The Key of the Bible, Title page – Imprimatur
CLAVIS BIBLIORVM. THE KEY Of the BIBLE, Vnlocking The Richest Treasury of the Holy Scriptures.
WHEREBY The 1 Order, 2 Names, 3. Times, 4 Penmen, 5 Occasion, 6 Scope, and 7 Principall Parts, Containing the Subject-Matter of every Book of Old and New Testament, are familiarly and briefly opened: For the help of the weakest capacity in the understanding of the whole BIBLE.
By FRANCIS ROBERTS, A. M. Pastor of the Church at Augustines, LONDON.
Col. 3.16
Let the word of Christ in dwell in you richly in all wisdome.
London, Printed by T. R. and E. M. for George Calvert, and are to sold at his shop at the signe of the Half-Moon in Watling-street, neer to Pauls stump. 1648.
AN EPISTLE To the READER.
THere is no one duty more commanded, or commended in the Word of God, or more practised by the Saints of God, then the diligent and conscientious reading of the holy Scriptures. Our Saviour Christ commands us not only to read them, but to aJohn ….39.search into them. The Apostle Paul commands us not only to have them with us, but bCol. 3.16.in us; and not only to have them in us, but to have them dwelling and abiding in us, richly in all wisedome. David professeth of himselfe that the cPsal, 40.8,Law was in the midst of his bowels. And that he had d…sal. 119.1.hid the word in his heart, that he might not sinne against God. Austin saith of himselfe eAugust. Sacrae scripturae tuae sunt sanctae delitiae meae., that the holy Scriptures were his holy delight. And Hierome tels us of one Nepotianus, who fLongâ & assiduâ meditatione Scripturarum pectus suum fecerat Bibliothecam Christi. Hier. epistola ad Heliod. in Epitaphium Nepotiani.by long and assiduous meditation of the holy Scriptures, had made his breast the Library of Iesus Christ. And for my part, I have alwayes observed, that the more holy and humble any man is, the more he delighteth in the holy Scriptures; and the more profane and proud any man is, the more he slighteth and undervalueth them. Cursed is that speech of Politian that proud Critick, that he never spent his time worse then in reading the Scriptures. And famous is the Answer of Basil to that cursed Apostate Julian who said of the Sciptures, gforeign. Pezelii Mellificium historicum in vita Iuliani.That he had read them, understood them, and condemned them; But Basil answered him excellently: That he had read them, but not understood them, for if he had understood them, he would not have condemned them. No man that hath the Holy Spirit, but will love those books which were written h1 Pet. 1.21,by holy men as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. As David said of Goliah's sword. i1 Sam▪ 21.9.There is none to that, give it me, So may I say of the Holy Scriptures. There are no bookes like these Books, k2 Tim. 3.15, 16.which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, and to make the man of God absolute, and perfect unto every good worke. And therefore let me perswade all men to read these books, & not only to read them, but to lPsal. 1.1, 2.meditate in them day and night: And to hide them in their hearts as a divine cordiall, to mPs. 116.92.comfort them in these sad dayes; as a nPsal. 119.105.divine lampe, to guide them in this houre of darknesse; and oEph. 6.13.as part of the whole Armour of God, to inable them to resist temptation, in this houre of temptation, that is now coming upon the whole earth. And when they read them, 1 To read them with an humble heart, for God hath promised to give pJam. 4.6.grace to the humble, and qPs 25.9.to teach the humble his way. 2 To read thē with prayer, that God would rPsal. 119.18.open their eyes, that they may understand the wonders of his law. 3 To read them with a godly trembling, for feare least with the spider these should suck poison out of their sweet flowers, and s2 Pet. 3.16.wrest the Scriptures to their owne destruction, as they that are unstable and unlearned. 4 To read them with a tJob. 7.17.purpose to practice what they read. He that practiseth what he understandeth, God will help him to understand what he understands not. 5 To read them in an orderly and methodicall way; And for their better help herein, to take this ensuing Treatise in their hands. It is short and pithy; It sets the whole Bible before them, in an orderly, plaine and perspicuous manner, and helps them to understand every book. The Author of it is a godly learned Minister, well knowne and very well esteemed on in this famous city. The Book it selfe is called the Key of the Bible, because it unlocks the richest Treasury of the Holy Scriptures. Take this Key with you, whensoever you goe into this Treasury. And pray unto him that hath the uRev. 3.7.Key of David, that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, that he will open this Treasury unto you. The Rabbins say that there are foure Keyes that are in Gods keeping. The Key of the clouds, The Key of the wombe, The Key of the grave, The Key of food. I may adde that there is a fifth Key also in Gods bestowing, which is the Key of the Scriptures. The God that made these books, can only un-riddle these Books. And therefore when you use this Key, pray for that other Key, and pray unto Christ to deale with you as he did with his Apostles, xLuk. ….45.To open your understanding that you may understand the Scriptures. So prayes,
Your Servant in Christ Iesus, EDMUND CALAMY.
Imprimatur,
EDMUND CALAMY.