z Canonical Authority of the 0.3. And this alto is the ftrft and proper fignification of the Greek word xarór; Canon. So the Scholiäff on that ofAriJlophanes, Kas xaróvas gainer', )b rdxers i rev. tells us, that arenb if xu/ials 7ó iv¿rmT;s 7pv71411s ó, , is iot4117a7;&nv äyor : properly that which is over the fèales bringing them ( and the things weighed in them ) to equa- friflopb.ix lily. The very fame with the Hebrew ßu7 from which it is derived. Solrarinut tells "R At. 3. us that it is properly the tongue in the ballance, and in ufe tailrle dd`rd,.14scv. Thus ardiot.de Ariilotle (ayes, .tip" ehri,; dvta xj xaµa,:roryavaaxaçodt,,xeliñs ydfdu2órr8 xaav, by that Axim. rib. I. which is right, we know its fe f and that which h crooked, for the Canon is judge of both : tap. au. where he ulèth the word for any kindof rule or meafure anfwering unto the other fignification of Kaneb in the Hebrew. Re$nm and Canon, that Which is right, and the rule, areone and the fame; theone expreflion denoting the nature of any thing, the other itslife and Application. 4, 4. From this original proper importance ofthe word, is its metaphorical ufe deduced, which is molt Common ; and therein it ¡ignifies amoral Rick, or a meafure, for di- . Ariflot. Pet. rethon, tryall and judgement. Hence the Philofopher calls the Law xavóva á awnre;at, ab. a. cap' 8 the rule of the adminidlratiou, or government of the Common-wealth; that whereby all the parts of it are difpofed into their proper places,: whereby they are regulated, and all things done in it are tryed and judged. And in this fence it is applyedby S'. Paul unto divine Revelation, Gal. 6. r 6..cot and uuna, 7i70 seixdoxarr, as many as proceed or- derly, that is, in a dire way, ( for fo sorx'te denotes) according to thin rule or Canon. And to the fame purpofe he ufethagain the fame exprefiion, Phil. 3. r6. For as the wordsof the Scripture are in themfelves ntN tia7 words of Truth, fo the writing it Pelf is itvt Mr, a right writing ; or as the LX X. yay104apov bueú ,46)- ; that which is written inuprigbtnef,to be a rule, and Judge unto all. is Genitivus aeunlli, not materie, declaring the property ofthe writing not the fubjeét matter ; that is, it is Canonical ; for TI ¡wit and ramie that which is right, and a rule, we have ¡hewed to be the fame. And from hence it is, that the Scripture, or written Word ofGod, being in it felf everyway abfolutely right and perfeâ, and appointed by him to be.theRule or Canonof the Churches faith and obedience, requiring, try- ing, regulating, judging wholly and abfolutely of them, is beconie uno' ¡arde by way of eminent' tobe called Canonical, or regular as the Book' wherein it iscontained is called-the Bible, though in it felt that be the Commonname of all Books. 4. 5 And this Appellation is of ancient ufe in the Church. The Synod ofLaodicea, Cup- Coxcil. Laut poled to have prxceded the Council of Nice, makes mention of it, as a thing'gene- Cen. Ss. rally admitted for the Fathers of it decree, irrt "òv J'. Ltior,xás +}at auç x¡ya.5n, b, it Z40,01044, rPÌ dxavórsxo Brßrla, ¿Mai at3ró rs xaWOrrxd als &VAS ej óra5mñs ehdeöxnf; That no private Pfalmes ought to be laidor read in the Church, nor anyuncanosical Books, but the Canonical books of the new and old Teelament, whole names they fubjoin in Eafeb.arelef :,their order. And Tome while before, the Bifhops who joyned with the Church of Riß lib. 7. Antioch in the depofition of Paulus Samofatenus charge him. as ó (mastic m xavieos one car. 39' that in the introdu?ion of his herefre departed from the Canon or rule of the Scri- tres. lib, a pture. Before them allo, it was called by Irenaus rawly fi dney,?as dxuvds. And cap. es,. Cbryfflome calls it -ñ1 Semr riumv lonleaea, thefntence of the divine Laws, a'xußii aíyor ehryfelL.n' eirrávruv ça n4oeu 4 xariva, the exaél ballante fcare or rule and Canon of all truths adCot. cale.6 and duties; wherein he hath evidently refpeâ unto the original ufe and importance adfimm. of the word before explained ; and thereupon calls on his hearers, that. omitting the confederation of what this or that man (ayes or thinks, they ¡hould Peek and require 7a47. Leolla ,raps¡ T Yeymvv all theft things of or from the Scriptures, which are :augu' de the.Canon: of our faith and obedience. And Auflin, demonflrine eccleftamfuam non in aaitat. Ece1ef. rumoribeeo Africorum, fed in prefcripto legit, in Prophetarum pradiïiis, in Pfalmorum cap. 16. cámibus, hoc eft in omnibus Canonici: Sanliorum librorumauthoritatibus. Let them demon- , firatetheir Church, not by the rumors of the African r, but by theprafcription of the Law," thepredii'lion: of theProphets, the Songs of the Pfalms, that is by the Canonical Authority Lib. a. de sap, of the holy book: of the Scriptures. And he purfues the Metaphor of a fcale and a ad Doaat. meafure in manywords elfewhere. And thus Aquinas himfelfconfeffeth the Scripture cap. 6, is calledCanonica,.becaufe it is the Ruleof our underfianding in the things of God ; a Tim. 6. And fucha,Rule it is, ás. bath- Authority;overthe Confeiences of men, to. bind them lac, t. unto faithand obedience, becaufeof its being givenof Godby infpiration for that pur- pole. Moreover
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