To those that were the People of God,1 though the Word concerns all men, yet it is written to the Church in a more especial manner. As you find in the Revelations all the Epistles were written to the Churches, and indeed all the Word of God is in a more peculiar manner written ⟨p. 94⟩to the Church, there are some things concerning all mankind, but that which God Aims at in a more especial manner it is to the Church, first to the Church of the Jews, they had that great privilege that the Oracles of God were committed to them in Rom. 3. 2. when the Apostle had taken them off from resting in many of their outward privileges, he brings an Objection: But then may some say, What advantage hath the Jew? He answers, much every way, chiefly, because to them were committed the Oracles of God: in this thing they had much advantage of all people in the world, that to them were committed the Oracles of God, God gave Jacob his Law, it was the Inheritance of his people; it is written to them, to them is committed the Oracles of God: and this is a great honour which God puts upon his Saints, God makes his Church to be the Keeper of his Records, the Court of Rolls as it were, the Church is as it were the Court of Rolls, and the great Records of Heaven, God commits to his Church, and therefore they should look to it that it be kept faithfully, that there be no corrupting it, for then they do falsify their trust, She hath the keeping of Scripture but gives no Authority to Scripture; in John, 5. 47. saith Christ there, If ye believe not Moses writings, how can ye believe my words? Mark, Christ would have the Authority of his words much to be strengthened by the writings that were before in Scripture, If ye believe not his writings, how can ye believe my words? But now the Papists will say, If ye believe not our words, how can ye believe their writings? quite the other way, they will take upon them more than Christ; Christ saith, If ye believe not his writings, how can ye believe my words? Say they, If ye believe not our words, how can ye believe their writings? For they take the Authority of the writing of Scripture to depend upon their words; It is written to the Church, and committed to the Church, but the Authority comes not from the Church. It follows.
To those that were the People of God,1 though the Word concerns all men, yet it is written to the Church in a more especial manner. As you find in the Revelations all the Epistles were written to the Churches, and indeed all the Word of God is in a more peculiar manner written ⟨p. 94⟩to the Church, there are some things concerning all mankind, but that which God Aims at in a more especial manner it is to the Church, first to the Church of the Jews, they had that great priviledg that the Orracles of God were committed to them in Rom. 3. 2. when the Apostle had taken them off from resting in many of their outward priviledges, he brings an Objection: But then may some say, What advantage hath the Jew? He answers, much every way, chiefly, because to them were committed the Oracles of God: in this thing they had much advantage of all people in the world, that to them were committed the Oracles of God, God gave Jacob his Law, it was the Inheritance of his people; it is written to them, to them is committed the Oracles of God: and this is a great honor which God puts upon his Saints, God makes his Church to be the Keeper of his Records, the Court of Rolls as it were, the Church is as it were the Court of Rolls, and the great Records of Heaven, God commits to his Church, and therfore they should look to it that it be kept faithfully, that there be no corrupting it, for then they do falsifie their trust, Shee hath the keeping of Scripture but gives no Authority to Scripture; in John, 5. 47. saith Christ there, If ye beleeve not Moses writings, how can ye beleeve my words? Mark, Christ would have the Authority of his words much to be strengthened by the writings that were before in Scripture, If ye beleeve not his writings, how can ye beleeve my words? But now the Papists will say, If ye beleeve not our words, how can ye beleeve their writings? quite the other way, they will take upon them more than Christ; Christ saith, If ye beleeve not his writings, how can ye beleeve my words? Say they, If ye beleeve not our words, how can ye beleeve their writings? For they take the Authority of the writing of Scripture to depend upon their words; It is written to the Church, and committed to the Church, but the Authority comes not from the Church. It follows.
- 1Expos.Exp•s.
