The Light of Faith, Part 2 · Section 15
§. XV. The eight, Reading of Scripture, or meditation.
THis is a duty of no ſmall benefitOf reading or meditation. to the godly life of a Chriſtian, for by it wordly cares are moderated and ſanctified, worldly pleaſures dulled and extinguiſhed, the minde furniſhed with pure imaginations, the iudgement inlightned and enlarged, the memory relieued, the heart perſwaded, the affections moued, the whole man ſecretly, yet ſweetly, drawn aboue the world, aboue himſelfe; this is part of the benefit comes hereby: and the comfort is no leſſe, when thou ſhalt know that this is one of the three duties that make vsus happy, Reu. 1. 3. Bleſſed is hee that heareth and readeth, and keepeth the words of this propheſie, and thoſe things that are written therein.
This duty I expreſſe by two words; reading, and meditation, 1. becauſe this duty preſſed in the old Teſtament, is ſet downe in two words, which ſignifie, to ſpeake with the mouth, and with the heart; to reade and to meditate too, foreign Ge. 24 63. Pſal. 1. 2. Therefore it is vſually tranſlated, to meditate, Ioſh. 1. 8. Pſal. 1. 2 2 Becauſe the reading which is the duty, is not a running▪ ouer a Chapter, vttering the words, like a childe at ſchoole, without regard of the matter, but this, muſing, thinking on, pondering, debating of the matters therein with our ſelues. 3 Becauſe many through want of education, cannot reade, yet the duty to meditate, faſteneth vponupon all.
That this is a duty which all are bound vntounto, that ſaying of our Sauiour, Search the Scripture, Ioh, 5. 39▪ doth abundantly teſtifie, and that command layd vponupon Kings, of daily reading, notwithſtanding their great employment of ſtate, Deut. 17. 18. 19. Beſides, the holy Scripture is called in theNeh. 8. 9. word, foreign the reading, becauſe it ought to be read.
About your reading, theſe things muſt neceſſarily bee obſerued.
1 That it be daily, the time ſuch as wee can beſt alotte from our worldly affaires▪ but in eueryevery day, ſome time muſt be redeemed to this worke, Deut. 17. 19. He ſhall reade therein all the dayes of his life, Ioſh▪ 1. 8. Thou ſhalt meditate therein night and day. Pſal. 1. 2.
2 That we meditate vponupon it, or ponder what we reade, ſtoring our hearts with good thoughts, liuely conſolations, and holy precepts by that which we reade: this will helpe to direct vsus all the day after, and ſeaſon the heart in ſome good meaſure, that it be not drowned in the va…ities of the world, and the ſinnes of the time, Pſal. 1. 2. This is to ſearch and digg… for wiſedome, and hath the promiſe, Pro. 2. 1. 2. 3. 5. 6. 7.
3 That we wiſely apply what we reade to our ſelues, ſeeing all Scripture is written for our inſtruction and comfort, and tends to make the ma… of God perfect and furniſhed to eueryevery good worke, Rom▪ 15. 4 We ought to perſwade our ſelues, that all precepts of duty and good life, are left recorded, to direct vsus, not others onelyonly, that all the promiſes are to be beleeued by vsus, and wee finde the grace or ſtate of life, to which they are made in vsus. All the threats denounced againſt vsus, as we are found in the tranſgreſſions, all reproofes checke vsus for faults eſcaped, all exhortations and admonitions quicken our coldneſſe, deadneſſe, drowſineſſe, and lukewarmeneſſe.
4 That wee bring a ſpeciall and renewed delight to this worke, elſe we ſhall never hold out, but by fits and ſnatches at the beſt, take it vp, Pſal. 1. 2. Bleſſed is the man, whoſe delight is in the law of the Lord, to meditate therein day and night.
5 That we hide in our hearts the Commandements, promiſes, threats, for direction and vſe in our liues, indowed with Dauids ſpirit, who ſaid, I hauehave hid thy commandements in mine heart, that I might not ſinne againſt thee, Pſal. 119. 11. that wee obſeru… to doe, as the command runnes in Ioſh. 1. 8.