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them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come “, that the word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner", and, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, may have hope *

IX. The infallible rule of interpretation of scripture is the scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any scripture, (which is not manifold, but one, it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly %.

X. The supreme Judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are

to

of me.

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for in them ye think ye have eternal judged of all. Ver. 27. If any man life: and they are they which testify speak in an unknown tongue, let it of me: Ver. 46. For had ye believed be by two, or at the most by three, Moses, ye would have believed me; and that hy course; and let one infor he wrote of me.

terpret. Ver. 28. But if there be no < John v. 39. Search the scriptures; interpreter, let him keep silence in for in them ye think ye have eternal the church; and let him speak to life: and they are they which testify himself, and to God.

w Col. iii. 16. Let the word of u i Cor. xiv. 6. Now, brethren, Christ dwell in you richly in all if I come unto you speaking with wisdom, teaching and admonishing tongues, what shall I profit you, one another in psalms, and hymns, except I shall speak to you either by and spiritual songs, singing with grace Tevelation, or by knowledge, or by in your hearts to the Lord. prophesying, or by doctrine? Ver. 9. Rom. xv. 4. For whatsoever So likewise you, except ye utter by things were written aforetime, were the tongue words easy to be under- written for our learning i that we stood, how shall it be known what through patience and comfort of the is spoken? for ye shall speak into scriptures might have hope. the air. Ver. 11. Therefore, if I know IX. Y 2 Pet. i. 20. Knowing this not the meaning of the voice, I shall first, that no prophecy of the scripbe unto him that speaketh a barba- ture is of any private interpretation. rian ; and he that speaketh shall be Ver. 21. For the prophecy came not a barbarian untoʻme. Ver. 12. Even in old time by the will of man : but so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of holy men of God spake as they were spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel moved by the Holy Ghost. Acts xv.15. to the edifying of the church. Ver: 24. And to this agree the words of the But if all prophesy, and there come prophets, as it is written, Ver. 16. in one that believeth not, or one un- After this I will return, and wil kearned, he is convinced of all, he is build again the tabernacle of David

to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the scripture?.

a

CHAP. II. Of God, and of the Holy Trinity. THERE is but one only a living and true Gout', who

is infinite in being and perfection', a most pure spirito, invisible', without body, parts', or passions", immu

table",

will set it up,

which is fallen down, and I will God, he is the living God, and an build again the ruins thereof, and I everlasting King.

c Job. xi. 7. Canst thou by searching X. 2 Matth. xxii. 29. Jesus an- find out God ? canst thou find out the swered and said unto them, Ye do Almighty unto perfection ? Ver. 8. It err, not knowing the scriptures, nor is as high as heaven, what canst thou the power of God. Ver. 31. But do? deeper than hell, what canst thou as touching the resurrection of the know ? Ver. 9. The measure thereof dead, have ye not read that wlich is longer than the earth, and broader was spoken unto you by God, saying. than the sea. Job xxvi. 14. Lo, these Eph. 2. 20. And are built upon the are parts of his ways; but how little a foundation of the apostles and pro- portion is heard of him? but the thun. phets, Jesus Christ himself being der of his power who can understand? the chief corner-stone. With Acts d John iv. 24. God is a Spirit; xxviii. 25. And when they agreed and they that 'worship hin, must not among themselves, they departed; worship him in spirit and in truth. after that Paul had spoken one word, ei Tim. i. 17. Now unto the Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias King eternal, immortal, invisible, the the prophet unto our fathers. only wise God, be honour and glory

1. a Deut. vi. 4. Hear, o Israel; for ever and ever. Amen. The Lord our God is one Lost. f Deut. iv. 15. Take ye therefore 1 Cor. viii. 4. As concerning there good heed unto yourselves; (for ye fore the eating of those things that saw no manner of similitude on the are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we day that the Lord spake unto you in know.that an idol is nothing in the Horeb, out of the midst of the fire,) werld, and that there is none other Ver. 16. Lest ye corrupt yourselves, God but one. Verse 6. But to us and make you a graven image, the there is but one God, the Father, of similitude of any figure, the likeness whom are all things, and we in him; of male or female. John iv. 24. God and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom is a Spirit ; and they that worship are all things, and we by hini. him, must worship himn in spirit and

bol Thess. i. 9.- For they them- in truth. With Luke xxiv, S9: Beso selves shew of us what manner of hold my hands and my feet, that it entering in we had unto you, and is I myself; handle me, and see ; for Łow ye turned to God. from idols, a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as to serve the living and true God.

ye see me have. Jer, L. 10. But the Lord is the true 8 Acts xiv. 11. And when the

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table", immense ', eternal", incomprehensible', almighty ", most wise ", most holyo, most free P, most absolute", working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will', for his own glory'; most

loving',

of men.

:

to come.

people saw what Paul had done, and greatly to be praised ; and his they lifted up their voices, saying, greatness is unsearchable. in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods m Gen. xvii. ]. And when Abram are come down to us in the likeness was ninety years old and nine, the

Ver. 15. And saying, Lord appeared to Abram, and said Sirs, why do ye these things ? We unto him, I am the almighty God : also are men of like passions with walk before me, and be thou perfect. you, and preach unto you, that ye Rev. iv. 8. And the four beasts had should turn from these vanities unto each of them six wings about him ; the living God, which made heaven, and they were full of eyes within : and earth, and the sea, and all things and they rest not day and night, that are therein,

saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God h James i. 17. Every good gift Almighty, which was, and is, and is and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father n Rom. xvi. 27. To God only of lights, with whom is no variable- wise, be glory through Jesus Christ ness, neither shadow of turning for ever. Amen. Mal. iii. 6. For I am the Lord, I o Isa. vi. 3. And one cried unto change not : therefore ye sons of another, and said, Holy, holy, holy Jacob are not consumed.

is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth i 1 Kings viii. 27. But will God is full of his glory. Rev. iv. 8. (See indeed dwell on the earth ? Behold, letter m immediately foregoing.] the heaven, and heaven of heavens P Psal. cxv. 3. But our God is in cannot contain thee, how much less the heavens: he hath done whatsothis house that I have builded ? ever he pleaseth. Jer. xxiii. 23. Am I a God at 9 Exod. ii. 14. And God said hand, saith the Lord, and not a unto Moses, I AM THAT I'AM: God afar off ? Ver. 24. Can any and he said, Thus shalt thou say hide himself in secret places, that I unto the children of Israel, I AM shall not see him ? saith the Lord : hath sent me unto you. do not I fill heaven and earth ? saith Ephi. 11. In whom also we have the Lord.

obtained an inheritance, being prek. Psal. xc. 2. Before the moun- destinated according to the purpose tains were brought forth, or ever of him who worketh all things after thou hadst formed the earth and the counsel of his own will. the world, even from everlasting to s Prov. Ivi. The Lord hath everlasting thou art God. 1.Tim. made all things for himself; yea, i. 17. Now unto the King eternal, even the wicked for the day of immortal, invisible, the only wise evil. Rom. xi. 36. For of him, and God, be honour and glory for ever through him, and to him, are all. and ever. Anien.

things : to whom be glory for ever. 1 Psal. cxlv. 3. Great is the Lord, Amen.

ti John

loving', gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sino; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him w; and withal most just and terrible in his judgments *; hating all sin Y, and who will by no means clear the guilty *: II. God hath all life", gloryb, goodness', blessedness", in

and .

to us.

tl John iv. 8. He that loveth y Psal. v. 5. The foolish shall not not, knoweth not God, for God is stand in thy sight : thou hatest all love. Ver. 16. And we have known workers of iniquity. Ver. 6. Thou and believed the love that God hath shalt destroy them that speak leasing:

God is love; and he that the Lord will abhor the bloody and dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, deceitful man. and God in him.

Z Nah. i. 2. God is jealous, and u Exod. xxxiv. 6. And the Lord the Lord revengeth; the Lord repassed by before him, and proclaimed, vengeth and is furious: the Lord The Lord, the Lord God, merciful will take vengeance on his adverand gracious, long-suffering, and saries, and he reserveth wrath for abundant in goodness and truth.

his enemies. Ver. 3. The Lord is Ver. 7. Keeping mercy for thousands, slow to anger, and great in power, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and will not at all acquit the wicked: and sin, and that will by no means the Lord hath his way in the whirlclear the guilty ; visiting the iniquity wind, and in the storm, and the of the fathers upon the children, and clouds are the dust of his feet. Exod. upon the children's children, unto the xxxiv. 7. Keeping mercy for thouthird and to the fourth generation. sands, forgiving iniquity, and trans

W Heb. xi. 6. But without faith gression, and sin, and that will by it is impossible to please him; for no means clear the guilty; visiting he that cometh to God must be- the iniquity of the fathers upon the lieve that he is, and that he is a children, and upon the children's rewarder of them that diligently children, unto the third and to the seek him.

fourth generation. * Neh. ix. 32. Now therefore, II. a John v. 26. For as the Faour God, the great, the mighty, ther hath life in himself, so hath and the terrible God, who keepest he given to the Son to have life in covenant and mercy, let not all the himself. trouble seem little before thee that Acts vii, 2. And he said, Men, hath come upon us, on our kings, on brethren, and fathers, hearken ; The our princes, and on our priests, and God of glory appeared unto our on our prophets, and on our fathers, father Abraham, when he was in and on all thy people, since the time Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in of the kings of Assyria unto this day. Charran... Ver. 33. Howbeit, thou art just

c Psal. cx 68. Thou art good, in all that is brought upon us; for and doest good, teach me thy stathou hast done right, but we have tutes. done wickedly,

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and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made , not deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory, in, by, unto, and upon them: he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom, all things®; and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth". In his sight all things are open and manifest'; his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature , so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain!

He

are

ever.

can stay.

he shall shew, who is the blessed and they shall make thee to eat and only Potentate, the King of grass as oxen, and they shall wet kings, and Lord of lords. Rom. ix. 5. thee with the dew of heaven, and Whose are the fathers, and of whom seven times shall pass over thee, till as concerning the flesh Christ came; thou know that the most High who is over all, God blessed for ruleth in the kingdom of men, Anien.

and giveth it to whomsoever he € Acts xvi. 24. Gd, that made will. Ver. 35. And all the inhathe world, and all things therein, bitants of the earth are reputed seeing that he is Lord of heaven as nothing: and he doeth accordand earth, dwelleth not in tempies ing to bis will in the army of made with hands : Ver. 25. Neither heaven, and among the inhabitants is worshipped with men's hands, as of the earth; and none though he needed any thing, seeng his hand, or say unto him, What he giveth to all life, and breath, and doest thou ? all things.

i Heb. iv, 13. Neither is there any f Job xxii. 2. Can a

man be

creature that is not manifest in his profitable unto God, as he that is sight: but all things are naked and wise may be profitable unto himself?. opened unto the eyes of him with Ver. 3. Is it any pleasure to the whom we have to do. Almighty that thou art righteous ? k Rom. xi. 33. O the depth of or is it gain to hina that thou makest the riches, both of the wisdom and thy ways perfect ?

knowledge of God! how unsearchable 8 Rom. xi. 36. For of him,, and are his judgments, and his ways past. through him, and to him, are all finding out! Ver. 34. For who things: to włom be glory for ever. hath known the mind of the Lord ? Amen.

or who hath been his counsellor ? h Rev. iv. 11. Thou art worthy, Psal. cxlvii. 5. Great is our Lord, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and of great power: his understandand power: for thou hast created all ing is infinite. things, and for thy pleasure they are 1 Acts xv. 18. Known unto God and were created 1 Tim. vi. 1.5. are all his works from the beginæ. (See letter d immediately foregoing.), ning of the world. Ezek, xi. 5. Dan. iv. 25. That they shall drive And the Spirit of the Lord fell thee from men, and thy' dwelling upon me, and said unto me, Speak, shall be with the beasts of the field; Thus saith the Lord, Thus have

ye