1cumſpection, wherewith this Pious Authour proceedeth, is,
that not truſting to his obſerving, that both Demonſtrative
Reaſons, and the ſenſe that the words of Scripture and the reſt
of the Context both precedent and ſubſequent, do conſpire to
prove the ſame thing, he addeth the following words.
that not truſting to his obſerving, that both Demonſtrative
Reaſons, and the ſenſe that the words of Scripture and the reſt
of the Context both precedent and ſubſequent, do conſpire to
prove the ſame thing, he addeth the following words.
(ſ) Si autem con
textio Scripturæ,
hoc voluiſſe intel
ligi Scriptorem,
non repugnaverit,
adhuc reſtabit
quærere, utrum &
aliud non potuerit.
textio Scripturæ,
hoc voluiſſe intel
ligi Scriptorem,
non repugnaverit,
adhuc reſtabit
quærere, utrum &
aliud non potuerit.
(ſ) But if the Context do not hold forth any thing that may
diſprove this to be the Authors Senſé, it yet remains to enquire,
Whether the other may not be intended alſo. And not yet reſolving
to accept of one Senſe, or reject another, but thinking that he
could never uſe ſufficient caution, he proceedeth: (t) But if
ſo be we finde that the other may be alſo meant, it will be doubted
which of them he would have to ſtand; or which in probability he
may be thought to aim at, if the true circumſtances on both ſides be
weighed. And laſtly, intending to render a Reaſon of this his
Rule, by ſhewing us to what perils thoſe men expoſe the Scri
ptures, and the Church; who, more reſpecting the ſupport of
their own errours, than the Scriptures Dignity, would ſtretch its
Authority beyond the Bounds which it preſcribeth to it ſelf, he
ſubjoyns the enſuing words, which of themſelves alone might
ſuffice to repreſs and moderate the exceſſive liberty, which ſome
think that they may aſſume to themſelves: (u) For it many
times falls out, that a Chriſtian may not ſo fully underſtand a
Point concerning the Earth, lieaven, and the reſt of this Worlds
Elements; the Motion, Converſion, Magnitude, and Diſtances of
the Stars, the certain defects of the Sun and Moon, the Revoluti
ons of Years and Times, the Nature of Animals, Fruits, Stones,
and other things of like nature, as to defend the ſame by right
Reaſon, or make it out by Experiments. But its too great an ab
ſurdity, yea moſt pernicious, and chiefly to be avoided, to let an
Infidel finde a Chriſtian ſo ſtupid, that he ſhould argue theſe mat
ters; as if they were according to Chriſtian Doctrine; and make
him (as the Proverb ſaith) ſcarce able to contain his laughter, ſee
ing him ſo far from the Mark Nor is the matter ſo much that one
in an errour ſhould be laught at, but that our Authors ſhould be
thought by them that are without, to be of the ſame Opinion, and to
the great prejudice of thoſe, whoſe ſalvation we wait for, ſenſurcd
and rejected as unlearned. For when they ſhal confute any one of the
Chriſtians in that matter, which they themſelvs thorowly under
ſtand, and ſhall thereupon expreſs their light eſteem of our Books;
how ſhall theſe Volumes be believed touching the Reſurrection of
the Dead, the Hope of eternal Life, and the Kingdom of Heaven;
when, as to theſe Points which admit of preſent Demonſtration,
or undoubted Reaſons, they conceive them to be falſly written.
diſprove this to be the Authors Senſé, it yet remains to enquire,
Whether the other may not be intended alſo. And not yet reſolving
to accept of one Senſe, or reject another, but thinking that he
could never uſe ſufficient caution, he proceedeth: (t) But if
ſo be we finde that the other may be alſo meant, it will be doubted
which of them he would have to ſtand; or which in probability he
may be thought to aim at, if the true circumſtances on both ſides be
weighed. And laſtly, intending to render a Reaſon of this his
Rule, by ſhewing us to what perils thoſe men expoſe the Scri
ptures, and the Church; who, more reſpecting the ſupport of
their own errours, than the Scriptures Dignity, would ſtretch its
Authority beyond the Bounds which it preſcribeth to it ſelf, he
ſubjoyns the enſuing words, which of themſelves alone might
ſuffice to repreſs and moderate the exceſſive liberty, which ſome
think that they may aſſume to themſelves: (u) For it many
times falls out, that a Chriſtian may not ſo fully underſtand a
Point concerning the Earth, lieaven, and the reſt of this Worlds
Elements; the Motion, Converſion, Magnitude, and Diſtances of
the Stars, the certain defects of the Sun and Moon, the Revoluti
ons of Years and Times, the Nature of Animals, Fruits, Stones,
and other things of like nature, as to defend the ſame by right
Reaſon, or make it out by Experiments. But its too great an ab
ſurdity, yea moſt pernicious, and chiefly to be avoided, to let an
Infidel finde a Chriſtian ſo ſtupid, that he ſhould argue theſe mat
ters; as if they were according to Chriſtian Doctrine; and make
him (as the Proverb ſaith) ſcarce able to contain his laughter, ſee
ing him ſo far from the Mark Nor is the matter ſo much that one
in an errour ſhould be laught at, but that our Authors ſhould be
thought by them that are without, to be of the ſame Opinion, and to
the great prejudice of thoſe, whoſe ſalvation we wait for, ſenſurcd
and rejected as unlearned. For when they ſhal confute any one of the
Chriſtians in that matter, which they themſelvs thorowly under
ſtand, and ſhall thereupon expreſs their light eſteem of our Books;
how ſhall theſe Volumes be believed touching the Reſurrection of
the Dead, the Hope of eternal Life, and the Kingdom of Heaven;
when, as to theſe Points which admit of preſent Demonſtration,
or undoubted Reaſons, they conceive them to be falſly written.