DR. FRANCIS WAYLAND ON COMMENTARIES.
THAT the world has made prodigious progress in all the arts and sciences, during the last three or four centuries, we know; and we know, too, that libraries on libraries have been written to elucidate the Scriptures. But what advantage do we derive from all this in our inquiries respecting the teachings of the Bible? Here the book is, just as the primitive disciples had it, and not an invention nor discovery has added to it a single letter. And then, as to the volumes of commentaries and expositions, why, they have served really to perplex the truth. The first believers found every precept plain and determined, while with us, the accumulation of learned rubbish has made it difficult to discover the simplest matters. Each year the press groans and the pulpit resounds with fresh controversies and disquisitions, all darkening God's counsel, casting doubt on the plainest things, causing that word whose "entrance giveth understanding" to be received through discoloring and distorting mediums, and enveloping in hopeless obscurity that gospel which to the meek-minded Christian is so full of light—such an unerring guide to his feet, and prompt casuist as to every duty. I recollect here the words of a Persian traveler writing from France to his friend at home: "Father," said I to the librarian, "what are these huge volumes which fill the whole side of the library?" "These," said he, "are the interpreters of the Scriptures." "There is a prodigious number of them," replied I; "the Scriptures must have been very dark formerly, and must be very clear at present. Do there remain still any doubts? Are there now any points contested?" "Are there?" answered he with surprise, "are there? there are almost as many as there are lines." "You astonish me," said I. "What then have all these authors been doing?" "These authors," returned he, "never searched the Scriptures for what ought to be believed, but for what they did believe themselves."—Fuller and Wayland on Slavery, pp. 185, 186.