TheChurchthefiat ofaxing truth. or authority over others, togin& their confciences to saint unto fuch expofitionsof Scripture, as derive not their evidence from the harmonic and analogicof the. Scriptures themfelves, but only from 1pie dixit, becestifc the Church hith fpoken it. To conclude thispoint, we are tonote for the dcere underfianding of the office ofthe Church concerning the holyScriptures: that fome things therein are Hard to beto:delved, as Saint Peter fpeakes, either P s Pc43.16. 1 by reafonoftheir allegoricall and figurative expreffions, as the vifions of Ezekiel, Danid, Zecho.), , &c. or by reafonofthe obfcure and ilrange connexion ofonepart with another, or of the dependance thereof upon for- ren learning, or the like; but then we mull note that the knowledge of fuch things as thefe, are not ofabfolute neceffitie unto falvation, for though the pervertingof hardplaces bedamnable (as Saint Peter telleth its) yet that ignorance of them which groweth out of their owne obfcurity, and not out ofour negleA, isnot dam- nable. Secondly, fome things have.evidence enough in the termes that expretie them, but yet are Hard tobe betteved, by reafonofthe fupernaturall quality ofthem. Aswhen we fay that Chrifi was the Sonneof a Virgin, or that he died and rofc againe, there is nodifficultic in the fence of thefe things,it iscafily underfloodwhat he that affirmeththem dothmeanby them. All the dif- ficultie is tobring the minde to give agent unto them. Thirdly, forme things though eafic in their fence tobeun- derflood, and it may beeafie likewife in their nature to be beleeved, areytt Hard to be obeyedoldpraWed, as repentance, and forfakingoffinne, &c. Now according unto thefe differenceswee may conceive of the office and power which the Church hath in matters of holy Scripture. Pita,for hardplaces its regard ofthe lege kid enea- !del ofthe place, it isthe dudeofthe Church to Open T s them 275 VERSE 2.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=