Christianismus primitivus, or, The ancient Christian religion, in its nature, certainty, excellency, and beauty, (internal and external) particularly considered, asserted, and vindicated from the many abuses which have invaded that sacred profession, by humane innovation, or pretended revelation comprehending likewise the general duties of mankind, in their respective relations : and particularly the obedience of all Christians to magistrates, and the necessity of Christian-moderation about things dispensible in matters of religion : with divers cases of conscience discussed and resolved / by Thomas Grantham ...

SECT. V.

It hath likewise been demanded, by those of the Church of Rome, How I knew precisely what was the Word of God? But we are so far from defining the precise number of the Books of Holy Scripture, that we know they are not all come to our hands, 1 Cor. 5. 9. Phil. 3. 1. Colos. 4. 16. nor to the hands of others that we can hear of. Neither can I understand, what profit accrues to the Church, by rejecting so many Books as Apocryphal, whilest yet they are allowed to be read in the Church as Holy Writings; Nevertheless, it must be granted, that the Books commonly called Apochrypha, have been doubted very much, some or all of them, by one or other of great note in the Churches, yea, in the time of Augustine, and by Augustine himself: * 1.1 The Macchabees was not received

into the Canon of Scripture, though esteemed by some as Cano∣nical.

In Eusebius, lib. 4. c. 25. we have an account of the Books of the Old Testament; received by the Church in those days, which was given by one in the second Century; his words are these, I compiled in order the Books of the Old Testament, such as were well known, and sent them unto you, whose names are these;

The five Books of Moses, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numeri, Deu∣teronomium. Then Jesus Nave, meaning Joshua. The Judges. The Book of Ruth. Four Books of Kings. Two of Chronicles. The Psalms of David. The Proverbs of Solomon. The Book of Wisdom. Ecclesiastes. The Canticles. Job. Esay and Jeremiah the Prophets. One Book of the twelve Prophets. Daniel. Ezekiel. Esdras.

Again in Euseb. lib. 3. c. 22. we have this account of the Books of the New Testament. In the first place, (saith he) the Four-fold Writings of the Evangelists. Next the Acts of the Apostles. Then the Epistles of Paul are to be added. After these the first of John, and that of Peter, which is Au∣thentick. Lastly, If you please, the Revelation of John. The Epistle of James. The Epistle of Jude. The later of Peter. The second and third of John.

Cyril of Jerusalem reckons the Divine Scripture of the Old Testa∣ment but 22 Books. * 1.2 Epiphanius is of the same mind, * 1.3 yet adds the Book of Wisdom, and Jesus the Son of Syrick, but does not say that they were kept in the Ark as the 22 Books of the Law and Prophets were.

So that we see the Ancient Christians were not exactly of a mind in the precise Number and Order of the Books of the Holy Scripture, though they had the advantage of Times above us abundantly.

We conclude therefore, that it is more safe to make a Religious Use of all these Books called Apochryphal, than rashly to censure or condemn any of them: Howbeit, nothing from hence accrues, that I know, to the advantage of the Romanists; yea rather they seem to make advantage of Men's rash Speeches against those Pious Books, wherein are many excel∣lent Precepts of Vertue, and Examples of Faith and Love to God, and to Religion.

The faithful Demonstration whereof, as it concerns Christian Men in the naked Simplicity and ancient Purity thereof, is the great Design of this short Introduction, as well as of the Book it self; to which having thus brought the Readers, I commit them to the Grace and Blessing of God, in their impartial and serious perusal.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Aug. de Civit. Dei. l. 18.
• * 1.2

  Cyril Catech. 4
• * 1.3

  De Mensur. & Ponder.