I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Answ. 2 If you would have the true knowledge, and understand the Scripture, and so behold this great Light in its full glory and brightness; you must diligently enquire into the true sense and meaning of it: for the true sense and meaning, is the soul thereof. Now the Scripture, or the Word of God written, may be expounded: for Ezra stood up before the People in a Pulpit, and gave ⟨p. 42⟩[…] ⟨p. 43⟩[…] ⟨p. 44⟩[…] ⟨p. 45⟩[…] ⟨p. 46⟩[…] ⟨p. 47⟩[…] ⟨p. 48⟩the sense of the Scripture. Christ himself is said to expound: and 2 Pet. 1.20. No Scripture is of any private Interpretation: The word [Greek or Hebrew], signifies, Exposition; it's the same word that is used in Luke, 4. Christ stood up, and expounded. Now saith the Apostle, No Scripture is of any private Exposition; therefore it may be expounded; and if not, why were Gifts given to men by the Ascension of Christ? It's a very dangerous thing to bear false witness against the Truth of Christ. Now if a man do not take heed unto the true sense and meaning of the Scripture, but will rigidly adhere to the Letter of the Scripture, he may quickly bear false witness against the Truth. Mark, 14.56. it's said, that many did bear false witness against Christ, but their witness agreed not together: But how did they bear false witness? They testified that Christ said, I can destroy the Temple of God, and build it again in three days, which our Saviour Christ spake of his Body; they applied to the Temple of the Jews, and so they are said to br al e witness; Why? because they kept to his words only, and not to his sense and meaning: So that we had need take heed how we report the words of Christ; though we do adhere to his words, yet if we keep not to his meaning, we shall be found false witnesses against him and his Truth. Search the Scriptures, saith our Saviour; why search? even because the sense and meaning doth lie deep. And therefore it is not enough for us that we do adhere to the words, but we must diligently enquire into the true sense, and the meaning of them.