Hotv to read the Scripttlres profitab~. 57? CHAP. XX. :DireCtions for profitable tJV.1di17£ the boly Scripturer. 9· z. SEeing the dJvcrlity of mens tempers and underfiandings is fo exceedm~ great, that it "impo1fible that any thmg !hould be pleafing and [unable tofome, whiCh !hall not be d1fltkcd and quarrelled withby others, 2nd fecmg in the Scriptures there are many thmgs hard to be underfiood, whiCh the unlearned and unJhble wrefi to their own detlrultion, 2 Ptt· 3· r6. and the Word IS to fomethe favour of death unto death, 2 Cor. 2 rO. You Mu 1·14, have therefore need ro be careful in Readmg it: ~nd as Chnft faith, Luke 8. 18. Tal<$ lmd h>w yau l1e$r; fo 1 f1y, <fak,.t herd howy ou rt:J:d. • §. 2. Dirctf. r. B,inp, n~t an evil heart of Vnbelitf: Open tht Bible wit!J holy Reverence ar tbe Bu?l<_ D1rtll. I· ofGod, inditrd by tlu Holy Ghofl: Rcmcmbtr th&t the V olirine of the Ntrv 1'ejf.sment Will revealed by R~ad Cb.1~. 1· the Son ofGod, nho n·as purpojfly font from Heavtn to be tbt L!ght of the w~rld, and to m.1k,_e k,_nown tr1 ~:;in~i ~~nbe. men tbe Will uf G~d, and the matter! of-tluir {alvatio11. Be.thmk you well tf God lhould but ft:nd a Iicf, Tom. 1• Book <•r Lt. ttlt to you by an Ange1, how reverently you would receive it? How carefullyyou would. pcrufc it; and rtgud it above all the Books in the world? And how much rather fbould you do fo,hy ·thar Bnok which is indired by the Holy Gholl, and recordcth the doctrine of Chri!\ bimfdf, whofe auc!wri: y. is greater than all the Angels? Read it not therefore as a common Book, wich a common and unrevcrcnt heart ; but in the dread and Love of God the Author. . 9· 3· D in Cl:. 2· Rrmtmberthat it i1 the very Law of God which yau mujllive by, •nd be judged by Dire/1. 2. at l.zjt: .lhtd therefore rrad it with a full Refolution to Dbty what ewr it commandeth, thuugbjlejh, and mm, and_I' evils contradili it. Let there be no itcret exceptions in your hrart, to baulk any of its Precepts, and !hitt off that part of obedience, which the Aefh.accounterh difficult or dear. 9· 4• Dir<ct. 3• Rtmcmbcr that it i1 the WiU and Teft•ment ofyour Lord, and tbt Covenant of m.jl Dire/1. 3• [~tU ar.d graciouJ Promifu ; which aU your ComfortJ, and all your hoptr ofpardon and tverlafting life art built upon: Read it t/;eafore with Love and great delight. Value it a rhoufand fold more th.m you would do, the Jet ters of your dearefi fri€nd, or the Deeds by which you hold your Lands; or any thing elfc: of low concernmtnt. If the Law was ft:Pttttr to David than honey, and betttr ~ than tboufonds nfGold and Silver, and was his delight and meditalion all the day; 0 wha1 !hould the fweer and prerious Gofpel be to us? . 9·,5· Direct. 4· Remcmbc.tlbat it i1 a Dellrint if 11n[een things, and of t!Jt gruujl MyjleritJ: and Dirc/1. 4• therefore come _nnt to it with arroga~tce, as 11 Judge, but J.Jiith H~tmility 111 a Ltarntr or Di[ciplt: And if any thi,:J{ ]ttm difficult or improbable to you, [ufpell your own unfurnijiJI.~d tmderft!lnding, aNd not tht Jacrcd 1-Vurd of GIJ(./. If a Learner in any Art or Science:, will fufpect his Teacher and his Books,when ,. eve~ ht i) 1\J.lh:d, or-roectcth with that which fecmcth unlikely to him; his pride would keep pof- ,. (f!hnn ·for'..His 1gnorar1ce, and ,h1s folly w,e~ hke to be uncurable. . " 9· 6•. D'rl'Gt. 5· Remember that it i1 an Vniverfal Law and Dot1rine, J.Jiritttn for tbt m1~ ig;zorant Vs;ell. 5• as well a) fur rhc curzo:H: andJhtrtfort muft be {uiwl in plainnrfs to the cap11city of the fimple, and ' ,JJetjate mflttrr to cxercife the mfl fubtile wit1: and that God would bavt tht flyle, to fav ,ur more of ~ the znn~C(n1 'iVeak{_nt{s b[tl;,e ;nJfr~ttllentr, than the matter: Therefore bt not offended or troubled rrhen the flyled th ftem le[< ·polite, tblw yo'il mitbt~hiJlb,bt{temcd the Ho9 Ghaft ; nor at the plai11ne[1 ot fame parrs, or the myftcrioufncfs ot•otherf:· But a~re the: wifdom and tender condefcenfion of God to his poorcreJtures. ~ 9· 7·. Din. d. 6. Bri~tg not a carnal mi1;d, which [a-:Jouretb only fofl,ly things, aJ:d Wtnflaved to tbo[e Dircll. 6. fins whscb the Mriprurt doth condemn : For the C.JrHal mind i-t enmity againjt G~, 11nd ntithtr W, nur &an bt fobjtll ro hiJ LJW~ Rom. 8. 7, 8. And Jhe things of God art 1tot difcerned by tbe mttr natu.. ral man, f ur tbry .;re / 9?/iflmcji t (J bim, and thty mujf bt fpiritually Jjfcerned, 2 Cor. 2· 14· And En.. mity-is an ill Exputiror; It will bequarrelling with all, and making fioulrs in the word which findtth fo many faults in you : It will hate that word which cometh to deprive you of your moll fwec:c and dearly belovt·d fin. Or if you bave fuch a carn.zl mind and enmity, believe it not no more than a p..nial and wicked enemy lhculd be believed,againl\ God him{df; who better undcrfiandcth what he hJrh written, than any of his foo\i(h enemies. §. 8. DireCt. 7· Compare rme place 1{ Scripture n:itb another, an.d expound the d.zrk,.rft by the help of Dirc!J. 1• the pLi11nrjf, and tbc fewer rxpreffiom by tht more ji-cqttent, and ordinary, and the dmblfuL'er points by _ :hrife which .Jre mq[t certain; and uor on the COACrary. , §· ?· Dirtd. 8. ff(jitme nflt fiJt zbe Jfrmgr? of ytmr own undtrftandiJt?., but humbly pray t 1 God Ditdi. 8. for lz;,ht: and before .:t.nd after you rea~ tbe Scrzptz"e, pray earmjlly that tbe Spirit which did indite it r Cor :a.Ao,n. m~J' cxpo~tnd it to you, and kc:ep you tram unbdief and error. and lead you into chc: uuch. & u s, 9,ao.; 9· 10·
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