A Body of Practical Divinity

Had I the Tongue of Angels, I could not sufficiently set forth the Excellency of Scripture. It is a spiritual Optic Glass in which we behold God's Glory; it is the Tree of Life, the Oracle of Wisdom, the Rule of Manners, the heavenly Seed of which the New Creature is formed, James 1.18. The two Testaments (saith Austin) are the two Breasts which every Christian must suck, that he may get spiritual Nourishment. The Leaves of the Tree of Life were for Healing, Rev. 22.2. so these Holy Leaves of Scripture, like those Leaves, are for the healing of our Souls. The Scripture is profitable for all things: If we are deserted, here is the spiced Wine that cheers the heavy heart: If we are pursued by Satan, here is the Sword of the Spirit to resist him: If we are diseased with Sins leprosy, here are the Waters of the Sanctuary, both to Cleanse and Cure. Oh, then search the Scriptures! There is no danger in tasting this Tree of Knowledge. There was a Penalty laid at first, that we might not taste of the Tree of Knowledge, Gen. 3.17. In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. But there is no danger of plucking this Tree of Holy Scripture; if we do not eat of this Tree of Knowledge, we shall surely die: Oh then read the Scriptures!—Time may come when the Scriptures may be kept from us.

Had I the Tongue of Angels, I could not sufficiently set forth the Excellency of Scripture. It is a spiritual Optick Glass in which we behold God's Glory; it is the Tree of Life, the Oracle of Wisdom, the Rule of Manners, the heavenly Seed of which the New Creature is formed, Iames 1.18. The two Testaments (saith Austin) are the two Breasts which every Christian must suck, that he may get spiritual Nourishment. The Leaves of the Tree of Life were for Healing, Rev. 22.2. so these Holy Leaves of Scripture, like those Leaves, are for the healing of our Souls. The Scripture is profitable for all things: If we are deserted, here is the spiced Wine that cheers the heavy heart: If we are pursued by Satan, here is the Sword of the Spirit to resist him: If we are diseased with Sins leprosy, here are the Waters of the Sanctuary, both to Cleanse and Cure. Oh, then search the Scriptures! There is no danger in tasting this Tree of Knowledge. There was a Penalty laid at first, that we might not taste of the Tree of Knowledge,