Words whereby we may be saved. By Thomas Vincent, sometime minister of Maudlins milk-street,…

Means 2. Reading the Word of God, and other good books. The rule whereby you are to examine your selves is the Word; this is like a Candle, which will give light in dark corners; this is like a Glass, which will discover spots in the face; you must search the Word, and try your selves hereby, if you would have knowledge of sin, and your spiritual state; and you must search the Word, if you would have knowledge and acquaintance with God and his will. You may arrive to some knowledge of God by reading the Book of Nature; the whole world is full of God, and every Creature doth represent him; but the world is full of sin too, and the more immediate representations of the Creatures are sensitive things, which our sense layeth hold on first, and is apt there to stick, without further piercing and searching to find out God; and where we have one provocation from the Creatures to love and serve him (through the bewitching temptations of the world, meeting with the worldly lusts of our hearts) we have a thousand incitements and allurements from them to sin against God; but the Word is full of God, and no incitement there to sin, full of persuasives to holiness and obedience; God is to be seen more easily, and he setteth forth himself there most conspicuously; In the Book of the Scriptures you have the most glorious discoveries of God, in his greatness, majesty, power, holiness, love, mercy, and the like; and the way made known of acquaintance and communion with him; if you ⟨p. 78⟩would be acquainted with God in Christ, you must acquaint your selves with the Scriptures: Read the Scriptures daily, and search them; Joh. 5. 39. read not only the history of the Word, but labour to understand the mystery of Godliness therein revealed, 1 Tim. 3. 16. endeavour after a spiritual discerning of the things of the Spirit,