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 ⟨p. 120⟩from him, is past all belief. Let men that live on things received by Tradition from their Fathers, who perhaps never had sense of any real Transaction between God and their souls, who scarce ever perused the Word seriously in their lives, nor brought their Consciences to it; please themselves in their own imaginations; The sure Anchor of a soul that would draw nigh to God in and by his Word, lies in the things laid down.
Sect. 32. 1 Then laying aside these failing pleas, there seemes to be a morall impossibility that the Word of God, should not manifest it's own Originall, and it's Authority from thence. Quaelibet herba deum. There is no Worke of God, as was shewed, but reveales it's Authour. A curious Artificer imparts that of forme, shape, proportion, and comelinesse to the fruit of his Invention, and worke 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 Rationall creature: yea some individuall men of Excellency in some skill, are instantly ⟨p. 119⟩knowne by them, that are able to judge in that Art or skill, by the Effects of their skill. This is the Peice, this is the hand, the Worke of such an one. How easy is it for those who are conversant about antient Authours to discover an Authour by the spirit and stile of his writings. Now certainly this is strange beyond all beliefe, that almost every Agent should give an impresse to it's worke, whereby it may be appropriated unto him, and only the Word, wherein it was the designe of the Great and Holy God to give us a portraiture as it were of his Wisdome, Holinesse and Goodnesse, so farre as we are capable of an Acquaintance with him in this Life, is not able to declare and evince it's Originall. That God who is prima Veritas, the first and soveraigne Truth, infinitely seperated 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 Eternall displeasure, and yet that Booke not make a sufficient discovery of it's selfe to be his, to be ⟨p. 120⟩from him, is past all beliefe. Let men that live on things received by Tradition from their Fathers, who perhaps never had sense of any reall Transaction betweene God and their soules, who scarse ever perused the Word seriously in their lives, nor brought their Consciences to it; please themselves in their owne imaginations; The sure Anchor of a soule that would draw nigh to God in and by his Word, lyes in the things laid downe.
