7. There ought a due comparison be made with the judgments and sentiments of other Interpreters, according as the Apostle saith: _That no Prophecie of Scripture is of any private interpretation_: Which ought to be rendered as learned _Beza_ and Dr. _Hammond_ give it: “No Prophecie of Scripture is _propriæ incitationis_, of a Mans own or proper incitation, motion, or loosing forth;” for so the Greek is, ἰδίας ἐπιλύσεως οὐ γίνεται. Of which _Beza_ gives this learned note. “The Prophets truly are to be read, but so that the gift of interpretation be begged of God, that the same God may be the Author and Interpreter of the Prophetical writings.” For though a Man have by nature never so great endowments, of understanding, judgment and reason, or have never so large and ample acquirements, or presume never so highly to be assisted with the Spirit; yet his own single judgment ought not to be relyed upon in the exposition of the Scriptures; but he ought to call in to his aid, and to consider the sentiment and opinion of others. For it is obvious into what dangerous errors the _Arrians_, _Pelagians_ and _Antitrinitarians_ of old, and the _Socinians_ and _Arminians_ of later years have faln, by making their innate notions and the strength of natural reason to be the chief and principal rules for interpreting of the Scriptures by. And there is hardly any one thing that the Scriptures are more against, or do more condemn, than the too much extolling and idolizing of Humane and Carnal reason. _Because the carnal mind_ τὸ φρόνημα τῆς σαρκὸς, _is enmity against God, and is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be_; of which _Beza_ saith: _Probatio cur intelligentia carnis sit mors, quia, inquit, Dei est hostis_. And again, the Text saith: _For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise_, τὴν σοφίαν τών σοφῶν, _and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent_; τὴν σύνεσιν των συνετων. And again, _Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?_ σοφίαν τοῦ κόσμου τούτου. And the words of the Hebrew in that place of _Isaiah_ do signifie all that height of wisdom or understanding, that Men either have by Nature, or acquire by Art and Industry. Neither is it safe for a Man to rely upon his own single acquired parts, be they never so vast or great; because in the most ages, the most pestilent Errors and damnable Heresies have been vented and maintained by Men that were of the greatest acquired endowments. And that it is often as vain to presume upon having the guidance of the Spirit, as are the other two, is manifest in the late times of Rebellion and Confusion; where every Man pretending the Spirit, made such wild and extravagant expositions of the Scriptures, as few ages have known before; and is still kept up by the giddy troop of Fanatical Quakers, and the like.