The harmonie of Holie Scriptures vvith the seuerall sentences of sundry learned and vvorthy vvriters : collected for the comfort of all such as are desirous to seeke after theyr soules health / by I.B.

¶ Against ouer-curious searching: and ad∣ding of any thing to the word of God.

§. 1.

SEeke not out (saith Sirach) the thinges that are too hard for thee: neither search the things rashly which are too mightie for thee.

But what God hath commaunded thee, thinke vpon that with reuerence, and bee not curious in many of his workes: for it is not needfull for thee, to see with thine eyes the things that are secrete.

Be not curious in superfluous matters, for many things are shewed vnto thee aboue the capacitie of men. The medling vvith such, hath beguiled many; & an euill opi∣nion hath deceiued their iudgement.

Thou canst not see without eyes: pro∣fesse not the knowledge therefore vvhich thou hast not.

§. 2.

I, through the grace that is giuen vnto mee, (saith the Apostle,) say to euery one that is among you, that no man presume to vnderstand, aboue that which is meet to vnderstand: but that he vnderstand accor∣ding

to sobrietie; as GOD hath dealt to euery man the measure of fayth.

For, hee is sufficiently rich in vnderstan∣ding, that knoweth how to doe well: and hee hath power enough, that can refraine from dooing euill.

§. 3.

Ye shal put nothing vnto the word which I commaund you, saith Moises: neyther shall yee take ought there-from: that yee may keepe the commaundements of the Lord your GOD, which I commaund you.

Therefore, what soeuer I commaunde you, take heede you doe it.

Thou shalt not turne away from it to the right hand, nor to the left: that thou maist prosper whether soeuer thou goest.

§. 4.

Put nothing vnto the word of God, saith Salomon, least hee reproue thee, and thou be founde a lyer.

For, I protest (saith the holy Ghost) vnto euery man that heareth the wordes of the prophecie of this booke; If any man shall adde vnto these things, God shall adde vn∣to him the plagues, that are written in thys Booke.

And, if any man shall diminish of the words of the booke of this prophesie God shall take away his part out of the booke of life; and out of the holy Citty, and from those thinges vvhich are vvritten in this booke.

Notes

• Ecclus, 3, 22.
• verse, 23.
• verse, 24, 25,
• verse, 26.
• Rom, 12, 3,
• Hermes.
• Deut, 4, 2,
• Deut. 12. 32.
• Iosua, 1, 7.
• Prou. 30. 6.
• Reue. 22. 18
• Reue. 22, 19