Fifty Sermons Containing the Chief Points of the Christian Religion, Sermons 1 · Decade 1 · Sermon 3
Of the ſenſe and right expoſition of the worde of God, and by what maner of meanes it may be expounded.
¶ The thirde Sermon.
DEarly beloued brethren, I doe vnderſtande that by meanes of my doctrine of the worde of God, ther are riſen ſūdry thoughts in the hartes of many men: yea, and that of ſome there are ſowen abrode very vngodly ſpéeches. For ſome there are, which do ſuppoſe that the ſcriptures, that is the very worde of God, is of it ſelfe ſo darke, that it cannot be read with any profite at al. And again ſome other affirme, that the worde plainly deliuered by God to mankind, doth ſtande in néede of no expoſition. And therefore, ſay they, that the ſcriptures ought in déede to be read of all men, but ſo, that eueryevery man may lawfully inuent and chooſe to himſelf ſuch a ſenſe, as eueryevery one ſhalbe perſuaded in him ſelfe to be moſt conuenient. Theſe fellowes doe altogether condemne the order receiued of the Churches, wherby the miniſter of ye church doth expounde the Scriptures to the congregatiō. But I (déerely beloued) if as ye hauehave begoon, ſo ye will go forwarde to pray to the Lorde, do truſte by the hope that I hauehave in gods goodneſſe, that I am able plainely to declare, that to the godly the ſcripture is nothing darke at al, & that the lord his will is altogether to hauehave vsus vnderſtande it. Then that the Scriptures ought alwayes to be expoūded. Wher alſo I will teach you the maner, and ſome ready wayes how to interprete the ſcriptures. The handling of theſe pointes ſhall take away the impediments which driue men from the reading of the word of god, and ſhal cauſe the reading & hearing of the worde of God to be both wholeſome & fruitful.
And firſte of all, that Gods will is to hauehave his worde vnderſtoode of man Gods will is to hauehave his word… vnderſtoode.kinde, we may thereby gather eſpecially, bicauſe that in ſpeaking to his ſeruaunts, he vſed a moſt common kind of ſpeach, wherwithall euen the very idiotes were acquainted. Neither do we reade that the Prophets and Apoſtles the ſeruaunts of God, and interpreters of his high and euerlaſtinge wiſedome, did vſe any ſtraunge kinde of ſpeach: ſo that in the whole packe of writers, none can be founde to excell them in a more plaine and eaſy phraſe of writing. Their writings are full of common prouerbes, ſimilitudes, parables, compariſons, deuiſed narrations, examples, and ſuch other like maner of ſpéeches, then which ther is nothing that doth more moue & plainely teach the common ſorte of wittes amonge mortall men. There ariſeth, I confeſſe, ſome darkneſſe in the ſcriptures by reaſon of the naturall propertie, figuratiue ornaments, and the vnacquainted vſe of the tongues. But that difficulty may eaſily be helped by ſtudie, Difficultie in the ſcripturesdiligence, faith, and the meanes of ſkilfull interpreters. I know yt ye Apoſtle Peter ſaith in the epiſtles of Paul Many thinges are harde to be vnderſtoode. But immediatly he addeth, which the vnlearned, and thoſe that are vnperfect or vnſtable, peruert, as they doe the other ſcriptures alſo vntounto their owne deſtruction. Wherby we gather, that the ſcripture is difficulte or obſcure to the vnlearned, vnſkilfull, vnexerciſed, and malicious or corrupted willes, and not to the zealous and godly Readers or Hearers therof. Therefore, when S. Paule ſayth, If as yet our goſpell be hidde: from them it is hid which periſh, in whom the Prince of this worlde hath blinded the vnderſtanding of the vnbeleeuers, that to them there ſhoulde not ſhine the light of the goſpell of the glory of Chriſt, who is the image of God. He doth not lay the blame of this difficultie on the word of God, but vponupon the vnprofitable hearers. Whoſoeuer we are therefore, that do deſire rightly to vnderſtand the word of God, our care muſt be, that Satan poſſeſſe not our mindes, and cloſe vp our eyes. For, our Sauiour alſo in the goſpell ſayde, This is damnation, becauſe the light came into the world and men loued darkneſſe rather than light. Beſides that, the holy Prophetes of God, and the Apoſtles, did not call the worde of God or the ſcriptures darkeneſſe, obſcureneſſe, or miſtineſſe, but a certaine brightneſſe and lightſomneſſe. Dauid ſaith, Thy word is a Lanterne vntounto my feete, and a light vntounto my pathes. And what I praye you is more euident than that which in makinge doubtfull and obſcure thinges manifeſt, no man doth referre to darkeneſſe and vncertainties? Things vncertaine, doubtful and obſcure, are made manifeſt by thoſe things that are more certain, ſure and euident. But as often as any queſtion or controuerſie doth happen in matters of fayth, do not all men agree that it ought to be ended and determined by the ſcriptures? it muſt therfore needes be that the ſcriptures are euident, plaine, and moſt aſſuredly certaine.
But though the ſcripture be manifeſt, and the worde of God be euident, The word of God requireth an expoſitionyet notwithſtanding, it refuſeth not a godly or holy expoſition, but rather an holy expoſition doth giuegive a ſetting out to the worde of God, & bringeth forth much fruite in the godly hearer. And for bicauſe many do deny that the ſcriptures ought to hauehave any expoſition, I will ſhew by examples (which can not be gainſaide) that they ought altogether to be expounded. For God him ſelfe, hauing often cōmunication with Moſes by the ſpace of fortie dayes and as many yeares, did by Moſes expoūd to the Church the wordes of the law, which he ſpake in Mount Sina to the whole congregation of Iſrae…l, writing them in two tables, which Moſes left to vsus, the Deuteronomie and certaine other bookes as commentaries vponupon Gods commaundements. After that, immediatly followed the Prophetes, who interpreting the lawe of Moſes, did apply it to the times, places, and men of their age, and left to vsus that fellow, their ſermons as plain expoſitions of Gods law. In the eight A ſolemn expoſition of Gods worde.Chapiter of Nehemias we reade theſe wordes. Eſdras the Prieſt, brought the Lawe, the booke of Moſes, and ſtoode vponupon a turret made of wood, that is in the holy pulpet. And Eſdras opened the booke before the congregation of men and women, & who ſoeuer elſe had any vnderſtanding. And the Leuits ſtode with him, ſo that he read out of the booke, and the leuits inſtructed the people in the law, & the people ſtode in their place And they reade in the booke of the lawe diſtinctly, expounding the ſenſe and cauſing them to vnderſtande the reading. Thus muche in the booke of Nehemias Marke here by the waye (my brethren) that the lawfull and holy miniſters of the Churche of God, did not onelyonly reade the worde of God, but did alſo expounde it.
This manner of reading and expounding the Scriptures or worde of God, oure Lorde Ieſu Chriſte did neyther abrogate nor contemne, when comming in the fleſhe, he did as a true Prophete and heauenly maiſter inſtructe the people of his Churche, in the doctrine of the Newe Teſtament. For entring into the Synagogue at Nazareth, he ſtoode vp to reade: and there was deliuered to him the booke of the Prophete Eſay. So he opened the booke, and read a certaine notable place out of the .lxj. Chapter. Then ſhutting the booke, he gaue it to the Miniſter againe, and expounded that which he had read, declaring how that in him ſelfe nowe that propheſie was fulfilled.
Moreouer, after that he was riſen from death, he ioyned him ſelf in companie to the two Diſciples, whiche went to Emaus, with whome he talked of ſundry matters: but at length beginning at Moſes and all the Prophetes, he expounded to them what ſo euer was written of him ſelf throughout all the Scriptures. The Apoſtles following this example of the Lorde, did them ſelues alſo expound the word of God.
For Peter in the ſeconde Chapter of the Actes of the Apoſtles, dothe expounde the xvj. Pſalme of Chriſte his reſurrection from the deade. And Philip alſo doth plainely expounde to the noble man of Ethiope the propheſie of Eſay, wherby he bringeth him to the fayth of Chriſte, and fellowſhip of the Church. Whoſoeuer doth ſay that Paul doth not eueryevery where interpret the holy Scripture, he hath neyther read nor ſéene the déedes nor writings of Paule. Thus hauehave I, I hope, both plainly & ſubſtantially ſhewed, that the word of God ought to be expounded.
As for thoſe whiche cry out againſt what their meaning is that wil not hauehave the ſcriptures expounded.the expoſition of the Scriptures, and woulde not hauehave the miniſters of the worde and Churches, to declare the ſcriptures in open and ſolemne audience, neyther to apply them to the places, times, ſtates, & perſons, their fetch is to ſeeke ſomewhat elſe then the honour due vntounto God. They leade their liues farre otherwiſe, then is comely for godly men. Their talke is wicked, vnſéemely, & diſhoneſt. Their déeds are miſchieuous, and haynous offences. And this woulde they to doe without puniſhment, and therefore deſire to hauehave the expoſition of the Scriptures to be taken cleane away. For if a man doe read the wordes of the Scripture onelye, not applyinge it to the ſtates, places, times and perſones, it ſometh that he hath not greatly touched their vngodly and wicked life. Therefore, when they crie that Sermons and expoſitions of the ſcriptures, ought to be taken a waye from among men, and that the Scriptures ought to be reade ſimplye without any addition, they minde nothing elſe but to caſte behind them the lawe of God, to treade vnderunder foote all diſcipline and rebuking of ſinne, and ſo to offende fréely without puniſhment: whiche ſorte of men the rightuous Lorde will in his appointed time puniſhe, ſo muche the more grieuouſly, as they doe more boldly rebell againſt their God.
In the meane ſeaſon, all the miniſters of the Churche muſte beware, The ſcriptures are … to be …orrupted with fortune expoſ…t…ons.that they followe not héerein their owne affections any whit at all, or elſe corrupt the Scriptures by their wrong interpretations, and ſo by that meanes ſet foorth to the Church their owne inuentions, and not the worde of God. Some ſuche like offence it ſéemeth that the teachers of the auncient people in olde time did commit, bycauſe the Lorde in Ezechiell accuſeth them ſaying, Seemeth it a ſmall thing to you to hauehave eaten vp the good paſture, but that ye muſt alſo treade the reſidue of your paſture vnderunder your feete? and to drinke the clearer water, but that ye muſte trouble the reſt with your feete? Thus my ſheepe muſte be faine to eate the thing that is troden downe with your feete, and to drinke that whiche ye with your feete hauehave defiled. A ſore offence is this, which the Lord according to his iuſtice puniſheth moſt ſharpely. We therefore the interpreters of Gods holy worde, and faythfull miniſters of the Churche of Chriſte, muſt hauehave a diligent regarde to keepe the Scriptures ſounde and perfect, and to teach the people of Chriſt the worde of God ſincerely, made plaine I meane, & not corrupted or darkned by fooliſh & wrōg expoſitions of oure owne inuention.
And nowe (dearely beloued) the The holy ſcriptures …re not to be expoū ded according to …ens fan…ſies.place and time require vsus to ſay ſomwhat vntounto you, touching the interpretation of the holy Scriptures, or the expoſition of the word of God. Wherin I will not ſpeake any thing particularly, of the ſkilfull knowledge of tongues, or the liberall ſciences, which are thinges requiſite in a good interpreter, but will briefly touche the generalities alone. And firſt of al ye muſt vnderſtande, that ſome things in the Scriptures or worde of God, are ſo plainly ſet foorth, that they hauehave neede of no interpretation, neyther will admit any expoſition. Which if any man goe about with his owne expoſitions to make more manifeſt, he may ſéeme to do as wittily, as he which with faggot light and torches, would helpe the ſunne at his riſing to giuegive more light vntounto the world. As for thoſe thinges which are ſo ſet down, that they ſéeme to require our helpe to expound them, they muſt not be interpreted after our owne fantaſies, but according to the minde and meaning of him, by whom the Scriptures were reuealed. For Saint Peter ſaythe, The propheſie came not in olde time by the will of man: but holy men of God ſpake as they were moued by the holy Ghoſt. Therefore the true and proper ſenſe of Gods worde muſt be taken out of the Scriptures them ſelues, and not be forceably thruſte vponupon the Scriptures, as we our ſelues luſt. And therwithal ye muſt marke a fewe certaine rules, which I meane briefly to touch and to ſhewe vntounto you, in thoſe fewe wordes which I hauehave yet to ſpeake.
Firſt ſince the Apoſtle Paul would hauehave the expoſition of the Scriptures The ex… ſition of the ſcripture … not be c… trary to the arti… of our beliefe.to agree fitly, and in eueryevery point proportionally with our fayth: as it is to be ſeene in the twel…the to the Romanes: And bycauſe againe in the later epiſtle to the Corinthians he ſaith. Seing then that we hauehave the ſame ſpirite of faith (according as it is writen, I beleeued and therefore hauehave I ſpoken) we alſo beleeue and therefore doe we ſpeake: Let it therefore be taken for a point of Catholike religion, not to bring in, or admit any thing in our expoſitions, which others hauehave alledged againſt the receiued articles of our fayth, conteyned in the Apoſtles Créede, and other cōfeſſions of the ancient fathers. For ſayt… the apoſtle, in defence of the trueth we can ſaye ſomewhat, but againſt the trueth we are able to ſay nothing. When therefore in the Goſpel after S. Iohn we read ye ſaying of ye Lord, The father is greater then I, we muſt thinke that it is againſt the articles of our fayth to make or admit any equalitie in the Godhead betwixt the Father and the Sonne: and therefore, that the Lorde his meaning was otherwiſe then the very words at the firſt bluſh do ſéeme to import. Againe, when we read this ſaying of the apoſtle, It can not be that they which were once illuminated, if they fall away ſhuld be renued againe into repētance: Let vsus not beléeue that repentance is to be denied to thē that fall. For the Catholike Fayth is this, that in eueryevery place, at eueryevery ſeaſon, ſo long as we liue on this earthe, a full pardon of all ſinnes is promiſed to all men whiche turne to the Lorde. In like manner, when we reade that the Lorde tooke breade, and ſayde of the breade, This is my body, let vsus preſently remember that the Articles of our fayth doe attribute to our Lorde the very body of a man, which aſcēded into heauen, and ſitteth at the righte hande of the Father, from whence it ſhall come to iudge the quicke and the deade, and let vsus thinke that the Lord ſpeaking of the Sacrament, woulde hauehave vsus to expounde the words of the Sacrament Sacramentally, and not Tranſubſtancially. Alſo in reading that ſaying of the Apoſtle, Fleſhe and bloud can not inherite the kingdome of God, let vsus not by and by vppon theſe wordes take it ſimply as the words do ſéeme to ſignifie, but ſticking to the Article of our ſayth, I beleeue the reſurrection of the body, let vsus vnderſtand that by fleſhe and bloud are ment ye affectiōs & infirmities, not the nature & ſubſtance of oure bodies.
Furthermore, we reade in the goſpell, that the Lorde doth gather a ſum The expoſitiō muſt not be repugnant to the louelove of God and our neighbour.of the lawe and the Prophets, ſaying: Thou ſhalt louelove the Lorde thy God with all thy heart, with all thy ſoule, and with al thy mind: this is the chief and great commaundement. And the ſecond is like vntounto it, Thou ſhalt louelove thy neighbor as thy ſelfe. In theſe two commaundemēts hangeth the whole law and the Prophets. Math. 22. VponUpon theſe words of the Lorde, that holy man Aurelius Auguſtinus in the. 36. Chapter of his firſte booke De doctrina Christi. ſayth▪ Whoſoeuer doth ſeeme to himſelf to vnderſtād the holy ſcriptures, or any part thereof, ſo that that vnderſtanding he dothe not worke theſe two points of charitie towardes God, & his neighbor, he yet doth not vnderſtande the ſcriptures perfectly. But whoſoeuer ſhall take out of them ſuch an opinion, as is profitable to the working of this charitie, and yet ſhall not ſay the ſelf ſamethig which ſhalbe proued that he did meane whome he readeth in that place, that mā doth not erre to his own deſtruction, nor doth altogether by lying deceiue other mē: Thus much writ Auguſtin. We muſt therefore by all meanes poſſible, take héede that our interpretations doe not tende to the ouerthrow of charitie, but to the furtherance and commendatiō of it to al men. The Lord ſayth, Striue not with the wicked. But if we affirme that he ſpake this to the Magiſtrates alſo, thē ſhal charitie towards our neighbours, the ſafetie of them that are in ieopardie, & defence of the oppreſſed, be broken and cleane taken away. For théeues & vnruly perſons, robbers and naughtie fellowes, will oppreſſe the widowes, the fatherleſſe, and the poore, to that all iniquitie ſhall reigne and hauehave the vpper hande. But in a mattter ſo manifeſtly knowen, I ſuppoſe it is not néedefull to vſe many examples.
Moreouer, it is requiſite in expounding … expoun…g the …ptures …e muſt …rk that …at goeth …fore and …lloweth …er, and … the circumſtā …es.the Scriptures, and ſearching out the true ſenſe of Gods worde, that we marke vponupon what occaſion eueryevery thing is ſpoken, what goeth before, what followeth after, at what ſeaſon, in what order, and of what perſon any thing is ſpoken. By the occaſion, and the ſentences going before and comming after, are examples and parables for the moſte parte expounded. Alſo, vnleſſe a man do alwayes marke the manner of ſpeaking throughout the whole Scriptures, and that verie diligently too, he can not chooſe in his expoſitions but erre very muche out of the right way.
Sainte Paule obſeruing the circumſtaunce of the time, did thereby conclude that Abraham was iuſtified neyther by Circumciſion, nor yet by the Lawe. The places are to be ſéene in the fourth to the Romanes, and the thirde to the Galathians: Againe, when it is ſayde to Peter, Put vp thy ſword into thy ſheath, He that taketh the ſworde ſhall periſhe with the ſworde: We muſt conſider that Peter bare the perſonage of an Apoſtle, and not of a Magiſtrate. For of the Magiſtrate we reade, that to him is giuen the ſworde to reuengement. But it woulde be ouer tedious and too troubleſome, to rehearſe more examples of eueryevery particular place.The expoſition of g…ds word …ſt be ma… by … layin… …ge…her of …iuers places.
There is alſo beſide theſe, another manner of interpreting the worde of God, that is, by conferring together the places whiche are like or vnlike, and by expounding the darker by the more euident, and the fewer by the more in number. Wheras therfore the Lorde ſayth, The father is greater then I, we muſt conſider that the ſame Lorde in another place ſayth, My father and I are all one. And whereas Iames the Apoſtle ſayth, That Abraham and we are iuſtified by workes, there are many places in Saint Paul to be ſet againſte that one. And this manner of interpreting did Peter the Apoſtle allowe, where he ſayth: We 2. Pet. 1.hauehave a right ſure worde of propheſie, wherevnto if ye attend, as vntounto a light that ſhineth in a darke place, ye doe well, vntill the daye dawne, and the daye ſtarre ariſe in your heartes.
That auncient writer Tertullian affirmeth, that they are heretiques, and not men of the right fayth, which drawe ſome odde thinges out of the Scriptures to their owne purpoſe, not hauing any reſpecte to the reſt. But doe by that meanes picke oute vntounto them ſelues a certaine fewe teſtimonies, which they woulde hauehave altogether to be beleeued, the whole Scripture in the meane ſeaſon gaine-ſaying it, bycauſe in deede the fewer places muſte be vnderſtoode according to the meaning of the more in number.
And finally, the moſte effectuall rule of all, whereby to expounde the The ſcri… tures m… be expo… ded wi… zealous … hertaf… earneſt prayer.worde of God, is an heart that loueth God and his glorye, not puffed vp with pryde, not deſirous of vayne glorye, not corrupted with hereſies and euill affections: but whiche doth continually praye to God for his holy ſpirite, that as by it ye ſcripture was reuealed and inſpired, ſo alſo by the ſame ſpirite, it maye be expounded to the glorye of God and ſafegarde of the faythfull.
Let the mynde of the interpreter be ſet on fire with zeale to aduaunce vertue, and with hatred of wickedneſſe euen to the ſuppreſſing thereof. Let not the heart of ſuche an expoſitor call to counſell that ſubtile Sophiſter the deuill, leaſt peraduenture nowe alſo he doe corrupt the ſenſe of Gods worde, as heretofore he did in Paradiſe. Let him not abide to heare mans wiſedome argue directly againſt the worde of God. This if the good and faythfull expoſitor of Gods worde ſhal doe, then although in ſome pointes he doe not (as the prouerbe ſayth) hit the very head of the nayle, in the darker ſenſe of the Scripture: yet notwithſtanding, that errour ought not to be condemned for an hereſie in the authour, nor iudged hurtfull vntounto the hearer. And who ſo euer ſhall bring ye darker, & more proper meaning of the Scripture to light, he ſhall not by and by condemne the vnperfect expoſition of that other: no more then he whiche is authour of the vnperfect expoſition, ſhall reiect the more proper ſenſe of the better expoſitour, but by acknowledging it ſhall receiue it with thankes giuing.
Thus muche hytherto hauehave I ſaid touching the ſenſe and expoſition of Gods worde: which, as God reuealed it to men, ſo alſo he would hauehave them in any caſe to vnderſtand it. Wherefore there is no cauſe for any man by reaſon of a few difficulties, to deſpaire to attaine to the true vnderſtanding of the Scriptures. The Scripture dothe admit a godly and religious interpretation. The worde of God is a rule for all men and ages to leade their lyues by: Therefore ought it by interpretation to be applyed to all ages, and men of all ſortes. For euen our God him ſelf did by Moſes in many wordes expounde and apply to his people the lawe, whiche he gaue and publiſhed in Mount Sina. Furthermore, it was a ſolemne vſe among the auncient Prophets, firſt to reade, and then by expoſitions to apply Gods law to the people. Our Lord Ieſus Chriſt him ſelfe expounded the Scriptures. The ſame did the Apoſtles alſo. The word of God therfore ought to be expounded: as for thoſe whiche woulde not hauehave it expounded, their meaning is bicauſe they would ſinne frely, with out controling or puniſhment. But wheras the Scripture doth admit an expoſition, it doth not yet admit any expoſition whatſoeuer. For that which ſauoureth of mans imagination it vtterly reiecteth. For as by the ſpirite of God the ſcripture was reuealed, ſo by the ſame ſpirit it is requiſite to expound it. There are therefore certaine rules, to expounde the worde of God religiouſly, by the very worde of God it ſelf: that is, ſo to expounde it, that the expoſition diſagrée not with the articles of our fayth, nor be contrarie to charitie towardes God and our neighbour: but that it be throughly ſurueyed, and grounded vponupon that whiche went before and followeth after, by diligent weighing of all the circumſtances, and laying together of the places. And chiefly it is requiſite, that the heart of the interpreter be godly bent, willing to plant vertue, and plucke vp vice by the rootes, and finally alwayes ready euermore to praye to the Lorde, that he will vouchſafe to illuminate oure myndes, that Gods name maye in all thinges be gloryfied. For his is the glory, honour, and dominion, for euer and euer. Amen.