IO Canonical Authority of the perhaps they underftood not in either of them tingly, or feeparately confidered. Thus infirm on all accounts isthis Objedion. Forthe injtances themfelves, fome light will be given unto them fromwhat we (hall afterwards difcourfeoftheAuthors wayesatad Principles, that he proceeds upon in his Citations of Tdtimoniesout of the Old Tefta- ment. And in particular in our Expolition of the places themfelves, we (hall mahi- féft that his Application ofthem, is everyway fuitable to the very letter of the Tent; . and mantfelintention of the Holy. Gholt : So falfeand unjull, as well asrafh andpie- fumptious , is this Objection. j. 21. Neither is there anymore reall weight, inthat which Erafmus in the next place ob- jeds ; namely that fome things init teem to give Countenance unto fome exploded Opinionsof Ancient Hereticlts; whereof he gives us a double inlance. Fir/i, *rod ve- lum féperans fanttum fanttorum interpretatur'welum: that he interprets the Viel fiparating theMojtHaly Place to beHeaven : which indeed he neither doth, bat only' affirms that the Molt HolyPlace in the Tabernacle, wasa Type orFigure of Heaven it felf, nor if he lhould have fo done, had hegiven the leali countenance unto the fondnefs of the Ma- niches', whom I fttppofe he intendeth ; His whole Difcourfe perfectly exploding their abominations. His -other Inflame is in that vexed place, chap. 6.6, favouring as he pretends theNovati ens, denying recoveryby repentance unto them who bad fallen into fin after Baptifin. But the incompetency of this Objection, rifing meetly fiom their igno- rance of the true meaningof -the Holy Ghoftthat made it, as for the end for which it wasufed, bath been demonlirated by many ofold and late. And the Lord aflifting in otis Exposition of that place, we !hall thew, that it is to far from giving Counte- nance unto any error or miliake which any man may fall into, contrary to the Golpe), that a more plain , familiar and:wholefome comminution is hardlyto be found in the wholeBookof God. And this is the fúmm of what I can meet withal! , that is ob- jected againll the Canonical Authorityof thisEpitle 3 which how little it amounts unto, beyond an evidence of mens willinguefs to lay hold on flight occafions tovent their Curief ties and Conceptions, the Reader that is godly and wife will quickly perceive. ß, 22. Havingremoved thefe Objellions out ofour way, we fhall now proceed to demon- ffrate theCanonical Authority of this EpiJtle, in the arid and proper fenfe, at large be- före declared. f Now the fumm of what we (hall plead in this caufe amounts to this, that whereas there are many vasaíeaa or infallible evidences of any Writings being given byDivine infpiration, and fundry Arguments , whereby Books or Writings un- groundedly pretending to that Original may be difproved, that of the former, there is noone that is not Applicableunto this EpiJtle; not is it obnoxious unto any one of the latter fort. Of what nature in general thatevidence is, which is given unto the Di- vineOriginal of the Scripture by theCbaratters thereof implantedin it, or other Teli- rtiony given untoit, or what is the affuraneeof mind concerning it which thereupon we are furnifhed withall, belongsnot unto our prefisse enquiry. That which we un- dertake, is only to manifeli that the intereft inthem of this EpiJtle , and its immunity . fromRational exceptions, is equallunto, and no lefs confpicuous, than that of any other portion of Holy Writ whatever: So that it landsupon the fame bafis with the Whole, which at prefent we fuppofe firm and immoveable. Eufebins, who afterMelito,Caius, Clemens, andOrigen, made a very accurate enquiry after theBooks unquelionably Canonical, gives us three notes of dilindionbetween Eafeb.HhJLEe- them that are fo and others; namely, ¢ráceas xataxr3 , the charaeler or manner of e1ef.lib. ;.c.zz. phrafe or fpeeeh. (2.) yawl thefentence or fubjeltmatter treated of; and (3.)..e,alpmns the purpofe and defign of the Writer ; and theyare all of great importance, and to be confidered by us inthis matter. But becaufe othersof likemoment may be addedunto them, and are ufed by others of the Antients to the fame end, we [hall infl upon themall in that order which fernsmoll natural unto them ; yet- fo, as that they may be all referred untothofe general heads by himpropofed. t. 23. Two things there are thatbelong to the 1.t4ni or /intentsofthis Epifile; Firl; itsge- nedArgument; and Secondly,theparticular SubjeZi'Matter treatedof in it. Theft Teem tobe deigned thereby. Nowthegeneral Argúment of this EpiJtle, is the fame with that of thewhole Scriptures betides: That is, aRevelationofthe will ofGod, as to the faith and obedience of the Church, and this holy, heavenly and divine anfwering- the Wifdom, Truth, andSoveraigiity ofhim from whom it doth proceed. Hence they are called níynazs esx, the Oracles of God, Rom. 3. 2. cr the infallible Revelationofhis will; and ii aa5n..F ' ñc tdutia 7ohn6.68. thewordsof eternal life; for That, in the name ofGod they treat about. And S'. Paul tells us, that 'the Argument of the Gofpel is Wifdsm,
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