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all glory to God) the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the word of God; yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion 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. ✔

*I Tim. ii. 15. I John, ii. 20, 27. John, xvi. 13, 14. I Cor. ii. 10, 11, 12. Isa. lix. 21.

VI.

The whole counsel of God. concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in scripture, or by good and necessary conseqence may be deduced from scripture; unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. m Nevertheless we acknow. ledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the word; n and 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.

m II Tim. iii. 15, 16, 17. Gal. i. 8, 9. II. Thes. ii. 2, 15. n John, vi. 45. I Cor. ii. 9, 10, 11, 12. I Cor. xi. 13, 14, and chap. xiv. 26,

40.

VII.

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All things in scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all ; 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 sense of the ordinary means may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them. g

II Pet. iii. 16. g Psal. cxix. 105, 130% Heb. ii. 2.

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 writing of it was most generally known to the nations) being immediately inspi red by God, and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical; r 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 scriptures, 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. x

r Mat. v. 18. Isa. viii. 20. Acts, xv. 15. Joh. v. 39, 46. ‹ John, v. 89. u 1 Cor. xiv. 6, 9, 11, 12, 24, 27, 28. w Col. iii. i6. ≈ Rom. xv. 4.

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 must be searched and known by other places, that speak more clearly. y

y II Pet. 1, 20, 21. Acts, xv. 15, 16..

X

The Supreme Judge, by whom all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, 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 scripture delivered by the Spirit, into which scripture so delivered, our faith is finally resolved. z

z Mat. xxii. 29. 31. Eph. ii. 20. Acts, xxviii.. 25.

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CHAP. II.

Of God, and of the Holy Trinity.

HERE is but one only a living and true God; b who is infinite in being and perfection, e a most pure spirit, d invisible, e without body, parts,f or passions, g immutable, A immense, i eternal, k incomprehensible, almighty, m most wise, n most holy, o most free, most absolute, g working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will, r for his own glory, & most loving, gracious, merciful, long suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin; u the rewarder of them that diligently seek him; w and withal, most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, y and who will by no means clear the guilty. z

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a Deut. vi. 4. I Cor. viii. 4, 6. b I Thes: i. 9. Jer. x. 10. c Job, i. 7, 8, 9, and xxvi. 14. d John, iv, 24. el Tim.j. 17. Deut. iv. 15, 16. John, iv. 24. Luke, xxiv. 39. g Acts, xiv. 11, 15. h James, i. 17. Mal. iii. 6. I Kings, viii. 27. Jer. xxiii, 23, 24. k Rom. i. 20. I.

Tim. i. 17.
Gen. xvii. 1.
Isa. vi. 3.
~ Eph. i. 11.

16.

/ Psal. cxlv. 3. m n Rom. xvi. 27. 0

Psal. xc. 2.
Rev.iv. 8.
Psal. cxv. 3.

s Rom. xi. 36.
a Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7.

g Exod. iii. 14.

t I John, iv. 8, w Heb. xi. 6. +3

Neh. ix. 32, 33. y Psal. vi. 5, 6.

xxxiv. 7. Nah. i. 2 3.

II.

z Exod.

God hath all life, a glory, 6 goodness, cblessedness, 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, e nor deriving any glory from them.f but only manifes ting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them. He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things; g and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth. In his sight all things are open and manifest ; i his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature; k so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain. He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands. m To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures, they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them.n

a John, v. 26. b Acts, vii, 2. 68. d 1 Tim. vi. 15. Rom. ix. 5.

c Psal, cxix.

e Acts, xvii. 24. 25. f Job, xxii. 2, 3. g Rom. 11, 36. h Rev. iv. 11. I Tim. vi. 15. Dan. iv. 25, 31, 34, 35. i Heb. iv. 13. k Rom, xi. 33, 34. Psal. cxlvii. 5. Acts, 15. 18. exly, 17. Rom. vii. 12.

Ezek. xi. 5. m Psal. n Rev. v. 12, 13, 14.

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