A25478:811
A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…
A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically resolved by sundry ministers
London: printed for Thomas Cockerill, 1676
Sermon 8: How we may Read the Scriptures with most Spiritual Profit. Serm. VIII.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Let your thoughts dwell upon the most Material passages of Scripture. The Direct. 16 Be fastens on those Flowers where she may suck most sweetness; though the whole contexture of Scripture is excellent, yet some parts of it may have a greater Emphasis, and be more quick and pungent: Reading the names of the Tribes, or the Genealogies of the Patriarchs, is not of the same importance as Faith and the new Creature. Mind the magnalia Legis, the weighty things of the Law, Hos. 8.12. They who read only to satisfy their curiosity, do rather busy then profit themselves. The searching too far into Christ's Temporal Reign, hath I fear weakened his Spiritual Reign in some mens hearts.
Let your thoughts dwell upon the most Material passages of Scripture. The Direct. 16 Bee fastens on those Flowers where she may suck most sweetness; though the whole contexture of Scripture is excellent, yet some parts of it may have a greater Emphasis, and be more quick and pungent: Reading the names of the Tribes, or the Genealogies of the Patriarks, is not of the same importance as Faith and the new Creature. Mind the magnalia Legis, the weighty things of the Law, Hos. 8.12. They who read only to satisfie their curiosity, do rather busie then profit themselves. The searching too far into Christ's Temporal Reign, hath I fear weakned his Spiritual Reign in some mens hearts.
Compare your selves with the Word. See how the Scripture and your Direct. 17 hearts agree, how your Dial goes with this Sun. Are your hearts as it were a Transcript and counterpane of Scripture? is the Word copied out into your hearts? the Word calls for humility, are you not only humbled but humble? the Word calls for regeneration, John 3.7. Have you the signature and engraving of the Holy Ghost upon you? have you a change of heart? not only a partial and moral change, but a Spiritual? is there such a change wrought in you as if another Soul did live in the same body?