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God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testament, which are these :

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Of the NEW TESTAMENT.

The Gofpels accor- Corinthians II.

ding to

Matthew.

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Galatians.

Ephefians,

Philippians.

Coloffians.

Theffalonians I.
Theffalonians II.

To Timothy I.

To Timothy II.
To Titus.

To Philemon.

All which are given by inspiration of of faith and life g.

gLuke xvi. 29. Abraham faith unto him, they have Mofes and the prophets, let them hear them. v. 31. And he said unto him, if they hear not Mofes and the prophets, neither will they be perfuaded, tho' one rofe

The Epistle to the
Hebrews.

The Epistle of
James.

The first and fecond

Epiftles of Peter. The firft, fecond, and third Epiftles of John. TheEpiftle of Jude. The Revelation. God, to be the rule

III. The

from the dead. Eph. ii. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apoftles and prophets, Jefus Chrift himfelf being the chief corner stone. Rev. xxii. 18. For I testify unto every man that hear

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III. The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the fcripture; and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God, nor to be any otherwife approved, or made ufe of, than other human writings h.

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

V. We may be moved and induced by the teltimony of the church,to an high and reverend esteem of the holy fcripture k,and the heavenlinefs of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine

eth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God fhall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. v. 19. 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.iii. 16. All fcripture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteoufnefs.

III. Luke xxiv. 27. And beginning at Mofes, and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the fcriptures the things concerning himfeif. v. 44. And he faid unto them, These 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. Rom. iii. 2. Much every way chiefly because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 2 Pet. i. 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.

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IV. i 2 Pet. i. 19. We have also a more fure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-ftar arise in your hearts: : V.2I. 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 Ghoft. 2 Tim. iii, 16. All fcripture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteoufnefs. I John v. 9. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God, which he hath testified of his Son. 1 Theff. ii. 13. For this caufe alfo thank we God without ceafing, because 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. iii. 15. But if I tarry long, that thou mayeft know how thou oughteft to behave thyself in the houfe of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

trine, the majesty of the ftile, 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 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 witness by, and with the word in our hearts l.

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 fcripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men m. Nevertheless, we acknowledge

II John ii. 20. But ye have an unction from the holy One, and ye know all things. v. 27. 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 anointing 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 xvi. 13. Howbeit, when he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he fhall not fpeak of himself, but whatsoever he fhall hear, that shall he fpeak: and he will fhew you things to come. v. 14. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall fhew it unto you. I Cor. ii. 10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit fearcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. v. 11. For what man knoweth the things of a man,fave the fpirit of man which is in him? even fo the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. v. 12. Now we have received, not the fpirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given us of

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God Ifa. lix. 21. As for me, this is my covenant with them, faith the Lord, My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, fhall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy feed, nor out of the_mouth of thy feeds feed, faith the Lord from henceforth and for ever.

VI. m 2 Tim. iii. 15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy fcriptures, which are able to make thee wife unto falvation, thro' faith which is in Christ Jefus. v. 16 All' fcripture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteoufnefs. v. 17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Gal. i. 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. v. 9. As we faid before, fo fay I now again; If any man preach any other gospel unto you, than that ye have received, let him be accurfed. 2 Theff.ii. 2. That

ye

Chap. I. the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the faving understanding of fuch things as are revealed in the word n; and that 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 obferved o.

VII. All things in fcripture are not alike plain in themfelves, nor alike clear unto all p; 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 ufe of the ordinary means, may attain unto a fufficient understanding of them 9.

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 most generally known to the nations) being immediately in

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 vi. 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. ii. 9. But as it is written, Eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. v. 10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit fearcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

v. 11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, fave the Spirit of man which is in him? even fo the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. v. 12. Now we have received, not the fpirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

fpired

01 Cor. xi.13. Judge in yourselves is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? v. 14. Doth not even nature itself teach you, that if a man have long hair, it is a fhame unto him? 1 Cor. xiv. 26. 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 unto edifying. v. 40. Let all things be done decently and in order.

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

9 Pfal. cxix. 105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. v. 130. The entrance of thy words giveth light, it giveth understanding unto the fimple.

VIII.

fpired by God, and by his fingular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical r; so as in all confo troverfies of religion, the church is finally to appeal unto them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have right unto and interest in the fcriptures, and are commanded, in the fear of God, to read and search them t, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come v, that the word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner w, and, through patience and comfort of the fcriptures, may have hope x.

IX. The infallible rule of interpretation of fcripture, is the fcripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full fenfe of any fcripture (which is not manifold,

VIII. r Mat. v. 18. For verily I fay unto you, Till heaven and earth pafs, one jot, or one title fhall in no wife pafs from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Ifaiah viii. 20. To the law, and to the teftimony: If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Acts xv. 15. And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written. John V. 39. Search the fcriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. v. 46. For had ye believed Mofes, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

John v. 39. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.

I Cor. xiv. 6. Now, brethren, if I come unto you fpeaking with tongues, what fhall I profit you, except I fhall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophefying, or by doctrine? v. 9. So likewife you, except ye utter by the tongue words eafy to be under

ftood, how fhall it be known what is, fpoken? for ye shall speak into the air. v. II. Therefore, If I know not the meaning of the voice, I fhall be unto him that fpeaketh a Barbarian; and he that speaketh fhall be a Barbarian unto me. V. 12. Even fo ye, forafmuch as ye are zealous of fpiritual gifts, feek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. v. 24. But if all prophefy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all. v. 27. If any man fpeak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by courfe; and let one interpret. v. 28. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep filence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

w Col. iii. 16. Let the word of Chrift dwell in you richly in all wifdom, teaching and admonishing one another in pfalms, and hymns, and fpiritual fongs, finging with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

x Rom. xv. 4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime, were

written

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