THE

Difficulties and Difcouragements

Which attend the

Study of the Scriptures

In the way of

Private Judgment;

Reprefented in a Letter to a Young Clergyman.

In order to fhow,

That, fince fuch a Study of the Scriptures is Mens indifpenfible Duty, it concerns all Chriflian Societies to remove (as much as poffible) those Difcouragements.

By a Prefbyter of the Church of England.

To which is annexed, The CENSURE of the Lower House of Convocation upon this Book. And a LETTER written by the Reverend Mr. John Hales of Eaton, to Archbishop LAUD, upon occafion of his

Tract concerning SCHISM.

From the SEVENTH EDITION.

First printed in the Year 1716.

The Difficulties and Difcouragements which attend the Study of the Scriptures in the way of Private Judgment ; &c.

In a Letter to a Young Clergyman.

I

SIR,

Do not wonder at the furprize with which you received, when we were last together,

the advice I ventured to give you in relation to the Study of the Scriptures. For one who is a clergyman himself, to seem to diffuade thofe of his own order, from a study that has fo many arguments to recommend it; and which, in the opinion of all good men, ought to be their chief business; has, I confefs, the appearance of a strange paradox, and that of the worst fort. It looks like popery and priest-craft ; and therefore young and tender minds may easily be forgiven, if they startle at the first proposal of it; thofe efpecially, who have a juft fenfe of the excellency and inspiration of the Scriptures, and are eagerly bent on the pursuit of fuch truths, as more immediately tend to the advancement of virtue and religion. As you are of that number, and went into orders with no other

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other view, but that you might the better Audy the Scriptures yourfelf, and advance the knowledge of them in the world; it was not to be expected you fhould prefently come into other fentiments. Which I am fo far from taking amifs, that I think it to your commendation, that neither the affection or esteem you fo often exprefs for an old friend could prevai with you to act a part that might have the appearance of levity in a matter of fo much confequence. Nor is it lefs for your credit, that you can retain your opinion, without lofing your temper, or fhewing a backwardness to hear what is to be faid against it. Most tempers run into extremes: They are either too volatile to be fixed; or elfe fo fixed, that no force of argument can move them. But 'tis your happiness, that you can adhere without obftinacy, and change without levity, and therefore I fhall think it no trouble to resume the fubject, and lay before you in the best manner I can, the reafons that feem to make against the fludy of the Scriptures in the way of private judgement; which I hope will not upon cooler thoughts appear fo ftrange to you. You will confider they come from one, who is not more a friend to you, than he is to the church. And, if examples be of any weight, I can affure you this fide of the question is by no means defti

tute