The prime and principal is his Word (whereof we have spoken already) the Treasure of all heavenly Knowledge. sThis, saith the Apostle to the Romans, is the chief (of those excellencies which the Jews had above other men) that unto them were committed the Oracles of God: Or (as the tProphet speaketh) the excellencies of the Law. Wherefore Gods Word and Precepts, David doth many times call u[Greek or Hebrew] things deposited. In regard whereof, the Church is said to be xthe Pillar and S•ate of Truth: for the Truth of God is no where to be found but there. It is Error, Lies, Superstition, & Deceit, whatsoever cometh not from hence. The Church only is the golden Candle-stick figured in the Law, which holdeth up the eternal Truth of God, to give light unto all the World, and there light is to be had, when darkness covereth the whole face of the earth beside. Preaching, for the form and manner of it, is an5 instruction by word of mouth, opening and interpreting the Scriptures, rendering the sense thereof, drawing the doctrines that are to be gathered from them, making use and profit of it, for the edification and building up of our faith; which the Apostle, by a Metaphor from the Sacrifices of the Law, calleth yCutting aright the Word of Truth. It standeth not in the bare and naked reading of them. And that you may see, Nehe. 8. 8, 9. where the people abiding in their standing, the Levites taught them the Law, first, reading it distinctly, then, rendering the sense by the Scripture it self. So Luk. 4. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. Our Saviour coming ⟨p. 359⟩into the Synagogue, there was given him the Book of the Prophet Isaiah; which when he had unfolded, and read a portion of that Scripture, he folded the Book, and gave it again to him that waited, and sate down; and the eyes of all in the Synagogue, being fastened on him, he began to say unto them, To day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears.
The prime and principall is his Word (whereof wee haue spoken already) the Treasure of all heauenly Knowledge. sThis, saith the Apostle to the Romans, is the chiefe (of those excellencies which the Iewes had aboue other men) that vnto them were committed the Oracles of God: Or (as the tProphet speaketh) the excellencies of the Law. Wherefore Gods Word and Precepts, Dauid doth many times call u〈non-Latin alphabet〉 things deposited. In regard whereof, the Church is said to bee xthe Pillar and S•ate of Truth: for the Truth of God is no where to be found but there. It is Error, Lies, Superstition, & Deceit, whatsoeuer cōmeth not from hence. The Church onely is the golden Candle-sticke figured in the Law, which holdeth vp the eternal Truth of God, to giue light vnto all the World, and there light is to be had, when darkenesse couereth the whole face of the earth beside. Preaching, for the forme and manner of it, is an5 instruction by word of mouth, opening and interpreting the Scriptures, rendring the sense thereof, drawing the doctrines that are to be gathered from them, making vse and profit of it, for the edification and building vp of our faith; which the Apostle, by a Metaphor from the Sacrifices of the Law, calleth yCutting aright the Word of Truth. It standeth not in the bare and naked reading of them. And that you may see, Nehe. 8. 8, 9. where the people abiding in their standing, the Leuites taught them the Law, first, reading it distinctly, then, rendring the sense by the Scripture it selfe. So Luk. 4. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. Our Sauiour comming ⟨p. 359⟩into the Synagogue, there was giuen him the Booke of the Prophet Esay; which when he had vnfolded, and read a portion of that Scripture, he folded the Booke, and gaue it againe to him that wayted, and sate downe; and the eyes of all in the Synagogue, being fastened on him, he began to say vnto them, To day is this Scripture fulfilled in your eares.
- sRom. 3. 2.
- tHosh. 8. 12. [Greek or Hebrew]Hosh. 8. 12. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉
- uWhereunto it seemeth Paul doth allude, 1. Tim. 6. 20. & 2. Tim. 1. 14 in [Greek or Hebrew].Whereunto it seemeth Paul doth allude, 1. Tim. 6. 20. & 2. Tim. 1. 14 in 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- x1. Tim. 3. 15.
- 5Preaching is an instruction of the Church, by lively voicePreaching is an instruction of the Church, by liuely voice
- y2. Tim. 2. 15.