Exercitations divine Containing diverse questions and solutions for the right understanding of the Scriptures. Proving the necessitie, majestie, integritie, perspicuitie, and sense thereof. As also shewing the singular prerogatiues wherewith the Lord indued those whom he appointed to bee the pen-men of them. Together with the excellencie and use of divinitie above all humane sciences. All which are cleared out of the Hebrew, and Greeke, the two originall languages in which the Scriptures were first written, by comparing them with the Samaritane, Chaldie, and Syriack copies, and with the Greeke interpretors, and vulgar Latine translation. By Iohn Weemse, of Lathocker in Scotland, preacher of Christs Gospell.

Of interpretation of Scripture.

THe third outward meane whereby the Lord ma∣keth the Scripture cleare to his Church, is Interpre∣tation, and this is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

This Interpretation of the Scriptures maketh the * 1.1 people to understand them, for when the Scriptures are not interpreted, they are like a Nut not broken. * 1.2 When Gideon heard the dreame and the interpretation of of it, Iud. 7. 15. In the Hebrew it is Veshibhro, the brea∣king of it: a speech borrowed from the breaking of a Nut; for as we breake the shell that wee may get the * 1.3 Kernell: So the Scriptures must bee broken for the people, and cut up for their understanding.

It was the manner of the Iewes in their Synagogues, after that the Law and the Prophets were read, to In∣terpret the scriptures, Act. 13. 15. And after the reading of the Law and Prophets, the rulers of the Synagogue sent un∣to them saying, ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people; say on. And therefore the Synagogue was called Beth midresh▪ Domus expositionis, & we see the practise of this, Nehem. 8. 8. Legerunt cùm * 1.4 appositione intellectus: They read the Law clearely to the peo∣ple, and caused them to understand those things which were read; this was the fruite of their interpretation. So they did 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Act. 16. 10. Conferre places

with places. The giving of the sense here, is more than to give the grammaticall interpretation of the words: they gave the sense and the spirituall meaning of them when they preached, Noah was a Preacher of righteous∣nesse, 2 Pet. 2. 5. The Church is not onely the keeper of the Scriptures, but also an Interpreter of them. This word Kara signifieth both to Reade and to Promulgate, Esay. 29. 12. & 61. 12. Zach. 7, 7. Act. 10. 20. So * 1.5 Mikra which signifieth Reading, signifieth also an Assem∣bly or Convocation, to teach us that the holy Scriptures * 1.6 ought to bee read in the congregation, and holy assem∣blies, and ought likewise to be expounded.

The conclusion of this is; The Lord useth so many meanes to make the Scripture cleare to the people, and yet the Church of Rome goeth about to stoppe these Fountaines of living waters, that the people may not drinke of them. As the Spies raised a slander upon the Land of Canaan, saying that it was unpossible to be won: so doe they slander the Scriptures of God with obscurities, and say, that it is impossible for the people to understand them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  The Scriptures not being interpreted to the people, are like a Nut not broken.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.5

  • ...〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
    • Legit
    • Proclamavit
• * 1.6

  • ...〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
    • Convocatio
    • Scripturo
    • sacra.