that fear him both small and great.

Thirdly, Be frequent, and diligent in reading the holy Scriptures.

When thou readeft the Commands,the Promifes, the Threatnings therein contained, think God fpeaks to thee in them; And God muft needs be true, he cannot lie, nor de ceive,

Now there is fnfficient evidence that the Scripture is his Word, and written by the efpecial infpiration of his holy Spirit, and that will appear if we confider these three things.

1. The internal Light of its own perfection. The holineffe and heavenlineffe of the matter; the Majefty of the Stile; the Confent of all the Parts; the Scope of the whole (which is to give all Glory to God) and the full discovery therein made of the only way of mans falvation and reconciliation with God. Which is a fuitable way both to Gods Glory, and mans Ne ceffity.

2. The many providential atteftations and confirmations of theTruth of the things therein contained, by real and undeniable miracles, fuch as could not be wrought but by the power of God. And furely, if the Scripture had been only the device of men, God would fome way or other have difowned it ere this, as a no

torious

torious abufe put upon him, and not fo conftantly have preferved it in fpight of the Devil, and all his instruments, who have laboured to banish it out of the world, and to weaken the authority of it.

3. The great and wonderful efficacy of the doctrine therein delivered, to enlighten, convince, and humble finners; to drive them out of themselves, and to draw them to Chrift, to conform them to the Image of God, to fubdue them to his will, to ftrengthen them against temptations and corruptions, to build them up in Grace, to establish their hearts in holinesse; and lastly, to comfort them through Faith unto falvation.

As therefore the holy Ghoft by fpecial inspi ration, was the author of the Scripture, and by extraordinary endowments was the author of the miracles wrought for its confirmation; fo also he is the author of the Faith of him that truly and unfeignedly believes it. Yet he doth not cause us to believe by Enthusiasm without any reason or evidence, but he enlightens the understanding (removing the blindneffe and depravedneffe thereof,) and fhews as the credibility of the thing, and the evidence of the truth that is to be believed, and fo perfwades the heart to a belief thereof. Indeed, an historical belief of the Scripture (which is true in its kind) we may come to, by rational perfwafions, with

out the fpecial Grace, or illumination of the Spirit of God; but not that deep and firm belief, which fall carry over the will effectually to God in Chrift; and captivate the whole man to the obedience of the Truth. And when fuch 3 Faith, and belief of the Scripture as this, (attended with fanctification) is wrought in the foul; the effect is, a good argument, to confirm the truth, and exce lency of fuch a Faith, and belief.

1. Labour therefore to work thy heart to a high and reverent efteem of the Word, when thou goest to read it. We should read it as a Let ter written by the band of God from Heaven unto us. It an Angel fhould bring us a letter from Heaven, we hould highly value it and regard it. The Bible is a meffage fent from Heaven, to acquaint us with the mind of God. If we own the divine authority thereof, let us read it with reverence, and due regard..

2. Beg the Spirit of God (that endited the Scripture, that infpired, and infallibly guided and affifted the pen-men thereof) to open thy eies, to illuminate thy mind, and to encline thy heart to a full belief and perfwafion, that it is the very Word of God, and to b ing over thy will to a fincere obedience, and compliance with the will of God therein revealed.

3. Remember that all things neceffary to mans falvation, are either exprefly fet down in

the

the Scripture, or by good and neceffary confequence may be deduced there-from: Unto which nothing is at any time to be added, either by new revelations, or traditions of men ; it being a perfect Canon, a perfect rule of Faith and life. St. John, who outlived the reft of the Apofties, fealed up the Canon, Rev.2 2.18,19. which was a great mercy to the world; For God faw what a liberty man enclin'd to in divine things, and therefore needed to be tyed up to a rule, which here is given us. There is enough delivered in the Scripture to make us wife unto falvation, 2 Tim.3.15. What should a Chriftian defire more? and the Apoftle tels us, we ought to give he.d thereto till the day-ftar arife in our hearts, that is, til! we have full communion with Chrift. For our reward in Heaven is expreffed by the morning-ftar, Rev. 2.28. To him that overcometh, I will give the morning ftar."

Mr. Manion

on Jude.

4. Take notice, that thole things that are nec ffiry to be known, believed, and obferved for falvation, are fo clearly propounded, and opened in fome place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned alfo, in a due ufe of the ordinary means God hath appointed, may attain unto a fufficient underftanding of them. If there arife any question about the true and full fenfe and meaning of any Scripture, it must be fearched and known by other places

places that speak more clearly. The certain rule of interpreting the Scripture, is the Scripture it felf. The Scripture, faies Camero, is fo penn'd, that they that have a mind to know, may know. They that have a mind to wrangle, may take occafion enough of offence, and justly perish by the rebellion of their own reafon, for God never intended (faith he,) to satisfie men of a stubborn and perverfe wit. And Tertullian long before him, hath told us, that God hath fo difpofed the Scripture that they that will not be satisfied might be hardened.

5. And lastly, Remember, that the fupream Judge, by which all con rove fies of Religion are to be tried, all decrees of Councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private fpirits are to be examined, in whole fentence we are to reft, can be no other than the Holy Spirit of God fpeaking in and by the Scriptures; for what the Scripture faies, God Speaks by ic.

Ifa.8 20. To the Law, and to the Teftimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is be caufe there is no light in them.

John 5.39. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testifie of me.

V.4. For had ye believed Mofes, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

Acts