kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical r; so as, in all controverfies of religion, the church is finally to appeal unto them s. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have right unto and interest in the scriptures, and are commanded, in the fear of God to read and search them t; therefore they are to be tranflated 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, thro patience and comfort of the Scriptures, may have hope x.

IX. The infallible rule of interpreptation of Scipture, is the Scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full fenfe of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one) it must be searched and know by other places

VIII. r Mat. 5. 18. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one title shall in now wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

1. Ifaiah 8. 20. To the law, and to the teftimony: if they speak not according to this word, itisbecause there is no light in them. Acts 15.15. And to this agree the words of theprophets, as it is writs ten. John 5.39. Search the scriptures, for in them ye think yehave eternal life, andtheyare they which tellify of me,v.46. For had ye believed Mofes, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.

t John. 5.39. Search the scriptures, for in them ye thinkye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.

v Cor.14.6.Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shalll profityou,except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, orby prophesying, or by doctrine? v.9. So likewife you, except ye utterby the tongue wordsealy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. 2.11. Therefore, if I know

a

not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh barbarian; and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.v. 12. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seekthat ye may excel to the edifyingofthe church.. 24. But if all prophesy, 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 speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course, and let one interpret. v. 28. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep filence in the church; and let him speak to himfelf and to God.

w Col. 3. 16. Let the word of Chrift dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in pfalms, and hymns, and spiritual fons, finging with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

x Rom. 15.4. For whatsoever thingswerewritten aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope. IX. y 2 Pet.

places that speak more clearly y.

X. The supreme judge, by which all controverfies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of antient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to reft; can be no other but the holy spirit speaking in the Scrip

ture z.

CHAP. II. Of God, and of the holy Trinity.

T

HERE

is but one only a, living and true God b, who is infinite in being and perfections c,a most pure spirit d, invi

IX.y 2 Pet. 1.20. Knowing this first that no prophecy of thescripture is ofany privateinterpretation 2. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will ofman: but holy menot Godspake as they were moved bythe holy Ghost. Acts15. 15. And to this agree the words of the prophets, as is written, v. 16. After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacleof David which is fallen down, and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up,

X.Matt.22. 29. Jesus answered and faid unto them, Yedo err, not knowing the fcriptures, nor the power of God. v. 31. But as touching the refurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, faying. Eph.2.20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles andprophets, Jesus Christhimself beingthe chiefcorner-stone.with Acts28,25. And when they agreed notamong themselves, theydeparted, afterthat Paul had spoken one word, well fpake the holy Ghost by Efaias the prophet unto our fathers.

I.a Deut. 6. 4. Hear, O Ifrael, the Lordour God isone Lord. Cor.8.4. As concerningtherefore the cating

of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, & that there is none other God but one.v.6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

br Thef. 1.9. For theythemselves shew of us, what manner ofentring in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols, to serve theliving and true God. Jer.10.10. But the Lord isthe true God, he is the living God, and an everlafting King.

c Job11:1. Canft thou bysearching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty untoperfection? v. 8. It is as high as heaven, what canst thou do? deeper than hell. what canst thou know? v. 9. The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. Job26.14. Lo, theseare parts of his ways, but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?

d John 4.24. God is a fpirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth. c. Tim

invisible e, without body, parts f, or passions g, immutable h, immensei, eternal k, incomprehenfible 1, almighty m, most wisen, most holy o, most free p, most absolute q, working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and and most righteous will r, for his own glory f; most loving t, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness & truth, forgiving iniquity, tranfgreffion and sin v; the rewarderof themthat diligently seek him w; and withal most just and terrible in his judgments x, hating all fin y, and who will by no means clear the guilty z.

II. God hath all life a, glory b, goodness c, blessednefs,

r Eph. 1. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predeftinatedaccording to the purpose of him, who worketh all things afterthe counsel of his own will.

f Prov. 16. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, eventhewicked for theday of evil. Rom, 11. 36. For of him, and thro' him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

t: John4.8. He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for Godislove: v.16. And we have known andbelived the love that God hath to us, God is love: and he that dwelleth in love, dwellethin God, and God in him.

vExod.34.6. And the Lord pafsedby before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 2.7. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and tranfgreffion and fin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of thefathers uponthe children, and upon the childrens children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

wHeb.11.6.But withoutfaith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God, must believe thathe is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. x Neh..32. Now therefore, our God: the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepelt covenant and mercy; let not all the trouble feem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings,

on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, fince the time of the kings of Affyria, unto this day. v.33.Howbeit, thou art just in all that is broughtupon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly.

y Pfal.5.5. The foolish shall not stand in thy fight; thou hateft all workers of iniquity. v. 6. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord willabhorthe bloody and deceitful man.

z Nahum 1. 2. God is zealous and the Lord revengeth, the Lord revengeth and is furious, the Lord will take vengeance on his adverfaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. 2.3. The Lord is flow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all ad acquit the wicked the Lord hath his way in thewhirlwind, and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. Exod34.7.Keepingmercyforthousands, forgivinginiquity & tranfgression and fin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; vifiting the iniquity of thefathers upon the children, and upon the childrens children, unto thethird and to the fourth generation.

II.a John 5. 26. For as thefather hathlife inhimself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself. b Acts 7.2. And he faid, men,brethren, & fathers, hearken, the God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when hewas in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran. c Pfal.119.68.Thou art good, Sc dost good, teach me thy statutes, da Time

:

ness d, in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himselr All-fufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made e; nor deriving any glory from them f, but only manifefting his own glory, in, by, unto, and upon them: He is the alone fountain of all beings, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things g; and hath most fovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth h. In his fight all things are open and manifest i; his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature k, so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain 1. He is most holy in all his counsels, in

dr Tim.6.15. Which inhistimes he shallshew, whois the blessed and only potentate, the Kingof kings, and Lordof lords.Rom.9.5. Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came: who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

e Acts17. 24. God that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth notintemplesmade with hands: 0.25. Neither is worshipped withmenshands, as though he needed any thing, feeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.

f Job. 22. 2.Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wife may be profitable unto himself? v. 3. Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thoumakest thy ways perfect?

g Rom. 11. 36. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things:to whom be gloryforever.

Amen.

h Rev. 4. 11. Thou art worthy O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleafure they are, and were created. 1 Tim. 6.15 (fee letterd immediately foregoing) Dan. 4. 25. That they shall drive thee frominen, and thy dwellingshall be withthebeafts of the field, and they thall make

thee to eat grafs grais as oxen, and they

shall wet thee with the dewof heaven, andseven times shallpassover thee, till thou know that the most highrulethinthe kingdomof men, andgivethitto whomsoever hewill. v. 35. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he dothaccordingto hiswillin the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or fay unto him, What doest thou ?

i Heb. 4. 13. Neither is thereany creature that is not manifest in his fight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

k Rom, 11.33.0 the depthof the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! v. 34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counseller? Pfal. 147. 5. Great is our Lord, andof great power: his understanding is infinite.

1 Acts 15. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Ezek. 11.5. The Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and faid unto me, speak, Thus faith the Lord, Thus have ye said O house of Ifrael: for I know the things that come into your mind every one of them.

C

m Plala