A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

The second point to be considered, is the manner how we may so carry our selves in this exercise, as that we may perform it with most fruit and benefit; to which purpose the directions following may not unprofitably be observed. As first, we are diligently to mark the Theme, question, or main point which is handled in that Book or Chapter which we read, and how the discourse of the Author tendeth to prove or illustrate it, with the several arguments which are produced to this end. Or if we want skill to do this, yet we may observe, if not by our own collection, yet by help of the Authors pains, the sum and substance of all which, he delivereth in the contents of the Chapters or Sections, which will give great light to the understanding of all the rest, when as we know the main scope at which he aimeth, and how he frameth his discourse, and what arguments and testimonies he useth to prove or enforce that point which he propoundeth. To which purpose, it is also profitable to ¹observe (as near as we can) what was the occasion of the Authors writing, and to consider the circumstances of the persons to whose use the writings were intended, and of the times wherein he wrote, with the state of the people that lived in them, unto what sins they were most addicted, and in what virtues and duties they were most defective; and how the Author crieth down the one, and persuadeth them to the other. The order also and method which he useth, the coherence of the parts of his discourse, and how he passeth from one point to another, will give much light to the understanding of what we read; which if we neglect, and confusedly go on, jumbling all together, we shall make even those things which are plain and easy, hard and intricate; observe little in much reading, and remember less, and reap little profit by much pains.