Further Discovery of the Quakers, Reply · Position 15
Poſition 15. That there ought to be no ſenſe, meaning, or expoſition given, or ſtudying of the Scriptures.
We had many proofes for this, that it was a Poſition of th… Quakers, which he denyes not; we could adde more, but 'ti… needleſſe, becauſe Nayler in his anſwer goes about to juſtifie it … the ſumme of which lyes in theſe two exceptions.
Excep. 1 The Scriptures are either perfect, or not perfect; if perfect, l… them alone, and doe not darken them by your invented wiſedome.
Reply 1 Though Scripture be perfect in it ſelfe, yet needs expounding through the darknet of ſoules.To which we anſwer: The Scriptures were given out perfect by the Prophets and Apoſtles; yet they gave them out i… ſome places more darkely, and in ſome places more clearely as Peter plainely confeſſeth, 2 Pet. 3.16. that ſome things i… Pauls Epiſtles were hard to be underſtood, and layd downe … darkly, as that thoſe that were unlearned, that is, not well a… quainted with the mind of the holy Ghoſt in them, did wr… them to their owne deſtruction; which ſhewes the neceſſity opening and expounding Scriptures, unleſſe we will ſuffer m… through their ignorance to runne upon their owne ruine. 2. Were the Scriptures imperfect, or did Ezra adde to them, becauſe he gave the ſenſe, and cauſed them to underſtand the Reading? Neh. 3.8. 3. Doth not Chriſt ſpeake the neceſſity of expounding Scripture, though it be perfect, when he ſaid to the Phariſees, Goe learne what that meaneth, I will have mercy and not ſacrifice? Mat. 9.13. Nay, doth not Chriſt clearly aſſert the neceſſity of expounding, when he ſaith Marke 12.24. Doe yee not therefore erre, not knowing the Scriptures? Ver. 26 Have ye not Read in the Booke of Moſes, how God ſpake unto him in the Buſh ſaying, I am the God of Abraham, &c. he is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living? where he op…n; the Scripture, and proves the Reſurrection from thence, wh ch lay but darkely hid in thoſe words, had not he that had the Key of David opened and expounded them. 4. The neceſſi…y of expounding doth not ariſe from the imperfection of Scriptures but from that darkeneſſe that lyes upon the ſpirits of the ſaints. For now we ſee through a glaſſe darkely, 1 Cor. 13. ſo that though the Scriptures be perfect in them elves, yet thou ſeeſt the neceſſity of the opening of them through the imperfecti…n that is in us. This Chriſt and the Apoſtles knew, when they made it a great part of their buſineſſe in the teaching of ſoules to expound the Scriptures,
Excep. 2 You that have not that infallible ſpirit that gave them forth, what will you judge, and open, and expound them with? &c.
Reply. This is but an old ſtraine of his railing, but we can (let prayſes be to free grace) ſay with the Apoſtle, God hath revealed them unto us by the ſpirit; by the light of which ſpirit we are taught to compare ſpirituall things with ſpirituall, 1 Cor 2.13. and ſo to open the Scriptures; for though we are the leaſt of ſaints, and Nayler thus revile us: yet we can bleſſe God for the in dwelling… of the infallible ſpirit in us, which communicates light to our ſoules in that meaſure that pleaſeth him, dividing to every man ſeverally as he will.
The reſt of that anſwer is a heape of bitter rayling which is no more to us, then the chaffe before the wind, or the Viper up…n Pauls hand, which comes forth from the flaming of their contention, James 3.6. and we can ſhake off as into the fire from whence it came.