Jones on Article VI: Of the Sufficiency of the holy Scriptures for salvation

” The foundation of our religion is the written word, the scriptures of God, the undoubted records of the Holy Ghost. We require no credit to be given to any part or parcel of our doctrine, further than the same may be clearly and manifestly proved by the plain words of the law of God, which remaineth in writing to be seen, read, and examined of all men. This we do first, because we know that God has caused his whole law to be written ; secondly, because we see that it hath been the practice of all the defenders of the truth since the beginning to rely their faith only upon the scripture and written word ; thirdly, because it is evident and plain that we cannot receive any other foundation of heavenly truth without the overthrow of Christian faith…’ The doctrine of Christ,’ saith Clemens Alexandrinus, 1 is most absolute, neither wanteth it anything.’… St. Cyprian saith, ’ the foundation of all religion and faith is laid in the word of God.’ And St. Jerome, ’ that which hath not authority out of the word of God, is altogether as easily refused as proved. Which rule of religion, if the Latin Church had as well observed, as it is often given and often commended by the godly fathers, the Church of Christ had never been burdened with so many unprofitable traditions and new inventions of men.” — Sermons.

” All Popish things (for the most part) are men’s inventions ; whereas they ought to have the Holy Scripture for the only rule of faith. When Paul made allegation for himself before Felix the high deputy, he did not extend his faith beyond the word of God written, ’ Believing all things,’ (he saith), which are written in the law and the prophets ;’ making no mention

of the rabbins ’ Therefore whether it be of Christ, or of

his Church, or of any other manner of thing which belongeth to our faith and life, I will not say if we’ saith St. Augustine,…

but if an angel from heaven shall teach anything besides that ye have received (in the Scriptures of the law and gospel) accursed be he.’…But how are the Scriptures to be understanded ? St. Augustine answereth, giving this rule, ’ The circumstances of the Scriptures lighten the Scriptures ; and so one Scripture doth expound another to a man that is studious, well willing, and often calling upon God in continual prayer, who giveth his Holy Spirit to them that desire it of him.” — Conference with Ridley.

BISHOP riLKIXGTON.

” What a treasure it is to have God’s word amongst us, seeing it is the ordinary way that he hath ordained to bring

us unto him Men fall chiefly into heresies when they trust

to their own wits and learning, forsaking or not submitting their wits unto God’s wisdom contained in his infallible word and truth.” — Expos, on Pi-ophct Aggeus.

” I would not have men think that the Scripture taketh its authority and credit of the man that writeth it ; but the writer is to be credited for the Holy Ghost’s sake, who inspired him with such heavenly knowledge, and whose instrument he is for God to speak by. Scripture cometh not first from man, but from God, and therefore God is to be taken for the author of it and not man. The Holy Ghost, who is the author of the Holy Scripture, hath not put down any one word in writing, whether in the New Testament or the Old, that is either super-

stitious or unprofitable, though it seem so to many.” — On Nehemiah.

” All the canonical Scriptures we do so reverendly receive and faithfully believe, that we stand in contention with the Papists, that nothing is to be believed as necessary to salvation, but only the Old Testament and the New.” — Confutation $c.

” By the abomination thereof. (Babylon of St. Peter) I understand all the whole trade of the Romish religion, under the name aud title of Christ, which is contrary to the only rule of all true religion, that is God’s word.” — Lamentation of the Church.

” Sure we are that Christ, the Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles be sound, and believed no more, nor any otherwise

than they have left unto us by their writings If they

(Papists) say unto thee, that thou must not take the text after thine own mind, but after the mind of holy Christians who have written in the Scripture, think with thyself that God hath given thee the Scripture to read therein to thy salvation,

as well as unto the doctor Be not afraid of this holy name,

but trust to the holiness of the Scripture, then shalt thou not be deceived.” — On the Ten Commandments.

AltCIIDEACON PHILPOT.

“There is no cause then why we should look for, from the Holy Ghost, any new learning, either diverse from that which those heavenly men and messengers of the Lord have left written in books to us, either that we do make him the author and teacher of our lies : for the Spirit is true, and always one, whom Christ hath given to the Church, not for to teach new matters, but for to expound and put in our remembrance those things which were whilom committed and taught to us. Wherefore, although the Church may interpret and expound, with the Holy Ghost their guide and master, the divine

writings ; therefore it may not prescribe and constitute a doctrine, or else any laws for salvation and immortality to be

obtained This we do, nay, that by any man’s interpretation

any new doctrine ought to be enacted which cannot stand and be uphoklen by manifest and certain pleas of the said Scriptures. He that saith that all things which Christ wrought be not written, the self-same witnesseth that such things as be neces- sary to attain salvation and immortality be written.” — Transla- tion of Curio’s Defence.

” Know whether they be learned, godly minded, and able to instruct by the Scriptures or no. And yet if they be, believe them no further than they can shew their doctrine and exhorta- tion to be agreeable with the true word of God written. For that is the very touchstone which must, yea, and also will, try all doctrine or learning, whatsoever it be, whether it be good or evil, true or false But, (say the Papists) when Scrip- tures be hard and doubtful, and seem to be contrary one to another by mistaking and wrong understanding, whereof divers heresies do arise, how shall we more know the truth in such diversity of opinions, both parties grounding themselves upon the Scriptures ; but only by the Church, which (as they say) cannot err. St. Augustine shall make answer herein for me, saying on this wise : ’ dark places are to be expounded by more plain places ; for that is the surest way of declaring the Scrip- tures, to expound one Scripture by another.’ And again, he saith, ’ that in things openly contained in the Scriptures, we found all things that concern faith, good living, and charity. And if any thing cannot be tried by the certain and plain places of the Scriptures, let man’s presumption ’ saith he, ’ stay

itself, not leaning to either part.’ But in seeking of the

Scriptures, let us seek no further than is left in writing by God our Saviour lest in desiring too much we lose all. For this is most true, that no unwritten verity is, or can be, necessary for our salvation ; for then should the sacred and

holy Scriptures written by the Apostles in the Spirit of God, and sealed with their blood, seem to be insufficient and not able to bring us unto salvation. Augustine saith, ’ I owe my consent to the canonical Scriptures only, without any refusal.’… The same in his second book of the Christian doctrine, cap. 9. After that he hath numbered the canonical books, he saith thus, ’ In all these books they that fear God and are turned through holiness do search the will of God.’ ”

” Cyprian in the exposition of the Creed, after that he hath rehearsed the canonical books of the Bible, he saith, ’ These be they which our fathers have included within the canon, out of the which our fathers would the doctrine of our faith to be certain : nevertheless, there be other books which of our elders were not called canonical, but ecclesiastical; as the book of Wisdom, the books of Sirach, Tobii, Judith, Machabees, and other. All which books they would have to be read in the Church, but not alleged as of authority to confirm any article of our faith.” — Confutation of Unwritten Verities.

” We confess and believe all the canonical books of the Old Testament, and all the books of the New Testament to be the very true word of God, and to be written by the, inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and are therefore to be heard accordingly as the judge in all controversies and matters of religion.

” So becometh it all men to do, not rashly to admit and receive, nor yet furiously to condemn at the first sight, but as St. Paul saith, ‘to prove all things, and to choose and hold that which is best.’ Things must be proved by the Scriptures, and not by the spirit of pride, contention, despite, and contumacy. Christ and Christ’s truth is only learned of the Holy Scriptures. They that teach any other thing than the Scriptures, teach not Christ, but human inventions. Neither ought any thing as a necessary truth to be believed under pain of damnation, nor to

be admitted in the Church of Christ, except it may be esta- blished by the Holy Scripture and pure word of God

Hereto agreeth Origen. ‘It is needful,’ saith he, ’ to call the Holy Scriptures into witness, for our judgments and exposi- tions without these witnesses have no faith.’ Also, St. Jerome, ’ that, we affirm must be established and approved with the testimonies of the Holy Scriptures, in the which God speaketh daily to thein that […] to ‘Potation for Lent.’

” The Scriptures are the word of God. What title can there be of greater value ? “What may be said of them to make them of greater authority, than to say, ’ the Lord hath spoken by them ? that they came not by the will of men, but, holy men ’ of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost ?’ (2 Pet.

i.) They may not read them, (say some) they are not able

to wield them ; the Scriptures are not for the people But

God himself and the ancient fathers of the Church said other- wise. God saith (Deut. xxx.) ’ This commandment which I command thee this day is not hid from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, who shall go up for us to heaven and bring it us, and cause us to learn it, that we may do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, who shall go over the sea for us, and cause us to learn it, that we may do it ? But the word is very near thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart, for to do it. But all this, notwithstanding, some take exception, and say, the Scriptures are dark and doubtful, the matters are deep, the words are hard, few can understand them. One taketh them in this sense,

another in a sense clean contrary The prophet David saith,

(Psa. xix.) ’ The commandment of the Lord is pure and giveth light unto the eyes Human knowledge is dark and uncer- tain, philosophy is dark, astrology is dark, and geometry is

dark But the Holy Spirit of God, like a good teacher,

applieth himself to the dulness of our wits ; he leadeth not us by the unknown places of the earth, nor by the air, nor by the

clouds ; he astonisheth not our spirits with natural vanities ; he writeth his law in our hearts ; he teacheth us to know him and his Christ ; he teacheth us (Tit. ii.) that we should ’ deny

ungodliness and worldly lusts,’ &c Some things in the

Scriptures are hard, I deny it not. It is very expedient that somewhat should be covered. But it is true also that they which pervert them unto their own destruction are unlearned and unstable ; that is, they to whom they are hard have not their eyes opened that they may see the light of the word ; or they be wicked, and turn the truth of God into lies, and abuse the Scriptures to their own damnation. The owl, it seeth not by the brightness sf the sun, not because the sunbeams are dark, but for that his eyes are weak, and cannot abide so clear light.” — On the Holy Scriptures.

” Other word of God have we none than in the canon of the Bible ; and all things written therein are written for our learn- ing, (saith St. Paul) whereby he proveth, seeing that it is a learning, yea our learning, that we must learn it. Therefore, woe be to all them which either persuade men that there is other doctrine of like authority, or that dissuade men from embracing this word, this word of God.” — Letters.

” ‘AH the whole Scripture,’ saith the holy apostle St. Paul, inspired from God alone, ’ is profitable to teach, to reprove, to reform, to instruct in righteousness.’ &c. Search, therefore, good reader, (on God’s name) as Christ biddeth thee, the Holy Scripture, wherein thou mayest find thy salvation. Though many things may be difficult to thee to understand, impute it rather to thy dull hearing and reading, than to think that the Scriptures be insupei-able to them, which, with diligent search- ing, labour to discern the evil from the good Christ himself

will open the sense of the Scriptures, not to the proud, or to the wise of the world, but to the lowly and contrite in heart.”

” What meant the fathers of the Church in their writings, but the advancing of those holy books ? -where, some do attribute no certainty of undoubted verity but to the canonical

Scriptures Some say that our faith must needs stagger if it

be not grounded upon the authority of Scripture. Some testify that Christ and his Church ought to be avouched out of the Scriptures, and do contend in disputation that the true Church cannot be known but only by the Holy Scriptures Where- fore, let men extol the Church practices as highly as they can, and let them set their traditions and customs, their

decisions in synods yet will we be bold to say with St.

Peter, ’ We have for our part a more stable ground, the prophetical words (of the Scriptures,) and doubt not to be

commended therefore of the same.’ Now, therefore, knowing

and believing with St. Paul, ’ Whatsoever is afore written, is written for our instruction, that we, through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope ;’ the only surety to our faith and conscience is to stick to the Scriptures.” — Archbp. Parker’s Prefaces to the Bible.

” Dost thou then affirm that all things necessary to godliness and salvation are contained in the written word of God ? Yea, for it were a point of intolerable ungodliness and madness to think either that God hath left an imperfect doctrine, or that man were able to make that perfect which God left imperfect. Therefore the Lord hath most straitly forbidden men, that they neither add anything, not take anything from his word, nor turn any way from it, either to the right hand or to the left.”

” God’s book is no imperfect work, but a perfect book, containing all things to be done, the whole duty of a Christian man, and sufficient doctrine to instruct a God’s man in all good works, and to make him perfect, as St. Paul witnesseth, writing to Timothe. (2 Tim. iii.) And he must needs accuse God

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either of ignorancy, or of folly, or of negligence, which saith that he hath left anything untouched and undeclared, which con- cerneth a Christian man’s office, and is needful and necessary unto salvation. All such things be expressed in God’s book.” — Ser. on Lortfs Supper.

” Again, how they understood the word Canonical, it may be gathered both out of the words of the same canon, where they give none other reason of the approbation of all these books of Scripture, but that they have received them of their

fathers to be read in the Church St. Jerome, a priest of

Rome, and Ruffinus Aquileia, in symbolo, both declare what books were received in their Churches as canonical and of irre- fragable authority to build principles of faith upon them, and what books were admitted only to be read for instruction of manners.*

” There is nothing necessary to eternal life which is not both commanded and expressed in the Scriptures. I count it ex- pressed, when it is either in manifest modes contained in Scripture, or thereof gathered by necessary collation. I have learned of St. Augustine to give this reverence only to the writers of canonical Scripture, that I think none of them to have erred in writing. And I do firmly believe, that only the books of the canonical Scriptures are of that absoluteness and perfection, that nothing may be taken away from them, nothing added to

them I also confess that in all other things we must be so

directed by the Scriptures, that we do nothing contrary to the true sense and meaning of them ; no, not in external and in

• Sciendum tameti est, quod et alii libri sunt qui uon canonici, sed eeclcsiastk-i a majoribus appcllati sunt : ut est Sapientia Salomonis et alia Sapientia qua; dicitur filii Syrach, qui liber aput Latinos lioe ipso generali vocubulo Ecelesia-tieus appellatur ; quo vocabulo non auctor libelli, sed scriptura; qualitas cognoniinata

est. Ejusdem ordinis est libellus Tobiic, et Judith, et Machabaeorum libri

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the least matters ; neither do I otherwise write, teach, or speak of the perfection and authority of the Scriptures, than all other learned men and the reformed Churches teach, write, and

believe “When I say that the Scriptures contain all things

necessary unto salvation, I do not mean that it containeth those things only, neither do I deny but that the word of God so containeth generally the direction of all things pertaining to the Church, or that can fall to any part of man’s life, that nothing ought to be done in that Church or in the life of man contrary to the word of God, or not according to the true intent and meaning of the same. Yet do I deny that the Scriptures do express particularly every thing that is to be done in the Church.” — Defence of the Answer to the Admonition.