Churches of Holland assert the same.Thus also in the 5th Article of the Confession of Faith, of the Churches of Holland, confirmed by the Synod of Dort. “We receive these Books only for holy and canonical,—not so much because the Church receives and approves them, as because the Spirit of God doth witness in our Hearts that they are of God.”
Westminster Confession the same.And lastly, The Divines, so called, at Westminster, who began to be afraid of, and guard against the Testimony of the Spirit, because they perceived a Dispensation beyond that which they were under beginning to dawn, and to eclipse them; yet could they not get by this, though they have laid it down neither so clearly, distinctly, nor honestly as they that went before. It is in these Words, Chap. 1. Sect. 5. “Nevertheless our full Persuasion and Assurance of the Infallible Truth thereof, is from the inward Work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with the Word in our Hearts.”
By all which it appeareth how necessary it is to seek the Certainty of the Scriptures from the Spirit, and no where else. The infinite Janglings and endless Contests of those that seek their Authority elsewhere, do witness to the Truth hereof.
Apocrypha.[46]For the Ancients themselves, even of the first Centuries, were not agreed among themselves concerning them; while some of them rejected Books which we approve, and others of them approved those which some of us reject. It is not unknown to such as are in the least acquainted with Antiquity, what great Contests are concerning the Second Epistle of Peter, that of James, the Second and Third of John, and the Revelations, which many, even very ancient, deny to have been written by the beloved Disciple and Brother of James, but by another of that Name. What should then become of Christians, if they had not received that Spirit, and those spiritual Senses, by which they know how to discern the True from the False? It is the Privilege of Christ’s Sheep indeed that they hear his Voice, and refuse that of a Stranger; which Privilege being taken away, we are left a Prey to all Manner of Wolves.
[46]Conc. Laod. Can. 58. in Cod. Ec. 163. Conc. Laod. held in the Year 364. excluded from the Canon Eccl. the Wisdom of Solomon, Judith, Tobias, the Maccabees, which the Council of Carthage held in the Year 399. received.
§. II.
That whereof the Certainty and Authority depends upon another, and which is received as Truth because of its proceeding from another, is not to be accounted the principal Ground and Origin of all Truth and Knowledge:
But the Scriptures Authority and Certainty depend upon the Spirit by which they were dictated; and the Reason why they were received as Truth is, because they proceeded from the Spirit:
Therefore they are not the principal Ground of Truth.