1. That God hath owned the scriptures for his word.
2. The church hath owned them as God's word.
3. The malignant world in their way hath owned them ; that is, upon that respect they have opposed them.
First, God hath owned them several ways. By the wonderful suc- cess of that religion which the scriptures establish ; preservation ; miracles ; accomplishment of prophecies, promises, and threatenings ; by concomitancy of grace ; testimony of the spirit ; by particular judg- ments and punishments of those which have abused the scriptures.
First, By the wonderful success of that doctrine and religion which the scriptures do establish. Certainly if we think that God hath any care of human affairs, we cannot but judge that doctrine to be divine which God hath suffered to diffuse, and spread itself far and near in all parts of the world. Nay, if he hath any care of his own glory ; for this doctrine pretendeth to be his, and his permitting it to be propagated showeth that he owneth the claim and pretence : to right himself, and to undeceive the nations, he would otherwise have disclaimed them. Herod was smitten with worms and died when he assumed divine hon- our to himself : Acts xii. 22, 23, ' And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory, and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.' It is agreeable with the good- ness of providence, that that which is best should be diffused. Now, what religion hath been so diffused as the christian, through Europe, Asia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and other parts of Africa, and now in America? It is true, paganism is of a vast extent, but it includcth many religions under one name : some worship a star, some a dog or cat, some a plant. Rites differ with nations and countries; but christianitv alone, like the
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leaven, hath pierced the whole lump : Mat. xiii. 33, ' The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.' Within the space of thirty years, or thereabout, it spread far and near throughout the Koman empire, and much further. Hesterni sumus, saith Tertullian, et tamen vestra omnia implevinuis, tirhes, I'nsulas, castella, municipia, conciliabula, castra ipsa, trihus, decurias, paulatim senatum, forum ; sola vohisrelin- qui'mus templa. — We are but of yesterday, and yet how are we in- creased ? The christians are found in all places, cities, villages, isles, castles, free towns, councils, armies, senate ; mark, everywhere but in the idols' temples. Such a wonderful increase and success was there in a short time. So I shall mention Augustine's dilemma — If the miracles related by our writers be true, then they give experience of the truth of scripture ; if false and feigned, then this is a miracle above all miracles, that the christian religion should prevail in such a manner as it hath done in the world. You will say so too, if you do but consider the circumstances of this success : the doctrine itself contrary to nature ; it is a religion that doth not court the senses, nor woo the flesh ; it offereth no splendour of life, nor pleasures, nor profits ; it biddeth us to deny all these things, and expect persecution : self-denial is the first lesson that is learned in Christ's school : Mat. xvi. 24, ' If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up the cross and follow me.' As Crates to a woman that courted him showed his bunched back. The devil disguiseth his temptations, and concealeth the worst. Christianity hath its allurements, but they are either spiritual, or to be made good in another world ; here they have com- fort with persecution : Mark x. 30, ' He shall receive an hundred-fold now in this life, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the world to come eternal life.' Here they have support and comfort, but still trouble and exer- cise. And the doctrine is as contrary to our lusts as our interests : Col. iii. 5, ' Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affections, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.' As dear and as near as a joint of the body is, yea, the most useful one, it is to be cut off : Mat. v. 29, 30, ' If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee, &c. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee.' Now, that this should prevail, it argueth a divine power. Mahomet allured his followers with fair promises of security and carnal pleasure ; there wind and tide went one way ; man is very credulous of what he desireth ; but Christianity teacheth men to row against the stream of flesh and blood, and to bear out sail against all the blasts and furious winds without : here was nothing lovely to a carnal eye. This for the doctrine itself.