The Third Sermon
DearLy beloved brethren, I do understand that, by means of my doctrine of the word of God, there are risen sundry thoughts in the hearts of many men, yea, and that of some there are sown abroad very ungodly speeches. For some there are which do suppose that the scriptures, that is, the very” word of God τ of itself so dark, that it cannot be read with any profit at all’. And again some other affirm, that the word plainly delivered by God to mankind doth stand in need of no exposition. And therefore say they, that the scriptures ought indeed to be read of all men, but so that every man may lawfully invent and choose to himself such a sense as every one shall be persuaded in himself to be most convenient?. These fellows do altogether condemn the order received of the churches, whereby the minister of the church doth expound the scriptures to the congregation. But I, dearly beloved, if, as ye have begun, so ye will go forward, to pray to the Lord, do trust, by the hope that I have in God’s goodness, that I am able plainly to declare, that to the godly scripture is nothing dark at all,’ altogether to have us understand it: then, that the scriptures
[1 Scripturse plurimum frequenter obscuritatis habent, et se trahi]
[accommodarique in diversam sententiam et eludi cauta expositione]
[facile permittunt, etiam quantumvis clare evidentesque appareant:]
[adeo ut, nisi aptentur ad——ecclesiasticam—traditionis communem]
[sententiam-—fiant nobis in laqueum, etc.—Albert. Pigh. Controv.]
[Precip. Explicatio. Par. 1549. fol. 93. Controv. 3. de Ecclesia.] [2 Hooker’s Preface to Eccles. Pol. Vol. 1. p. 180. ed. Oxf. 1820.]]
ought always to be expounded. Where also I will teach you thetianner, and some ready ways, how to interpret the scriptures. The handling of these points shall take away the impediments which drive men from the reading of the word of God, and shall cause the reading and hearing of the word of God to be both wholesome and fruitful.
And first of all, that God’s will is to have his word understood of mankind, we may thereby gather especially, because that in speaking to his servants he used a most common kind of speech, wherewithal even the very idiots? were acquainted. Neither do we read that the prophets and apostles, the servants of God and interpreters of his high and everlasting wisdom, did use any strange kind of speech: so that in the whole pack of writers none ean be found-to excel them in a more plain and easy phrase of writing. Their writings are full of common proverbs, similitudes, parables, comparisons, devised narrations, examples, and such other like manner of speeches, than which there is nothing that doth more move and plainly teach the common sorts of wits among mortal men. There ariseth, I confess, some darkness in the scriptures, by reason of the natural property$, figurative ornaments, and the unacquainted use of the tongues. But that difficulty may easily be helped by study, diligence, faith, and the means of skilful interpreters. I know that the apostle Peter saith, in the epistles of Paul “many things are hard to be understood:” but immediately he addeth, which the unlearned, and those that are unperfect, or unstable, pervert, as they do the other scriptures also, unto their own destruction.” Whereby we gather, that the scripture is difficult or obscure to the unlearned, unskilful, unexercised, and malicious or corrupted wills, and not to the zealous and godly readers or hearers thereof. Therefore, when St Paul saith, If as yet our gospel be hid, from them it is hid which perish, in whom the prince of this world hath blinded the understanding of the unbelievers, that to them there should not shine the light of the gospel of the glory. of Christ, who is the image of God6;”
[3 Idiot: an uneducated person, ἰδιώτης. P.] [ ex idiomate, Lat.] [5 2 Pet. iii. 16.] [6 2 Cor. iv. 3,4. “Lest the light of the gospel of the glory of]
[Christ.”—Cranmer’s Bible, 1539.]]
he doth not lay the blame of this difficulty on the word of God, but upon the unprofitable hearers. Whosoever we are, therefore, that do desire rightly to understand the word of God, our care must be that Satan possess not our minds, and close up our eyes. For our Saviour also in the gospel said: “This is damnation, because the light came into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light.” Besides that, the holy, prophets of God, and the apostles, did not call the word of God, the scriptures, darkness, obscureness, or mistiness, but “ a certain brightness and lightsomeness. David saith: “Thy word is a lantern unto my feet, and a light unto my paths.” And what, I pray you, is more evident, than that, in making doubtful and obscure things manifest, no man doth refer to darkness and uncertainties? Things uncertain, doubtful, and obscure, are made manifest by those things that are more certain, sure, and evident. But, as often as any question or controversy doth happen in matters of faith, do not all men agree, that it ought to be ended and determined by the scriptures? It must therefore needs be, that the scriptures are evident, plain, and most assuredly certain.
Βαΐ, though the seripture be manifest and the word of God be evident, yet, notwithstanding, it refuseth_ pot a godly or holy exposition; but rather an holy exposition doth give a setting out to the word of God, and bringeth forth much fruit in the godly hearer. And for because many do deny, that the scriptures ought to have any exposition, I will shew by examples (which cannot be gainsaid) that they ought altogether to be expounded. For God himself, having often « communication with Moses by the space of forty days, and as many years, did by Moses expound to the church the words ΤᾺ of the law, which he spake in Mount Sina to the whole congregation of Israel, writing them in two tables: which Moses left to us the Deuteronomy, and certain other books, as commentaries upon God’s commandments. After that, immediately followed the prophets, who, interpreting the law of Moses, did apply it to the times, places, and men of their age; ~and left to us, that follow, their sermons as plain expositions of ex God’s law. In the eighth chapter of Nehemias we read these words: Esdras the priest brought in the law, the book of Moses, and stood upon a turret made of wood, (that is, in the