           kind
           which
           we
           can
           depend
           upon
           ▪
        
         
           3.
           
           These
           Books
           are
           uncorrupted
           ,
           I
           mean
           ,
           by
           Design
           ,
           or
           by
           Accident
           .
        
         
           If
           by
           Design
           ,
           it
           must
           either
           be
           by
           
             Jews
             ,
             Hereticks
          
           ,
           or
           those
           that
           are
           called
           Orthodox
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           If
           by
           the
           Jews
           ,
           that
           must
           either
           be
           before
           the
           time
           of
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           or
           after
           it
           .
           If
           before
           ,
           they
           would
           have
           certainly
           been
           taxed
           for
           it
           by
           our
           Saviour
           and
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           who
           upon
           all
           occasions
           appeal
           to
           the
           Scriptures
           ;
           and
           yet
           never
           charge
           them
           with
           any
           such
           Falsifications
           .
        
         
           
           If
           they
           were
           corrupted
           by
           the
           Jews
           after
           our
           Saviour's
           time
           ,
           How
           came
           they
           to
           leave
           those
           Prophecies
           uncorrupted
           which
           manifestly
           and
           principally
           prove
           our
           Saviour
           to
           be
           the
           Messiah
           ?
           For
           surely
           if
           they
           adulterated
           ,
           or
           expunged
           ,
           or
           added
           to
           the
           less
           ,
           they
           would
           have
           offered
           as
           much
           violence
           to
           the
           greater
           .
           But
           it
           is
           eviden●
           
           the
           Jews
           were
           in
           a
           high
           degree
           superstitious
           ,
           in
           preserving
           the
           Copies
           of
           the
           Scripture
           sound
           and
           entire
           .
        
         
         
           Or
           if
           they
           would
           have
           attempted
           this
           ,
           how
           could
           they
           do
           it
           ,
           and
           not
           be
           discovered
           and
           challenged
           for
           it
           by
           the
           Christians
           ,
           who
           from
           that
           time
           forward
           had
           the
           Scriptures
           of
           the
           Old
           Testament
           in
           their
           custody
           as
           well
           as
           themselves
           ?
        
         
           2.
           
           It
           could
           not
           be
           by
           the
           Hereticks
           ,
           because
           the
           Scriptures
           were
           soon
           dispersed
           over
           all
           the
           Christian
           World
           ,
           and
           were
           read
           both
           in
           publick
           and
           private
           ;
           and
           with
           that
           Care
           and
           Faithfulness
           ,
           that
           they
           chose
           rather
           to
           part
           with
           their
           Lives
           ,
           than
           become
           Traditores
           ,
           and
           deliver
           up
           their
           Bibles
           to
           be
           burnt
           ;
           and
           keeping
           then
           so
           watchful
           an
           eye
           upon
           them
           ,
           they
           could
           not
           be
           perverted
           by
           their
           fraudulent
           Arts
           ,
           but
           they
           would
           soon
           be
           observed
           and
           complained
           of
           ;
           especially
           by
           those
           whose
           Office
           it
           was
           above
           others
           to
           study
           and
           preserve
           them
           .
        
         
           
           So
           when
           Marcion
           falsified
           the
           Text
           ,
           he
           was
           presently
           detected
           and
           exposed
           for
           it
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           Nor
           could
           it
           be
           by
           the
           Orthodox
           ,
           if
           any
           of
           them
           were
           so
           weak
           as
           to
           think
           to
           serve
           their
           Cause
           by
           it
           :
           For
           as
           to
           the
           Old
           Testament
           ,
           they
           were
           as
           watchfully
           observed
           by
           the
           Jews
           ,
           as
           the
           Jews
           were
           by
           them
           ;
           and
           both
           the
           Copies
           of
           the
           Old
           and
           New
           were
           so
           soon
           and
           so
           far
           dispersed
           ,
           that
           neither
           could
           any
           one
           attempt
           it
           with
           any
           likelihood
           of
           success
           ,
           nor
           all
           agree
           in
           it
           ,
           when
           impossible
           to
           convene
           for
           it
           .
        
         
         
           And
           therefore
           when
           Manichaeus
           and
           his
           Followers
           pretended
           the
           Corruption
           of
           the
           Scripture
           in
           their
           own
           vindication
           ,
           they
           could
           not
           make
           out
           their
           Charge
           ,
           though
           provoked
           by
           St.
           Austin
           ,
           
           &c.
           to
           it
           .
        
         
           Use
           .
           We
           may
           observe
           from
           hence
           ,
           what
           a
           Blessing
           we
           enjoy
           above
           the
           Ages
           of
           Tradition
           ,
           when
           the
           knowledge
           of
           the
           Truth
           was
           conveyed
           from
           hand
           to
           hand
           ;
           which
           so
           sensibly
           declined
           ,
           that
           the
           Truth
           was
           soon
           turn'd
           into
           Fable
           ,
           and
           that
           so
           few
           Years
           after
           the
           Flood
           as
           the
           time
           of
           Terah
           ,
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           the
           World
           was
           overrun
           with
           Idolatry
           ;
           so
           that
           for
           the
           retrieving
           it
           ,
           God
           drew
           Abraham
           out
           of
           that
           infected
           Mass
           ▪
           and
           enjoined
           him
           to
           set
           up
           a
           Family
           separated
           from
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           out
           of
           that
           he
           might
           constitute
           a
           Church
           for
           his
           Service
           .
        
         
           But
           we
           have
           that
           which
           those
           Ages
           wanted
           ▪
           a
           Written
           and
           Certain
           Rule
           for
           our
           Faith
           and
           Manners
           ;
           and
           that
           so
           plainly
           and
           intelligibly
           wrote
           ,
           and
           so
           compleatly
           and
           entirely
           furnished
           with
           all
           things
           necessary
           for
           us
           to
           know
           in
           order
           to
           the
           Happiness
           of
           another
           Life
           ;
           that
           as
           none
           in
           the
           Christian
           Church
           (
           where
           the
           Guides
           and
           Teachers
           are
           faithful
           to
           their
           Flock
           )
           can
           be
           or
           must
           unavoidably
           be
           ignorant
           ;
           so
           neither
           can
           any
           person
           be
           defective
           in
           the
           knowledge
           of
           his
           Duty
           ,
           or
           void
           and
           destitute
           of
           a
           power
           of
           
           doing
           what
           is
           necessary
           toward
           his
           Happiness
           ,
           unless
           by
           his
           own
           fault
           .
           If
           we
           keep
           but
           to
           our
           Rule
           ,
           that
           is
           as
           an
           Infallible
           Compass
           to
           direct
           us
           ,
           and
           we
           shall
           never
           fall
           short
           of
           knowing
           what
           God
           has
           revealed
           ,
           or
           of
           obtaining
           what
           he
           hath
           promised
           .
        
         
           And
           here
           we
           may
           farther
           reflect
           upon
           our
           Happiness
           in
           this
           Church
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           not
           the
           
             Key
             of
             Knowledge
          
           taken
           from
           us
           ,
           and
           the
           Truth
           lock'd
           up
           in
           an
           Unknown
           Tongue
           (
           as
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           )
           but
           plainly
           and
           faithfully
           rendred
           in
           our
           own
           Language
           ,
           for
           the
           Instruction
           and
           Edification
           of
           all
           .
        
         
           What
           remains
           then
           ,
           but
           that
           we
           make
           this
           our
           daily
           study
           ,
           and
           labour
           to
           acquaint
           our selves
           with
           the
           Rich
           Treasures
           of
           Useful
           and
           Necessary
           Knowledge
           contained
           in
           those
           Sacred
           Repositories
           ,
           and
           making
           them
           as
           David
           did
           ,
           a
           
             Lamp
             to
             our
             feet
          
           ,
           and
           endeavouring
           to
           conform
           our selves
           in
           all
           points
           to
           their
           holy
           Prescriptions
           ;
           and
           then
           we
           shall
           most
           certainly
           have
           reason
           to
           rejoice
           in
           the
           Comfort
           of
           the
           Promises
           ,
           and
           with
           Patience
           
             look
             for
             that
             blessed
             hope
             and
             glorious
             appearance
             of
             the
             great
             God
             ,
             and
             our
             Saviour
             Jesus
             Christ
             .
          
        
         
           To
           whom
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
           ERRATA
           .
        
         
           SErmon
           I.
           2
           d
           Edit
           .
           P.
           11.
           l.
           4.
           r.
           manner
           .
           P.
           13.
           l.
           21.
           for
           only
           r.
           wholly
           .
           Sermon
           VI.
           ●
           .
           2.
           
           Marg.
           〈◊〉
           IV.
           P.
           10.
           l.
           11.
           
             dele
             .
             both
             the
          
           Comma's
           .
           P.
           25.
           l.
           12.
           
             before
             and
             after
          
           that
           is
           
             dele
             (
             ,
             )
          
           .
        
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A66396-e220
           
             Serm.
             V.
             
          
           
             Luk.
             1.
             
             ●
             .
          
           
             Hist
             .
             Eccles
             .
             l.
             2.
             c.
             15.
             l.
             5.
             c.
             8.
             
          
           
             Exod.
             20.
             1
             ,
             22.
             
          
           
             Serm.
             V.
             p.
             12.
             
          
           
             Acts
             17.
             28.
             1
             
             Cor.
             15.
             33.
             
             Tit.
             1.
             12.
             
          
           
             2
             Tim.
             3.
             15
             ,
             16.
             
          
           
             Luke
             24.
             44.
             
             V.
             
               Josephus
               con
               .
               App.
               l.
            
             1.
             
          
           
             2
             Pet.
             3.
             15
             ,
             16.
             
          
           
             V.
             Euseb
             ▪
             Eccl.
             Hist
             .
             l.
             23.
             c.
             24
             ,
             25.
             l.
             5.
             c.
             8.
             l.
             7.
             c.
             24
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Phil.
             1.
             1.
             1
             
             &
             2
             Thes
             .
          
           
             Lecture
             V.
             
          
           
             Amos
             7.
             14.
             
          
           
             Luke
             21.
             14
             ,
             15.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             2.
             1
             ,
             4.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             2.
             4
             ,
             5.
             
          
           
             Euseb
             .
             Praepar
             .
          
           
             Theol.
             Polit
             .
             c.
             8.
             
          
           
             
               Anima
               Mundi
            
             ,
             Sect.
             1.
             
          
           
             V.
             Hieron
             .
             in
             6.
             
             Isa
             .
          
           
             V.
             Philo
             de
             .
             Egress●
             Israel
             .
             ex
             ▪
             Aegypto
             .
             ▪
             
          
           
             Irenaus
             l.
             1.
             c.
             29.
             
             Tertul
             ▪
             contra
             Marcion
             .
             l.
             5.
             
             Epiphan
             .
             Haer.
             42.
             
          
           
             Aug.
             de
             util
             .
             Cred.
             c.
             3.