40 '71,1t the holyScript,treswere indirect' by Gods 17)irit, Morecuer, wee may obferue in the file oftheScriptures,a nicflicall authority aboveall other writing,which onlybe- fecmeth the glorious King and foueraignc commander of hcauen andearth:for they fpeake in the f'ttne manner,and in- ioyne the like obedience, to prince and people, rich and poore,learned and vnlearned, without any difference cr re- fpe&ofperfon ; not 'di ng any arguments,reafons,orpe:f« a_ fions, but abfolutely commanding that dutie which is tobee done, and forbidding that fin which fhould be left undone, and that vnder thepromife ofeuerlafling life andbleffednes, and the pairie not ofthe gallowes, racke, or whcele,but ofe- ternall death and damnation ; and whom befeemcth it to promifc euerlafling life, or to threaten euerlafling death, but him onelie who is himfelfe eternall and euerlafling? and who hath this abfolute authoritie of commandingall with- out any difference, but heewho is Lord, Creator andgoner- nOur oftheprince as well as the people? LaPdy, this word of Goddóth not only extend it feltè to the outwardaaions and conuerfation,requiringonly the external obedience which is in fa& andoutwardbehauiour, which is ÿ vttermofl that hu- mane lawes refped&,becaufe the lawgiuerscan fee no further; but the law of God requireth efpecially the obedience of t'ue heart,and forbiddeth not only content to any'euiil, but euen concupifcence and luft ? now whocan make lawesfor the heart and confcience, or thoughhe fhould be fo fond to make them, who could either reward theobedient,or punifh the difobedient,butGodalone who fcarcheth the heart and reines? The mile therefore of the Scripturesbeingpeculiar vnto thentfelues,fhewingmaieflie in lowlines and meannes, anouerruling power in perfwading, without rendring rea- fon or bringing any argument befides abfolute authoritie, and an vniuerfall turifdi6tion ouer all without difference or efpea,and that as well in regard of the fecret thoughts as the outward a&ions, Both manifefllyPhew that they are not the invention of man, but the word of God indited by his holy fpirit. But it maybe obie&ed, that ifthe Lord who is infinit in iifdome were the authorof the Scriptures,they wouldhaue excelled
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=