Works, Part 2 · Treatise 5
A PROFITABLE TREATISE CONTAINING A DIRECTION FOR THE READING AND VNDERSTANDING OF THE HOLY SCRIPTVRES: BY MAISTER Greeneham.
THose things which God hath ioyned together, no man may seuer a sunder. Therefore preaching and reading of the holy Scriptures being of God ioyned together in the worke of our saluation, may not be seuered asunder. In all Sciences, Arts and Trades, teachers and maisters are requisite ordinarily for the sound learning and practising of them: we must be perswaded much more that it is necessary to hauehave guides to goe before vsus in the way to saluation. That preaching is the most principall meanes to increasePreaching Gods ordinarie meanes to saluation. and beget faith and repentance in Gods people, must be granted, Deuteron. 18. 18. 33. 10. Leuit. 10. 11. Mal. 2. 6. 7. 2. Chron. 36. 15. Esay. 50. 5. 57 8. 53. 1. 55. 10. 11. 57. 19. 58. 1. 61. 1. 62. 15. 6. 7. Mat. 13. 3. 28. 19. 20. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 13. 14 Rom, 10. 14. 15. 1. Cor. 1. 21. 1. Pet. 1. 23. 25. And where this ordinarie meanes of saluation faileth, the people for the most part perish: Prou. 29. 18. Hos. 4. 6. 2. Chro. 15. 13. Esay. 56 9. Matth. 15. 14 Luk. 11. 52. But that the reading of the Scriptures publikely in the Church of God, and priuately by our selues, is a speciall and ordinarie meane, if not to beget, yet to increaseReading of the Scriptures publikely in the Church. faith in vsus, it is likewise proued, Deut. 6. 6 11. 18. Psal. 1. 2. Ioh. 5. 39. Mat. 14. 15. Rom. 15 14. 2. Pet. 1. 19. Nehem. 88. Act. 13. 15. 15. 21. The manifold fruite which comes of the reading of the Scriptures proue the same.
Reading rather establisheth than derogateth from preaching▪ for none can be profitable hearers of preaching, that hauehave not been trained vp in reading the Scriptures, or hearing them read. Many inconueniences come from the neglect of reading, as that the people cannot tell when a sentence is alleadged out of the Canonicall Scriptures, when out of the Apocrypha, when out of the Scriptures, when out of other writers, that they cannot discerne when he speaketh his owne, or a sentence of the Scripture.
Againe, reading helpeth mens iudgements, memories and affections, but especially it serueth for the confirmation of our faith: which may be prooued by the example of the men of Beroea, Act. 17. 13. It serueth to discerne the spirits of men, 1. Ioh. 4. to make soūder confession of our faith, to stop the mouthes of our aduersaries, and to answere the temptations of Sathan and the wicked.
But because men sinne, not onelyonly in neglect of hearing and reading, but also in hearing and reading amisse: therefore the properties of reuerent & faithfull reading and hearing, are to be set downe, which are these that follow: they be eight in number.
1. Diligence.
2. Wisedome.
3. Preparation.
4. Meditation.
5. Conference.
6. Faith.
7. Practise.
8. Prayer.
The three first goe before reading and preaching. The foure next come after them. The last must goe before, and be with them, and come after them.
1 If diligence be necessarie in reading prophane authors, then much more in readingforeign. the Scriptures. Diligence maketh a rough way plaine and easie, and of good taste, which otherwise is hard and vnfauourie. In our diligence we must keepe an euen course, and not to be like those who vponupon some sudden good motion, or by reason of some good companie, or by reason of some good action draw neere, or for feare of danger, &c. reade for a time, and soone after giuegive ouer againe. Reade Prou. 2. 12. Matth. 13. 54.
2 With diligence must be ioyned wisedome, which is in choise of
Matter.
Order.
Time.
For want of wisedome in the matter they reade, many sinne in studying other bookesMatter. before the Scriptures, and in the Scriptures in searching things not reuealed, and pretermitting things reuealed, as Iohn and Iames sought who should sit at Christs right hand, and left hand: but they sought not to come thither. And the Disciples said, Act. 1. Wilt thou at this time restore the kingdome to Israel? not asking the meanes to come to the kingdome of heauen. And in things reuealed many will curiously and busily search for things not profitable, as genealogies, and caresly neglect the things that are to be searched. And some ignorant how to reforme themselues, will be talking of reforming the Church. And if the Preacher must giuegive milke to the weake, and stronger meate to the stronger Christians: if he must thus applie his doctrine to the hearers, then much more the hearers themselues must applie their owne reading to their owne capacities.
Wisedome is in order: as that men must be first grounded in the principall points ofOrder. doctrine: first we must lay the foundation and build vponupon the same: also we must keep an order in our readings, and not be now in this place, now in another: for order is the best helpe for memorie and vnderstanding: he that readeth little after a good manner, profiteth more than he that readeth much otherwise: as he that …impeth in the way, doth betterSimile. than he that runneth in another way, or out of the way. Therefore for want of order many reade much, but profit little.
Wisedome must be vsed in discerning the times: for we must not reade alwaies, andTime. doe nothing else, as some offending in the one extreame, are after driuen by Sathan to the other. The Sabbath is wholy to be spent in such exercises: on other daies, in the morning, at noone, and in the euening, that is, when we may redeeme the day from the workes of our calling, as Dauid and Daniel did pray at these three times, vnderunder which is contained all the worship of God. Wee must doe as much as we can eueryevery day, and no dayNulla dies sine linea. must passe without a line. God hath made eueryevery thing beautifull in his time, Ecclesiast. 3. vers 11.
3 Preparation followeth: If any man goe away without any profit, and either vnderstandeth not, or vnderstandeth amisse, want of preparation is the cause.
Preparation is
1 In feare of God his Maiestie.
2 In faith in Iesus Christ.
3 In a good and honest heart, with a greedie desire to eate vp Gods word.
In all apparitions God alwaies sent feare before, as his apparitor, it ingendreth teachablenesse,Feare. and meekenesse of minde, as we see in Isaac, who (as it is said) feared, and then he said, I hauehave blessed Iacob, and he shall be blessed. We see it also in the woman of Samaria, Ioh. 4. 7. and in the men Act. 2. From want of this reuerent feare, commeth all checking of God his word, and that men dare be so bold with it: but they that feare will be swift to heare, and slow to speake, Iames. 1. 19. and will lay vp his word in their heart, with the Virgin Mary. Though they vnderstand it not, though they kicke at the word and spurne against it, yet if God once teach them with his feare, then will they acknowledge it to be the blessed word of God.
Feare commeth vponupon men sometime they know not how: and if then they go to God, they shall finde some excellent blessing, either in hauing their vnderstanding inlightened, or some good affections put into them.
This feare is in respect of God his Maiestie and our owne corruption, to correct the pride of reason, and to controll our affections: and experience will shew, that when our reason and affections are tamed by miserie, calamitie, sicknes, and inward griefe, then we are very teachable. And when men erre, then the pride of their reason is punished, as in heretikesHow to attaine a cl…re vnderstanding, sound iudgement, and good affections. 1. Cor. 2. and prophane persons▪ Contrarily, God his good spirit resteth vponupon the humble to cleere their vnderstandings: but they first crucifie their vnderstanding and affections, and offer them vp in a sacrifice to God.
Faith in Christ is the second thing in this preparation, we must bring that with vsus when we come to read, looking on him as on the Messiah, that must teach vsus all things: he is the Lion of the tribe of Iuda, to whom it is giuen to open the booke of God. He opened the hearts of the Disciples going to Emaus. Preachers build hay and stubble, because they doe not onelyonly glory in him, but doe seeke credit and preferment by preaching themselues. All heretikes differ among themselues, yet they all agree in this that they e…e from Iesus Christ.
A heart prepared to learne is required, Pro. 17. 16. Wherefore is there a price in the heart Good heart.of a foole to get wisedome, and he hath no heart▪ Our Lord Iesus Christ saith, that those that brought forth fruit (when they had heard) some thirtie, some sixtie, some an hundred fold, they were such as receiued the word with a good and honest heart, Luc. 8. Here saith a godly and learned man, men are shut out because they come without a heart
Now follow the properties that must follow our readings: Whereof the first is meditation, the want of which makes men depart without fruit, though they reade or heate diligently. Meditation makes that which we hauehave read to be our owne. He is blessed which meaitates in the law, day and night. Psal. 1. 2.
Meditation is either of the
Minde and vnderstanding.
Heart and affections.
Meditation of the vnderstanding, is when reason discourseth of things read, or heard,Meditation. which the wise of the Heathen call, the refining of iudgement, the life of learning. They that want this, how much soeuer they hauehave heard or read, yet shall they neuer hauehave sound and setled iudgement. And this is one cause why it is said, that the greatest Clerkes are not the wisest men.
Meditation of the affections, is when hauing a thing in iudgement, we euer digest it and make it worke vponupon our affections. It is continuall searching of our selues, and labouring to lay vp all things in the treasures of our hearts. The other will goe away except this be ioyned with it: for iudgement will away except we frame our affections vntounto it.
Meditation in iudgement goeth before: then this must follow, that we may be sound in iudgement before we either feare or cheere vp our hearts, least we hauehave false feares orFalse feares and false ioyes. false ioyes. Many are of sound iudgement, and yet hauehave not their hearts purged and touched: they can giuegive counsell to others, but cannot follow it themselues, because they ioyne not affection with iudgement. Meditation without reading is erroneous, and reading without meditation is barren.
The next thing is conference. In naturall things man standeth in neede of helpe, then2. Conferēnce. much more in spirituall things he standeth in neede of others. And as iron sharpneth iron: so one friend another, Pro. 27. And as two eyes see more, two eares heare more▪ and two hands can doe more than one, so this is a speciall communion of Saints, & God hath promised, that when two or three are gathered together in his name, that he will be present with them by his spirit, as he was corporally with his Disciples going to Emaus.
Conference is either with
Ministers of God.
Our equals.
Or others.
This rule must be kept, that conference with our equals must be of those things which we heard of our Ministers, as it must be kept also in meditation, which is a conference with our selues. We must for a time like babes hang at the mouthes of the Ministers, because we cannot runne before we goe: nay we cannot goe without a leader. No man may presume to vnderstand aboue that which is meet to vnderstand, but labour to vnderstand according to the measure of sobrietie, as God hath dealt to eueryevery one the measure of faith: and when they hauehave laid the foundation, then build the walles and pillars. The Eunuch would not interpret the word without a guide, but he laid it vp in his heart, as the Virgin Mary did. For want of true humilitie conference is slandered, because it is vsed after an euill manner, as before they be surely grounded in principall points of religion, to talke of other matters aboue their capacitie and knowledge. Secondly, we must come in louelove without anger, enuie, or desire of victory: therefore in conference we must vse the preparation spoken of before: the want of which maketh much …anglings and wranglings in companie.
Lastly, we must procure things honest before men, that it may be done wisely, without confusion and destruction: and not by too great a multitude, that we may affoord our doings before men; not with the doores shut, least any man should heare. This is the difference betweene the conference of the godly and religious, and the conuen…cles of Heretikes.
The next thing is faith: The word must be mixed with faith: Heb. 42. The word which 3. Faith.they hear a profited them nothing, because it was not mixed with faith. But all hauehave not faith: therefore the Prophet Esay said, Lord who will beleeue our report? And Luke 18. 18. Suppose ye that the Sonne of man when he commeth shall finde faith on the earth? All the former must be vsed to refine faith: for as gold before it be pure is seuen fold tried in the fire, so faith which is much more precious than gold, must goe through all these meanes.
Faith here is an increase of all that in * preparation. A Merchant must hauehave somethingSupra. Of preparation. A generall faith. before he be a Marchant, but he occupieth to increase and get more: so we must beleeue in Iesus Christ by a generall faith going before: but we must vse all the forenamed meanes to increase our knowledge and faith in all particulars. One may be a faithfull person generally, and yet an vnbeleeuer in particulars. As Christs Disciples to whom he said, If … had faith but as much as a graine of mustard seed, &c. As Abraham, Rebecca, and Zacharie had.
There is a difference betweene faith and opinion or knowledge: for our knowledge and opinions vanish away in afflictions: but as golde is tried in the fire, so faith will abide the fire of affliction. Sathan winowed Peter, but his faith failed not: for Christ failed not, for Christ praied for him, and for his Disciples, and for all beleeuers, that their faith should not faile.
Next followeth practise: That we hauehave a desire that the word may bring forth increase4. Practise. of faith and repentance, Psal. 119 98. By thy commandements thou hast made me wiser than my enemies, for they are … with me. The practise of Infidels is nothing, because it is not ioyned with faith. But Christ saith, Blessed are they which heare and doe. And so saith Iame…, that this is that assureth vsus that we hauehave faith. He that doth this, is compared vntounto him that buildeth his house vponupon a rocke, and our workes are not the foundation of the house, but then we hauehave builded vponupon Christ when we ioyne the fruits of our faith with knowledge, they will speake for vsus to our consciences, and to others. Our Sauiour Christ saith,Want of practise makes men blinder after some measure of knowledge. That that seruant that knoweth the will of his maister and doth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes: for it is worse to offend of knowledge than of ignorance. And why should he giuegive vsus any more, if we practise not that we hauehave? For to him that hath shall be giuen, but from him that hath not shall be taken away, &c. Why do many hearing the word, either continue or increase in their blindnes, but because they would not practise that they knew, and also euen that they had is taken from them? If a good conscience be not ioyned with faith, faith shall be taken away and errors succeed. If then we be forgetfull, we must confesse that the want of practise is the cause thereof. The rule of reason in all things is, that the best way of learning is by practise: then how much more if we practise will God increase our talents?
The last thing is praier, which must be vsed both in the beginning, in the middle, andS. Prayer. in the end. Prayer must be in all the former meanes: for without it we can neuer vse them, nor hauehave any blessing by them.
Prayer containeth vnderunder it,
Prayer.
Thankesgiuing.
For prayer, that it must be vsed when wee reade, it is plaine, 1. Cor. 2. The eye hath not seene, &c. meaning not onelyonly the ioyes contained in the kingdome of heauen, but euen those that are contained in the word. And againe in the same place, As no man knoweth the heart of a man, but the spirit of man: so no man knoweth the meaning of the Lord in his word, except God giuegive him his spirit to declare it vntounto him. And if we must pray when we come to our meate and drinke, that God may giuegive nourishment to vsus by them, then how much more must we pray God to nourish vsus by his word: for else we cannot profit thereby; And as no man dare touch meate and drinke before he pray, and we hauehave no title to it before it be sanctified to vsus by prayer: how impudent are they that dare touch Gods booke without prayer, or thinke that otherwise they hauehave title vntounto it? Paul may plant, and Apollo may water, but God giueth the encrease: so if any be senselesse still, and yet hauehave heard long, it is because God hath not reuealed his wil vntounto them. Men may be diligent, yet they shall erre if God giuegive not his spirit: and though they meditate and conferre, yet they shall be punished for▪ giuing libertie to their rouing braine and to their tongue, except they pray for Gods spirit.Many rest in knowledge and want faith why?
Many rest in knowledge, and want faith, because they want prayer: and wee rest in knowledge, and neuer practise, because wee pray not to God to write his law in our hearts by his spirit, that now, not wee, but he may worke in vsus. They that take any thing in hand without prayer, howsoeuer they say they abhorre Poperie, yet they practise it, because they take vponupon them to hauehave some power in themselues.Thanksgiuing.
For thanksgiuing, if we be bound to praise God whē he hath fed our bodies, how much more when he hath fed our soules? And shall God be iustly offended with vsus, if we thanke him not for our refreshing, with meates, sleepe, &c? and shall wee not tremble for feare of reuenge, if we hauehave not praised God for any light, or any good motion that he hath put into vsus? For want hereof, …fter some lightning followeth some darkenes, and after much feeling commeth deadnes: and by this meanes Satan goeth about to take all Gods graces from vsus. Dauid saith, Blessed art thou Lord, O teach me thy statutes. This sheweth that wee must euer praise God before we come to reade. Many are feruent in asking, but cold in giuing thankes. And if we would giuegive thankes to God, it would much ease vsus in asking, and God would not punish vsus in taking his graces from vsus.
FINIS.