An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth, & tenth chapters of…

Now I remember Luther hath such a Speech,¹ That Scripture should rather help us to understand mens writings,² than mens writings to understand the Scripture; Many men they will make mens writings to be as a judg, and to be the rule of understanding Scriptures, not the Judg of Truth, but the rule of understanding Scripture, whereas (saith he) the Scripture should rather be the rule of understanding them.

1. 1Answ.
2. 2Luther.

And so Hilary, (saith he) for the sense of Scripture and understanding them, He is the best Interpreter, that rather takes the sense from out of Scripture, and by comparing one Scripture with another, than bring any new sense; therefore the understanding of Scripture is more by Scripture than by the Writings of any man living. And yet still no question we may make use of the gifts of God in others, but so as to keep us close to the written Word for the Rule, yea, and for the meaning of the Rule; they may help us to see whether the Scripture will justify this Truth, or this sense, for there lies the mistake; Most people in the world will think this indeed, That whatsoever any man writes, if it be contrary to the Word,¹ we may not receive it, but we must understand the Word in what sense they take it; now we must not go so far; For the Scripture written, is not only that we might know what the Rule is, but it is written, that we might understand the meaning of the Rule, and we must fetch out the meaning of Scriptures by ⟨p. 88⟩Scripture: Now so far as the Writings of men will help us to fetch out the meaning of Scripture by Scripture, so far we may make use of them; but we cannot say, this is the meaning, because it is the judgment of such and such Learned men;