A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

4. Yet we are not so confined to the Scripture alone, as that we may not make use of other good books, the labours of such faithful servants of God as have best studied his word, and best understood his mind. How doth this age and place abound with good and sound▪ and profitable books? and well it were, that it abounded with none else; however we have our choice, and that too in our own Tongue. Private Christians need not the learned Languages to make them learned in the Scriptures. Expositors we have to help us to understand the meaning of the word; Practical writers and casuists to quicken our affections, and apply truths to our Consciences; Controversial ones to discover errors, and arm us against them; and Systematical, and Catechetical ones to methodize our knowledge, and order what we know, and show the connection of Spiritual truths among themselves, and their dependence upon each other, that so we may have a map of the way to Heaven before us, a full prospect of our whole Religion at one view. And were it not well if some would spare a little time from their shop-books for such books as these? if when they cannot be getting money, they would get knowledge? when they cannot be dealing with good Customers, they would deal with good Authors, such as might make them more wise, when not more rich?

4. Yet we are not so confined to the Scripture alone, as that we may not make use of other good books, the labours of such faithful servants of God as have best studied his word, and best understood his mind. How doth this age and place abound with good and sound▪ and profitable books? and well it were, that it abounded with none else; however we have our choice, and that too in our own Tongue. Private Christians need not the learned Languages to make them learned in the Scriptures. Expositors we have to help us to understand the meaning of the word; Practical writers and casuists to quicken our affections, and apply truths to our Consciences; Controversial ones to discover errors, and arm us against them; and Systematical, and Catechetical ones to methodize our knowledge, and order what we know, and shew the connexion of Spiritual truths among themselves, and their dependence upon each other, that so we may have a map of the way to Heaven before us, a full prospect of our whole Religion at one view. And were it not well if some would spare a little time from their shop-books for such books as these? if when they cannot be getting money, they would get knowledge? when they cannot be dealing with good Customers, they would deal with good Authors, such as might make them more wise, when not more rich?