Christian Directions, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
Of Reading the Scriptures in private.
ANother duty to be performed alone, is Reading of the Scriptures▪ And indeed the Word and Prayer should go hand in hand together,1 Tim. 4. 5. as the Christians daily exercise, For every thing is sanctif…ed by the Word of God and Prayer.
Appoint therefore some set time in every day for the reading of the Word; The morning is the freest, when our spirits and wits are freshest.Per Scriptu…as solas potes plenam D… intelligere voluntatem. Hier. ad D…met. By reading three chapters a day, the whole Bible may bee read over in a year. But I would not so strictly tye any to this, as still to go on in reading some part of the Scriptures every day. And if extraordinary occasion hinder thine ordinary task, double it another time; For by the holy Scriptures onelyonly wee may attain to the knowledge of the whole will of God.
For the more profitable pressing this duty, I shall
1 Give you some Rules and Directions to bee observed,
1 Before the reading of the Scriptures.
2 In reading of the Scriptures.
3 After the reading of them.
2 Give you some Motives to quicken you to a frequent reading of them.
I. The Rules and Directions to be observed before reading are these.
1 Go about it with all holy reverence, as in the sight and presence of God,1 Pet. 1. 21. beleeving it to bee the Word of God written by holy men, as they were moved and inspired by the Holy Ghost, as the Apostle Peter expresseth it; when therefore thou settest thy self to read the Word, say to thy self. I will hearken what the Lord will speak unto mee therein.
2 Lift up thine heart in prayer unto God, as for the Spirit of Illumination, to open the eyes of thine understanding, that thou mayest rightly conceive his Word: so for wisdome to apply, memory to retain, faith to beleeve, and grace to practise what thou shalt read.
II. The Rules and Directions to bee observed in reading of the Word, are these,
1 Read the holy lives and actions of Gods Children, not onelyonly as matters of history, but as patterns of imitation: for, for this end are they recorded unto us,Rom. 15. 4. as St. Paul testifieth, Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning.
2 In reading the Promises and Threatnings, the Exhortations and Admonitions, and other parts of the Scripture, so apply them to thy self, as if God by name had delivered the same unto thee; whereby the Word will become very profitable unto thee: For thus will promises to others incourage thee, threatnings against others restrain thee from sin, exhortations to others stir thee up to thy duty, and admonitions to others make thee wary; yea thus, whatsoever things were written aforetime,Sint divinae Scr…p…urae semper ia maaibus, & jugitè mente volvan…ur. Hier. ad Celant. will prove good instructions unto thee.
III. Rules to bee observed after the reading of the Word.
1 Seriously meditate of what thou hast read, that so thou mayest the better remember and understand the same.
2 Labour to work something of that thou hast read upon thine heart, and give not over till thou findest the affections of thy soul warmed thereby.
To quicken you up to a frequent reading of the Scriptures, consider these two Motives.
1 The first may be taken from those treasures that are contained therein, such treasures as men never heard of. The subject matter of the Word, are such mysteries as were hidden in God, and by his Spirit revealed unto men. All the abstruse learning, and mysteries of other books and writings, are but straw and stubble, yea dross and dung in comparison of the precious pearls in this.
2 Another Motive may bee taken from the many sweet and precious promises which are scattered up and down in the Word. For as there is not a condition into which a Childe of God can fall, but there is a Direction and Rule in the Word, in some measure suitable thereunto: so there is not an affliction into which a childe of God can fall, but there is a promise in the Word in some measure suitable thereunto.