Genesis,

Exodus,

Leviticus,

Numbers,

Of the Names and Number of the Canonical BOOKS.

The 2d Book of Chro

nicles,

The 1st Book of Es

dras,

The 2d Book of Sa-Cantica, or Songs of

Solomon,

muel, The 1stBook of Kings, Four Prophets the The 2d Book of Kings, greater,

The 1st Book of Chro-Twelve Prophets the nicles, less.

And the other Books (as Hierome saith) the Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners; but yet doth it not apply them to establish any doctrine; such are these following:

The 3d Book of Es-The Song of the three dras, Children, The 4th Book of Es-The Story of Susanna, dras, Of Bel and the Dra

The Book of Tobias, gon,

The Book of Judith, The Prayer of Ma

The rest of the Book

of Esther,

The Book of Wisdom,

nasses,

The 1st Book of Mac

cabees,

Jesus the Son of Sirach The 2d Book of Mac

Baruch the Prophet, cabees.

All the Books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive, and account them as Canonical.

All things necessary, &c.] For the Holy Scripture contains all things which relate either to faith or practice, beyond which God requires nothing of us. See 2 Tim.

iii. 15, 16, 17. 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, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Præscript

See also Ignatius. "The Gospel is the perfection of Epist. ad "uncorruptness.' And Tertullian. "We have no need Philad. De "of being curious since the coming of Jesus Christ, nor adv. Hær. "inquisitive since the publication of the Gospel. When c. 8.

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we believe, we want nothing farther to be believed.

"For this we first believe, that we ought not to believe

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any thing farther." And St. Cyprian. "From whence Epist. 47. "is that tradition? is it derived either from the autho"rity of our Lord and his Gospel, or from the commands "and Epistles of his Apostles? For God testifies that

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we are to do those things which are written." And Irenæus. "The Scriptures indeed are perfect, as being Lib. 2. c.47. "dictated by the Word of God and his Spirit." And

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again. We, following the one and sole true God as Lib. 4. c. 69, our teacher, and having his words for the rule of truth, say always the same things concerning them."

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Whatsoever is not read therein, &c.] Since he only has a right to prescribe the conditions of salvation, who has the sole power of conferring it; it does not belong to man to command or teach any other things as necessary to salvation, than what God himself hath commanded and taught in the Scriptures, and what he hath declared to be sufficient for that end. See Matt. xv. 9. In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. And Gal. i. 8, 9. Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

C

Ad. Hermogen. c. 22.

Philocal. c. 3.

See also Tertullian. "Let Hermogenes out of his store"house of learning show that it is written. If it be not 66 written, let him fear that woe which is destined for those "who either add to, or detract from the Scriptures."

See also the Homily of reading the Holy Scripture. Nowelli Catech. p. 4. Jewell's Apol. Def. Part I. Ch. 8, 9. Chillingworth's Rel. Prot. Ch. I. Stanhope on 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. Hooker's Eccl. Pol. B. I. Sect. 14. and B. II. Sect. 8. Field of the Church, p. 232. 361. 373. Prideaux's Fasc. Controv. C. 1. Q. 6,7. Hall's Roma Irreconcil. Sect. 16. Bishop Blackhall's Eight Sermons at Mr. Boyle's Lecture.

Canonical] That is, inspired by God, and given us for a rule of faith and manners.

In the Church] Namely, in the Catholic or Universal Church. For some particular churches did for some time doubt of a few of them, viz. the Epistle to the Hebrews; the Epistles of St. James and St. Jude; the Second and Third Epistles of St. John; and the Revelation.

See Stillingfleet's Orig. Sacr. Grotius de Ver. Rel. L. III. Cosins's Histor. Scholast. Christian's Birthright, §. 2. Prideaux's Fasc. Controv. C. 1. Q. 2. Hall's Roma Irreconcil. Sect. 14. Field of the Church, p. 224. 378. Second Book of Esdras] That is, the Book of Nehemiah.

As Hierome saith] Namely, in his preface to the Proverbs. "It is to be observed (says Origen) that the Books "of the Old Testament, as the Hebrews report, are twentytwo; which is the number of the Hebrew letters."

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ARTICLE VII.

Of the Old Testament.

THE Old Testament is not contrary to the New for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and Man. Wherefore they are not to be heard, which feign that the old Fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although

the Law given from God by Moses, as touching Ceremonies and Rites, do not bind Christian men, nor the civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the Commandments which are called Moral.

Is not contrary, &c.] So far are the Old and New Testaments from being contrary the one to the other, that they confirm one another, and convey authority to each other. See Matt. v. 17, 18. Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. And Acts xviii. 28. He (St. Paul) mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. And John v. 39. 46. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.-Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

See also Origen. "He who is instructed in the divine Philocal. "music, knows that all the Scripture is a perfect and well c. 6. "tuned instrument of God, which soundeth forth to "those who are desirous to learn it, one harmonious and "salutary voice, though composed of different sounds; a voice which stills and restrains all the energy and "ower of the evil spirit."

Both in the Old and New, &c.] They both aim at the same end, which is, the eternal salvation of mankind by Jesus Christ. The Old Testament gives us the Law, and promises salvation to such as obey it. But since such is the infirmity of human nature, that no man can pay an exact obedience to the law, it follows, that by the law no man is saved. And therefore the Old Testament points out to us Christ, as the only Author of our salvation, through the shadowing of ceremonies, and types, and prophecies; whereas the New Testament shows him to us clearly and plainly.

See Gen. iii. 15. I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. And Gen. xii. 3. In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Epist. ad
Philad.

Adv. Hær. 1. 4. c. 5.

And Dan. xii. 2, 3. Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

See also Rom. iii. 21. Now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. And Rom. xvi. 25, 26. The revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting "God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. And Gal. iii. 24. The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

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See also Ignatius. "We love the Prophets, because they also preached the Gospel, and hoped in him (to Ad Autolye. "wit, Christ) and waited for him.”—And Theophilus of 1. 3. p. 225. Antioch. "The writings of the prophets and evangelists are found to agree together, with respect to the righteousness of which the Law speaks." And Irenæus. "Let them not therefore ascribe the unbelief of some persons to the Law; for the Law did not forbid them "to believe in the Son of God, but exhorted them to the "contrary, by telling them, that there was no other way "for men to be healed of the old wound which was given "them by the Serpent, but by believing in him, who ac"cording to the likeness of sinful flesh was lifted up from "the earth upon the tree of martyrdom, and who draws "all things to himself, and quickens the dead."-And Justin Martyr. "In the Books of the Prophets we find "our Lord Jesus Christ foretold as born of a Virgin, and "crucified, and dying," &c.

Apol 1.

c. 35.

See also Hammond's Pract. Cat. B. I. Sect. 1. Preface to the Whole Duty of Man, Sect. 12. &c. Clagget on 2 Pet. i. 19. Nowelli Cat. p. 41.

The only Mediator] Namely, with respect to Intercession, as well as Redemption. See 1 John ii. 1. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. See also 1 Tim. ii. 5. There is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. See also Scott's Christian Life, Part II. Ch. 7. Sect. 1. 6. Nowelli Cat. p. 109.

They are not to be heard, &c.] That the Old Fathers looked for spiritual and eternal things, sufficiently appears from Heb. xi. 10. 14. 26. 35. He (Abraham) looked for a