Of the Sacred Scripture
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Page 52 of the printing · the scan
1. The Authority of the holy Scripture, dependeth not upon the Authority of any Man, but only upon the Authority of God,a who hath delivered and revealed his Mind therein unto us, and containeth all things necessary for Salvation;b so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any Man, that it should be believed as an Article of the Christian Faith, or be thought requisite to Salvation.c Neither ought we (since we have the Scriptures delivered to us now) to depend upon, hearken to, or regard the pretended immediate Inspirations, Dreams, or Prophetical Predictions, by or from any Person whatsoever, lest we be deluded by them.d Nor yet do we believe that the Works of Creation, nor the Law written in the Heart, (viz.) Natural Religion (as some call it), or the Light within Man, as such, is sufficient to inform Man of Christ the Mediator, or of the way to Salvation, or Eternal Life by him;e but the holy Scriptures are necessary to instruct all Men into the way of Salvation, and eternal Life. And we do believe, that all People ought to have them in their Mother Tongue,f and diligently, and constantly to read them in their particular Places and Families, for their Edification, and Comfort. And endeavour to frame their Lives, according to the direction of God’s Word, both in Faith and Practice, the holy Scriptures being of no private Interpretation, but ought to be interpreted according to the Analogie of Faith, and is the best Interpreter of it self;g and is sole Judge in Controversie.h And no Decrees of Popes, or Councils, or Writings of any Person whatsoever, are of equal Authority with the sacred Scriptures. And by the holy Scriptures we understand, the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, as they are now translated into our English Mother-Tongue, of which there hath never been any doubt of their Verity, and Authority, in the Protestant Churches of Christ to this Day.
Proofs
Each links to the Scripture index: what else cites the passage.
- a2 Peter 1:19–21; 2 Timothy 3:15–17
- bJohn 20:30–31; 21:25
- cMatthew 22:29; John 5:39, 46–47; 10:35; 17:12; Proverbs 30:5–6; Joshua 1:7; Revelation 22:18; Deuteronomy 12:32
- dIsaiah 8:20; 2 Peter 1:19; 2 John 7–10; Matthew 24:23–26; 2 Thessalonians 2:7, 10–12, 14–15
- e1 Corinthians 1:20–24; 2:6–9, 13–14; Romans 15:4–5; 16:25–26; 1:16–18; Galatians 5:22; Romans 11:31–32; 10:13–21
- f1 Corinthians 14:4, 9–11, 19; Colossians 3:16
- g2 Peter 1:20–21; Acts 15:15–16
- hMatthew 22:29–30; Acts 17:10–13; 18:28
Cite this
Orthodox Creed (1679) 37.1, symbolics.dev/orthodox1679/37.1
Permalink: https://symbolics.dev/orthodox1679/37.1
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