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cessary to salvation: 'so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought

unto them, that with humility and diffidence do search therefore. Hom. i. 2.

And briefly to conclude, as St. Augustin saith, by the Scripture all men be amended, weak men be strengthened, and strong men be comforted. So that surely none be enemies to the reading of God's word, but such as either be so ignorant, that they know not how wholesome a thing it is; or else be so sick, that they hate the most comfortable medicine that should heal them; or so ungodly, that they would wish the people still to continue in blindness and ignorance of God. Hom.i.1. See Article XX. 6.

Sith by the name of testament is signified not only a will, but also a last and unchangeable will, we are hereby admonished that in religion we follow nothing, nor seek for any thing further, than we are therein taught by God; but as there is one only true God, so there be but one godly worshipping and pure religion of one only God. Nowell, p. 2.

Q. Dost thou then affirm that all things necessary to godliness and salvation are contained in the written word of God? A. Yea; for it were a point of intolerable ungodliness and madness, to think either that God had left an imperfect doctrine, or that man were able to make that perfect which God left imperfect. Nowell, p. 3. See also Article XX. c, d, e.

vate interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Pet. i. 19, 20, 21. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. 2 John 9. 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. 2 Tim. iii. 15. These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing ye might have life through his name. John xx. 21.

b Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it. Deut. iv. 2. Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not

turn aside to the right hand or to the left. Deut. v. 32. Every word of God is pure. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Prov. xxx. 5, 6. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Rev. xxii. 18. There are some that trouble you, and would

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requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church.

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And the other Books (as Hierome saith) the Church doth read for example of life, and instruction of manners; but yet doth it not apply

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Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them; that by patience and comfort of thy holy word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Coll. the second Sunday in Advent.

pervert the Gospel of Christ. But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As

for

we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Gal. i. 8, 9.

them to establish any doctrine; such are these

following:

The 3 Book of Esdras,
The 4 Book of Esdras,
The Book of Tobias,
The Book of Judith,
The rest of the Book of
Esther,

The Book of Wisdom,
Jesus the Son of Sirach,

Baruch the Prophet,
The Song of the Three
Children,

The Story of Susanna,
Of Bell and the Dragon,
The Prayer of Manasses,
The 1 Book of Maccabees,
The 2 Book of Maccabees.

All the Books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive and account them Canonical.

VII. Of the Old Testament.

THE Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the Old and New Testament,

If we be the people of God, how can the word and law of God not appertain to us? St. Paul, alleging one text out of the Old Testament, concludeth generally for other Scriptures of the Old Testament as well as that, saying, "Whatsoever is written before" (meaning in the Old Testament)" is written for our instruction:" which sentence is most specially true of such writings of the Old Testament, as contain the immutable law and ordinances of God, in no age or time to be altered, nor of any persons of any nations or age to be disobeyed. Hom. xiv. 1.

Although many did take Christ to have swerved from Abraham and the old Fathers, and to have brought in a certain new religion in his own name, yet answered he them directly, "If ye believed Moses, ye would believe me also. For my doctrine is not so new as ye make it. For Moses, an author of great antiquity, and one to whom ye give all honour, hath spoken of me." St. Paul likewise, though the Gospel of Jesus Christ be of many counted to be but new, yet hath it, saith he, a testimony most old, both of the Law and of the Prophets. Jewell.

Let us reverently hear and read holy Scripture, which is the food of the soul. Matt. iv. 4. Let us diligently search for the well of life in the books of the New and Old Testaments. Hom.

Behold the great goodness and tender mercy of God in his behalf: albeit that man's wickedness and sinful behaviour was such, that it deserved not in any part to be forgiven; yet to the intent he might not be clean destitute of all hope and comfort in time to come, he ordained a new covenant, and made a sure promise thereof; namely, that he would send a Messias or Mediator into the world, which should make intercession, and put himself as a stay between both parties; to pacify the wrath and indignation conceived against sin, and to deliver man out of the mi

a Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 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. Matt. v. 17, 18. Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ. Col. ii. 17.

"God, who at sundry times and

in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son. Heb. i. 1. Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John v. 39. These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things might be fulfilled, which

everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ,

serable curse and cursed misery whereunto he was fallen headlong, by disobeying the will and commandment of his only Lord and Maker.

This covenant and promise was first made unto Adam himself immediately after his fall, we read in the third of Genesis, where God said to the serpent on this wise; "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed. He shall break thine head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Afterward the self-same covenant was also more amply and plainly reserved unto Abraham, where God promised him, that "in his seed all nations and families of the earth should be blessed." Again it was continued and confirmed unto Isaac in the same form of words as it was before unto his father. Gen. xii. 3. xxvi. 4.

And to the intent that mankind might not despair, but always live in hope, Almighty God never ceased to publish, repeat, confirm, and continue the same by divers and sundry testimonies of his prophets: who for the better persuasion of the thing, prophesied the time, the place, the manner, and circumstance of his birth, the afflictions of his life, the kind of his death, the glory of his resurrection, the receiving of his kingdom, the deliverance of his people, with all other circumstances belonging thereto. Hom. xxiv. 1.

were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. Luke xxiv. 44. The Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the Gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Gal. iii. 8, 9. For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them. Heb. iv. 2. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Gal. iii. 14. To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many, but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Gal. iii. 16. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Acts iii. 25. To whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuad

ing them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. Acts xxviii. 23. A certain lawyer stood up and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? Luke x. 25, 26. For there (Zion) the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. Ps. cxxxiii. 3. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. John v. 46. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently. 1 Pet. i. 10. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rev. xix. 10. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. John v. 45. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. Acts x. 43.

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