7. Direct.

If thou wouldst Read with profit? apply what thou readest to thy self, and bring thy heart to the Rule, and thy Graces to this Touch∣stone, and behold thy Face in this Glass of the Word; to what end is Meat given, but to be eaten? or Physick but to be taken? or a Plaister, but to be applyed? many read much, and profit little, because they apply not what they read to themselves: per∣haps Page  80 they can apply it to others, and say, here is for such and such a man, when they neglect their own Portion. They are like the Pharisees, they binde heavy burthens, and grievous to be bourn, and lay them upon other mens shoulders, but they themselves will not touch them with one of their fingers: but why wilt thou deal so liberally to o∣thers, and deal so deceitfully with thy own Soul? doth it want nothing, or doth God speak nothing to thee, but only to others? In the things of the World thou art not so kinde, thou wouldest not be deceived by another, neither wouldest thou give away thy Estate with thy own hands to ano∣ther; and why art thou so injurious to thy Soul, in things of a higher Nature? thou wilt not deprive thy belly of Food, nor thy back of Raiment; & must thy Soul only be deprived of both? An hungry man will not thus dispose of his meat, nor a cove∣tuous man of his money; and this thy liberality shewes thou hast neither a stomack to these spiritu∣al dainties, nor a desire after these spiritual and heavenly treasures. This word is of general use to all, every one hath his Portion: for as God hath made nothing in vain, so he hath spoke no∣thing in vain: when therefore thou readest his Precepts wherein he commands duty, and forbids sin; perswade thy self that God is now particu∣larly speaking unto thee, and apply what is speak∣ing to thy self, as if there was no other Man or Woman in the World besides thee; or as if God by an audible voice called thee out by Name, as he did Samuel, and gave thee these Commands to observe these duties to do: these sins to avoid: and let it deterre thee from sin, and quicken thee to duty; as if God himself had spoken to thee from Page  81 Heaven: When a Minister reproves sin, some guilty Consciences say he means me; 'tis true, if thou be guilty the Minister doth mean thee, and God means thee; when the Word speaks against Drunkards, Swearers, Lyars, then it means thee, if thou art guilty of those sins; When thou read∣est the pretious Promises which God hath made unto repugnant Sinners, assure thy self, if thou be such a one, these promises will be made good to thee; yea, as sure as if thy Name were written by the finger of God in the Scripture, and annexed to them: yea, as if they were made to none but thee, and those threatnings thou reapest in the word of God against unrepenting Sinners; assure thy self if thou be in that condition, thou art as much concerned in them, and they will be as cer∣tainly made good upon thee, if thou continue in this condition, as if they had been only denounced against thee: and those reproofs which thou readest for sin, take them to thy self, as spoken by God to thee, if thou be guilty of the sin reproved; for as∣sure thy self God means thee in them; and those Marks and Characters of Divine graces, and gra∣cious Qualifications scattered through out the Scriptures, make use of to try thy self by, & make use also of all the Admonitions God gives thee; and of all the examples thou findest of Divine ven∣geance, let them deterre thee from sin; and all the examples of Holy Saints encourage thee in good; and generally of all sorts of Directions, Instructi∣ons, &c. thus doing thou wilt gather good by thy Reading.