Fourthly, Though it be lawful to read other mens holy works, yet the holy Scriptures must still have the preeminence, they must be firstly, chiefly, and mostly read; all other books in comparison of the book of God must be cast by, 'tis ⟨p. 323⟩Gods book that is indeed the book of Books.1 Josephus in his book of Antiquities, makes mention of one Cumanus, a Governor of Judea, that though he were but a Heathen, and a wicked man, yet he caused a Soldier to be beheaded for tearing a Copy of the book of Moses Law, which he found at the sacking of a Town. And venerable in all Ages and among all Nations, have been the books wherein the Laws either of their belief or polity have been contained. As the Talmud among the Jews, and the Laws of the twelve Tables among the Romans, and the Alcoran among the Turks, yea all Pagans have highly valued the Laws of their Legislators, and shall not Christians much more set an high esteem upon the holy Scriptures, which are the Map of Gods mercy and mans misery, the touchstone of truth, the shop of remedies against all maladies, the Hammer of vices, and the treasury of virtues, the displayer of all sensual and worldly vanities, the Balance of equity, and the most perfect Rule of all Justice and honesty. What Chrysostom said of old to his hearers, viz. Get you Bibles, for they are your souls Physic; that I say to you all, oh get you Bibles, for they are your souls Physic, your souls food, your souls happiness. Ah friends, no book becomes your hands like the Bible; 'twas this book that made David wiser then his Teachers; this is the book that makes the best preachers, and this is the book that is the best preacher; This book, this preacher will preach to you in your Shops, in your Chambers, in your Closets, yea in your own bosoms; This book will preach to you at home and abroad, 'twill preach to you in all companies, whether they are good or bad, and 'twill preach to you in all conditions, whether they are prosperous or afflictive; by this book you shall be saved, or by this book you shall be damned; by this book you must live, by this book you must die, and by this book you shall be judged in the great day, John 12.48.
Fourthly, Though it be lawfull to reade other mens holy works, yet the holy Scriptures must still have the preheminence, they must be firstly, chiefly, and mostly read; all other books in comparison of the book of God must be cast by, 'tis ⟨p. 323⟩Gods book that is indeed the book of Books.1 Josephus in his book of Antiquities, makes mention of one Cumanus, a Governour of Judea, that though he were but a Heathen, and a wicked man, yet he caused a Souldier to be beheaded for tearing a Copy of the book of Moses Law, which he found at the sacking of a Towne. And venerable in all Ages and among all Nations, have been the books wherein the Laws either of their belief or politie have been contained. As the Talmud among the Jews, and the Laws of the twelve Tables among the Romans, and the Alcoran among the Turkes, yea all Pagans have highly valued the Laws of their Legislators, and shall not Christians much more set an high esteeme upon the holy Scriptures, which are the Map of Gods mercy and mans misery, the touchstone of truth, the shop of remedies against all maladies, the Hammer of vices, and the treasury of vertues, the displayer of all sensual and worldly vanities, the Ballance of equitie, and the most perfect Rule of all Justice and honesty. What Chrysostom said of old to his hearers, viz. Get you Bibles, for they are your souls Physick; that I say to you all, oh get you Bibles, for they are your souls Physick, your souls food, your souls happiness. Ah friends, no book becomes your hands like the Bible; 'twas this book that made David wiser then his Teachers; this is the book that makes the best preachers, and this is the book that is the best preacher; This book, this preacher will preach to you in your Shops, in your Chambers, in your Closets, yea in your own bosomes; This book will preach to you at home and abroad, 'twill preach to you in all companies, whether they are good or bad, and 'twill preach to you in all conditions, whether they are prosperous or afflictive; by this book you shall be saved, or by this book you shall be damned; by this book you must live, by this book you must die, and by this book you shall be judged in the great day, John 12.48.
- 1Lib. 20. cap. 4.
