Paragraphs 1.4–1.5

These sections teach us, that the authority of the Scripture depends not upon any man or Church, but wholly upon God, the author thereof, and then points out the evidences that the Scripture is the Word of God. The first of these heads is stated in opposition to the Papists, who maintain that the authority of the Scriptures is derived from the Church. The absurdity of this idea is easily evinced. The true Church of Christ is founded on the Scriptures, and therefore the authority of the Scriptures cannot depend on the Church.—Eph. ii. 20.

That the Holy Scripture is the Word of God, is proved both by external and internal evidences. 1. The external evidences are such as these:—The character of the sacred penmen—the miracles wrought by them, for the declared purpose of attesting their divine mission and inspiration—the exact accomplishment of numerous prophecies recorded in Scripture—the antiquity of the Scriptures, taken in connection with their wonderful preservation to this day—the effects produced by the Scriptures, effects which could never have been accomplished by the lessons of philosophy, nor the force of human laws—and the influence which the Scriptures have had in civilizing the most barbarous nations, and in meliorating the condition of society at large, wherever the knowledge of them has been disseminated. 2. The internal evidences are such as these:—The incomparable sublimity of the doctrines contained in the Scriptures, and their revealing many truths which could not be discovered by nature or reason—the extent and purity of their precepts—the representation which they give of the character and moral administration of God—the exact adaptation of the revelation they contain to the state and wants of man—the entire harmony of their several parts, though written by different persons, and in different ages—the majesty of their style—and the scope and tendency of the whole to advance the glory of God, and secure the salvation of men. Such arguments as these may produce a rational conviction that the Scriptures are the Word of God; but it is only the Holy Spirit’s effectual application of them to the heart, in their self-evidencing light and power, that can produce a cordial and saving persuasion of it. “He that believeth hath the witness in himself.” Though many who believe are not qualified to demonstrate the inspiration of the Scriptures by rational arguments, yet, by the experience they have of their power and efficacy on their own hearts, they are infallibly assured that they are the Word of God; and they can no more be convinced, by the reasonings and objections of infidels, that the Scriptures are the production of men, than they can be persuaded that men created the sun, whose light they behold, and by whose beams they are cheered.