Clavis cantici, or, An exposition of the Song of Solomon

First, When the literal proper meaning looketh absurd like, or is empty, and nothing to edification; as when it is said, we must eat Christ's flesh, whereby believing is expressed: And so, these Scriptures that do command to pluck out the right eye, cut off the right hand, take up our cross, &c. All which, if literally understood, were absurd and ridiculous; and therefore, the mistaking such Scriptures, hath occasioned many errors, as that of the Anthropomorphites, attributing members, to wit, head, hands, feet, &c. to God; and passions, yea, infirmities, as anger, repenting, &c. because the Scripture speaking of God, after the manner of men, doth Allegorically attribute to him, eyes, hands, wrath, &c.

First, When the literal proper meaning looketh absurd like, or is empty, and nothing to edification; as when it is said, we must eat Christ's flesh, whereby believing is expressed: And so, these Scriptures that do command to pluck out the right eye, cut off the right hand, take up our crosse, &c. All which, if literally understood, were absurd and ridiculous; and therefore, the mistaking such Scriptures, hath occasioned many errors, as that of the Anthropomorphits, attributing members, to wit, head, hands, feet, &c. to God; and passions, yea, infirmities, as anger, repenting, &c. because the Scripture speaking of God, after the manner of men, doth Allegorically attribute to him, eyes, hands, wrath, &c.

2. These places of Scripture are to be accounted Allegoric, ⟨p. 24⟩which reach not the scope of edification, intended by them if literally understood; as when Christ hath spoken of sowing, the Disciples thought, that some more was intended than at first appeared; for, his aim could not be to discourse of Husbandry to them: So gathers the Apostle an Allegory from these words, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox, that treadeth out the corn. And so also, that and the like precepts, discharging the Jews, the sowing their fields with diverse grains, &c. Which though they be not wholly Allegoric, but have in the letter their own truth, yet, somewhat in these beyond what appears, was aimed at by the Spirit; for, saith the Apostle, doth God care for oxen? that is, that precept hath a further scope.