A Help to Holy Walking, Treatise · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Directions in Reading the Word.
THe next Duty I ſhall point out unto you, is the Reading the Scripture, and other good Books, which open and apply it; for this alſo is neceſſary, and very beneficial to the Soul: and though it be not ſufficient where the preaching of the word is to be had; yet, it is a neceſſary addition, and many a Soul hath had experience of much good received by it: this word is the Law of the Lord which is perfect converting the Soul; and many inſtances might be given of men converted by it; eſpecially where the word of God hath not ordinarily been preached. That it is a commanded duty, ſee Deut. 17.19. where the King is commanded to take this book of the Law, and read therein all the daies of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord and keep his commandements; and if Kings themſelves are not exempted, notwithſtanding the multiplicity of their buſineſs, who then can plead exemption? yea, the Prieſts were to read it in the ears of all Iſrael, Deut. 31.11. 'Tis the Apoſtles advice even to Timothy, to give attendance to reading, 1 Tim. 4.13. and as 'tis a commanded duty, ſo 'tis the practice of the godly in all Ages; Moſes took the book of the Covenant, and read it in the ears of all the People, Exod. 24.7. So did Joſhua, Chap. 8.34,35. So did Joſiah, 2 Chron. 34,35. and Nehemiah Chap. 8.38.18. and 9.3. thus the Enuch Acts 8.30. yea, there is a bleſſing pronounced upon it, Rev. 1.3. Bleſsed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this Prophecy, and there is good reaſon for it, for as the Sun is to the World, ſuch is the Word of God to a Chriſtian, the very light of their lives, and the life of their Souls: but as it fares with the Sun, becauſe it commonly riſeth and ſets, therefore it is not ſufficiently heeded and admired; ſo 'tis with the Word, being common, 'tis not ſufficiently prized; Mannah you know was at firſt admired, at the laſt loathed: ſo 'tis here, if God ſhould ſend a Famine of the Word, it would be prized as it was when a Cart load of Hay was given for a few Chapters of the New Teſtament; the worth of it will be known in the want of it: as Health is beſt prized in Sickneſs, Peace in War, and Liberty in Bondage. Now for the Perſons that ought to read, they are all that are in a Capacity; for if any were exempted they would be Kings, for the multiplicity of their buſineſs; but the book of God muſt be to them a Vade mecum, a conſtant Companion; Parents are to teach their Children in it, and under theſe two Relations, all Superiours and inferiours are contained, Deut. 6.7. 'Tis the Devils practice and policy no doubt to keep Men from reading the Scriptures; Chriſt bids ſearch the Scriptures, and how dare Papiſts and others ſpeak the contrary? we are commanded to let the word of God dwell plentifully in us, and 'tis made a mark for a bleſſed man to meditate in Day and Night; here is the Mine out of which we muſt dig for knowledg, Prov. 2.3,4. Oh that men would ſpend that time in Reading, Meditating, and conferring of the word of God; which they do in Vain, and idle Viſits, needleſs Recreations, Carding, Diceing, Drinking, Drabbing, and ſuch like; how much would it conduce to their Souls health? this makes more to the evening their accounts with God, and making preparation for the Soul, than the other will: I know 'tis objected, that the Scriptures are difficult to underſtand, and therefore dangerous to be meddled with, leſt they be abuſed; this is the Objection of the Papiſts on the one ſide, it being their intereſt to keep men in ignorance: and the Sloathful on the other, who will not Plough becauſe of Winter, Prov. 20.4. but this ſhould rather quicken our diligence, than ſerve for a diſcouragement; if difficult duties be neglected, we ſhall never reach Heaven, 'tis true ſome things are difficult, but the moſt neceſſary are plain and eaſie: here indeed a Lamb may wade, and an Elephant may ſwim, but the gains will countervail the loſs and charge; here is a Lamp to light us, the dew of Heaven to refreſh us; a ſword to defend us, a key to open Chriſts will to us; flaggons of Wine, and Apples of Paradice; take therefore theſe Directions in thy Reading.
4. Direction. If thou wouldeſt Read the Word with profit, 'tis neceſſary that thou prepare thy heart for ſo ſolemn a duty; come not out of a huddle of buſineſs, with thy heart full of the World, to diſcourſe with God; take not Gods word, any more than his Name, in vain: take it not prophanely into thy mouth, without due regard, or conſideration, leſt he turn thee away with a Curſe, inſtead of a Bleſſing: 'tis a buſineſs of great concernment, even of Life and Death; yea, of the Eternal well or ill being of thy Soul; and therefore not to be ſlighted: beg leave therefore of God before thou meddle with it, yea, beg his bleſſing upon it, without which nothing can do us good for Soul or Body; the want of due preparation, cauſeth many to find the word ſo ineffectual: yea, find ſo little ſweetneſs in it. Again if thou wouldſt profit by it, hold on in a conſtant courſe of Reading; 'tis not reading by fits and ſtarts will ſerve turn; many are now off, now on; now they will, and then they will not; as the World gives them leave, or as the humour takes them: this is not ſufficient; but get a ſtrong Reſolution to hold on in a conſtant courſe of Reading what ever comes of it; break through all the difficulties that lye in the way, a little now and then, will do thee little good; without this Reſolution Satan will baffle thee, and lay ſome temptation in the way to hinder: the World will divert thee, and one buſineſs or other preſent it ſelf to be done at the ſame time: thy own corruption will oppoſe it, and thy deceitful heart make thee delay it; but this being the food of thy Soul, be not diverted from it any more, than thou wouldeſt be from thy Meat: but this is not ſufficient; thou muſt not only do the duty, but do it well: to this end get thy heart in order, get it cleanſed from diſtracting thoughts and cares, & freed from diſquieted motions, & perterbations: A full Veſſel can receive no more: and a heart full of the World hath no room for Heaven; ſay therefore to thy Worldly cares and thoughts when thou comeſt to this duty, as Abraham to his ſervants, when he went to Sacrifice; ſtay here and I will come to you again: ſet thy ſelf as in the preſence of the great God; apprehend him by the eye of Faith, beholding thee; this will keep thy thoughts from roving, and thy imaginations from wandring, in his Service; and awe thy heart, and curb thy Affection. Bring with thee alſo a Spiritual Appetite, to the means of Grace; come with an empty ſtomack, or why doſt thou ſeek after Food? An hungry man is moſt like to taſte and reliſh thoſe dainties; the Word was to David ſweeter than Honey and the Honey-Comb; and to Job, better than his appointed Food: If there be Spiritual Life in the Soul, there will be an Appetite; for no Life can be preſerved without food. Bring Faith alſo along with thee, which is the mouth of the Soul, and without this the Soul can receive no nouriſhment; The Word which they heard profited them not, becauſe it was not mixt with Faith in them that heard it, Heb. 4.2. Reading will do thee little good, if thou believe not the Truth of what thou Readeſt, or doubteſt of the performance of the Promiſes, or Threatnings. Faith alſo will ſubdue Carnal Reaſon, and help thee out when thou art at a ſtand. But above all, ſeek help from above, from God; here are many difficulties too hard for thee to grapple with, which cannot be underſtood but by Divine aſſiſtance. Paul may Plant, and Apollos Water, but God gives the Increaſe: 'tis he that opened Lydia's Heart, and muſt open thine, or the Word cannot do it; beg therefore his aſſiſtance, and come thus prepared to the Duty; this is the likelieſt way to ſpeed.
2. Direct. If thou wouldeſt profit by Reading of the Word, be ſure to propound right ends to thy ſelf; for the End Crowns the Action. Many read much, and profit little, becauſe their Ends are bad; they undo themſelves, and loſe their labour by this means: Some Read for Cuſtom, and for Faſhion ſake, and make reading the end of reading; and are like the ſilly Women, the Apoſtle ſpeaks of, always Learning, and never come to the knowledge of the Truth; and ſo the work be done, matter it no more: Some Read to fill their Heads with knowledge, and their Brains with Notions, that they may thereby be able to diſcourſe with applauſe, when yet they never ſuffer it to ſink down, or ſoak into, or ſeaſon the heart; but ſuch ſpeculative knowledge doth little good, yea, great hurt: It makes them ſin with a Candle in their hands. And ſome Read to a worſe end, that they may be able to oppoſe the Truth, and maintain Error, and pervert the good ways of God: thus the Phariſees, thus the Jeſuits, and many Hereticks: But every one ſhould, and a true Chriſtian doth, in this duty as well as others, make God's glory in the Salvation of his own, and others Souls the mark he aims at; and regulates his Actions accordingly: And doubtleſs, from God he will receive his Reward. When others, as it was ſelf they aimed at, ſo from ſelf they muſt expect their wages. A Believer, he would know more, that he may obey better; he would know God better, that he might Love him more; and know God's will, that he might do his work; he would know his work as well as his wages; his Duties as well as his Priviledges: He reads he word of God, and thoſe Books which open and apply it, that he may know Truth from Error; and follow the one, and fly the other; and may not be ſeduced by falſe Teachers, nor drawn aſide from the Rule to the Right hand, or to the Left: He would know Light from Darkneſs, and have the Scales of Ignorance fall from his Eyes; he would know good from evil, that he might follow the one, and avoid the other; he would be able to try the Spirits, whether they are of God or no; yea, to try all things, and hold faſt that which is good: he would know Vice from Virtue, and diſcern what is ſin, and what is duty; that he be not like thoſe that in Perſecuting the Saints, think they do God good Service: he would be acquainted with his own Heart, and know the ſtate of his own Soul, and whether his Evidences for Heaven be good or no: he obſerves what qualifications the Scripture requires, for Heaven; and then by Scripture-Light he would diſcern them in his own heart, and endeavours to Read his own Name in the Book of Life, and ſee what Intereſt he hath in Heaven, in Chriſt, and Glory; and what Evidences for Salvation, and what Signs of his Election, Vocation, Juſtification, and Adoption; and what right he hath to the Promiſes, which are his Father's Legacy: He would be able by the word to reprove Errors, and defend the Truth; yea, to reprove the works of Darkneſs, and repel all the fiery Darts of Satan, and be able to walk comfortable in the way to Heaven, and to fetch Conſolations out of God's word, to bear him up under the ſaddeſt Afflictions. They would be able to teach others in the way they ſhould walk, and Inſtruct them in the Holy Path, and reprove them when they err, and convince them when they go aſtray, and reduce them back that have wandered, and gone awry; and build them up that are already brought in: Theſe are ſome of the deſires of the godly in Reading the Scriptures, and not as the Butterflie, only to paint her wings; and theſe are the ends thou muſt aim at in thy Reading it, and then thou wilt Read it with Profit.
3. Direct. If thou wouldeſt profit by thy Reading the Scripture, and other good Books, Read with the greateſt diligence, attention, care, and circumſpection, that poſſibly thou canſt; for all thou canſt do is little enough: This is a Commanded Duty, and the work of God; and a Curſe is threatned to them that do the work of the Lord negligently. Curſory Reading will do thee little good; and hence it is, that many read much, and profit little, becauſe they read it careleſsly; many read an idle Romance, or wanton Love-Song more attentively than the word of God. Read it, as if it were for thy Life, and the Life of thy Soul, and for Eternity, as indeed it is: Set thy Heart upon it, then art thou like to profit by it. Matters of Life and Death uſually affect us; and ſhall not matters of Salvation, and Damnation affect us much more? Were but thy Life endangered by a heartleſs, careleſs Duty, who would be mindleſs, or careleſs, in the performance? Nay, how vigilant, diligent, careful, wouldeſt thou be? And is not the Life of the Soul much more worth? The word of God is of great Concernment; whether we conſider the Author, or the Matter of it, it ſhould put us on to the utmoſt diligence: The Author is the great God of Heaven, one that can put Life into both his Promiſes, and Threatnings; nay, will do it, for he is Faithful. And the word is an Epiſtle ſent from Heaven, from this great God, and that for our Inſtruction, Admonition, Reproof, and Conſolation, 1 Cor. 9.10. & 10.11. Rom. 15.4. Whatſoever things were written afore-time were written for our hearing, &c. This is God's Statute-Book, whereby he Rules the world, wherein are greater Rewards promiſed, to obedience, and greater Puniſhments threatned to the diſobedient, than any King upon Earth can annex to his Law, or can Execute, if he ſhould threaten them. There is therefore great Reaſon why we ſhould be more converſant in thoſe Laws, than the Laws of the Land, though theſe be neceſſary, becauſe the danger is greater. In the one we ſtand in danger of Life, or Liberty, or Confiſcation of Goods; in the other, of Eternal Damnation. It is ſaid of the Jews, that many of them could as readily Anſwer to any point in the Law, as they could to their own Names; and that they knew how many words, yea, ſyllables, yea, letters were in the whole Law. God grant their diligence riſe not up againſt us, to condemn us for our negligence. If a Father, or Maſter, or Ruler, or Prince, can Command Reverence from their Inferiors, ſurely God may much more from us. If we receive a Letter from a great Man with ſuch heedfulneſs, and Read it with ſuch diligence, and attention, and mark every paſſage with ſuch circumſpection, and care; ſurely much more care and diligence ſhould be uſed in this Epiſtle ſent from Heaven; from the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Nay, but the Contents thereof, the Matter therein contained requires diligence; 'tis Matter of greateſt Right, and greateſt Concernment; 'tis our Father's Will, and herein is Recorded the Legacy he hath left us. Now, who will neglect a Fathers Will, wherein an Inheritance is bequeathed? Here is the Rule we muſt live by, and the Law we muſt be Judged by; and are theſe Matters to be ſlighted? Here is all the Evidence we have for Heaven; and ſhould this be diſ-regarded? How careful are Men of their Evidences of their Lands? They will hardly part with them out of their own Hands; and yet alas! how ſeldom do many men take theſe Evidences into their hands; too Evident a Sign they have, but little hopes of good by it. Now, without the diligent peruſal, how ſhall we come to the knowledge of them? Here are High Myſteries, in which we may eaſily be miſtaken, and 'tis very dangerous to be miſtaken: what need have we then of circumſpection? Theſe, and many other Conſiderations may put us on to diligence in Reading, Marking, and Obſerving the Scriptures.
4. Direct. Wouldeſt thou Profit by Reading? Then Read the Word with Judgment, Underſtanding, and Diſcretion. This is neceſſary in every duty; nay, in every Action. A Wiſe Man, ſaith Solomon, Orders his affairs with diſcretion; but it is required, eſpecially in a work of ſo High a Nature, and of ſo deep concernment, as this is: many Read much, and profit little, becauſe they underſtand little; they are like the Eunuch, to whom Philip ſaid, Ʋnderſtandeſt thou what thou Readeſt? He ſaid, how can I, except ſome man ſhould guide me? Acts 8.30,31. Now, diſcretion ſhould be uſed in regard of the Circumſtances; of Time, and Place, and Order, and Method; for the want of diſcretion in theſe, a duty may be ſpoyled: Concerning Time, every thing, ſaith Solomon, is beautiful in it's ſeaſon; all our Time muſt not be ſpent in this Duty, then others as neceſſary would be omitted: one duty muſt not juſtle out another, yet ſometime muſt, and as much as can well be ſpared ſhould be reduced for it; yea, we ſhould rather redeem Time out of our ſleep, or recreations, than neglect it; and it ſhould be the moſt ſeaſonable time, a work is moſt excellent in it's ſeaſon. Morning, and Evening ſeem ordinarily the fitteſt Seaſons for Reading the Scriptures in the Family, for private Reading as occaſion ſerves; and for Place, that which is freeſt from diſtractions, and fitteſt for Edification, and Order; for private Reading, a private place, this doth moſt benefit a private Perſon, though that which is more publick Edifies more than one: A Method alſo is to be heeded in Reading the Scriptures, or any other Book; a diſorderly Action, or Duty ſeldom profits; Order, and Method are good helps to the Memory: Read the Scriptures throughout, in order, except ſome Chapters that are leſs to Edification; and ſo for other good Books, Read them throughout; he that Reads a Chapter here or there, at adventure; or, a leaf here, and another there, in another Book, profits little: and 'tis alſo neceſſary that thou underſtandeſt what thou readeſt; 'tis not ſo much the words and phraſes, as the ſenſe thou ſhouldeſt look after. The Jews, as I told you, had great care of the Scriptures; they counted the Words, Syllables, and Letters contained in the Law, and yet were Ignorant of the ſenſe, and miſt of the meaning. When thou readeſt a dark paſſage in the Scripture, reſt not till thou underſtand it: To this end Divines have given ſeveral Directions, ſuch as theſe: If thou be able, compare the Original and Tranſlation together, and, perhaps, this may reſolve thy doubt; every Language hath a peculiar Elegancy: and ſome words are of ſo hard a ſignification, that they cannot fully be expreſt in a Tranſlation. Now, knowing the Original will abundantly help, and the knowledge of Arts, and Sciences is alſo of great uſe; let the Enemies to Learning ſay what they will to the contrary. If this help thee not, look into the Context, obſerve the Circumſtances, and ſcope of the Place, and receive no Interpretation which Croſſes that. If this will not do, compare this place with others the like, and admit not ſuch a ſenſe as contradicts other Scriptures; eſpecially compare it with the analogy of Faith, thoſe plain Doctrinal concluſions, gathered out of other plain Scriptures, of which no doubt is made, and if it agree not with this, reject it; for Truth it ſelf cannot oppoſe it ſelf. We muſt reduce dark places to thoſe that are plain; and not force thoſe that are plain to the dark ones. If this help not, read ſome Learned Expoſition upon the place: If this fail, ſeek aſſiſtance from God; for, as the Sun cannot be ſeen but by it's own light; ſo the will of God cannot be known but by his own Spirit: he that Faithfully, and Carefully obſerves theſe Directions, may through Gods bleſſing come to know as much as is neceſſary.
5. Direct. If thou wouldeſt profit by the word thou readeſt, carefully obſerve the general ſcope of it, and what deſign God is aiming at, and what End he aims at, in it, and proſecute the ſame deſign, and aim at the ſame mark that he doth; for all Scripture is given for our Inſtruction. Now, if we heedfully mark the general ſcope of the Scripture, and the end which God drives on in the main, is to make himſelf known to the world, in his wiſdom, power, and goodneſs, to the end, that man may own him as their Lord, Owner, and Benefactor, and his Son Jeſus Chriſt, for their Redeemer, and Saviour, that he might get himſelf Glory in their Salvation. Now, in thy Reading proſecute the ſame deſign that God doth, and aim at the ſame end which he doth; and this is the likelieſt way to profit. The Scripture in general ſets before thee the knowledge of God, and thy ſelf; what God is, and what he hath done; what thou waſt by Nature, what by the Fall, and what by thy Reſtauration: and alſo what God requires at thy hand. In the proſecution of this End, the Scripture handles thoſe points which conduce hereunto. As firſt, in the work of Creation thou maiſt ſee God in his wiſdom, and power, for none elſe could make the world of nothing; yea, every Creature will point out God to an underſtanding man; for it paſſeth the power of Men, or Angels, to make the leaſt Fly, eſpecially without pre-exiſtent matter; nay, the Creatures do not only ſhew that there is a God, but alſo ſ… forth the Attributes of God; as his Eternity. Wiſdom, Power, Majeſty, Goodneſs, and Perfection; theſe clearly ſhine forth in theſe his works. The leaſt Creature, if you follow him home to his Original by Divine Meditation, will point out an Omnipotent Arm for his Creator: And when thou readeſt of his works of Providence, theſe alſo ſpeak the ſame thing, and Teach the ſame Leſſon. The wonderful works and Miracles he hath wrought for the preſervation of his People. The Rule and Government which he hath ſet in the world; the preſervation of his Church, and the frequent deliverance he hath given to his People Recorded in the Scripture, beſpake to us his Power, Wiſdom, Goodneſs and Truth. When thou readeſt of the Works of Redemption; this beſpeaks Chriſt the Lord, the Son of God, as he is witneſſed from Heaven, by Angels, by Saints, by Enemies, by Devils, all which gave Teſtimony to his Divinity; and that he was truly man is alſo evident by his Incarnation, Birth, Growth, Actions, Paſſions, Death and Burial, and Reſurrection &c. And that he is the true Meſſiah, the Saviour of the World, is clearly evident by Scripture light; here thou maiſt finde that all the Propheſies that went before of him, are clearly fulfilled in him, and no other: and ſuch Miracles wrought, and ſuch mighty Works done, and ſuch gratious Words ſpoken, that make it plainly appear, that he is indeed the Son of God the Saviour of the World. Again, when thou readeſt the Commands, Threatnings, Puniſhments, &c. Know theſe are to deterre thee from Sin, and to drive thee home to God thy Benefactor: and when thou readeſt the Promiſes, Invitations and Encouragements, theſe are to draw the nearer to him, therefore carefully obſerve what ever thou readeſt, and ſome way or other it will conduce to bring thee neerer to God: this is Gods end in writeing the Word, and ſhould be thy end in reading it.
6. Direct. Wouldſt thou profit by Reading? then meditate upon what thou readeſt, this is the way to make what thou readeſt thine own; it was this way that David got more underſtanding than the Antient, and became wiſer than his Teachers, Pſal. 119.98,99,100. and 66.11. Now Meditation is a ſtudious Art of the Mind, wherein a Man ſearcheth out ſome hidden truth, by the diſcourſe of Reaſon; and 'tis one of the moſt profitable heart-enriching duties thou canſt perform: this will fetch in Proviſion like a Bee, from every Herb, and Flower; yea, from every Weed, Thorn and Bramble will yield ſome Honey; this will ſtore thy Heart with Treaſure new and old, there is no Creature ſo barren, but will yield ſome Fruit; nor dead Tree, or hard Stone that is ſo barren, but it will yield ſome increaſe; no Creature but will yield a helping hand, no Fowl but will lend a Feather to mount the Soul aloft: A Chriſtian skil'd in the Divine Art of Holy Meditation, can never want an Object fit to work upon: and if the Creatures thus furniſh us, doubtleſs the Word of God cannot be fruitleſs: the Word of God of it ſelf is Myſterious and Dark, at leaſt ſome part of it, the Well is deep, and Meditation is the Bucket, hereby Divine Myſteries are drawn out, and the Water of Life pumpt; in curſory Reading many things paſs by without regard, which by Meditation are fetcht back and made uſe of: This is not only a help to the underſtanding, but the Memory alſo: it leaves a deep impreſſion upon it: What in curſory Reading is ſoon forgot, is preſt hard upon and imprinted to the Memory by Meditation: hereby the Heart is ſtored with wholeſome truths, which otherwiſe would be barren and empty of any thing that is good; and ſtored only with Vanity and Folly, this ſeaſons it, and fills it with good things, which otherwiſe would be a Cage of unclean Birds, a very Sink of Sin and Filthineſs; this ſeaſons the thoughts, which produce Works and Actions. Meditation in the Word is that which David was excellent at, and every bleſſed Man ſhould follow, Pſal. 1.2. and Solomon adviſeth to, when he bid ſearch for Wiſdome as for Silver, and dig for it as for fine Gold, Prov. 24. this alſo hath a Promiſe of ſpeeding annexed, Prov. 2.12. &c. This is the way which the faithful in all Ages have taken, and hereby it was they became famous: We finde Peter alone upon the Houſe top, a fit place for Meditation, you may finde Iſaac in the Fields meditating, Gen. 24.63. Act. 10.9. Elijah upon Mount Carmel, and Daniel by the Brook of Ʋlai, and how Sapleſs and Unſavery are all the Pleaſures in the World to a Man skill'd in Divine Meditation? The Phyloſophers that knew little of God, and leſs of the Scriptures, were ſo taken up with their Phyloſophical Notions and Speculations, that they oft-times mattered not their Meat, or their Drink, or their neceſſary recreations; Archimedes was ſo taken up with his Geometrical Notions, that when the City Syracuſe was taken, he was heedleſs; yea, when a Soldier ſtood ready to kill him, would not be drawn off, till Death it ſelf ended his Contemplations: if the Creature can bring ſuch ſatisfaction, what will the ſtudy of the Creator do? and the Meditation of Heaven and Glory? but alaſs, where ſhall we finde a wiſe Man? many read it not at all, others curſorily, few fruitfully, moſt are forgetful hearers, and forgetful readers; but Meditation would fix it in the Memory.
7. Direct. If thou wouldſt Read with profit? apply what thou readeſt to thy ſelf, and bring thy heart to the Rule, and thy Graces to this Touchſtone, and behold thy Face in this Glaſs of the Word; to what end is Meat given, but to be eaten? or Phyſick but to be taken? or a Plaiſter, but to be applyed? many read much, and profit little, becauſe they apply not what they read to themſelves: perhaps they can apply it to others, and ſay, here is for ſuch and ſuch a man, when they neglect their own Portion. They are like the Phariſees, they binde heavy burthens, and grievous to be bourn, and lay them upon other mens ſhoulders, but they themſelves will not touch them with one of their fingers: but why wilt thou deal ſo liberally to others, and deal ſo deceitfully with thy own Soul? doth it want nothing, or doth God ſpeak nothing to thee, but only to others? In the things of the World thou art not ſo kinde, thou wouldeſt not be deceived by another, neither wouldeſt thou give away thy Eſtate with thy own hands to another; and why art thou ſo injurious to thy Soul, in things of a higher Nature? thou wilt not deprive thy belly of Food, nor thy back of Raiment; & muſt thy Soul only be deprived of both? An hungry man will not thus diſpoſe of his meat, nor a covetuous man of his money; and this thy liberality ſhewes thou haſt neither a ſtomack to theſe ſpiritual dainties, nor a deſire after theſe ſpiritual and heavenly treaſures. This word is of general uſe to all, every one hath his Portion: for as God hath made nothing in vain, ſo he hath ſpoke nothing in vain: when therefore thou readeſt his Precepts wherein he commands duty, and forbids ſin; perſwade thy ſelf that God is now particularly ſpeaking unto thee, and apply what is ſpeaking to thy ſelf, as if there was no other Man or Woman in the World beſides thee; or as if God by an audible voice called thee out by Name, as he did Samuel, and gave thee theſe Commands to obſerve theſe duties to do: theſe ſins to avoid: and let it deterre thee from ſin, and quicken thee to duty; as if God himſelf had ſpoken to thee from Heaven: When a Miniſter reproves ſin, ſome guilty Conſciences ſay he means me; 'tis true, if thou be guilty the Miniſter doth mean thee, and God means thee; when the Word ſpeaks againſt Drunkards, Swearers, Lyars, then it means thee, if thou art guilty of thoſe ſins; When thou readeſt the pretious Promiſes which God hath made unto repugnant Sinners, aſſure thy ſelf, if thou be ſuch a one, theſe promiſes will be made good to thee; yea, as ſure as if thy Name were written by the finger of God in the Scripture, and annexed to them: yea, as if they were made to none but thee, and thoſe threatnings thou reapeſt in the word of God againſt unrepenting Sinners; aſſure thy ſelf if thou be in that condition, thou art as much concerned in them, and they will be as certainly made good upon thee, if thou continue in this condition, as if they had been only denounced againſt thee: and thoſe reproofs which thou readeſt for ſin, take them to thy ſelf, as ſpoken by God to thee, if thou be guilty of the ſin reproved; for aſſure thy ſelf God means thee in them; and thoſe Marks and Characters of Divine graces, and gracious Qualifications ſcattered through out the Scriptures, make uſe of to try thy ſelf by, & make uſe alſo of all the Admonitions God gives thee; and of all the examples thou findeſt of Divine vengeance, let them deterre thee from ſin; and all the examples of Holy Saints encourage thee in good; and generally of all ſorts of Directions, Inſtructions, &c. thus doing thou wilt gather good by thy Reading.