26. Touching which matter,
there will be some place open for consideration, if first the
divine authorities which forbid a lie be diligently discussed: for
if these give no place, we vainly seek a loophole; for we are bound
to keep in every way the command of God, and the will of God in all
that through keeping His command we may suffer, it is our duty with
an even mind to follow: but if by some relaxation any outlet be
allowed, in such a case we are not to decline a lie. The reason why
the Divine Scriptures contain not only God’s commands, but the
life and character of the just, is this: that, if haply it be
hidden in what way we are to take that which is enjoined, by the
actions of the just it may be understood. With the exception,
therefore, of those actions which one may refer to an allegorical
significance, although none doubts that they really took place, as
is the case with almost all the occurrences in the books of the Old
Testament. For who can venture to affirm of any thing there, that
it does not pertain to a figurative foretelling? Seeing the
Apostle, speaking of the sons of Abraham, of whom of course it is
most easily said that they were born and did live in the natural
order of propagating the people, (for not monsters and prodigies
were born, to lead the mind to some presignification,) nevertheless
asserteth that they signify the two Testaments;2337
and saith of that marvellous
benefit which
God bestowed upon His people
Israel to
rescue them
out of the
bondage in which they in Egypt were
oppressed, and of
the
punishment which
avenged their
sin on their journey, that these
things befell them in a figure:
2338
what actions wilt thou find, from
which thou mayest set aside that rule, and take upon thee to affirm
that they are not to be reduced to some figure? Excepting therefore
these, the things which in the New Testament are done by the
Saints, where there is a most evident commending of manners to our
imitation, may avail as examples for the understanding of the
Scriptures, which things are digested in the commands.
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
