The Truth and Certainty of the Protestant Faith, Section 3
SECT. III.
Qu. IS it not to the Church, and to no private perſon, That the ſupreme Authority, and power of interpreting the Scripture, and to be judge of the true ſenſe thereof, doth belong? Anſ. The Scriptures is the alone infallible Rule for interpreting it ſelf: And to none but to the Holy Ghoſt ſpeaking to us there, can ſuch Authority be aſcribed. 1. Becauſe Scripture is the ſupreme ſtandard, by which we are called to prove all things, 1 Theſ. 5: 21. and to know the Spirits, whether they be of God or not, 1 Joh. 4: 1. Yea, thus muſt the Doctrine of the Church be known. 2. The ſenſe of the Scripture is the Scripture it ſelf, which thence only can be ſought, and underſtood by the ſame Spirit, that indited it. 3. We ſee by▪ innumerable inſtances, that where in one place it ſpeaks more darkly, it doth explain it ſelf in another, and thus refers us to its own interpretation; yea, how with a greater light and plainneſſe Truths are opened up in the New Teſtament, which more darkly, and as under a Vail, were held forth in the Old. Qu. But the Scripture is of no private interpretation, therefore to the Church only it muſt belong? Anſ. This only ſhews the Scriptures Interpretation can be ſubjected to no humane Comments, nor hath its Authority of men, and from their private judgements, whatever place they bear in the Church; but muſt be ſought from the Scripture it ſelf, and according to the Analogie of Faith, but no ground in the leaſt to deny acceſſe to private perſons, to know and ſeek after the true ſenſe of the Scripture. Qu. What aſſurance can any have, that ſuch is the true ſenſe of the Scripture, without ſome authoritative deciſion of the Church? Anſ. We know, 1. That the promiſe, Joh. 7: 17. ſtands good to every one of the Saints, If any man do my will, he ſhall know my Doctrine, whether it be of God or not: And ſuch who object this, dare not (I am ſure) reſtrict the giving of the Spirit for that end to their Church-Doctors onlie. 2. If the ſenſe of any thing written can be underſtood, then it is ſure the moſt weighty and neceſſarie truths of the Scripture are ſo obviouſlie plain, as they can bear no other ſenſe and meaning, except men quit the very uſe of Reaſon and Judgement. 3. Where the Scriptur… is more dark, there want not peculiar helps and means for a Chriſtians attaining the true ſenſe thereof, ſuch as ſerious prayer; the knowledg of the original languages, and repairing to theſe fountains themſelves; advertency to the ſcope, and intent of the Scripture; yea, a dexterous comparing of one place with another; with a prudent uſe of the judgement, and commentaries of ſuch, as have written thereon, though not implicitely to reſt upon them. Qu. Bu… hath not the Scripture ſo various ſenſes, as neceſſarily requires a living and viſible Judge, to decide when to take it in a literal, or in a figurative ſenſe? Anſ. It concerns the Romiſh Church to impoſe divers ſenſes on the Scripture, that it may have none at all: though we deny not ſome figurative expreſſions, the true ſenſe whereof muſt be underſtood from what is the obvious intent as the ſcope of ſuch a Scripture, & not the very words themſelves. Such as Mat. 5: 29. If thine eye offend thee pluck it out. Pſal. 91: 13. Thou ſhal… tread upon the lion, and the dragon: But it is moſt clear. 1. That one true and genuine ſenſe the Scripture only hath, from the words rightly underſtood, which is the literal ſenſe, and thence only Arguments can be taken to prove any truth. 2. That in truths neceſſary to Salvation is no thing figuratively expreſſed, but what is with greateſt plainneſſe, to the diſcerning of all, held forth, 3. What the Romiſh Church pleads for, of an Allegorick, Moral and Typical ſenſe, they are no different ſenſes of the Scripture, but a different application and accommodation of one and the ſame Scripture divers ways, in the uſe whereof much caution and ſobriety is needful: and though a neceſſarie reſpect is to be had always to the Type, and the thing Typified; yet, even there, is the ſenſe ſtill one and the ſame.