The Practice of Piety

Sixthly, read them therefore with that reverence, as if GOD himself stood by, and spake these words unto thee, to excite thee to those virtues, to dissuade thee from those vices: assuring thy self, that if such sins (as ⟨p. 313⟩thou readest there) be found in thee without Repentance, the like plagues will fall upon thee: but if thou dost practise the like Piety, and virtuous deede• ; the like blessings shall come unto thee and thine.

Sixtly, reade them therefore with that reuerence, as if GOD himselfe stood by, and spake these vvords vnto thee, to excite thee to those vertues, to diswade thee from those vices: assuring thy selfe, that if such sinnes (as ⟨p. 313⟩thou readest there) be found in thee without Repentance, the like plagues will fall vpon thee: but if thou dost practise the like Pietie, and vertuous deede• ; the like blessings shall come vnto thee and thine.

In a word▪ apply all that thou readest in the holy Scripture, to one of these two head• chiefly; either to confirm thy Faith, or to increase thy Repentance for as susti•e & abstine, bear & forbear, ¹was the Epitome of a good Philosopher• life: so creda & resipi•••, believe and repent, is the whole sum of a true Christians profession. One Chapter thus read with understanding, and meditated with application, ⟨p. 314⟩will better feed and comfort thy soul, then five read and run over without marking their scope or sense, or making any use thereof to thine own self. If in this manner thou shalt read three Chapters every day: one in the morning, another at noon, and the third at night, (reading so many Psalms in stead of a Chapter, as our Church Liturgy appoints for Morning or Evening Prayers) thou shalt read over all the Canonical