A90280:157
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. 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 re•eive ⟨p. 102⟩the Scriptures? shall we say that she is authorized to give out what seems Good to her, as the Word of God? not: but she hath received them by Tradition; so she pleads, that she hath received the Apocryphal books also; we then receive the Scriptures from Rome; Rome by Tradition; We make our selves Judges of that Tradition; and yet Rome saith, this is one thing, that she hath by the same Tradition, namely, that she alone is judge of what she hath by Tradition; But the common fate of liars is befallen that Harlot: she hath so long, so constantly, so desperately lied in many, the most things that she professeth, pretending Tradition for them, that indeed she deserves not to be believed, when she telleth the Truth. Besides, She pleads that she received the Scriptures from the Beginning, when it is granted that the copies of the Hebrew of the old, and Greek of the new Testament were only authentic: