Coverdale on Reading the Bible

I have seen the following quote a number of times (sometimes it is attributed to John Wycliff) but it is still an important reminder that no matter how sophisticated our hermeneutical method becomes we never move beyond paying attention to the actual text at hand.

It shall greatly helpe ye to understand Scripture, if thou mark not only what is spoken or wrytten, but of whom, and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what goeth before, and what followeth.

Myle’s Coverdale, Rules for Reading the Bible (1535)