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according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.

VII. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; P yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them. 9

VIII. The Old Testament in Hebrew, (which was the native language of the people of God of old,) and the New Testament in Greek, (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations,) being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical; so as in all controversies of religion the Church is finally to appeal unto them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God who have right unto and interest in the Script

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• 1 Cor. xi. 13, 14. Judge in yourselves: Is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 1 Cor. xiv. 26, 40. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.-Let all things be done decently and in order.

VII. P2 Pet. iii. 16. As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction.

? Psa. cxix. 105, 130. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.-The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. See Acts xvii. 11.

VIII. Matt. v. 18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Isa. viii. 20. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Acts xv. 15. And to this agree the words of the prophets. John v. 46. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of

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ures, and are commanded, in the fear of God, to read
and search them, therefore they are to be translated into
the vulgar language of every nation unto which they
come,
u that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all,
they may worship him in an acceptable manner, w and,
through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, may
"have hope. *

IX. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any scripture, (which is not manifold, but one,) it may be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly, y

X. The Supreme Judge, by whom all controversies of

* 2 Tim. iii. 14, 15. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Acts xvii. 11. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

"1 Cor. xiv. 6, 9, 11, 12, 24, 27, 28. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?-So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.-Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and be that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.-But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

w Col. iii. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

* Rom. xv. 4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope.

IX. Acts xv. 15. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written. John v. 46. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. See 2 Pet. i. 20, 21.

religion are to be determined, and all decrees of cour cils. opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture.

CHAPTER II.

OF GOD, AND OF THE HOLY TRINITY.

I. THERE is but one only a living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit,d invisible, without body, parts, or pas

X. Matt. xxii. 29, 31. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.-But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God? Acts xxviii. 25, And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers. Gal. i. 10. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. See 1 John iv. 1-6.

I. a Deut. vi. 4.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD. 1 Cor. viii. 4, 6. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.-But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 1 Thess. i. 9. Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. Jer. x. 10. But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting King.

• Job xi. 7-9. Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. Job xxvi. 14. Lo, these are parts of his ways; but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand? d John iv. 24. God is a Spirit: & d they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in trut

e 1 Tim. i. 17.

Now unto the Kir; eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

f Deut. iv. 15, 16. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire; Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the like

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sions,9 immutable, immense," eternal, incomprehensible,' almighty, most wise," most holy, most free, P most absolute, working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will," for his own glory ;s

ness of male or female. Luke xxiv. 39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. See John iv. 24.

9 Acts xiv. 11, 15. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.-And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.

James i. 17. The Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Mal. iii. 6. For I am the LORD, I change not.

1 Kings viii. 27. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? Jer. xxiii. 23, 24. Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

* Psa. xc. 2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 1 Tim. i. 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

'Psa. cxlv. 3. His greatness is unsearchable.

m Gen. xvii. 1. I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. See Rev. iv. 8.

n Rom. xvi. 27. To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

• Isa. vi. 3. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. See Rev. iv. 8. P Psa. cxv. 3. But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Ex. iii. 14. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Eph. i. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

• Prov. xvi. 4. The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Rom. xi. 36. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Rev. iv. 11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are, and were created.

most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin;" the rewarder of them that diligently seek him ; and withal most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.

II. God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness,d in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made,

t1 John iv. 8. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. John iii. 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

"Ex. xxxiv. 6, 7. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.

w Heb. xi. 6. For he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

* Neh. ix. 32, 33. Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day. Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly. See Heb. x. 28-31.

Psa. v. 5, 6. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

* Nahum i. 2, 3. God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. See Ex. xxxiv. 7.

II. a John v. 26. For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.

Acts vii. 2. And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran.

Psa. cxix. 68. Thou art good, and doest good: teach me thy statutes. d1 Tim. vi. 15. Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Rom. ix. 5. Who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

• Acts xvii. 24, 25. God that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples

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