A Body of Practical Divinity

5. The Impartiality of those Men of God who wrote the Scriptures; they do not spare to set down their own Failings. What Man that writes an History would black his own face, viz. record those things of himself that might stain his Reputation? Moses records his own Impatience when he struck the Rock, and tells us therefore he could not enter into the Land of Promise. David writes of his own Adultery and Bloodshed, which stands as a Blot in his Scutchion to succeeding Ages. Peter relates his own Pusillanimity in denying Christ. Jonah sets down his own Passions, I do well to be angry to the death. Surely had not their Pen been guided by God's own Hand, they would never have written that which did reflect dishonour upon themselves. Men do usually rather hide their Blemishes, then publish them to the World: But these Pen-men of Holy Scripture eclipse their own Name; they take away all the Glory from themselves, and give the Glory, to God.

5. The Impartiality of those Men of God who wrote the Scriptures; they do not spare to set down their own Failings. What Man that writes an History would black his own face, viz. record those things of himself that might stain his Reputation? Moses records his own Impatience when he struck the Rock, and tells us therefore he could not enter into the Land of Promise. David writes of his own Adultery and Bloodshed, which stands as a Blot in his Scutchion to succeeding Ages. Peter relates his own Pusillanimity in denying Christ. Ionah sets down his own Passions, I do well to be angry to the death. Surely had not their Pen been guided by God's own Hand, they would never have written that which did reflect dishonour upon themselves. Men do usually rather hide their Blemishes, then publish them to the World: But these Pen-men of Holy Scripture eclipse their own Name; they take away all the Glory from themselves, and give the Glory, to God.

6 Arg. The mighty power and efficacy the Word hath had upon the Souls and Consciences of Men. 1. It hath changed their heart. 1. Some by reading of Scripture have been turned into other Men, they have been made holy and gracious. By reading other Books the Heart may be warmed, but by reading this Book it is transformed.