Also Divines generally make it a rule for the Interpretation of Scripture, that we must not leave the most obvious plain sense of the words, without necessity, and clear compelling evidence; Now then let them be viewed by any unprejudiced man, and let him tell us what is the plain and obvious sense of these foresaid words? And for my part I see no necessity of ⟨p. 286⟩going from that plain sense. Some here will tell me, then we must say Christ is a Door, a Way, a Vine, and the Bread is his Body, &c. But this is nothing to what I am speaking of: For I did never say that we must take the literal sense in opposition to the figurative, but only the plain obvious sense in opposition to a wiredrawn extorted sense. Some figurative speeches are so usual, or plain and well known, that he that should interpret them literally would be derided by any Ploughman: And every ignorant man useth figurative speeches in his common talk, and use makes the true sense as plain and obvious as if they were not figurative. You can scarce hear three sentences from any Countryman, but will convince you of this. If any man of common reason had heard Christ say; [I am the way to the Father] would he have thought his plain obvious sense to be [I am an Earthly or other Material way to be trodden on by the Feet of them to come to God?] What will not the lust of contradicting persuade men to? Now I would know of any man, would you believe that Christ died for all men if the Scripture plainly speak it? If you would, do but tell me, what words can you devise or would you wish more plain for it than are there used; Is it not enough that Christ is called the Saviour of the World? You'll say, but is it of the whole World? Yes, it saith, He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole World? Will you say, but it is not for All men in the World; yes it saith he died for All men, as well as for all the World. But will you say, it saith not for every man? Yes that it doth, he ⟨p. 287⟩tasted death for every man. But you may say, It means all the Elect, if it said so of any Non-Elect I would believe. Yes, it speaks of those that denied the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And yet all this seems nothing to men prejudiced.
Also Divines generally make it a rule for the Interpretation of Scripture, that we must not leave the most obvious plain sense of the words, without necessity, and clear compelling evidence; Now then let them be viewed by any unprejudiced man, and let him tell us what is the plain and obvious sense of these foresaid words? And for my part I see no necessity of ⟨p. 286⟩going from that plain sense. Some here will tell me, then we must say Christ is a Door, a Way, a Vine, and the Bread is his Body, &c. But this is nothing to what I am speaking of: For I did never say that we must take the literal sense in opposition to the figurative, but only the plain obvious sense in opposition to a wyerdrawn extorted sense. Some figurative speeches are so usual, or plain and well known, that he that should interpret them literally would be derided by any Plowman: And every ignorant man useth figurative speeches in his common talk, and use makes the true sence as plain and obvious as if they were not figurative. You can scarce hear three sentences from any Countryman, but will convince you of this. If any man of common reason had heard Christ say; [I am the way to the Father] would he have thought his plain obvious sense to be [I am an Earthly or other Material way to be trodden on by the Feet of them to come to God?] What will not the lust of contradicting persuade men to? Now I would know of any man, would you believe that Christ died for all men if the Scripture plainly speak it? If you would, do but tell me, what words can you devise or would you wish more plain for it than are there used; Is it not enough that Christ is called the Saviour of the World? You'l say, but is it of the whole World? Yes, it saith, He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole World? Will you say, but it is not for All men in the World; yes it saith he died for All men, as well as for all the World. But will you say, it saith not for every man? Yes that it doth, he ⟨p. 287⟩tasted death for every man. But you may say, It means all the Elect, if it said so of any Non-Elect I would believe. Yes, it speaks of those that denied the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And yet all this seems nothing to men prejudiced.
