225. V. The doctrine of the church is to be drawn from the literal sense of the Word and supported by it.

It was shown in the preceding paragraph that the Word is in its fulness in the literal sense and endowed with holiness and power. Since the Lord is the Word and is the First and the Last, as He says in Revelation (Revelation 1:17), it follows that the Lord is most especially present in that sense and by means of it teaches and enlightens men. But these points must be demonstrated in due order:

(i) The Word is not to be understood without doctrine.

(ii) Doctrine is to be drawn from the literal sense of the Word.

(iii) But Divine truth, on which doctrine is based, is not visible to any but those who are enlightened by the Lord.