Christ the fountain of lifeChrist the fountaine of life

Thirdly, it is a means to put people in remembrance of what they know, though it be not to salvation.

Thirdly, it is a meanes to put people in remembrance of what they know, though it be not to salvation.

And lastly, it kindles in them some desires to know these things, that they might understand them; though that be rare, I dare not reckon the Eunuch among the ignorant and unbelievers, Act. 8.30, 31. and that were a blessed use, if men shall read the Scripture, and complain for that they cannot understand them, and shall be stirred up to desire a Guide, to help them to see and understand what they before understood not, and so be brought on to some knowledge, it were a blessed use of the Scriptures. And besides, they are of this use, they are of singular benefit to discover to people what sin is, and open to men what moral and common virtues be, and so are a means to preserve people in a form of godliness: whereby they know that Magistrates are to be obeyed, Ministers reverenced, Parents honoured, Murder not to be committed, the Sabbath not to be profaned, God only to be worshipped; the body of ⟨p. 188⟩these things they see are to be done, and these evils eschewed; they are a means to keep people in good order, and to prepare them to a better understanding of the Ministry of the Gospel, that shall at any time be blessed to them; so that some profit there is hence to them that want faith, but the principal thing the Apostle aims at is this; I write unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God. But further, I say to you that are not yet brought on to believe, let this be your instruction, diligently to attend to what you hear from these words, for you may say, and truly you may read every day a Chapter or two, and read them over again, and again, and spend many hours about them, and in prayer too, and yet no nearer salvation then at the first; I say not, not nearer salvation, for you are stirred up to many duties, but when you see you have read much, and prayed much, and yet get little hold of the saving grace of Christ, how should this provoke all that live without means of grace, to give diligent heed to that Ordinance of God, in which faith to salvation is wont to be conveyed; and that is an use that may be of notable efficacy to stir them up to hear diligently those who are destitute of the knowledge of God, let them be the more diligent to seek after more means in the Ordinances of God.