The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

3. On the peoples part, we had need to take heed, Because they are more prone and ready to receive any corrupt sense, than the pure meaning of the Scripture. A natural man perceiveth not the things of God, they are foolishness to him, 1 Cor. 2.14. he hath enmity to them. Paul said, The Law was spiritual, but he was carnal, Rom. 7. No man naturally can love the Bible, in the true and heavenly sense of it, (no more than a malefactor can his Judge), for that condemneth sin, that convinceth of folly, that spareth not, that flattereth not. As the people of Israel could not endure the light on Moses his face, but they would have a veil on it: So neither are people able to receive the true and pure sense of the Scripture; it is too glorious, too spiritual, therefore they put a veil upon it. Hence you see how quickly errors and false doctrines, especially such which give licence to sin, get a multitude of disciples. Paul complained of this, when he said, They would suffer false teachers to abuse them, to oppress them, 2 Cor. 11.20. The Corinthians would endure false teachers, though they domineered over them, kept them in bondage, when yet they would not bear Pauls Ministry. And did not many willingly suffer the Egyptian thraldom in Popery, who would not endure the yoke of the Gospel? Thus Christ complained, If any man c•me in his own name, you will receive him, John 5.43.

3. On the peoples part, we had need to take heed, Because they are more prone and ready to receive any corrupt sense, than the pure meaning of the Scripture. A natural man perceiveth not the things of God, they are foolishnesse to him, 1 Cor. 2.14. he hath enmity to them. Paul said, The Law was spiritual, but he was carnal, Rom. 7. No man naturally can love the Bible, in the true and heavenly sense of it, (no more than a malefactour can his Judge), for that condemneth sin, that convinceth of folly, that spareth not, that flattereth not. As the people of Israel could not endure the light on Moses his face, but they would have a veil on it: So neither are people able to receive the true and pure sense of the Scripture; it is too glorious, too spiritual, therefore they put a veil upon it. Hence you see how quickly errours and false doctrines, especially such which give licence to sinne, get a multitude of disciples. Paul complained of this, when he said, They would suffer false teachers to abuse them, to oppresse them,