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All which are given by inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life".

III. The books commonly called Apocrypha not being of divine infpiration, are no part of the canon of the fcripture; and therefore are of no authority in the church of God, nor to be any

II g Eph. 2. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jefus Chrift himself being the chief corner-fone. Rev. 22. 18, 19. For teftify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man fhall add unto these things, God fhall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book; And if any man

fhall take away, from the words of the book of this prophecy, God fhall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 2 Tim. 3. 16-All fcripture is given by inspirationof God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteoufnels.

otherwife approved, or made ufe of, than other human writings".

IV. The authority of the holy fcripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon the teftimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God, (who is truth itself) the au thor thereof; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the word of God'.

V. We may be moved and induced by the teftimony of the church to an high and reverend efteem for the holy fcripture"; and the heavenlinefs of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the confent of all the parts, the fcope of the whole, (which is to give all glory to God) the full discovery it makes of the only

III, h Luke 24. 27. And beginning at Mofes and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the fcriptures, the things concerning himself. Ver. 44. And he faid unto them, Thefe are the words which I fpake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Mofes, and in the prophets, and in the pfalms, concerning me. 2 Pet. 1. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God fpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

IV. i Tim. 3. 16. All fcripture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for

inftruction in righteousness. i John. 5. 9. If we receive the witnefs of men, the witness of God is greater: For this is the witnefs of God which he hath teftified of his Son. 1, Thefs. 2, 13. For this caufe alfo thank we God without ceafing, becaufe, when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh alfo in you that believe.

V. k 1 Tim. 3. 15. But if't tarry long, that thou mayeft know how thou oughteít to behave thyfelf in the houfe of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

way of man's falvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the word of God; yet, notwithstanding, our full perfuafion and affurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witnefs, by and with the word, in our hearts'.

VI. The whole counfel of God, concerning all things neceffary for his own glory, man's falvation, faith and life, is either exprefsly fet down in fcripture, or by good and neceffary confequence may be deduced from scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new

11 John 2. 20, 27. But ye have an unction from the Holy One and ye know all things. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the fame a nointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie; and even as it hath taught you, ye fhall abide in him. John 16. 13, 14. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he thall not fpeak of himfelf; but whatsoever he

fhall hear, that fhall he speak; and he will fhew you things to come. He fhall glorify me: for he fhall receive of mine, and fhall fhew it unto you.-1 Cor. 2. 10. 11, 12. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; for the Spirit fearcheth all things, yea the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, fave the fpirit of a man which is in him? even fo the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

revelations of the Spirit or traditions of men. Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be neceffary for the faving understanding of fuch things as are revealed in the word"; and there are fome circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and focieties, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and christian prudence, according to the general rules of the word, which are always to be observed.

VI. m 2 Tim. 3. 16. All fcripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: Ver. 17. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Gal. 1. 8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gofpel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accurfed.-2 Thefs. 2. 2. That ye be not foon fhaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by fpirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, as that the day of Chrift is at hand.

n John 6. 45. It is written in the prophets, And they fhall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me. 1 Cor. 2. 9, 10. 12. But as it is written, Eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, neither have entered in

to the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him-But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

o 1 Cor 11. 13, 14. Judge in yourselves: Is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that if a man have long hair, it is a fhame unto him? I Cor. 14. 26, 40. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a pfalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done to edifying. Let all things be done decently and in order.

VII. All things in fcripture are not alike plam in themselves, nor alike clear unto all"; yet thofe things which are neceffary to be known, believed, and obferved, for falvation, are fo clearly propounded and opened in fome place of fcripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a fufficient understanding of them".

VIII. The Old teftament in Hebrew, (which was the native language of the people of God of old) and the New teftament in Greek, (which at the time of the writing of it was moft generally known to the nations) being immediately inspired by God, and by his fingular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical'; fo as in all controverfies of religion the church is finally to appeal unto them.

VII. p 2 Pet. 3. 16. As alfo in all bis epiftles, fpeaking in them of these things, in which are fome things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wreft, as they do alfo the other fcriptures, unto their own deftruction.

But be

rily I fay unto you. Till heaven and earth pafs, one jot or one tittle fhall in no wife pafs from the law, till all be fulfilled.

s Ifai. 8. 20. To the law and to the teftimony; if they fpeak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in q Pfal. 119. 105. Thy word them. A&s 15. 15. And to is a lamp unto my feet, and a this agree the words of the prolight unto my path. Ver. 130, phets; as it is written, John 5. The entrance of thy words giv- 46. For had ye believed Mofes, eth light; it giveth underftand-ye would have believed me: ing unto the fimple. for he wrote of me.

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VIII, r Mat. 5. 18. For ve

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