The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Use 1. Of Exhortation to us Ministers, to be much in prayer and diligent study in attending unto the word of God. You see here, unsound and false preaching may bring us to great and sad losses, worse than of outward substance and maintenance, even of inward comfort and peace with God; and this we are the more to attend to, by how much we know but in part, and understand but in part. As the bodily eye is subject to a world of diseases, and any distemper there, is very dangerous: So the mind of a man is subject to much corruption, blindness, ignorance, injudiciousness, vain and false reasonings; insomuch that it's a proverbial expression, Humanum est errare; what is that but as much as humanum est damnari, if God prevent not? Seeing therefore we are thus compassed about with infirmities, which may prove destructive; this should make us humble, modest, to say as Hierom, Nunquam meipsum habui magistrum, I never was my own master. If others will be bold and presumptuous, yet do thou tremble; then thou wilt gain, when such shall lose.

Ʋse 1. Of Exhortation to us Ministers, to be much in prayer and diligent study in attending unto the word of God. You see here, unsound and false preaching may bring us to great and sad losses, worse than of outward substance and maintenance, even of inward comfort and peace with God; and this we are the more to attend to, by how much we know but in part, and understand but in part. As the bodily eye is subject to a world of diseases, and any distemper there, is very dangerous: So the mind of a man is subject to much corruption, blindnesse, ignorance, injudiciousnesse, vain and false reasonings; insomuch that it's a proverbial expression, Humanum est errare; what is that but as much as humanum est damnari, if God prevent not? Seeing therefore we are thus compassed about with infirmities, which may prove destructive; this should make us humble, modest, to say as Hierom, Nunquam meipsum habui magistrum, I never was my own master. If others will be bold and presumptuous, yet do thou tremble; then thou wilt gain, when such shall lose.

Use of Admonition to you the people; see that in the matters of Religion you be no losers. Religion is every mans study, the Bible should be every mans book. Though God doth not require of you controversial and sublime Divinity, yet the knowledge of such Doctrines as are fundamental and necessary to salvation, you are to be acquainted with; yea, you are not to be always in principles, but as the Apostle saith, To be carried on to further perfection,