In a word, apply all that thou readest in H Scripture, to one of these two heads chiefly; either to confirm thy faith; or to increase thy repentance; for as Sustine & Abstine, bear and forbear, 1was the Epitome of a good Philosopher's life, so Creed & Resipisee, believe and repent, is the whole sum of a true Christian's profession. One Chapter thus read with understanding, and meditated with application, will better feed and comfort thy soul, than five read and run over without marking their scope or sense, or making any use thereof to thine own self. If in this manner thou shalt read three Chapters every day; one in the Morning, and another at Noon, and the third at Night (reading so many Psalms instead of a Chapter as our Church Liturgy ⟨p. 145⟩appoints for morning or evening Prayers) thou shalt read over all the Canonical aScripture in a year, except six Chapters, which thou mayest add to the task of the last day of the year. The reading of the Bible in order will help thee the better to understand both the History and scope of the H. Scripture. And as for theb Apocrypha, being but penned by Man's spirit, thou mayest read them at thy pleasure, but believe them so far as they agree with the Canonical Scripture, which is indited by the Holy Ghost.
In a word, apply all that thou readest in H Scripture, to one of these two heads chiefly; either to confirm thy faith; or to increase thy repentance; for as Sustine & Abstine, bear and forbear, 1was the Epitome of a good Philosopher's life, so Crede & Resipisee, believe and repent, is the whole sum of a true Christian's profession. One Chapter thus read with understanding, and meditated with application, will better feed and comfort thy soul, than five read and run over without marking their scope or sense, or making any use thereof to thine own self. If in this manner thou shalt read three Chapters every day; one in the Morning, and another at Noon, and the third at Night (reading so many Psalms instead of a Chapter as our Church Liturgy ⟨p. 145⟩appoints for morning or evening Prayers) thou shalt read over all the Canonical aScripture in a year, except six Chapters, which thou maist add to the task of the last day of the year. The reading of the Bible in order will help thee the better to understand both the History and scope of the H. Scripture. And as for theb Apocrypha, being but penned by Man's spirit, thou maist read them at thy pleasure, but believe them so far as they agree with the Canonical Scripture, which is indited by the Holy Ghost.
- 1Epictet. dict.
- aIn the Canonical Books of the Old Testament there are 931 Chapters, but distributing the 150 Psalms into 60 parts, thou shalt find but 841, which being added to 260 (the number of the Chapters in the New Testament) will amount to 1101, dividing which by three into •65, (the number of the days of the Year) there will remain but six, which thou mayest dispose of as is prescribed.In the Canonical Books of the Old Testament there are 931 Chapters, but distributing the 150 Psalms into 60 parts, thou shalt find but 841, which being added to 260 (the number of the Chapters in the New Testament) will amount to 1101, dividing which by three into •65, (the number of the days of the Year) there will remain but six, which thou maist dispose of as is prescribed.
- bHos viginti duos libros lege; cum Apocryphis verò nihil habeas nego••i: has tantùm studiosè meditare Scripturas, quas in Ecclesia confiden••r legimus Multo prudentiores te & religiosi•res fuerunt Apostoli & primi Episcopi veritatis duces, qui nobis e•s tradiderunt. Tu igitur cum sis filius Ecclesiae, non transgrediaris illius terminos. Ac Vet Testamenti (ut dictum est) viginti duos meditare libros. Cyrillus Hierosolymitan. Catechef. 4.
