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CHAP. II. Of the Divine Authority of the Scriptures.
TWo things are to be considered in Divinity:* 1.1 First, The Rule of it, the Scripture or Word of God. Secondly, The Matter of Parts of it concerning God and man. Principium essendi in Divinity, is God the first Essence; Principium cognoscen∣di, the Scripture, by which we know God, and all things concerning him. I shall han∣dle both these principles, but begin with the Scripture, as many Systematical Wri∣ters do.
IT is necessary that the true Religion have a rule, whereby it may be squared, else* 1.2 there could be no certainty in it, but there would be as many Religions as men. It appears by the light of nature, the Heathen had known rules for their Rites, Cere∣monies and Services; the Turks have their Alcoran, the Iews their Talmud, the Pa∣pists their Decretals, every Art hath its Rule; neither can any thing be a Duty which hath not a Rule.
There are three general Characters whereby we may know any Word to be the Word of God, and a Religion to be the true Religion: 1. That which doth most set forth the glory of God. 2. That which doth direct us to a rule which is a perfect rule of holinesse toward God, and righteousnesse toward man. 3. That which shews a way sutable to Gods glory and mens necessity, to reconcile us to God. The word of God sets forth Gods glory in all the perfections, and is a compleat rule of holinesse to God, and righteousnesse to men. All the wisdom of the world cannot shew what is more sutable to the glory of God and the nature of man, to reconcile God and men, then for him that is God and man to do it.
God revealed himself divers wayes to the Fathers, Heb. 1. 1. The manner of reveal∣ing Gods will is three-fold, according to our three instruments of conceiving, viz. Understanding, Phantasie and Senses; to the understanding God revealed his Will by engraving it in the heart with his own finger, Ier. 31. 33. by Divine inspiration, 2 Pet. 1. 21. 2 Chron. 15. 1. Heb. 8. 11. Iohn 14. 26. and by intellectual Visions, Numb. 11. 5. to the phantasie God revealed his Will by imaginary Visions to Prophets a∣wake, and by dreams to Prophets asleep, Gen. 40. 8. & 41. 8, 9. Acts 16. 10. & 10. 3. Numb. 14. 4. to the Senses God revealed his Will, and that either by Vision to the Eye, or lively Voice to the Ear, Gen. 3. 9. & 4. 6. & 15. 4, 5. Exod. 20. 1, 2. & 3. 1, 2, 3. & 33. 17. And lastly, by writing. This Revelation was, sometimes immediate by God himself after an unspeakable manner, or by means, viz. Angels, Urim and Thum∣mim, Prophets, Christ himself and his Apostles.
c 1.3 The written Word for the Matter contained in it, is called The word d 1.4 of God, Rom. 9 6▪ for the manner of Record, The e 1.5 Scripture, John 10. 35. 2 Tim. 3. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 6. or Scriptures, Matth. 22. 29. John 5. 39. Rom. 15. 4. 2 Pet. 3. 16. By an Antonomasie or an excellency of phrase, f 1.6 as the most worthy writings that ever saw