The Way to the Tree of Life, Part 1 · Chapter 10
CAP. X. Of reverend Attention and heedfull Obſervation in reading the Scriptures.
Firſt, ſuch Preparation to the reading of the Scriptures, as we have before preſcribed, cannot but diſpoſe the heart to heedfull attention, conſiſting in the uniting of the thoughts together, Attention conſiſts in the uniting and fixing the thoughts upon what we read,and bending and fixing them upon that which is read. To this attention men are often ſtirred up, when they are to heare God ſpeak unto them, as Pſalme 49.1. Thus the people of Iſrael, when they were to receive the Law in mount Sinai, were firſt prepared unto attention by the ſound of a Trumpet. This attention we may be moved unto, by conſidering the perſon that ſpeakes, and the nature of that which is ſpoken.
The authority and wiſdome of him that ſpeaks requires great attention of him that reads or hears Gods Word. Required 1. From the authority and wiſdome of him that ſpeakes.A child muſt hear his Father, Prov. 4.1. A ſubject muſt attend reverently to the words of a Ruler, Iob 29.21. Yet none of them is our potter as God is, Iſa. 63.4. or made us as he did, Pſ. 100.3. nor conſequently can challenge ſuch reſpect from us as he may. Gods people muſt heare becauſe it is God that ſpeakes, Exod. 20.1. Pſalme 50.7. and 81.7. Beſides, the wiſdome of God requires our diligent attention, as it is required upon that ground, Pſalme 49.2, 3. now it is Chriſt that ſpeaks in his Word, who is the wiſdome of his Father, 1 Cor. 1.24. in whom are hidden the treaſures of wiſdome, Col. 2.3.
Again, 2. From the Subject which the Scriptures handle.the Matter or Subject which is handled in the Scriptures requires of us great attention, not only for the weight and importance of thoſe high myſteries, which are therein revealed; But beſides that for the great intereſt which we our ſelves have in thoſe things which we find in that ſacred volume, as being directed unto us, 1. Weighty and myſterious.2. Neerly concerning us.and written for our inſtruction, Rom. 154. containing our evidences and the title that we have to eternall life, John 5.39. the lawes and directions which we and our children muſt obſerve, that we may doe them, Deut. 29.29. eſpecially ſeeing all thoſe things concern us in the higheſt degree, yea, much more neerly then our eſtates, liberty, peace, nay, then our lives themſelves. So that we have great reaſon to attend diligently to every tittle written in this book, much more heedfully then Benhadads Meſſengers did to the words of Ahab. 1 Kings 20.33.
Beſides, In attention mark both the matters & expreſſions;our heedfull attention to the Matter or Subſtance of that which we read in the Scriptures, we muſt take ſpeciall notice of the phraſe, wherein it is expreſſed. Partly, becauſe many of the phraſes uſed in that book are not vulgar or of ordinary uſe, Some of them unuſual.and therefore not ſo eaſily underſtood, unleſs they be carefully obſerved. Thus S. Peter tells us of many things in S. Pauls Epiſtles hard to be underſtood, 2 Pet. 3.16. Partly, becauſe the Scriptures themſelves being as they are very copious and full of matter (as David tels us the Law is exceeding broad, Pſalme 119.96.) are oftentimes brief and ſhort in the Phraſes and expreſſions, whence it muſt needs follow, Moſt of them brief and of large ſignification.that the words muſt needs be of large ſignification, ſo that, if they be not well obſerved, much of the matter contained in them may eaſily be loſt.
Unto this Attention muſt be joyned judicious Obſervation, Unto attention adde obſervation of ſpeciall paſſages,which is nothing elſe but the fixing and ſtaying of the mind upon ſome ſpeciall paſſage where we find things repreſented unto us either more weighty in themſelves, or elſe more proper to our ſelves, for our particular uſe and occaſions. It is true, that all Gods Teſtimonies are wonderfull in themſelves, Weighty in themſelvs or more proper to us.Pſalme 119.129. all of them pure, verſe 140. righteous concerning all things, verſe 128. yea all of them are profitable to give underſtanding, Pſal. 119.130. to cleanſe ones waies, verſe 9. to convert the ſoule, Pſalme 19.7. to make the man of God perfect to every good work, 2 Tim. 3.16. yet there are ſome things in Scripture more important then others; and ſome more uſefull then others for ſome perſons, times, and occaſions.
Together with Attention & Obſervation, A third duty, Approbation and affent to what we read.there muſt neceſſarily be joyned Approbation of every truth revealed in the Scriptures, ſuch as we: find in holy David, Pſalme 119.128. not onelyonly becauſe Gods Law is the truth, verſe 142. and therefore muſt be approved by us, 1. Becauſe it is the truth of God. 2. Becauſe till our judgment approve it we canuot beleeve it.that came therefore into the world, that we might bear witneſs to the truth, as our Saviour ſpeakes of himſelf, Iohn 18.37. without which God hath no honour by us at all, ſeeing it is the receiving of his teſtimony by us, by which we ſeal to his truth, Ioh. 3.33. But beſides, becauſe we can neither believe that which we approve not in our judgment, nor poſſibly bring our hearts to yeeld unto it true and ſincere obedience.
This aſſent which we give unto Gods Word, This aſſent is not forced, only voluntary, but neceſſary.in approving whatſoever it preſents unto us, is neither forced nor onelyonly voluntary, but rather neceſſary, as is the judgment of ſenſe. For when the eye judgeth of colours, or the taſte of meates, it is not in the power of either of theſe ſenſes to judge otherwiſe of them, then they appeare to the ſenſe that apprehends them. This approbation of thoſe ſeverall truths which are contained therein, is an acknowledgment that they are not only righteous and true, Pſal. 119.137, 138. with the Pſalmiſt, but withall with the Apoſtle, that they are good, Rom. 7.16. as alſo the Prophet acknowledgeth, Pſal. 139.19. which is the onelyonly meanes to bring our hearts to love, and delight in them, which indeed is the fulleſt teſtimony that we can give to the perfection, purity, and excellency of them every way, Pſal. 119.96.140.
It is true that every godly man, at all times, gives his aſſent to every truth of God revealed unto him, but the help of that Anointing which abideth in him, and teacheth him all things, Neither is alike firme at all times becauſe the evidence by which it is diſcovered is not alike cleare at all times.1 Iohn 2.27. Notwithſtanding that aſſent is not alike firme at all times, becauſe the evidence, by which he acknowledgeth it, is not alike cleare at all times, but is ſometimes obſcure like the twilight, at other times full and perſpicuous, as the ſunne is ſhining in his ſtrength. Such a full cloſing of our hearts, with every particular truth which we meet with in reading Gods Word, we are to labour for, and to pray for: and indeed when men clearely diſcerne the glory, But when it ſhines to us clearly tranſports the heart with ſpirituall raptures. Which ſometimes fall on us in reading and neceſſarily cauſe ſome pauſe in the work in hand. 1. Becauſe the minde wholly taken up therewith cannot at preſent attend other things. 2. Becauſe ſuch affections being kindled in a ſluggiſh heart need to be fomented leſt they goeout like fire in greene wood.and beauty, of thoſe heavenly Myſteries, and taſte the goodneſſe of them, they cannot but raviſh readers with admiration, as Pſal. 119.29. bring the heart to value them at an ineſtimable rate, ver. 72.127. tranſport them with ſtrong, and heavenly affections towards them, of love, ver. 97. deſire, ver. 131. and joy, ver. 111.162.
It happens ſomtimes, that ſuch Spirituall Raptures ſeize on a man, even while he is reading the Scriptures, (as the Diſciples hearts burned within them, whileſt our Saviour talked with them, going to Emaus, Luke 24.32.) whereupon the heart opens it ſelfe, to cloſe with, and draw in that raviſhing Object, as it is probable Davids did, Pſal. 119.131. which will neceſſarily enforce him to make ſome pauſe in the worke which he hath in hand, for a little while; which muſt need happen, partly becauſe the minde while it is wholly taken up with that truth which it embraceth, cannot eaſily attend any thing elſe, at that preſent, as it falls out, that when a mans eyes are dazled with beholding the Sunne, they can for the preſent ſee nothing elſe perfectly: And partly, becauſe ſuch new begotten affections, ſeeing they are kindled in an heart too ſluggiſh of it ſelfe, neede to be cheriſhed and kept alive, leſt they languiſh and grow cold againe, as fire if it be kindled in greene wood, goeth quickly out if it be not quickned a while by blowing.
Such ſhort pauſes, upon ſuch occaſions, if they happen to us in reading the Scriptures, rather further; then hinder us in our work, For a godly ſpirit quickned by ſuch ſweet refreſhings, receives encreaſe of alacrity, and is thereby ſtrengthened to goe on, with much greater life, to the end of this holy exerciſe, which by ſuch an help is, if not more ſpeedily, yet doubtleſſe more effectually, and to better purpoſe performed. The truth is, ſuch a pauſe neede not detaine us long, but the affections being refreſhed by ſome ſhort meditation on that which moves them, a man may ſet on to the worke againe, and after that is fully ended, he may reſume againe into his thoughts, and ſatisfie himſelfe with the fuller contemplation of that object, that ſo much affected him.