First, If he would say, Because it contradicts not the Rest, (besides that there is no Mention of it in any of the Rest) perhaps these Men think it doth contradict Paul in Relation to Faith and Works. But, if that should be granted, it would as well follow, that every Writer that contradicts not the Scripture, should be put into the Canon; and by this Means these Men fall into a greater Absurdity than they fix upon us: For thus they would equal every one the Writings of their own Sect with the Scriptures; for I suppose they judge their own Confession of Faith doth not contradict the Scriptures: Will it therefore follow that it should be bound up with the Bible? And yet it seems impossible, according to their Principles, to bring any better Argument to prove the Epistle of James to be Authentick. Whether the Epistle of James be authentick, and how to know it?There is then this unavoidable Necessity to say, We know it by the same Spirit from which it was written; or otherwise to step back to Rome, and say, We know by Tradition that the Church hath declared it to be Canonical; and the Church is Infallible. Let them find a Mean, if they can. So that out of this Objection we shall draw an unanswerable Argument ad Hominem, to our Purpose.
That which cannot assure me concerning an Article of Faith necessary to be believed, is not the primary, adequate, only Rule of Faith, &c.
Therefore, &c.
I prove the Assumption thus:
That which cannot assure me concerning the Canon of the Scripture, to wit, that such Books are only to be admitted, and the Apocrypha excluded, cannot assure me of this:
Therefore, &c.
Obj. 3.And Lastly, As to these Words, Rev. xxii. 18. That if any Man shall add unto these Things, God shall add unto him the Plagues that are written in this Book; Answ.I desire they will shew me how it relates to any Thing else than to that particular Prophecy. It saith not, Now the Canon of the Scripture is filled up, no Man is to write more from the Spirit; yea, do not all confess that there have been Prophecies and true Prophets since? The Papists deny it not. And do not the Protestants affirm, that John Hus prophesied of the Reformation? Was he therefore cursed? Or did he therein Evil? I could give many other Examples, confessed by themselves. What it means to add to the Scriptures.But, moreover, the same was in Effect commanded long before, Prov. xxx. 6. Add thou not unto his Words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a Liar: Yet how many Books of the Prophets were written after? And the same was said by Moses, Deut. iv. 2. Ye shall not add unto the Word which I command you; neither shall ye diminish aught from it. So that, though we should extend that of the Revelation beyond the particular Prophecy of that Book, it cannot be understood but of a new Gospel, or new Doctrines, or of restraining Man’s Spirit, that he mix not his Human Words with the Divine; and not of a new Revelation of the Old, as we have said before.