1. By the Rule according to which it speaks: To the Law and to the Testimony, for if they speak not according to this Word, there is no light in them (Hebr. no morning in them) no, not so much as the dawning of the day, or the eye-lids of the morning, Isa. 8.20. 1 Joh. 4.1,—6. and Epistle 2.7,—10. Gal. 1.6,—9. 2 Cor. 11.1,—4. The Spirit of God acts and walks by the same Rule that we are to act and walk by, and that's the Word. If the Word and Spirit do not agree, we must question either whether the Word be of God, or whether the Spirit be of God? and we are at a rueful loss if they do not both agree; for if the Word say one thing and the Spirit another, how shall we reconcile it? but Gods Word and Gods Spirit do always agree, and are of one and the same mind. The Spirit of God did indite and dictate the holy Scriptures, and therefore it cannot say one thing there, and another in thine heart; that were to bear witness against it self: and if its Kingdom be divided how can it stand? This conclusion therefore is infallibly true, that when and wherever the Spirit of God doth bear and give its Testimony, 'tis always according to the written Word, contained in the Old and New Testament: ⟨p. 281⟩this is the foundation upon which i• builds, both us and its Testimony, Epb. 2.18,—22. The Spirit of God (as was hinted) did indite and dictate the Scripture, 2 Pet. 1.20, 21. 2 Tim. 3.14,—17. 1 Joh. 2.20,—27. which unction refers to and is according to what they had heard from the beginning, Vers. 24. so that they were taught the same thing by the unction within, as they were by the word (called unction also) without. In all times the Word was the Rule of trial. Our Lord Jesus Christ himself opposed and conquered the Devil by this Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. He proved himself to be the Messiah more by the Scriptures, than by Miracles; and tells them that if the Scriptures did not testify of him, they should not believe him, and therefore bids them search the Scriptures, Joh. 5.39. Our Saviour confutes the errors of the Pharisees and the Sadducees by Scripture. He tells us that his Spirit shall not bring us a new Doctrine, but make Application of what he had taught, Joh. 14.26. The Apostles commended them of Beroea, that they searched the Scriptures to see if the Apostles spake true, Act. 17.10, 11.
1. By the Rule according to which it speaks: To the Law and to the Testimony, for if they speak not according to this Word, there is no light in them (Hebr. no morning in them) no, not so much as the dawning of the day, or the eye-lids of the morning, Isa. 8.20. 1 Joh. 4.1,—6. and Epistle 2.7,—10. Gal. 1.6,—9. 2 Cor. 11.1,—4. The Spirit of God acts and walks by the same Rule that we are to act and walk by, and that's the Word. If the Word and Spirit do not agree, we must question either whether the Word be of God, or whether the Spirit be of God? and we are at a rueful loss if they do not both agree; for if the Word say one thing and the Spirit another, how shall we reconcile it? but Gods Word and Gods Spirit do alwaies agree, and are of one and the same mind. The Spirit of God did indite and dictate the holy Scriptures, and therefore it cannot say one thing there, and another in thine heart; that were to bear witness against it self: and if its Kingdom be divided how can it stand? This conclusion therefore is infallibly true, that when and whereever the Spirit of God doth bear and give its Testimony, 'tis alwaies according to the written Word, contained in the Old and New Testament: ⟨p. 281⟩this is the foundation upon which i• builds, both us and its Testimony, Epb. 2.18,—22. The Spirit of God (as was hinted) did indite and dictate the Scripture, 2 Pet. 1.20, 21. 2 Tim. 3.14,—17. 1 Joh. 2.20,—27. which unction refers to and is according to what they had heard from the beginning, Vers. 24. so that they were taught the same thing by the unction within, as they were by the word (called unction also) without. In all times the Word was the Rule of tryal. Our Lord Jesus Christ himself opposed and conquered the Devil by this Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. He proved himself to be the Messiah more by the Scriptures, than by Miracles; and tells them that if the Scriptures did not testifie of him, they should not believe him, and therefore bids them search the Scriptures, Joh. 5.39. Our Saviour confutes the errors of the Pharisees and the Sadduces by Scripture. He tells us that his Spirit shall not bring us a new Doctrine, but make Application of what he had taught,
