QUESTION X. 105 expressly, yet the grossest heretics may consent to those expres- sions, and explain them only in a metaphorical sense: So the Socinians explain the expressions of scripture concerning the sacrifice and atonement of Christ, and make them all mere me- taphors, to signify something of a much inferior nature : But be their explications, and their sense of scripture what it will, yet they may demand christian communion upon this principle, that they subscribe the bible, and every expression in it ; though they- explain the fundamental and essential articles of it quite away by figures and metaphors. , Indeed this has been the practice of heretics in all ages to run to this refuge, and make the words . of scripture their hiding place and defence ; having learned well from their subtle teach- ers, or their own cunning devices, to twist and turn the words of scripture by figures, and tropes, and distinctions, into their own pernicious sense ; and this ever will be the practice of persons, grossly erroneous in the things of religion, that yet would ap.- pear toagree with the scripture, and hold the christian faith. They may tell you that Christ is their only hope of salvation, and their way to God the Father ; but they mean a Christ within, or the remains of the light of reason, and the dictates of a natural conscience. They may assure you, they believe the resurrection of Christ from the dead ; but they mean nothing but Christ within them, in the rising or awaking of the conscience from stupid inactive silence. They may assent that Christ is Gori, but mean only a metaphorical God, because he is made a king, or governor of the church. They may profess the whole scripture in their own sense, and in the mean time they may be- lieve such contradictions as these, viz. I believe God worketh all things after the counsel of his own will, Ephes. i. 11. Yet I believe, that the decrees of God are nothing else but immutable fate, and the necessary connexion of second causes, as Mr. Hobbs. I believe that God knoweth all his works from the begin- ning; Acts xv. 18. Yet I believe, this foreknowledge is no- thingelse but a perfect sagacity of mind, and immediate contri- vance to turn all things that happen to fulfil his own-designs, as effectually as if he really foreknew. So a much better man than Mr. Hobbs has explained it. I believe, that inthe beginning was the word, and the word was God; John i. 1. Yet I believe that Jesus Christ had no being before he was conceived, and born of the virgin, and than truly and properly he is but a mere man. I believe, that we mustfee,fornication; 1 Cor. vi. 18. but I believe, that nothing else is intended in all such texts but spiri- tual fornication, which is idolatry. I believe, that we must « keep ourselves from idols," and
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