1. By diligent reading of it: The Noble Bereans did search the Scriptures daily, Act. 17. 11. Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures, Act. 18. 24. The Word is our Magna Charta for heaven, we should be daily reading over this Charter: The Word is index sui & obliqui, it shows what is truth; and what is error; it is the field where the Pearl of Price is hid: How should we dig for this Pearl! A godly mans heart is the Library to hold the Word of God, it dwells richly in him, Col. 3. 16. It is reported of Melanchthon, that when he was young, he carried the Bible always about him, and did greedily read in† it. The Word hath a double work, to teach us, and to judge us: They that will not be taught by the Word, shall be judged by the Word: Oh let us make the Scripture familiar to us! What if it should be as in the •imes of Diocletian, who commanded by Proclamation the Bible to be* burned; or as in Queen Mary's days, wherein it was death to have a Bible in English; by diligent conversing ⟨p. 80⟩with Scripture, we may carry a Bible in our head.
1. By diligent reading of it: The Noble Bereans did search the Scriptures daily, Act. 17. 11. Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures, Act. 18. 24. The Word is our Magna Charta for heaven, we should be daily reading over this Charter: The Word is index sui & obliqui, it shows what is truth; and what is error; it is the field where the Pearl of Price is hid: How should we dig for this Pearl! A godly mans heart is the Library to hold the Word of God, it dwells richly in him, Col. 3. 16. It is reported of Melancthon, that when he was young, he carried the Bible always about him, and did greedily read in† it. The Word hath a double work, to teach us, and to judge us: They that will not be taught by the Word, shall be judged by the Word: Oh let us make the Scripture familiar to us! What if it should be as in the •imes of Dioclesian, who commanded by Proclamation the Bible to be* burned; or as in Queen Maries daies, wherein it was death to have a Bible in English; by diligent conversing ⟨p. 80⟩with Scripture, we may carry a Bible in our head.
- †Biblia etiam adolescens semper secum circumtu•it, avideque legit in templo & alibi. Melch. Adam in vit. Melancth.
- *Euseb. lib. 8. c. 3.
