CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

First, Though men be never so expert and diligent in the Scripture, yet if God bless them not with a seeing eye, and a spiritual understanding, in stead of being sanctified by the Word, they are through mis-interpretations corrupted: Doth not the Apostle Peter tell of some, who through their ignorance did wrest the Scripture to their perdition, 2 Pet. 3.16? There are many Heretics and erroneous persons, who are full of Scripture, will allege many places of Gods Word, but putting their corrupt glosses upon it, it's no more Gods truth, but mans error, and therefore are not sanctified by it, in which sense Luther called the Bible, The Heretics book, because they would all confidently boast, they grounded their opinions upon that Book, when indeed it was upon their own corruptions: Oh then, besides frequent knowledge and excellent memory of the Scripture, know a further thing is requisite, even the Spirit of God to lead thee by this Rule into the truth, else it is with the Scripture, as it was with that pillar in the wilderness, it was light to the Israelites to guide them, but darkness to the Egyptians.

First, Though men be never so expert and diligent in the Scripture, yet if God blesse them not with a seeing eye, and a spirituall understanding, in stead of being sanctified by the Word, they are through mis-interpretations corrupted: Doth not the Apostle Peter tell of some, who through their ignorance did wrest the Scripture to their perdition, 2 Pet. 3.16? There are many Heretiques and erroneous persons, who are full of Scripture, will alledge many places of Gods Word, but putting their corrupt glosses upon it, it's no more Gods truth, but mans errour, and therefore are not sanctified by it, in which sense Luther called the Bible, The Heretiques book, because they would all confidently boast, they grounded their opinions upon that Book, when indeed it was upon their own corruptions: Oh then, besides frequent knowledge and excellent memory of the Scripture, know a further thing is requisite, even the Spirit of God to lead thee by this Rule into the truth, else it is with the Scripture, as it was with that pillar in the wilderness, it was light to the Israelites to guide them, but darkness to the Egyptians.