The Covenant of Works Chap.18 lation followed fo much by the Evangelifts and Apoftles . I fup- pofe,all will yield that ours is more exat after the Original, then was that of the Seventy And yet there was no cheat in thofe tranflations ; if there had, rhofe witneffes of Chrift had not been filent, and yet not fuch a perfe&ion that will bear no amendment. There is (till ufe of examination of them , of afferting and de- fending them ; But be it granted that the tranflation is every way exact and full,, does it follow that there needs no help or inters pretation ? The people of the Jewes had the Original it fell, and fpake the language in which Scripture was written ; yet the Priefis lips were then to preferve knowledge ,and the people were to feel¿, the law at his mouth, Mal. z. 6. The cabinet was open to them,as it is to us ; yet there needed a key for farther opening. Thofe two Difciples , with whom Chrift had to deale with upon the way, had the Scriptures, either in the tranflation or Original, as is evident from Chrifts own words, reproving them for not be- leeving allthat the Prophets had written, and yet a key of interpre- tation was needful!, and ufefull; (brim opened- unto them the Scriptures, Luke 24. 32. If this Coupa /ovate Samaritane were queftioned (as the Eunuch was by Philip) underiandefl thou what thou readeff,? he would not have given his anfwer , How 'hall 1 underfland without an interpreter ? But would ftreight' have an- f%vered,Yes, as well as any lingu ift in the word ; I' have no need of your help for interpretation. The cabinet is open, fpare your key. This was one of the Arts that fome Prelates made ufe of,' to keep up a reading Miniftery, to perfwade, that Scriptures were fo plain díft ntily read in our own tongue, that they might be underftood without any interpretation. But the plainneffe and eafineffe of a rule, and the ufe of means for underftanding of it Rand together ; we maintaine a plainneffe in Scripture for the fimple-to underftand, but not fitting idly , and lazily; but fearch- ing the Scriptures, making ufe of thofe gifts of Chrift, which he flied forth from the right hand of the Father, for the edifying of his body; Till we come into the unity of the faith and !knowledge of tho Sonne of God, unto a perfeu man, Ephef 4. 12, I3. That We might not henceforth be as children, toiled to and fro with eve ry winde of cicutine, bi the Height of men and cunning craf- tine f fe of thoffo that lie in wait to deceive. We may loon fee their artifice that 14hour to bear them drown; thus they know their cun.
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