The works of George Swinnock, M.A

It is plain in regard of fundamentals and things necessary to be known and done. What we are to believe concerning God, the mediator, our own estate of innocency, apostasy, recovery; what we are to practise in order to salvation, are all perspicuous and clear to ordinary capacities. Though there be some whose eyes the god of this world hath blinded, lest the light of the glorious Gospel should shine upon them; yet all wisdoms ways are plain to him that understandeth, 2 Cor. 4.4. Pro. 8. 9. The Scripture showeth the greatest simplicity, both in words and phrases and figures, that the weakest need not be afraid of searching into it. There is such obscurity also in things not absolutely necessary to salvation, that the deepest understandings need not be ashamed of reading and studying it. Peter affirms that in the Epistles of Paul, there are [Greek or Hebrew], some things hard to be understood. There are such abstruse texts in the word of God, that no man can make a certain comment on them. The Jews themselves confessed that in the latter end of Ezekiel, there are many things mentioned which are beyond all their apprehensions, against which, and all other difficulties in the Old Testament, they comfort themselves according to the expression of the woman of Samaria, Messias venturus est qui nobis annunciabit omnia; The Messias will come and tell us all things; Now the wise God seeth fit to let some truths in Scripture be dark.

It is plain in regard of fundamentals and things necessary to be known and done. What we are to believe concerning God, the mediatour, our own estate of innocency, apostacy, recovery; what we are to practise in order to salvation, are all perspicuous and clear to ordinary capacities. Though there be some whose eyes the god of this world hath blinded, lest the light of the glorious Gospel should shine upon them; yet all wisdomes ways are plain to him that understandeth, 2 Cor. 4.4. Pro. 8. 9. The Scripture sheweth the greatest simplicity, both in words and phrases and figures, that the weakest need not be afraid of searching into it. There is such obscurity also in things not absolutely necessary to salvation, that the deepest understandings need not be ashamed of reading and studying it. Peter affirmes that in the Epistles of Paul, there are , some things hard to be understood. There are such abstruse texts in the word of God, that no man can make a certain comment on them. The Jews themselves confessed that in the latter end of Ezekiel, there are many things mentioned which are beyond all their apprehensions, against which, and all other difficulties in the Old Testament, they comfort themselves according to the expression of the woman of Samaria, Messias venturus est qui nobis annunciabit omnia; The Messias will come and tell us all things; Now the wise God seeth fit to let some truths in Scripture be dark.