In holy Scripture is fully contained what we ought to do,
and what to eschew; what to believe, what to love, and what to
look for at God's hands at length. In these Books we shall
find the father from whom, the son by whom, and the holy Ghost
in whom all things have their being and keeping up, and these
three persons to be but one God, and one substance.
Read [Holy Scripture] humbly with a meek and lowly heart,
to the intent you may glorify God, and not your self, with the
knowledge of it: and read it not without daily praying to God,
that he would direct your reading to good effect: and take upon
you to expound it no further than you can plainly understand
it. For (as Saint Augustine says) the knowledge of holy
Scripture is a great, large, and a high place, but the door is
very low, so that the high & arrogant man cannot run in: but he
must stoop low, and humble himself, that shall enter into it...
The humble man may search any truth boldly in the Scripture,
without any danger of error.
Scripture in some places is easy, and in some places hard
to be understood. This have I said, as touching the fear to
read, through ignorance of the person. And concerning the
hardness of Scripture, he that is so weak that he is not able
to [eat] strong meat, yet he may suck the sweet and tender
milk, and defer the rest, until he wax stronger, and come to
more knowledge. For God receives the learned and unlearned,
and casts away none, but [does not discriminate]. And the
Scripture is full as well of low valleys, plain ways, and easy
for every man to use, and to walk in: as also of high hills &
mountains, which few men can climb unto.