Motives to holy living, or, Heads for meditation divided into consideratins, counsels, duties : together with some forms of devotion in litanies, collects, doxologies, &c.

§. 143.

IV. Read∣ing Scrip∣tures and pious Books.

1. Tasing your self every day (to supply continually matter of Meditation, of Prayer &c.) to read some small portion of holy Scripture (this always to be done with much reverence:) Or some other pious Book that is practical, ra∣ther than doctrinal; and may serve not so much for teach∣ing you what you are ignorant of, as for reminding you of what you know. Especially avoiding any Books of Con∣troversy in Divinity, (being only an exercise of the Brain, and having nothing to do with Devotion, and Piety) at such hours or seasons, when your aim is not the informa∣tion

of your judgment, but edification in Holiness.

2. Entertaining the Old Testament, and all the moral doctrines, and examples thereof, with the same reverence, as the new. Knowing that God is not mutable; but that the same way of Salvation was always to all men from the beginning, and the same Church, Faith, Gospel, under the times of the law; and that the New Testament releaseth not, but rather adds to, the strictest doctrines, and duties contained in the Old. Some of which (necessary to be observed) yet are not repeated in the New, as supposing the direction of the Law and the Prophets, in all moral mat∣ters, continued to Christians (See Gal. 3. ch. Heb. 11. ch. 2. Pet. 1.19. Heb. 4.2. Matt. 5.17.)

3. Reading Scriptures always with some short Comment: Which divine writings will still seem some new things unto you; and to have greater sweetness, as you grow in perfecti∣on, and do experience what they say fulfilled in you. For, we ordinarily measure the purpose of its Precepts, according to our abilities to practice them.

4. Not reading much at a time; nor hastily, (knowing that nothing is less marked than the Scriptures, because so often read) but staying, and indulging your medita∣tion on any passage that affects you; and casting what you read, sometimes into a Prayer, sometimes into an act of Admiration, Praise, Thanksgiving, as the matter prompts to you.

5. In reading the Scriptures considering not only what is said, but the quality, and disposition, and other circum∣stances of the Author that saith it (and sometimes also of those to whom it is said.) As in the psalms; consider David, and imagine his affections from the circumstances of his life &c. in his saying them. So in the words of our Saviour; consider the circumstances of his person, his affecti∣ons &c: and imagine that you hear them from his mouth. And you will find this much to advance both your under∣standing

for a right construction, and your affections for a right use, and entertainment of them.

6. Especially reading every day, and this rather after meals, (for which also the missing of a meal, will afford you half, or a whole hours time.) Some little portion of a more eminent Saints Life; rather late ones, than an∣cient, because less uncertain; and amongst these only some few choice ones; with often relection of them, and of the whole life in order, not some dis-joynted parcels thereof. Which Lives serve more than any thing else to verify Scripture (If I may so say) and to teach us that Christ's sublimest Precepts are not given in vain; but that they are faisible (Exempla inprimis hoc in se boni babent, quod approbant fieri posse quoe praecipiunt.) And that those greater illuminations and holiness under the Gospel, which the Scripture so largely promiseth, are continued to, and fulfilled in, all times; none of which are destitute of some men Apostolical. Whereby we are extreamly encouraged (in a holy emulation even of the Apostles themselves,) leav∣ing still the things which are behind, to reach forth to those things which are before, and to attempt perfection: whereas, without these patterns, the magnalia in Scripture are read as a Romance, or an History of another perfecter age, which we willingly admire, but despair to imitate. Whereby we best learn, not to lay all the burthen of our Religion upon repentance, but holiness; nor to reckon salvation so cheap a purchase, for which we see others have taken so much pains. For, the higher we discern others to go in Piety, the less still do we think that God will be content with ours, when he is presented with other m ns, of the like abilities, so much beyond it. Which thing, more than any other, provokes any generous Spirit to a holy jealousy, and imitation; and (as one observed) Horum librorum lectio plerumque primus est melioris vitae gradus. And most of those, who are commonly called Saints, became so

first, by reading the Lives of other Saints. Lastly, which, more than any other thing, will preserve you (tho amidst the flatteries of your friends) in a true humility, and mean conceit of your self, and in a constant indeavouring to your lives end to grow better; and which example of holy men (since the chiefest cause of wicked life in professed Chri∣stians, so point-blank contrary to our Saviour's Precepts, is nothing but ill example,) will serve you for an an∣tidote to the poison of the other, by which so many, so heedlesly, lose their eternal Life.