Book I. of J E s U S C H R I S T. n

C H A P. IV.
Triichnce in our Behaviour,
BE not too bafty in hdicvlng every JVord^ nor the Su^*- geftions of Euer/ Spirit, buc consider coolly and Icifurely^ and make a Confcience of giv- ing your Credic with due Caution. Men -P^^'^xiv. 15. are much more prone (the greater is the '^ ^^* ^' Pity ) both to fpeak and believe ill than well of their Neighbours. This is our Infirmity and Uahappinel^ : But a good Man will conlider and make Allowances for it ; And the efFed of this Confidera- tion will be , the difpending his Affenr, 'E^*^^^-''-'^^-'^-.4- and neither believing all he hears^ nor officioufly re- porting all he believes.
It is an Argument of great Wifdom, to do nothing rafhiy j nor to be obftinate and inflexible ^ -, ..:.^ in our Opinions.' And the Cauticufnefs I ^^■•"f^v'i: juffc now recommended , in crediting and fpreading Reports, ic a neceffary Branch of the fame Perfedi- on. Advife in your Affairs with wife and good Men • and think it more for your Reputation^ to be inftrud- ed by thofe who underftand better^ than to aA upon your own Bead. A Virtuous Life makes a Man pru- dent in God's Efteem ^ and gives true Condud and Experience. The more* £- humble and obfervant we are to His Directions , the better we (hall behave our felves^, and the greater Sa- tisfadion and Peace of Mind we fhall find refalting from all we'do.
B 4 CHAP,
1 2, ^t tlie 9JmttattOtT Book T.
Chap. V.
Of Reading the Holy Scriptures.
TH E End we fliould propofe to our felyes in this Study, is thedifcerningand difcovery of Truth, not the obferving Quaintnefs and Pre priety of Ex- predion. That Book of God indeed fhould be perufed with the fame Spirit and Temper by which it was di- (Stated. And as the Holy Ghuft intended the Profit of Mankindj more than Nicenefs of Words Row. yv. 4. jjj^^ Phrafes. fo fhould we aim at grow-
I Cor. II. 1,4. . , T^ IT -r
^ mg better Livers^ rather than wiler, or more accurate Speakers^ by what he hath delivered. To Perfons thus difpofed^ the plainefl: and moft pious Parts of Scripture will minifter a Delight , equal to thofe which are more myfterious and fubllme. The Authority and Skill of the Pen-man fhould be of little weight with us • nor matters it, whether he were one of great or mean Attainments ; for the Love and De- fire of Truth is the proper Motive to Study ; and the Subftance of what is fpoken , not the Perfon who fpeaks, ought principally to be confider- iP^f.i.i^.iS. ed. JUfleJlj is gr.fs, bin the word of the Lord abideth for e^er ^ and this Word fpcaks to us in different manners , without any partial Refped of Perfons.
One great Inconvenience in Reading the Scriptures, is our own vain Curiofity. We lofe much of the Be- nefit, which might orherwife be gathered from them, by pretending to nice Difquifitions of difficult Points ; and labouring to bring to the Standard of our own imperfed Reafon, what we fhould be content to re- ceive with the Simplicity of an humble Obedience, and place to the Account of Divine Faith. If yoa would Read then , and profit by that Reading, you ■' ' '- niufl