Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

[ 636] How to read the Scriptures, and books Apocryphal.

WHen Moses saw an Egyptian and an Israelite striving together, he killed the Egyptian,* 1.1 and saved the Israelite, Exod. 2. 12. But when he saw two Israelites striving together, he laboured to reconcile them, saying, Ye are brethren, why do ye strive? So when we read or see the Apocryphal books, or Heathen story, or Popish traditions, contradicting the Scriptures; As for instance, Jacob cursed Sime∣on and Levi for murthering the Sichemites, Gen. 49. 7. And Iudeth blessed God for killing of them, Iudeth 9. Here and in such like places, let us kill the Egyptian, but save the Israelite;* 1.2 set a value on the Scriptures, but sleight the Apocrypha: But when we meet with any appearance of seeming-contradiction in the Canon of Scripture; as where it is said, God tempted Abraham, Gen. 22. 1. and God tempt∣teth no man, Iam. 1. 13. Here now and in many other places, we must be Recon∣cilers, and distinguish betwixt a Temptation of tryal, which is from God, and a Temptation of seducement, which is by the Devil, and these two seeming-different friends will appear to be brethren, and agree well.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Joh. Weemse Exercitat.
• * 1.2

  Omnis scnsus, qui fuerit extra Scripturam, non est sensus. Origen. in Mat. homil. 25.