1not only proceeded with great circumſpection, but have left the
following Precepts for the inſtruction of others. (p) In points
obſcure and remote from our Sight, if we come to read any thing
out of Sacred Writ, that, with a Salvo to the Faith that we have
imbued, may correſpond with ſeveral conſtructions, let us not ſo
farre throw our ſelves upon any of them with a precipitous ob
ſtinacy, as that if, perhaps the Truth being more diligently ſearch't
into, it ſhould juſtly fall to the ground, we might fall together
with it: and ſo ſhew that we contend not for the ſenſe of Divine
Scriptures, but our own, in that we would have that which is
our own to be the ſenſe of Scriptures, when as we ſhould ra
ther deſire the Scriptures meaning to be ours.
following Precepts for the inſtruction of others. (p) In points
obſcure and remote from our Sight, if we come to read any thing
out of Sacred Writ, that, with a Salvo to the Faith that we have
imbued, may correſpond with ſeveral conſtructions, let us not ſo
farre throw our ſelves upon any of them with a precipitous ob
ſtinacy, as that if, perhaps the Truth being more diligently ſearch't
into, it ſhould juſtly fall to the ground, we might fall together
with it: and ſo ſhew that we contend not for the ſenſe of Divine
Scriptures, but our own, in that we would have that which is
our own to be the ſenſe of Scriptures, when as we ſhould ra
ther deſire the Scriptures meaning to be ours.
(m) Non Solem, ſed
Primum Mobile
immotum conſti
tiſſe: Dioniſ.
Areop.
Primum Mobile
immotum conſti
tiſſe: Dioniſ.
Areop.
(n) Omnia cor
pora Cæleſtia, im
mota ſubſtitiſſe:
pora Cæleſtia, im
mota ſubſtitiſſe:
(o) Solem re
vera non ſubſtitiſ
ſe immorum, ſed
pro brevi tempore,
intra quod Iſræeli
tæ, hoſtes ſuos fu
derunt, id ita vi
ſum eſſe.
vera non ſubſtitiſ
ſe immorum, ſed
pro brevi tempore,
intra quod Iſræeli
tæ, hoſtes ſuos fu
derunt, id ita vi
ſum eſſe.
Iſa. Cap. 38.
(p) In rebus ob
ſouris, atque a no
ſtris oculis remi
tiſſimis, ſiqua inde
ſcripta etiam divi
næ legerimus, quæ
poſſint ſalva fide,
qua imbuimur, a
liis atque altis pa
rere ſentextiis, in
nullam earum nos
præcipiti affirma
tione ita projici
amus, ut ſi forte
ailigentiùs diſcuſ
ſa veritas eam recte
labefact averit, corruamus: non pro ſententia Divinarum Scripturarum, ſed pro noſtra ita dimicantes, ut eam
velimus Scripturarum eſſe, quæ noſtra eſt, cum potius eam quæ Scripturarum eſt, noſtram eſſe velle debeamus,
Divus Auguſtin. in Gen. ad Litteram, lib. 2. c. 18. & ſeque
ſouris, atque a no
ſtris oculis remi
tiſſimis, ſiqua inde
ſcripta etiam divi
næ legerimus, quæ
poſſint ſalva fide,
qua imbuimur, a
liis atque altis pa
rere ſentextiis, in
nullam earum nos
præcipiti affirma
tione ita projici
amus, ut ſi forte
ailigentiùs diſcuſ
ſa veritas eam recte
labefact averit, corruamus: non pro ſententia Divinarum Scripturarum, ſed pro noſtra ita dimicantes, ut eam
velimus Scripturarum eſſe, quæ noſtra eſt, cum potius eam quæ Scripturarum eſt, noſtram eſſe velle debeamus,
Divus Auguſtin. in Gen. ad Litteram, lib. 2. c. 18. & ſeque
He goeth on, and a little after teacheth us, that no Propoſi
tion can be againſt the Faith, unleſſe firſt it be demonſtrated
falſe; ſaying, (q) Tis not all the while contrary to Faith, until it
be diſproved by moſt certain Truth, which if it ſhould ſo be, the Holy
Scripture affirm'd it not, but Humane Ignorance ſuppoſed it.
Whereby we ſee that the ſenſes which we impoſe on Texts of
Scripture, would be falſe, when ever they ſhould diſagree with
Truths demonſtrated. And therefore we ought, by help of de
monſtrated Truth, to ſeek the undoubted ſenſe of Scripture:
and not according to the ſound of the words, that may ſeem
true to our weakneſſe, to go about, as it were, to force Na
ture, and to deny Experiments and Neceſſary Demonſtra
tions.
tion can be againſt the Faith, unleſſe firſt it be demonſtrated
falſe; ſaying, (q) Tis not all the while contrary to Faith, until it
be diſproved by moſt certain Truth, which if it ſhould ſo be, the Holy
Scripture affirm'd it not, but Humane Ignorance ſuppoſed it.
Whereby we ſee that the ſenſes which we impoſe on Texts of
Scripture, would be falſe, when ever they ſhould diſagree with
Truths demonſtrated. And therefore we ought, by help of de
monſtrated Truth, to ſeek the undoubted ſenſe of Scripture:
and not according to the ſound of the words, that may ſeem
true to our weakneſſe, to go about, as it were, to force Na
ture, and to deny Experiments and Neceſſary Demonſtra
tions.
(q) Tam diu non
eſt extra fidem, do
nec Veritate cer
tiſſima refellatur.
Quod ſi fæctum
fuerit, non hoc ha
bebut Divina Scri
ptura, ſed hoc ſen
ſer at humana Ig
norantia. Ibid.
eſt extra fidem, do
nec Veritate cer
tiſſima refellatur.
Quod ſi fæctum
fuerit, non hoc ha
bebut Divina Scri
ptura, ſed hoc ſen
ſer at humana Ig
norantia. Ibid.
Let Your Highneſſe be pleaſed to obſerve farther, with how
great circumſpection this Holy Man proceedeth, before he af
firmeth any Interpretation of Scripture to be ſure, and in ſuch
wiſe certain, as that it need not fear the encounter of any diffi
culty that may procure it diſturbance, for not contenting
himſelf that ſome ſenſe of Scripture agreeth with ſome Demon
ſtration, he ſubjoynes. (r) But if right Reaſon ſhall demon
ſtrate this to be true, yet is it queſtionable whether in theſe words
of Sacred Scripture the Pen-man would have this to be under
ſtood, or ſomewhat elſe, no leſſe true. And in caſe the Context
of his Words ſhall prove that he intended not this, yet will not
that which he would have to be underſtood be therefore falſe, but
moſt true, aad that which is more profitable to be known.
great circumſpection this Holy Man proceedeth, before he af
firmeth any Interpretation of Scripture to be ſure, and in ſuch
wiſe certain, as that it need not fear the encounter of any diffi
culty that may procure it diſturbance, for not contenting
himſelf that ſome ſenſe of Scripture agreeth with ſome Demon
ſtration, he ſubjoynes. (r) But if right Reaſon ſhall demon
ſtrate this to be true, yet is it queſtionable whether in theſe words
of Sacred Scripture the Pen-man would have this to be under
ſtood, or ſomewhat elſe, no leſſe true. And in caſe the Context
of his Words ſhall prove that he intended not this, yet will not
that which he would have to be underſtood be therefore falſe, but
moſt true, aad that which is more profitable to be known.
(r) Si autem
hoc verum eſſe ve
ra ratio demon
ſtraverit, adhuc
incertum erit, u
trum hoc in illis
verbis Sanctorum
Librorum, Scrip
tor ſentiri volue
rit, an aliquid a
liud non minus ve
rum. Quod ſi cætera contextio ſermonis non hoc eum voluiſſe probaverit, non ideo falſum erit aliud, quod ipſe
intelligi voluit, ſed & verum, & quod utilius cognoſcatur.
hoc verum eſſe ve
ra ratio demon
ſtraverit, adhuc
incertum erit, u
trum hoc in illis
verbis Sanctorum
Librorum, Scrip
tor ſentiri volue
rit, an aliquid a
liud non minus ve
rum. Quod ſi cætera contextio ſermonis non hoc eum voluiſſe probaverit, non ideo falſum erit aliud, quod ipſe
intelligi voluit, ſed & verum, & quod utilius cognoſcatur.
But that which increaſeth our wonder concerning the