§. 25. Of confirming the Word.
THough Christs own publishing of the Gospel were sufficient to make it worthy of all acceptation; yet is it said to be * 1.1 confirmed. That is confirmed which is further proved, or fulfilled, or made more sure and certain. Thus Christ is said to a 1.2 confirm the word of his Apostles with signs, Mark 16. 20. and God by sending his Son b 1.3 to confirm the promises made to the Fathers, Rom. 15. 8. That also which is kept from failing or from being altered, is said to be confirmed. So God doth c 1.4 confirm his unto the end, 1 Cor. 1. 8. and d 1.5 establish them, 1 Cor. 1. 21. and we are called upon e 1.6 to be established with grace, Heb. 13. 3.
But that which Christ spake needed not in any such respect to be confirmed. He is a faithfull and true witness, Rev. 3. 14. He is the way, the truth and the life, (John 14. 6.) that only true way that leadeth unto life. So as there was no fear of any un∣certainty, or of any failing in his Word.
Christs Word therefore was confirmed for these and other like reasons.
- 1. Because he was not at all times, in all places present with his Church, to urge and* 1.7 press his word upon them. For this end he sent forth in his life time Disciples to preach, Luke 9. 2. & 10. 1. And after his ascension he gave Apostles and others for the perfecting of the Saints, Eph. 4. 11, 12.
- 2. Because of our weakness, Christ confirmed his word, to support us, that we might have strong consolations. For this end God confirmed his promise by an oath, Heb. 6. 17, 18.
- 3. Because of the commendable custom of men, who use to confirm their own words by the consent and testimony of others. Thus St Paul in the Inscriptions of his Epistles joyns with himself Sosthenes, (1 Cor. 1. 1.) Timothy, (2 Cor. 1. 1.) Sil∣vanus and Timothy, (1 Thes. 1. 1.) Timothy with the Bishops and Deacons, (Phil. 1. 1.) All the Brethren which were with him, Gal. 1. 2.
- 4. Because by Gods Law and mans, at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established, Deut. 19. 15.
Thus Christs word was confirmed:
- 1. In that there were many witnesses of the* 1.8 same truth wherein they all agreed, Luke 24▪ 48. Acts 2. 32.
- 2. In that such as despised him in his life time, after his Resurrection and Ascen∣sion were wrought upon, Acts 2. 37.
- 3. In that by reason of the power of the Spirit in them, they who preached the Gospel of Christ after him, were received as an Angel of God, even as Christ Iesus, Gal. 4. 14.
- 4. In that many who never heard Christ themselves, believed that word which Christ had preached, but was made known to them by others, 1 Pet. 1. 8.
Thus it appears that this confirming of Christs Word added nothing to the au∣thority* 1.9 thereof. The Church may confirm the sacred Scriptures to be the Word of God: yet confer nothing to their authority. Divine mysteries may be confirmed by humane testimonies: yet no authority brought thereby to those mysteries.
God being pleased thus to confirm the Gospel to us, it ought to be a steadfast word to us, (see §. 11.) we ought with all steadfastness of faith to receive it: and to continue steadfastly therein: as the Christians of the primitive Church did in the Apostles doctrine, Acts 2▪ 42.