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The fifth point to bee obserued in this exercise is, that wee reade with vnderstanding, and that hauing made choyse of such bookes as are within the compasse of our capacity, we doe not content our selues with a slight perusall, but that wee thorowly vnderstand what wee reade, and not passe to a new point, till wee see in some sort the mea∣ning
of that wee last had in hand. The which rule hath place chiefely in reading of the Scriptures priuately by our selues, wherein it is bet∣ter to reade fiue words with the vnderstanding, then ten thousand when we vnderstand the meaning of them no more, then if they were written in a strange language. In which regard their practice bringeth little profit, who set themselues (as it were) to their taske, in reading ouer the Bible euery yeere, and so many Chapters euery day, if they rest in the deede done, and haue little care how they doe it, and take more paines in reading ouer the words, then in attaining to their meaning; vnto whom, if Philips question to the Eunuch were pro∣pounded; Vnderstandest thou what thou readest? they were not able to shape vnto it so good an answere; seeing they want not so much an interpreter to expound darke prophecies, as an intentiue and industri∣ous minde, setting it selfe to vnderstand what it is able by study to comprehend. The which I speake not to discourage any in this exer∣cise (farre be it from me to quench the smoking flaxe) but rather to perswade them to continue it still with more fruite and benefit, the taste and feeling whereof can onely make them constant in it; for who delighteth long to feede on that meate, wherein he findeth no rellish or sweetenesse? neither is it my meaning, that in reading the Scrip∣tures, men of ordinary callings and gifts should tye themselues to vnderstand all they haue read, before they proceede further; for many points are so deepe and mysticall, that for the vnderstanding of them, they will thorowly exercise the greatest learning and best wits, yea oftentimes, euen such with much studie shall not be able to compre∣hend them: but onely I would not haue any negligently to slight o∣uer what they reade, but seriously to apply their mindes to vnderstand as much as they can; and as for places of difficulty, they are not by them to be stopped in their course of reading, (as it were with blocks lying in their way) but to passe by them vnto more easie and plaine passages, vnlesse their leysure, learning and liberty will afford them the helpe of some good Commentary to cleare their doubt. Onely they may take notice of such difficult places, as they thinke would, if they were well vnderstood, bee most profitable for their vse, and seeke to be resolued of them, by some of more knowledge and lear∣ning, and chiefely of their owne Minister, whose lips should preserue know∣ledge, that the people committed to his charge, may seeke the Law at his mouth. Wherein notwithstanding two cautions are to be obserued: first, that the points wherein they desire resolution, be not slight and triuiall, but of speciall moment and vse, seeing it is not fit that their Pastour, who is to apply himselfe in his studies for the publike seruice of the Congregation, should spend too much of his time in giuing satis∣faction to euery particular man, that commeth vnto him in euery vse∣lesse doubt, wherin he should be wholy taken vp, and made vnseruicea∣ble vnto the rest of his charge. In which respect it is also fit, that men should make choice of such times, when as he is vsually most free from his owne serious imploiments, and not (as it is the custome of many) when as themselues are at best leysure. And secondly, that they doe
not presently run vnto him at the first appearing of any difficulty, but after they haue vsed their best indeuours, to satisfie their doubts by their owne serious studies. For if it were vnreasonable amongst the Ancients (as Plutarch recordeth) to borrow water of their neighbours, vntill they had first digged to the clay, vsing their labour and indeuour to finde a spring in their owne grounds for their owne vse; by the same reason it may be thought as vnfit to trouble others (at least vnseasona∣bly) about resoluing our doubts, till our selues haue indeuoured (though in vaine) to resolue them by our owne studies.
1. Cor. 14. 19.
Acts. 8. 30.
Mal. 2. 7.