But, secondly, there are many causes of men's mistake.
1. Some come to the word with a presumption of their own wit, and leaning upon their own understanding, as if that should discover the whole counsel of God, and these God never undertook to teach : Ps. XXV. 9, ' The meek will he guide in judgment, and the meek will he. teach his way.' Those that, in a humble sense of their own nothingness, depend upon his direction, them will he teach : James i. 21, ' Keceive with meekness the ingrafted word of God.' We have caution given us, and admonitions against pride and arrogance and self-dependence, Prov. iii. 3-6.
2. Many bring their prejudicate opinions along with them, and are biassed and prepossessed before they come to the word of God, and so do not so much take up the sense which the scriptures offer, as seek to impose their own sense on them, and regulate the scriptures to their own hearts, not regulating their hearts and principles and senses according to the word of God. Optimus ille lector est, saith Hilary, qui dictorum intelligentiavi expectat, &c. That mind which is pre- occupied with evil opinions, and enslaved to preconceived conclusions, they do not take anj'thing from the word, but impose something upon it which God never revealed there. If the weights be equal, yet if the balance be not equipendent, Avrong may be done. They come with an idol in their own hearts, Ezek. xiv. 2, as those that would ask counsel of the Lord, that were resolved beforehand, Jer. xlii. While we look through the spectacles of our own fancies and preconceptions, the mind, poisoned with error, seemcth to see what we see not.
3. Some search the scriptures not out of any love to the truth, or to know the mind of God, but to oppose it rather, and so seek a pre- tence from thence to justify their private faction in way of 02)position
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against God. The devil gets scripture to wrest it to his own purpose, Mat. iv. 6. They read not to be better, but to cavil, and put a greater varnish upon the devil's cause, as Julian did search the scriptures to pick an advantage against the true religion, and scoff at them that professed it ; and Herod inquired after the place where Jesus was born, not to adore him, but to kill him, Mat. ii. 8. Our great rule is, John xvii. 17, ' Sanctify them by thy truth ; thy word is truth.' When you come to study the scriptures, to be the better for them, and not to cavil, then you are in the way to find profit from them.
4. Some come to the word leavened with some carnal affections, and so their hearts are blinded by their lusts and passion : 2 Cor. iv. 3, 4, ' If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost ; in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.' There is evidence enough in the truth, but their hearts are wedded to their sins, and so cannot see it ; they are ambitious, and seek after honour and worldly greatness ; and the whole bent and scope of the scripture being against their design, they can never have a perfect understanding of it ; their hearts are full of avarice, earthly-minded- ness, and some other beloved sin that they cherish, which doth defile all that they touch, even the very word of God. Hag. ii. 13, A man that was unclean by a dead body, whatsoever he touched was also unclean, even holy things ; and, Titus i. 15, ' To the impure all things are impure;' and so by the just judgment of God are blinded and hardened in their own prejudices, for the light they have hindereth them from discerning the truth.
5. Some content themselves with some superficial apprehensions, and do not dig deep in the mines of knowledge, and therefore no wonder they mistake in many things : Prov. ii. 4, 5, ' If thou seckest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures, then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.' No excellent things are to be had without pain and industry and search ; certainly the knowledge of God's word must cost us great pains.
6. Where men are right in the main, and give diligence to know God's mind, there will be mistakes in lesser things. All have not parts alike, and gifts and graces alike, and therefore there is some variety of opinions and interpretations of scripture among the godly wise. Every man is not so happy to be so well studied, nor hath not that ability to understand, nor so furnished with acquired helps of arts and tongues, nor such a degree of the Spirit. There is a difference in age, growth, and experience among good men ; some are babes, and some grown in years in Christianity, Phil. iii. 15. Grace is bewrayed in knowledge, as well as in holiness.
Object. 2. If there be such a light in the scriptures, what need is there of the Spirit ?
Ans. I answer — The scriptures are the means of light, the Spirit is the author of light, both together enlighten the eyes, Ps. xix. 8, These two must be taken in conjunction, not in exclusion. To pretend to the Spirit and neglect the scriptures, makes way for error and fond conceits : Isa. viii. 20, ' To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.' Light is not contrary to light ; so to study the scriptures, and neglect