The Scripture is that wherein the great God of heaven hath sent his mind to the children of men, wherein he hath made known the counsel of his will, & opened even his very heart unto Man-kind. It is the Epistle that God hath sent into the world. And did we but hear of such a Book that were dictated immediately by God himself, to the end to show the children of men what the eternal counsels of his will were for the ordering of them to their eternal estate, and to open his thoughts and intentions concerning their everlasting condition what it shall be: Did we I say but hear that there were such a book in the farthest part of the Indies, would we not rejoice that the world was blest with such a mercy? what strong and vehement desires should we have to enjoy but one sight of it before we dye! We would be willing to venture upon any hazard, to pass through any difficulty, to be at any charges, that we might have but a sight of such a book as this. My brethren, you need not say, Who shall go to the farthest part of the Indies to fetch this book? Who shall descend into the depth, or go to the uttermost part of the earth to help us to a sight of this book of Scripture? For behold, the word is nigh unto you, it is in your houses, and we hope in your hearts,1 and in this exercise is to be in our mouths, not only to tell you what it saith, but open unto you the mind of God in it.
The Scripture is that wherin the great God of heaven hath sent his mind to the children of men, wherein he hath made known the counsel of his wil, & opened even his very heart unto Man-kind. It is the Epistle that God hath sent into the world. And did wee but heare of such a Book that were dictated imediatly by God himself, to the end to shew the children of men what the eternall counsels of his will were for the ordering of them to their eternall estate, and to open his thoughts and intentions concerning their everlasting condition what it shall be: Did wee I say but heare that there were such a book in the farthest part of the Indies, would we not rejoyce that the world was blest with such a mercie? what strong and vehement desires should we have to enjoy but one sight of it before we dye! Wee would be willing to venture upon any hazard, to passe through any difficulty, to be at any charges, that we might have but a sight of such a booke as this. My brethren, you need not say, Who shall goe to the farthest part of the Indies to setch this book? Who shall descend into the depth, or goe to the uttermost part of the earth to help us to a sight of this booke of Scripture? For behold, the word is nigh unto you, it is in your houses, and we hope in your hearts,1 and in this exercise is to be in our mouths, not only to tell you what it saith, but open unto you the mind of God in it.
- 1Sacrae scripturae expositio est emnium quae ad cul••m Dei fiunt •pus maximum, & utilitates humano generi max […] efferens.Sacrae scripturae expositio est emnium quae ad cul••m Dei fiunt •pus maximum, & utilitates humano generi max 〈…〉 efferens.
