The Second, Third and Fourth Propositions. See Bishop Pearson on the Sixth and Seventh Articles. The FIFTH ARTICLE. Of the Holy Ghost. THE Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Şon, is of one Substance, Majesty, and Glory, with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God. This Article contains Three Propositions. fty, and Glory, with the Father and the Son. 7. The Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Son. The First and Third Propositions. See Bishop Pearson on the Eighth Article. But concerning the Third, see also Numb. 3. of the Appendix to the Paraphrase with Annotations on the Common Prayer, The Second Proposition is therefore true, because there can be no more Gods than One, according to the Sixth Proposition of the First Article. p. 287, bo. The SIXTH ARTICLE. Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation. H Н OLY Scripture containeth all things necessary to Salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man 1 man, that it should be believ'd as an Article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to Salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those Canonis cal books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church. Of the Names and Number of the Canonical Books. Twelve Prophets the less. doth it not apply them to establish any Do&trine ; fuch are these following, The The III. Book of Efdras, The II. Book of Maccabees, Holy Scripture contains all things necessary to Salvation. 2. Whatsoever is not read in Holy Scripture, nor may be prov'd thereby, is not to be requir'd of any Man, that it should be believ'd as an Article of the Faith, or be thought requi fite or necessary to Salvation. 3. In the Name of the Holy Scripture we do understand the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose Authority was ne ver any Doubt in the Church. 4. The Canonical Books of the Old Testament are Genesis, Exodus, &c. s. All the Books of the New Testament, as they are commonly receiv’d, we do receive and ac count them Canonical. 6. The other Books (viz. those which are commonly annex'd to the OldTestament, and which we 1 we do not account Canonical);as Hierome faith, the Church doth read for Example of Life, and Instruction of Manners; but yet doch not ap ply them to establish any Doctrine Such are s. these following, she Third Book,jof, Desperate the Fourth Book of Rs džia sosi &c. 1 9100p(7.8W Bleri gil, b:';W 1.1 I begin with the Three , baj, Propofitions . But must first , obferve, I. That by a Canonical Book of Scripture, is meant au Bookswhich being writ: ten by Divine Inspirations is to be receiv'd by us, as a part of the Canon or Rule of Christian Faith and Psa@ice-12. That what the Church here cals the Second; Book of Esdras, is what we generally call the Book of Nehemiah. For if you look into our old English BiblesYoull find, that Nehemiah's History and Prophecy goes under the Name of the Second Book of Esdras. These things being prek mitted three lat proporti Three last Propositions of this Article are prov'd in that Method and Order which I (a) have proposid to be taken for the Examination of the Authority of the Holy Scriptures, and the Truth of Christianity, with respect to the Hypothesis of the Deifts. For thereby it appears, I. That those Books the Old and New Testament which we receive, are truly Canonical ; because they are the Word of God, and contain his reveld Will. 2. That those Books, which tho? commonly an, nex'd to the Old Testament, are rejected by us, are not Canonical, because not of Divine Authority. E And .-(à) In the foregoing Directions for Studying a general System' or Body of Divinity, p. 1o, &c. And whereas it is declar'd, that (as Hieromë faith) the Church does read those Uncanonical Books aforesaid, for Example of Life and Instruction of Manners, bur yet doth not apply them to establish any Doctrine; 1. St. Jerome does (b) exprefly fay, what is quoted from him, of the Church in his Daies. His Words are these. Sicut ergo Judith, Tobiah, & Machabæorum libros legit quidem Ecclefia, fed eos inter 'canonicas Scripturas non recipit: Sic & bæc duo volumina (speaking of Ecclefiafticus and the Book of Wisdom, both which are Apocryphal) legat ad ædificationem plebis, non ad au&toritatem Ecclefiafticorum dogmatum confirmandam. 2. With respect to our Church's own Practice the same is manifestly true. 3. As for the Lawfulness of our so reading those Uncanonical or Apocryphal Books, see Numb. 2, of the Appendix to the Paraphrafe witb Annotations on the Book of Common Prayer. The Canon of the Holy Scriptures being thus fetled, let us now return to The First Propofition. See the First Part of the Confutation of Popery. The Second is the necessary and immediate Confequence of the First. The Third has somewhat of Difficulty in it. ?Tis well known, that there has been Doubt in the Church of God, both of ancient and later Daies, concerning the Authority of diverse of those Books which we receive and approve as Canonical Scripture. It may be therefore ask'd, How, or in what Sense, it may be truly affirm'd, that there never (6) Præfat. in Proverb. Ecclef. & Cant. Salom. Tom. 31 p. 692. Parif. 1624 |