The divine life in three treatises

All these must be reverenced and honoured by us, according to the proportion of their Holiness. 1. Our principal Reverence must be to the Holy Word of God: For Holiness is more perfect there then in our souls. The Holiness of the Word, which is it that the ungodly hate or quarrel at, is the Glory of it in the eyes of Holy men. We may much discern a Holy and an unholy soul, by their Loving or not loving a Holy Law; especially as it is a Rule to themselves. A distaste of the Holiness of Scripture, and of the Holiness of the writings of Divines, and of the Holiness of their preaching or conference, discovereth an unholy soul. A Love to holy Doctrine showeth that there is somewhat suitable to it in the soul that Loveth it. It is the elogy of the Scriptures, the Promises, the Covenant, the Prophets and Apostles, that they are all Holy, Rom. 1. 2. Psal. 105. 42. Luk. 1. 70, 72. Rev. 18. 20. 2 Tim. 3. 15. Rom. 7. 12. The Holiness of the Scripture doth make it as suitable and savoury to a Holy soul, as Light is suitable to the eye-sight, and sweetness to the taste: and therefore it is to them as the honey comb. But to the unholy it is a mystery, and as foolishness, and that which is contrary to their disposition, and they have an enmity to it: which makes a wonderful difference in their judging of the evidences of Scripture Verity, and much facilitateth the work of Faith in one sort, and strengtheneth unbelief in the other. Holy doctrine is the Glass that showeth us the Holy face of God himself, and therefore must needs be most excellent to the Saints.

All these must be reverenced and honoured by us, according to the proportion of their Holiness. 1. Our principal Reverence must be to the Holy Word of God: For Holiness is more perfect there then in our souls. The Holiness of the Word, which is it that the ungodly hate or quarrel at, is the Glory of it in the eyes of Holy men. We may much discern a Holy and an unholy soul, by their Loving or not loving a Holy Law; especially as it is a Rule to themselves. A distast of the Holiness of Scripture, and of the Holiness of the writings of Divines, and of the Holiness of their preaching or conference, discovereth an unholy soul. A Love to holy Doctrine sheweth that there is somewhat suitable to it in the soul that Loveth it. It is the elogy of the Scriptures, the Promises, the Covenant, the Prophets and Apostles, that they are all Holy,