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Scripture or God's Word； and I have made no assertions which I could not
prove by most plain argument to be true。 （9） I can； therefore； rest assured
that I have advanced nothing which is impious or even savours of impiety。
（10） from what I have said； assume a licence to sin； and without any
reason； at I confess that some profane men； to whom religion is a burden；
may； the simple dictates of their lusts conclude that Scripture is
everywhere faulty and falsified； and that therefore its authority is null； but
such men are beyond the reach of help； for nothing； as the pro verb has it；
can be said so rightly that it cannot be twisted into wrong。 （11） Those who
wish to give rein to their lusts are at no loss for an excuse； nor were those
men of old who possessed the original Scriptures； the ark of the covenant；
nay； the prophets and apostles in person among them； any better than the
people of to…day。 （12） Human nature； Jew as well as Gentile； has always
been the same； and in every age virtue has been exceedingly rare。
（13） Nevertheless； to remove every scruple； I will here show in what
sense the Bible or any inanimate thing should be called sacred and Divine；
also wherein the law of God consists； and how it cannot be contained in a
certain number of books； and； lastly； I will show that Scripture； in so far as
it teaches what is necessary for obedience and salvation； cannot have been
corrupted。 （14） From these considerations everyone will be able to judge
that I have neither said anything against the Word of God nor given any
foothold to impiety。
（15） A thing is called sacred and Divine when it is designed for
promoting piety； and continues sacred so long as it is religiously used： if
the users cease to be pious； the thing ceases to be sacred： if it be turned to
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base uses； that which was formerly sacred becomes unclean and profane。
（16） For instance； a certain spot was named by the patriarch Jacob the
house of God； because he worshipped God there revealed to him： by the
prophets the same spot was called the house of iniquity （see Amos v：5； and
Hosea x：5）； because the Israelites were wont； at the instigation of
Jeroboam； to sacrifice there to idols。 （17） Another example puts the matter
in the plainest light。 （18） Words gain their meaning solely from their usage；
and if they are arranged according to their accepted signification so as to
move those who read them to devotion； they will become sacred； and the
book so written will be sacred also。 （19） But if their usage afterwards dies
out so that the words have no meaning； or the book becomes utterly
neglected； whether from unworthy motives； or because it is no longer
needed； then the words and the book will lose both their use and their
sanctity： lastly； if these same words be otherwise arranged； or if their
customary meaning becomes perverted into its opposite； then both the
words and the book containing them become； instead of sacred； impure
and profane。
（20） From this it follows that nothing is in itself absolutely sacred； or
profane； and unclean； apart from the mind； but only relatively thereto。 （21）
Thus much is clear from many passages in the Bible。 （22） Jeremiah （to
select one case out of many） says （chap。 vii：4）； that the Jews of his time
were wrong in calling Solomon's Temple； the Temple of God； for； as he
goes on to say in the same chapter； God's name would only be given to the
Temple so long as it was frequented by men who worshipped Him； and
defended justice； but that； if it became the resort of murderers； thieves；
idolaters； and other wicked persons； it would be turned into a den of
malefactors。
（23） Scripture； curiously enough； nowhere tells us what became of the
Ark of the Covenant； though there is no doubt that it was destroyed； or
burnt together with the Temple； yet there was nothing which the Hebrews
considered more sacred； or held in greater reverence。 （24） Thus Scripture
is sacred； and its words Divine so long as it stirs mankind to devotion
towards God： but if it be utterly neglected； as it formerly was by the Jews；
it becomes nothing but paper and ink； and is left to be desecrated or
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corrupted： still； though Scripture be thus corrupted or destroyed； we must
not say that the Word of God has suffered in like manner； else we shall be
like the Jews； who said that the Temple which would then be the Temple
of God had perished in the flames。 （25） Jeremiah tells us this in respect to
the law； for he thus chides the ungodly of his time； 〃Wherefore； say you
we are masters； and the law of the Lord is with us？ （26） Surely it has been
given in vain； it is in vain that the pen of the scribes 〃 （has been made） …
that is； you say falsely that the Scripture is in your power； and that you
possess the law of God； for ye have made it of none effect。
（27） So also； when Moses broke the first tables of the law； he did not
by any means cast the Word of God from his hands in anger and shatter it …
such an action would be inconceivable； either of Moses or of God's Word …
he only broke the tables of stone； which； though they had before been holy
from containing the covenant wherewith the Jews had bound themselves
in obedience to God； had entirely lost their sanctity when the covenant had
been violated by the worship of the calf； and were； therefore； as liable to
perish as the ark of the covenant。 （28） It is thus scarcely to be wondered at；
that the original documents of Moses are no longer extant； nor that the
books we possess met with the fate we have described； when we consider
that the true original of the Divine covenant； the most sacred object of all；
has totally perished。
（29） Let them cease； therefore； who accuse us of impiety； inasmuch as
we have said nothing against the Word of God； neither have we corrupted
it； but let them keep their anger； if they would wreak it justly； for the
ancients whose malice desecrated the Ark； the Temple； and the Law of
God； and all that was held sacred； subjecting them to corruption。 （30）
Furthermore； if； according to the saying of the Apostle in 2 Cor。 iii：3； they
possessed 〃the Epistle of Christ； written not with ink； but with the Spirit of
the living God； not in tables of stone； but in the fleshy tables of the heart；〃
let them cease to worship the letter； and be so anxious concerning it。
（31） I think I have now sufficiently shown in what respect Scripture
should be accounted sacred and Divine； we may now see what should
rightly be understood by the expression； the Word of the Lord； debar （the
Hebrew original） signifies word； speech； command； and thing。 （32） The
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causes for which a thing is in Hebrew said to be of God； or is referred to
Him； have been already detailed in Chap。 I。； and we can therefrom easily
gather what meaning Scripture attaches to the phrases； the word； the
speech； the command； or the thing of God。 （33） I