A09434:35
A godly and learned exposition upon the whole epistle of Jude, containing threescore and…A godlie and learned exposition upon the whole epistle of Iude, containing threescore and…
A godly and learned exposition upon the whole epistle of Jude, containing threescore and six sermons preached in Cambridge by that reverend and faithful man of God, Master William Perkins, and now at the request of his executors, published by Thomas Taylor, preacher of Gods word ; whereunto is prefixed a large analysis, containing the sum and order of the whole book, according to the authors own method, to which are further added, four brief tables to direct the reader ...A godlie and learned exposition upon the whole epistle of Iude, containing threescore and sixe sermons preached in Cambridge by that reverend and faithfull man of God, Master William Perkins, and now at the request of his executors, published by Thomas Taylor, preacher of Gods word ; whereunto is prefixed a large analysis, containing the summe and order of the whole booke, according to the authors owne method, to which are further added, foure briefe tables to direct the reader ...
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, 1606
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
If this were sufficient to prove this Epistle not authentical,1 then the whole books of Samuel, the Kings, and Chronicles should be cast out of the Canon by the same reason: which take the matter from Civill Chronicles: Now if it be lawful to take matter out of Civill Chronicles, why may not one Scripture be taken out of another? we must therefore (notwithstanding ⟨p. 2⟩these weak allegations) esteem this Epistle to be the Canonical Scripture, and the eternal word of God, as our Church, and the Church in all ages hath received it. And now in the second place see how we may come to be resolved that it is so to be allowed:2 which we may in this resemblance. An Indenture between man and man is known to be sufficient two ways. First by the matter and contents therein, which plainly shows an act passed, and done: secondly, by adding and annexing thereunto certain outward signs and testimonies, as the hands and seals of the parties, the hands and names of the witnesses corroborating and strengthening the same: the first is good in it self (though not so confirmed to the parties) without the second: but the second is nothing without the first: but if both th•se shall concur and be specified in the Indenture, then it is absolutely authentical, both in it self, and unto the parties. If this be applied to the scripture, it shall be apparent to be no less ratified then such an Indenture. For first consider but the Contents and matter it self of it, it will speak the certainty and truth of it: read over the Epistle, you shall find the whole matter agreed upon by the Prophets and Apostles: and for the testimony, the Catholic and common consent of the Church, or greatest part since the Apostles days, hath set to her hand and seal that it is the truth of God, no less assured then other books of the Canon: which assent of the church, though it cannot make us, yet may move us accordingly to entertain it. Besides, if we consider the ends, as also the effects of this scripture (which are the same with any part of the Canonical) we cannot but confess that it is the holy and sacred truth of God, all of it conspiring with all the other to the advancing of Gods glory, and furthering of mans salvation. So much of the authority of this Epistle.