Of the divine originall, authority, self-evidencing light, and povver of the Scriptures. With an answer to that enquiry, how we know the Scriptures to be the Word of God. Also a vindication of the purity and integrity of the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Old and New Testament; in some considerations on the prolegomena, & appendix to the late Biblia polyglotta. Whereunto are subjoyned some exercitations about the nature and perfection of the Scripture, the right of interpretation, internall Light, revelation, &c. / By Iohn Owen: D.D.
About this Item
Title
Of the divine originall, authority, self-evidencing light, and povver of the Scriptures. With an answer to that enquiry, how we know the Scriptures to be the Word of God. Also a vindication of the purity and integrity of the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Old and New Testament; in some considerations on the prolegomena, & appendix to the late Biblia polyglotta. Whereunto are subjoyned some exercitations about the nature and perfection of the Scripture, the right of interpretation, internall Light, revelation, &c. / By Iohn Owen: D.D.
Author
Owen, John, 1616-1683.
Publication
Oxford, :: Printed by Henry Hall, printer to the University, for Tho: Robinson.,
1659.
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Subject terms
Bible -- Evidences, authority, &c. -- Early works to 1800.
Bible -- Inspiration -- Early works to 1800.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/a90280.0001.001
Cite this Item
"Of the divine originall, authority, self-evidencing light, and povver of the Scriptures. With an answer to that enquiry, how we know the Scriptures to be the Word of God. Also a vindication of the purity and integrity of the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Old and New Testament; in some considerations on the prolegomena, & appendix to the late Biblia polyglotta. Whereunto are subjoyned some exercitations about the nature and perfection of the Scripture, the right of interpretation, internall Light, revelation, &c. / By Iohn Owen: D.D." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/a90280.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 16, 2024.
Pages
CHAP. II.
The maine Question proposed to conside∣ration.
How we may know assuredly
the Scripture to be the word of
God. The Scripture to be received
by divine faith. The Ground and
foundation of that faith enquired
after. The Answer in the Gene∣rall
Thesis of this discourse. The Au∣thority
of God that foundation. The
way whereby that Authority is evi∣denced
or made knowne. What is
meant by the Authority of the Scri∣ptures.
Authority is in respect of o∣thers.
First generall Evidence gi∣ven
to the Thesis laid downe. The va∣rious
wayes of Gods Revealing him,
selfe and his mind. 1 By his works:
2. By the light of nature; 3. By his
word. Each of these evince them∣selves
to be from him. His word espe∣cially.
descriptionPage 30
Sect. 1. HAving laid in the foregoing
Chapter the foundation
that we are to build and proceed upon,
I come now to lay downe the Enquiry,
whose Resolution must thence be edu∣ced.
That then which we are seeking
after is; How We, and the rest of men in
the world, who through the mercifull di∣spensation
of God, have the Book or Books
wherein the Scripture given out from
him as above declared, is contained, or
said to be contained, who live so many
Ages from the last Person who received
any part of it immediately from God, or
who have not received it immediately
our selves, may come to be assertained, as
to all ends and purposes wherein we may
be concerned therein, that the whole and
entire written word in that Book, or those
Books, hath the original & consequently
the Authority that it pleads and avowes,
namely that it is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉and not〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
from God, in the way and manner
laid down, and not the Invention
of men, attending〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
descriptionPage 31
2 Pet. 1. 26; or to cuningly devised fa∣bles.
Sect. 2. Now seeing it is expected
from us, and required of us by God
himselfe, and that on the penalty of
his eternall Displeasure, if we faile in
our duty (2 Thes. 1. 8, 9, 10.) that we
receive the Scripture not as we doe
other Books in relation to their Author,
with a firme Opinion, built on prevai∣ling
probable Arguments, prevalent
against any actuall conclusions to the
contrary; but with divine and superna∣turall
faith, omitting all such inducti∣ons
as serve only to ingenerate a per∣swasion,
not to be cast out of the mind
by contrary reasonings or objections;
it is especially inquired, what is the
foundatiō & formall Reason of our do∣ing
so, if we so do. Whatever that be,
it returns an answer to this important
Question; why, or on what Account
do you believe the Scriptures, or Books
of the old and new Testament to be the
word of God. Now the formall Rea∣son
descriptionPage 32
of things being but one, what ever
consideration may be had of other in∣ducements
or Arguments to beget in
us a Perswasion that the Scripture is
the Word of God, yet they have no
influence into that divine faith where∣with
we are bound to believe them.
They may indeed be of some use, to
repell the objections that are, or may,
by any, be raised against the Truth we
believe; and so indirectly cherish, and
further faith its selfe; but as to a
Concurrence unto the foundation, or
formall Reason of our believing, it is
not capable of it.
Sect. 3. Having then laid downe
the Divine Originall of the Scriptures,
and opened the manner of the Word's
coming forth from God, an Answer
shall now on that sole foundation be
returned to the Enquiry laid down.
And this I shall do in the ensuing Po∣sition.
The Authority of God, the supreame
Lord of all; the first and only absolute
descriptionPage 33
Truth whose Word is Truth, speaking
in, and by the Penmen of the Scriptures,
evidenced singly in, and by the Scrip∣ture
its selfe, is the sole bottome and
foundation, or formall Reason, of our
assenting to those Scriptures as his word,
and of our submitting our hearts and
Consciences unto them, with that faith
and obedience, which morally respects
him, and is due to him alone.
Sect. 4 God speaking in the Penmen
of the Scripture, Heb. 1. 1, his Voyce
to them was accompanied with its
own Evidence, which gave Assurance
unto them; And God speaking by
them, or their Writings unto us, his
Word is accompanied with its own E∣vidence,
and gives Assurance unto us.
His Authority and Veracity did, and do
in the one and the other sufficiently
manifest themselves, that men may
quietly repose their Soules upon
them, in believing and obedience.
Thus are we built〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
Ephes. 2. 20. on the foun∣dation
descriptionPage 34
of the Prophets and Apostles, in
our believing.
Sect. 5. That then which to the e∣stablishment
of the Soules of Believers,
I shall labour to prove and evince, is
plainly this; namely, that the Scrip∣tures
of the Old and New Testament,
do abundantly, and uncontroleably
manifest themselves to be the Word
of the living God; so that merely on
the account of their own proposall of
themselves unto us, in the Name and
Majesty of God, as such, without the
contribution of help or Assistance from
Tradition, Church, or any thing else
without themselves, we are obliged
upon the penalty of eternall damna∣tion
(as are all to whom by any
meanes they come, or are brought) to
receive them, with that subjection of
soule which is due to the Word of
God. The Authority of God shi∣ning
in them, they afford unto us all
the divine Evidence of themselves,
which God is willing to grant unto us,
descriptionPage 35
or can be granted us, or is any way
needfull for us. So then▪ the Authority
of the written Word, in its selfe and
unto us, is from its selfe, as the Word
of God, and the eviction of that Au∣thority
unto us, is by its selfe.
Sect. 6. When the Authority of
the Scripture is enquired after, strictly
its power to command, and require Obe∣dience
in the name of God, is intended.
To aske then whence it hath its Au∣thority,
is to aske, whence it hath its
Power to command in the name of
God. Surely men will not say, that
the Scripture hath its power to com∣mand
in the name of God, from any
thing but its selfe. And it is indeed a
contradiction for men to say, They
give Authority to the Scriptures.
Why do they do so? Why do they
give this Authority to that Book ra∣ther
then another? They must say, be∣cause
it is the Word of God. So the
Reason why they give Authority un∣to
it, is the formall Reason of all
descriptionPage 36
its Authority, which it hath antece∣dently
to their charter and concession
of Power. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉Joh. 17.
17. Thy Word is Truth.
Sect. 7. Some say indeed, that the
Scripture hath its Authority in its
selfe, and from its selfe, or its owne
divine Originall, but not quoad nos;
not in respect of us; that it may reach
us, that we may know, and understand,
and submit to its Authority, it must be
testified unto aliunde, from some o∣ther
person, or thing appointed there∣unto:
Ans.
1. But may not this be said of God
himselfe, as well as of his word? If
God reveale himselfe to us, it must be
by meanes; and if those meanes may
not be understood to reveale him, un∣lesse
they are testifyed unto from some∣what
else, God cannot reveale him∣selfe
to us. Si Deus hominibus non
placuerit, uti{que} Deus non erit. If God
and his Word, will keep themselves,
within themselves, to themselves,
descriptionPage 37
they may be God and his VVord still,
and keep their Authority; but if they
will deale with us, and put forth their
Commands to us, let them look that
they get the Churches Testimonials,
or on this Principle, they may be safe∣ly
rejected; but
Sect. 8. Authority is a thing that
no Person or Thing can have in him,
or its selfe, that hath it not in respect
of others. In its very nature it relates
to others, that are subject unto it.
All Authority ariseth from Relation;
and answers it throughout. The Au∣thority
of God over his Creatures, is
from their Relation to him as their
Creator. A Kings Authority is in
respect of his subjects. And he who
hath no subjects, hath no Kingly Au∣thority
in himselfe, but is only a Stoi∣call
King. The Authority of a Mini∣ster
relates to his flock; and he who
hath no flock, hath no Authority of a
Minister; if he have not a Ministeriall
Authority, in reference to a flock, a
descriptionPage 38
People, a Church; he hath none, he can
have none in himselfe. So is it in this
Case; If the Scripture hath no Au∣thority
from its selfe, in respect of
us, it hath none in its selfe, nor can
have. If it hath it in its selfe, it hath it
in respect of us. Such a Respect, that
is, a Right to Command and oblige
to Obedience, is as inseparable from
Authority, or a Morall Power, as heat
is from fire. It is true: A man may
have de jure, a lawfull Authority over
them, whom de facto, he cannot force
or compell to obedience. But want
of force doth not lessen Authority.
God looseth not his Authority over
men, though he put not forth towards
them, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. or
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the greatnesse
of his Power, or the Efficacy of the might
of his strength to cause them to obey.
It is fond then to imagine, that a Man,
or any thing, should have an Authori∣ty
in himselfe, or its selfe, and yet not
have that Authority in respect of
them who are to be subject thereunto.
descriptionPage 39
That is not a Law properly at all,
which is not a Law to some. Besides,
all the evill of Disobedience relates to
the Authority of him that requires the
Obedience. James. 2. 10, 11. No
action is Disobedience, but from the
subjection of him who performes it,
unto him who requires Obedience.
And therefore if the Scripture hath
not an Authority in its selfe, towards
us, there is no evill in our disobedience
unto its commands; or our not doing
what it commandeth, and our doing
what it for biddeth, is not disobedience,
because it hath not an Authority over
us; I speake of it as considered in its
selfe, before the Accession of the Te∣stimony
pretended necessary to give it
an ••uthority over us. Hitherto then
have we carried this objection; To dis∣obey
the commands of the Scripture, be∣fore
the communication of a Testimony
unto it by men, is no sin; eredat A∣pella.
Sect. 9. The sense then of our
descriptionPage 40
Position is evident and cleare; and so
our Answer to the Enquiry made.
The Scripture hath all its Authority
from its Author, both in its selfe, and
in respect of us; that it hath the Au∣thor
and Originall pleaded for, it de∣clares
its selfe, without any other As∣sistance
by the VVaies and Meanes,
that shall afterwards be insisted on:
the Truth whereof, I shall now con∣firme
by one Generall induction. 2. By
Testimonies. 3ly. By Arguments, ex∣pressing
the Wayes and meanes of its
Revelation of its selfe.
Sect. 10. There are 3 waies, wereby
God in severall Degrees revealeth
himselfe, His Properties, His Mind,
and Will, to the Sons of men.
1. He doth it by his Works, both of
Creation and Providence. All thy
works praise thee. Psal. 145. 10. &c.
The Heavens declare the Glory of God,
and the firmament telleth the works of
his hands. Day unto day uttereth speech,
and night unto night declareth know∣ledge.
descriptionPage 41
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard. Their
line is gone out throughout the earth, and
their word to the end of the world, Psal.
19. 1, 2, 3, 4: &c. So Job: chap. 37.
chap. 38. chap. 39; throughout. God
who made heaven and earth, and the
Sea, and all things that are therein, suf∣fered
in times past all nations to walk in
their own wayes, yet he left not himselfe
without witnesse in that he did Good,
& gave us raine from heaven and fruit∣full
seasons, filling our hearts with food
and Gladnesse, Act. 14. 15, 16, 17. And,
God that made the world and all things
therein, seeing he is the Lord of heaven
and earth, dwelleth not in temples made
with hands, neither is worshipped with
mens hands, as though he needed any
thing, seeing he giveth unto all life and
breath, and all things, and hath made
of one blood all mankind to dwell on the
face of the eart, and assigned the sea∣sons
which were ordained before, and
the bounds of their habitations 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that
descriptionPage 42
they should seeke the Lord, if happily
they might feele after him and find him.
Act. 17. 24, 25, 26, 27: for, that which
may be knowne of God is manifest in
them, for God hath shewed it unto them;
for the invisible things of him, from
the creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are
made, even his eternall power and God∣head.
Rom. 1. 18, 19, 20, All which
places God assisting shall be opened
before long,* 1.1in another Treatise. The
summe of them amounts to what was
before laid downe; namely, that God
reveales and declares himselfe unto us,
by the VVorks of his hands.
Sect. 11. God declares himselfe,
his Soveraigne power and Authority,
his Righteousnesse and Holinesse, by
the innate (or ingrafted) light of na∣ture,
and Principles of the consciences
of men. That indispensible morall
obedience, which he requireth of us, as
his creatures subject to his law, is in
generall thus made knowne unto us.
descriptionPage 43
For the Gentiles which have not the law,
doe by nature the things contained in the
law; they having not the law, are a law
unto themselves, shewing the work of the
law written in their hearts, their consci∣ences
also bearing witnesse, and their
thoughts in the meane time excusing or
accusing one another. Rom. 2. 14, 15.
By the light that God hath indelibly
implanted in the minds of men, accom∣panied
with a morall instinct of Good
and evill, seconded by that selfe-Judg∣ment
which he hath placed in us, in
reference to his own over us, doth he
reveale himselfe unto the Sons of men.
3ly. God reveales himselfe by his
Word, as is confessed. It remaines
then that we enquire, how we may
know, and be ascertained that these
things are not deceivable Pretences,
but that God doth indeed so reveale
himselfe by them.
Sect. 12. First; The Works of
God, as to what is his Will to teach and
reveale of himselfe by them, have that
Expression of God upon them; that
descriptionPage 44
stampe and character of his Eter∣nall
Power and Godhead, that Evi∣dence
with them that they are his,
that where ever they are seene and con∣sidered,
they undeniably evince that
they are so, and that what they teach
concerning him, they doe it in his
Name and Authority. There is no
need of Traditions, no need of Mira∣cles,
no need of the Authority of any
Churches to convince a rationall
Creature, that the works of God are
his, and His only; and that he is Eter∣nlal,
and infinite in Power that made
them. They carry about with them
their owne Authority. By being what
they are, they declare whose they are.
To reveale God by his works, there
is need of nothing, but that they be
by themselves represented, or obje∣cted
to the consideration of Rationall
creatures.
Sect. 13. The Voice of God in
nature is in like manner effectuall. It
declares it selfe to be from God by it's
descriptionPage 45
owne light and Authority. There is
no need to convince a man by substan∣tiall
Witnesses, that what his Consci∣ence
speakes, it speakes from God.
Whether it beare Testimony to the
Being, Righteousnesse, Power, Om∣niscience
or Holynesse of God him∣selfe;
or whether it call for that mo∣rall
obedience which is eternally and
indispensably due to him, and so shews
forth the worke of the law in the heart;
it so speakes and declares it selfe, that
without further Evidence or Reaso∣ning,
without the Advantage of any
considerations, but what are by it's
selfe supplyed, it discovers it's Au-Author
from whom it is, and in whose
name it speakes. Those 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
those common notions,
and generall Presumptions of him and
his Authority, that are inlayed in the
natures of Rationall Creatures by the
hand of God, to this End, that they
might make a Revelation of him as to
the Purposes mentioned, are able to
plead their owne divine Originall,
descriptionPage 46
without the least contribution of
strength or Assistance from without.
Sect. 14. And thus is it with those
things; Now the Psalmist says un∣to
God, Thou hast magnified〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉over all thy name the
Word thou hast spoken. The Name
of God is all that whereby he makes
himselfe knowne. Over all this, God
magnifies his Word. It lyes all in a
subserviency thereunto. The name
of God, is not here God himselfe; but
every thing whereby God makes him∣selfe
knowne. Now it were very
strange that those low, darke & obscure
Principles and Meanes of the Reve∣lation
of God and his Will, which we
have mentioned, should be able to e∣vince
themselves to be from him, with∣out
any externall helpe, Assistance,
Testimony, or Authority, and that
which is by God himselfe magnified
above them, which is farre more no∣ble
and Excellent in it's selfe, and in
respect of it's end & Order, hath far
descriptionPage 47
more divinely conspicuous and glori∣ous
impressions and Characters of his
Goodnesse, Holinesse, Power, Grace,
Truth then all the Creation, should
lye dead, obscure, and have nothing
in it's selfe to reveale it's Author,
untill this or that superadded Testimo∣ny,
be called in to it's Assistance. We
esteeme them to have done no ser∣vice
unto the Truth, who amongst
innumerable other bold denyalls, have
insisted on this also; that there is no
naturall knowledge of God arising from
the innate Principles of Reason, and
the Workes of God proposing them∣selves
to the consideration thereof;
let now the way to the progresse of
supernaturall Revelation be obstru∣cted,
by denying, that it is able to e∣vince
it selfe to be from God, and we
shall quickly see what bankes are cut
to let in a flood of Atheisme upon the
face of the Earth.
Sect. 15. Let us consider the is∣sue
of this Generall Induction. As God
descriptionPage 48
in the creation of the World, and all
things therin contained, hath so made &
framed them, hath left such characters
of his Eternall Power and Wisdome,
in them, and upon them, filled with
such Evidences of their Author, suited
to the Apprehensions of rationall
Creatures, that without any other Te∣stimony
from himselfe, or any else, un∣der
the naked consideration and Con∣templation
of what they ARE, they
so farre declare their Creator, that they
are left wholly unexcusable, who will
not learne, and know him from thence;
So in the giving out of his Word to
be the foundatiō of that VVorld, which
he hath set up in this world, as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉a wheel within a wheel,
his Church, He hath by his Spirit im∣planted
in it, and impressed on it,
such Characters of his Goodnesse,
Power, Wisdome, Holinesse, Love
to mankind, Truth, Faithfulnesse, with
all the rest of his Glorious Excellencies
and Perfections, that at all times,
and in all Places when 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Ex∣pansion
descriptionPage 49
of it, is stretched over men by
his Providence, without any other
Witnesse or Testimony given unto it,
it declares it's selfe to be his, and
makes good it's Authority from him,
so that the refusall of it upon it's own
evidence brings unavoidable condem∣nation
on the soules of men. This
comparison is insisted on by the Psal∣mist,
Psal. 19, where as he ascribeth
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a voice, and line to the
creatures, so 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. Light, Power,
stability and Permanency like that of
the heavens & Sun, in commutation of
properties to the Word, and in an
unexpressable Exaltation of it above
them; The light of one day of this
Sun, being unspeakably more, than
that of seven others, as to the manife∣station
of the Glory of God.
Sect. 16. This then is fixed as
a Principle of Truth; whatever God
hath appointed to reveale himselfe by,
as to any speciall or generall End, that
those whom he intends to discover him∣selfe
descriptionPage 50
unto, may either be effectually
instructed in his mind and will, accor∣ding
to the measure, degree, and meanes
of the Revelation afforded, or be left in∣excusable
for not receiving the Testi∣mony
that he gives of himselfe, by a∣ny
Plea or pretence of want of cleare,
evident, manifest, Revelation; That,
what ever it be hath such an impres∣ssion
of his Authority upon it, as unde∣niably
to evince that it is from him.
And this now concerning his Word,
comes further to be confirmed by Te∣stimonies
and Arguments.