made perfect and be throughly furnished unto all good works?

31. Objection.-Romanists object that this passage refers to the Old Testament only* as that which was

* NOTE.-The text is applicable also to a large portion of the New Testament, as most of the books were written before St. Paul wrote this epistle. St. Paul's statement embraces all inspired Scripture. The terms used being Πᾶσα γραφὴ θεόπνευστος, translated in the authorized version, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God," and in the R. C. Bible, "All Scripture inspired of God." And of this the Apostle says it is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct in justice that the man of God may be perfect. furnished to every good work."1

By reference to the "HISTORICAL INDEX," appended to the Douay Bible, we find that St. Paul went to Rome about A.D. 68, and was imprisoned a second time. In the preface to 2nd Timothy it is stated that he (St. Paul) wrote this 2nd Epistle in the time of his last imprisonment at Rome, and not long before his martyrdom." The dates given in this Index when many of the books of the New Testament were written are as follows, viz. :— A.D. 42. St. Matthew wrote his Gospel.

48. St. Peter wrote his 1st Epistle (about).

St. Paul wrote 1st Thess.

52.

61. St. James wrote his Catholic Epistle about this time. 62. St. Paul wrote Phill.

In the preface to St. Luke's Gospel it is stated that he wrote it about twenty-four years after the Crucifixion, i.e., about A.D. 57. In the preface to Ephesians we read, "It was written about twentynine years after our Lord's ascension," i.e., about A.D. 62. The preface to Titus says it was written about thirty-three years after the ascension, i.e., about 66 A.D. So that by comparing the dates furnished by Romanists themselves we learn that there had been at least eighteen books of the New Testament written before St. Paul wrote his Second Epistle to Timothy.

1 Rhemish Testament.

known by Timothy in infancy, but that the Protestant rule of faith consists of both Old and New Testaments.

Answer. We say, granted, but we argue that if the Old Testament alone was able to "make wise unto salvation," then a fortiori, or how much more would the Old and New Testaments combined be able to do so?

Objection. Keenan (Roman Catholic Priest) argues thus on this passage:

This text does not say that the Scripture alone maketh wise, as to everything necessary. . St. Paul praises Timothy because he had read the Scriptures from his youth; but then Timothy was a bishop, whose duty it was, not only to read, but to expound the Scripture." Controv. Cat., p. 72.

Answer. It could as well be said with reference to Gen. i. I., "God created the heavens and the earth.” "This text does not say that God alone did so." Implying that there might be other creators. One might deny on the same principle, that Keenan could not properly be affirmed to be the author of his Catechism, because on the title page it is not said "Controversial Cat., &c., by the Rev. Stephen Keenan ALONE."

If St. Paul's reason for praising Timothy for reading the Scriptures was because he was a bishop, then he must have been a very juvenile bishop indeed; for we are told in the Roman Catholic Bible that he had known them from infancy.

32. St. Luke wrote his Gospel that Theophilus might know the certainty of those things in which he had been orally instructed.

Luke i. 1-4.—“ Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eye witnesses of the word. It seemed good to me also having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed."*

* The most eminent scholars agree that the Greek word anxons, (instructed,) refers to oral instruction. See Robinson's Lex. N. T.

Had St. Luke considered oral tradition to be a safe and sure mode of conveying Divine truth, he would not have written that Theophilus might know the certainty of those things wherein he had been orally instructed.

33. St. John says: 20th chap. v. 30-31,

"And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book, but these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

We maintain then, that if by the knowledge conveyed in the single Gospel of St. John we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, and by believing have life through his name, how much more may it be affirmed of the entire Scriptures that they are a complete rule of faith?

CHAPTER II.

OBJECTIONS TO THE PROTESTANT RULE OF FAITH.

SYNOPSIS.

1. Obj.-Christ did not write the Bible or command it to be written. (Milner and Keenan.)—Answer. The Bible was written by inspiration, which was tantamount to a command.

2. Answer (2).-The following texts cited as containing commands to write-Old Testament: Exod. xvii. 14, Psalm ci. 18, Isaiah xxx. 8, Ezek. xliii. 11, Hab. ii. 2.

3. New Testament: Rev. i. 11, 19, ii. 1, 8, 12, 18, iii. 1, 7, 14, xiv. 13, xxi. 21.

John i. 3, 4, ii. 1, 12, 13,

4. The purpose for which the Apostles wrote, v. 13, 1. Tim. iii. 14, 15, 2 Peter ii. 1, 2. Obj. The Protestant rule is not easily procured. Wiseman referred to. The objection applies to the Romish rule more strongly than to the Protestant rule.

6. Obj. The Protestant rule has not been translated into every language. (Wiseman.)-Answer. The objection applies as well to the Romish

rule.

7. Obj. Against the Protestant rule from the "end to be attained." (Wiseman.)-Answer. If this disproves the Protestant rule, it also disproves the Romish rule.

8. Wiseman's illustration from jurisprudence answered.

9. Obj. Infant Baptism not in Scripture.-Answer. Matt. xxviii. 19, 20, Bloomfield's note, Rom. vi. 3, 4, I Cor. xii. 13, Col. ii. 12, Matt. xix. 14, Acts xvi, 13, 14, 1 Cor. vii. 14.

10. Proofs for infant baptism from Romish authorities, Douay Bible, Cat. Con. Trent, Challoner.

11. Obj. Procession of the Holy Ghost.-Answer. Proved from Scripture by Cat. Con. Trent, and note in Douay Bible.

12. Obj. Change of Sabbath day. (Milner, &c.)

13. Answer (1.) No moral obligation set aside, proved by Cat. Con. Trent. 14. Answer (2). We are absolved from keeping the Jewish Sabbath, Col. ii. 16.

15. Answer (3). The examples of the Apostles shows that the day of Christ's resurrection was to be observed, John xx. 19, 26, Acts ii. 1, xx. 7, I Cor. xvi. 2.

16. Obj. Eating blood. Milner quoted, who refers to Gen. ix. 4, Levit. xvii. 11, Deut. xii. 23, Acts xv. 20.

17. Answer. Those who consider the command not binding are influenced by Scripture, and not by tradition. They refer to Acts xv. 21, Rom. xiv. 2, 3, 17, 1 Cor. viii. 8, and x. 25.

18. Obj. Washing of feet. John xiii.-Answer. Protestants do not consider that Christ's example is to be followed literally. It inculcates a lesson of mutual kindness and humility.

19. Answer (2). Protestants are not influenced by tradition.

inconsistency. The Pope's feet-washing described.

Romish

20. Obj. The Bible is susceptible of different senses.--Answer. The word of God written is no more equivocal than the word of God unwritten. If it be an argument against the Protestant rule, it is also one against the Romish rule.

21. Obj. The Bible does not tell what are true and uncorrupted copies of itself. Answer. Scripture and tradition combined do not tell us the true words of Christ, not in the Bible, and forming a part of the Romish rule.

22. Obj. The Bible does not tell us what are the canonical books; nor do they testify that they are the word of God and authentic.-Mumford cited. Answered by Baxter, &c.

1. Objection.-Christ did not write the Bible or order it to be written.

KEENAN :

66

2. If Christ intended the Bible to be man's only guide, should we not suppose that He would have written it or ordered it to be written ?"

A. "

Certainly; and yet He never did so. He never commanded His Apostles to write Bibles, but to PREACH the Gospel."*

MILNER says:—

"If Christ had intended that all mankind should learn His religion from a Book, namely, the New Testament, He Himself would have written that Book, and would have enjoined the obligation of learning to read it, as the first and fundamental principle of His religion." "It does not even appear that he gave His Apostles any command to write the Gospel."t

Answer. 1.-The Bible was written by men who were divinely inspired. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God," 2 Tim. iii. 16. In the Roman Catholic Bible, it is rendered, "All Scripture inspired of God.” Again, "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost," 2 Pet. ii. 20. In the Roman Catholic Bible, "Holy men of God spake inspired by the Holy Ghost." If then, men were divinely inspired to write the Bible, that is equal to a command. "If Christ be one with the Father, and the Holy Ghost in the essential unity of the End of Controversy, Letter viii.

Controv. Cat. p. 59.