-

Status
Not open for further replies.
This, too, is another help affixed to the front of the Geneva Bible (again, by T. Grashop)

How to take profit in reading of the holy Scriptures.

Whosoever mindeth to take profit by reading Scriptures,
must

1. Earnestly and usually pray unto God that he will vouchsafe to
a. Teach the way of his statutes.
b. Give understanding.
c. Direct in the path of his commandments.
d. At the least twice every day this exercise be kept.
e. Ps. 119​

2. Diligently keep such order of reading the scriptures and prayer as may stand with his calling and state of life: So that
a. The time once appointed hereunto after a good entry, be no otherwise employed.
b. Superstition be avoided.
c. At one other time that be done, which is left undone at any time.
d. Deut. 11:19; Luke 9:62; Isa. 29:36 and Eph. 5:16.​

3. Understand to what end and purpose the Scriptures serve, which were written, to
a. Teach, that we may learn truth.
b. Improve, that we may be kept from error.
c. Correct, that we may be driven from vice.
d. Instruct, that we may be settled in the way of well doing.
e. Comfort, that in trouble we may be confirmed in patient hope.
f. 2 Tim. 3:16, 17 and Rom. 15:4.​

4. Remember that Scriptures contain matter concerning
a. Religion and the right worshipping of God as
i. Faith in one God
1. Father.
2. Son.
3. Holy Ghost.
​
ii. The state of mankind by
1. Creation.
2. fall and sin.
3. regeneration in Christ.
​
iii. The Church and the government thereof.
1. Before Christ
2. Since Christ.
​
iv. The word of God written in the Testament
1. Old.
2. New.
​
v. Sacraments
1. Before Christ.
2. Since Christ.
​
vi. The end and general judgment of the
1. Good.
2. Wicked.
​
b. Commonwealths and government of people, by
i. Magistrates
1. Good.
2. Evil.
​
ii. Peace and war, Prosperity and plagues
iii. Subjects
1. Quiet.
2. Disordered.
​
c. Families and things that belong to households, in which are
i. Husbands, Wives, Parents, Children, Masters, Servants.
1. Godly blessed.
2. Ungodly plagued.​
d. The private doings of every man in
i. Wisdom and folly.
ii. Love and hatred.
iii. Soberness and incontinency.
iv. Mirth and sorrow.
v. Speech and silence.
vi. Pride and humility.
vii. Covetousness and liberality.
​
e. The common life of all men as
i. Riches, poverty.
ii. Nobility.
iii. Favor.
iv. Labor and idleness.
​
5. Refuse all sense of Scripture contrary to the
a. Articles of Christian faith, contained in the common Creed.
b. First and second table of God’s commandments.
​
6. Mark and consider the
a. Coherence of the text, how it hangeth together.
b. Course of times and ages, with such thing as belong unto them.
c. Manner of speech proper to the Scriptures.
d. Agreement that one place of Scripture hath with another, whereby that which seemeth dark in one is made easy in another.
​
7. Take opportunity to
a. Read interpreters, if he be able.
b. Confer with such as can open the Scriptures, Acts 8:30, 31, etc.
c. Hear preaching and to prove by the Scriptures that which is taught, Acts 17:11.​

T. GRASHOP.
 
VirginiaHuguenot said:
4. Read the books of the Bible in order.
Click to expand...

I have a question about this one. I've been wrestling for a while with the impression that the English OT is just not very coherent. It doesn't make any sense to me in its popular order. I know there must be a good reason why our English Bible doesn't put these books chronologically, but is there a specific benefit to reading the OT in this particular order? Obviously the order itself is not necessarily inspired. Does anyone think it would be beneficial for me to find a chronological arrangement of the OT books in order to just have a better comprehension of the history and nature of the events?
 
bradofshaw said:
I have a question about this one. I've been wrestling for a while with the impression that the English OT is just not very coherent. It doesn't make any sense to me in its popular order. I know there must be a good reason why our English Bible doesn't put these books chronologically, but is there a specific benefit to reading the OT in this particular order? Obviously the order itself is not necessarily inspired. Does anyone think it would be beneficial for me to find a chronological arrangement of the OT books in order to just have a better comprehension of the history and nature of the events?
Click to expand...

I am interested in some thoughts on this as well.
 
This is the rest of Thomas Watson's advice on this point:

DIRECTION IV. Read the books of scripture in order.--Though occurrences may sometimes divert our method, yet for a constant course it is best to observe an order in reading. Order is an help to memory: we do not begin to read a friend's letter in the middle.
Click to expand...

For public worship, the Westminster Assembly also says:

It is requisite that all the canonical books be read over in order, that the people may be better acquainted with the whole body of the scriptures; and ordinarily, where the reading in either Testament endeth on one Lord's day, it is to begin the next.
Click to expand...

One chronological Bible-reading plan I have referred to says: Since the Bible is not entirely in chronological order, scholars sometimes disagree as to when or in what order certain events took place.

I think the main focus in reading Scriptures in (canonical) order is to avoid jumping around in our reading so that we fail to imbibe the whole counsel of God. If this can be in chronological order instead of canonical order, in one's private devotions, then I think the concern may be moot.

Just my :2cents:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top