A Body of Practical Divinity

3. The Scripture appears to be the Word of God, by the Matter contained in it. 1. By its Profundity. The Mystery of Scripture is so abstruse and profound, that no Man or Angel could have known it, had it not been Divinely revealed. That Eternity should be born, that he who Thunders in the Heavens, should cry in the ⟨p. 14⟩Cradle, that he who Rules the Stars should Suck the Breasts^*; That the Prince of Life should die, that the Lord of Glory should be put to shame, that Sin should be punished to the full, yet pardoned to the full, who could ever have conceived of such a Mystery, had not the Scripture been the Oracle to reveal it to us? So for the Doctrine of the Resurrection, That the same Body which is crumbled into a thousand pieces, should rise idem numero, the same individual Body (for else it were a Creation, not a Resurrection) how could such a Sacred Riddle, above all Humane disquisition, be known, had not the Scripture made a Discovery of it? 2. By its Purity. It is for the Matter of it so full of Goodness, Justice, and Sanctity, that it could be breathed from none but God: The Holiness of it shows it to be of God, it bears his very Image. The Scripture is compared to Silver refined seven times, Psal. 12.6. This Book of God hath no Errata's in it: It is a Beam of the Sun of Righteousness, a Chrystal Stream flowing from the Fountain of Life. All Laws and Edicts of Men have had their Corruptions, but the Word of God hath not the least Tincture, it is of a Meridian Splendour. Psal. 119.140. Thy Word is very pure, like wine that comes from the grape, which is not mixed or adulterated. It is so pure, that it purifies every thing else. John 17.17. Sanctify them through thy truth. The Scripture presseth Holiness so as never any Book did: It bids us live soberly, righteously, godly, Titus 2.12. Soberly, in Acts of Temperance; Righteously, in Acts of Justice; Godly, in Acts of Zeal and Devotion. It commends to us whatever is just, lovely, of good report,