20. Canonical Authority-of the lead, ad imum JJiritum penetrantia, hominem totum poteffate mirabilà transformantiai expref ling the fümm of what we difcourfe. From hence is all that fupernaturat Light and knowledge, that conviction and reftraint, that Conversion, Faith, Confo{a= tion and Obedience, that are found amongft any of the Sons of men. Blow jeaab faithBafil, psóapdisí7} e; e;eimi g}, d'rà 7íìCO ovyyraVioet varey: 1,4441& ir runner cr xaivfi ,pf .7.vy_ìuv ipeíu+, melages itopeonce Tò .iawe ?ñ átxein eú9ss ¡mare- ixmey4e0a. Rail. in The whole Scripture is divinely inJßired and profitable ; being written by the Holy GhoJi Pfatm. t. for thispurpofe, that in it, as a common healing Office forfinis, all men may chuff the Me- dicine fuited to cure their owndiffempers. Such is the Nature, Power, and Efficacy of this Epifile towards them that do believe ; It fiarches their hearts , difcovers their thoughts, principles their confciences, judges their Acts inward and outward,Jispportr their Spirits, comfomts their fouls, enlightens their minds, guides them in their hope, confidence, and love to God, directs them in alltheir communion with him, and dbe- dience, unto him, and leads them to an enjoyment of him. And thisWork of the Holy Ghoft in it, and by it, fiais up itsDivine Authority unto them, fo that they find reti, fpiritualfatisfaëtion, and great affurancetherein. When once they have obtained this Experience of its Divine Power , it is in vain for Men or Devils tooppofè its Canonical Authority with their frivolous Cavils and Obje&ions. Neither is this Experi- ence meerly fatisfaétoryto themfelves alone, as is by Tome pretended : It is a thing pleadable, and that not only in their own defence to ftrengthen their Faith againft Temptations, but to others alfo ; though not to AtbeifticalScofrs, yet to humble en- quirers, which ought to be the frame of all men in Ike Invefügation of Sacred Truths. 4. 34 untowhat hath been fpoken, we may add, that the Canonical Authority of this Epittle is confirmed unto us by CatholickTradition; By this Tradition I intend not theTetlimony Only of the pre/3nChurch that is in the world ; nor Fancy a tuft of a Power Co declare what is fo in any Church whatever ; but a generall uninter- ruptedFame conveyedand confirmed by particular Inftances, Records, and Tellimo- nies in all Ages. In any other fènfe how little weight there is to be laid upon Traditions , we have a pregnant inflame in him who tirfi began to magnifie them. This was 7,apiar, a contemporary of Policarpus in the very next Age alter the Apo- files. Tradition of what was done, orPaid by Chrift, or theApotiles, what Expotiti- ons they gave, he profeffedhimfelf to fet an high value upon, equal to; if not above the Scripture. And two things are confiderable in his fearch afterthem. Eafeó. Ecdef. Ftrfi, That he didnotthink that there was anyChurch appointed to be the Preferver Thft.l.3. cult. and'Declarer ofApoflolical Traditions, but made his enquiry of all the individual an- cient men that he could meet withall , who had converted with any of the Apoftles. Secondly, That by all his pains, he gathered together a Rbapfdy of incredible Sto- ries, Fables, Errors and ufelefs Curiolties; Such ilfùe will the endeavours of men have, who forfake theffable Word of Prophefie, to follow rumors and reports, un- der the fpecious name of Traditions. But this Catbolick Fame whereof we fpeak, confirmed by particular Entrances and Records in all Ages, tetlifying unto a matter of Fact, is of great importance. And how clearly this may be pleaded in our pre- knt cafe, (hall be manifefted in our Invéftigationof the Penman of this Epiffk. And thus I hope, we have made it evident, that this Epifile is not detlitute of any one of thofe Ts, aiçtú, or infallible proofs and Arguments whereby any particular Book of the Scripture evinceth its fell unto theConfciences of men to be writtenby Infjiiration from God. It remaineth now to chew, that it is not liable unto any of thofe Exceptions, or Arguments, whereby anyBook, or Writing pretending a claim to a Divine Original, and Canonical Authority thereupon, may be convie ed, and ma- nifefted to be of another Extradt; whereby its ¡lift priviledge will be on both fides fecured. yr. 75. The firft confideration of this nature is taken from the Author or Penman of any fach Writing. The Books of the Old Teflament were all of them written by Pro- phets.or holy Men infpired ofGod. Hence St. Peter calls the whole of it, orpet»laia Prophefie, 2 Pet. r.21. Prophefie deliveredby men, ailedor moved therein by the Holy Molt. And though there be a diftribution made of the feverai Books of it from the Subjell Matter, into theLaw, Prophets andPfalms, Luke 24.44. and, often into the Law andProphets on the fame account, as Aar 26.2. Rom. 3.22. yet theirPenmen being all equally Prophets, the whole in general is afcribed unto them and called Prophefie,
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