6 Lastly, another use of reading the Scriptures is, that our joy may be full, 1 John 1.4. reading doth fill our hearts with comfort and consolation, not that reading is sufficient to salvation, no ordinance roots out another, Rom. 10.17. Faith comes by hearing, but though that especially begets faith, yet for sundry other Graces, reading is of special use, at least to quicken and stir up grace; we do not read that God ever blessed reading alone to beget Faith, for God doth not usually bless it alone, but when it is joined with hearing the Word preached; in any congregation where there is only reading of the Word, what one soul is begot to God, comes on to Faith, to Gods fear, to humility, to patience, &c. not but that in such places be found good Christians, but it is, because they go abroad, otherwise it fares with reading, as with the Eunuch, that knew not what he read, Act. 8.30, 31. till Philip declared the interpretation. But yet I say, you old men read, and you young ⟨p. 94⟩men read, and you Children read, and it is a great fault to neglect it, and put it over wholly to little Children, as a petty childish exercise; but what, doth St. John write only to Babes? no, but he writes to young men, and therefore they are to read what he writes; and to old men, and therefore they are to read what he writes, when God laid the charge upon the Kings of Israel, Deu. 17.19. he did not impose it only upon Babes, but whatsoever their employment be, whether they be in war, or sitting in the seat of Judgment, they must let no day pass without reading the Law; no person, but let him read; we shall understand the Word better, and the better remember it, we shall be more stirred up to fear God, to keep his Law, we shall be the better furnished against many temptations, which otherwise will prevail against us; In a word, seeing he wrote to them that they might learn to walk as Christ walked, hence you may comfortably expect, by reading the Word, by laying it up, by praying for a blessing, you may be helped to walk even as Christ walked.
6 Lastly, another use of reading the Scriptures is, that our joy may be full, 1 John 1.4. reading doth fill our hearts with comfort and consolation, not that reading is sufficient to salvation, no ordinance roots out another, Rom. 10.17. Faith comes by hearing, but though that especially begets faith, yet for sundry other Graces, reading is of speciall use, at least to quicken and stir up grace; we do not read that God ever blessed reading alone to beget Faith, for God doth not usually blesse it alone, but when it is joyned with hearing the Word preached; in any congregation where there is only reading of the Word, what one soul is begot to God, comes on to Faith, to Gods fear, to humility, to patience, &c. not but that in such places be found good Christians, but it is, because they goe abroad, otherwise it fares with reading, as with the Eunuch, that knew not what he read, Act. 8.30, 31. till Philip declared the interpretation. But yet I say, you old men read, and you young ⟨p. 94⟩men read, and you Children read, and it is a great fault to neglect it, and put it over wholly to little Children, as a petty childish exercise; but what, doth St. John write only to Babes? no, but he writes to young men, and therefore they are to read what he writes; and to old men, and therefore they are to read what he writes, when God laid the charge upon the Kings of Israel, Deu. 17.19. he did not impose it only upon Babes, but whatsoever their imployment be, whether they be in war, or sitting in the seat of Judgment, they must let no day passe without reading the Law; no person, but let him read; we shall understand the Word better, and the better remember it, we shall be more stirred up to fear God, to keep his Law, we shall be the better furnished against many temptations, which otherwise will prevail against us; In a word, seeing he wrote to them that they might learn to walke as Christ walked, hence you may comfortably expect, by reading the Word, by laying it up, by praying for a blessing, you may be helped to walke even as Christ walked.
