Bishop treating of the Office of a Clergy-Man Concerning Basil and Gregory Nazianzen we are told by Rufinus that for Thirteen Years together they laid aside all Books that treated of Secular Matters and applied themselves wholly to the Reading of the Volumes of the Sacred Scripture This most truly may be said that though we are not to neglect other Writings yet these are indispensably Necessary and we must lay aside all other Books rather than not find time to read These And the Reason is plain because no Man can pretend to Theological Studies who hath not acquainted himself with the Sacred Text. For see how it is in Other Arts and Faculties there are Books proper and peculiar to them and without which there is an utter despair of attaining any Skill in them Thus to offer one Example only the Civil Law is gain'd by Reading the Digests or Pandects of which the Institutions are an Abstract compiled out of the Immense Volumes of the Roman Lawyers some of which were Writ before our Saviour's Time and others afterwards and they are no other than the Sayings Responses and Decisions of the Chief of the Learned in the Law by reading the Code which is made up of the Rescripts Decrees and Constitutions of the Roman Emperors and their Wise Councel from Adrian to Iustinian So that this Volume differs from the Pandects as among us the Statute-Law or Acts of Parliament differ from the Common-Law i. e. the Judgment of Lawyers call'd Reports Wherefore the Pandects must give way to the Code this being more Valid than they as the Commands of Princes are of greater Force than the Dictates of Lawyers Moreover by reading the Authenticks or Novels called so because they were New Laws added to the other Lastly by looking into the Feuds i.e. the Customs and Services for the Lands held by Vassals of their Lords which last Volume of the Imperial Laws was not added till about the Year 1150. under the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa There is an utter Despair I say of gaining any competent Knowledge in this Excellent sort of Learning unless a Man peruses these Books and the Commentators on them And so in the Study of Physick no Man can arrive to any Perfection in it unless he be conversant with the Particular Authors whether Antient or Modern that are Famous in the Faculty And the same may be said of all other Arts and Sciences But this is in a special manner true in Divinity the Knowledge of which no Man can possibly reach without a diligent and constant Perusal of the Books which Constitute the Holy Canon the Writings of the Old and New Testament for both are necessary as we see plainly in the Quotations out of the former which we meet with in the latter There are Four and twenty Books of the one cited or referr'd to in the other and out of some of them there are above Forty out of others above Sixty Passages alledged and made use of The Bible then is a Volume of absolute Necessity and cannot be out of the Hands of one that is devoted to the Ministry For this cause it was heretofore ordered that this Sacred Book should be read at Bishops and Priests Tables even at Dinner and still there is a perpetual Obligation on those of the Sacred Function to give themselves daily to the Study of the Scriptures the Divine Writings of Moses and the Prophets and the Books of the Evangelists and Apostles And there is good reason for it because they must Build which is the thing we are now speaking of by a Rule and the Scripture is that Rule But it is impossible we should make use of it to this Purpose unless we be very well acquainted with it We cannot Regulate our own or other Mens Actions by this Canon we cannot Skilfully apply this Rule this Square if we be not very conversant with it and have a knowledge of its Excellent Doctrines and Precepts These are the Writings that have this Peculiar and Matchless Character That they are able to make us wise unto Salvation 2 Tim. iii. 15. for as it follows All Scripture i.e. all Holy Scripture which he had mentioned in the Verse before is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrin for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God the Minister of the Gospel may be perfect throughly furnish'd unto all good Works may be enabled to perform all the Parts of his Duty more especially those which appertain to his Sacred Calling Besides on other accounts the Scriptures are to be admir'd and to have the preference to all other Books whatsoever The Great Admirers of Homer tell us That they find all things in his Poems what is Excellent in any Art or Profession is to be met with there But upon better grounds I could make it appear that the Writings I am speaking of deserve that Character and Testimony There is no Man of clear Reason but is fully perswaded that there is more Undoubted Antiquity more Excellent History more profound Reason more delightful Eloquence more Choice Learning of all sorts in the Bible than in any other Writings extant in the whole World There need then no Elaborate Perswasives to read this Sacred Volume which is the best under Heaven not only in respect of Divine but Humane Literature and that of all kinds contained in it Even as to this latter there is none can be said to be an Accomplish'd Scholar if he be not acquainted with this Book Next to the Infallible Records of both Testaments the First and Antientest Fathers of the Church call for our Esteem and Enquiry Antiquity in Monuments is Venerable in Religion it should be much more so Prescription corroborates the Civil Rights and Tenures I see not why it should not fortify the Ecclesiastical Luther and Calvin are Great Names and will ever be so in the True Christian Church but yet they ought in some respects to Veil to those Greater and Earlier Lights of the Church Ignatius Iustin Martyr Irenâ—â—us Clement of Alexandria Tertullian Cyprian and others of the Antients from whom we learn what Defections there were from the Truth what were the Errors and Heresies and Corrupt Practices of the First Ages of Christianity and how the Virgin Purity and Simplicity of the Church were almost defac'd by them Especially from those that were the Learn'd Apologists in those Times and afterwards who Asserted Christianity against the Iews on one hand and the Pagans on the other we may in a great measure discover what is Orthodox and Authentick and what is of a different Nature And it is reasonable to infer hence that the Church at this day should for the most part be Defended and Vindicated by the Writings of those who were its First Defenders they being so Great Judges of the Primitive Doctrine and Practice Thirdly To Reading I must necessarily adjoin Meditation both which perform'd by due Turns is
unbecoming the Place or Station wherein persons are set And so is that in the next place which is not according to their Estates and Abilities that Dress which exceeds the proportion of their Incomes We need not doubt that that Apparel which is too Chargeable and Costly is unlawful Whence it was that the fore-mention'd Moralist checks the Roman Ladies and other Women of his time for their Prodigality of this nature he complains how intolerably Expensive their perforated Ears were for as he wittily remonstrates against them there were seen dangling at them whole Islands and Towns And the Ancient Fathers of the Church were as smart against the Christian Women that were guilty of this Profuse Vanity Their tender Necks carry whole Woods and Islands saith Tertullian and their wasteful Pride swells the debt-Debt-Book On one string of Pearl hang the Prices of Mannors and Lordships saith St. Ierome And this is the fault yea which is the Aggravation of it the Common fault of this present Age. The Luxury of Apparel is such that they are enclined to lay out the greatest portion of their Revenues in the supplying of this they are prone to waste and consume their Estates in changing of Fashions and they would if they might be permitted weae whole Kingdoms on their backs And even others who are of a mean sort and cannot afford in any point to be Lavish yet here shew how willing they are to be so They will not let their Purse be their Director but vainly aspire to the Ornaments of the Rich and Wealthy This is the Epidemick folly of these Times which runs counter to all Reason Modesty and Decorum and is an Extravagance which was never known in former Ages to have climb'd to that heighth which it is now arrived to Such persons must be plainly told that their Rayment must not surpass their ability that it doth not become those who can scarcely find bread for their mouths to hang Gold in their ears This certainly is part of that costly aray which is forbid by the Apostle in the Text. To conclude this Head every ones Attire should be according to their Condition and this Condition as you have heard respects either the Sex or the Age or the Calling or lastly the Estate and Fortune of persons Whatever Habit is disagreeable to these is not an Ornament but a Blemish a Deformity a Disgrace 3. That Habit is justly to be censured and condemned which is a Badge of Pride Thus in the third Chapter of Isaiah where the Finery of the Iewish Women is disallowed of and threatned it is said The daughters of Sion are haughty their inward Pride and Elation of mind were discover'd by their outward Garb and Guise by their delicate Trappings and Accoutrements by their setting themselves forth with all that Spruce Tackle and Trimming This Vanity argues their Pride and Haughtiness on a threefold account First Some use this Profuse Adorning to make a shew of their Wealth and Ability They would have the world make an estimate of the greatness of their Fortunes by the bravery of their Habit. By these Gorgeous Ensigns they cail men to take notice of and admire their Plentiful Revenues and applaud them for their Prosperity We need not be backward in asserting that if their Appareling themselves proceeds meerly from this Ostentation it is to be condemned Secondly The Pride of Apparel is discover'd in its being purposely design'd to gain Respect and Honour and that they and their Garniture may be Reverenc'd by those that see it For this sort of Pride is quite starv'd and stifled if there be no Spectators But then by these I mean Themselves as well as Others and accordingly there are too many that make this division of their Time viz. they employ the Morning in looking on Themselves and the rest of the day in being seen of others And thence they first become their own Admirers and Adorers and then perswade themselves that others pay the same Respect to them because of their Rich Pageantry wherewith they outshine them For they are so foolish as to imagine that their Splendid Dress gives a real worth and excellency to them and that they are to be preferr'd before others because they surpass them in their Goodly Aray It is not to be doubted that this is Pride and one of the worst kinds of it Can a Rational Person be proud of that which was the effect of the Primitive Apostacy Sin brought in Shame and Shame introduced Cloathing so that to take a Pride in this is to glory in our shame Wherefore the Advice of the Wise Iew should take place here Boast not of thy cloathing and rayment Eccles. 11. 4. Besides the Beasts generally supply us with our Rayment and one would think there is little reason to be proud of the Cast Suits of the very basest Creatures as a Worthy Person expresses it Who can deny that Necessity and Defect have been the original of some of the most Fashionable Habits The Roman Senate could not have voted Iulius Caesar an higher Favour than the wearing of the Lawrel perpetually but he promoted it himself because being Bald he was glad of such a Covering The Turkish Turbant commenc'd from Mahomet's Scald Head And some tell us that a certain Habit which was in such repute in Queen Elizabeth's day was first brought up to hide an Excrescence which blemish'd her fair Neck And if we should search into the rise of some of the most Modish Habits among our Women at this day perhaps we should find them to be of a more scandalous nature and it would appear that some French Prostitutes have given birth to our most Celebrated Fashions and that our Dames are but the humble Imitators of the Worst of their Sex Or to speak more generally can that person be proud of Cloaths who considers what they cover As the Philosopher of old told the people that stood gazing on the Stately and Sumptuous Tomb of Mausolus All this Pompous Fabrick which you â—ee contains nothing in it but Dust so it may be said of the Goodliest and Richest Vestures They are a Covering only for Dust and Ashes they contain in them Corruptible Materials design'd for the Grave and Putrefaction If notwithstanding this they can value themselves for their Dress and Garb for their precious and gaudy Equipments and can admire the Beauty of a Painted Sepulchre especially if they do not only think themselves to be really better than others because of their Handsom Trimming but despise and scorn those that are meanly clad this may be justly be call'd Folly as well as Pride It might be added in the third Place that the Haughtiness of those who are Extravagant in their Garb is seen in this that hereby they confound that Order which God hath set they take away that Distinction of persons and of their qualities which is appointed in the world and they are for making all alike This Vain Inordinacy
must be sought at the Hands of God by humble and earnest Addresses If Bezaleel and Aholiab were fill'd with the Spirit of God to excel in all manner of Cunning Workmanship for the adorning of the Mosaick Tabernacle surely then it is from that Holy Spirit that the Apostles and their Successors are endued with eminent Abilities for the Service of the Spiritual and Mystical Tabernacle And if we are convinc'd of this we cannot but see it necessary to apply our selves to this Sacred Author and Donor of all those Gifts whereby we may be made capable of serving the Church of God You know whose words those are According to the Grace of God which is given to me as a wise Master-builder I have laid the foundation And if it be by Divine Grace and Bounty then we know whose work it may properly be said to be and therefore in the foregoing Verse he tells them they are God's Building it is from Him that they make any progress in Christian Knowledge and Goodness in Faith and Holiness To this Great Operator and Architect we are therefore to repair and to implore his Aid and Assistance Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it We are not able to effect any thing in this great and weighty Undertaking without his Presence and Blessing at least we can do nothing successfully without his special Concurrence and Guidance Wherefore according to Iustin Martyr's Pious Advice we must above all things pray that the Gates of Light may be opened to us that we may have a Spiritual and Divine Understanding whereby we may be taught to teach others Building up of others as well as of our selves in the most holy Faith must be joined with Praying in the Holy Ghost Iude ver 20 22 23. We may observe that St. Paul is frequent in Prayer that he may be assisted in his Ministerial Employment and he is often requesting others to pray for him that his Labours in the Gospel may prove really Advantageous and Successful This is that which We also are concerned in if we expect any Blessing on our Enterprizes We must remind those who are the peculiar Charge of our Ministry to solicite Heaven in our behalf and we must with singular Importunity and Earnestness beg the Divine Aid our selves If thus with the devout Supplications of others we join our own fervent Petitions we shall certainly Prosper we shall derive the Grace and Blessing of Heaven upon us in the Performances and Offices belonging to our Calling Secondly To this first Method of Edifying and Excelling we must add that Apostolical Direction to Timothy and in him to all the Spiritual Instructors in the Church Give attendance to Reading 1 Tim iv 13. Diligently peruse the Law and the Prophets be conversant in the Writings of the Sacred Volume Though Timothy was an Inspired Person yet he is commanded to read the Scriptures and to give attendance to them which is the same with that of St. Peter where the same Greek word is used and therefore might have been rendred as it is here To take heed to viz. the more sure word of Prophecy 2 Pet. i. 19. The word denotes great Attention and Application of Mind and obliges us to be very Careful and Diligent in consulting these Sacred Oracles Nor are Other Books excluded here nay they are partly meant as Historians Moralists Poets Orators and other Humane Authors For it 's likely the Apostle's Advice here was in conformity to his own Practice who reckon'd his Books and Parchments which some think to be the same because the Antient Books were made of Skins or Parchments and roll'd upon a Cilinder as our Maps are as necessary to him as his Cloak in Winter 2 Tim. iv 13. What these Books were I have no Catalogue to tell me but I know of some others that he dealt in as those three Poets Epimenides Aratus and Menander the quoting of which he thought not unworthy of an Inspir'd Apostle And he was not only Skill'd in the Greek Poets and other Good Greek Authors that wrote in Prose for if he was Curious to read the former it is not to be questioned but that he was acquainted with the latter but he had Knowledge in Hebrew Writers For he sat at the Feet of Rabbi Gamaliel who was a Famous Doctor of the Law Nephew of the Celebrated Hillel and Prince of the Sanhedrim by whom this his Scholar was created a Member and an Elder of that Renowned Councel as the Learned Mr. Selden affirms who was Antiquary sufficient to make it good This Great Apostle tells us himself that he was Exceedingly zealous of the Traditions of his Fathers he had a mighty desire to be acquainted with the Antient Doctrines and Customs of the Hebrews and accordingly he searched into the Talmudick Writings and there it was that he found the express Names of two of the Egyptian Magicians viz. Iannes and Iambres and hath left them upon Record in 2 Tim. iii. 8. From these Hints we may guess what other Authors he was versed in and how he came by his Polite Learning and by that which was Severe and how exactly he was fitted to be a Doctor of the Gentiles and the Iews both Which is abundantly demonstrated from his Profound Epistles which speak him a Master of Logick and Oratory of Reason and Eloquence Nor was it thought in the succeeding Ages of the Christian Church that this sort of Accomplishments was unworthy of the Evangelical Ministers nay it was reckon'd to be of great Use and Advantage Whence it was that Iulian the Apostate by a Decree forbad Christians the Reading of Heathen Authors giving this reason for it that they by the studying of these Writers would know how to Wound the Pagans with their own Weapons And on other Accounts it might be shew'd that Prophane Writers are serviceable among Christians There is no sober Man will give heed to that strange Illusion of St. Ierom who dreamt that an Angel Scourg'd him for Reading Tully's Orations and other good Latin Authors as if to be a Ciceronian and a Christian were inconsistent It is enough to say that it was a Dream and that his composed Thoughts when he was awake and throughly sensible corrected such Extravagant Fancies and represented to him how useful some of the Gentile Writings are and that a Man cannot understand the Original Texts of the Old and New Testament without some Skill and insight into them How requisite the Poets and Philosophers Writings are to a Christian Divine is shew'd by St. Augustin and other Antient Fathers who particularly represent to us the Usefulness of this sort of Learning in Sacred Studies But our Chief Converse should be with the Bible This we should constantly look into and be always perusing Why do you not spend all your time in which you are not employ'd in the Service of the Church in reading this Book especially said a very Pious