54 Chap.t 3. Rules,about thefenfeòftheScripture. Introdu&. contraries, lïmilies, and the like, by the Rules of Logique, yetthe literal fenfe, can bebut:one, in one place. 4. That is to be taken for the literal fenfe 'of every place, which theconftruCtion will bear, if it lead not into anabfurdity, and then it mull needs bea trope. Now feeing theremull bean Interpretation, and it muff be that which is literal, milefs it draw an abfurdity with it : we are now to come to the examinationof this fenfe; and becaufc we mull never look to flop the mouths of Salaries and Here- ticks, but they will flit' finde an occafion or place to wrangle upon,we muff therefore bring them to one of thefetwo inconveniences. Tit.;.r I. 1. Either to drive them to condemn themfelves in their own hearts. z Tira.3.9 2. Or becaufe the Devil loth fo much blinde the underftanding of fome, that they will not underftand reafon, we may argue fo long with them, till their folly be made manifeft to all men, as the Apoftle (peaks. We are to know that as in all other Sciences, fo in Divinity, the judgment of every Lib.e.de doll. thing is to be taken ex principiis from the Principles. Andconcerning the Principles chrift. in Divinity, whichare the Scriptures, St. Auguffine faith, In eis qua funs aperteap- poJta, inveniuntur crania qua pertinentad frdetttmorefque vivendi, in thofe things which are plainly let beforeus, we may finde all things belonging to faith and good life. Honúe.3 in' And Saint Chryfoffome, Msnifefla flint, qua Punt admores & fidem neceffaria, &c. thole T6eC o.3. d. things areapparent, which are neccifary to faith and manners : and MelchiorCanto toils r.eolog. faith, that there are divers places, of which none can give any other than the literal th, (1 fenfe, hr can wreft them, except he have a minde to wrangle. And Ireneus faith,that 0.46.47. the plain places make thePrinciples,by which all other of dubious underftandingmuff be judged. Now themeans to finde out the true fenfe of the Scripturesare many, but may be reduced to fix. r. Some means there are wherein all agree, as namely, there is,pietiuof diligentia adbibenda, goodncfs and diligence muff be ufed. And in the firfi place, Prayer, St. Au- ñr,lline faith, Orario poflulet, leîlio inquirtrt , medieatio inveniat, centemplatio degnfiet & digerat, letus askby Prayer, feck by reading, finde out by meditation, tafte and digeft it by contemplation. vs do2.cbrift. 2 The fecond meansis byconference of places.St. Anilinefaith,that the lefs plain tz c 8 place in Scriptures, is to be referred to that which is more plain, and the let's in num- nfts 17.11. ber to the more in number, which fecmeth to be according to the Counfel of theHo- ly Ghoft. 3. The third, Infpelfu Pentium, the better to'difcern the fignification of the words to confult with the Original Tongues ; with the Hebrew for the Old Teftament, and with the Greekfor the New. lieb. 5,10. 4. To beacquainted with the Phrafeof the Holy Ghoft, and this is tobe gottenby the knowledge of the Dialelt, idiome or Style of the Holy Spirit, as the Apoftle fpeaks, by ufc to difcern it, as the crucifying of the flefh, mortifying theconcupi. fcence, &c. for fometimes the Holy Ghoft in Greek fends us to the Holy Ghoft in Hebrew. And Mete three taft are for underftanding of words, the two next are for underftanding of Sentences and Chapters. t Tint.'. ' 5. The firtl is that which the Fathers call Oca rm ad fcopum, to have an eye to the intent : as what wasthe intent of giving the Law, in letting down loch a Prophetic, doing filch a Miracle, and the like : as Saint Paul to Timothy rcafoneth from the end of the Law, againft thofe that made evil'ufe of the Law. So faith Hilary. Ex renfle dicendi, habcmtus intelligentiem Doilorum, we Lindeout the meaning of the Learned,by finding out the cattle why a thing was fpoken. o, The 'aft is that which the wife men among the Jewsfay, we mull look round about us, behinde and before us, that is, we muff well weigh the Antecedents, and Confcquents, and-every Circumftance, to underhand any Sentence: and Chapters whereof we doubt. a z o 6 47, To theft. may beadded tñofe of frenesia and Auguftine, That cerry one of thcie do.F,chrig, Rules ferne not forevery thing, but to divers things, divers ways and means may be applied for the true underftanding of words and fentencc; in the Scripture. And therefore Stapletoncommitted an error. 1. Becaufe he perceiving' that fome of their Rules were not necenry to all, con - cluded that it was not necefïitry at al'. Se'
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