Conversational Theology

I have just been skimming though my notes on John Lightfoot and was struck by this little extract:

The first thing, then, for them, that only read translations, to be looked after, in reading the Scriptures, is, – to lay the books and chapters in their true order. The holy Spirit hath, in divers places, purposely and divinely, laid stories and passages out of their proper places, for special ends. The evangelists especially witness this. Here the skill of the reader is, first, to reduce each thing to his own place; and, secondly, to seek the Divine reason, why it is misplaced.

John Lightfoot, “Rules for a Student of the Holy Scriptures,” in The Whole Works of the Rev. John Lightfoot, D.D., vol. 2 (Oxford: Dove, 1822), 4

Two ways we come to the knowledge of God, – by his works and by his word. By his works, we come to know there is a God; and by his word, we come to know what God is. His works teach us to spell; his word teacheth us to read. The first are, as it were, his back parts, by which we behold him afar off; the latter shows him to us face to face. The world is as a book consisting of three leaves; and every leaf printed with many letters, and every letter a lecture.. . .It is not for nothing, that God hath set the cabinet of the universe open; but it is, because he hath given us eyes to behold his treasure. Neither is it for nothing, that he hath given us eyes to behold his treasure; but because he hath given us hearts to admire upon our beholding. If we mark not the works of God, we are like stones, that have no eyes, wherewith to behold. If we wonder not at the works of God, when we mark them, we are like beasts that have no hearts wherewith to admire. And if we praise not God for his works, when we admire them, we are like devils, that have no tongues, wherewith to give thanks.