The Scriptures are the word of God. 1What title can there be of greater value? what may be said of them to make them of greater authority, than to say. The Lord hath spoken them? That they came not by the will of men, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost? At the word or Proclamation of an earthly Prince we stand up, and veil our bonnets, and give good ear to it: we are bound so to do, it is our duty, such honour belongeth to the powers that are placed to rule over us: for they are ordained of God. And who soever resisteth them, resteth the ordinance of God. If we should have a revelation, and hear an Angel speak unto us, how careful would we be to mark, and remember, and be able to declare the words of the Angel? yet is an Angel but a glorious creature, and not God. And what is a King? great and mighty: yet mortal and subject to death. ⟨p. 120⟩creature, and not God. And what is a King? great and mighty: yet mortal and subject to death. His breath departeth, and his name shall perish. Both he and his word, his power and his puissance shall have an end. But the word of the Gospel is not as the word of an earthly Prince. It is of more Majesty than the word of an Angel. The Apostle sayeth:2 If the word spoken by Angels was steadfast, and every transgression & disobedience received a just recompense of reward: how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be preached by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him? God saith by the Prophet Isaiah, 3My word shall accomplish that which I will, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. And the same Prophet saith:4 The word of God shall stand for ever. And, It is more easy that Heaven and Earth pass away, 5than that one title of the Law should fail, saith our Saviour. For, it is the word of the living and almighty God, of the God of ⟨p. 121⟩Hosts, which hath done whatsoever pleased him, both in heaven and in earth. By this word he maketh his will known.6 I have not spoken of my self (sayeth Christ) but the Father which sent me, gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 7And again, If I had not come and spoken unto them, they should not have had sin: but now have they no cloak for their sin. No man hath seen God at any time:
The Scriptures are the worde of God. 1What title can ther be of greater value? what may be said of them to make them of greater auctoritie, thā to say. The Lord hath spoken them? That they came not by the wil of men, but holie men of God spake as they were moued by the holy Ghost? At the worde or Proclamation of an earthly Prince we stand vppe, and vaile our bonnets, and giue good eare to it: we are bounde so to doe, it is oure duetie, such honour belongeth to the powers that are placed to rule ouer vs: for they are ordained of God. And who soeuer resisteth them, resssteth the ordinance of God. If we shoulde haue a reuelation, and heare an Angell speake vnto vs, how carefull would we be to marke, and remember, and be able to declare the words of the Aungel? yet is an Aungel but a glorious creature, and not God. And what is a King? greate and mightie: yet mortall and subiecte to death. ⟨p. 120⟩creature, and not God. And what is a King? great and mightie: yet mortall and subiecte to death. His breath departeth, and his name shal perishe. Bothe he and his worde, his power and his puissance shall haue an ende. But the word of the Gospell is not as the worde of an earthly Prince. It is of more Maiestie than the word of an Angel. The Apostle sayeth:2 If the worde spoken by Aungels was stedfaste, and euerie transgression & disobediēce receiued a iust recompence of rewarde: how shall wee escape if wee neglecte so great saluation whiche at the firste beganne to bee preached by the Lorde, and was confirmed vnto vs by them that hearde him? God saith by the Prophet Esay, 3My word shal accomplish that whiche I will, and it shal prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. And the same Prophet saith:4 The worde of God shall stand for euer. And, It is more easie that Heauen and Earth passe awaie, 5than that one title of the Lawe shoulde faile, sayth our fauiour. For, it is the worde of the liuing and almightie God, of the God of ⟨p. 121⟩Hostes, whyche hathe done whatsoeuer pleased him, bothe in heauen and in earth. By thys worde he maketh hys will knowen.6
- 1The authority of the Scriptures. 2. Pet. 1.The auctoritie of the Scriptures. 2. Pet. 1.
- 2Heb. 2.
- 3Isaiah. 55.Esay. 55.
- 4Isaiah. 40.Esay. 40.
- 5Luke. 16.
- 6John. 12.Iohn. 12.
- 7John. 15.Iohn. 15.
