Thirdly, That both their Sermons, and these Books written by the Spirit of Christ, are of sovereign authority in the Church of God, and have the sole pre-eminence for the deciding of all controversies, the judging and discerning of all sayings, and writings of men: for unto them the holy Ghost doth always call us, kTo the Law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this Word, it is, because there is no light in them. And this is it which Christ used as the weapon to foil Satan, Math. 4. So the Apostle Paul, 1. Corin. 15. 3, 4. maketh the Scriptures to give credit to his doctrine, I have delivered unto you, that which I have received; that Christ dyed for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised the third day, according to the Scriptures, &c. The men likewise of Berhea, Acts 17. 11. are commended for examining by the Scriptures the things which Paul taught. Therefore our Saviour lChrist referreth us to the Scriptures, as to the Touchstone of all truth, Search the Scriptures; and in manother place, Ye err, not knowing the Scriptures: For the authority of these Books is greater than the authority of the Church, as the authority of God, who cannot err, must needs be greater than the authority4 of men, that may and do err. Again, the Church hath her life and being from the Word, inasmuch as faith, which maketh a Church, cannot be without the Word: So hath not the Word from the Church.
Thirdly, That both their Sermons, and these Bookes written by the Spirit of Christ, are of soueraigne authoritie in the Church of God, and haue the sole pre-eminence for the deciding of all controuersies, the iudging and discerning of all sayings, and writings of men: for vnto them the holy Ghost doth alwaies call vs, kTo the Law and to the testimonie, if they speake not according to this Word, it is, because there is no light in them. And this is it which Christ vsed as the weapon to foile Satan, Math. 4. So the Apostle Paul, 1. Corin. 15. 3, 4. maketh the Scriptures to giue credit to his doctrine, I haue deliuered vnto you, that which I haue receyued; that Christ dyed for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raysed the third day, according to the Scriptures, &c. The men likewise of Berhea, Acts 17. 11. are commended for examining by the Scriptures the things which Paul taught. Therefore our Sauiour lChrist referreth vs to the Scriptures, as to the Touchstone of all truth, Search the Scriptures; and in manother place, Yee erre, not knowing the Scriptures: For the authority of these Bookes is greater than the authoritie of the Church, as the authoritie of God, who cannot erre, must needes be greater than the authority4 of men, that may and doe erre. Againe, the Church hath her life and being from the Word, inasmuch as faith, which maketh a Church, cannot bee without the Word: So hath not the Word from the Church.
- kIsaiah 8. 20.Esay 8. 20.
- lJohn 5. 39.Iohn 5. 39.
- mMatth. 22. 25
- 4The Popish Doctrine, which hangeth the authority of the Scriptures, upon the Church.The Popish Doctrine, which hangeth the authoritie of the Scriptures, vpon the Church.
