that divine accomplishment they preacht and Christ whom they preacht was believed on in the world So that it is great reason we should believe their writings for they are the word of God If any ask How does that appear I answer By three divine Seales annexed to them and a peculiar signature or mark of divine authority which I do not find in any other book 1. The spirit of Prophesie which foretold such things as are beyond the skill of nature and art to foresee 2. The power of miracles which performed such things as are above the power of nature and art to doe 3. The resurrection of the great Preacher of the Gospel Christ Iesus after he had been dead aad buried three dayes 1. The spirit of Prophesie which foretold such things as are beyond the skill of nature and art to foresee I call the first Seale All the world hath acknowledged divinity in such praescience The Latines made known their sense of it to be such in the name by which they called it that is Divinatio and they and the Greeks both confirmed this opinion by offering sacrifice when they consulted their Oracles concerning things to come Men can fore-see what is visible in the causes and curious eyes will discern that which is hid from common sight but to foretell future contingents as we call them is a thing not to be done but by extraordinary communion with God Isaiah by this divine prerogative put the heathen Idols to a Non-plus Declare things to come that we may know you are Gods Nebuchadnezzars Magi would have been as much to seek for the true interpretation if he had told them his prophetical dream as they were for the dream it self when he had lost it which a pen-man of the holy Scripture found out and interpreted and they confessed the Truth that it was onely by the power of the immortall God Of this testimony the Scripture hath abundance of instances and though they be not so common in the New Testament there is good reason for that because then was the time of accomplishing predictions and therefore it sayes This is the acceptable time behold the Lamb of God c. To foresee now was to overlook yet this spirit also appears manifestly in the Gospel both in Christ and his Apostles Who hath not read the twenty fourth of Matthew where the whole progress of the Gospel is foretold to wit that it should be preacht to all nations by the Apostles that they should be questioned before Rulers and Judges about it that Jerusalem should be destroyed for disobedience to it and since the prophesies which concerned Christ the Messiah were concredited to the Jewes Christ did let them see the Justice of their destruction because they knew not the day of their visitation though all the marks of prophesie concerning it were visible Christ himself often holding them before their eys A deplorable sign of a ruinous state a fatall blindnesse {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Miserable wretches how can they escape destruction they neither see what is good for them though it be laid before their eyes nor give heed to those who for a long time warned them of their danger That the Apostles of Christ had this spirit also is manifest by their respective writings 2. The second seale is the power of miracles that is such things as are above the power of nature and art to do Miracles are demonstrations of the divine presence in a way extraordinary Nothing can produce an effect above the power of its causality Those things which Christ performed transcend all ordinary power A privatione ad habitum non datur regressus naturalis But he raised the dead Lazarus also was buried four days As he spake as never man spake so to make his works parallel with his words he did as never man did It was never so seen in Israel Nicodemus inferred right he did such things as no man can do unlesse God be with him meaning above ordinary concourse and therefore added rationally We know thou art a Doctor sent from God It was a double argument of the Messiah which Christ sent to Iohn by his disciples in his Symbolicall answer The blind receive their sight the lame walk the deaf hear c. i. e. such things as were not only forâ—told but miraculous It is true Mountebanks may play tricks and cunning men put cheats upon easie people so the Thessalians knowing the time of Eclipses made their ignorant neighbours believe that they pull'd downe the Moon with their verses but by which of their Devices nay by which of Hippocrates Aphorismes may one learn to cure a lame man with ones shadow or a fever with a handkerchief What is further to be said in confirmation of this proof I shall bring in by and by to discredit the mock-miracles of some heathen pretenders quoted in opposition to Christ only here I may add these two things concerning such Devices 1. That they are not onely a testimony of the worlds opinion concerning the Divinity of miracles but also a tacit confession that Christ did them As counterfeit coin speaks the use of true money If there had not been such a way of proof why did they ape it 2. That they were foretold by Christ and his Apostles and so people were not only forewarned of a danger but confirmed in the beliefe of the Truth when they saw the predictions written concerning Impostors exactly fulfilled For as the predictions and prefigurations of Christ by the Prophets made way for his reception when he came as the true Messia so the predictions and predescriptions of Antichrist written by Christ and his Apostles gave argument against them when they came accordingly to be Impostors 3. The third Seale is the Resurrection of the great Doctor of divine Truths after he had bin dead and buried three dayes And here behold the incomparable wisdome of divine Providence which brings day out of darknesse and turns the shadow of death into the morning the death of Christ a great piece of the mystery of Redemption for his blood was shed for the Remission of our sins put a doubt upon his doctrine and stagger'd his Disciples But this cloud made onely way for a more illustrious appearance of his Truth for the Resurrection took off all doubts arising from his death and his Gospel gained confirmation as a Truth doth from a clear answer to a strong objection Indeed it was to be feared that the doctrines of Christ would have lien in the dust if he had not brought it forth with his own Resurrection and therefore Saint Paul doth well say that he was strongly declared to be the Son of God by the Resurrection from the dead Indeed his murderers perswaded the souldiers with money to affirm that his Disciples stole him from the grave but how came they to steale his soule into him and to steale a power from
only such necessaries as may serve in some desperate cases that they were pen'd only for some particular persons or congregations that it is impossible but that the text of the Scripture is corrupted That the Protestants do but guiltily defend the universal sufficiency of the Scriptures c. I know not why he delights so much in that word guilty for he useth it more then once in the forementioned application unless he was an Hypocrite when he was of our Religion but I am sure he doth it not without grosse impudence For he knew well enough with what hearty courage such arguments of Truth as he thought unanswerable and all other testimonies of a good conscience the learned Protestants have discharged themselves in that point Having disparaged the Scriptures He and Rushworth in his Dialogues reprinted with Whites enlargements endeavour to lodge amongst us again as if they had never been rejected before with deserved scorn a sorry company of their beggerly Innovations great strangers to the Word of God and the Primitive Church as Transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ Invocation of Saints Veneration of Images Prayers for the dead Purgatory Indulgences and publick services in Latin nay the generality of Romish Ceremonies and that we must believe there to be necessary forsooth and that they were ever used in the Church of Christ Now this is but to revive the old trick by which they still endevour'd our revolt to their Religion viz. by making us disbelieve the perfection of the Scripture that we must for a supply receive their Traditions as that unworthy Faction of Trent sayes Pari pietatis affectu reverentia with the same holy regard which we give to the Scriptures concluding absurdly that because some silly people and others disaffected to our profession by the trouble of worldly temptations that have happened of late among us are unwarily inclined towards them upon shallow or perverse grounds therefore few or none of us understand the Truth of our own Principles or the impertinency danger of their bold additions or as if because they had no mind to remember it being to their grief that therefore we have forgot that Bishop Jewel did long since shew them that for six hundred years after Christ the Church taught not many of those things which Rome did in his time and as if Doctor Featly had not put the Jesuits to a loss to prove that for the first five hundred years there was any City or Parish in which there was any visible Assembly that taught the Articles of the Councel of Trent As if we did not know by their writings that the Fathers acknowledged the Perfection of the Scriptures that we were at last by some strange Accident grown so foolish as to take their corrupt present party for the Catholick Church or that they could make us tamely believe that we differ from the ancient primitive institution if we reject their Innovations or as if we did not understand their horrid uncharitablenesse which denies salvation to those multitudes of Christian Churches and Nations in the world that receive not their new doctrines and also as absolutely necessary though they have no testimony of antiquity and are contrary to Scripture and therefore for our selves were as much afraid of their Excommunications and sentences of damnation as we should be in danger of burning or hanging if they had the same power over us now which they cruelly executed in Queen Maries dayes But I will insist no further upon this discourse Some attempt the disgrace of the Scriptures another way making the pretence of the spirit an argument of the imperfection of holy Writ and of such I think it is no offence to affirm that they do not consider what they say What good man ever denied the necessity of the help and guidance of the divine Spirit We stand not in so much need of fire and water as of Gods Grace and Spirit but what wise man ever made this an argument of the Scriptures imperfection but such a proof as this serves the inconsiderate God helps us to understand the Scriptures therefore they are an imperfect Revelation of his wil And if the Spirit be pretended further then so i.e. to teach us other neeessaries to salvation besides the Gospel of Christ I answer that this is such a spirit as was not promised to the Primitive Church no nor the Apostles for the spirit was to lead them into all Truth but by bringing to their remembrance what Christ taught them and that was enough As Christ had received a commandment from the Father what he should say Joh. 12.49 so he gave the words to them which he had received Joh. 17. 8. all of them Joh. 15.15 all things that I heard of my Father I have made known to you So that those which pretend the assistance of the spirit for divine teaching neglect these incomparable directions do not well know what those words The assistance of the spirit do signify and so slight that which they pretend to desire For the Scriptures given by inspiration of the Holy Ghost and written by his instinct for our instruction are a great part of his assistance and are therefore most truly called by the Italian Poet La larga ploia Dello spirito sancto ch'e diffusa In sù le vecchie ' en sù le nuove coia i.e. a great shower of the holy spirit powred down through both the Testaments for the refreshment of Gods Church These few things designed to do honour to the H. Scriptures I humbly devote unto you That approbation which you have bestowed upon them already shall be to me a sufficient defence against any petty froward dislike I hope they will be more acceptable to good men and that the businesse to which they are destin'd will be more effectually promoted by your recommendation I have only further to pray that God would continue your prosperity and this I do not referring only to your particular capacity though that well deserveth my best wishes but also to your publick looking upon you if I may use the Emperours words {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Your private welfare is a great publick good May those which wish you ill repent and instead of doing you harm may they receive that benefit which you are never unwilling to administer as any opportunity presents it self to you Julian and some others used to despise the Galileans so they termed the Christians for fools and to make them more such they interdicted their children the use of Schools intending by this means to deprive them of that wisdom divine accomplishment which ariseth from true learning It were a shamefull thing if Christians should grow so silly now as to chuse that for a priviledge which he forced upon them and they resented as a grievous affliction God of his Grace preserve both the Universities till
which believes there is a God believes his Veracity and he which believes not that there is a God hath no reason to believe any thing He hath no reason to believe any thing if there be not Truth And if there be not a God there is nothing and so no truth But as that foundation is firm and unquestionable What God saith is true I must build two things upon it and on them the credibility of the first particular is founded viz. 1. That since what God sayes is true we ought to receive whatsoever we have abundant reason to believe that God did say it 2. Whatsoever comes to us as Gods word we ought by no means to reject it without most weighty reasons to make us think that God did not say it 1. As to the first Scripture is the way of proposal i. e. God hath written his mind to us now we have two great reasons to make us believe this writing to be his word 1. Because writing was the fittest way to communicate his will to us 2. Because since all writings need witnesse that we might not doubt this to be his he hath sent it attested by the witnesse of all those that were worthy to be believed i. e. the good men of all ages 1. Because writing was the fittest way to communicate the Gospel or his will to us that appears thus All the Nations and ages of the world could not be present at the birth of Christ nor be eye-witnesses of his miracles see him rise out of grave and ascend into heaven put their fingers into his side c. what then will they not believe unlesse they do shall Christ be crucified afresh in every age that we may see him rise from the dead but because Christ was not to remain alwayes below nor come again in that manner and it concerned the world to know the Gospel God committed it to writing and hath made the holy Scriptures the safe Repositories of his Truth that is excellent preservatives against weaknesse of memory and the rust of malicious designes Monumentum Christi est divina Scriptura in qua divinitatis humanitatis ejus mysteria densitate literae veluti quadam muniuntur Petra How much God was in love with this way appeared of old for though he was pleased to converse familiarly with his plain friends the Patriarchs yet lest his counsels should slip out of the frail minds of men he commanded Moses to write them Litera scripta manet The Jewes nice care of the letters was well made use of by God for it became Septum Legis whilest they looked to the words God secured the sence and how unsure all other wayes are we may perceive in that the Church hath not preserved the remembrance of Christs miracles which were unwritten Language is the Garb of Truth it comes not abroad till it be cloathed in words and since Christ was not to stay here to preach alwayes he enabled those whom he deputed to declare his will in several languages that it might be understood by divers Nations when it was spoken and heard and because the Apostles were to die too he commanded them to write it and hath enabled his Church to translate it into the several languages of the world and so they understand it being written and read And herein God shewed his care of the Vnlearned who are the greater part of the world for though they cannot read the Originall yet having a Translation which in that it is a Translation agrees with the Original they receive the same mind of God that the Learned do Why should any man be unsatisfied with this way of delivery whereas Princes and States in matters which they esteem the greatest receive the Proposals of Ambassadours by an Interpreter If to read or hear these read be not sufficient to direct us what shall become of the blind who can neither read Original nor Translation And if any think that they say a great matter against Translations when they affirm That we know not the signification of Hebrew and Greek words but by the report of men They may as well say so of our Mother-tongue for we know not that this word Book signifies that which men commonly understand when they heare that word pronounced but that we are told so shall an English-man for this fine reason doubt whether he can speak true English or no or shall any child neglect his Duty to his Parents whom he can know but by Report Behold how many ways can the divine Providence use one thing The first division of Tongues broke a foolish attempt of scaling the skies This second further'd a Noble Designe of lifting us up the right way to Heaven By the curtesie of so many Translations the Holy Ghost appears again in cloven Tongues Those men which would make us believe the written word is no fit Rule because every body skills not the Hebrew and Greek do not onely say that they are not a rule to us but that they were not to the Jews or Grecians For it is probable some Jews and more then probable that many Greeks could no more read Greek or Hebrew then many now can read English and how did they do If we may be deceived by those which interpret so might they by those which read But if they say as they would fain have it that the Jews had an infallible spirit then it 's lawfull to ask where he lay asleep whilst the Jews being wickedly misled rejected the Messiah 2. As the Scripture was the best way and therefore most likely to be made use of by the wise God so that we might believe that he did We have the testimony of all that were worthy to be believed i. e. good men in all ages The first age saw things writ the truth and so witnessed to it The next age received believed and obeyed the truth and expressed as great effects of the power of it as the first and so on So that we may say as Saint Paul to Timothy We will mind the Scriptures knowing of whom we have received them Those who could not be willing to deceive themselves for they ventur'd this and the other world on 't and they which did so what design could they have upon us 2. The second assertion above-mentioned is that whatsoever comes to us as Gods word we ought not to reject it without weighty reasons to make us think he did not say it Against the Scriptures we can imagine but two things objectable in this point 1. Invalidity in the evidence given for them 2. Sufficient Counter-witnesse against them 1. As to the first what can invalidate the evidence Insufficiency can be imputed but upon two accounts either they know not the things they wrote or they did not write the truth they knew as some Hereticks said in Tertullians time Solent dicere non omnia Apostolos scisse eadem agitati dementia qua rursus convertunt omnia quidem
the assistance we receive from it we are left to acknowledge him with blind conceptions to worship him with uncertain expresses and depend upon him with a very infirm expectation But O blessed Saviour we have no reason to think our selves at a losse thou hast told us plainly of the Father thou hast explained the two great Commandements and in them the substance of the Law and the Prophets Thy Gospel holds forth to us all particular duties both of Faith and Love and Righteousnesse and Mercy Thou hast shewen us what kind of worship worshippers thou dost regard having commanded us to worship God in Spirit and in Truth with all true apprehensions and worthy affections to serve God in all good conscience and with purity of heart and hast rejected the vanities of superstition though they be never so gay or costly all exteriour shews which want the correspondencie of inward goodnesse so that now we may well say thou hast shewed us men what is good and what the Lord our God requires of us even to do justly to love mercy and to walk humbly with God Thou hast taught us how in all our religious addresses we may come acceptably before the Lord and what Mediatour we are to use we need no longer ask for thou hast shewed us the one Mediatour between God and man and told us for whom he will intercede even all that come to God by him and make themselves like unto him Thou hast shewen us how thou didst converse with Abraham Isaac and Iacob the Prophets and Apostles and that we also upon the same terms may become the friends of God by Christ Iesus who is the same yesterday and to day and for ever so that all good Christians may say and conclude they are certain of their way to God the Scripture having revealed it as clearly as with Sun-beames The Scripture given by inspiration is so profitable for doctrine reproofe correction and instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God teacher or learner is perfectly furnished with direction to all good works Now if any shall say the force of these arguments may be avoyed though the Scriptures be not plain if we have an infallible Interpreter to resolve their doubtfulnesse and cleare their obscurity I answer There is no question of that But where is that Interpreter it is harder to find him then the sence of the most difficult Scripture What will be answered if we aske these few questions concerning him What is his name what Countrey-man is he where doth he dwell If his Commission be not in the Scripture how came he by it if it be in what words is it set down We read but of one infallilible Interpreter of Gods mind Christ Iesus and he hath required of all his servants that they presume not to take any Mastership in this point And call no man your Father upon the earth for one is your Father which is in heaven Neither be ye called Masters for one is your Master even Christ These words are justly interpreted by most learned men as a command of Christ directed against mens usurpation of authority to impose upon others what they are to believe The chief Master in the Shoole of the Iewish Prophets had such authority that no man might contradict what he said and in this sence we are to call no man Father but God who hath taught us by him whom he appointed to be our onely Master i.e. Christ Iesus How much those are deceiveed that assume to themselves to be infallible guides and indeed Dictators to Gods Church hath been shewen abundantly by themselves and many learned men have forced them to take notice of their errours and therefore I will insist no further upon this point And now we see with what reason our Saviour closed his discourse saying If they believe not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead With which I shall also close the doctrinall part of this discourse Those which are not satisfied with Gods truth so fairly propounded in the Scriptures may pray to Abraham to send one from the dead to preach to them if their eares itch for such teachers but when he comes would they believe him No they would rather accost him thus Art thou come out of thy Grave to fright us Where is thy Certificate that thou wast in the other world Wed do not know that ever thou wast dead or if thou art a Ghost we know not whether thou camest from heaven or hell whether thy design be to teach or to disturb us They say good spirits do not walk What thou hast hid some money somewhere If thou comest to discover any murder tell us People talk of Goblins to fright children and fooles but dost thou think that we will leave our profits or pleasures for a shade That this is too true we have an instance in the Iews to whom our Saviour preached this point For they had Lazarus whether Christ alluded to his name or no raised from the grave and he discoursed with the Pharisees but as soon as he asserted a truth that crossed their humour they would have killed him and sent him to the other world again a messenger of their unbelief When men have no mind to do their duty they will quarrell with the Messenger and ask for another not that they will then obey but to gain a truce for disobedience {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and in the mean time they will seek for that which no doubt they will find i.e. something to make themselves believe that the next will not be so sent neither but that they shall be able to except against him Application 1. Upon the consideration of the things premised first Let us be thankeful to the Grace of God and the care of his divine Providence for transmitting to us the Holy Scriptures great Testimonies may one call them or high Courtesies of that Providence High Courtesies they are being the streames of that River of Truth which refreshed the City of God i.e. his Church so long agone But they are also great Testimonies of Gods Providence when so many with busie eagernesse sought to damme them up that they might not come at all or to poyson them that they might arrive as Ministers of errour and death Gods goodnesse permitted not the mischief his care hindred it This is that Alpheus that runs under the earth dives under the Sea not mixing with its brackish waters but rises up sweet and clear in the beloved Arethusa unto which God sends it When this holy Writ seemed to be sunk in one place as Ovid speaks of Lycus Sic ubi terreno Lycus est epotus hiatu Existit procul hinc alioque renascitur ore It riseth in another and brings up and lands safe the Truths which were committed unto it as Historians report of the aforesaid river If Moses applauded the Jewes happinesse when he had finished his
he wrote of me What did he write you may read in his book called Deuteronomy these words God will raise up unto thee a Prophet like unto me of thy brethren according to thy desire and I will put my words into his mouth and whosoever will not hearken unto the words which he shall speak in my Name I will require it of him The single-hearted Jews aware of the divine truth of this Prophesy were guided as the Magi by a star to Christ So Philip and Nathanael true Israelites embraced him saying with joy We have found him of whom Moses wrote in the Law Whom when the degenerate Jewes rejected the wise Apostles reproved them from the same Moses quoting the forecited words as we see Acts 3. 22. therefore well might our Saviour say Had you believed Moses that is Had you been as you pretend true children of Abraham and genuine disciples of Moses you would not have disowned me whom Moses acknowledged for his Master and esteemed so worthy of honour that he counted the sufferings of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt For as Abraham saw my day afar off and rejoyced so Moses knew the liquid Rock which followed them in the Desert was i.e. did signifie Christ The Prophets also told the same tale and Malachi that brought up the rear and claspt the Old Testament bad the Jewes expect the Sunne of Righteousnesse which was to rise and spread his wholesome rayes like wings of salvation over the world This was written in the close of that Oeconomy since therefore Moses and the Prophets told us the desire of all Nations whom they had long waited for was coming and bad the people to prepare his way by fitting their wicked hearts for so great a comfort whofoever doth not receive Christs Gospel doth not hear Moses and the Prophets Neither do they consider the great reasons which they afford to convince us of this matter For they taught that Christ was to be the light of the Gentiles and the Glory of Israel and this in a sence so raised that the former glory stood valuable by it in no degree of comparison He was to fulfill the Prophesies which had been but glorious vanities if he had not made them good He was to chase away shadows and what is the day to night To heighten their motives with better promises and take off the false Comments which had crept upon the Law by the iniquity of the times viz. the carelesnesse of the people and the wickednesse of the Pharisees so that the New Testament must not be left out But then one may say and some have been as foolish as to say it We do not care for Moses and the Prophets we have no need of the Old Testament This is to run upon the other post of the doore He that is no better advised is just like a man who having a great cause depending is resolved let it go right or wrong he will use but one witnesse he can have more but he cares not for them We do not use to burn the Records of our Ancestors nor to cut in pieces the evidences of our lands nor the Counter-parts of deeds He which values the possession of truth will not easily part with one of its best witnesses The Scripture saith as much as one can well desire in this point Moses and Elias appeared in the transfiguration of Christ and were witnesses of his glory The Gospel is his spiritual transfiguration and unto that Glory they bear a full and well agreeing witnesse This spirit might murmur thus Why could not one Cherubin have served to cover the Mercy-seat God put two whose faces were towards each other and their wings did meet So do both the Testaments spread their golden wings over our Throne of Grace Christ Jesus What is thus said of the Old Testament we easily learn of Christ and his Apostles who acknowledged the usefulnesse of its divine Truth whilest they proved their assertions by it nay they declared nothing but what the Prophets foretold and longed to have seen by which it appears that God hath so put them together that it is devillish to attempt a divorce The Apostle Paul did not only advise Timothy to read them but told him that they were able to make him wise to salvation i.e. were full of divine instructions and as fit for the Jews to walk by towards heaven as the morning light is for a traveller to begin his journey and as to himself he professed that he had great consolation and hope through the knowledge of the rare instances of the Old Testament in which he saw his hopes verified Who would destroy such famous memorials of Truth and writing to the Ephesians concerning the Church under the New Testament which is an habitation of God through the spirit he saies it is built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Christ being the great Corner-stone When wise men pull stones out of the foundations of their houses then good Christians may reject the writings of Moses and the Prophets So having reconciled two that were never at oddes only some weak or ill-minded people seek occasion to put difference amongst near friends and having proved that neither are to be refused as superfluous it remains to shew for some doubt it that both are enough and of that we have this fourfold assurance 1. As they are Perfect Counsels of excellent wisdom concerning the way to happinesse 2. As they are strict injunctions of Divine Authority concerning our Duties 3. As they containe the strongest Proofes of our Obligation to these Duties and such as are no where else and so are the best perswasions to our Wills 4. As they are a Proposal of all these Truths to our understandings in a way of most fair and full credibility They are perfect Counsels of excellent wisdome concerning the way to Happinesse They are a full advice and a most exact Method of attaining Blisse prescribed by him who is the Way the Truth and the Life or the true way to Life What lay scatter'd in many places and must have been gathered with much care and many collections difficult to our short apprehensions often tired and so missing it may be what was not much further then we had gone is here comprized to our hands in a perfect summary Truths otherwhere hid under much Rubbish and mixed with many mistakes are here pure and clear in the spring not mudded with carelesse or beastly feet What is obscured in others by naturall weaknesse or affected stile is here plain enough through the superintendency of the Divine spirit So that good men may here expect whatsoever is true wise necessary or usefull There is no plant of Righteousnesse no wholesome herb in the world but it was carried out of Christs garden who planted them in Paradise and therefore he might well put them in his Gospel they were his own and when they were
when they have they neither know it nor are content with it They would have some body sail beyond the Sea to fetch that which is on this side already They are not pleased with what they have on earth till some body go to Heaven to fetch it Alas Such need not much trouble themselves for a Revelation as long as a private impulse will serve But let us hearken onely to these faithfull directions sealed by God for our security these cannot deceive us in things necessary for they are plain nor can obscurer places hurt us unlesse we be either rash and resolve that shall be the true sence which we fancy or else sordid and suffer others to put their sence upon us for so indeed we may build ill things not upon the most holy word of God but upon our own careless mistakes 3. To prevent this and because the Scriptures are not so much the words as the sence let us endevour to get the meaning of Gods word which to do is both our great Duty and our true Right For none will be condemned for us if we believe wrong It was a noble ingenuity in the Bereans that they would not believe Paul but upon search of the Scriptures and as it would have been a strange thing in Paul to have offered at the command of their faith denying them liberty to search so it is an ignoble pride in the Papists or any that follow so unworthy an example to require our faith upon their search of the Scriptures and not our own unlesse that we should be saved by the faith of others or that those which make us believe wrong would be punished for us or be content to have that which they are to believe imposed upon them by others Ambrose speaks pertinently to this point Coeli mysterium doceat me Deus ipse qui condidit non homo qui seipsum ignoravit cui magis de Deo quà m Deo credam i. e. let God himself teach me the mysteries of heaven who made it not man who does not know himself whose report concerning God should we credit so much as his own Now we must endeavour to obtain the true meaning of the Holy Scriptures by daily reading serious meditation and the fervent prayers of an humble spirit We should read with a desire of that heavenly knowledge and meditate so as that we discover not a negligence which is contradictory to true desire and pray that the divine spirit which indited them may teach us so to understand them that by the assistance of his excellent illuminations the wisdom of Gods word may dwell plentifully in us It is requisite also that we should abandon all prejudice and preconceived opinions and bring candid and disingaged spirits to the reading of this Holy Book Hilary speaks excellently to this point Optimus est lector qui dictorum intelligentiam expectet à dictis potius quam imponat retulerit magìs quà m attulerit neque cogat id videri dictis contineri quod ante lectionem praesumpserit intelligendum i e. he is the best Reader that expects the understanding of the words from the words themselves rather then puts it upon them takes it of them rather then brings it to them nor compells the words to seem to contain that which before reading he resolved to have understood by them Those which contradict this method may well go away without Gods meaning for they came not for it There is another thing also that does extremely facilitate our proficiency in the knowledge of divine mysteries and that is sincere obedience and humble entertainment of the heavenly light It is a sure rule that will never be antiquated If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God Whilst eager disputers lose the sence of the Scriptures and their soules withall the humble practiser of Gods will secures the sence and his salvation too He will teach the humble his ways The secret of the Lord is with those that fear him Whilest we shew our selves faithfully obsequious to this true guidance we shall not onely be led into all necessary Truths but as we do improve in goodnesse our knowledge will be enlarged The humble and obedient have advantage of all other men in this point for though they may stand upon the lower ground in regard of natural or acquired abilities God doth so love good souls that they shall not miscarry for want of such helps It were an extreme vanity to think that none shall be saved except such as can make Syllogismes or that the Bible was given only for great Scholars to dispute on How deep a sympathy the meek Lamb of God had with the fair equity of this dispensation is excellently signified by the affectionate Apostrophe which he made to his Father upon the consideration of it I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight How passionately doth the dear Son of God please himself in the embraces of the Divine will in this matter and with greatest reason for that will pleaseth it self only in such a way as is fully correspondent to the divine wisdom and goodnesse And all true followers of Christ are likewise possessed with vast satisfactions and full complacence ever accompanied with joyful thanksgiving when they are admitted to behold the rare proportions of Gods works the most admirable reasonablenesse of his proceedings Whilst men vainly puffed up with conceits of their knowledge neglect this most necessary and greatest wisdom God slights their presumption and passeth them by with disregard giveth such grace to the Humble as maketh them wise to Salvation so that This Temper is not only secured by Gods promise but is indeed in it self the most disposed qualified for divine illuminations A good and honest heart is like a soile fit prepared for the immortal seed as our Saviour hath taught us And this is so known a Truth that all wise men have propounded purification of heart as a rare method of attaining true knowledg and pronounced that the light of God shines brightest in those soules that are purified with the flames of divine love Blessed are the pure in spirit for they shall see God Fogges of lust darken the Intellect a soule possessed with sin is low and uncapable Dishonourable affections cherisht by a wicked life bring on a sottishnesse of mind and dulnesse of fancy But I have spoken of this Temper of soule not only because it doth highly capacitate us to the knowledge of God but because the perfection of it is the true improvement of the Scriptures words and sence and in the happy product of it all excellent knowledge ought to terminate All speculation separate from this is contemptible and leaves a man miserable in the midst of his