A collection of the works of that holy man and profound divine, Thomas Iackson ... containing his comments upon the Apostles Creed, &c. : with the life of the author and an index annexed.

CAP. XXXIII.

A brief direction for preventing Scruples and resolving doubts, concerning parti∣cular Sentences or passages in the Canon of Scripture.

UNto the second demand, [How we know this or that Sentence in any Fo•…•… of Canonical Scripture, to have been from God, Not inserted by man] Some perhaps would say this must be known by the Spirit. Which indeed is the Briefest Answer that can be given: but such as would require a long Apologie for its Truth, or at least a large Explication in what Sense it were true, if any man durst be so bold as to reply upon it. † 1.1 Consequently, to our former Principles, we may Answer, That our full and undoubted Assent unto some Principal Parts, doth bind us unto the Whole Frame of Scriptures. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 you will say, we Believe such special parts, from undoubted Experience 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their Truth in our hearts, and without This our Belief of them could not be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stedfast: how then shall we stedfastly believe those parts, of whose div•…•… truth we have no such Experiments? for of every Sentence in Scripture, w•…•… suppose few or none can have any: Yet even unto those parts whereof we have no Experiments in particular, we do adhere by our Former Faith because ou•…•… Souls and Consciences are as it were tied and fastned unto other Parts wher•…•… with they are conjoyned, as the pinning & nailing of two plain bodies in som•…•… few parts, doth make them stick close together in all so as the one cannot b•…•… pulled from the other in any part, whilest their fastning, holds. It will be r•…•…¦plied, that this Similitude would hold together, if one part of Canonical Scri¦pture were so firmly or naturally united to another, as the divers portions 〈◊〉〈◊〉 one and the same continuate or Solid Body are: but seeing it is evident 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so they are not, who can warrant the contrarie, but that a Sentence or Pe•…•…

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od, perhaps a whole Page, might have been Foisted into the Canon by some Scribe or other? Here we must retire unto our First Hold or Principles of Faith. For if we sted fastly Believe from Experiments or otherwise, that some principal parts of Scripture have come from God, and that the same are sure Pledges for mans good, the only means of his Salvation: this Doctrine or Ex∣perience of Gods Providence once fully established, will establish our Faith and Assent unto other parts of his Word, whereof (should we take them a∣lone) we could have no such Experiments. For he that knoweth God, or his Providence aright; knows this withall, that he will not suffer us to be tem∣pted above our strength. And once having had Experience of his Mercies past, we cannot, without Injurie to his Divine Majestie, but in Confidence of it, Believe and Hope, that his All-seeing Wisdom and Almightie Power will still (maugre the spight of Death, Hell, Satan, and their Agents) preserve his Sacred Word sincere without admixture of any profane, false, or humane Inventions that might overthrow, or pervert our Faith begun. Hereto we may refer all former Documents of His Care and Providence in preserving the Canon of our Faith from the Tyrannie of such, as sought utterly to deface it; and the Treachery of others, who sought to corrupt it. And it ought to be no little motive unto us, thus to think: when we see Austin, Gregory, and other of the Ancient writers, either maimed, or mangled, or purged of their best Bloud, where they make against the Romish Church; or else her untruths fa∣thered upon Them, by her shamelesse sons, in places where they are silent for her: and yet this Sacred Volume untouched and uncorrupt, by any violence offered to it by that Church; only it hath lost its natural Beautie and Com∣plexion, by long durance in that homely and vulgar Prison; whereunto they have confined it.

2 But as from these and like Documents of Gods Care and Providence in preserving it, and of His Love and Favour towards us, we conceive Faith and sure Hope, that he will not suffer us to be tempted with doubts of this nature, above our strength: so must we be as far from tempting Him, by these or like unnecessary, unseasonable curious Demands. How should we know This or That Clause or Sentence (if we should find them alone) to be Gods word? Why might not an Heretick of malice have forged, or a Scribe through negligence altered them? It should suffice that they have been commended to us not alone, but accompanied with such Oracles as we have already Entertained for Divine. And if any Doubt shall happen to arise, we must rely upon that Oracle, of whose truth every true Christian hath, and all that would be such, may have sure Trial. Deus cum tentatione simul vires dabit: God with the Temptation will give Issue; yea, Joyful Issue to such Temptations as he suffers to be sug∣gested by Others, Not unto such as we thrust our selves into by our needless Curio∣sity. When we are called unto the search of truth by Satan or his Instruments Objections against it, the Lord will give us better reasons for our own or o∣thers Satisfactions, then yet we know of, or should be able to find, but by the conduct of his untempted Providence.

Notes

• † 1.1

  How our firm Assent to some Principal mat ters revealed in Scriptures, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our Faith unto their whole Canon.