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

¹6. It's a godly holy Truth; The holy Scriptures they are called, and well may they be so called, for nothing is a stronger argument to demonstrate the Divine Authority of Scriptures, than the holiness thereof. Take all the moral books in the world, they do as much come short of the holiness of the Scripture, as coals do of the glory of the Sun. Plutarch, Seneca, Epictetus, these will teach you to have the clean skin of morality, but not the inward life and sound vitals of holiness; What transcendent holiness doth the Scripture teach us? such as the men of the world know not; Holiness in our natures, first of all, Regeneration, neither the name nor the nature of it, was known amongst the Heathens, they knew not mans natural pollution, neither did they see a necessity of such an internal renovation.

¹6. It's a godly holy Truth; The holy Scriptures they are called, and well may they be so called, for nothing is a stronger argument to demonstrate the Divine Authority of Scriptures, than the holiness thereof. Take all the moral books in the world, they do as much come short of the holiness of the Scripture, as coals do of the glory of the Sunne. Plutarch, Seneca, Epictetus, these will teach you to have the clean skin of morality, but not the inward life and sound vitals of holiness; What transcendent holiness doth the Scripture teach us? such as the men of the world know not; Holiness in our natures, first of all, Regeneration, neither the name nor the nature of it, was known amongst the Heathens, they knew not mans natural pollution, neither did they see a necessity of such an internal renovation.

1. 16. A holy truth

Again, Such holy duties the Scriptures teach, that not only the doctrinal, but the practical part of it, is a mystery to flesh and blood, such are faith in Christ, love to our enemies, self-denial, and a readiness to take up the Cross. Many of these duties are accounted folly and madness by wise men after the flesh. It teacheth an heavenly life, fellowship and communion with God, to do all things from holy principles, and to holy ends; so that the holiness that is in the truth of Scriptures should much affect us. But oh how few read and delight in the Scriptures, because of the holiness in them? You read them for dispute, or to know the History, and to be able to hold up Arguments; but who is there, that thinketh this, the truths of Scripture are holy? They are to make heavenly and pure, they will forewarn of sin, they quicken to grace, they inflame to faith and love: Oh mind this, all Scripture-truth is for holiness! As meat is not to be looked upon, but eaten and digested.