cause that after long Preaching many remaine very grosly ignorant Q. What doe you meane by this word Testament Ans By Testament I vnderstand the vnchangeable Couenant betweene God and man Gen. 17.1.2.7.9 Ier. 31.1.31.32.2 Cor. 6.18 concerning the mercy of God by Christ to man and mans obedience to God Q You say that the holy Scriptures are the Bookes of the Old and New Testament Are there then two Testaments Ans I beleeue that the Testament or Couenant of God is but one in regard of Substance though in regard of Circumstance it be said Gal. 4.24 that there are two Expli The Doctrine of Grace offering to men in the name of God saluation and binding man to obedience and thankefulnesse to God is called in regard of the forme of conuention agréement betwéene God and man a Couenant and in regard of the maner of confirming it a Testament being in many things like a Testament For first as in a Testament or last Will the Testators minde is declared so is the will of God in his word Secondly as in a Will so héere is a Testator which is Christ a Legacie which is eternall life Heires which are the Elect an instrument and Writing which are the Scriptures and Seales which are the Sacraments Thirdly and principally as a Testament is in force by the death of the Testator Heb. 9.16.17 so the Couenant of God is ratified by the death of Christ This Couenant is and hath béene alwaies one and the same to Abraham and the Elect before Christ Rom. 4.23 24. the same that it is to vs for all are saued by Christ they by him to come wée by him come in the flesh Acts 15.11 But because God in his manifold wisedome otherwise propounded it to the Fathers otherwise to vs Euen as a Physition administreth after one manner to a child after an other to a man growne for the diuersitie of their age and temperament therefore it is said to be double God bringing them and vs after a diuers manner to the knowledge of saluation by his Sonne Christ For before the comming of Christ the manner of the Couenant to the Fathers was darke burdensome and costly they being gouerned and tutored by the ministery of the Law a seuere Schoole-maister Gal. 3 24. vnder hard conditions as the yoake of many diners Ceremonies to be abolished Heb. 15.10 Gal. 3.10 and the burden of the Curse and hence it is called Old but vnto vs all things are after a more plaine easie and frée manner without the same strict exaction of the law of obedience to be performed in our owne persons Act. 13.38.39 the grieuous burden of the Curse and the intollerable yoake of Ceremonies being remoued from our neckes by the preaching of the Gospell and for this it is called New Therefore Saint Augustine said that the new Testament was hidden in the Old and the Old manifested in the New Wherefore when you read in the Scriptures that the old Testament was but for a tune Heb. 8.6.7.8.9.10.11 and to be abolished c. and that the new is better and such like vnderstand this opposition and abolition not in the bookes for the bookes of the old Testament are the word of God which abideth foreuer nor in the substance or matter but in regard of circumstances afore spoken Notwithstanding this the Law it selfe or Decalogue which by a figure is sometimes called the Couenant must be holden to be a diuers kinde of doctrine from the Gospell and bringing forth in respect of vs contrary effects 2. Cor. 3.7.8.9 and the Gospell not to bee a new Law differing from the old onely by a further degrée of perfection or by addition of Councels as the Papists teach Vse 1. Remember that to be in couenant with God is the fountaine of all thy happinesse which Couenant the Law is not but it is the Copy as it were of the Articles points agréed vpon betwéene God and thy selfe declaring not why God is thy God but what he requireth of thée nor why thou art receiued to grace but what thou promisest to do As then when thou sealest to Couenants or Indentures which are for thy great aduantage thou labourest well to vnderstand what thou sealest to and art careful to kéepe conditions on thy part so this requireth that thou shouldest know the law of thy God with the particular points thereof and if thou expectest the aduantage of the couenant that thou shouldest precisely kéepe the conditions on thy part which if thou doest not but transgressest it is as if thou shouldest deny thine owne hand and seale Vse 2. Remember also that the Scriptures are Christs Testament wherein thou hast a rich bequeathment of eternall life As men neglect not to haue the Copies of their fathers wils wherein the inheritance is giuen them and aske counsel and are very conuersant in them that they may vnderstand euery tittle in them Iohn 5.39 Col. 3.16 so shouldest thou be diligently conuersant in the word of God Q. Of what authority are the holy Scriptures An. I beleeue that they are of a diuine Authority whereby we are infallibly certaine of the Doctrine contained in them Psal 119.9 Esay 8.20 Gal. 6.16 Phil. 3.16 2. Tim. 3.16 2 Pet. 1.19 and necessarily bound to beleeue and obey the same Being therefore called the word of God and the perfect and onely Canon of our faith and life Expl. The Scriptures are two waies taken essentially for the doctrine contained in them and accidentally for the writings wherein such Doctrine is expressed now in both these they are Diuine but Canonicall properly the first way The whole Scripture is the rule but not the whole of the Scripture as in a Carpenters Rule euery thing that is of the Rule is not the Rule The Scriptures are Diuine and infallible because God is the Author who can neither be deceiued nor deceiue by word signe or writing They are Canonical 2. Tim. 3.16 2. Pet. 1.20 21. Esay 8.20 Rom. 15.4 1. Tim. 3.14.15 Ioh. 20.31 because written to this end namely to be the rule of our Faith and Life And of this authority they are in themselues though all the world should contradict it or be ignorant of it As the sunne was the measure of the day night before either man or beast were made to behold it That they are diuine it must néeds be Deut. 5.32 Eze. 20.29 2. Tim. 3.16 because of God the Author and Canonicall they must nées be because diuine which two agrée together as the cause and the effect Vse 1. Hence wée learne that by the Scriptures as by a supreme Iudge all controuersies in Religion are to be decided Euen as all difference and strife about weight is ended by an euen and iust ballance so all dissention in the faith is by the vnpartiall beame of the Sanctuary which is the Scriptures easily certainly compounded Yea we attribute this
prayer to God for vnderstanding for as wee cannot see the Sunne without his owne light so we cannot see the wonders of the word vnlesse the Lord manifest them vnto vs by his Spirit The third thing that is to be done that wee may read in iudgement is Application to make vse of that wee attaine vnto by reading in the reforming of our liues Many esteeme highly of the tree of knowledge with Eue but they regard not the tree of life when as the very life of our knowledge consisteth in the practise of that which we know As it is said of Hearers so it is true of Readers Not the readers of the word Ioh. 13.17 Iam. 4.17 but the doers shall be iustified And These things if you know them happy are you of you doe them Nay he that knoweth and doth not shall bee the more beaten and is guilty of the more sin As therefore wise men labour to make profite of all things they deale with so we should propound this end to our selues in all our reading that it may be profitable to teach to improue to correct and to instruct vs in all righteousnesse that we may become absolute and perfect in all good workes Some read onely to this end that they may know more then they did and this is vanity Some that they may bee knowne to know more and this is pride Some to make a gaine of their knowledge and this is filthy lucre Some to edifie others and this is charity Some to edifie themselues and this is Christian prudence such like words hath one of the Antients Another saith thus Then is our reading to be commended when we turne the words into workes And againe the Scriptures are Gods Epistle written to men to the end they should liue well And the Holy Ghost better then all Reuel 1.3 Blessed is he that readeth and they that heare the words of this prophesie and keepe those things which are written therein Amen Now to God onely wise be honour and praise for euermore 1. Tim. 1.17 Amen Amen THE GROVNDS Of Diuinitie The prime and chiefest place of Diuinity is concerning God Heb. 11.6 Hee that commeth to God must beleeue that God is and that hee is a rewarder of them which seeke him and this is life eternall Iohn 17.3 that they know thee the onely very God and him whom thou hast sent IESVS CHRIST QVESTION HOw may we come to the sound knowledge of God Ans The best meanes to attaine such knowledge is by the holy Scriptures Esay 8.20 Iohn 5.39 Explication The knowledge of God is either Naturall or Reuealed That which is Naturall is either by the notions imprinted in euery mans minde whereby the conscience is conuinced or by the consideration of the creatures which naturall knowledge is vnsufficient to saluation Rom. 1.19 20. though sufficient to leaue vs without excuse The Reuealed Knowledge is that which is attained by the word of God who though he dwell in the Light which none can attaine vnto 1. Tim. 6.16 yet hath therein reuealed himselfe so farre as he saw fit for vs to vnderstand This knowledge beyond comparison is far more excellent then the naturall 1. Cor. 8.1 is sufficient to saluation in regard of Knowledge but not in regard of working or effecting it which onely is by the holy Spirit making this knowledge effectual to syncere faith loue feare obedience c. Quest What are the holy Scriptures Ans The holy Scriptures are all those bookes of the old and new Testament by the direction and inspiration of the Holy Ghost written or approued by the Prophets and Apostles Explic. These are the writings of the Prophets which are contained in the Hebrew Canon of the old Testament Those the writings of the Apostles which are contained in the Greeke Canon of the New But all those bookes vsually contained in our Bibles from the end of the small Prophets to the Gospell of Saint Matthew together with the prayer of Manasses are called Apocrypha that is hidden which though they containe many wholesome things and for many ages haue béene read in the Church yet are to be distinguished from the other being neither equall in authority nor of any more credit then as they agrée with them They are called the Scriptures that is the Writings in regard of their supereminent excellency being vnto all other Writings as the Sunne vnto the lesser Starres both in regard of their péerelesse worth and also because that all other bookes obtaine a degrée of worthinesse according as they more or lesse accord with them They are called Holy Rom 1.2 because of the Authour which is God 2. Tim. 3.16 because of the Pen-men 2. Pet. 1.21 which were holy Men because of the matter which is the holy Will and Counsell of God Act. 20.27 because of the vse to make vs holy and perfect in all good workes 2. Tim. 3.17 It pleased God that the heauenly doctrine shold he written both that it might be the better conueied vnto succéeding posterities and also that it might bee the safer preserued from corruption there beeing an infallible standeth for the examining and determining of all doctrines and opinions which should arise If the worship of God and the doctrine of saluation hath béene meruailously depraued now it is written what think wée would it haue béene if it neuer had béene written Vse Whosoeuer then desires the true and sound knowledge of God are to bée admonished to procure themselues Bibles and diligently to reade in them or if they cannot reade to heare others that they may fetch euen from the Fountaine it selfe the doctrine of saluation and also that they may euen discerne the bookes wherein the same is infallibly contained For though it be possible for a man to bee saued holding the summe of the heauenly doctrine without the distinct knowledge of the seuerall bookes yet it is the duety of all Christian men and women so farre as they haue meanes and are capable of it to endeuour to attaine to the Historicall knowledge of the Bible and bookes Canonicall therein contained First that they may with all thankfulnesse honour the holy Scriptures aboue all other Writings Secondly that they may make the best profite of the Preaching of the Word which they cannot doe who when Authorities are alleaged and places quoted are not able to distinguish the worth of the authority as whether it bee Diuine or Humane Thirdly for the more certainty of their faith when they can themselues find and examine by the holy Scriptures those things which are Preached In which regard the men of Berea are commended as an example vnto vs. Act 17.10.11 For all doctrines of men are to bee examined by the Scriptures and no further to be credited then they haue warrant from the same This condemnes them which are negligent this way which negligence is by too well knowne experience found to bée the
of his kingdome read ouer the Bible foureteene times in order with certaine Commentaries vpon the same As his diligence is here very commendable and for our imitation so also this He read in order If therefore I were worthy to giue directions this way I would thus aduise First what booke soeuer we take to read to begin at the beginning and so to continue reading till we come to the end of it And thus shall wee carry the summe and the drift of the History and argument before vs of which in a great part they which read now a Chapter in one booke now a lease in another must needs be ignorant Such simple readers I may liken to those simple women which are alwayes reading but are neuer able to come to any sound knowledge of the truth 2. Tim 3.7 For as he that goeth but an easie pace in the right way speedeth his iourney faster then he that maketh more haste in a wrong way Euen so a little read in good order aduantageth the knowledge more then greater paines if it bee confused Secondly I would aduise that in our reading we beginne first with the easiest and playnest Bookes as the history of Christ set down by the Euangelists and the Booke of Genesis Then to reade the Epistles first the shortest as the Epistles to the Philippians Colossians the first and second to the Thessalonians then the Epistles to the Galathians and to the Romans which last Epistle is called of some the Key of the Bible And when wee haue tryed our selues in these then to beginne the Bible and to reade it through For euen as in Trades there are some things more easie to the which the apprentice is applied and afterwards as hee groweth in capacitie hee is taught the harder and more secret things of his mystery so in the scriptures there are some things easie and familiar for learners and beginners as milk for babes and there are other things hard and obscure which it is not safe to meddle withall till wee haue our senses well exercised in the word The third thing required in wise reading is Iudgement and Discretion by the which first wee make choice of a fit time to reade secondly discerne the right sense and meaning of that wee reade and thirdly apply and make the right vse of our reading Iudgement is requisite Psal 112.5 for a wise man ministreth all his affaires with iudgement and euery thing is beautifull in his time Eccle. 3.10 Therefore the time is specially to be regarded All time is not to bee spent this way For our callings must carefully be followed neither is all the time to be taken vp in our callings but some time is to be spared for reading prayer and meditation One of these may not hinder an other which must needs come to passe without Iudgement Dauid and Daniel obserued prayer thrice a day and they that feare God will so diuide their times that at the least once a day they will reade a chapter or two in the Bible and because of the stuggishnesse of our nature soone weary of good things it were good to taske our selues and when it so fals out that we are constrayned vpon extraordinary occasion to leaue our taske vnperformed one day then to double our paines and diligence the next time rising the earlier and working the harder in our callings that we may redeeme that time without any losse Theodosius the second Emperour of that name is reported to haue written out the Bookes of the New Testament with his owne hand accounting it a speciall Iewell and out of it hee read euery day praying with his wife and sisters and singing of Psalmes And it was that famous Eunuches practise as we may gather out of the eight chapter of the Acts. I reade of another Emperor of Rome who was wont to account that day lost in the which he had not bestowed a benefit vpon some of his subiects So we may well reckon that day among our losses in the which wee reade not or meditate not of something in the word But foolish men thus obiect I haue no leisure by reason of vrgency and multitude of busines To such a one I answer Is any businesse more vrgent then this Martha is troubled indeede about many things but this one thing is necessary namely the knowledge of God by his word Againe Thou wilt spare a time to eate and sleepe why not then to read Iob esteemed the words of God more then his appointed food If our loue were such to the word Iob. 23.12 wee would rather spare the times of our eating then of our reading as Iacob spared the meate out of his belly to buy the blessing Hath the body neede of nourishment and hath not the soule much more Gen. 25.30 c. Now the bread of the soule is the word of God O Lord giue vs euermore of this bread Amen Iudgement also is requisite in reading that wee may vnderstand the meaning of the Holy Ghost For the word of God is not in the letters and leaues but in the meaning and sence as some of the Antients haue spoken yea one of them saith that the word of God foolishly vnderstood is not the word of God Our Sauiour Christ hauing oftentimes to deale with the learned Scribes and Pharisies Mat. 12.3 19.14 21.16.42 22.31 Mark 12 24. and with the Sadduces asketh thus Haue you not read and Did you neuer read and You erre not knowing the Scriptures And yet these Scribes did so diligently reade the Scriptures that they numbred the letters and words but they read without iudgement not discerning nor searching into the heart of the sence but staying in the barke of the letter Thus to read is vnprofitable And here as we must be carefull to finde the meaning that we may not read as children so also we must take heed that we feigne not a meaning of our owne and thrust it vpon the word lest we proue Heretickes Therfore the right true and fit sence is to bee sought out which of one place can be but one And that must be not according as we thinke for no Scripture is of priuate interpretation 2. Pet. 1.20 but according to the Scriptures which are the onely best expounders of themselues The meanes and ready way to finde out the genuine and true meaning of any Scripture are especially these First a due and learned considering of the originall Tongue in the which the Scripture is written Secondly a diligent marking of that which goeth before and that which followeth Thirdly a wise comparing together the place in hand with other places both like and vnlike Fourthly a heedfull examining of the sence arising with the Analogy of faith that is with the doctrine contained in the Apostles Creed so called the Lords Prayer and the ten Commandements which are a short summe of the whole Bible Fifthly conference with the learned Interpreters Sixthly feruent