err in delivering to others what they had received from our Saviour, he promised them his Holy John 16. Spirit to guide them into all Truth; and that 13, 14, the Holy Ghoft fhould bring all thofe Things be had taught them to their Remembrance.

a6.

12.

10.

And Acts 2. 4. accordingly the Holy Ghost did defcend upon the Apostles in miraculous Gifts and Graces upon the Day of Pentecoft. St. Peter affirms of 1 Pet. 1. them all in general, that they preached the Gofpel by the Holy Ghoft fent down from Heaven. St. Paul is pofitive, that the great Things 1 Cor. 2. belonging to the Gofpel, God revealed to them by the Spirit. And declares moreover, that Ephef. 3. God had made known this Revelation, not only to him, but to the Apostles and Prophets, by the Spirit. Now, that the Books of Scripture were written by thofe Perfons whofe Names they bear, and that they were received by the Church as infpired Writings in the Age wherein they were written, we have the general and uncontrouled Teftimony of all Ages tranfmitted down to us, which is the utmost Proof a Thing of that Nature is capable of. And farther, to evidence that they who wrote those Books were faithful Hiftorians, and unqueftionable Witneffes, they reported the Things they had feen and heard, and gave the utmost Proof Men could do of their Integrity, in laying down their Lives in the Confirmation of the Truth of what they related. And, to fhew that they were no Imposters, they wrought fuch Miracles as were Teftimonies from Heaven, that they were divine Persons, and that what they faid was to be credited. As to the Old Teftament, the Authors of the New atteft the Divinity of it; particularly St. Paul, who

affures

affures us, that all Scripture is given by Infpira- 2 Tim. 3. tion, the Books of the Old Testament being called 16.

fo by way of Eminency.

Q. Wherein confifts the Perfection and Perspicuity of the Holy Scriptures?

A. In that whatever is neceffary for us to know and believe, to hope for and practise in order to Salvation, is fully contained in those holy Volumes. And that thofe neceffary Things are there treated with fo much Plainnefs and Clearnefs, as to be fufficiently understood by those who make a right Ufe of their Reason, and bring a fit Temper and Difpofition of Mind for the Understanding of them.

Q. With what Preparation of Mind ought we to read the Scriptures, who acknowledge the divine Authority of them?

A. With that Refpect and Reverence which is due to the Oracles of God; with Humility and Modefty, from a Senfe of our own Weaknefs and God's Perfection; and with earneft Prayer for the divine Affiftance. with Minds free from Prepoffeffion and Prejudice, from Vanity and Confidence in our own Abilities; and with an boneft and pious Difpofition of Soul; for he that doth God's Will, fhall know of the Doctrine whether John 7. it be of God.

Q. How may we make the Reading of the holy Scriptures mest beneficial to us?

A. By diligently confidering the Design of the Author of each Book of Scripture; and what is the Subject he chiefly handles, with the Occafion of his Writing. By explaining difficult Places by thofe that are more clear; diftinguishing between literal and figurative Expreffions; and never having Recourfe to Meta

Q3

phors

17.

For Stedfaftness in

phors and Figures, but when fomewhat abfurd
refults from their being taken in a proper and
literal Senfe. By confining ourselves to the na-
tural Signification of Words, the ufual Forms
of Speech, and the Phrafeology of Scripture.
By acquainting ourselves with the common
Ufages and Customs of thofe Times in which they
were writ, to which many Expreffions allude.
Not to make either Side of the Question in dis-
pute, the Reafon of our Interpretation, for this
is to make it a Rule of interpreting Scripture,
not a Question to be decided by it. And again,
by applying general Rules to particular Cafes;
it being impoffible Scripture fhould compre-
hend all special Cafes, which are infinite: And
where there is any Difficulty, nothing adds
greater Light than the confulting those antient
and faithful Witneffes, who learnt the true
Senfe of Scripture from the Authors themselves,
Without fome fuch Method, no Author can be
well understood; and to this Purpose we have
many Helps in our English Tongue,

The PRAYERS.

I.

Almighty God, who haft inftructed thy holy Church with the heavenly Doctrine Religion of thy Evangelift St. Mark; give us Grace, that being not like Children who are carried away with every Blaft of vain Doctrine, we may be established in the Truth of thy holy Gofpel, through Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen.

II.

Accept ance of

Lord, I befeech thee mercifully to receive For the the Prayers of thy People which call thee; and grant that I may both perceive and Prayer. know what Things I ought to do, and alfo may have Grace and Power faithfully to fulfil the fame, through Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen.

III.

Almighty and everlafting God, who makest For an

Affistance

me both to will and to do thofe Things ofthe Ho that be good and acceptable unto thy divine ly Spiri Majefty; let thy fatherly Hand, I beseech thee, be over me; let thy Holy Spirit be ever with me; and fo lead me into the Knowledge and Obedience of thy Word, that in the End I may obtain everlasting Life, through the Mo rits of Jefus Chrift my Saviour. Amen.

A

IV.

Lmighty God, who haft not abandoned For a right us to the dim Light of our own Reafon Ufe of the to conduct us to Happiness; but, when Man- Scriptures kind had miferably mistook the Object of their Worship, and the right Manner of performing it, wert graciously pleased to reveal to us in the holy Scriptures whatever is neceffary for us to believe and practife in order to our eternal Salvation; grant that I may with Care and Diligence apply myself to the Reading of thofe facred Volumes; and do thou open my Eyes, that I may fee the wondrous Things of thy Law. Let me perufe them with that Reverence and Refpect which is due to thy gracious

Q 4

gracious Manifeftations; with an entire Submiffion of my Understanding to thy divine Authority, and with a fincere and ftedfaft Refolution of Mind, to govern my Life by the Maxims of thy Holy Gofpel, and to obey and fubmit to thy bleffed Will in every Thing. Let thy precious Promifes quicken my Obedience, and make me fruitful and abundant in the Work of the Lord. Let thy dreadful Threatenings fright me from my Sins, and make me speedily depart from all Iniquity: And thou, who workeft in me to will and to do of thy good Pleafure, teach me to obey all thy Commandments, to believe all thy Revelations, and make me Partaker of all thy gracious Promifes, through Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen.

John 1-44

CHA P. XIX.

St. Philip and St. James the
Lefs, May 1.

W

HAT Feftival doth the Church this Day celebrate?

A. That of the two Apofties, St. Philip and St. James.

Q. Where was St. Philip born?

A. At Bethfcida in Galilee, a Town near the Sea of Tiberias. The Natives of this Place paffed under a very reproachful Character, as a People more rude and unpolish'd than any other in the Territories of Paieftine.

Q. I by did our Saviour due is Difciples,

the