A Body of Practical Divinity

4. They abuse the Word, and take Gods Name in vain, who adulterate the Word, and wrest it in a wrong Sense. Such are Heretics, who put their own gloss upon Scripture, and make it speak that which the Holy Ghost never meant. For instance, First, When we expound those Texts Literally, which are meant Figuratively. Thus the Pharisees were guilty, when God said in the Law, Thou shalt bind the Commandments for a sign upon thy Hand, and they shall be as Frontlets between thine Eyes, Deut. 6.8. The Pharisees took it in the Literal Sense, they got Two Scrolls of Parchment, wherein they wrote the Two Tables, putting one on their Left Arms, and binding the other to their Eye-brows: Thus they wrested the Scripture, and took Gods Name in vain. That Scripture was to be understood Spiritually, and by a Figure; God meant by binding his Law upon their Hands, that they should meditate in his Law, and put it in practice. And so the Papists expound that Scripture, This is my Body, Literally, of the very Body of Christ; then when Christ gave the Bread, he should have had Two Bodies, one in the Bread, and the other out of the Bread; whereas Christ meant it Figuratively, It is a sign of my Body. Thus they by wresting the Scripture to a wrong Sense, profane it, and take Gods Name in vain. Secondly, When we expound those Scriptures Figuratively and Allegorically, which the Holy Ghost means Literally. For example, Christ said to Peter, launch out into the Deep, and make a Draught, Luke 5.4. This Text is spoken in a plain Literal Sense, of Launching out the Ship; but the Papists take it in a Mystical and Allegorical. This Text proves say they, That the Pope which is Peter's Successor, shall launch forth and catch the Ecclesiastical and Political power over the West Parts of the World; this say they, was meant when Christ bad Peter launch out into the Deep. But I think the Papists have launched out too far beyond the meaning of the Text. When Men strain their Wits, to wrest the Word to such a Sense as pleaseth them, they do profane Gods Word, and highly take his Name in vain.

4. They abuse the Word, and take Gods Name in vain, who adulterate the Word, and wrest it in a wrong Sense. Such are Hereticks, who put their own gloss upon Scripture, and make it speak that which the Holy Ghost never meant. For instance, First, When we expound those Texts Literally, which are meant Figuratively. Thus the Pharisees were guilty, when God said in the Law, Thou shalt bind the Commandments for a sign upon thy Hand, and they shall be as Frontlets between thine Eyes,