Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A51743
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Some considerations towards peace and quietness in religion. In answer to the question, whether the multitude are fit readers of Holy Scripture.
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Manby, William.
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1680
(1680)
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Wing M389; ESTC R31159
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11,498
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26
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SOME CONSIDERATIONS TOWARDS PEACE and QUIETNESS IN RELIGION In Answer to the Question Whether the Multitude are fit Readers of HOLY SCRIPTURE Nolite Sanctum dare Canibus nec projiciatis margaritas vestras ante Porcos Matth. 7.6 Printed 1680. is the same betwixt the Scripture and the unstable People We can't suppose them viz. Women Tradesmen c. able to understand the Circumstances of time and place when and where it was written nor the coherence of things nor the Customes and Rites of the several Nations to which it alludes but that they will contrive and apply it as though it intended the very State and Condition of these Islands Nothing has been more experienc'd than this And here the Reader will please to observe I am not going about to argue this matter from the abuse of Scripture but from the popular unfitness and incapacity to meddle with it The argument I confess is not good from the ill use of a thing to take away the use but I hope the argument is good Such a man is of a weak digestion Therefore not to be advis'd to the use of strong meats or he is of a temper apt to quarrel Therefore let him abstain from much Wine That this may appear let it be remembred the Ordinary means to a right understanding of the Scriptures are these Learning study rational inference collation of places consulting the Original and Expositions of the primitive Fathers who liv'd nearest the Age of the Apostles together with an humble temper and constant prayer for Gods blessing upon all Consider also how naturally they mistake these following Texts The hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth In vain do ye worship me teaching for doctrines the commandments of men Ye are bought with a price be not ye the servants of men Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free Why as though living in the world are ye subject to Ordinances The Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them but it shall not be so among you O father thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent but hast revealed them unto Babes Illuminated by these and other Texts the grave Shop-keeper can see Popery in the Church and Tyranny in the State and in vain shall you or I tell him that he is mistaken in his interpretation of them I would only say this That learning and modesty are necessary to the understanding of the Bible the People generally want both therefore no competent Readers What will the grave Inn-keeper say to this 'T is true I am not learned my self but our Minister Mr. T. is a very precious man and a Gospel Preacher and able to teach us the right sence of the aforesaid Texts Very good Though thou beest not learned nor so and so qualified thy self thy Minister is this seems to resolve all into the Minister and to confess unawares That not the unlearned People but the Church or Pastors thereof are fit to give the sence of Gods Word Thus perhaps unawares art thou confessing that Popery about which those of thy Party have so long confounded the peace of Christendom of resting in the Church or Pastors thereof for the sence of Gods Word Which being duly considered it seems to me a little incongruous if not absurd to say That every Weaver Brewer Taylor hath notwithstanding his want of the aforesaid requisits to wit learning and humility a judgement of discretion to assent or dissent from the sence given by the Church To allow him such a judgement and yet restrain him the external liberty thereof or censure him for it seems to him very hard and unjust My dulness I confess apprehends not the difference betwixt this Judgement of discretion and that which some call the private Spirit What am I allowed a judgement of discretion will the honest Taylor say and must I be debarr'd the liberty thereof must I pin my faith on the sleeve of the Church No good Mr. Parson for all your carnal Sophistry my Judgement obliges me to cut out my own Religion and set it up for a Fashion To this the ingenious and worthy Dr. Tillotson answers in his late Sermon on 1 John 4.1 pag. 39. That all Persons having Capacities for it are to read the Scriptures and judge for themselves in matters of Religion but with modesty and humility with great submission to their spiritual Guides Having Capacities for it which excludes all immodest and unlearned People from judging for themselves with submission to their spiritual Guides makes the Taylors judgement of discretion an impertinent thing It is to be considered saith the Doctor in the aforesaid Sermon That the proper remedy in this case is not to deprive men of this priviledge of judging for themselves in matters of Religion but to use the best means to prevent the abuse of it And this means is we are to caution them not to assume to themselves the Authority of Judges instead of demeaning themselves with the submission of Learners 'T is an excellent caution were the multitude capable to receive it Well but you will say it 's true the Multitude may be somewhat incapable to judge so them elves as to doubtful and disputable matters But as to all matters necessary to salvation the Scriptures are plain and evident to every Taylors understanding Perhaps not Where the obscurity dwells of divers Articles necessary to salvation whether in the Scriptures or the Peoples understandings I shall not undertake to determine but this I hope will be granted me that the doctrine of the Trinity the Article of the Holy Catholick Church Infants Baptism obedience to Authority Civil and Ecclesiastical are matters necessary to salvation and yet how many thousands good serious Tradesmen do attentively read the English Bible and miss the Orthodox belief of these things So that to tell us of such a brightness in the Scriptures as to all necessary matters is to inform us as Countrey People do Travellers enquiring their way to such a Town that we cann't go astray when nothing is more easie I know not but if the Scriptures were so extreamly perspicuous methinks the Controversies between us and the Papists and Socinians were soon at an end what should hinder it the blindness of their understandings or perverseness of their wills alas object this to a Presbyterian or Papist Independent or Socinian they will exceedingly pity your blindness Having premis'd these things let 's proceed to examine what 's usually objected to the contrary And first are we not commanded to search the Scriptures John 5.39 Indeed our English Bible renders the word Search in the imperative mood whereas it doth not appear in the Original whether it be indicative or imperative But supposing it to have been spoken imperatively Go search the Scriptures 't is a mistake to think they were the Vulgar and Unlearned Jews our blessed Saviour was then discoursing with whose