Concerning the first, that Ministers must give themselves diligently to reading, as it1 is manifest in the fourth chapter of the first Epistle to Timothy, where he exhorteth Timotheus, with these words: Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine. 2If that reading the word of God were not very needful, yea, and the first point of the Ministers of God, this faithful servant of God Saint Paul, would never have willed Timotheus to use▪ such diligence therein, who never moved any to do those things which were not profitable, and himself for the example of others, used the same: therefore it is certain that Saint Paul using great diligence therein, found such commodity as moved him to exhort Timotheus, and in him all other Ministers thereunto. But if Saint Paul, who was more than a Minister, even an Apostle, called thereunto extraordinarily, by the mouth of Jesus Christ himself from heaven; if he I say, which was placed in so high an office, and ⟨p. 343⟩called with so worthy a calling, gave himself diligently to reading and studying the word of God: how much more ought the Ministers, which have not so excellent a calling3 as he had? The Prophet Malachi showeth a reason hereof: The Priests lips should preserve knowledge, and the people should seek the law at his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts: if the people must learn the will of God at the Ministers mouth, it is requisite that he himself study and read the w•rd of God diligently, where his holy will is revealed, that he may be able to declare the same unto the people, to the which end the Lord hath placed them over his people. So that he must be as it were the storehouse of the Lord, and the children of God must come to learn, and he must minister necessary doctrine unto them, as occasion shall be offered, that all several heresies may be rooted out of the peoples hearts, and so be brought unto God, to serve him in true holiness according to perfect religion; & hereby we may know, that whosoever doth not thus, is not the servant of the Lord. The reading and meditating in Gods word is so necessary, that the Lord commanded Joshua being a civill Magistrate, That the book of his law should never 4depart out of his mouth, but that he should meditate therein day and night:
Concerning the first, that Ministers must giue themselues diligently to reading, as it1 is manifest in the fourth chapter of the first Epistle to Timothie, where he exhorteth Timotheus, with these words: Till I come, giue attendance to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine. 2If that reading the word of God were not very needefull, yea, and the first poynt of the Ministers of God, this faithfull seruant of God Saint Paul, would neuer haue willed Timotheus to vse▪ such diligence therein, who neuer moued anie to do those things which were not profitable, and himselfe for the example of others, vsed the same: therefore it is certaine that Saint Paul vsing great diligence therein, found such commoditie as moued him to exhort Timotheus, and in him all other Ministers thereunto. But if Saint Paul, who was more than a Minister, euen an Apostle, called thereunto extraordinarily, by the mouth of Iesus Christ himselfe from heauen; if he I say, which was placed in so high an office, and ⟨p. 343⟩called with so worthie a calling, gaue himselfe diligently to reading and studying the word of God: how much more ought the Ministers, which haue not so excellent a calling3 as he had? The Prophet Malachie sheweth a reason hereof: The Priests lippes should preserue knowledge, and the people should seeke the law at his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hostes: if the people must learne the will of God at the Ministers mouth, it is requisite that he himselfe studie and reade the w•rd of God diligently, where his holy will is reuealed, that he may be able to declare the same vnto the people, to the which end the Lord hath placed them ouer his people. So that he must be as it were the storehouse of the Lord, and the children of God must come to learne, and he must minister necessarie doctrine vnto them, as occasion shall be offered, that all seuerall heresies may be rooted out of the peoples hearts, and so be brought vnto God, to serue him in true holinesse according to perfect religion; & hereby we may know, that whosoeuer doth not thus, is not the seruant of the Lord. The reading and meditating in Gods word is so necessarie, that the Lord commaunded Iosua being a ciuill Magistrate, That the booke of his law should neuer 4depart out of his mouth, but that he should meditate therein day and night:
- 1Attendance in reading.
- 21. Tim. 4. 13. 1. He must read & study the word of God diligently.1. Tim. 4. 13. 1. He must reade & studie the worde of God diligently.
- 3Malach. 2. 7.
- 4Josh. 1. 8. To meditate in the word day and night.Iosh. 1. 8. To meditate in the word day and night.
