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HAving thus proved that there is certainly some written Word of God in the world. The last thing that I have to prove, is, That there is no other writing in the world but this can be it. And first, a 1.2 There is no other Book in the world that ever I heard of, that doth so much as claim this Prerogative and Dignity.b 1.3 Ma∣homet calleth himself but a Prophet, he acknowledgeth the truth of most of the Scripture; and his Alcoran contradicteth the very
light of Nature. Aristotle, Plato, and other Philosophers acknow∣ledg their Writings to be meerly of their own study and inven∣tion. What book saith [Thus saith the Lord] and [This is the word of the Lord] but this? So that if it have no Competitor, there needs not much to be said.
Secondly, What other book doth reveal the Mysteries of God, of the Trinity, of God and man in one person, of Creation, of the Fall, the Covenants, their Conditions, Heaven, Hell, Angels, Devils, Temptations, Regeneration, VVorship, &c. Besides, this one book, and those that profess to receive it from this, and pro∣fess their end to be but the confirming and explaining the Do∣ctrine of this? Indeed upon those subjects which are below the Scripture, as Logick, Arithmetick, &c. other books may be more excellent then it; as a Taylor may teach you how to make a Cloak better then all the Statute-Books or Records of Parliament. But this is a lower excellency then Scripture was intended to.
And thus I have done with this weighty Subject, That the Scripture, which contains the Promises of our Rest, is the certain infallible VVord of God. The reason why I have thus digressed, and said so much of it, is, because I was very apprehensive of the great necessity of it, and the common neglect of being grounded in it; and withall, that this is the very heart of my whole Dis∣course; and that if this be doubted of, all the rest that I have said will be in vain; If men doubt of the Truth, they will not regard the goodness. And the reason why I have said no more, but passed over the most common Arguments, is, because they are handled in many books already; which I advise Christians to be better versed in. To the meer English Reader I commend especially these: Sir Phil. Mornay Lord du Plessis, his Verity of Christian Religion. Parsons Book of Resolution Cor∣rected by Bunny, the Second Part. Dr. Jackson on the Creed, and (come forth since I begun this) Mr. White of Dorchester, Directions for Reading Scripture. Mr. John Goodwins Divine Au∣thority of Scripture asserted, (* 1.4 though some of his Positions I judg unsound, yet the Work for the main is commendable.) Also Read a Book, Called, A Treatise of Divinity, first Part. Written by our honest and faithful Countryman, Colonel Edward Leigh, a now Member of the House of Commons. Also Vrsins Catachism on this Question; and Balls Catachism, with the Exposition,
which to those that cannot read larger Treatises, is very use∣full.
For the Question,* 1.5 How it may be known which books be Ca∣nonical? I here meddle not with it: I think Humane Testimo∣ny, with the forementioned qualifications must do most in deter∣mining that. As I begun, so I conclude this, with an earnest request to Ministers, that they would Preach; and People, that they would study this subject more throughly, that their Faith and Obedience may live and flourish, while they can prove the Scripture to be the Word of God, which contains the Promise of their Everlasting Rest.
§. 8.
The Apo∣cryphal books are but Re∣cords more imperfect, and uncertain, of the same do∣ctrine for the substance with the rest, though mixt with some suspected History, and doth confirm, but not contra∣dict the Scriptures, and but few of those books do pretend to a Divine Authority, as the rest.
Though Mahomet pretended to speak from God as Prophet; The barbarousness, and sottish∣ness of his Alcoran, its contradiction to its self, and to the Scripture which he acknowledgeth, may satisfie any man of its forgery; so that it is the most stupendious Judgment of God that so great a part of the world should continue so brutish, as to believe and follow him still. Read ••radwardines excellent dispute of this subject; De causa Dei, lib. 1. cap. 1. Corol. part 32. & Gro∣tius de veritate Relig. Christianae.
As pag. 10. with th•• first Argum••nt to confirm it; and so pag. 18. and the fre∣quent use of the equivocal tearm [Foun∣dation] with∣out explica∣tion.
So Dr. Pre∣ston on the Attributes, pag. 47, 48. and for∣ward.
And Byfields Principles.