A Guide to Godliness, Book 5 · Chapter 29
CAP. XXIX.
Of our preparation vntounto this exerciſe of reading, and what is required in it.
§. Sect. 1 That we muſt come in reuerence to this holy exerciſe, and bring faith vntounto it.
ANd thus hauing generally ſhewed both who are to exerciſe themſelues in reading, and the ſubiect matter which they are to reade; we are now to intreat of the duty it ſelfe; and then to ſhew that it is an excellent helpe and meanes of a godly life. In the duty we will conſider the preparation vntounto it, and then the action or exerciſe of reading, with ſome directions by which we may be inabled to performe it with fruit and benefit. In our preparation our care muſt be, to fit our ſelues that wee may performe this religious duty in a right manner, and not to goe about it raſhly and vnaduiſedly, neuer ſo much as once thinking to what end we vndertake it, but onelyonly reading to ſpend the time, becauſe we want ſome other imployment. And firſt, we muſt come vntounto this duty with all reuerence, and performe it as in Gods preſence, and as being one of his gracious ordinances, whereby hereuealeth himſelfe and his will more cleerly vntounto vsus, for the edifying and building of vsus vp in all grace and godlineſſe. Secondly, we muſt bring faith with vsus; for as it is ſaid of the Word heard, ſo may it alſo of this, namely, that the Word which we reade will not profit vsus, vnleſſe it Heb. 4. 2.be mixed with faith in thoſe that reade it. The which is to be vnderſtood firſt generally of iuſtifying faith in Chriſt, which is required in all our actions, that they may be pleaſing to God, & more ſpecially in this, ſeeing if Chriſt be not in vsus by his Spirit and a liuely faith, both to open the blind eyes of our mindes, that we may ſee and vnderſtand, as hee did the eyes of Saul, Act. 16. Luk. 24. Apoc. 5. 5.and our hard hearts ſhut vp in ſinne, as he did the heart of Lydia, and of the two Diſciples going to Emaus, yea, if this Lion of the Tribe of Iuda doe not open the ſealed Booke, we ſhall ſee, and not perceiue; reade, and not vnderſtand. Beſdies which, we muſt bring a more ſpeciall faith, whereby we are made ready to beleeue and imbrace eueryevery truth of God, and to apply it for our owne vſe, as doctrines of truth for our inſtruction, threatnings for our humiliation, promiſes for our confirmation in faith, conſolations for our comfort, and ſo in the reſt. But in reſpect of this faith, there muſt be ſome difference in the act of it, as it beleeueth the Scriptures, and as it beleeueth the writings of men, although moſt godly and learned. For as theſe are not to be read with equall reuerence and eſteeme vntounto the other, ſo neither in all reſpects with the like faith. For we muſt beleeue the Scriptures with an abſolute faith, without any doubting or diſpute of reaſon, & without other confirmatiō or appeale to further trial, becauſe they are the Word of God, who being Truth it ſelfe, can neither deceiue, nor be deceiued. But all other writings of men muſt be read with a reſerued faith, beleeuing them onelyonly ſo farre forth, as vponupon due triall and examination we finde their ſayings conſonant and agreeable to Gods Word, and grounded vponupon his infallible truth, as vponupon a ſure foundation. For wee all being but imperfectly inlightened, doe know onelyonly in part; and therefore being ſubiect to errours, others alſo that ſhould build their faith vponupon our Luk. 8. 15.authority, ſhould erre with vsus.
§. Sect. 2 That we muſt bring honeſt hearts, and earneſt deſires to profit by this exerciſe.
Thirdly, we muſt bring with vsus good and honeſt hearts, that ſo the ſeed of the Word being ſowne in them as in good grounds, it may take deepe Pſal. 50. 16, 17.root, and bring forth in vsus plentifull fruits. Whereby I vnderſtand, not onelyonly an heart purified by faith, and purged from ſinfull corruptions by true repentance, without which we ſhuld not preſume to take Gods word and Couenant into our mouthes; but ſuch an one as is repleniſhed with ſincere affections and holy deſires, as after all Gods graces, ſo eſpecially that we may profit by this preſent exerciſe, without which wee may long reade, and yet be neuer the better or holier; like thoſe who eating their meate without an appetite, are, after much feeding, neuer the fatter. VntoUnto ſuch the ſaying of Salomon may be fitly applyed: Wherefore is there a Prou. 17. 16.price in the hand of a foole to get wiſedome, ſeeing he hath no heart to it? For though they abound in leiſure, and hauehave the ſight and peruſing of many excellent bookes, yet they purchaſe by them no ſpirituall grace, becauſe they hauehave no ſuch deſire or end, when they ſet themſelues to reading, but becauſe they are weary of idleneſſe, or for curioſity, that they may ſee what eueryevery one is able to ſay, or to get ſpeculatiue knowledge, that they may be fitted to entertaine diſcourſe. But if we would hauehave any good by our reading, we muſt come to it with a mind and deſire to profit by it; to hauehave the graces of Gods Spirit increaſed in vsus, to hauehave our minds more inlightened with the ſauing knowledge of God and his will, to hauehave our faith, affiance, hope, louelove, zeale, and all other Gods gifts and graces confirmed, nouriſhed and inlarged in our hearts, that wee may expreſſe them in our liues, by increaſing daily in bringing forth the fruits of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe. For if theſe deſires be wanting, though we ſhould do nothing elſe but reade the Scriptures, and other religious bookes; yea, though we were (like many of the Iewes) ſo conuerſant in the Booke of God, that we could ſay the moſt of it by heart, and were able to tell preciſely how many words and letters were contained in it; all this would yeeld vntounto vsus no ſpirituall nouriſhment, nor make vsus to thriue any whit in grace and godlineſſe.
§. Sect. 3 That we muſt come with a purpoſe to make good vſe of all we reade.
Finally, in our preparation, we muſt come to reading, with a purpoſe and reſolution to draw all we reade vntounto our owne particular vſe, either for the informing of our iudgements, or ſanctifying of our affections, or reforming of our liues, by putting thoſe good duties in practice which we know and learne. The which purpoſe Dauid expreſſeth in theſe words, Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy Commandements, and I will keepe them vntounto Pſal. 119. 33.the end. Otherwiſe wee can hauehave no aſſurance that God will by our reading inlighten our mindes, and increaſe our knowledge: for why ſhould be giuegive vsus more, if we make no good vſe of that we hauehave? Yea, why ſhould he not rather take away his Talent, if we hide it vnprofitably in a napkin? or at leaſt, leaue it with vsus to increaſe our account, and with it our puniſhment? for the ſeruant that knoweth his Maſters will, and doth it not, ſhall bee Luk. 12. 47.beaten with many ſtripes. Let therefore (as one exhorteth) the holy Scriptures Sint ergo diuine Scripture ſemper in manibus tuis, & iugiter mente vol…ntur, &c. Hyer. a…. I… Scripturas ſacras lege, vt ſemper memineris Dei illa verba eſſe, qui legem ſu…m non ſolùm ſciri, ſed etiam impleri iubet, &c. Ad Demetriad.be alwayes in thy hands, and meditate on them in thy minde; yet doe not thinke it ſufficient for thee to hauehave Gods Lawes in thy memory, if thou forgetteſt them in thy workes, but therefore know them, that thou mayeſt doe what thou knoweſt; for not the hearers of the Law are iuſt before God, but the doers of it are iuſtified. And as the ſame Author perſwadeth in another place; So reade the holy Scriptures, as that thou alwayes remember them to be the Word of God, who requireth not onelyonly that we ſhould know his Law, but alſo fulfill and obey it. For it profiteth not to know ſuch things as ought to be done, and not to doe them. Thou vſeſt well thy reading of Diuinity, if thou ſetteſt it as a glaſſe before thee, that thy ſoule may behold it ſelfe by looking in it, and may either amend deformities and blemiſhes, or more adorne it ſelfe, where it is already beautifull.
§. Sect. 4 That we muſt pray before we reade.
Laſtly, that we may performe both the preparation and action the better, we muſt lift vp our hearts (and when in reſpect of place and company we conueniently can) our voyce alſo, deſiring in ſome ſhort and pithy prayer, that the Lord will aſſiſt vsus in this exerciſe by his grace and holy Spirit, that thereby it may become effectuall for the inlightning of our mindes with ſauing knowledge, the informing of our iudgements, the ſanctifying of our affections, the nouriſhing and increaſing of our faith, repentance, and all ſanctifying graces, and the ſtrengthening of vsus in the inner man, vntounto all the duties of a godly and Chriſtian life, to the glory of his holy Name, and comfort and ſaluation of our ſoules, through our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. The which inuocation of Gods holy Name is neceſſary before the reading of the Word; for we are naturally blind, and therefore had need to pray with Dauid; Open mine eyes, O Lord, that I may ſee the wonderfull things of the Law. Naturally we vnderſtand not the things Pſal. 119. 18.of the Spirit of God, neither can we know them, becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned, 1. Cor. 2. 11, 14.and it is onelyonly the Spirit of God that knoweth the things of God, and Luk. 11. 13.reuealeth them vntounto vsus, which we can no otherwiſe hope to obtaine, then by feruent and effectuall prayer.