A90280:156
Of the divine original, authority, self-evidencing light, and power of the Scriptures. With an…Of the divine originall, authority, self-evidencing light, and povver of the Scriptures. With an…
Of the divine original, authority, self-evidencing light, and power of the Scriptures. With an answer to that enquiry, how we know the Scriptures to be the Word of God. Also a vindication of the purity and integrity of the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Old and New Testament; in some considerations on the prolegomena, & appendix to the late Biblia polyglotta. Whereunto are subjoined some exercitations about the nature and perfection of the Scripture, the right of interpretation, internal Light, revelation, &c. / By John Owen: D.D.Of the divine originall, authority, self-evidencing light, and povver of the Scriptures. With an answer to that enquiry, how we know the Scriptures to be the Word of God. Also a vindication of the purity and integrity of the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Old and New Testament; in some considerations on the prolegomena, & appendix to the late Biblia polyglotta. Whereunto are subjoyned some exercitations about the nature and perfection of the Scripture, the right of interpretation, internall Light, revelation, &c. / By Iohn Owen: D.D.
Oxford: printed by Henry Hall for Tho, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Sect. 14. Having laid this stable foundation; I shall with all possible brevity consider some pretences, and Allegations, for the confirmation of the Authority of the Scripture, invented and made use of by some, to divert us from that foundation, the closing wherewith, will in this matter alone bring peace unto our souls; and so this Chapter shall as it were, lay in the balance, and compare together, the Testimony of the Spirit before mentioned and explained, and the other pretences and pleas, that shall now be examined.
Sect. 14. Having laid this stable foundation; I shall with all possible brevity consider some pretences, and Allegations, for the confirmation of the Authority of the Scripture, invented and made use of by some, to divert us from that foundation, the closing wherewith, will in this matter alone bring peace unto our soules; and so this Chapter shall as it were, lay in the ballance, and compare together, the Testimony of the Spirit before mentioned and explained, and the other pretences and pleas, that shall now be examined.
Sect. 15. 1. Some say, when on other accounts they are concerned so to say, that we have received the Scripture from the Church of Rome, who received it by Tradition, and this gives a credibility unto it. Of Tradition in general, without this limitation which destroys it, of the Church of Rome, I shall speak afterwards. Credibility, ⟨p. 101⟩either keeps within the bounds of probability, as that may be heightened to a manifest uncontr•leablenesse, whilst yet its principles exceed not that sphere; in which sense it belongs not at all to our present discourse; or it includes a firm, suitable foundation, for faith supernatural and divine. Have we in this sense received the Scripture from that Church, as it is called? is that Church able to give such a credibility to any thing? or doth the Scripture stand in need of such a credibility to be given to it from that Church? are not the first most false, and is not the last blasphemous? To receive a thing from a Church, as a Church, is to receive it upon the Authority of that Church: If we receive any thing from the Authority of a Church, we do it not because the thing its self is [Greek or Hebrew], worthy of Acceptation, but because of the Authority alleged. If then we thus receive the Scriptures from the Church of Rome, why (in particular) do we not receive the Apocryphal Books also, which she receives? How did the Church of Rome reeive