A64622:188
A body of divinity, or, The sum and substance of Christian religion catechistically propounded,…A body of divinitie, or, The summe and substance of Christian religion catechistically propounded,…
A body of divinity, or, The sum and substance of Christian religion catechistically propounded, and explained, by way of question and answer : methodically and familiarly handled / composed long since by James Usher B. of Armagh, and at the earnest desires of divers godly Christians now printed and published ; whereunto is adjoined a tract, entitled Immanuel, or, The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God heretofore written [sic] and published by the same author.A body of divinitie, or, The summe and substance of Christian religion catechistically propounded, and explained, by way of question and answer : methodically and familiarly handled / composed long since by James Vsher B. of Armagh, and at the earnest desires of divers godly Christians now printed and published ; whereunto is adjoyned a tract, intituled Immanvel, or, The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God heretofore writen [sic] and published by the same authour.
London: printed by M.F. for Tho. Downes and Geo. Badger, 1645
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thirdly,1 the books of holy Scripture are so sufficient for the knowledge of Christian Religion, that they do most plentifully contain all Doctrine necessary to salvation, they being perfectly profitable to instruct to salvation in themselves, and all other imperfectly profitable thereunto, further then they draw from them; whence it followeth, that we need no unwritten verities, no traditions or inventions of men, no Canon of Councils, no sentences of Fathers, much less Decrees of Popes, for to supply any supposed defect of the written Word, or for to give us more perfect directions in the worship of God, and the way of life, then is already expressed in the Canonical Scriptures, Mat. 23. 8. Joh. 5. 39. Mat. 15. 9. Finally, these holy Scriptures are the rule, the line, the square, and light, whereby to examine and try all judgements and sayings of men and Angels, Joh. 12. 48. Gal. 1. 9. All traditions, revelations, decrees of Councils, opinions of Doctors, &c. are to be embraced so far forth as they may be proved out of the Divine Scriptures, and not otherwise, so that from them only all Doctrine concerning our salvation must be drawn and derived, that only is to be taken for truth in matters appertaining to Christian Religion, which is agreeable unto them, and whatsoever disagreeth from them is to be refused.
Thirdly,1 the bookes of holy Scripture are so sufficient for the knowledge of Christian Religion, that they doe most plentifully contain all Doctrine necessary to salvation, they being perfectly profitable to instruct to salvation in themselves, and all other imperfectly profitable thereunto, further then they draw from them; whence it followeth, that wee need no unwriten verities, no traditions or inventions of men, no Canon of Councels, no sentences of Fathers, much lesse Decrees of Popes, for to supply any supposed defect of the writen Word, or for to give us more perfect directions in the worship of God, and the way of life, then is already expressed in the Canonicall Scriptures,