Thus speaks Augustine, a doctor of the church, of Cyprian, another doctor of the church. Cyprian was a bishop, a learned father, a holy man, and a martyr of Christ; yet, saith Augustine, his word is not the gospel, his word is not the word of God; there is no wrong done to him, though his writings carry not like credit, as the Holy Scriptures.

I could show many like speeches of the ancient fathers, wherein they reverence the Holy Scriptures, as that to which only they give consent without gainsaying; which can neither deceive, nor be deceived. In this sort did Origen, and Augustine, and other doctors of the church speak of themselves, and of theirs, and the writings of others that we should so read them, and credit them, as they agreed with the word of God. This kind of writing is to be read, not with a necessity of believing them, but with a liberty to judge of them.

St. Paul saith, Gal. i. Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach unto you otherwise than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Out of which place Augustine speaks thus, "Whether it be of Christ, or of his church, or of any thing else whatsoever, pertaining either to our life, or to our faith, I will not say if I myself, but, if an angel from heaven shall teach us otherwise than ye have received in the books of the law, and in the gospels, hold him accursed."

Now to conclude this matter, the same father saith, "The judges, or doctors of the church, as men, are often deceived." They are learned, they have pre-eminence in the 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, Matt. iii. This is my well 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 the ancient fathers.

St. Paul, speaking of the word of God, saith, 2 Tim. iii. The whole SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable to teach, to improve, to correct, and to instruct in righteousness. To teach the truth, to reprove falsehood, to correct all vice, to instruct in all virtue. Again, Rom. i. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth.

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 Scriptures, 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 show vain in thine eyes, yet the Lord hath not set them down in vain. "The words of the Lord are pure words, as the silver tried in a furnace of earth, fined seven times," Psal. xii. There is no sentence, 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, Heb. x. The leprosy teaches 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 tittle 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 telleth thee, Prov. vii. 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 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 doeth evil. Rom. xiii.

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 show my people their transgressions, Isa. xlviii. The apostle saith unto thee, 2 Tim. iv. Preach the word, be instant in season and out of season; watch in all things; do the work of an evangelist; make thy ministry fully known. Thou shalt give an 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 hast sons, instruct them. 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, 1 Sam. ii.

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 earth, Eph. vi. And again, Children, obey your parents in all things, for it is well pleasing unto the Lord, Col. iii. The wise man warns thee: The eye that mocketh his father and despiseth the instruction of his mother, let the ravens of the valley pluck it out, and the young eagles eat it, Prov. xxx.

Hath God blessed thee in wealth? art thou rich? Read the Scriptures; they will teach thee: Be not high minded, and trust not in uncertain riches, but in the living God, which giveth us abundantly all things to enjoy, 1 Tim. vi. Again, Trust not in oppression and robbery; be not vain; if riches increase, set not your heart thereon. Thou shalt depart and leave them behind thee: they shall forsake thee.

Thou shalt die, thou knowest not how soon. Solomon showeth thee, Riches avail not in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivereth from death, Prov. xi.

Art thou poor, and sufferest scarcity in this world? Read the Scriptures; they will teach thee. Say with Job, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return again. Learn of Solomon, Better is little with righteousness, than great revenues without equity. And-again, Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that perverteth his ways, though he be rich, Prov, xvi. and xxviii. St. Paul saith, Godliness is great gain, if a man be content with that he hath; for we brought nothing into the world, and it is certain that we carry nothing out, 1 Tim. vi. And again, Let him that is poor, labour, and work with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Art thou a merchant? usest thou to buy and sell? Read the Scriptures; they will teach thee: This is the will of God, that no man oppress or defraud his brother in any matter, 1 Thess. iv. Thou shalt learn, that divers weights and divers measures are abomination unto the Lord, and deceitful balances are not good, Prov. xx.

Art thou an usurer? Thy case is hard, yet hear the Scriptures; they will teach thee: God commands thee thus, If thou lend money to my people, to the poor with thee, thou shalt not be as an usurer unto him; ye shall not oppress him with usury, Exod. xxii. Again, If thy brother be impoverished, and fallen in decay with thee, thou shalt relieve him; thou shalt take no usury of him nor vantage; thou shalt not lend him thy victuals for increase, but thou shalt fear thy God, that thy brother may live with thee, Levit. xxv. And, Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye unto them, Matt. vii. And, He that giveth his money unto usury, shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven, Psal. xv.

Art thou a fornicator, and livest in adultery? Read the Scriptures; they will teach thee: He that committeth fornication, saith St. Paul, 1 Cor. vi. sinneth against his own body. Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost? Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a harlot ? God forbid. As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation, saith St. Peter, 1 Pet. i. The

reason is set down by St. Paul, 1 Thess. iv. For this is the will of God, even your holiness, and that you should abstain from fornication, that you may be holy both in body and in spirit. And, Heb. xiii. Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. They shall have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Art thou a servant? Read the Scriptures; they will teach thee: Servants, be obedient unto them that are your masters, according to the flesh, in all things, not with eye-service as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men, Col. iii. Again, Please your masters, not answering again; be no pickers, but show all good faithfulness, that ye may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things, Tit. ii.

Art thou proud? Read the Scriptures; they will teach thee: Be not high-minded, but fear, Rom. xi. What hast thou, that thou hast not received? If thou hast received it, why rejoicest thou as though thou hadst not received it? 1 Cor. iv. And, Learn of me, that I am meek and humble in heart, Matt. xi. And, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble, James iv. 6.

Art thou in adversity? Read the Scriptures: Great are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver him out of them all, Psal. xxxiv. And, Psal. xci. He shall call upon me, and I will hear him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and glorify him. And St. Peter telleth thee, 1 Pet. iii. The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers. God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able, but will give the issue with the temptation, that ye may be able to bear it., The Lord is near unto all them that call upon him, yea, to all that call upon him in truth, Psal. cxlv.

Art thou a sinner? hast thou offended God? Read the Scriptures; they will teach thee: Hate the evil, and love the good, Amos v. And again, Fly from evil, and do good, and dwell for ever, Psal. xxxvii. Rise up, and go to thy father, and say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and against thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son, Luke xv.

Dost thou despair of the mercy of God? Read the Scriptures; they will teach thee: Christ telleth thee, Matt. ix. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Again, chap. xi. Come unto me all ye that are weary and