Page:A Beacon to the Society of Friends.djvu/54

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AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE.
SER. II.
by his Son.—Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by Angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward: how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" Heb. i. 1, 2; ii. 1-4.

"Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand." Matt. vii. 24, 26.

"If any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not:—He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." John, xii. 47, 48.

In the following passages, as well as in some of the preceding, observe particularly what Christ and the Spirit teach, as our incumbent duty, with regard to the Scriptures, and also what is the efficacy of the scriptures through faith, as well as their authority.

"Search the Scriptures,—they are they which testify of me." John, v. 39.

"Jesus said,—Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures." Matt. xxii. 29.

"They have Moses and

the prophets, let them hear them.—If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." Luke, xvi. 29.[1]

  1. Does our Lord refer them to the inward light?