Beware of being wise above that which is written. Beware of forming fanciful theories of your own, and then trying to make the Bible square in with them. Beware of making selections from your Bible to suit your taste —refusing, like a spoilt child, whatever you think bitter, — seizing, like a spoilt child, whatever you think sweet. What is all this but taking Jehoiakim’s penknife? What does it amount to but telling God, that you, a poor short-lived worm know what is good for you better than He. It will not do. It will not do. You must take the Bible as it is. You must read it all, and believe it all. You must come to the reading of it in the spirit of a little child. Dare not to say “I believe this verse, for I like it. I reject that, for I do not like it. I receive this, for I can understand it. I refuse that, for I cannot reconcile it with my views.” Nay! but O man, who art thou that repliest against God? By what right do you talk in this way. Surely it were better to say over every chapter in the Word, “speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.”

J. C. Ryle (1816-1900), Wheat or Chaff?