A90280:173
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. 31. To wind up then the plea insisted on in the foregoing Chapter, concerning the self evidencing Light and Power of the Scripture, from which we ⟨p. 118⟩have diverted, and to make way for some other considerations, that tend to the confirmation of their divine Original, I shall close this discourse with the two general considerations following.
Sect. 31. To wind up then the plea insisted on in the foregoing Chapter, concerning the selfe evidencing Light and Power of the Scripture, from which we ⟨p. 118⟩have diverted, and to make way for some other considerations, that tend to the confirmation of their divine Originall, I shall close this discourse with the two generall considerations following.
Sect. 32. 1 Then laying aside these failing pleas, there seems to be a moral impossibility that the Word of God, should not manifest it's own Original, and it's Authority from thence. Quaelibet herba deum. There is no Work of God, as was showed, but reveals it's Author. A curious Artificer imparts that of form, shape, proportion, and comeliness to the fruit of his Invention, and work of his hands, that every one that looks upon it, must conclude, that it comes from skill and Ability. A man in the delivery of his mind in the writing of a Book, will give it such an impression of Reason, that though you cannot conclude that this, or that man wrote it, yet you must, that it was the product of a man, or Rational creature: yea some individual men of Excellency in some skill, are instantly ⟨p. 119⟩known by them, that are able to judge in that Art or skill, by the Effects of their skill. This is the Piece, this is the hand, the Work of such an one. How easy is it for those who are conversant about ancient Authors to discover an Author by the spirit and stile of his writings. Now certainly this is strange beyond all belief, that almost every Agent should give an impress to it's work, whereby it may be appropriated unto him, and only the Word, wherein it was the design of the Great and Holy God to give us a portraiture as it were of his Wisdom, Holiness and Goodness, so far as we are capable of an Acquaintance with him in this Life, is not able to declare and evince it's Original. That God who is prima Veritas, the first and sovereign Truth, infinitely separated and distinguished from all creatures on all accounts whatever, should Write a Book, or at least immediately indite it, commanding us to receive it as his, under the penalty of his Eternal displeasure, and yet that Book not make a sufficient discovery of it's self to be his, to be