Again, 1 have written to him

Again, I have written to him.

To those that were the people of God, though the Word concerns all men, yet it is written to the Church in a more especial manner. As you find in the Revelations all the Epistles were written to the Churches, and indeed all the Word of God is in a more peculiar manner written to the Church, there are some things concerning all mankind, but that which God aims at in a more especial manner it is to the Church, first to the Church of the Jews, they had that great privilege that the oracles of God were committed to them in (Romans 3:2). When the Apostle had taken them off from resting in many of their outward privileges, he brings an objection: But then may some say, What advantage has the Jew? He answers, much every way, chiefly, because to them were committed the oracles of God: in this thing they had much advantage of all people in the world, that to them were committed the oracles of God, God gave Jacob his Law, it was the inheritance of his people; it is written to them, to them is committed the oracles of God: and this is a great honor which God puts upon his Saints, God makes his Church to be the keeper of his records, the Court of Rolls as it were, the Church is as it were the Court of Rolls, and the great records of Heaven, God commits to his Church, and therefore they should look to it that it be kept faithfully, that there be no corrupting it, for then they do falsify their trust. She has the keeping of Scripture but gives no authority to Scripture. In (John 5:47) says Christ there, "If you believe not Moses' writings, how can you believe my words?" Mark, Christ would have the authority of his words much to be strengthened by the writings that were before in Scripture, "If you believe not his writings, how can you believe my words?" But now the Papists will say, "If you believe not our words, how can you believe their writings?" — quite the other way, they will take upon them more than Christ. Christ says, "If you believe not his writings, how can you believe my words?" Say they, "If you believe not our words, how can you believe their writings?" For they take the authority of the writing of Scripture to depend upon their words. It is written to the Church, and committed to the Church, but the authority comes not from the Church. It follows.