The Principle of Protestant Truth and Peace, Catechism · Chapter 7
CAP. VII. Of the Publick Interpretation of Scripture.
Queſt. THat the Progreſs upon this great Point may be made with the beſt Advantage, it will be neceſſary to ſtate the Amount of what hath been already aſſerted, viz. That Scripture is a Publick and Divine Record; and, That the Proof and Evidence it is Divine, is Divine and Publick alſo: What therefore do theſe two Poſitions ariſe to?
Anſw. They ariſe plainly to this; 1. That True Religion is at once given, unalterably fixed on Monuments of its own, and cannot receive the various Phaſes of Increaſe or Decreaſe, like the Moon, by new and upſtart Decrees, Canons, or Anathemas. 2. That Religion is in this Senſe Publick, even as God himſelf, that it is of free and open acceſs in the Scripture, and its Entertainment as liberal as the Light and the Fountains of Water; and no Man need wait till his Religion be drawn out of the private Repoſitory of Breaſt or Breaſts. 3. That the Aſſurance and Evidence of Scripture is very near us, when we come to treat with it; ſo that we need not ſend up to Heaven, that were to bring Scripture down from above, when it is come down already; nor beyond the Sea, to oldeſt Antiquity, for a Scale to it, which hath always the Broad Seal of Divinity with it; for that were to bring Scripture a ſecond time from the Apoſtles and former Ages, through which Divine Care and Providence hath already paſs'd it down to us, with the very ſame principal Aſſurance it gave them, viz. that Divine Life of Truth and Holineſs that cannot be far from any one of us; for in it our Underſtandings and Conſciences live, and move, and have their Beings, and in that Light alone ſee Light.
Queſt. But hath the Private Spirit of Apoſtate Angels, working by Corrupted Humane Nature, made no Attempt upon this Publick Record, though ſo every way guarded, as it is, to introduce a Falſe Religion, even under the Appearance of this Publick Authority of Scripture?
Anſw. Yes; that very notorious one of Private Interpretation.
Anſw. What is Private Interpretation?
Anſw. That it may be well underſtood, being a very great Inſtrument of the Falſe Spirit, we muſt proceed by degrees to the true Comprehenſion of it: And firſt, in the ſtrictneſs of its Notion, it is an affixing a Senſe to Scripture, or any part of it, that does not ſo evidently and indiſputably flow from Scripture, as to partake of the Divinity of Scripture.
Queſt. How ſhould an Interpretation be ſo made of Scripture, as to partake of its Divineneſs?
Anſw. An Interpretation is as Divine as Scripture, when it is the true evident Importance and Senſe of Scripture Words and Scope, and carries the perfect Spirit and Analogie of Scripture with it, or is a Deduction and Doctrine ariſing from Scripture, meaſured by the Context by its uſual ways of expreſſing it ſelf, and the compare of one Place of Scripture with another, ſo as to evince it ſelf to be a juſt and neceſſary Conſequence.
Queſt. What is the Effect of ſuch Interpretations?
Anſw. Every one that ſoberly, and impartially, and piouſly attends to it, cannot but be convinced and inſtructed by it, as the true Divine Scripture-Senſe, opened and applied to him.
Queſt. How elſe may Interpretation be Publick and Divine, even as Scripture it ſelf?
Anſw. When there is truly a Divine Preſence, and ſuch Motives of Credibility by which a rightly qualified Perſon may be induced to believe, that ſuch an Interpreter is immediately aſſiſted by the Holy Spirit to give ſuch an Interpretation, that elſe could not be found by any Created Sagacity or Induſtry, in ſuch particular Places of Scripture, either from the Importance of the Words, the ſtrength of the Context, or Scope, or in the Analogie of Scripture, comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual.
Queſt. What are to be underſtood to be Motives of Credibility in ſo great a Caſe?
Anſw. The Divine Senſe of an Interpretation, agreeable with all thoſe ſo ſelf-evident Notions of God, and all Goodneſs; the Weight and Gravity of the Matter; The Authoritativeneſs of Scripture Language and Elocution; Miracles; Agreement with all former Scripture; Awes upon the Conſcience; Inward Illumination of the Holy Spirit, in its Sanctifying and Heavenly Influences breathing in it, and with it. Theſe are a Divine and Publick Preſence, and abſolutely conſtitute further Scripture, even as they illuſtrate and put a greater Splendour upon former Scripture, and compleat it.
Queſt. Who were ſuch Interpreters of former Scripture?
Anſw. The Prophets were ſuch Interpreters upon the Law in their Time, even all that writ after Moſes, who either by Hiſtories, compiled by ſuch Divine Inſpiration, gave Examples agreeable to the Scope of the Law, or by Sermons ſtirr'd up to the Obedience of it, and reproved the Diſobedience; or by Divine Meditations, Diſcourſes, and Hymns, diſplay'd it; or by Propheſies foretold the Government of God in his Church, and in the World according to it; but eſpecially accommodated all things in it under Prophetick Veils, to Chriſt, and the State of True Religion under the New Teſtament: All the Prophets from Samuel, and all that followed after, as many as have ſpoken, foretold likewiſe of theſe days: All which together fill up wholly the Spaces of Scripture in the Old Teſtament.
Queſt. How did the New Teſtament, and the Writers of it, ſucceed in this great Office of Expounding and Summing up Scripture in this Publick Divine Authority?
Anſw. They were above all that went before them: For, John the Baptiſt, than whom a greater Prophet among them that were born of Women had not riſen, yet he that was leaſt in the Kingdom of God, in the more explained State of Chriſtianity, was greater than he.
Queſt. How is this Notion of Publick Interpretation, contradiſtinguiſh'd to Private, made good out of Scripture it ſelf?
Anſw. From the Apoſtle Peter, who expreſly tells us, Scripture is not of any Private Interpretation: Whoſe Senſe in that place is very neceſſary to be purſued, both as it much clears the Nature of Private Interpretation, and alſo ſtrengthens the Foundations of the New Teſtament, as laid in the Old.
Queſt. But you know the Original Word there uſed, and tranſlated Interpretation, is by ſome underſtood for no more than the Prophetick Declaration, or Interpreting the Mind of God, revealed by Inſpiration; and by very many, another Word ſignifying Inſpiration it ſelf, o… the Illapſe of the Divine Spirit in thoſe Prophetick Revelations, is preferred to the Word tranſlated Interpretation, as the more genuine Reading.
Anſw. I know the Current of Expoſitors both the ways you mention; but againſt them both there is this great Reaſon: No other but Interpretation, and that ſtrictly taken, will fit the Apoſtles Purpoſe.
Queſt. What was the Apoſtles Purpoſe?
Anſw. To aſſure the Jewiſh Chriſtians in the Truth of Chriſtianity, out of that more ſure Word of Propheſie in the Old Teſtament.
Queſt. Was it not then to the purpoſe, to aſſure the Divine Original of that Word of Propheſie, and to aſſert its immediate Deſcent from the Publick Holy Spirit?
Anſw. That indeed was neceſſarily ſuppos'd and included, or rather concluded on all hands; but not the cloſe Point in diſcourſe: For, the Sacredneſs of the Old Teſtament being agreed both by Jews and Chriſtians, the Apoſtle commends the giving heed to it, as to a Light that ſhone in a dark place, a great Lamp ſhining when all was dark and deep Night about, till the Day of the Goſpel dawn'd, and Chriſt, the Day-ſtar, aroſe in their Hearts by Faith.
Queſt. What was the preciſe Mark the Apoſtle was to aim at?
Anſw. To vindicate the true way of Interpreting this ſure Word of Prophefie.
Queſt. Why was this ſo much to his purpoſe?
Anſw. Becauſe the whole Stream of Interpretation of the Old Teſtament among the Jews run againſt Chriſtianity.
Queſt. Whence came this Current of Falſe Interpretation?
Anſw. Even from whence Interpretation might ſeem leaſt of all to deſerve the name of Private, from the Scribes and Phariſees, Doctors of the Law, Elders of the People, who vogued themſelves the Publick, and ſo Proprietors of the Senſe and Interpretation of the Scriptures; but, as our Saviour ſays, they had indeed taken away this true Key of Knowledge, neither entring in themſelves, nor ſuffering thoſe that would.
Queſt. How does the Apoſtle vindicate this Point?
Anſw. By a vehement Caution on thoſe to whom he writ, to meaſure from the Publick and Divine Original of Scripture, to the Interpretation, as neceſſarily to be Publick and Divine alſo; You do well (ſaith he) to take heed to the Word of Propheſie of the Old Teſtament, as yet more ſure to you than the New can be; if you do but know and well conſider this firſt, and lay it in the Foundation, That Scripture cannot be ſubject to a Private Intetpretation, whoſe Original you your ſelves, together with us, acknowledge as Publick as the Holy Spirit: For, can that be ſubject to the Will and Diſpoſe of Man in the Interpretation, that came not by the Will of Man, but by the Supreme Motion of the Holy Ghoſt, in the Original?
Queſt. Wherein lies the Strength of this Argument?
Anſw. In this: If the Interpretation of Scripture be not as high as the Original, ſo high an Original is to no purpoſe: For Senſe being more Scripture than Words, and Interpretation aſſigning the Senſe, if That be Private, All is Private at the Rebound, and not Divine: elſe a Divine Original ſhall be miſmatch'd, controll'd, and even made ſervile by and to a Private, and often a Falſe and Unworthy Interpretation.
Queſt. Into what Ʋſe and Effect did this Argument iſſue?
Anſw. To a ſilent calling them to compare the Manner and Kind of Interpretation uſed by the Lord and his Apoſtles, and that other of the Jewiſh Doctors, and then to …udge which appeared Divine, and from God, which not; and they would eaſily give the Preference to our Lord and his Miniſters, as the only Divine Interpreters.
Queſt. How then did our Saviour and the Apoſtles juſtifie their Interpretation to be Publick and Divine?
Anſw. By one of the two fore-named ways; either from the evident Importance of ſome very expreſs Scriptures of the Old Teſtament, applied in the New; as David's calling Chriſt (who was his Son) Lord, which muzled the very Adverſaries; or by the immediate Preſence of the Divine Spirit, diſcovering what it had treaſured and ſealed up in ſuch Expreſſions, which Eye could not ſee, nor Heart conceive, till in due time the Spirit it ſelf revealed them: The Spirit, that knows its own Depths; the Spirit, to whom are known all its own Deſigns, from the firſt Foundations or Beginning of Scripture, to the higheſt Stone in the Structure, or End of it: The Top is known to it in the very Bottom; the End, in the Beginning. That therefore which was ſeen to Men only in the Rudiment or Foundation, and ſeem'd to mean no more, appeared at that very time to him in the Complement, and he applies it to that Complement, as certainly and juſtly as they did to the firſt Rudiment or Foundation: As, Out of Egypt have I called my Son, was as truly applied to Chriſt's coming out of Egypt, being then come to its Perfection of Senſe, as it was applied to Iſrael coming out of Egypt in the firſt Rudiment; and the Divine Spirit as truly meant the laſt as the firſt, though none could know its Senſe but it ſelf, till it ſelf revealed it.
Queſt. How could it be proved the Miniſters of the New Teſtament had the true Key of Interpretation committed to them by the Spirit?
Anſw. By the concurrence of all things that juſtified the firſt Writers of Scriptures to be Commiſſioned by God; Great and weighty Truth, Holy, Heavenly, becoming God, as the Author; ſuch Speech, as none beſide the Writers of Scripture ever ſpoke; all of a piece with former Scripture; Miracles; mighty Efficacy upon Conſciences; the Glory of God; the Salvation of Souls; the aboliſhing of Sin, the Ends deſigned in all; the removing all lower Forms and Ceremonies for the time being, into a moſt High, Spiritual, Subſtantial Religion; True Peace of Conſcience introduced. Theſe, with innumerable others, concurring in any Interpretation of former Scripture, that could not elſe be found out in its full Meaning, do both enlighten former Scripture, and enlarge it into further and more Scriptures.
Queſt. If then our Lord and his Apoſtles, in Interpreting the Old Teſtament by the immediate Preſence of the Holy Spirit, reſting without meaſure on our Saviour, and in full meaſures on the Apoſtles, diſcover'd that Senſe in the Ancient Scriptures which was indeed depoſited there, but could not be unlock'd by any Created Wiſdom; it will follow thence, That it is an unneceſſary Labour of many Worthy Expoſitors of Scriptures, to preſs too hard in every Quotation of the Old Teſtament we find in the New, for a free and full Confeſſion of all that Senſe it there expreſſes, as if it could naturally ariſe from ſo many Words and Syllables ſo put together, having power and vertue by themſelves to ſignifie ſo high; ſince the Holy Spirit had a reach in them, which none could graſp or fathom, but it ſelf; and contriv'd that Senſe ſo into Words, as none could ſummon it but it ſelf; and that it reſted upon the Lord and his Apoſtles to bring it to light, and reveal it into New and Higher Scriptures; and that it appears as undeniably they did ſo, as that the Old Teſtament it ſelf is Scripture.
Anſw. The Induſtry of ſuch Worthy Perſons is not to be blamed, to trace the Senſe of the New Teſtament in the Words of the Old, as far as it is poſſible for them to go: But if they cannot give Satisfaction to cavelling Atheiſts, or Infidels, or to the Scruples of Good Men, it ſtill remains a juſt Ground of Satisfaction: The Spirit, that carried, by an Almighty Hand, the Writers of the Old Teſtament, carried thoſe Penmen of the New by the ſame alſo; and from one ſingle Glance of its Meaning, that it ſelf, with Divine Artifice, had left drawn there, it derives that full Face of Truth in the New, to be its Senſe in the Old, than that Samſon's Riddle in the Expoſition, ſhould be his Senſe in the dark Cover of it in Words that could not elſe import it. He that created the Words in the Old Teſtament, and even then inſpired them with that Divineſt Senſe, as with Life, might yet ſuffer it to lie intoomb'd in them, till it ſelf, that entruſted it there, gave it a Reſurrection in the New.
Queſt. But would you have none undertake in the Interpreting or Expounding Scripture, except by Inſpiration, or the Evidences of immediate Divine Preſence, where either Scripture is not ſo expreſs as to be its own undoubted Interpreter, or the Interpretation deduced as evidently as any Conſequence by Reaſon?
Anſw. Far be it from me to diſcourage or leſſen ſuch Undertakings; I rather wiſh all the Lord's People thus far Prophets, to ſearch the Meaning of Scripture, with all the Helps and Advantages they can attain; and that in the mean time all thoſe who have any part of the Prophetick Office upon them, would read and meditate day and night, to Interpret Scripture to themſelves and others.
Queſt. But how is ſuch Interpretation conſiſtent with the Apoſtles ſo great Aſſertion, That Scripture is not of any Private Interpretation?
Anſw. Firſt, Interpretation guiding it ſelf by the plain, evident, and Self-Interpreting Oracles of Scripture, in things abſolutely neceſſary to Salvation, diſplays a Body of Divine, Publick Truth, which in regard of the Darkneſs, Inattendence, and Inconſideration of the generality of the very Profeſſors of the Faith of the Scriptures, and much more in regard of the great Indiſpoſedneſs of their Hearts to the Obedience of Scriptures, need ſuch conſtant Diſplays by Applicatory Interpretation, and a diſtinct Office, to attend continually on this very Thing. And yet the main Concernment of ſuch Interpretation lies in what is ſo plain, that, when opened and applied, it is impoſſible to be doubted of, as Scriptures Senſe.
2. Such Interpretation as may be Private in regard of its Derivation of any Doctrine from ſuch or ſuch a particular Place of Scripture, yet keeping it ſelf to the Analogy of Scripture, in the plain and undoubted Senſe in other Places, does ſtill maintain the free and Publick Courſe of the Waters of Life.
3. Interpretation of Scripture thus guiding it ſelf according to the evident Senſe of Scripture, in its cleareſt Parts, and taking that as a Clew into the more abſtruſe Parts of Scripture, neceſſarily encounters much Sound and excellent Truth, nearly allied to Publick and Divine, in all Knowledge, Natural, Hiſtorical, Chronological, Moral, Political, pertaining to Language and Eloquence, which makes the World more lightſom, and leſs ſubject to the Tyranny of the Prince of Darkneſs. How great a Light of all Learning hath broken out from the very Endeavours of Interpreting Scripture, to the Glory of the Father of Lights, the high Honour and venerable Eſtimation of Scripture, the much Aſcertaining True Publick Religion, and the Univerſal Good!
4. Many great Truths, and undoubtedly Divine in themſelves, that, being more at a diſtance from thoſe that are neceſſary to Salvation, it hath not pleaſed the Publick Wiſdom of the World to give ſuch Aſſurance of them, as that they ſhould be impoſed upon the Belief of all that acknowledge the Sacred Authority of Scriptures, and yet may preſent very large Satisfactions to the Minds of thoſe who are aſſiſted by the Holy Spirit, into the great Scripture-Reaſon, in ſuch Points, though but particularly for themſelves: They may then taſte the Graciouſneſs of God, and the Gratefulneſs of Truth in them, without impoſing on any others, who cannot ſee by their Light.
5. Yea, even in things controverted between Holy, Wiſe, and Good Men, in Interpreting Scri…ure, each part of the Controverſie, when both cannot be reconciled in their Senſe, yet ſupports and makes ſtronger to their Faith ſome grand, evident Principles of Divine and Publick Truth, in which both Sides meet, and are firmly united, and to which each reconcile their own Opinions, wherein they ſeem to differ from ſuch Principles, or from one another, and leave a Middle, in which they may meet one another, and wherein Perſons unconcern'd in their Controverſies reſt: Upon which Agitations yet follow great Illuſtrations and Confirmations of ſuch Grand Principles, and Enlargements of Knowledge, by the very Traverſes of Diſpute, among Men ſincerely affected to Truth, and who ſearch into it, without the Love of Contention, without Bitterneſs and Animoſity; but humbly, modeſtly, and with largeneſs of Mind towards thoſe that diſſent from them.
6. God, the Friend of Univerſal Knowledge, allows the Souls gratification of it ſelf with probable Sentiments, reſtrained within due Bounds, that may grow from Scripture-Interpretation.
7. And laſtly, Pardons the Infirmities adhering to Humane Tranſactions, in this moſt neceſſary Duty of Searching the Scriptures, and over-rules ſuch Miſcarriages, yea, and even the more malevolent Diſtempers of Men herein, ſome way or other, to Good; and makes them oftentimes Servants to ſome great Points of Truth.
Queſt. All this that hath been deſcribed, I confeſs, agrees with ſo Publick and Catholick a Record as Scripture is: A Record, wherein every one that comes to it, may ſearch his own Intereſt and Concern in it, and improve it to the utmoſt: A Record that offers and expoſes it ſelf to be underſtood and cloſely inquired into by all. But how is it ſecured from a multitude of Private Interpretations, when ſo many Interpretations, acknow…dgedly Private, continually paſs upon it?
Anſw. Herein it is ſecure; 1. That Scripture is not of any Interpretation, but its own native Senſe: It is not under the Power of any other: It ſtands free, and clear, far above all Interpretation of Men, to be conſidered by any one in it ſelf, and not under ſuch Interpretation. Such Interpretation does not become Scripture, nor bind any one under the Curſe fixed on thoſe that add to Scripture, or take from it. Theſe Interpretations may be added to, or taken from, according as Men ſee Reaſons of Scripture preponderating one way or other. This is the Freedom of Scripture, to ſuffer all due approaches to its Senſe. This is its moſt ſevere Conſtancy to refuſe all, but its own true Senſe.
2. As Scripture is not of any Interpretation, but its own Native Senſe, ſo its Senſe is of no other Evidence, but of Spiritual Divine, and truly Rational Evidence; ſo that if any Man does not bring ſuch proofs of Scripture Senſe, as agree with Scriptures way of Evidencing it ſelf; and Scriptures way is not that of Private Authority, or Humane Impoſition, but of Divine Authority and Preſence; his Interpretation, however true, yet does not bind, as it is his Interpretation, or upon any other Recommendation, but Scriptures proper ways of recommending it ſelf: I ſpeak as to Wiſe Men, judge ye what I ſay.
Queſt. What then is that Private Interpretation the Apoſtle remonſtrates againſt?
Anſw. All Interpretation that brings no Credentials from evident Scripture-ſenſe, nor from Heaven, of immediate Inſpiration, much more if Falſe, or Mean, and impoſſible to be ſo derived, and yet would impale and incloſe Scripture within it ſelf, and impoſe it ſelf upon the Conſciences and Judgments of others, and ſo bring them under Bondage: That which forbids Men to Interpret for themſelves, though with utmoſt Induſtry, and all the Aſſiſtance they can uſe, and the Implorings of Divine Aſſiſtance: That which gives out Private Oracles at pleaſure, and too often moſt Falſe ones, as if they were Scripture, and for its own Private ſake would lock Scripture from the poſſibility of being Interpreted even by it ſelf, ſequeſtring it into an unknown Tongue, from great Multitudes of all Nations profeſſing Jeſus Chriſt. This is indeed Private Interpretation, and adding to Scripture, making another Scripture, which yet is not another.
And thus are all lower Degrees of this Tyranny to be eſtimated, according to their ſeveral Graduations in it; impoſing upon Men, as from ſome Scriptural Authority, what is not of the True Excellency, Spirit, and High Deſcent of Scripture, nor manifeſted in Mens Conſciences, as Scripture manifeſts it ſelf.
Queſt. Is it not then neceſſary, in regard of the Confuſion ariſing from the variouſneſs and incertainty of every Man Interpreting for himſelf, and without certain Divine Evidence, that there ſhould be ſome Infallible Publick Interpreter, ſo Divinely aſſiſted as you deſcribe? And is it not reaſonable to believe there is ſuch a one, ſeeing we cannot ſuppoſe God is wanting to his Church in ſuch a Neceſſary?
Anſw. 1. Scripture it ſelf is ſuch an Infallible Interpreter, it being in all things neceſſary to Salvation both clear and certain, to all but the ſelf▪condemned Heretick, or Ignorant.
2. When there comes ſuch an Infallible Interpreter, bearing the Seal of ſuch Credentials, as the Scripture does, we will receive him. Till ſuch an Interpreter, ſo arm'd, comes to us, we are never the better for his Pretence to Infallibility; But all that receive him are deſtroyed by him, when he brings Falſhood for Truth under ſo great a Title; ſo that he becomes more an Apollyon, or Deſtroyer of the Church, than an open Enemy can be.
Queſt. Muſt we not then neceſſarily ſuppoſe great Tracts of Scripture lying like unknown Land, for want of Publick Interpretation?
Anſw. That there may be ſo, cannot be denied, in Controverted or Prophetick Parts of Scripture: Yet that God hath been pleaſed to communicate much uſeful Knowledge relating to them, is moſt evident, and moſt thankfully to be acknowledged to his Goodneſs and Bounty.
Queſt. What Expectation is there of a Full and Certain Publick Interpretation of all ſuch Scriptures?
Anſw. It is not for us to know the Times and Seaſons, which the Father hath put in his own power: But, moſt probably, at the time of fulfilling the great Propheſies of the New Teſtament, there ſhall be ſuch ex…raordinary Effuſions of the Divine Spirit, as ſhall expedite all Doubt, and make every thing clear, the Knowledge of which is not reſerved for Heaven, to adorn the Abſolute State of Perfection there.
Queſt. Seeing by all that hath been ſaid, it appears, how incongruous Private Interpretation is to Publick Scripture, or that the Will of Man ſhould be truſted with the one, and not with the other; What Account therefore can be given of Tranſlations? May not they bring in a Private Interpretation upon Scripture, if not performed by an immediate Divine Aſſiſtance?
Anſw. Even as in the ſafe Conveyance of Scripture it ſelf, and preſerving it pure from groſs Falſifications, ſo in Tranſlations, we muſt leave God to be the Governour of the World, and of his Church. He hath been pleaſed to order the Conveyance of Scriptures into ſo many Languages, by raiſing up many to travel in the Knowledge of all Tongues, and the Keys of them, as in the Originals, to find out their Meaning, and to transfuſe them into all other Languages, and that, by ſo many, of ſeveral Ages and Nations, as makes all Combination to deceive, impoſſible; and Univerſal Deception, next to impoſſible, upon the Tranſlators themſelves. Theſe things are under his ſupreme Care: It is enough to us, there is brought to our Knowledge ſuch an excellent Doctrine, riſing out of ſo many Divine Sayings and Diſcourſes, that are as ſo many Stars in the Firmament of Truth, clear as the Luminaries of that name in the Heavens. Why ſhould we then be more than modeſtly and humbly concerned to know all the Ages they have paſs'd through before they came to us, or all the Secrets concerning their Motion and Appearance, that he onelyonly knows, that calls the Stars by their Names? It is enough, they evidently and undeniably declare God to us, and aſſure us by their Light, by their regular Motion according to the Laws of Truth and Goodneſs, that they are Stars, the Greater and the Leſſer differing one from another in Glory, yet all Stars, and of a truly Divine Luſtre, Certain, and not Wandring.
Queſt. Let us now hear the Concluſion of this whole Matter.
Anſw. It reſts in theſe two things.
1. That the Evidences of the Divine Preſence in the Scriptures, and all the principal Branches thereof, are as clear and certain, and do ſatiate the Soul and its Faculties, inlightned by the general Influences of the Divine Spirit, much more by its ſanctifying Efficacy, even as the cleareſt Notions we have of Things do, and much above them: And that theſe Evidences are the ſame in the Original Scriptures, and in the Tranſlations, for that they are indeed All Original, and not capable of any Tranſlation, but make even Tranſlation an Original.
2. That as Scripture is ſuch a Contexture, and makes up ſuch a Book, God, the ſupreme Governour of the Church, and of the World in general, hath always, and does always take care of its preſervation▪ from ſuch Corruptions as would injure thoſe Evidences of Divine Inſpiration he hath ingraven upon it, not only upon the Subſtance, but upon the very Contexture; and the very ſame care he hath taken for the Conveyance of it, by agreeable Tranſlations, to the ſeveral Nations in their own Tongue, to whom he hath vouchſafed the Scriptures themſelves, or the Doctrine of them.
Queſt. Hath God wrought miraculouſly to theſe Ends?
Anſw. That need not be aſſerted; but he hath, by the ordinary Interpoſals of Providence, watchful in every thing over its own Ends, brought all to paſs he in Wiſdom thought neceſſary.
Queſt. What Viſible Means hath Providence uſed for the ſecur…g Scriptu…es againſt foul Corruptions?
Anſw. Continual and various Copyings of the Original, even in the Days of the Writers, in the very time of the Inſpection and Miniſtry of the Prophets and Apoſtles; and downwards from them, both by Manuſcript and Print: which various Copies being compared, though they have not to the degree of a M…racle agreed in Minutes, have yet concerted the Subſtance.
Queſt. What care hath God been pleaſed to take with regard …o Tranſlations?
Anſw. Very eminent, where it needed moſt: For, ſome Ages before the coming of the Meſſiah, it came (no doubt by Divine Superintendency, which hath the Hearts of Kings in his Hands, and turns them as the Rivers of Water) into the Heart of a Great and Learned Prince of Aegypt, to procure the Tranſlation of the Divine Law into the Greek, the then moſt known Language of the World. Seventy two Seniors of the Jews, as Hiſtory moſt generally agrees, the Learnedeſt in their Native Hebrew, were employed in it. This Tranſlation was generally and publickly received among the Jews, was approved by our Lord and his Apoſtles in ſeveral Quotations.
Hereby there was at once a Preparation of thoſe Scriptures to the moſt Publick Notice, an Aſſurance of the true Import of the Hebrew Tongue, and an authoriſed Tranſlation: And in the ſame ſo known Greek Language, wherein are repoſed ſuch Treaſures of all Literature, is added that moſt Sacred Roll of the New Teſtament.
And from that time have there been, by the great Induſtry God hath excited Men to, ſeveral Verſions of the Old and New Teſtament, into a great variety of Languages, with ſtrict Expoſitory Reſearches, and Criticiſms, upon all that concerns either the Readings, or the Senſe of Words and Phraſes, as well as the Doctrine contained in them; by which there might be a freer Propagation of Sacred Knowledge, and a Security againſt ſuch Corruptions and Miſtakes as might efface the Divine Image, or any of the Lineaments of it, in …eſe Records, or their Tranſlations, however differing, as I have ſaid, in minuter Things.