Object. III. Some books of the canon of the Scripture are lost, as the book of the wars of God, Num. 21.14. the book of the just. Joshua 10.13. the books of Chronicles of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 1.King. 14.19. the books of ⟨p. 954⟩certain prophets, Nathan, God, Iddo, Ahiah, and Semiah: and therefore the matter of these books must come to us by tradition. Answ. Though it be granted that some books of Canonical scripture be lost: yet the scripture still remains sufficient because the matter of those books (so far forth as it was necessary to salvation) is contained in these books of Scripture that are now extant. Again, I take it to be a truth (though some think otherwise) that no part of the Canon is lost: for Paul saith, Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, &c. Rom. 15.4. Where he takes it for granted, that the whole Canon of holy scripture was then extant. For if he had thought, that some books of scripture had been lost, he would have said: whatsoever was written and is now extant, was written for our learning and comfort. For books that are lost serve neither for learning nor comfort. Again to hold that any books of scripture should be lost, calls into question Gods providence, and the fidelity of the Church, who hath the books of God in keeping, and is therefore called the pillar and ground of trueth. And touching the books before mentioned, I answer thus: The book of the wars of God, Num. 21. 14. might be some short bill or narration of things done among the Israelites, which in the days of Moses went from hand to hand. For sometime a book in Scripture signifieth a roll or catalogue, as the first chapter of Matthew, which containeth the genealogy of our Saviour Christ is called the book of the generation of Jesus Christ. Again, the book of the just, and the books of Chronicles, which are said to be lost, were but as the Chronicles of England are with us: even politic records of the acts and events of things, in the kingdom of Judah and Israel: out of which the Prophets gathered things necessary to be known, and placed them in holy scripture.
Obiect. III. Some books of the canon of the Scripture are lost, as the booke of the warres of God, Num. 21.14. the booke of the iust. Iosua 10.13. the bookes of Chronicles of the Kings of Israel and Iuda. 1.King. 14.19. the bookes of ⟨p. 954⟩certaine prophets, Nathan, God, Iddo, Ahiah, and Semiah: and therefore the matter of these bookes must come to vs by tradition. Answ. Though it bee granted that some bookes of Canonicall scripture be lost: yet the scripture stil remaines sufficient because the matter of those bookes (so farreforth as it was necessarie to saluation) is contained in these bookes of Scripture that are now extant. Againe, I take it to be a truth (though some thinke otherwise) that no part of the Canon is lost: for Paul saith, Whatsoeuer things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that wee through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, &c. Rom. 15.4. Where he takes it for graunted, that the whole Canon of holy scripture was then extant. For if he had thought, that some books of scripture had beene lost, he would haue said: whatsoeuer was written and is now extant, was written for our learning and comfort. For bookes that are lost serue neither for learning nor comfort. Againe to hold that any bookes of scripture should be lost, calls into question Gods prouidence, and the fidelitie of the Church, who hath the bookes of God in keeping, and is therefore called the pillar and ground of trueth. And touching the bookes before mentioned, I answer thus: The booke of the warres of God, Num. 21. 14. might be some short bill or narration of things done among the Israelites, which in the daies of Moses went from hand to hand. For sometime a booke in Scripture signifieth a roule or catalogue, as the first chapter of Mathew, which containeth the genealogie of our Sauiour Christ is called the booke of the generation of Iesus Christ. Againe, the booke of the iust, and the bookes of Chronicles, which are said to be lost, were but as the Chronicles of England are with vs: euen politicke records of the acts and euents of things, in the kingdome of Iuda and Israel: out of which the Prophets gathered things necessarie to bee knowne, and placed them in holy scripture.
