ny other Disadvantages, the Holy Scrip- SERM. tures must needs lie, with regard to the IX. Obviousness of their Senfe and Meaning, to Us at this Distance: And it can be no Blemish to them therefore, if that Meaning be not always obvious.

I might, with Truth, add one thing more upon this Head, That, where the Interpretation of Scripture has any Difficulty, that Difficulty is often, in good mcafure, owing to the prepofterous Endeavours ufed, by fome Men, to explain and clear it. The Multiplicity of Comments written upon Scripture, and the Variety of all the Poffible Senfes of any Text, ftarted by thofe Writers, have been fo far from reaching the End aimed at, the Diffipating all Doubts and Difficulties, that they have caft a Mist over many Places, which of themselves were plain and clear; and have rendered fome, that were really a little Obfcure, yet more unintelligible.

Numberlefs Volumes have been written on Scripture, in every Age almost, fince it was published; and ftill the La

VOL. I.

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ter

SERM. ter Writers have generally striven to diIX. ftinguish themselves from the Elder, by fome New Guefs, by faying fomewhat that hath not been said before. And thus the Mind of an honest Enquirer is perplexed and confounded, and, in the Midft of a Thousand false Meanings, eafily lofes Sight of the true one.

But ftill it will be faid, that these are only Rational Accounts, how Scripture comes in fome Places to be Obscure, not at all Juftifications of its being so. God, who infpired the Apostles to write the Holy Scripture, might, if he had pleased, have fuggefted to them the very Words alfo, in which it was to be written; and, by that Means, have made it All clear and easy, and took away all Occafion of Doubts, and Difputes concerning it. And fince he could have done fo, why was it not done, if so be the Scripture were defigned for a Rule of Faith and Manners? For can a Rule be too certain? Can a Man know too plainly what he is to Do, and what he is to Believe?

In Answer to this therefore, I fhall SERM. fhew, as I proposed, in the

III. Place, That it carries no Reflection upon the Divine Goodness or Wifdom, that the Scripture is not in every Part as plain and clear, as it was poffible to have been made.

For (1ft) the Goodness of God is by

no means obliged to do every thing for us that is poffible to be done, but only that which is fitting and fufficient, in order to the End it defigns. Now the End propofed by God, in caufing the Scripture to be written, is, to afford us a Compleat Rule, and Measure of whatever is to be believed, or done by us. If therefore, in all Points of Faith and Practice, Scripture is fufficiently plain and clear, it is as plain and clear as it need to be; and it can be no Reflection on the Divine Goodness, not to have made it plainer.

But now, that whatever is requifite to be believed, or done by us, 'is fufficient

IX.

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SERM. ly Evident in Scripture, will appear IX. from thefe Two Confiderations.

1. The Darkness of Scripture in fome particular Places does not hinder its be ing generally plain and clear. Its having fome things in it hard to be underftood, implies, that it has but fome; and that most things in it are easy to be understood, lie open and level to the meaneft Understandings. The Truth is, whatever Difficulties there are in Scripture, they are few and little, in comparison of what is plain and intelligible there. Take it all together, and it well deserves the Character Holy David beftows on P. cxix. it. That it is a Lantern unto his Feet, Ver.130. and a Light unto his Paths: That the

105.

Teftimony of the Lord is fure, and giveth Pfal. xix. Wifdem unto the Simple: That the Commandment of the Lord is pure, and giveth Light unto the Eyes. And if in general, and for the most part, Scripture be perfpicuous and clear, we have Rea fon to think there is enough of it clear, to inftruct us in the Whole of our Duty; and make us fufficiently Wife unto Salvation. Efpecially fince, in the

2. Place,

2. Place, Nothing there, that is hard SERM. to be understood, is necessary to be under- IX. ftood by us: And therefore, whatever Truth is contained in any obfcure Place of Scripture, we may fatisfy ourfelves, that the Knowledge, or Practice of it, fhall never be required at our Hands, upon the Account of its being contained there.

I fay, upon the Account of its being contained there: For a neceffay Doctrine, that is delivered obfcurely in One Place, may yet be Revealed clearly in Another. And, wherever it is clearly Revealed, we are obliged to take Notice of it. But whatever Doctrine is contained in one or more obfcure Texts of Scripture, and no where else clearly expreffed, is not neceffary to be embraced and believed by us; nor fhall we be Condemned for not receiving it.

The Goodness of God is fufficiently juftified, in propofing the Scripture as a Rule of Faith to us: For, though it be not equally perfpicuous and clear throughout, yet is it in the main, and R 3

for