怎样读经才得益处Directions for Profitable Reading the Holy Scriptures

Directions for Profitable Reading the Holy Scriptures

from Richard Baxter's "Christian Directory" 1673

Seeing the diversity of men's tempers and understandings
is so exceedingly great, that it is impossible that anything should be
pleasing and suitable to some, which shall not be disliked and quarreled
with by others; and seeing in the Scriptures, that there are many things
hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest to their own
destruction, 2 Peter 3:16; and the Word is to some the savor of death unto
death, 2 Corinthians 2:16 — you have therefore need to be careful in reading
it. And as Christ says, " Take heed how you hear," Luke 8:18; so I
say, Take heed how you read!

Direction 1. Bring not an
evil heart of unbelief to Scripture. Open the Bible with holy reverence as
the book of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit. Remember that the doctrine of
the New Testament was revealed by the Son of God, who was purposely sent
from Heaven to be the light of the world, and to make known to men the will
of God, and the matters of their salvation. Ponder carefully, if God
should but send a book or letter to you by an angel — how reverently you
would receive it! How carefully you would peruse it — and regard it
above all the books in the world! And how much rather should you do so, by
that book which is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and records the doctrine of
Christ himself, whose authority is greater than all the angels! Read it not
therefore as a common book, with a common and unreverent heart — but
in the dread and love of God the author.

Direction 2. Remember
that Scripture is the very Word of God which you must live by, and be
judged by at last. And therefore read with a full resolution to
obey whatever it commands, though flesh, and men, and devils contradict
it. Let there be no secret exceptions in your heart, to balk at any
of its precepts, and rationalize that part of obedience which the flesh
accounts difficult or dear.

Direction 3. Remember
that Scripture is the will and testament of your Lord, and the covenant of
most full and gracious promises; which all your comforts, and all
your hopes of pardon and everlasting life, are built upon. Read it
therefore with love and great delight. Value it a thousandfold more than you
would do the letters of your dearest friend, or the deeds by which you hold
your lands, or anything else of low concernment. If the law was sweeter
to David than honey, and better than thousands of gold and silver, and
was his delight and meditation all the day — then oh, what should the sweet
and precious gospel be to us!

Direction 4. Remember
that Scripture is a doctrine of unseen things, and of the greatest
mysteries; and therefore come not to it with arrogance as a judge, but
with humility as a learner or disciple. And if anything seems
difficult or improbable to you, suspect your own limited understanding — and
not the sacred Word of God. If a learner in any art or science, will suspect
his teacher and his books, whenever he is confused, or meets with that which
seems unlikely to him — his pride would keep possession for his ignorance,
and his folly were likely to be incurable.

Direction 5. Remember
that Scripture is a universal standard and doctrine, written for the most
ignorant, as well as for the curious; and therefore must be suited in
plainness, to the capacity of the simple — and yet have matter to exercise
the most subtle wits; and that God would have the style to savor more of the
innocent weakness of the instruments, than the matter. Therefore be not
troubled when the style does seem less polite than you might think befit the
Holy Spirit; nor at the plainness of some parts, or the
mysteriousness of others; but adore the wisdom and tender condescension
of God to his poor creatures.

Direction 6. Bring not a
carnal mind, which savors only fleshly things, and is enslaved to those sins
which the Scripture condemns: "For the carnal mind is enmity against God,
and neither is nor can be subject to his law," Romans 8:7,8. "The things of
God are not discerned by the mere natural man, for they are foolishness to
him, and they must be spiritually discerned," 2 Corinthians 2:14 — and
enmity is an ill expositor.

The carnal mind will be quarreling with all, and making
faults in the Word, which finds so many faults in you. It will hate that
Word which comes to deprive you of your most sweet and dearly beloved sin.
Or, if you have such a carnal mind and enmity, believe it not, any more than
a partial and wicked enemy should be believed against God himself; who
better understands what he has written, than any of his foolish enemies.

Direction 7. Compare one
place of Scripture with another, and expound the darkest place — by the
light of the plainest, and the fewer expressions — by the more frequent and
ordinary, and the more doubtful points — by those which are most certain;
and not on the contrary.

Direction 8. Presume not
on the strength of your own understanding, but humbly pray to God for light;
and before and after you read the Scripture, pray earnestly that the Spirit
which inspired it — may expound it to you, and keep you from unbelief and
error, and lead you into the truth.

Direction 9. Read some of
the best commentators or expositors; who being better acquainted with the
phrase of the Scripture than yourselves, may help to clear your
understanding. When Philip asked the eunuch who read Isaiah 53 "Do you
understand what you read? he said, How can I, except some man should guide
me?" Acts 8:30, 31. Make faithful commentators your guides, if you would not
err.

Direction 10. When you
are stalled by any difficulty which over-matches you, note it down, and ask
your pastor for his help; or (if the minister of that place is ignorant and
unable) go to someone who God has furnished for such work. And if, after
all, some things remain still dark and difficult, remember your own ignorace,
and wait on God for further light, and thankfully make use of all the
rest of the Scripture which is plain. And do not think as the papists,
that men must refrain from reading Scripture for fear of erring — any more
than that men must forbear eating for fear of poison — or than subjects must
be kept ignorant of the laws of the king, for fear of misunderstanding or
abusing them.