66(1 Aï`PENDIE. Father, as supposing him then to exist inhis idea Iong before his actual existence. V. The exposition of all these scriptures will appear much more natural; easy, and plain by the doctrine of the actual pre- existence of the soul of Christ, than by the mere decree of his existence or supposition of it only in the idea and foreknowledge of God. In the proleptical sense, only learned men can find the meaning of them. In this sense of actual existence, the meanest Christian may read and understand what he reads. And it is a general rule among divines for the interpretation of scripture, never to introduce figures of speech, nor to explain the word of God in a figurative sense, but where the plain, obvious, literal sense has something in it inconsistentor improper. VI. There is not one scripture in all the bible which denie9 the actual existence of Christ's human soul before the foundation of the world, but there are many which in this author's judgment cannot be explained without the supposition of his virtual exist- ence then in the idea of God, and therefore they are supposed to be spoken of him as though he did actually exist by the help of tropes and figures. Now I leave it to the judgment of any candid reader, whe- ther those scriptures which are written for the use of the un- learned, ought not much rather to be explained in their most easy and obvious sense, than to spread so many and suchhard figures of speech almost all over the bible, the Old Testament and the New, without evident necessity : and itis very reasonable to believe, that had this evangelical writer lived in an age when the doctrine of the pre-existence of the soul of Christ had been freely proposed to the world, he would have embraced it with great readiness and pleasure. VII. Though these more elevated sentiments and bolder expressions, which I have cited from so great an author, are by no means a standard of truth, nor indeed can I follow him in some of these sublimities, neither do I cite his magnificent ex- pressions concerning the man Jesus Christ, nor his expositions of scripture as a sufficient proof of what I have advanced; yet it will appear to the world by this collection, that I have not ven- tured upon such expositions of the bible, nor such exalted senti- ments and language concerning Christ's human nature, without a honourable precedent. If I ammistaken, yet 1 may reason- ably hope that while I have erred and wandered under such a leader, and in so good company, the censure will be but light and gentle, since most of the reproaches which may be cast on me on this account will fall heavy on this venerable author, whose name has been honourable, and his praise great among the churches. END OF VOLUME vr. }:dwüp Isaluea, Y..nlc,; Leca.
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