Search the Scriptures, Introduction
Search the Scriptures. A TREATISE Shewing that all CHRISTIANS Ought to READ the HOLY BOOKS; WITH DIRECTIONS To them therein.
In Three PARTS.
LONDON, Printed for R. Royſton, Bookſeller to His moſt Sacred Majeſty. 1685.
Introduction.
THE Holy Scriptures, as the firſt Homily of our Church teaches all its Children, in the very beginning of it, are ſuch a Fountain and Well of Truth, that as many as be deſirous to enter into the right and perfect way unto God, muſt apply their minds to be acquainted with them: without which they can neither ſufficiently know God and his Will, nor their own Office and Duty. For in Holy Scripture is fully contained, what we ought to do, and what to eſchew; what to believe, what to love, and what to look for at God's hands, at length. And therefore theſe Books ought to be much in our hands, in our eyes, in our ears, in our mouths, but moſt of all in our hearts.
Ʋnto which ſort of Diſcourſe, which is grounded upon the VI. Article of our Religion, they of the Church of Rome are wont to make a double Exception.
One is, That there are ſome things neceſſary to be believed and practiſed, which are not to be found there: but muſt be received from ancient Traditions.
The other is, That thoſe Truths which are delivered in the Holy Scriptures, are not ſo clear and perſpicuous, that common people ſhould be intruſted with the reading of them.
Now to the Firſt of theſe, there hath been ſome time ago a plain Anſwer made in a Diſcourſe about Traditions: Therefore this Treatiſe is intended only as an Anſwer to the Second Exception. For the maintaining of which they are wont to alledge, among other places, thoſe remarkable words of St. Peter, in his Second Epiſtle, the Third Chapter, and Sixteenth Verſe. Where, having made mention of St. Paul's Epiſtles, which treated of the ſame matter, that he had juſt before explained, he ſays, In which are ſome things hard to be underſtood, which they that are unlearned and unſtable wreſt, as they do alſo the other Scriptures, unto their own deſtruction.
Behold, ſay they, how dangerous it is for common people to meddle with the Holy Scriptures: which, being compared by St. Paul himſelf to a two edged Sword, ought not to be put into their hands, for fear they deſtroy themſelves therewith.
It is true indeed the ſame St. Paul teaches us, Rom. XV. 4. that whatſoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning: and are profitable, as he writes elſewhere, 2 Tim. III. 16. for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inſtruction in righteouſneſs.
But this notwithſtanding, there are, ſay they, ſuch difficulties and obſcurities in the Holy Scriptures, as we learn from this great Apoſtle St. Peter, that they ought not to be thought profitable for all people; but rather hurtful to them that are ignorant: who therefore ought not to read them.
By which ſingle Inſtance, the Reader may learn, if he mark it well, what ſort of Interpretations of Scripture we are like to have; if we truſt to them alone, and do not ſee with our own eyes: when theſe very words of St. Peter do plainly teach us the quite contrary Doctrine to that which they would eſtabliſh by them.
I. For they are ſo far from containing a Reaſon why the people ſhould not read them, that, Firſt, they evidently ſuppoſe the commonpeople, even the unlearned among them, did in thoſe days read the Scriptures. Elſe they could not have wreſted them: as the Apoſtle ſays they did; and complains of that, but not of their reading them. And
II. Secondly, Theſe words do not affirm the whole Scripture to be hard to be underſtood, but only ſome part of it: St. Paul's Epiſtles at the moſt, or rather the things of which St. Peter had been treating. And not all of them neither, but only ſome things; foreign, ſome few things which would require pains, and diligent attention of mind, to comprehend the meaning of them. And
III. Thirdly, The Apoſtle doth not ſay, that all who read thoſe difficult paſſages, are in danger to wreſt them; but only the unlearned and unſtable; who abuſe the plaineſt Truths to their own ruine. As forothers, they may read even the hardeſt places in St. Paul's Epiſtles ſafely enough; nay, receive great profit from thence, as well as from other Scriptures: and they who wreſt them, are not to leave reading them; but to grow in true Chriſtian knowledge, and in Stability of mind.
Theſe are the three Parts of the inſuing Diſcourſe.
In treating and reading of which, Let us pray to God, (as the ſecond Homily concludes) that we may ſpeak, think, believe, live, and depart hence, according to the wholſom Doctrine and Verities of theſe holy Books. And by that means, in this World, have God's defence, favour and grace, with the unſpeakable ſolace of peace, and quietneſs of Conſcience; and after this miſerable life, enjoy the endleſs Bliſs and Glory of Heaven.