[2.] Afterwards there was both word and writing. God's word was necessary for the further revealing and clearing up of the doctrine of salvation, which was revealed by pieces. And writing was necessary, partly because in process of time precepts were multiplied, and it was needful for men's memories that they should be registered in some public record ; and partly because the long life of God's witnesses was much lessened, and the corruption of the world was increased, and Satan began to imitate God by oracles, visions, and answers, and idolatry and superstition crept into the best families. Into Terah's : Josh. xxiv. 2, ' Your fathers dwelt on the other side the flood, in old time, even Terah the father of Abraham and the father of Nachor, and they served other gods.' And Jacob's family w\as corrupt : Gen. XXXV. 2, ' Then Jacob said to his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments.' The people were grown numerous enough to make a commonwealth and a ])olitic body, and it was fit they should have a public record and common rule ; and therefore, to avoid man's corruptions, and to give a stop to Satan's deceits, the Lord thought fit there should be a written rule at hand, for the trial of all doctrines. God himself wrote the first scripture that ever was written with his own finger : Exod. xxiv. 12, ' And the Lord said to Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there, and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written, that thou mayest teach them.' And then commanded Moses and the prophets to do the same : Exod. xvii. 14, ' And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for u memorial in a book ;' and Exod. xxxiv. 27, ' And the Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words ; for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.^ So he bids Jeremiah, chap, xxxvi. 2, ' Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken to thee.' And so God spake to all the prophets, though it be not expressed, and by inward instinct bids them write tlieir prophecies, that it might be a public record for the church in all ages. Xow this way was always accompanied with prophetical revelations until Christ's time, who, as the great doctor of the church, perfected the rule of faith, and by the apostles, as so many public notaries, con- signed it to the use of the church. And so when the canon was com- plete, then John, as the last of the apostles, and outliving the rest, closed up all, and therefore closeth up his prophecy thus : Eev. xxii. 18, 19, ' For I testify unto every man that lieareth the words of the
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prophecy of this book ; if any man add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book ; and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, Grod shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things that are written in this book.' Which sealeth up the whole canon and rule of faith, as well as the book of the Kevelations. And therefore —
[3.] There is now writing only without the word, without visions and revelations. There needeth no more now, because here is enough to make us wise unto salvation : 2 Tim. iii. 15-17, ' And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness ; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.' It is sufficient to make as wise to preach, and you wise to practise. It is now certain enough ; God hath left a public record, that we might not spend our time in doubting and disputing. And it is full enough ; you need nothing more, either to satisfy the desires of nature or to re- pair the defects of nature, to satiate the soul with knowledge ; for God hath given to the church sufficient instruction to decide all controver- sies, to assoil all doubts, and to give us sure conduct and direction to everlasting glory.
Thirdly, The next question is, of what concernment it is to inquire of the truth of the scripture ? Many think that such a discussion needs not, because this is a principal matter to be believed, not argued, and arguments at least beget but a human faith ; yet certainly it is of great necessity if you consider four things : —
1. It is good to prepare and induce carnal men to respect it, and to wait for the confirmation of the Spirit. A human faith maketh way for a divine ; when men hearken to the word upon common grounds, God may satisfy them ; as those, John iv. 42, ' Now we believe, not because of thy saying, for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Son of the living God.' They first believed upon the woman's report, and then upon their own experience. So it is good to establish sound grounds, that we may know the truth of God, first upon hearsay, and afterward upon experience. This way we induce and invite men to make a trial.