Lent with Jeremy Taylor: reading the Scriptures
Taylor, of course, here captures a significant emphasis of the Reformation. However this also flowed from the pre-Reformation Devotio Moderna and the reforming calls of Catholic humanists such as Erasmus and Cassander (both of whom Taylor highly praised). Reformation practices also 'democratised' monastic spirituality, both in terms of individual lectio divina and the community gathering around the reading of the Scriptures in the daily office.
Also to be noted is how Taylor, with a pastoral wisdom often found across the Christian centuries, counsels that care should be taken in what is the focus of reading in the Scriptures: "Read the gospels, the Psalms of David" and, he continues, "the epistles and gospels" of the traditional Eucharistic lectionary. We might be reminded here of the Rule of Benedict urging prudence with regards to what portions of Scripture monks should read during the night hours, or the focus of Ignatius of Loyola on contemplative reading of the Gospels. Prayerfully reading the Gospel appointed for the week in the Eucharistic lectionary or a psalm of the day: this, rather than battling through Leviticus, is how we are best fed by Scripture.
The purpose of reading the Scriptures, Taylor rightly states, is to draw us more deeply and more authentically into holy living. This, not doctrinal knowledge, is to be the primary fruit of our individual reading of holy Scripture. This is to shape our prayerful approach to Scripture, with Taylor's words and the prayer he provides echoing the Prayer for the Church Militant: "that, with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear, and receive thy holy Word; truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life".
The Holy Ghost is certainly the best preacher in the world, and the words of Scripture the best sermons ... What Abraham, in the parable, said concerning the brethren of the rich man, is here very proper; 'They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them; but if they refuse to hear these neither will they believe though one should arise from the dead to preach unto them' ...
Reading the holy Scriptures is a duty expressly commanded us, and is called in Scripture ‘preaching:’ all other preaching is the effect of human skill and industry; and although of great benefit, yet it is but an ecclesiastical ordinance; the law of God concerning preaching being expressed in the matter of reading the Scriptures, and hearing that word of God which is, and as it is, there described ...
Set apart some portion of thy time, according to the opportunities of thy calling and necessary employment, for the reading of Holy Scriptures; and, if it be possible, every day read or hear some of it read: you are sure that book teaches all truth, commands all holiness, and promises all happiness.
When it is in your power to choose, accustom yourself to such portions which are most plain and certain duty, and which contain the story of the life and death of our blessed Saviour. Read the gospels, the Psalms of David, and especially those portions of Scripture which, by the wisdom of the church, are appointed to be publicly read upon Sundays and holy days, viz. the epistles and gospels. In the choice of any other portions, you may advise with a spiritual guide, that you may spend your time with most profit.
Fail not diligently to attend to the reading of Holy Scriptures upon those days wherein it is most publicly and solemnly read in churches, for at such times, besides the learning our duty, we obtain a blessing along with it, it becoming to us, upon those days a part of the solemn divine worship.
When the word of God is read or preached to you, be sure you be of a ready heart and mind, free from worldly cares and thoughts, diligent to hear, careful to mark, studious to remember, and desirous to practise all that is commanded, and to live according to it; do not hear for any other end but to become better in our life, and to be instructed in every good work, and to increase in the love and service of God.
Beg of God, by prayer, that he would give you the spirit of obedience and profit, and that he would, by his Spirit, write the word in your heart, and that you describe it in your life: to which purpose serve yourself of some affectionate ejaculations to that purpose before and after this duty.
A Prayer to be said before the hearing or reading the Word of God.
O holy and eternal Jesus, who hast begotten us by thy word, renewed us by thy Spirit, fed us by thy sacraments, and by the daily ministry of thy word, still go on to build us up to life eternal. Let thy most Holy Spirit be present with me and rest upon me in the reading or hearing thy sacred word, that I may do it humbly, reverently, without prejudice, with a mind ready and desirous to learn and to obey; that I may be readily furnished and instructed to every good work, and may practice all thy holy laws and commandments to the glory of thy holy name, O holy and eternal Jesus. Amen.
(From Taylor's Holy Living, 'Of reading or hearing the Word of God'. The prayer is from the prayers provided at the conclusion of the work.)
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