Autoschediasmata, De studio theologiae, or, Directions for the choice of books in the study of divinity written by ... Dr. Thomas Barlow ... ; publish'd from the original manuscript, by William Offley ...

LETTER II. (Book 2)

A Short Method for the Study of Di∣vinity, in a Letter to a Friend, by an Unknown Author; and found in Bishop BARLOW's Study. (Book 2)

SIR,

YOU ask of me one of the Hardest things I know: To direct A Young Student in the the Methodical Study of Divinity. If I have any Knowledge in it, I must profess to You, I know not how I came by it: I read as it happen'd, and thought of what I read, and this is all I know of it. It is, I confess, a great Defect in our Church, and the occasion of many Mischiefs to it, but it re∣quires a much better Hand than mine, and more Leisure than I have, to prescribe a Remedy for it. But if You will be contented with some free and hasty Thoughts, You shall have them.

The constant Reading of S. Scripture, with great application of Mind, is a General Rule, and ought to be a constant Practice, whether we rightly ap∣prehend the true Sence of it at present, or not: For when the very Phrase or Expression of S. Scripture, and the History of it is imprinted on our Minds, when we come strictly to examine any particular Doctrine of Religion, various Expressions will oc∣cur

to our Minds, and will suggest such Thoughts to us, as are to be had no other way. And tho' it is not suppos'd, that any Man acquainted with other parts of Learning, and beginning to apply himself to the Study of Divinity, can be in such a State; yet the Scripture is to be read, and learnt, as the Grammar is by Children, who know not how to apply the Rules, much less understand the Reason of them. And therefore part of them is to be read every Day, tho' only in English (which I think very adviseable for one who intends the Mi∣nistry) without stopping at every Difficulty he meets with, but charging his Memory with the Phrase, and the Series, and order of Events.

But to make the Reading of the S. Scripture use∣ful, he must furnish himself with all variety of Que∣stions about Religion, that he may know what to observe and enquire after: And you will think it hard, that I cannot direct him better, than to send him to the Master of the Sentences, or Thomas Aquinas's Summs, or Estius upon the Sentences: And yet so it is; Not that I think that either their Que∣stions, or Resolutions are always wise, but they will surnish a wise Man with many Material Questions, and with some very Material Answers, and deliver him from the Danger of ever being impos'd on with School-Falacies. And a Man who reads them with this Design and this Caution, will find great Benefit by it. For tho' I am no Admirer of School-Divinity, I doubt the great Ignorance of some Per∣sons may be ascrib'd to a Contempt of it, without knowing it.

But then he ought also to read other Systems of Divinity, as Calvin's Institutions, and Zanchius,

(whom I take to be one of the best and subtilest Writers of Calvinists) and Arminius, Episcopius, or the late Remonstrant Philip à Limborch. For a Man who will throughly enquire, ought to have the different Schemes of Religion in his Head: But especially to read and consider well the Articles, Homilies, and Canons of our Church: which every one, who intends to be a Minister of the Church of England, ought to do.

Having thus far advanced, you may think I bring him back again, when I come to more par∣ticular Enquiries: But if you think well of it, you will find he is not sufficiently prepar'd for them before. And now I begin from the very Founda∣tions of Religion; To enquire strictly and severely into the Reasons of Our Faith. And, 1. Why He believes there is a GOD. And here he must review all the several Hypotheses of Philosophy, and exa∣mine the Powers of Nature, and the Arguments of Atheists. Tully and Dr. Cudworth, will sufficiently furnish him, if his Curiosity does not draw him further.

The next Enquiry is, Whether GOD has made any Revelation of his Will to the Word: And here he must consider the Authority of Revelation, and the Canon of Scripture: And Dr. Stillingfleet's Origines Sacrae, Huetius, or Dr. Cosin's Canon of Scripture, will furnish him with all that is needful to be known, or direct him where he may enquire further. And this is the most proper time to read the Apologists for Christianity, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Minutius Felix, Arnobius, Lactantius, St. Austin de Civitate Dei, Theodoret contra Gentes, and such like, as Euse∣bius's Praeparatio and Demonstratio, &c.

And now especially it is time to read the Scri∣ptures with greater Care; both to understand the Grammatical and Critical. Sence of them, by com∣paring the various Versions, especially the Septua∣gint, with the Original of the Old Testament, and by our Volumes of Criticks (which have more than all that is useful) and to understand the true Sence of them.

As for particular Commentators, I know not how to direct, because there is so great variety of them: But Ainsworth upon the Pentateuch is allow'd by all. Josephus and Philo-Judaeus (tho'a Platonick Jew) are very useful for the Old Testament, and Maimonides Nevochim, and such Tracts of Jewish Writers, as he may meet with.

Dr. Lightfoot (I think) has prescrib'd the best Method of Reading the Scriptures, by digesting the Historical and Prophetical Books into the order of Time. And the Prophesies are certainly under∣stood, by considering the times to which they re∣late. Tho' I must needs say, That the shortest and most compendious way to useful Knowledge, is to study the New Testament, and those parts of the Old Testament, which he there finds apply'd to the state of the Gospel; which will enable him the better to understand the Old Testament, when he has more leisure for the thorough Study of it. And for Modern Authors, let him read Mr. Poole's Synopsis Criticorum, allowing for the different Hypotheses of the Authors, and reading with Caution. Tho' (if I may advise) when he intends thoroughly to understand any Book of Scripture, let him read it several times over, and make himself Master of it: Then let him read it Verse by Verse, and observe what the Difficulties

are, and try by the Construction and Signification of the Words, and the Series of the Discourse, what he can make of it; and after that consult Expositors. This is the most laborious and slow, but the most useful, and will be found at last the shortest way to true and substantial Knowledge. I have found such advantage by it my self, that I dare recommend it.

From hence, he may proceed to the Enquiry into particular Controversies, which he is now well fur∣nish'd for, with a great compass of Knowledge: And here he may begin, and end (if ever he can find an end) where he pleases. And he will easily inform himself of the best Writers on both sides.

As for the Fathers, and Councils, and Ecclesia∣stical Historians, I think the best way at first, is to examine, as he has opportunity, such Citations as he meets with; and see to what purpose their Autho∣rity is urg'd on all sides; or to read any particu∣lar Tract in them, as he has occasion for it: And then when he finds leisure to read them, he will know how to use them.

This is sufficient Employment for some Years; and as imperfect as the Rules are, if observ'd, will certainly make him a very good Divine, and furnish him with useful Knowledge; and before he has done half this, he will need no Director.

I have taken no notice of Reading the Ancient Moralists, and observing the Differences of their several Sects, and how they differ from, or agree with the Precepts of Christianity; nor of the Na∣ture of Laws, &c. These being suppos'd neces∣sary Prolegomena.

FINIS.