Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-09-19

Burlington. L. July LON, lNsH
The nfallblr rule OF Interpretation of
Scripture, is the Scripture itself: and there
fore when there is a question about the true
and full sense of any Scripture which IS not
manifold. hut one), it must be searched and
known 10y other places, that speak more
clearly.
The supreme Judge by which all contro-
versies of religion are 10 be determined, and
all DEGREES of councils. opinions of ancient
writers. doctrines of men and private
spirits are to be examined, and in whose
sentence we are TO rest. can he no other but
the holy Scripture, delivered by the Spirit;
into which Scripture SO delivered, our faith
is finally resolved. Tie Boston Confession
Of Fam. 1850, chap I. S . and 10.
Mr.. Robinson charged us before God
and his blessed Angels, to follow him no
further than he followed Christ. And if
God should reveal anything to US by any
other instrument of his, to be rs ready to
receive it. as ever we were TO receive any
truth ly his Ministery: For he was very
confident the Lord had much truth and light
vet u hrcakc forth out of his holy Word.
He took occasion also miserably to bewaile
the state and condition of the Reformed
Churches who were come TO a period in
instruments of their reformation: As for
example. the Luthcrans they could not he
drawnc to zoe beyond what Luther saw; for
whatever part of Gods will he had further
impaired and revealed to Calvin, they will
die rather than embrace it, And so also,
saith he Won see the Calvinists, they stick
where he left them. Were they now
living. saith hec, they would bee sready and
willing 10 embrace further light, as that they
had received. Here also he put US in mind
Of our church-covcnant (at least that part
of it, whereby wee promise and covenant
with God and one with another to receive
whatsoever light or truth shall be made
known to us from his written Word: hut
withall eXhorted US TO take heed what we
received for truth, and well to examine and
compare. and weigh it with other Scriptures
of truth. before we received it HdHSl0!1's
Hyporrt,ie iamaSked.
If men were fairly sent to the bible
10 find their religion. and not the bible put
into their hands, only to find the opinions of
their peculiar sect or party, christendom
would have more Christians, aud those that
are. would be more Knowing, and more IN
the right than they now are. That which
hindeTs this is that select bundle of doc
trines. which it has pleased every sect to
draw out of the scriptures, or their own
inventions with an omission Of all the rest
These choice truths are TO be the standing
orthodoxy of that party, from which none
of that church must recede, without the
forfeiture of their Christianity, and the loss
Of eternal life But while people keep
firm TO these, they are in the church, and
the way TO salvation which, in effect, what
is it but to encourage ignorance, laziness,
and neglect of the scriptures:
Further | desire it may be considered,
what name that mere mock-show, of recon-
mending 10 men the study of the scripture,
deserves: if when they read it, they must
understand il lust as he chat would bc, and
they are too apt, contrary TO the command
Of Christ, to call, their MASTER tells them.
Ii they find anything in the word of God
that leads them into opinions he does not
allow, the very proposing of their
doubts renders them suspected. Reasoning
about them. and moi acquiescing in what
ever is said of them, is Interpreted want
Of due respect and Difference TO the authority
of their spiritual guides disrepute and
ccnsures follow and if, in pursuance OF
their own light, they persist in what they
think the scripture teaches them, they are
turned out Of the church, delivered TO
satan, and no longer allowed 10 be Chris
tians - lis these several systems, that
to each party are the just standards of
truth and the meaning of the scripture is To
be- measured only by them.
\ veil Is cast over their eyes and
lhen they are bid read their bible. They must
make il chime to their church's funda-
mentals. or else they were better let il alone.
For if they find anything there against the
received doctrines, though they hold il and
express il in the very terms the Holy Ghost
has delivered it in, that will not excuse
them Hcresy will he their lot, and they
should be treated accordingly. y.-,JoiH Locke.
True religion is the true worship and
service If God, learnt and believed from the
Word Of God only. II he who
thinks himself in the truth processes to have
learnt il, not hv implicit faith, but 10y atten-
tive study Of the Scriptures and full per
suasion Of heart. with what equity can he
refuse to hear or read him, who demonstrates
10 have gained his knowledge 10y the same
way.-JcbH Milton.
And why then should it be incongru,us
10 say. that the apostles and prophets and
,vangelists ard pastors and doctors which
Christ gave upon his ascension. by their
writing which some ui them writ. lut All
approved. are even now sufficient means to
conserve us in unity of faith and guard us
from error. ChiiliHQ'c0rh.
If YOU viii standto what you have granted
that scripture is az perfect rule OF faith as a
writing can he you must then grant II both
50 complete. that il needs no addition, and 50
evident that it needs no Interpretation.
-CRltHgcorN.