Directions for profitable Reading the Holy Scriptures. Direct. 5
‘Remember that it is a universal law and doctrine, written for the most ignorant as well as for the curious; and therefore must be suited in plainness to the capacity of the simple, and yet have matter to exercise the most subtle wits; and that God would have the style, to savour more of the innocent weakness of the instruments, than the matter.’ Therefore be not offended or troubled when the style doth seem less polite than you might think beseemed the Holy Ghost; nor at the plainness of some parts, or the mysteriousness of others : but adore the wisdom and tender condescension of God to his poor creatures.
(…to be continued)
Richard Baxter (Click on Mr. Baxter’s name to learn more about him.)
From A Body of Practical Divinity, or A Christian Directory, Vol. 3.
“As a writer, few men have written more, or to better purpose. His books, for number and variety of matter, might form a library. They contain a treasure of controversial, casuistical, positive, and practical divinity. Such at least was the opinion of the judicious Dr. Bates; nor was he alone of this sentiment. The excellent bishop Wilkins did not hesitate to assert, ‘That he had cultivated every subject he had handled.'”
Wings of the Wind 
Thanks for the quote from Baxter, Chris! Yes, the Bible is an amazing book that speaks (through the illumination of the Holy Spirit) to both the high school student and the PhD.
You’re welcome, Tom, and thanks for your good comment! Like you stated, the Bible speaks to people of all types. Things were no different in Baxter’s time than they are now.
Thanks for sharing Richard Baxter’s wise comments on scripture reading, Chris. I was reading yesterday in Acts how Peter, as he spoke was filled with the Holy Ghost and yet described as an “unlearned man.” But the people took note that “he had been with Jesus.”
You’re welcome, Elizabeth, and thank you for your fitting comment. I’m in a Bible Study group that just started Acts 14 today. We are following Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey. It is a historic book that covers so much as you well know.
I’m pretty sure you were reading in Acts 4 where Peter and John are called uneducated and untrained (unlearned) men:
13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.
It is a perfect example of what Baxter is trying to say here.
I was curious so I looked up the jobs that the 12 disciples had before they followed Jesus.
Andrew (1), Peter (2), James (3) and John (4), the sons of Zebedee, worked as fishermen.
Matthew/Levi was a tax-collector. (5)
Phillip (6) and Thomas (7) were from Bethsaida in Galilee (John 1:44; 12:21) just like Peter so many think they were fisherman as well but no one knows for sure. Some traditions refer to Thomas as a carpenter or builder.
Nathanael/Bartholomew (8) was from Cana in Galilee (John 21:2). We don’t know but some think he was likely a fisherman as well. He is shown fishing with other disciples (and Thomas) in John 21:2-3.
Simon (9) was a zealot (probably an activist of some kind).
We really don’t know what the jobs of Judas (10), Thaddaeus/Jude (11), or James (son of Alphaeus) (12) were before they met Jesus.
Biblical accounts seem to suggest that Thaddaeus lived a common life in Galilee.
Other than being listed as a disciple, nothing else is known about James the son of Alphaeus.
I just looked this up, Elizabeth, so I think it’s a pretty accurate list but I had to pull from several sources to make it. There may be a mistake or two.
If you look at the list none of them would be considered “greatly educated” in any religious sense. Matthew had to be educated enough to do his job well or the Romans would have found someone else to replace him. As far as we know the others would have been seen as “common” by the Pharisees or Sadducees of that time. Matthew was probably hated by the Jewish religious leaders, but I know that has nothing to do with his education.
After Baxter’s conclusion (along with your point) I cannot help but think of our Bibles as Baxter did:
We ”adore the wisdom and tender condescension of God to his poor creatures.”
(By the way, In the 17th century, condescension (and the verb condescend) was generally a positive, virtue-oriented term meaning a voluntary, gracious, or humble descent from one’s high rank, dignity, or rightful station to interact with, or act on behalf of, inferiors.
In the 18th century, “condescension” was generally considered a positive trait, referring to the voluntary, generous, and courteous descent from a superior rank or dignity to interact kindly with social inferiors. It was viewed as an act of grace or humility, often described as a virtuous, affable, or condescending, aimed at lessening the distance between classes.)
I need to read Baxter’s work
I haven’t read a lot of his many works yet myself but what I have read has been very good.
Gotcha