1ſtinguiſhed from the Vulgar, it is neceſſary that grave and skilful
Expoſitors produce the true ſenſes of them, and ſhew the parti
cular Reaſons why they are dictated under ſuch and ſuch words.
And this is a Doctrine ſo true and common amongſt Divines,
that it would be ſuperfluous to produce any atteſtation
thereof.
Expoſitors produce the true ſenſes of them, and ſhew the parti
cular Reaſons why they are dictated under ſuch and ſuch words.
And this is a Doctrine ſo true and common amongſt Divines,
that it would be ſuperfluous to produce any atteſtation
thereof.
Hence methinks I may with much more reaſon conclude, that
the ſame holy Writ, when ever it hath had occaſion to pronounce
any natural Concluſion, and eſpecially, any of thoſe which are
more abſtruce, and difficult to be underſtood, hath not failed to
obſerve this Rule, that ſo it might not cauſe confuſion in the
mindes of thoſe very people, and render them the more contu
macious againſt the Doctrines that were more ſublimely myſteri
ous: For (like as we have ſaid, and as it plainly appeareth) out
of the ſole reſpect of condeſcending to Popular Capacity, the
Scripture hath not ſcrupled to ſhadow over moſt principal and
fundamental Truths, attributing, even to God himſelf, qualities
extreamly remote from, and contrary unto his Eſſence. Who
would poſitively affirm that the Scripture, laying aſide that re
ſpect, in ſpeaking but occaſionally of the Earth, of the Water, of
the Sun, or of any other Creature, hath choſen to confine it
ſelf, with all rigour, within the bare and narrow literal ſenſe of
the words? And eſpecially, in mentioning of thoſe Crea
tures, things not at all concerning the primary Inſtitution of
the ſame Sacred Volume, to wit, the Service of God, and the
ſalvation of Souls, and in things infinitely beyond the appre
henſion of the Vulgar?
the ſame holy Writ, when ever it hath had occaſion to pronounce
any natural Concluſion, and eſpecially, any of thoſe which are
more abſtruce, and difficult to be underſtood, hath not failed to
obſerve this Rule, that ſo it might not cauſe confuſion in the
mindes of thoſe very people, and render them the more contu
macious againſt the Doctrines that were more ſublimely myſteri
ous: For (like as we have ſaid, and as it plainly appeareth) out
of the ſole reſpect of condeſcending to Popular Capacity, the
Scripture hath not ſcrupled to ſhadow over moſt principal and
fundamental Truths, attributing, even to God himſelf, qualities
extreamly remote from, and contrary unto his Eſſence. Who
would poſitively affirm that the Scripture, laying aſide that re
ſpect, in ſpeaking but occaſionally of the Earth, of the Water, of
the Sun, or of any other Creature, hath choſen to confine it
ſelf, with all rigour, within the bare and narrow literal ſenſe of
the words? And eſpecially, in mentioning of thoſe Crea
tures, things not at all concerning the primary Inſtitution of
the ſame Sacred Volume, to wit, the Service of God, and the
ſalvation of Souls, and in things infinitely beyond the appre
henſion of the Vulgar?
This therefore being granted, methinks that in the Diſcuſſion
of Natural Problemes, we ought not to begin at the authority
of places of Scripture; but at Senſible Experiments and Ne
ceſſary Demonſtrations: For, from the Divine Word, the
Sacred Scripture and Nature did both alike proceed; the firſt,
as the Holy Ghoſts Inſpiration; the ſecond, as the moſt obſer
vant Executrix of Gods Commands: And moreover it being
convenient in the Scriptures (by way of condeſcenſion to the
underſtanding of all men) to ſpeak many things different, in
appearance; and ſo far as concernes the naked ſigniſication of
the words, from abſolute truth: But on the contrary, Nature
being inexorable and immutable, and never paſſing the bounds
of the Laws aſſigned her, as one that nothing careth whether
her abſtruſe reaſons and methods of operating be, or be not ex
poſed to the Capacity of Men; I conceive that that, concer
ning Natural Effects, which either Senſible Experience ſets be
fore our eyes, or Neceſſary Demonſtrations do prove unto us,
ought not, upon any account, to be called into queſtion, much
of Natural Problemes, we ought not to begin at the authority
of places of Scripture; but at Senſible Experiments and Ne
ceſſary Demonſtrations: For, from the Divine Word, the
Sacred Scripture and Nature did both alike proceed; the firſt,
as the Holy Ghoſts Inſpiration; the ſecond, as the moſt obſer
vant Executrix of Gods Commands: And moreover it being
convenient in the Scriptures (by way of condeſcenſion to the
underſtanding of all men) to ſpeak many things different, in
appearance; and ſo far as concernes the naked ſigniſication of
the words, from abſolute truth: But on the contrary, Nature
being inexorable and immutable, and never paſſing the bounds
of the Laws aſſigned her, as one that nothing careth whether
her abſtruſe reaſons and methods of operating be, or be not ex
poſed to the Capacity of Men; I conceive that that, concer
ning Natural Effects, which either Senſible Experience ſets be
fore our eyes, or Neceſſary Demonſtrations do prove unto us,
ought not, upon any account, to be called into queſtion, much