A90280:203
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. 21. And this is one Argument of the Many belonging to the things of the Scripture, that upon the Grounds before mentioned, hath in it, as to my sense and Apprehension, an Evidence of Conviction not to be withstood.
Sect. 22. Another consideration of the like Efficacy, may be taken from a brief view of the whole Scripture with the design of it. The consent of parts or Harmony of the scripture in it's self, and every part of it with each other, and with the whole, is commonly pleaded as an Evidence of it's divine Original. Thus ⟨p. 140⟩much certainly it doth evince beyond all possible contradiction, that the whole proceedeth from one and the same principle; hath the same Author; and He wise, discerning, able to comprehend the whole compass of what he intended to deliver and reveal. Otherwise, or by any other, that oneness of Spirit, design and aim, in unspeakable variety and diversity of means of it's delivery, that absolute correspondency of it to it's self, and distance from any thing else, could not have been attained. Now it is certain, that this principle must be summum in it's kind; either bonum, or malum. If the Scripture be what it reveals and declares it self to be, it is then unquestionably the Word of the Living God, Truth it's self; for that it professeth of it's self, from the beginning to the ending; to which profession all that it reveals answers absolutely, and unquestionably in a tendency to his Glory alone. If it be not so, it must be acknowledged that the Author of it had a blasphemous design to hold forth himself to be God, who is not so; a malicious ⟨p. 141⟩design to deceive the Sons of men, and to make them believe that they Worship and honour God; and obey him when they do not; and so to draw them into everlasting destruction, and that to compass these ends of blasphemy, Atheism and malice, he hath laid out in a long course of time, all the industry and wisdom, that a Creature could be made partaker of: Now he that should do thus, must be the Devil, and none else; no other creature can possibly arrive at that height of obstinacy in evil. Now certainly whilst God is pleased to continue unto us any thing, whereby we are distinguished from the Beasts that perish; whilst there is a sense of a distance between Good and Evil abiding amongst men, it cannot fall upon the understanding of any man, that that Doctrine which is so holy and pure, so absolutely leading to the utmost improvement of whatever is good, just, commendable and praise Worthy, so suitable to all the Light of God, of Good and Evil that remains in us;