CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

4. It's an universal Truth, within the bounds of Religion; I do not say,¹ that all philosophical and mathematical truths are in the Scripture, but all soul-saving truths are, as 2 Tim. 3. The Scriptures are able to make thee wise to salvation. There is nothing for doctrine, or for practice, but that can guide thee. This sufficiency and perfection of Scripture-truth, we do justly maintain against the Papists, who as they foolishly set up their lighted tapers at noon-day, so they add their traditions to the Scripture; but it's often said, we may neither add to it, nor detract from it: therefore it's abundantly sufficient: Now it's good with Tertullian, to adore this fullness of the Scripture for thy faith and doctrine, to believe as thou readest, to worship God as thou readest: As the child in the womb is nourished only by the mother, through her nourishing: Thus the Church of God is instructed, nourished and enlivened only from God by the Scriptures. We read the Manna fell from heaven, but there fell a dew before it to constringe and bind the earth: Thus truth falls from God, but the Scripture is like the dew to keep it together, that it may be for our use; Let not then tradition, custom, antiquity, multitudes, nor such Gorgons heads lifted up by men terrify thee, but follow the word in thy faith and worship, where that stands still, do not thou go further, where that goeth, do not thou stand still. And as for faith, so for thy life, know that hath all practical truth in it, necessary to salvation, that teacheth, and that only, how to repent, how to be converted, how to believe in Christ, how to pray, how to hear, how to be in the world, yet to have a conversation in heaven. That teacheth thee how to be godly in thy relations, a godly father, a godly child, a godly master, a godly servant. Now this most people are greatly faulty in, they will be of no Religion, but what the Scripture commands, yet they will live otherwise, and do otherwise. When thou seest an heretic thou will bring Scripture against him; And is not Scripture against thy profaneness and impiety? as well as there are damnable heresies, so are there damnable wickednesses in mens lives.

4. It's an universal Truth, within the bounds of Religion; I do not say,¹ that all philosophical and mathematical truths are in the Scripture, but all soul-saving truths are, as