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Chap. I.

Of the Holy Scripture.

1. Although the Light of Na15 ture, and the Works of Creation and Providence do so far manifest the Goodness, Wisdom, and Power of God, as to leave Men unexcusable a; yet are they not sufficient to give 20 that Knowledge of God and of his Will, which is necessary unto Salvation b. Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and 25 to declare that his Will unto his Church ; and afterwards for the better Preserving and Propagating of the Truth, and for the more sure Establishment and Comfort of the 30 Church against the Corruption of the Flesh, and the Malice of Satan and of the World, to commit the same wholly unto Writing : which maketh the Holy Scripture to be

Cap. I.

De Scriptura Sacro-sancta.

1. Quanquam naturae lumen, operaque Dei cum Creationis tum Providentiae, bonitatem ejus, Sapientiam, potentiamque eo usque manifestant, ut homines vel inde reddantur inexcusabiles a: eam tamen Dei, voluntatisque divinae cognitionem, quae porro est ad salutem necessaria, nequeunt nobis ingenerare b. Quocirca Domino complacitum est, variis quidem modis vicibusque Ecclesiae suae semetipsum revelare, suamque hanc voluntatem patefacere ; sed et eandem omnem postea literis consignare, quo et veritati suae tam conservandae quam propagandae melius consuleret, nec Ecclesia sua contra carnis corruptelam, contra malitiam mundi Satanaeque praesidio foret ac solatio destituta d. Unde factum est, ut,

whereby it doth abundantly evidence it self to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding our full Perswasion and Assurance of the infallible Truth, and Divine Authority thereof, is from the inward Work of the Holy Spirit, bearing Witness by, and with the Word in our Hearts 1.

k. 1. Tim. 3, 15. Isaiah 59, 21.

et certitudo de eius tam infallibili veritate, quam authoritate divina non aliunde nascitur quam ab interna operatione Spiritus Sancti, per verbum et cum verbo ipso in cor- 5 dibus nostris testificantis1.

John 16, 13. 14.

6. The whole Council of God concerning all things necessary for his

own Glory, Man's Salvation, Faith and Life, is either expresly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary Consequence may be deduced from Scripture: Unto which nothing at any Time is to be added, wheter by new Revelations of the Spirit, or Traditions of Men m. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward Illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving Understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word": And that there are some Circumstances concerning the Worship of God, and Government of the Church, common to human Actions and Societies, which are to be ordered by the Light of Nature, and Christian Prudence, according to the general Rules of the Word, which are always to be observed o.

1. Cor. 2, 10--12.

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6. Consilium Dei universum de omnibus quae ad suam ipsius gloriam, quaeque ad hominum salutem, fidem, vitamque sunt necessaria, aut expresse in Scriptura continetur, 15 aut consequentia bona et necessaria derivari potest a Scriptura; cui nihil deinceps addendum est, seu novis a spiritu revelationibus, sive traditionibus hominum m. Internam ni- 20 hilominus illuminationem Spiritus Dei ad salutarem eorum perceptionem, quae in verbo Dei revelantur, agnoscimus esse necessariam : quin etiam nonnullas esse circumstantias cultum 25 Dei spectantes et Ecclesiae regimen, iis cum humanis actionibus et societatibus communes, quae naturali lumine ac prudentia Christiana secundum generales verbi regulas (per- 30 petuo quidem illas observandas) sunt regulandae °.

7. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear into all P; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for Salvation, are so clarely 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,

n. John 6, 45. 35

7. Quae in Scriptura continentar non sunt omnia aeque aut in se perspicua, aut omnibus hominibus evidentia P: ea tamen omnia quae 40 ad salutem necessaria sunt cognitu, creditu, observatu, adeo perspicue, alicubi saltem in Scriptura, proponuntur et explicantur, ut eorum non docti solum, verum indocti 45 etiam ordinariorum debito usu me

8.

The Old Testament in

8. Instrumentum Vetus Hebraea lingua (antiquo Dei populo nempe vernacula) Novum autem Graeca, (ut quae apud Gentes maxime omnium tunc temporis, quum scriberetur illud, obtinuerat) immediate a Deo inspirata, eiusque cura et Providentia singulare per omnia huc usque secula pura et intaminata custodita, ea propter sunt authenticar. Adeo sane ut ad illa ultimo in omnibus de religione controversiis Ecclesia debeat appellare". Quoniam autem Originales istae linguae non sunt toti Dei populo intellectae, (Quorum tamen et ius est ut scripturas habeant, et interest plurimum, Iquique eas in timore Dei legere jubentur et perscrutarit, proinde sunt in vulgarem cuiusque Gentis, ad quam pervenerint linguam transferendae, ut omnes, verbo Dei opulenter in ipsis habitante, Deum grato acceptoque modo colant W, et per patientiam ac consolationem Scripturarum spem habeant §.

5 Hebrew (which was the native Language of the People of God of old,) an the New Testament in Greek, (which at the time of [the] writing of it was most generally 10 known to the Nations) being immediately, inspired by God, and by his singular Care and Providence kept pure in all Ages, are therefore authentical"; 80 as in all 15 Controversies of Religion, the Church is finally to appeal into them 8. But because these Original Tongues are not known to all the People of God, who have Right unto, and 20 Interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God, to read and search them t, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar Language of every Nation 25 unto which they come, 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 Scrip30 tures, may have Hope x.