Church: they are judges; they have the gifts of wisdom and understanding; yet they are often deceived. They are our fathers, but not fathers unto God: they are stars, fair, and beautiful, and bright, yet they are not the sun: they bear witness of the light, they are not the light. Christ is the Sun of righteousness, Christ is the light, which lighteneth every man that cometh into this world. His word is the word of truth. He is the Day-spring which hath visited us from on high: He came down from the bosom of His Father: He shall guide our feet into the way of peace. Of Him God the Father spake, "This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased; hear Him." He is the Lamb without spot, out of His mouth goeth a two-edged sword. This is He in Whom all the ends of the world shall be blessed; hear Him, give heed to His saying, embrace His Gospel, believe His word. Thus much touching the credit and authority which is to be given to the writings of ancient Fathers.

St. Paul, speaking of the word of God, saith, "The whole Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable to teach, to improve,

Matt. iii. 17.

F

to correct, and to instruct in righteousness"." To teach the truth, to improve falsehood, to correct all vice, to instruct in all virtue. Again; "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." St. Basil saith, "The Scripture of God is like an apothecary's shop, full of medicines of sundry sorts; that every man may there choose a convenient medicine for his disease"." There are salves and ointments to cure all maladies. Whosoever cannot be cured by the word of God, his disease is grown desperate, and past cure.

Many think the Apostle's speech is hardly true of the whole Scripture, that all and every part of the Scripture is profitable. Much is spoken of genealogies, and pedigrees, of lepers, of sacrificing goats and oxen, &c. these seem to have little profit in them, but to be vain and idle. If they shew vain in thine eyes, yet hath not the Lord set them down in vain. "The words of the Lord are pure words, as the silver tried in a furnace of earth

no clause, no word, no syllable, no letter, but it is written for thy instruction; there is not one jot, but it is sealed and signed with the blood of the Lamb. Our imaginations are idle, our thoughts are vain; there is no idleness, no vanity in the word of God. Those oxen and goats which were sacrificed, teach thee to kill and sacrifice the uncleanness and filthiness of thy heart: they teach thee, that thou art guilty of death, when thy life must be redeemed by the death of some beast: they lead thee to believe the forgiveness of sins, by a more perfect sacrifice, because "it was not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins." That leprosy teacheth thee to know the uncleanness and leprosy of thy soul. Those genealogies and pedigrees lead us to the birth of our Saviour Christ. So that the whole word of God is pure and holy no word, no letter, no syllable, no point or prick thereof, but is written and preserved for thy sake.

Art thou a king? Read the Scriptures, thou shalt find who hath established thine estate, and what duty thou owest to God. God there

t Heb. x. 4.

telleth thee," By Me kings rule, and princes decree justice"." I have given thee authority; thou carriest My sword. I have put a crown upon thy head; thou art My servant, walk before Me; let thy heart be perfect in My sight.

Art thou a subject? Read the Scriptures, they will teach thee to know thy duty. There St. Paul biddeth thee," Give tribute to whom tribute, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour is due. Ye must be subject, not because of wrath only, but for conscience sake. For he beareth not the sword for nought; for he is the minister of God, to take vengeance on him that doth evil."

Art thou a minister? Read the Scriptures, they will teach thee thy duty. The prophet saith to thee," Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew My people their transgressions"."

unto thee," Preach the

The Apostle saith

word, be instant in

season and out of season: watch in all things, do the work of an evangelist, make the ministry fully known." Thou shalt give an

Prov. viii. 15. z 2 Tim. iv. 2, 5.

Rom. xiii. 4. y Isaiah lviii. 1.

account for the souls of the people, their blood shall be required at thy hands.

Art thou a father? hast thou children? Read the Scriptures, they will teach thee. "If thou have sons, instruct them"." Again: "He that teacheth his son, grieveth the enemy, and before his friends he shall rejoice of him. Give him no liberty in his youth, and wink not at his folly. Chastise thy child, and be diligent therein, lest his shame grieve thee "" Eli the prophet, "by sparing his wanton children, cast away himself and his children. They were slain, the Ark of God was taken, and old Eli fell down and brake his neck c."

Art thou a child? hast thou a father? Read the Scriptures, they will teach thee. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honour thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise, that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long on the earth"." And again: "Children, obey your parents in all things, for it is well-pleasing unto the Lord." The Wise

a Ecclus. vii. 23. e 1 Sam. iv. 18.

b Ecclus. xxx. 3, 4, 13. e Col. iii. 20.

d Ephes. vi. 1, 2, 3.