A FRUITFUL EXHORTATION TO THE Reading and Knowledge of holy Scripture. ture. UNTO a Christian man there can be nothing either The praise of more necessary or profitable, than the knowledge of holy holy scripture. scripture, forasmuch as in it is contained God's true word, setting forth his glory, and also man's duty. And there is no truth nor doctrine necessary for our justifica- The perfection tion and everlasting salvation, but that is, or may be of holy scripdrawn out of that fountain and well of truth. Therefore The knowledge as many as be desirous to enter into the right and perfect of holy scripway unto God, must apply their minds to know holy ture is necesscripture; without the which, they can neither sufficiently sary. know God and his will, neither their office and duty. And as drink is pleasant to them that be dry, and meat To whom the to them that be hungry; so is the reading, hearing, holy scripture knowledge of searching, and studying of holy scripture, to them that is sweet and be desirous to know God, or themselves, and to do his pleasant. will. And their stomachs only do loathe and abhor the Who be eneheavenly knowledge and food of God's word, that be so mies to holy drowned in worldly vanities, that they neither savoura scripture. God, nor any godliness: for that is the cause why they desire such vanities, rather than the true knowledge of God. As they that are sick of an ague, whatsoever they An apt simieat and drink, though it be never so pleasant, yet it is as litude, debitter to them as wormwood; not for the bitterness of claring of the meat, but for the corrupt and bitter humour that is scripture is in their own tongue and mouth: even so is the sweetness abhorred. of God's word bitter, not of itself, but only unto them a savour] favour B.C.D. b cat and drink] eat or drink A.B.C. whom the B gent reading of the holy scripture. Matt. 4. [4] [John 4. 14. cient doctrine tion. may learn in ture. that have their minds corrupted with long custom of sin An exhortation and love of this world. Therefore forsaking the corrupt unto the dili- judgment of fleshly men, which care not but for their and searching carcase; let us reverently hear and read holy scriptures, which is the food of the soul. Let us diligently search for the well of life in the books of the New and Old Testament, and not run to the stinking puddles of men's traditions, devised by men'sd imagination, for our justification The holy scrip- and salvation. For in holy scripture is fully contained ture is a suffi- what we ought to do, and what to eschew, what to befor our salva- lieve, what to love, and what to look for at God's hands at length. In these books we shall find the Father from What things we whom, the Son by whom, and the Holy Ghost in whom, the holy scrip- all things have their being and keeping upf; and these three persons to be but one Gods, and one substance. In these books we may learn to know ourselves, how vile and miserable we be, and also to know God, how good he is of himself, and how he maketh us and all creatures partakers of his goodnessh. We may learn also in these books to know God's will and pleasure, as much as, for this present time, is convenient for us to know. And, as the great clerk and godly preacher, St. John Chrysostom saith, whatsoever is required to salvation of man, is fully contained in the scripture of God. He that is ignorant may there learn and have knowledge. He that is hard-hearted, and an obstinate sinner, shall there find everlasting torments, prepared of God's justice, to make him afraid, and to mollify or softenk him. He that is oppressed with misery in this world shall there find relief in the promises of everlasting life, to his great consolation and comfort. He that is wounded by the Devil unto death shall find there medicine whereby he may be restored again unto health; if it shall require to teach any truth, or reprove false doctrine, to rebuke any vice, to commend any virtue, to give good counsel, to comfort or to exhort, or to do any other thing requisite for our salvation, all those things, saith St. Chrysostom, we may learn plentifully of the scripture. There is, saith Fulgentius, abundantly enough, both for men to eat, and Holy scripture children to suck. There is whatsoever is meet m for all ages, ministereth suf c fleshly] carnal A.B. d men's] man's A.B.C. f keeping up] conservation A.B. h maketh us and all creatures par- cateth his goodness unto us and to all i everlasting] eternal A.B. and for all degrees and sorts of men. These books there- ficient doctrine for all degrees and ages. fore ought to be much in our hands, in our eyes, in our ears, in our mouths, but most of all in our hearts. For the scripture of God is the heavenly meat of our souls; Matt. 4. [4] the hearing and keeping of it maketh us blessed, sancti- Luke 4. [4] fieth us, and maketh us holy; it turneth our souls, it is a John 17 [17.] light lantern to our feet; it is a sure, steadfast, and ever- Ps. [119. 105.] lasting instrument of salvation; it giveth wisdom to the humble and lowly hearts P; it comforteth, maketh glad, cheereth, and cherisheth our conscience: it is a more ex- What commocellent jewel or treasure than any gold or precious stone; dities and proit is more sweet' than honey or honey-comb; it is called ledge of holy the best part, which Mary did choose, for it hath in it scripture bringeverlasting comfort. The words of holy scripture be eth. called words of everlasting life: for they be God's instru- [Ps. 19. 10.] ment, ordained for the same purpose. They have power John 6. [47-1 Luke 10. [42.] to turns through God's promise, and they be effectual [Col. 1. 6.1 through God's assistance, and (being received in a faithful heart) they have ever an heavenly spiritual working in them they are lively, quick, and mighty in operation, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and entereth through, Heb. 4. [12.] even unto the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit, of the joints and the marrow. Christ calleth him a wise Matt. 7. [24.] builder, that buildeth upon his word, upon his sure and substantial foundation. By this word of God we shall be : judged for the word that I speak ", saith Christ, is it, John 12. [48.] that shall judge in the last day. He that keepeth the word of Christ, is promised the love and favour of God, and that he shall be the dwelling-place or temple of the John 14. [23.] blessed Trinity. This word whosoever is diligent to read, and in his heart to print that he readeth, the great affection to the transitory things of this world shall be minished in him, and the great desire of heavenly things (that be therein promised of God) shall increase in him. And there is nothing that so much strengtheneth y our faith and trust in God, that so much keepeth upz innocency and pureness of the heart, and also of outward godly life and conversation, as continual reading and recording of God's word. For that thing, which (by continual use of reading n turneth] converteth A.B. o steadfast, and everlasting] a con stant and a perpetual A.B. p hearts] hearted A. q conscience] consciences A. r more sweet] more sweeter A.B. s turu] convert A.B. t word] words C. u speak] spake A. x dwelling-place] mansion-place A.B. B. y strengthenetb] establisheth A. z keepeth up] conserveth A.B. a recording] meditation A.B. of holy scripture, and diligent searching of the same) is deeply printed and graven in the heart, at length turneth almost into nature. And moreover, the effect and virtue of God's word is to illuminate the ignorant, and to give more light unto them that faithfully and diligently read it, to comfort their hearts, and to encourage them to 1 Kings 14. [5- perform that, which of God is commanded. It teacheth 16.] patience in all adversity, in prosperity humbleness; 2 Chron. 20.[9] what honour is due unto God, what mercy and charity I Cor. 15. [9.] to our neighbour. It giveth good counsel in all doubtful things. It sheweth of whom we shall look for aid and help in all perils, and that God is the only giver of vic1 John 5. [4] tory in all battles and temptations of our enemies, bodily Who profit most and ghostly. And in reading of God's word, he most in reading profiteth not always that is most ready in turning of the God's word. book, or in saying of it without the book; but he that is most turned into it, that is most inspired with the Holy Ghost, most in his heart and life altered and changed into that thing which he readeth; he that is daily less and less proud, less wrathfuld, less covetous, and less desirous of worldly and vain pleasures; he that daily (forsaking his old vicious life) increaseth in virtue more and more. And, to be short, there is nothing that more maintaineth godliness of the mind, and driveth awaye ungodliness, than doth the continual reading or hearing of God's word, if it be joined with a godly mind, and a good affection to know and follow God's will. For without a single eye, Matt. 22. [12.] pure intent, and good mind, nothing is allowed for good What discom- before God. And, on the other side, nothing more darkenethf Christ and the glory of God, nor bringeth ins more blindness and all kinds of vices, than doth the ignorance of God's word. Isa. 5. [24.] I Cor. 14. [37.] modities the ignorance of God's word bringeth. The Second Parth of the Sermon of the Knowledge of holy Scripture. IN the first part of this sermon', which exhorteth to the knowledge of holy scripture, was declared wherefore the e changed] transformed A.B. e driveth away] expelleth A.B. h The second part] The homily is not divided in A. i knowledge of] omitted B.C. k In the first part-you shall hear what followeth] omitted A. 1 sermon] homily B. excelleth all sciences. knowledge of the same is necessary and profitable to all men, and that by the true knowledge and understanding of scripture, the most necessary points of our duty towards God and our neighbours are also known. Now as concerning the same matter you shall hear what followeth. If we profess Christ, why be we not ashamed to be ignorant in his doctrine? seeing that every man is ashamed to be ignorant in that learning which he professeth. That man is ashamed to be called a philosopher which readeth not the books of philosophy, and to be called a lawyer, an astronomer, or a physicianm, that is ignorant in the books of law, astronomy, and physic. How can any man then say that he professeth Christ and his religion, if he will not apply himself (as far forth as he can or may conveniently) to read and hear, and so to know the books of Christ's gospel and doctrine? Although God's word other sciences be good, and to be learned, yet no man can deny but this is the chief, and passeth all other incomparably. What excuse shall we therefore make, at the last day before Christ, that delight to read or hear men's fantasies and inventions, more than his most holy Gospel? and will find no time to do that which chiefly, above all things, we should do, and will rather read other things than that, for the which we ought rather to leave reading of all other things. Let us therefore apply ourselves, as far forth as we can have time and leisure, to know God's word, by diligent hearing and reading thereof, as many as profess God, and have faith and trust in him. But they that have no good affection to God's Vain excuses word (to colour this their fault) allege commonly two dissuading vain and feigned excuses. Some go about to excuse them by their own frailness and fearfulness, saying, that they word. dare not read holy scripture, lest through their ignorance The first. they should fall into any error. Other pretend that the The second. difficulty to understand it and the hardness thereof is so great, that it is meet to be read only of clerks and learned men. As touching the first: Ignorance of God's word is the cause of all error, as Christ himself affirmed from the knowledge of God's to the Sadducees, saying, that they erred, because they Matt. 22. [29.] knew not the scripture. How should they then eschew error, that will be still ignorant? And how should they come out of ignorance, that will not read nor hear that thing which should give them knowledge? He that now hath most knowledge, was at the first ignorant; yet he m an astronomer, or a physician] and astronomer, or a physician, B.C. and astronomer or physician D. |