Directions for profitable Reading the Holy Scriptures.
SEEING the diversity of men’s tempers and understandings is so exceedingly great, that it is impossible that any thing should be pleasing and suitable to some, which shall not be disliked and quarrelled with by others; and seeing in the Scriptures there are many things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest to their own destruction (a). And the word is to some the savour of death unto death (b). You have therefore need to be careful in reading it. And as Christ saith, “Take heed how you hear;(c)” so I say, Take heed how you read.
(…to be continued)
(a) Pet. 3:16. (b) Mark 4:24. 2 Cor. 2:16. (c) Luke 8:18.
From A Body of Practical Divinity, or A Christian Directory, Volume 3.
Wings of the Wind 
Thanks, Chris! That’s great Biblical counsel from Richard Baxter. We turn to Scripture with care, sobriety, and prayer. Scripture has been used to justify unorthodox errors and horrible wrongs.
You’re welcome, Tom, and thanks for reading this. I will be following up with 10 “directs” that Baxter shared after this introductive paragraph. His advise (directions) are as good for our times as they were then. I will be sharing one of his “directs” Every 5th quote from now until Quote #60.
I think you will find that Baxter echoes your sentiment about how we should approach the Scriptures.
Amen 🙌