_3dly_, To a sound understanding, and a lively turn of thought, should be joined a good _memory_: if it may be, _ready_, that you may make whatever occurs in reading or conversation, your own; but however, _retentive_, lest we be _ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth_. On the contrary, _every scribe instructed unto the kingdom of heaven_, every teacher fitted for his work, _is like an housholder who bringeth out of his treasures things new and old_. 2. And as to _acquired endowments_, can he take one step aright, without, first, a competent share of _knowledge_? A knowledge, _1st_, of his own office; of the high trust in which he stands, the important work to which he is called? Is there any hope that a man should discharge his office well, if he knows not what it is? That he should acquit himself faithfully of a trust, the very nature whereof he does not understand? Nay: if he _knows_ not the work God has given him to do, he cannot _finish_ it. _2dly_, No less necessary is a knowledge of the _scriptures_, which teach us how to teach others: yea, a knowledge of all the scriptures; seeing scripture interprets scripture; one part fixing the sense of another. So that whether it be true or not, that every good textuary is a good divine, it is certain, none can be a good divine who is not a good textuary. None else can be _mighty in the scriptures_; able both to instruct, and to stop the mouths of gainsayers. In order to do this accurately, ought he not to know the literal meaning of every word, verse and chapter, without which there can be no firm foundation on which the spiritual meaning can be built? Should he not likewise be able to deduce the proper corollaries, speculative and practical, from each text; to solve the difficulties which arise, and answer the objections which are or may be raised against it; and to make a suitable application of all, to the consciences of his hearers? _3dly_, But can he do this, in the most effectual manner, without a knowledge of the _original tongues_? Without this, will he not frequently be at a stand, even as to texts which regard practice only? But he will be under still greater difficulties, with respect to controverted scriptures. He will be ill able to rescue these out of the hands of any man of learning that would pervert them: for whenever an appeal is made to the original, his mouth is stopt at once. _4thly_, Is not a knowledge of profane _history_ likewise, of antient customs, of chronology and geography, tho’ not absolutely necessary, yet highly expedient for him that would throughly understand the scriptures? Since the want even of this knowledge is but poorly supplied by reading the comments of other men.