500 years of Protestant reform
To celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, Return to the Gospel will present weekly articles and biographies of several reformers: Girolamo Zachi (January), Theodore Beza (February), Thomas Cranmer (March), Guilherme Farrel (April), William Tyndale (May), Martin Bucer (June), John Knox (July), Ulrico Zuonglio (there), Joo Calvino (set)
This is part 2/3 of the homily, a useful exhortation to read and know the Holy Scriptures (read Part 1).
The first part of this sermon, which calls to the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, stated that knowledge of them is necessary and beneficial to all men and that, through true knowledge and understanding of the scriptures, the most necessary questions about our duty to God. and with our neighbor we are also known. Now, on the same subject, you need to hear what’s next. If we confess to Christ, why are we not ashamed to ignore his doctrine, for every man is ashamed to ignore the science he claims to have?Have?
The Word of God goes beyond all sciences. The man who is called a philosopher but who does not read philosophy books is ashamed; the same is true of those called lawyers, astronomers or physicists, who ignore the books of law, astronomy and physics. Now, can not anyone who professes Christ and his religion dedicate himself (as much as he can or should) to read and listen, and therefore to know the books of the Gospel and the doctrine of Christ? Although other sciences are good and must be learned, which no one can deny, however, the science of Christ is essential and surpasses all other knowledge in an incomparable way. So what excuses will we make on the last day before Christ, if we delight ourselves more in hearing human fantasies and inventions than we rejoice in his most holy gospel? And we will not find the time to do what we mainly (most) need to do, if we prefer to read other things instead of the Word of God, for which we should leave all other readings. Therefore, let us apply ourselves, while we have time and rest, to know the Word of God, listening and reading it diligently, if we profess God and have faith and trust in Him.
Vain excuses discourage knowledge of the Word of Christ, who do not have a good affection for the Word of God often give two vain excuses to disguise their guilt, some will apologize for their weakness and fear, saying they dare not read. Holy Scriptures, because they fear that out of ignorance they will not fall into any mistake. Others argue that the difficulty in understanding God’s Word and its complexity is so great that it needs to be read only by pastors and scholars.
As for the first excuse, ignorance of the Word of God is the cause of all error, as Christ himself told the Sadducees, saying that they were wrong because they did not know Scripture (Matthew 22:29). How will people avoid error if they remain ignorant?And how will they come out of ignorance if they do not read or hear what can guide them to knowledge?Who at that time had the greatest knowledge was initially ignorant; however he did not refrain from reading for fear of falling into error, but read diligently not to remain in ignorance, and out of ignorance, in error. And if you do not know the truth of God (most necessary) so as not to fall into error, for the same reason you can lie down and never walk, for fear of falling into the mud; Don’t eat good food, whether you suffocate, sow your seed, work, or livestock, unless you lose your seed, work, and reserve. It would be better if you live in idleness and never do anything right, unless something bad happens to you.
And if you are afraid to make a mistake, read the Holy Scriptures; Will I show you how you can read it without risk of getting it wrong?[Continued in Part 3]