A Body of Practical Divinity

4. That the Scripture is the Word of God, is evident by its Predictions; it Prophesieth of things to come. This shows the Voice of God speaking in it; it was foretold by the Prophet, A Virgin shall conceive, Isa. 7.14. and the Messiah shall be cut off, Dan. 9.26. The Scripture foretells things that should fall out many Ages and Centuries after; as how long Israel should serve in the Iron Furnace, and the very day of their Deliverance: Exod. 12.41. At the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the self same day, it came to pass, the Hosts of the Lord went out of Egypt. This Prediction of Future Things, merely contingent, and not depending upon Natural Causes, is a clear Demonstration of its Divine Original.

4. That the Scripture is the Word of God, is evident by its Predictions; it Prophesieth of things to come. This shows the Voice of God speaking in it; it was foretold by the Prophet, A Virgin shall conceive, Isa. 7.14. and the Messiah shall be cut off, Dan. 9.26. The Scripture foretels things that should fall out many Ages and Centuries after; as how long Israel should serve in the Iron Furnace, and the very day of their Deliverance: Exod. 12.41. At the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the self same day, it came to pass, the Hoasts of the Lord went out of Egypt. This Prediction of Future Things, meerly contingent, and not depending upon Natural Causes, is a clear Demonstration of its Divine Original.

5. The Impartiality of those Men of God who wrote the Scriptures; they do not spare to set down their own Failings. What Man that writes an History would black his own face, viz. record those things of himself that might stain his Reputation? Moses records his own Impatience when he struck the Rock, and tells us therefore he could not enter into the Land of Promise. David writes of his own Adultery and Bloodshed, which stands as a Blot in his Scutchion to succeeding Ages. Peter relates his own Pusillanimity in denying Christ. Jonah sets down his own Passions, I do well to be angry to the death. Surely had not their Pen been guided by God's own Hand, they would never have written that which did reflect dishonour upon themselves. Men do usually rather hide their Blemishes, then publish them to the World: But these Pen-men of Holy Scripture eclipse their own Name; they take away all the Glory from themselves, and give the Glory, to God.