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

§. Sect. 7 That we must read with affection and devotion, applying all to use.

§. Sect. 7 That we must reade with affection and deuotion, applying all to vse.

The seventh rule is, that we read with affection and devotion, applying all unto our selves, according to the nature of the subject matter for spiritual use; framing and fashioning our hearts unto it, and changing and varying our affections, as the matter is varied & changed. For that counsel which one giveth for the reading of the Psalms, may in the perusing of other parts of Scripture and holy writings, be profitably observed. If (saith he) the Psalm prayeth, do ye also pray; if it mourneth, ¹mourn ye; if it congratulateth and rejoiceth, rejoice ye likewise; if it hopeth, hope ye; if it feareth, do ye also fear; for all things that are here written, are our looking glass, that we may compose our selves as it directeth. Thus the Apostle telleth us, that whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning; whereby he understandeth, not only the information of our judgements, but also the working of them into our hearts and affections for spiritual use, as the words following do plainly show, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. And ²so Eliphaz having showed the miserable end of wicked men, and the happy end of Gods chastisements unto his children, he thus concludeth his discourse: Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy self, that is, for thine own special use and benefit, by applying ³it to thy present condition and estate. More especially, when the Scriptures teach, we are to receive instruction for the enlightening of our own minds; when they admonish, we are to take warning; when they reprove, we are to be checked; when they comfort, we are to be cheered & encouraged; when they commend any grace, we are to desire and embrace it; when they command any duty, we are to hold our selves enjoined to do it; when they promise, we are to hope; when they threaten, we are to be terrified, as if the judgement were denounced against us; and when they forbid any sin, we are to think that they forbid it unto us. By which application, we shall make all the rich treasures contained in the Scriptures, wholly our own, and in such a powerful and peculiar manner enjoy the fruit and benefit of them, as if they had been wholly written for us, and for none other else besides us.