Scripture-knowledge and Scripture-practice to go together. [ 1074]
ERasmus, in a Dialogue,* 1.1 makes mention of a swaggering Ruffian, that would be thought a good Christian, whom he calls Cyclops Evangeliophorus, and saies of him, that he had hanging at his girdle on one side, a new Testament, fairly gilt and bossed; on the other side, a bottle of rich Sack. To convince him, he is asked, What if he were tyed to carry that bottle alwaies at his girdle,* 1.2 and never to taste of it; or to taste it onely, and never to drink it down; were not this a punishment as reall, as that of Tantalus was poetical? But what if he did (as his manner was) drink soundly of it, would it not then warm his heart, quicken his spirits, and chear his countenance? Yes. But much more would that Book do so, if he would but spiritually feed thereon, concoct, digest, and turn it into nutriment in his life and conversation. Otherwise, it was but a poor use and benefit, that he made of his Bible, when one day in a rage he broke a fellowes head with it, that in∣veighed against the Gospell. Thus, alas, to carry a Bible in our hands, and not to have a lesson of it in our hearts, not to be mindfull of the doctrin in our practise,