Seven Treatises, Treatise 3 · Chapter 11
CHAP. 11. Of reading.
The ſeuenth helpe is reading.THe next helpe to godlines is reading (as oft as may be) the Scriptures and approoued good authors. The which exerciſe and dutie, that the Chriſtian, whom I goe about to informe,Rules about reading in generall. may finde it an helpe to the furthering of him in godlines together with the other, ſome direction I will giuegive him about the ſame. And firſt, ſeeing it is to be vſed, and that as oft of eueryevery one, as conueniently maybe, this is one caution, that it be not neglected:The firſt rule. and the booke of God laid aſide, and couered with cobwebbes, or not ſo much as in our houſes at all. For let the beſt know this, that if they vſe not reading, they ſhall finde much more incumbrance in their life, vnſauourines, vnquietnes, vnfruitfulnes, and vncheerefulnes, with other ſuch, yea though they vſe other helps.
The ſecond rule.And ſecondly the ſame in effect I ſay of them which reade ſeldome, euen when they muſt needes, for feare or ſhame. Both theſe faults are too commonly committed euen of Chriſtians: and that becauſe ſome of them for following the world one way or other, can finde no leaſure thereunto: otherſome taking their full ſcope in play, and pleaſures, cannot attend to ſuch ſad matters, whiles the other are ſo welcome to them. Others through idlenes, ſlouth and ſwarmes of vaine cogitations or dangerous luſts carrying them, or through groſſe ignorance, needles, and idle talke, neglect ſo good a worke, and neceſſarie dutie: whereas, if they had learned to make conſcience of this duty, they might ſhake off much of noyſomnes, by watching their opportunities, whereby they ſhould not neede to feare, but that their labour therein, ſhould be plentifully rewarded.
The third rule about reading.Thirdly, ſeeing bookes, which are fit for the building of them vp in godlines, muſt be read of them, therefore they muſt not beſtow their time in reading filthie, lewd and wanton bookes, no nor needles and vnprofitable bookes,Eccleſ. 12.14. the reading of many ſuch being but weariſome to the fleſh, and vanitie: much leſſe ſuperſtitious pamphlets, and Machiuels blaſphemies (which it is a ſhame ſhould be ſuffered to come into mens hands) nor the ſubtill deuiſes and deceitfull dreames and errours of the Church of Rome, except they be able for their ſound iudgement to diſcerne them, that ſo they may be the better able to deteſt, and giuegive others warning of them.
But the bookes which are to be read, are the holy canonicall ſcriptures, and other ſound and godly authors, as I hauehave ſaid.The 4. rule. Wherein this as a fourth rule is to bee obſerued, that in the reading of the Scriptures, they reade not here and there a chapter (except vponupon ſome good occaſion) but the bible in order throughout, and ſo, as oft as they can; that ſo by little and little they may be acquainted with the hiſtories, and the whole courſe of the ſcriptures (hauing before the grounds of Chriſtian religion layd) and ſo may hauehave the more comfortable and liberall vſe of them.
And in reading of other good bookes, they are to be counſelled rather to reade ſome one or two well penned, either of the whole Chriſtian religion, or any particular argument, & matter, and them often, rather then a leafe of one and a chapter of another, as idle readers vſe to doe for nouelties ſake. Often, I ſay, becauſe a good book is of the moſt part of Chriſtians little ſeene into, at once or twice reading ouer, much leſſe the vſe of the doctrine of it reaped and inioyed of dull heads, ſlipperie memories, and weake practiſers, ſuch as it is too well knowne, that the moſt Chriſtians are. And therefore the moſt not hauing leaſure to reade many bookes, ſhall finde moſt profit by diligent going ouer of the ſame often, making their choice of the beſt and neceſſarieſt, by the helpe of their faithfull teachers.
Now as concerning the manner of reading;Rules more particularly about the manner of reading. it muſt bee with an heartie good will to learne and profit thereby, deſiring God to prepare vsus with reuerence: to lighten our vnderſtandings, that we may conceiue that which we reade, and ſetling our ſelues for the time of our reading to be attentiue, and ſo to abandon the wandring of the heart, as much as may be: the which will be the eaſilier done in reading, if it be well watched ouer (as hath been ſaid before) in our courſe of liuing. Alſo it is duly to bee regarded, that wee applie that which we reade,Rom. 15.4. wiſely to our ſelues (ſeeing all that is contained in the Scriptures, is written for our inſtruction and comfort) as perſwading our ſelues that all precepts of dutie and good life, are ſet downe to direct vsus (not others onelyonly) to the practiſe of the ſame: that all ſinne is forbidden vsus, and that all the generall promiſes which we reade to be made to the Church, are to bee beleeued of vsus, whether they appertaine to this preſent life, or to the life to come; and the comforts that accompanie them.
Likewiſe, that all exhortations and admonitions quicken and ſtirre vsus vp from coldnes, deadnes, and drouſines: and all reprehenſions to checke vsus for faults eſcaped: and all threats to feare our boldnes, and appale our ſecuritie, which is too eaſily and readily kindled in vsus, that ſo wee may make that vſe of them, which the Apoſtle requireth when he ſaith, that all Scripture is giuen by inſpiration of God, and is profitable to teach, conuince, to correct, and inſtruct in righteouſnes: and thereof in matters as well concerning God as men; and amongſt men, all particular kinds: and therefore Prince and ſubiect, noble and baſe, men and women: and more particularly in families, husbands and wiues; parents and children, maſters and ſeruants. Thus to reade, that thereby wee may be made fit vntounto eueryevery good worke, and to glorifie God thereby, is vndoubtedly to make our reading, as it is appointed of God an eſpecial helpe and meanes to grow forward in a godly life: and therefore wee are commaunded to ſearch the Scriptures: Ioh. 5.39. Act. 17.11.and (with the godly people of Berea) to compare our hearings, and our readings of them together. For reading is much commended to be one of the three duties that make vsus happie, the Apoſtle ſaying thus:Reue. 1.3. Bleſſed is he that heareth, and readeth, and keepeth the contents of this booke.
But this one thing I cannot omit, that the benefit and comfort of this exerciſe of reading being ſo great, and the ſubſtance of the Scriptures being ſo brought to light as it is,A proofe of negligent reading. and ſuch varietie of good bookes being granted vsus of God; that yet, euen ſuch as looke after eternall life delight ſo little in them. I ſpeake not of the prophane and vnruly, whom nothing will moue to reade, no nor ſo much as to heare Sermons, till God make them ſee how they hauehave deceiued themſelues. But I am ſure, it is one ſpeciall cauſe, why heart is taken from many learned and godly men to ſet out any new workes in print, ſeeing the profeſſors of the Goſpell doe beſtow ſo little labour and time in reading of thoſe which are extant alreadie.
Two obſeruations about reading.And herein theſe two things, I thinke meete to adde, in regard of ſome Chriſtians; that ſuch as hauehave not the gift of reading, may endeuour to follow the foreſaid rules,The firſt. by vſing the helpe of others: exhorting all by their loſſe and diſcommoditie to hauehave reading in greater reckoning, then it is with moſt at this day.The ſecond. The ſecond is, that beſides the former rules, ſuch as hauehave better helpes of vnderſtanding, memorie and leaſure, doe, beſides their publike hearing, note their doubts, and as they ſhall hauehave opportunitie, ſeeke reſolution of them, at their learned paſtors hands, or of ſome others: and mark the coherence of the Scripture, how it hangeth together: and the agreement that one place hath with another, that thereby that which ſeemeth darke in one, is made eaſie in another. This ſhall ſuffice to hauehave ſaid, for making ſome better vſe of reading, then commonly men doe. And though there are other things beſides theſe, which the learneder may take profit by: yet they being more out of the reach of the greateſt number of Chriſtians, they doe not ſo neerely nor neceſſarily concerne them. And it muſt bee remembred, that I propround not to ſay, as much as may bee gathered together about reading, but how it may bee profitably vſed to helpe the Chriſtian to be fruitfull in a godly life. And that which I hauehave ſaid, is auaileable thereunto.
For hee that ſhall conſider, how many waies the conſcience is appeaſed, the iudgement inlightened and inlarged, the heart perſwaded, the memorie relieued, the affections moued; and in a word, the whole man drawne by that which he may reade, ſhall not neede to doubt how great the benefit of reading, together with the other helpes, is. And that it being vſed as oft as poſſibly it may, in ſuch manner as hath bin preſcribed, and ſo many good things drunke in and receiued of vsus, as wee ſhall meete with in our reading; who doubteth but it ſhall be a ſingular helpe and furtherance with the reſt, to a godly and Chriſtian life? For a mind well ſeaſoned before, ſhall be vndoubtedly better ſeaſoned and refreſhed, when it ſhall vſually and oft drinke of the water of life, out of the ſweete fountaine of Gods word by reading. And of the helpe of reading: and ſo of al the ordinarie meanes both publike and priuate, whereby a true Chriſtian continueth a godly life, and groweth to further ripenes and perfection therein, thus much be ſaid.