X. Concerning the Scriptures.
ANd the Scriptures we say were not given forth for men to make a trade of, and to keep People alwayes learning, that they may be alwayes reaching to get money of them; this is by the earthly Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding, which must perish and be confounded and come to nought, and is not in the Wisdom which comes from above, (which is pure and peaceable) but in the Wisdom which is below (which is earthly, sensual and devillish, which will destroy those which are contrary minded to them) nor the Understanding by the Spirit, which gives dominion over Sin, which gives to distinguish the one from the other, and out of that Knowledge whereby God is known, which is life eternal.
So such make a trade of the Scriptures, being out of the Life themselves, and are not able to bring others into it, but keep People learning all their life time; And this is the state of Babylons Merchants, building up and throwing down.
But this is the state and right use of the Scriptures, For all People to believe them, and to read them, and to walk in the Light, and to feel the Power and Spirit which was in them that gave them forth, by which they may know them and have them revealed to them, and so feel Christ which is the top and corner Stone, which doth fulfil them; and so to receive and live in him that doth fulfil them, who is the end of the Prophets, and all Types, Figures and Shadows.
So the Scriptures of Truth, I say, were given forth to be believed, read, fulfilled and practiced, and the things enjoyed they speak of, that is, Christ Jesus the substance.
The Scriptures of Truth, are the Words of God, which were learnt of God the Father of Truth, and they cannot be broken, but must be fulfilled; and he that doth fulfil, is Christ, by whom all things were made and created, who is called The VVord of God.