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29._o in_o genes_n continual_o and_o with_o diligence_n attend_v to_o the_o read_n of_o the_o divine_a scripture_n and_o not_o only_a when_o you_o come_v hither_o but_o also_o at_o home_n to_o take_v the_o divine_a book_n into_o your_o hand_n and_o careful_o to_o receive_v the_o benefit_n of_o the_o thing_n contain_v in_o they_o much_o profit_n do_v come_v from_o hence_o first_o the_o tongue_n by_o read_v be_v reform_v than_o the_o soul_n be_v wing_a and_o carry_v aloft_o etc._n etc._n let_v we_o not_o i_o beseech_v you_o careless_o neglect_v so_o great_a a_o gain_n but_o also_o at_o home_n let_v we_o with_o diligence_n apply_v ourselves_o to_o the_o read_n of_o the_o divine_a write_n and_o in_o another_o place_n he_o thus_o address_v to_o his_o hearer_n let_v every_o one_o when_o he_o
retire_v home_o take_v scrip._n de_fw-fr utilitate_fw-la lect._n scrip._n the_o bible_n into_o his_o hand_n and_o run_v over_o the_o sense_n of_o those_o thing_n that_o have_v be_v speak_v if_o he_o desire_v to_o reap_v continual_a and_o sufficient_a benefit_n from_o the_o scripture_n for_o bare_a hear_n for_o two_o hour_n be_v not_o sufficient_a for_o our_o security_n these_o be_v the_o lesson_n this_o holy_a man_n inculcate_v upon_o those_o who_o daily_o attend_v to_o the_o public_a preach_n and_o read_v of_o the_o word_n and_o who_o hear_v the_o scripture_n read_v in_o a_o language_n they_o understand_v which_o be_v not_o now_o permit_v in_o the_o roman_a church_n so_o necessary_a in_o his_o judgement_n be_v the_o private_a read_n of_o the_o scripture_n that_o all_o that_o be_v hear_v in_o public_a will_v not_o suffice_v without_o it_o for_o it_o be_v not_o enough_o that_o the_o word_n of_o christ_n dwell_v in_o we_o spare_o but_o 4._o it_o must_v dwell_v in_o we_o rich_o which_o it_o can_v never_o do_v save_v in_o those_o only_o who_o frequent_o read_v it_o and_o meditate_v upon_o it_o some_o person_n i_o know_v there_o be_v who_o can_v read_v some_o other_o who_o can_n live_v in_o those_o unhappy_a place_n where_o they_o can_v procure_v bibles_n if_o these_o do_v otherways_o what_o in_o they_o lie_v to_o attain_v to_o the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o scripture_n god_n will_v accept_v they_o according_a to_o that_o 12._o 2_o cor._n 8._o 12._o they_o have_v and_o not_o according_a to_o that_o they_o have_v not_o for_o unavoidable_a defect_n he_o will_v either_o make_v allowance_n or_o make_v a_o supply_v some_o other_o way_n but_o for_o other_o who_o have_v both_o ability_n and_o opportunity_n of_o read_v the_o word_n of_o christ_n as_o it_o be_v their_o bind_a duty_n so_o it_o can_v argue_v no_o less_o than_o contempt_n of_o god_n himself_o to_o neglect_v it_o for_o since_o god_n have_v condescend_v for_o their_o good_a to_o write_v it_o how_o can_v they_o choose_v but_o entertain_v very_o low_a thought_n of_o he_o who_o will_v not_o vouchsafe_v to_o read_v it_o vii_o what_o have_v be_v say_v of_o the_o need_n all_o man_n stand_v in_o of_o the_o word_n of_o christ_n suggest_v another_o argument_n viz._n the_o great_a evil_n they_o must_v needs_o lay_v themselves_o open_a to_o who_o neglect_v the_o study_n of_o the_o scripture_n for_o by_o how_o much_o the_o less_o they_o know_v they_o by_o so_o much_o the_o less_o must_v they_o know_v their_o duty_n and_o by_o how_o much_o the_o more_o ignorant_a they_o be_v of_o their_o duty_n by_o so_o much_o the_o less_o must_v they_o practice_v it_o yea_o those_o duty_n which_o they_o be_v plain_o teach_v by_o the_o law_n write_v in_o their_o heart_n they_o will_v be_v easy_o persuade_v to_o neglect_v because_o the_o great_a motive_n to_o quicken_v they_o to_o these_o must_v be_v fetch_v from_o the_o scripture_n and_o therefore_o no_o wonder_n that_o many_o person_n so_o eager_o pursue_v the_o pomp_n and_o vanity_n of_o this_o wicked_a world_n make_v provision_n for_o the_o flesh_n to_o fulfil_v the_o lust_n thereof_o and_o be_v lead_v captive_a by_o the_o devil_n at_o his_o pleasure_n who_o solemn_o renounce_v all_o these_o in_o their_o baptism_n because_o for_o want_v of_o acquaintance_n with_o the_o scripture_n they_o be_v destitute_a of_o those_o force_n without_o which_o they_o can_v successful_o encounter_v these_o their_o spiritual_a enemy_n nor_o be_v such_o person_n in_o more_o danger_n of_o fall_v into_o sin_n in_o matter_n of_o practice_n than_o of_o be_v mislead_v in_o point_n of_o belief_n for_o have_v no_o solid_a foundation_n to_o bottom_v their_o faith_n upon_o thy_o will_n like_o child_n be_v toss_v to_o and_o fro_o and_o carry_v about_o with_o every_o wind_n of_o doctrine_n by_o the_o slight_a of_o man_n and_o cunning_a craftiness_n whereby_o they_o lie_v in_o wait_n to_o deceive_v it_o need_v not_o therefore_o seem_v strange_a if_o many_o person_n shall_v be_v seduce_v from_o that_o faith_n which_o be_v once_o deliver_v to_o the_o saint_n and_o which_o they_o themselves_o for_o some_o time_n make_v profession_n of_o in_o short_a ignorance_n of_o the_o scripture_n as_o s._n chrysostom_n in_o his_o comment_n upon_o my_o text_n tell_v we_o be_v the_o cause_n of_o all_o evil_a how_o deplorable_a then_o must_v their_o condition_n be_v who_o live_v in_o the_o constant_a disuse_n and_o neglect_n of_o they_o have_v already_o show_v that_o the_o thing_n which_o be_v write_v be_v at_o first_o address_v to_o layman_n that_o god_n have_v plain_o command_v they_o to_o acquaint_v themselves_o familiar_o with_o they_o that_o the_o subject_a matter_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n and_o the_o use_n and_o end_n for_o which_o they_o be_v write_v do_v concern_v the_o laity_n that_o some_o special_a duty_n be_v lay_v upon_o they_o which_o no_o man_n can_v perform_v who_o be_v not_o conversant_a in_o the_o scripture_n have_v also_o show_v the_o great_a need_n the_o laity_n stand_v in_o of_o they_o the_o inestimable_a benefit_n they_o may_v receive_v by_o they_o and_o the_o intolerable_a evil_n they_o will_v expose_v themselves_o to_o in_o case_n they_o neglect_v the_o study_n of_o they_o viii_o what_o now_o remain_v to_o quicken_v you_o further_o to_o this_o great_a duty_n unless_o it_o be_v to_o show_v the_o vanity_n of_o those_o objection_n which_o be_v make_v against_o it_o it_o may_v indeed_o be_v just_a matter_n of_o wonder_n to_o find_v any_o thing_n object_v against_o a_o duty_n so_o clear_a and_o of_o such_o great_a moment_n yet_o so_o it_o be_v that_o some_o man_n have_v dare_v to_o say_v those_o thing_n which_o if_o they_o be_v true_a may_v just_o affright_v the_o people_n from_o it_o and_o make_v they_o take_v it_o for_o a_o sin_n rather_o than_o a_o duty_n to_o read_v the_o bible_n in_o general_n it_o be_v say_v that_o the_o promiscuous_a read_n of_o the_o scripture_n by_o the_o vulgar_a do_v more_o hurt_n than_o good_a because_o in_o particular_a it_o occasion_n their_o fall_n into_o dangerous_a error_n both_o in_o matter_n of_o faith_n and_o in_o matter_n of_o practice_n so_o that_o if_o this_o liberty_n shall_v be_v allow_v they_o will_v neither_o believe_v nor_o live_v so_o as_o they_o ought_v which_o charge_n consist_v of_o two_o part_n the_o one_o relate_v to_o belief_n the_o other_o to_o manner_n that_o the_o answer_n may_v be_v the_o more_o clear_a and_o satisfactory_a i_o shall_v consider_v they_o distinct_o and_o apart_o and_o obj._n first_o it_o be_v object_v that_o many_o pestilent_a sect_n and_o heresy_n which_o infest_v the_o church_n have_v take_v their_o rise_n from_o the_o read_n of_o the_o scripture_n by_o layman_n who_o for_o want_v of_o be_v qualify_v to_o understand_v they_o aright_o do_v usual_o wrest_v they_o to_o a_o pernicious_a sense_n what_o be_v common_o say_v of_o the_o obscurity_n of_o the_o scripture_n may_v be_v consider_v elsewhere_o at_o present_a i_o return_v several_a thing_n in_o answer_n to_o the_o objection_n as_o now_o propose_v each_o of_o which_o single_o consider_v will_v be_v a_o sufficient_a answer_n 1._o this_o reflect_v foul_a dishonour_n upon_o god_n himself_o for_o what_o can_v be_v more_o high_o derogatory_n both_o to_o his_o wisdom_n and_o goodness_n than_o to_o say_v that_o he_o have_v write_v such_o a_o book_n for_o his_o people_n use_n which_o they_o can_v read_v but_o they_o will_v be_v in_o danger_n of_o be_v eternal_o ruin_v by_o it_o if_o this_o be_v so_o they_o be_v then_o much_o behold_v to_o those_o who_o take_v the_o bible_n from_o they_o but_o owe_v no_o thanks_o to_o god_n who_o give_v it_o to_o they_o 2._o our_o bless_a saviour_n think_v the_o ignorance_n of_o the_o scripture_n the_o cause_n of_o heresy_n and_o the_o mean_n he_o prescribe_v to_o prevent_v and_o cure_v they_o be_v the_o study_n of_o the_o scripture_n you_o err_v say_v he_o to_o the_o sadducee_n what_o because_o you_o study_v the_o scripture_n no_o but_o because_o you_o know_v 29._o matth._n 22._o 29._o not_o the_o scripture_n and_o though_o he_o very_o well_o know_v how_o malicious_o the_o jew_n be_v bend_v to_o wrest_v the_o scripture_n to_o justify_v their_o rejection_n of_o he_o yet_o do_v he_o not_o reprove_v they_o for_o read_v the_o scripture_n they_o so_o much_o abuse_v but_o contrariwise_o command_v to_o read_v they_o again_o and_o more_o diligent_o search_v the_o scripture_n for_o they_o 39_o joh._n 5._o 39_o testify_v of_o i_o as_o if_o he_o have_v say_v you_o will_v not_o yet_o believe_v on_o i_o but_o take_v i_o for_o a_o deceiver_n i_o require_v you_o therefore_o not_o bare_o to_o read_v but_o to_o search_v the_o scripture_n that_o be_v attentive_o thorough_o and_o impartial_o to_o read_v they_o and_o you_o will_v then_o be_v convince_v that_o
i_o be_o indeed_o the_o messiah_n because_o they_o so_o plain_o testify_v of_o i_o this_o be_v the_o method_n our_o saviour_n prescribe_v for_o the_o cure_n of_o that_o damnable_a heresy_n of_o the_o same_o judgement_n be_v his_o apostle_n after_o he_o s._n judas_n to_o fortify_v his_o belove_a christian_n against_o the_o heresy_n of_o the_o gnostic_n command_v they_o to_o remember_v the_o word_n which_o be_v speak_v before_o by_o the_o apostle_n of_o 17._o judas_n v._n 17._o our_o lord_n jesus_n christ_n the_o remembrance_n of_o the_o scripture_n be_v it_o seem_v in_o his_o opinion_n the_o best_a antidote_n against_o the_o poison_n of_o those_o seducer_n and_o this_o suppose_v their_o acquaintance_n with_o they_o since_o no_o man_n can_v remember_v what_o he_o have_v no_o knowledge_n of_o yea_o that_o very_a text_n which_o be_v frequent_o produce_v to_o prove_v that_o by_o read_v the_o scripture_n man_n fall_v into_o heresy_n be_v on_o the_o contrary_a a_o plain_a proof_n that_o the_o not_o read_v they_o so_o much_o as_o to_o become_v acquaint_v with_o they_o be_v the_o true_a cause_n from_o whence_o this_o mischief_n arise_v for_o who_o be_v the_o man_n that_o wrest_v the_o scripture_n to_o their_o own_o destruction_n one_o character_n of_o they_o be_v that_o they_o be_v unlearned_a unlearned_a in_o what_o in_o the_o holy_a scripture_n for_o in_o humane_a learning_n s._n peter_n himself_o be_v very_o unlearned_a and_o if_o want_v of_o learning_n in_o the_o scripture_n be_v the_o cause_n of_o fall_v from_o the_o faith_n then_o doubtless_o the_o study_n of_o they_o will_v be_v the_o best_a way_n to_o establish_v man_n in_o it_o what_o can_v s._n peter_n so_o much_o as_o dream_v that_o the_o read_n of_o this_o epistle_n by_o those_o lay-christians_a to_o who_o he_o write_v it_o will_v be_v the_o way_n to_o corrupt_v their_o faith_n when_o he_o write_v it_o to_o they_o on_o purpose_n to_o preserve_v they_o sound_v in_o it_o so_o contrary_a be_v his_o judgement_n to_o that_o of_o his_o pretend_a successor_n 3._o suppose_v that_o the_o read_n of_o the_o scripture_n have_v be_v to_o some_o layman_n a_o occasion_n of_o fall_v into_o damnable_a heresy_n do_v it_o thence_o follow_v that_o they_o ought_v not_o to_o read_v they_o this_o be_v as_o absurd_a as_o for_o a_o man_n thus_o to_o argue_v some_o man_n by_o eat_v have_v fall_v mortal_o sick_a let_v no_o man_n therefore_o for_o the_o future_a eat_v some_o man_n have_v use_v their_o sight_n to_o the_o choose_n of_o a_o wrong_a way_n it_o be_v therefore_o every_o man_n duty_n to_o put_v out_o his_o eye_n the_o light_n of_o the_o sun_n be_v by_o many_o man_n abuse_v to_o very_o ill_a purpose_n the_o sun_n therefore_o itself_o ought_v to_o be_v extinguish_v and_o be_v it_o not_o a_o excellent_a remedy_n for_o a_o man_n to_o starve_v himself_o that_o he_o may_v not_o fall_v sick_a by_o eat_v or_o for_o a_o man_n to_o make_v himself_o blind_a lest_o if_o he_o see_v he_o shall_v chance_v to_o mistake_v his_o way_n it_o be_v true_a a_o man_n may_v lose_v his_o way_n that_o have_v his_o eye_n in_o his_o head_n but_o be_v he_o sure_a not_o to_o lose_v it_o by_o put_v they_o out_o so_o a_o man_n by_o mistake_v the_o sense_n of_o scripture_n may_v happen_v to_o fall_v into_o error_n but_o he_o that_o be_v altogether_o unacquainted_a with_o it_o lay_v himself_o open_a to_o all_o delusion_n expose_v himself_o a_o prey_n to_o every_o seducer_n 4._o the_o manifest_a truth_n be_v that_o general_o speak_v not_o the_o laity_n but_o the_o clergy_n have_v be_v the_o author_n of_o sect_n and_o heresy_n the_o novatian_a sect_n spring_v from_o one_o priest_n the_o donatist_n from_o two_o though_o it_o take_v its_o name_n from_o a_o bishop_n who_o afterward_o espouse_v it_o the_o arian_n heresy_n from_o a_o priest_n the_o pelagian_a from_o a_o monk_n the_o provost_n of_o banâ—or_n the_o nestorian_a from_o a_o bishop_n and_o priest_n the_o eutychian_a from_o a_o priest_n the_o eunomian_a from_o a_o bishop_n the_o monothelite_n from_o several_a bishop_n joint_o even_o bellarmine_n himself_o assert_v that_o tametsi_fw-la bell._n dâ—_n rom._n pontif_n l._n 2._o c._n 8._o quantâ—_n tametsi_fw-la almost_o all_o the_o prime_a author_n of_o heresy_n have_v be_v either_o priest_n or_o bishop_n and_o for_o those_o layman_n that_o have_v be_v broacher_n of_o heresy_n they_o have_v be_v for_o the_o most_o part_n not_o of_o the_o vulgar_a sort_n but_o man_n of_o great_a part_n and_o learning_n heresy_n be_v indeed_o a_o work_n of_o the_o flesh_n but_o one_o too_o fine_a and_o subtle_a to_o be_v forge_v in_o a_o vulgar_a brain_n except_o such_o heresy_n only_o as_o be_v very_o sensual_a gross_a and_o brutish_a it_o be_v s._n jerome_n observation_n 9_o comment_fw-fr in_o os_fw-la c._n 9_o that_o no_o man_n can_v be_v the_o founder_n of_o a_o heresy_n who_o be_v not_o a_o man_n of_o great_a wit_n and_o part_n and_o therefore_o 5._o if_o this_o way_n of_o reason_v be_v admit_v the_o clergy_n shall_v be_v forbid_v to_o read_v the_o scripture_n rather_o than_o the_o laity_n since_o they_o be_v the_o man_n that_o have_v do_v the_o great_a mischief_n by_o wrest_v they_o to_o the_o broach_n and_o maintain_v of_o sect_n and_o heresy_n as_o there_o be_v some_o churchman_n who_o to_o show_v their_o great_a reverence_n to_o the_o scripture_n do_v usual_o compare_v they_o to_o knife_n and_o sword_n because_o a_o man_n may_v use_v they_o to_o bad_a as_o well_o as_o good_a purpose_n so_o there_o be_v other_o who_o have_v make_v good_a these_o comparison_n by_o draw_v such_o doctrine_n from_o they_o by_o which_o the_o church_n have_v be_v miserable_o wound_v divide_a and_o rend_v into_o piece_n shall_v therefore_o the_o use_n of_o the_o bible_n be_v deny_v to_o all_o those_o order_n of_o man_n of_o which_o any_o person_n in_o those_o order_n have_v be_v find_v to_o abuse_v it_o it_o must_v be_v deny_v to_o the_o clergy_n too_o and_o by_o consequence_n to_o all_o men._n and_o then_o god_n may_v take_v his_o book_n again_o to_o himself_o unless_o it_o please_v he_o to_o bestow_v it_o upon_o some_o other_o sort_n of_o being_n if_o any_o such_o there_o be_v that_o it_o be_v fit_a for_o and_o yet_o let_v it_o be_v consider_v 6._o that_o those_o heresy_n which_o have_v be_v broach_v either_o by_o the_o clergy_n or_o the_o laity_n be_v not_o chargeable_a upon_o the_o holy_a scripture_n any_o more_o than_o darkness_n upon_o the_o sun_n when_o the_o earth_n be_v eclipse_v for_o as_o the_o darkness_n proceed_v not_o from_o the_o sun_n which_o be_v and_o ever_o will_v be_v the_o fountain_n of_o light_n but_o from_o the_o interposition_n of_o the_o opacous_a body_n of_o the_o moon_n which_o intercept_v its_o light_n so_o the_o true_a cause_n of_o heresy_n be_v not_o the_o scripture_n but_o man_n inordinate_a lust_n and_o passion_n which_o interpose_v between_o they_o and_o the_o light_n of_o the_o glorious_a gospel_n of_o god_n which_o will_v otherwise_o have_v shine_v into_o their_o heart_n pride_n and_o vainglory_n covetousness_n and_o sensuality_n or_o some_o other_o vice_n be_v the_o proper_a fountain_n from_o whence_o all_o those_o heresy_n which_o create_v disturbance_n to_o the_o church_n be_v derive_v as_o might_n be_v show_v at_o large_a such_o be_v the_o power_n of_o corrupt_a affection_n that_o the_o man_n who_o be_v sway_v with_o they_o can_v see_v nothing_o aright_o how_o fair_o soever_o represent_v but_o will_v be_v as_o apt_a to_o wrest_v the_o plain_a as_o the_o most_o obscure_a text_n to_o his_o own_o destruction_n obj._n it_o be_v object_v second_o that_o the_o read_n of_o scripture_n be_v dangerous_a to_o the_o common_a people_n because_o those_o thing_n be_v record_v in_o they_o which_o may_v occasion_v their_o err_a in_o practice_n as_o well_o as_o in_o faith._n for_o instance_n noah_n be_v drunkenness_n lot_n be_v incest_n jacob_n be_v fraud_n and_o lie_v in_o get_v the_o blessing_n david_n be_v murder_n and_o adultery_n etc._n etc._n which_o if_o expose_v to_o the_o view_n of_o the_o vulgar_a they_o may_v thereby_o be_v encourage_v and_o provoke_v to_o the_o imitation_n of_o they_o answ_n it_o be_v strange_a that_o man_n who_o own_o the_o scripture_n for_o the_o word_n of_o the_o most_o holy_a god_n who_o be_v of_o pure_a eye_n than_o to_o behold_v evil_a shall_v have_v the_o face_n to_o draw_v up_o this_o black_a charge_n against_o they_o but_o be_v not_o these_o vicious_a example_n to_o be_v find_v in_o the_o scripture_n in_o our_o saviour_n day_n and_o yet_o as_o they_o be_v then_o free_o read_v by_o the_o people_n so_o the_o read_n of_o they_o be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v reprehend_v that_o it_o be_v approve_v by_o he_o be_v they_o not_o in_o the_o scripture_n in_o the_o day_n
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scripture_n a_o small_a part_n of_o which_o i_o shall_v transcribe_v desire_v you_o at_o your_o leisure_n attentive_o to_o read_v the_o whole_a thus_o than_o she_o bespeak_v we_o if_o we_o profel_n christ_n why_o be_v we_o not_o ashamed_a to_o be_v ignorant_a of_o his_o doctrine_n see_v that_o every_o man_n be_v ashamed_a to_o be_v ignorant_a in_o that_o learning_n which_o he_o profess_v that_o man_n be_v ashamed_a to_o be_v call_v a_o philosopher_n which_o read_v not_o the_o book_n of_o philosophy_n and_o to_o be_v call_v a_o lawyer_n a_o astronomer_n or_o physician_n that_o be_v ignorant_a in_o the_o book_n of_o law_n astronomy_n and_o physic_n how_o can_v any_o man_n then_o say_v that_o he_o profess_v christ_n and_o his_o religion_n if_o he_o will_v not_o apply_v himself_o as_o far_o forth_o as_o he_o can_v or_o may_v convenient_o to_o read_v and_o hear_v and_o so_o to_o know_v the_o book_n of_o christ_n gospel_n and_o doctrine_n although_o other_o science_n be_v good_a and_o to_o 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