1 There seems a general agreement among modern critics that this expression of the apostle is not susceptible of the meaning which is here attached to it. It does not refer to any rule according to which we are to try a doctrine by its harmony with the system of divine truth as a whole (although the rule itself is sound and valuable) ; but the passage simply means that a man is to preach or prophesy " according to the measure of his faith," — the ^et^ov -r'urnut of which the apostle had been speaking in verse 3.— Ed.
CHAP. VII.] MEANS FOB UNDERSTANDING THE MIND OF GOD. 199
fore mentioned, and in all his inquiries to have a constant due regard unto the analogy of faith, so as not to admit of any sense which interfereth with what is elsewhere plainly declared, — such a person shall riot miss of the mind of the Holy Spirit, or if he do, shall be assuredly preserved from any hurtful danger in his mistakes: for there is that mutual relation one to another, yea, that mutual in- being of all divine truths, in their proposal and revelation in the Scripture, as that every one of them is after a sort in every place, though not properly and peculiarly, yet by consequence and cohe- rence. Wherefore, although a man should miss of the first proper sense of any obscure place of Scripture, which, with all our diligence, we ought to aim at, yet, whilst he receiveth none but what contains a truth agreeable unto what is revealed in other places, the error of his mind neither endangereth his own faith or obedience nor those of any others.
[3.] For those things which are peculiarly difficult, as genealogies, chronological computations of time, and the like, which are acci- dental unto the design of the Scripture, those who are able so to do, unto their own edification or that of others, may exercise themselves therein, but by all others the consideration of them in particular may be safely omitted.
And these are the heads of the work 'of the Holy Spirit on our minds and on the Scriptures, considered distinctly and apart, with reference unto the right understanding of the mind of God in them. By the former sort, our minds are prepared to understand the Scrip- ture ; and by the latter, Scripture is prepared and suited unto our understandings. There yet remains the consideration of what he doth, or what help he affords unto us, in the actual application of our minds unto the understanding and interpretation of the word; and this respecteth the means which we are to make use of unto that end and purpose ; and these also shall be briefly declared.
CHAPTER VII.
Means to be used for the right understanding of the mind of God in the Scripture — Those which are prescribed in a way of duty.
The means to be used for the right understanding and interpre- tation of the Scripture are of two sorts: — I. That which is general and absolutely necessary. II. Such as consist in the due improve- ment thereof.
I. The first is diligent reading of the Scripture, with a sedate, rational consideration of what we read. Nothing is more frequently
200 CAUSES, WAYS, AND MEANS, ETC. [BOOK VI., PART II.
commended unto us; and, not to insist on particular testimonies, the whole 119th Psalm is spent in the declaration of this duty, and the benefits which are attained thereby. Herein consists the first natural exercise of our minds in order unto the understanding of it. So the eunuch read and pondered on the prophecy of Isaiah, though of himself he could not attain the understanding of what he read, Acts viii. 30, 31. Either reading, or that which is equivalent there- unto, is that whereby we do, and without which it is impossible we should, apply our minds to know what is contained in the Scriptures ; and this is that which all other means are designed to render use- ful. Now, by this reading I understand that which is staid, sedate, consider ative, with respect unto the end aimed at ; reading attended with a due consideration of the things read, inquiry into them, meditation on them, with a regard unto the design and scope of the place, with all other advantages for the due investigation of the truth.
Frequent reading of the word more generally and cursorily, where- unto all Christians ought to be trained from their youth, 2 Tim. Hi. 15, and which all closets and families should be acquainted withal, Deut. vi. 6-9, is of great use and advantage; and I shall, therefore, name some particular benefits which may be received thereby: —
1. Hereby the minds of men are brought into a general acquaint- ance with the nature and design of the book of God; which some, to their present shame and future ruin, are prodigiously ignorant of.
2. They who are exercised herein come to know distinctly what things are treated of in the particular books and passages of it; whilst others who live in a neglect of this duty scarce know what books are historical, what prophetical, or what doctrinal, in the whole Bible.
3. Hereby they exercise themselves unto thoughts of heavenly things and a holy converse with God; if they bring along with them, as they ought, hearts humble and sensible of his authority in the word.