[ 1366] How it is that so many deceive themselves in their not rightly searching the Scriptures.
AS the Apes in the story,* 1.1 who finding a Glo-worm in a very cold night, took it for a spark of Fire, and heaped up sticks upon it, to warm themselves by; but all in vain: So do they lose their labour, that in the warrantable search of Divine truth, busie themselves about sounds of words, and incoherent Scripture-sentences; When partly from depravednesse of mind, partly from ignorance, partly from instability, suddennesse and haste, they take a snatch and run away with that which looks somewhat like the sense of Scripture, and so deceive their own Souls, crying out like the Mathematician in Athens,* 1.2 I have found, I have found it, when indeed they have found nothing to the purpose, nor any thing to the true in∣formation of themselves or others in the wayes of God and goodnesse.