Exhortation to the Reading and Knowledge of Holy Scripture

To a Christian man there can be nothing either more necessary or profitable, then the knowledge of Holy Scripture, forasmuch as in it is contained GODS true word, setting forth his glory, and man's duty. Moreover, there is no truth or doctrine necessary for our justification and everlasting salvation, but that is (or may be) drawn out of that fountain and Well of truth. Therefore those who are desirous to enter into the right and perfect way unto GOD, must apply their minds to know Holy Scripture, without which, they can neither sufficiently know GOD and his will, nor their office and duty.

As drink is pleasant to them that be dry, and meat to them that be hungry: so is the reading, hearing, searching, and studying of Holy Scripture, to them that be desirous to know GOD or themselves and to do his will. Those who are so drowned in worldly vanities, that they neither favor GOD, nor any godliness, their stomachs only loathe and abhor the heavenly knowledge and food of GODS word. And they that are sick, whatsoever they eat and drink (be it ever so pleasant) yet it is as bitter to them as wormwood, not for the bitterness of the meat, but for the corrupt and bitter humour that is in their own tongue and mouth: even so is the sweetness of GODS word bitter, not of it self, but only unto them that have their minds corrupted with long custom of sin and love of this world.

If we profess Christ, why are we not ashamed to be ignorant in his doctrine? Every man is ashamed to be ignorant in that learning which he professes. The man who calls himself a Philosopher is ashamed to read not the books of Philosophy. The Lawyer, and Astronomer, or Physition, that is ignorant in the books of Law, Astronomy, and Physics mocks his profession. Now can any man then say that he professes Christ, if he will not apply himself (as far forth as he can) to read and hear, and so to know the books of Christ's Gospel and doctrine? Although other sciences be good, and are to be learned, no man can deny that Christ's Gospel is incomparably greater. What excuse shall we therefore make that delight to read and hear men's fantasies and inventions, more then his most holy Gospel and will find no time to do that which chiefly (above all things) we should do? Let us therefore apply ourselves, as far forth as we can, to know GODS word, by diligent hearing and reading.

But they that have no good affection to GODS word (to color this their fault) allege commonly two vain and feigned excuses. Some go about to excuse them by their own frailness and fearfulnesses, saying that they dare not read holy Scripture, least through their ignorance, they should fall into any error. Others pretend that the difficulty to understand it, and the hardness thereof is so great, that it is meet to be read only of theologians and learned men.

As touching the first: Ignorance of GODS word is the cause of all error, as Christ himself affirmed to the Sadducees, saying that they erred, because they knew not the Scripture (Matthew 22.29). How should they then eschew error, that will be still ignorant? And how should they come out of ignorance, that will not read nor hear that thing which should give them knowledge? He that now has most knowledge, was at the first ignorant. For fear he should fall into error he diligently read, lest he should remain in ignorance, and through ignorance in error. And if you refuse know the truth of GOD lest you fall into error, you, by the same reason, will never eat any good meat, nor sow your corn, nor labor in your occupation, nor use your merchandise, for fear error. It should be best for you to live idly, and never to take in hand to do any manner of good thing, lest peraduenture some evil thing may chance upon you. And if you be afraid to fall into error, by reading of Holy Scripture: I shall show you how you may read it without danger of error.

Read it humbly with a meek and lowly heart, to the intent you may glorify GOD, and not your self, with the knowledge of it: and read it not without daily praying to GOD, that he would direct your reading to good effect: and take upon you to expound it no further, then you can plainly understand it. For (as Saint Augustine sayth) the knowledge of Holy Scripture, is a great, large, and a high place, but the door is very low, so that the high & arrogant man cannot run in. He that enters must stoop low, and humble himself. Presumption and arrogance is the mother of all error: and humility needs to fear no error. For humility will only search to know the truth, it will search, and will bring together one place with another, and where it cannot find out the meaning, it will pray, it will ask of other that know, and will not presumptuously and rashly define any thing, which it knows not. Therefore the humble man may search any truth boldly in the Scripture, without any danger of error. And if he be ignorant, he ought the more to read and to search Holy Scripture, to bring him out of ignorance. A man may prosper with only hearing, but he may much more prosper, with both hearing and reading.

This have I said, as touching the fear to read, through ignorance of the person. And concerning the hardness of Scripture, he that is so weak that he is not able to break strong meat, yet he may suck the sweet and tender milk, and defer the rest, until he wax stronger, and come to more knowledge. For GOD receives the learned and unlearned, and casts away none. And the Scripture is full of low valleys, plain ways that are easy for every man to use and to walk in: as also of high hills & mountains, which few men can climb unto.

Moreover, whosoever gives his mind to Holy Scriptures, with diligent study and burning desire, it cannot be (said Saint Chrysostome) that he should be left without help. For either GOD Almighty will send him some godly doctor to teach him, as he did to instruct the Eunuch, a noble man of Ethiopia, and Treasurer unto Queen Candace, who having affection to read the Scripture (although he understood it not). GOD sent his Apostle Philip to declare unto him the true sense of the Scripture that he read: or else, if we lack a learned man to instruct and teach us, yet GOD himself from above, will give light unto our minds, and teach us those things, which are necessary for us, and wherein we are ignorant. He that asks shall have, and he that seeks shall find, and he that knocks, shall have the door open (Matthew 7.7-8).

If we read once, twice, or thrice, and understand not, let us not cease our labors, but still continue reading, praying, asking of others, and so by continuous knocking the door shall be opened at the last. Although many things in the Scripture be spoken in obscure mysteries in one place, often the same thing, in an other place, is spoken more familiarly and plainly, to the capacity both of learned and unlearned. And those things in the Scripture that be plain to understand and necessary for salvation are every mans duty to learn, to print to memory, and to effectually exercise them. As for the dark mysteries, be content to be ignorant in them until such time as it shall please GOD to open those things unto you. In the mean season, if you lack either aptness or opportunity, GOD will not impute it to your folly. Yet it behooves you when you find a dark mystery in Scripture, not to set aside the reading of the whole, but continue in those part that are wholesome and clear.

To conclude, the Scripture amends all men: weak men are strengthened, and strong men are comforted. So that surely, none are enemies to the reading of GODS word. However, they are enemies who be so ignorant, that they know not how wholesome a thing it is: or else be so sick, that they hate the most comfortable medicine that should heal them: or so ungodly, that they would wish the people still to continue in blindness and ignorance of GOD. Thus, we have briefly touched some part of the commodities of GODS holy word, which is one of GODS chief and principal benefits, given and declared to mankind here in earth. Let us thank GOD heartily, for this his great and special gift, beneficial favor, and fatherly providence. Let us be glad to revive this precious gift of our heavenly Father. Let us hear, read, and know these holy rules, injunctions, and statutes of our Christian religion, and upon that we have made profession to GOD at our baptism. Let us with fear and reverence lay up (in the chest of our hearts) these necessary and fruitful lessons. Let us night and day muse, and have meditation and contemplation in them. Let us ruminate, and (as it were) chew the cud, that we may have the sweet juice, the honey, and comfort and consolation of them (Psalms 56.4). Let us stay quiet and certify our consciences with the most infallible certainty, truth, and perpetual assurance of them. Let us pray to GOD (the only author of these heavenly studies) that we may speak, think, believe, live, and depart hence, according to the wholesome doctrine, and verities of them. And by that means, in this world we shall have GODS defense, favor, and grace, with the unspeakable solace of peace, and quietness of conscience, and after this miserable life, we shall enjoy the endless bliss and glory of heaven: which he grant us all that died for us all, Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost, bee all honour and glory, both now and everlastingly.