The rules of a holy life. Or A treatise containing the holy order of…

Thus of the Rules that concern prayer: There remains the reading of Scripture, and singing of Psalms, as the other parts ⟨p. 179⟩of the ordinary worship of God.

THus of the Rules that concerne praier: There remaines the reading of Scripture, and singing of Psalmes, as the other parts ⟨p. 179⟩of the ordinary worship of God.

Concerning the reading of the Scriptures,¹ I will instance in one place of Scripture only, which contains the charge given to Joshua, chap. 1. 8, 9. which comprehends the substance of the necessary directions about private reading. I say necessary; for godly men may, and have advised divers courses for reading of Scripture, which are not absolutely necessary, but arbitrary, as may stand with the leisure and capacity of the person that will read: such are ⟨p. 180⟩those directions, that show how many chapters may be read in a day, and what things may be observed in reading, &c. which, as they may be profitable to many Christians, & expedient too, yet they must not be understood so, as that those persons sin, which read not so often, or so many chapters, or the like. The things therefore that must necessarily be observed by such as can read the Bible, I take to be these:

Concerning the reading of the Scriptures,¹ I will instance in one place of Scripture onely, which containes the charge giuen to