A second Discovery of the pollution of the memory may be from the end §IIof the Scripture, why God would have it written, so as to be a perpetual monument to his Church. Among other ends this is one, to be a memorial to us, to put us in continual mind of the duties required of us: Thus the Apostle Peter endeavoureth to make believers always remembering of the Gospel by those Epistles he did write to them. It is true, the Orthodox do justly refuse that of Bellarmine, who will make the Scripture to be only utile communitorium, as if that were the chief end, why the Scriptures were written, viz. to serve for our memory only, and not to be a rule of our faith, for he himself doth acknowledge it to be a partial rule: But the principal and chief end, why the Scriptures are delivered to the Church is to be a Canon and Rule to it, so that the Church must not believe, worship or live, otherwise then the Scripture commands: This is not a partial but a total Rule, neither may any thing be added to it, or detracted ⟨p. 254⟩from it. But yet we grant also, That the Scripture may have other secondary and subservient ends, whereof this is not the meanest, to be useful to our memory; And certainly, one great cause of so much evil committed by thee, is forgetfulness of the Scripture; The Apostle James, Chap. 1. 25. doth notably instance to this purpose, for he compareth a forgetful hearer of the Word, to one that looketh in the glass, and going away straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was; If therefore we did abide and continue looking in this glass, take notice what we are by the direction of the Word, how quickly would we reform? He that doth make a practical use of remembering the Scripture, so as to regulate and order his life accordingly can never miscarry. To have the word of God in thy memory against such and such a temptation, would prevent all the evil thou fallest into, John 15. 20. when our Saviour would encourage his Disciples against the hatred of the world, he saith, Remember the Word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater then his master; Remember this truth, and that will make thee suffer more willingly: So John 16 4. These things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them;
A second Discovery of the pollution of the memory may be from the end §IIof the Scripture, why God would have it written, so as to be a perpetual monument to his Church. Among other ends this is one, to be a memorial to us, to put us in continual mind of the duties required of us: Thus the Apostle Peter indeavoureth to make believers alwaies remembring of the Gospel by those Epistles he did write to them. It is true, the Orthodox do justly refuse that of Bellarmine, who will make the Scripture to be onely utile communitorium, as if that were the chief end, why the Scriptures were written, viz. to serve for our memory only, and not to be a rule of our faith, for he himself doth acknowledge it to be a partial rule: But the principal and chief end, why the Scriptures are delivered to the Church is to be a Canon and Rule to it, so that the Church must not believe, worship or live, otherwise then the Scripture commands: This is not a partial but a total Rule, neither may any thing be added to it, or detracted ⟨p. 254⟩from it. But yet we grant also, That the Scripture may have other secondary and subservient ends, whereof this is not the meanest, to be usefull to our memory; And certainly, one great cause of so much evil committed by thee, is forgetfulnesse of the Scripture; The Apostle James, Chap. 1. 25. doth notably instance to this purpose, for he compareth a forgetfull hearer of the Word, to one that looketh in the glasse, and going away straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was; If therefore we did abide and continue looking in this glasse, take notice what we are by the direction of the Word, how quickly would we reform? He that doth make a practical use of remembring the Scripture, so as to regulate and order his life accordingly can never miscarry. To have the word of God in thy memory against such and such a temptation, would prevent all the evil thou fallest into, John 15. 20. when our Saviour would encourage his Disciples against the hatred of the world, he saith, Remember the Word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater then his master; Remember this truth, and that will make thee suffer more willingly: So John 16 4. These things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them;
