Epleto the HEaREVVS. 9 relates a flatter of faét, and one circumftance of it, which doubtlefs he had by Divine Revelation, whereof there is no exprefs mention in the place where the whole matter isOriginaUyrecorded. Thus in thebeginning of the Chronicles, fimdry particularSto- ries, ( as thatabout the Children of Ephraim,Chap. 7. zr,) no where before written, arereported from the fame infallible direétions that others of the fame time were written withal!, when they were omitted. And it is an uncouth way of proving an .elutbor not to write by Divine infkation,becaufehe writeth Truths that he could no otherwifè be acquainted withal!. Neither is it unmeet for him that writes, byDial vine in/firation, to mention things recorded in other Stories, whofe Truth is unque- (tionable, asthofè are related unto Chap. a t. It feems to be of more importance , that if the Objetiors may be believed, the ç. 20. Writer of this EpiJfle'citeth Teftimonies out of the Old Teltament, that areno ways to his púrpofe, not at all prove the matter that he produceth them for ; difcovering at leafs, that he wrote with afallible Jfirit, if notalfo that he dealt fcarcely bonafide, in handling the caufe which he undertook. Cajetaninfifts on that ofthe firff Chapter, verfe S. I will be abita him a Father, and he Jhall be unto me a Son , taken from the 2 Sam. 7. t4. or t Chron. ty. 14. whichwords, as he fuppofeth no, way. belong unto that , inwhofe confirmation they are produced by the Authorof this Epiftle. Eraf- mus, upon his Teltimony in Chap.z. produced out of Pfalm 8. 4, 5. which as he faith, is urged to the direét contrary of the intention of the PfalmiJt and fcopeof the words. Eniedinus infilts on the fame places and others. Now two things mutt be fuppofed. to give countenance unto this Objeéti- ón. Firlt, That abof who male it , do.better underhand the meaning and the importance of the Teflimonies fo produced_ out of the Old Teftament ; than he did by whom they are here alledged. This is the foundation, of this 'Excepti- on ; which if once admitted, it may be eafily imagined , how able fume menwill quickly think themfelves to quellion other allegations in the New Tellament, and thereby render the Authority.of the whole dubious. They muff , I (ày, take up- on themfèlves to know the true meaning of them , and that in the uttermoft ex- tent of fignification and.intention, as given out by the Holy Ghioff, before they can charge their mijihpplicationon this Author. How vain, unjutl, arrogant, andprefutn- ptious this fuppofition is, needs little labourto demonftrate. Theunderftandings of men, 'ere a very fortymeafureof theTruth, with the whole fenfe and intendment of the HolyGhoft in every place of Scripture. Nay , it may much more rationally be fuppofed, that though weall know enough of the mind and will of God in the whole Scripture, to guide and regulate our faith and obedience, yet that we are rather ig- norant of his utmoft intention in every place, than that we know it in all. There is a depth andbreadth in everyword ofGod, becaufe his ; which we are notable to fathom and compafs to theutmoft : Itbeing enough for us that we may infalliblyapprehend fo muchof his nsud and will, as isindiffenfably neceflàry for us to the obediencethat he requires atour hands. An humble reverentialConfideration of all, indeed almoft any, of the Teftimonies alledged in theNewTeftament out of the old, is fufficient to evince the truth of thisCoñfideration, We know but.in part, and we prophefie in .part, t Cor. t3.9. Quantum eft quad nefeimus ? howmuch is it, that we know not ? or as Job fpeaks, i i Nowno how fmallis theword thatwe underhand ofGod?Cbap.z6.24. One Cayes well ; eft Sacra Scriptura velatifoals quidam, in bona terra loco Çaturiens, quern quo altius foderi:, ea magia- exuberantem invenies ; ita quo diligentius Sacram Scriptural interpretarir, eo abundantiores aqua viva venal reperies. Brent. Ham. 36. in a Sam, tr. That Objection then, mutt needs be veryweak, whofe fundamental ftrength confifìs in fo vaina prefumption. , Again, theymutt take it for granted, that they are afore hand fully acquainted with the particular intention ofthe Author in the Affertions which he produceth'thefe Teftimonies in theConfirmation of; and with all the wayes of arguing and preffing Principles of faith, ufed by men writingby Divine infpiration. Neither is this Jisppoficianleft rafh,or prefumptiousthan the former. Men, who bring the ownHypothefi:, andpreconceived feufesunto the Scripture, with a delire to have themconfirmed, are apt tomake fach conclufions. Thofe that come with humility and reverence of his Majefly with whom they have todo, to learn from himhis mind and will therein, whatever he fhall thereby reveal fo to will haveother thoughts and apprehenfions. Let menbut fuffer the Teftimoniesand Afrtions, whole unfuitable- nets is pretended, to explain one another, and the agreement will quickly appear. And theworft that will enfue, will be only else emergence of a fenfe from them which C perhaps
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=