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Chapter 1
Of the Holy Scriptures
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The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and
infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience;1
although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so
far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men
unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and
His will, which is necessary unto salvation.2 Therefore
it pleased the Lord at sundry times, and in divers manners to reveal
Himself, and to declare that His will unto His church;3
and afterwards for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and
for the more sure establishment, and comfort of the church against the
corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and the world, to commit
the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most
necessary, those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His people
being now ceased.4
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Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God
written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testament, which
are these:
Of the Old Testament:
| Genesis |
Exodus |
Leviticus |
Numbers |
Deuteronomy |
| Joshua |
Judges |
Ruth |
1 Samuel |
2 Samuel |
| 1 Kings |
2 Kings |
1 Chronicles |
2 Chronicles |
Ezra |
| Nehemiah |
Esther |
Job |
Psalms |
Proverbs |
| Ecclesiastes |
Song of Solomon |
Isaiah |
Jeremiah |
Lamentations |
| Ezekiel |
Daniel |
Hosea |
Joel |
Amos |
| Obadiah |
Jonah |
Micah |
Nahum |
Habakkuk |
| Haggai |
Zechariah |
Malachi |
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Of the New Testament:
| Matthew |
Mark |
Luke |
John |
Acts |
| Romans |
1 Corinthians |
2 Corinthians |
Galatians |
Ephesians |
| Philippians |
Colossians |
1 Thessalonians |
2 Thessalonians |
1 Timothy |
| 2 Timothy |
Titus |
Philemon |
Hebrews |
James |
| 1 Peter |
2 Peter |
1 John |
2 John |
3 John |
| Jude |
Revelation |
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The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine
inspiration, are no part of the canon (or rule) of the Scripture, and
therefore are of no authority to the church of God, nor to be any otherwise
approved, or made use of than other human writings.5
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The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to
be believed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man, or church, but
wholly upon God, (who is truth itself) the author thereof; therefore it is
to be received, because it is the Word of God.6
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We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church
of God, to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the
heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and the majesty of
the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole, (which is
to give all glory to God) the full discovery it makes of the only way of
man's salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire
perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence
itself to be the Word of God; yet, notwithstanding our full persuasion, and
assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the
inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with the Word in our
hearts.7
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The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for
His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set
down, or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture; unto which nothing at
any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or
traditions of men.8 Nevertheless we acknowledge the
inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving
understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word,9
and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and
government of the church, common to human actions and societies; which are
to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to
the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.10
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All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves,
nor alike clear unto all;11 yet those things which are
necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly
propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only
the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain
to a sufficient understanding of them.12
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The Old Testament in Hebrew, (which was the native language
of the people of God of old),13 and the New Testament in
Greek, which (at the time of the writing of it) was most generally known to
the nations, being immediately inspired by God, and by His singular care and
providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical; so as in all
controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them.14
But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God,
who have a right unto; and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in
the fear of God to read15 and search them,16
therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar [ie. common] language of
every nation, unto which they come,17 that the Word of
God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship Him in an acceptable
manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may hope.18
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The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the
Scripture itself: and therefore when there is a question about the true and
full sense of any Scripture, (which is not manifold but one) it must be
searched by other places, that speak more clearly.19
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The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are
to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers,
doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose
sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Scripture delivered by
the Spirit, into which Scripture so delivered, our faith is finally
resolved.20
Footnotes:
1. 2Ti 3:15-17; Isa 8:20; Lk 16:29,31; Eph 2:20.
2. Ro 1:19-21; 2:14-15; Ps 19:1-3.
3. Heb 1:1.
4. Pr 22:19-21; Ro 15:4; 2Pe 1:19-20.
5. Lk 24:27,44; Ro 3:2.
6. 2Pe 1:19-21; 2Ti 3:16; 2Th 2:13; 1Jn 5:9.
7. Jn 16:13-14; 1Co 2:10-12, 1Jn 2:20,27.
8. 2Ti 3:15-17; Gal 1:8-9.
9. Jn 6:45; 1Co 2:9-12.
10. 1Co 11:13-14; 14:26,40.
11. 2Pe 3:16.
12. Ps 19:7; 119:130.
13. Ro 3:2.
14. Isa 8:20.
15. Ac 15:15.
16. Jn 5:39.
17. 1Co 14:6,9,11-12,24,28.
18. Col 3:16.
19. 2Pe 1:20-21; Ac 15:15-16.
20. Mt 22:29,31-32; Eph 2:20; Ac 28:23.
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