A short treatise: containing all the principall grounds of Christian religion. By way of questions and answers: very profitable for all sorts of men, but especially for housholders..

Q. What are the properties of the Scrip∣ture?

A. It is of ¹⁹ Diuine s authoritie, the rule ²⁰ of t faith and manners, ²¹ u neces∣sarie, ²² w pure, ²³ x perfect, and ²⁴ y plain.

Expos. 19. Such is the excellency of the holy Scripture, aboue all other wri∣tings whatsoeuer, 2. Tim. 3. 15. 2. Pet. 1. 19. that it ought to be credited in all nar∣rations, threatnings, promises, or pro∣phesies. 1. Tim. 1. 15. Heb. 11. 11. 2. Pet. 1. 19. and obeyed in all commaunde∣ments. Iob 22. 22. Ier. 13. 15. Rom. 1. 5. God the Author thereof, beeing of in∣comprehensible wisedome, Psa. 147. 5. great goodnesse, Exod. 18. 9. Psa. 34. 8. Rom. 11. 22. absolute power and domi∣nion, Gen. 17. 1. Psal. 50. 1, ••. and truth, that can neither deceiue nor be deceiued. Rom. 3. 4. Tit. 1. 2. Heb. 6. 18. The au∣thority of the Scripture doth onely and

wholly depend vpon God the author of it; and therefore though one part may be preferred before another, in respect of excellencie of matter and vse, Cant. 1. 1. 1. Tim. 1. 15. in authoritie and certaintie euery part is equall, and onely Scripture is of diuine authoritie. Gal. 1. 8. Mat. 17. 5. 1. Cor. 11. 23.

20. The Scriptures are the word of Christ, Col. 3. 16. whose word is vpright, Eccl. 12. 10. Phil. 3. 16. the first truth, Heb. 13. 8. receiued by immediate, di∣uine reuelation, 2. Pet. 1. 21. and deliue∣red to the Church; sufficient to make the man of God perfect in all good workes, 2. Tim. 3. 16. 17. the treasury whence all doctrines must be taken, 1. Pet. 4. 11. Act 26. 22. Luk. 16. 29. the touchstone wher∣by they must be tried, Act. 17. 11. Esa. 8. 20. without which, error in doctrine and manners is vnavoidable. Matth. 22. 29.

21. In respect of substance, the word of God was alwaies necessary, Eph. 2. 20: without which we could neither knowe nor worship God aright. Heb. 11. 3. 6. Matth. 22. 29. Ioh. 20. 31. 2. Tim. 3 16. Rom. 15. 4. Luk. 24. 26, 27. In respect of the manner of reuealing in writing, the

Scriptures were neeessarie, euer since it pleased God after that manner to make knowne his will. Deut. 17. 18. Iosh 1. 8. Rom. 15. 4. Luk. 1. 3. Iude v. 3. and so shal be to the end of the world. 1. Cor. 10. 11. Reu. 22. 18.

22. This blessed word of God is free from all, euen the least staine of follie, errour, falshood, or vniustice, Psal. 119. 138. 140. Prou. 30. 5. Ioh. 17. 17. all things being laid down holily and true∣ly, both for substance, circumstance, and manner of speaking. Psal. 51. 1. Matth. 1. 25.

23. Whatsoeuer was, is, or shall be necessary, or profitable to be knowne, beleeued, practised, or hoped for, that is fully comprehended in the bookes of the Prophets, and Apostles. Luk. 16. ••9. 31. Io. 5. 39. Rom. 15. 4. Gal. 1. 8. 9. 2. Tim. 3. 15. 16. 17. The perfection of the Scripture will more plainely appeare if we consider; 1. That religion for the substance thereof was euer one and vn∣changeable. Heb. 13. 8. Eph. 4. 5. Iude. 3. Act. 26. 22. Tit. 1. 1. 2. 2. The lawe of God written by Moses and the Pro∣phets, did deliuer whatsoeuer was need∣full

for, and behoouefull to the saluation of the Israelits. Deut. 4. 2. and 12. 32. Psa. 1. 2. Mal. 4. 4. Hos. 8. 12. Luk. 10. 26. 3. Our Sauiour made knowne vnto his dis∣ciples the last and full wil of his heauen∣ly Father. Io. 14. 26. and. 15. 15. and 16. 13. and 1. 18. and what they receiued of him, they faithfully preached vnto the world. Act. 20. 27. 1. Cor. 15. 1. 2. 3. Gal. 1. 8. 1. Io. 1. 3. and the summe of what they prea∣ched, is committed to writing. Act. 1. 1. 2. Io. 20. 31. 1. Io. 5. 13. with Act. 8. 5. 1. 1. Cor. 2. 2. Rom. 10. 8. 9. 10. 4. There is nothing necessary to be knowne of Christians, ouer and aboue that which is found in the old Testament, which is not plainely, clearely, and fully set downe, and to be gathered out of the writings of the Apostles and Euange∣lists. In the whole body of the Scripture, all doubts and controuersies are perfect∣ly decided. Es. 8. 20. Math. 22. 29. 40. Deut. 17. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 2. Tim. 3. 16. 17. and euery particular booke is sufficient∣ly perfect for the proper ende thereof. Vnwritten traditions. 1. Cor. 4. 6. newe articles of faith. Ier. 7. 3. and 19. 5. and newe visions and reuelations are now to

be reiected. Heb. 1. 1. Io. 4. 25. Io. 15. 15. and 16. 13. with Matth. 28. 19. 2. Cor. 3. 6. 8. 11. with Heb. 8. 13.

24. In themselues the whole Scrip∣ture is easie, Psal. 119. 105. 2. Pet. 1. 19. Prou. 14. 6. such excellent matter could not be deliuered in more significant and fit words. Act. 1. 16. with Eph. 1. 17. But all things in Scripture are not alike ma∣nifest. 2. Pet. 3. 16. The Gentiles by na∣ture haue the law written in their hearts. Rom. 2. 14. but to a naturall man the Gospel is obscure, accounted foolish∣nes. 1. Cor. 1. 21. and. 2. 14. Things ne∣cessary to saluation are so clearely laid downe, that the simplest indued with the Spirit, cannot be altogether igno∣rant of the same. Es. 54. 13. Io. 6. 45. Deu. 30. 11. Matth. 11. 25. 2. Cor. 4. 3. But to them who are in part illightned. 1. Cor. 33. 12. many things are obscure and darke. 1. Cor. 13. 9. to tame the pride of mans nature. 2. Cor. 12. 7. worke in vs a reuerence to the Scripture. 2. Pet. 3. 16. 17. 18. stirre vs vp with care and dili∣gence to read, pray, heare. &c. and vse Gods meanes to growe in knowledge. Pro. 2. 3. 4. 5. & acknowledg that all hea∣uenly

wisedome doth come from aboue. Pro. 2. 6. Iam. 1. 5. 1. King 3. 9. Iob. 28. 32.

Notes

• s

  2. Tim. 3. 16.
• t

  Eccl. 12. 10. Gal. 6. 16.
• u

  Rom. 10. 14.
• w

  Psal. 12. 6.
• x

  Psal. 19. 7.
• y

  Prou. 8. 9.