Graphautarkeia, or, The Scriptures sufficiency practically demonstrated wherein whatsoever is contain'd in Scripture, respecting doctrine, worship or manners is reduced to its proper head, weighty cases resolved, truths confirmed, difficult texts illustrated and explained by others more plain.

The PREFACE to the Reader.

THat the Holy Scriptures are one of the greatest blessings which God bestows upon the sons of men, is generally acknowledged by all who know any thing of the value and worth of them. To shew their Use and Excellency, is beyond the Authors present design or intendment; 'tis already done by one or other to good purpose every day. In them the Lord hath dilucidly displayed that Counsel of his Will, that is of infinite concernment to us to understand, in order to our present being accepted of him here, and at last brought to the fullest enjoyment of himself in glory. 'Tis wonderful to behold, how full and perfect this Word is, with respect to this end; What can man desire to know, which is necessary hereunto, that the light thereof discovers not? What di∣rection can he expect, by which he may be fortified against all enemies of his good, either within or without him, that is not there given? What encouragements would he have which are not therein displayed before him? And what Cavils can be brought against any part of Truth contained therein, to which they themselves yield not a full resolve? (one place of Scripture so exactly clearing, expounding, and illustrating another) yet (to amazement) its observ'd, That man (who is so highly and principally concerned in it) doth too too little value it; he can weary himself in any secular affair, but diligently to search the Scriptures (ac∣cording to our Lords advice) is to him tedious and bur∣densom. Few covet to be mighty in the Scriptures; though convinced, their great concern is inveloped in them: A spirit of self-fulness, pride, spiritual sloth, drowsiness and

deadness, lyes at the bottom of this sinful neglect. To en∣courage, awaken persons to a more diligent thorow search of the mind of God herein, is a service no less profitable than seasonable at this day. And what greater external en∣couragement, than to make that facile and easie, which seem'd inconquerably arduous and difficult?

This is the design of the ensuing Treatise: nor is the Author altogether without hopes (wherein he hath the concurring-judgment of several eminently learned and ju∣dicious Divines who have perused it) but, by the blessing of God, it may have a singular tendency to the enlightning of some, and establishing of others in divine Tuths (when uno intuitu they see the Scriptures, upon which they are built), and enabling them with ease to confute gainsayers. This hath prevailed upon him, to give leave for the pub∣lishing of it fot the Common good, having found it to be of great use to himself to the ends before-mentioned. For here the several Texts of Holy Scripture (which lie scat∣tered in the book of God, are collected together, transcri∣bed and placed (in the order as they lie in the Bible) un∣der several and particular Heads (a fruit of many years la∣bour in frequent reading through the whole Old and New Testament, with serious thoughts upon it, and prayer to God, to the end the scope and meaning of the Holy Ghost in each Text might be found out). And where any Subject is fallen on, and mentioned in the general head, (and some∣times also in a particular head) there (for the most part) is to be found all that relate to that matter, immediately fol∣lowing under particular heads, or subdivisions, to the end that the whole thereof may be met with together: or, at least, there are references to some other general or particu∣lar head, where it is placed more properly.

And here note, Christian Reader, That thou hast not only the places positive to the Subject there, but also such which are any ways argumentative, or enforcing (whether by Ex∣amples, the equity of the things, the nature of God, his approbation of Promises to, or threatnings against it) or any way illustrating or expounding of it, by whatsoever terms they are expressed: whereof a little use of this Treatise will soon give thee a full evidence.

But, to prevent prejudice and mistakes, and give thee some light in the way and method the Author hath taken, He proposeth to thy observation these few things following.

First, To prevent prejudice, do the Author and thy self this right, Not to make a judgment by the reading of one or two Texts at the beginning of any head: for possibly they may not at the first blush seem to thee so pertinent to the matter, as others do which follow; they may be only argu∣mentative, and not positive: For the Author so placed them on purpose, that they might run in order, as they lie in the Bible, that the Reader might go to any Text of ei∣ther Testament, without turning backward and forward, and for other advantages; and thence it happens sometimes, That the Scriptures less to the purpose, first occur to thy View.

Likewise, pass not sentence upon any Text thou shalt find under any head, as impertinent to the Subject there, until thou hast seriously weighed the same: for possibly in so doing, thou mayst discern something in that Scrip∣ture, which thou never didst observe before, nor mightest have taken notice of, had not the Head or Subject there, turned thy thoughts upon it.

And then, the Author doubteth not, but that the Compo∣sure it self (when judiciously considered) will prevent this Censure, That it's a needless Work, as having been done

already by others: This being a thing of another nature than any yet extant, and will be helpful at another rate. For, (notwithstanding any other helps) the finding out of apt Scriptures for illustrating, confirming, and making use of any Truth which may be upon the thoughts of any, have been, as it is, a difficult and laborious Work; and thence men oft-times use Scriptures, either not Apt, accord∣ing to the intent of the Holy Ghost there; or such, the genuine sense of which is doubted. And for the use of Con∣cordances herein, each mans memory must record the Scri∣ptures: for they must first occur to his thoughts, then his judgment must fix upon some word therein, under which the Text is placed: and 'tis possible not hit the right term under which it is; and oft-times look a long time ere he come to it, because of the multitude of words there used: and happily miss at last too, and be put upon searching under another term. But here thou mayst only turn to the Subject thou enquirest after, and (without any such steps) find Scriptures full and apt thereto (by whatsoever Terms or Phrases they are expressed) occur to your Eye at an in∣stant; and almost (if not altogether) all the Scripture affords to that Subject; and present thee with matter of Enlargement, which possibly thou thoughtest not of.

Secondly, To give thee some light in the Method, and to help thee in the use of this.

First, Take notice, that in Chap. 13. [of Saints fail∣ings] The first Texts are to prove each person his Saint∣ship; then the next following, their failings: and this is done on purpose, that it might appear they are the fail∣ings of Saints: and so proper to the Head.

2dly, Note also, That the words within a Parenthesis beginning with [or] are the Marginal Readings.

3dly, Some general Heads have no particulars follow∣ing, but the whole placed under that general Head. This is so done, either because the Texts which the Scripture af∣fords to that Subject, are but few in the whole, and so easi∣ly run through; or that the matters are so various, that al∣most every verse carries a distinct thing in it, yet still re∣lating to the general Head; as that [of the Saints Privi∣ledges] each Text almost a distinct Priviledg: so that [of the Character of Saints] and some others of like nature: And here to have descended to particular Heads, would have been tedious and unnecessary; for the words being there transcribed, the Reader may presently inform him∣self, in the whole, and in every particular.

Lastly, A little pains in observing the Contents or Table in the front of the Book, which doth contain the General and particular Heads therein, and also the Re∣ferences thereto, and directs to Chapter and Page where each lieth, will enable thee to discern more of the Me∣thod and usefulness of this Work, than can be well ex∣pressed in a short Epistle.

Therefore this shall suffice, supposing the Work it self will shew its own usefulness and advantage to Medita∣tion about Divine matters: holding a man to one Subject, and yielding variety of matter to enforce it upon the mind, and leave impression there: when bare reading a Chap∣ter or two (as fome use to do as a task) proves not effectual for that end; and searching proves laborious: and to many (by reason of the difficulty of finding) discouraging also.