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standard. So that both of them trines, as absolutely necessary to believe their own reasonings, "lean salvation; to insinuate that these to their own understandings," and doctrines are either false, doubtful, "make God a liar," when his tes-or of no value, must involve in it timony contradicts their self-confi- the grossest and most affronting dent decisions? It appears, there- blasphemy imaginable. fore, that the prevailing notion of We do not indeed maintain, that the little importance of doctrinal all the truths of revelation are of truth is subversive of revelation; equal importance; because they and in fact is only a more plausible are not stated in Scripture to be so; and more dangerous species of infi- but none can be wholly unimpordelity. tant: and we are not always com

If we believe the Scriptures to petent to decide upon their comhave been written by inspiration parative value. Some things are from God, and have any suitable more obvious than others; and such apprehensions of his omniscience, as are more hard to be understood veracity, and other perfections; we are not so well adapted to those must be convinced that it is the persons, "who are unstable and height of arrogance for us, short- unlearned" in the school of Christ: sighted erring creatures of yester-yet we are not authorized to reject, day, to speak of any doctrine con- or even to doubt any of them. We tained in them, as false or doubtful, may indeed demur as to the true because it is not coincident with interpretation of them: whilst in our reasonings or conceptions. humble, reverent teachableness, we Surely a small portion of modesty wait for clearer light upon the suband humility might suffice to in-ject; and we must remain for some duce our confession, that we are time in partial ignorance or error; more likely to be mistaken than because we cannot at once become the only wise God! And yet we acquainted with all the truths, must, in rejecting his authenticated which are revealed to faith, even testimony, either advance our know-when we have got a disposition ledge above his omniscience, or im-implicitly to believe them. There peach his veracity, or deny the are some things which relate to the Scriptures altogether or in part, to very life and essence of true rebe his word; reserving to ourselves ligion; others are rather necessary the infallible determination, what to our stability, comfort, and holy part is of divine authority, and conduct: these we must by no what is not! And if we deem any means reject or treat with indifpart of the Scriptures, though true, ference; but it is possible, that, to to be of little or no importance, or the last, we may be mistaken in, or of bad tendency; what do we but ignorant of some of them; and yet affront the infinite wisdom or good-be found among the heirs of salvaness of God, as if he did not know tion.

what truths were proper to be re- The importance of revealed truth vealed to man; or as if he pur- may be shown in another way; for posely discovered those matters it is the seed of principle in the which it would have been better soul, whence all inward and real for mankind never to have known? holiness proceeds. "Sanctify them And seeing it is evident that the by thy truth; thy word is truth" Lord hath in the Scriptures re-(John, xvii. 17-19). " Beholding quired the belief of certain doc- as in a glass," (namely in the doc

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trine of Christ)," the glory of the vealed truth, therefore, may be eviLord, we are changed into the same dently perceived, both from the image" (2 Cor. iii. 18; iv. 3—6). authority of Him who speaks to us "Without controversy, great is the in the Scripture; the various memystery of godliness, God was ma-thods he has taken to confirm the nifest in the flesh," &c. This doc- words of his servants; and the trine was, in the judgment of the tendency and efficacy of sound docapostle," the great mystery of god- trine, to produce spiritual affections liness;" and indeed all holy dispo- and holy obedience. sitions and affections towards God, Indeed the doctrines of Scripture all the genuine spiritual worship, may be received by a dead faith all the willing obedience of filial into the understanding as true, whilst love, and all the cheerful acquies- the heart does not embrace them cence in the Divine will, and affi- as good; and then " they will be ance on the Divine truth and mercy, held in unrighteousness.' which have been found in the world real and living belief of the great since the fall of man, have arisen doctrines contained in the Bible is from a proper perception of this the proper root of true holiness. great truth, and the doctrines con-" A whited sepulchre" is the emnected with it. Spirituality (or a blem of all that can be attained to, delight in and supreme valuation where they are proudly rejected, or of the holy excellency of spiritual treated with indifference; and every things, and a disposition to seek man's spirituality, piety, humility, pleasure and satisfaction in re- and enlarged, disinterested, unosligion), is intimately connected with tentatious philanthropy, will bear a believing dependence on the pro- proportion to the degree in which mised influences of the Holy Spirit; he knows and cordially embraces and that view of the worth of the the great truths of the Holy Scripsoul, the evil of sin, the justice and tures.

mercy of God, the vanity of the It must, therefore, be evident, world, and the believer's obliga- that every person to whom the tions to a Saviour, who loved him, Scriptures are sent, ought to study "and redeemed him to God with them, and get acquainted with their his blood," which the doctrine of contents. For if God, in compasthe cross communicates, is funda-sion to our ignorance and love to mental to deep repentance, genuine our souls, as well as in regard to humility, gratitude, patience, meek- the honour of his own name and ness, forgiveness of injuries, love government, hath given us a book of enemies, and other parts of the penned under the inspiration of his Christian temper and character. Holy Spirit; and if the truths reWithout this, a proud morality, and vealed in it be of the greatest ima pharisaical task and form of god-portance; it must be most reasonliness, will comprise the sum total able that we should bestow pains of man's religion; except as he is to acquire the knowledge of them. brought under those impressions Whether we consider the Scriptures and leadings, which will in time as a revelation which the Lord hath influence him to embrace "the made to us of himself, that we may truth as it is in Jesus." This will know, worship, and glorify him; appear more fully, and be proved or of his law and government, that more at large in the subsequent we may submit to and obey him, Essays. The importance of re- or learn from them our true con

dition as sinners; or of his mercy be ashamed not to have read some and salvation, that we may find ac-admired or popular author, though ceptance with him; or of the pri- the work perhaps be wholly useless vileges of his children, in this life (if not worse); yet they remain, and that which is to come: in every year after year, unacquainted with view of the subject, the duty of the Holy Scriptures! " Surely in searching them must be manifest. vain is the word of the Lord given Nor can we neglect it, without to them; the pen of the scribes is avowing, that we despise the know-in vain" (Jer. viii. 8, 9). ledge of God and heavenly things; It cannot be necessary, in such a that we do not desire to serve our compendious essay, to show parCreator; that we neither value his ticularly how the study of the favour nor fear his frown; or that Scriptures is inculcated in every we can discover the way of peace part of the sacred volume. Let the and happiness without his instruc- more attentive reader turn to what tion. Nothing, therefore, can be Moses spake to Israel (Deut. vi. more expressive of our ingratitude, 6-9; xi. 18, 19), what the Psalmrebellion, and alienation from God, ist teaches (Psalm i., xix., cxix), than the general neglect of the and Solomon (Prov. ii. 1-6), and Bible, which prevails among those what is contained in the following that profess to believe it to be his passages of the New Testament word. (John, v. 39, 40; Acts, xvii. 11;

Doth he then speak from heaven 2 Tim. ii. 15-17). Indeed the to us sinners about the way of eter- apostles and evangelists always reanal salvation? and shall we refuse soned from and appealed to the to hear his gracious words? Does Scriptures of the Old Testament, he give us a book to teach us to be and suppose the Jews to be achappy in this world and for ever? quainted with them; and the penand shall we not study it? Does he men of the New assure us "those make known to us mortals, those things were written, that we might glories which angels adore with believe that Jesus is the Christ, unceasing rapture? and shall we the Son of God; and that believing turn away with contemptuous aver- we might have life through his sion? Hath he provided for us sin- name" (John, xx. 31).

ners such a redemption, as sinless The case then is plain, that our "angels desire to look into?" and obligation to search the Scriptures shall we think the subject unworthy is indispensable; and that it is a of our notice? Who can pretend to duty of the greatest importance. justify this conduct? Yet how much Every person, therefore, who allows more pains do lawyers, physicians, them to be the infallible word of and other students, who desire to God, must be convicted in his own excel in their professions, bestow conscience of acting in an unreain poring over voluminous authors, sonable and criminal manner, if he than men, called Christians, do in do not diligently study them: and searching the Scriptures? Yea, how the general neglect of men in this many give a decided preference to great concern, manifestly proves amusing and ingenious trifles, or them not to be fully satisfied, that political discussions (not to say the Bible was given by inspiration publications suited to corrupt their from God, and that it reveals the principles and morals), above the only way of peace and salvation. sacred word of God. They would We do not urge men to believe.

their care.

without evidence; but we call upon spiration from God, and is profitthem humbly and seriously to ex-able for doctrine, for reproof, for amine the proofs afforded them, correction, and instruction in rightthat the Scriptures are the word of eousness; that the man of God may God; and then to bestow pains to be perfect, thoroughly furnished learn the religion contained in them, unto all good works;" so every and to compare the doctrine we word demands a measure of our propose with that unerring stand-attention. It is, therefore, a very ard, from which we profess to have great hinderance to edification, when learned it. Nor can we doubt, but serious persons rest satisfied with they will be left speechless at the text books, and abstracts from Scripday of judgment, who will not com- ture, or with a few favourite pasply with such requisitions, whatever sages, that are continually resorted excuses or pretences they may make to, whilst the rest of God's word is at present. This being determined, little regarded; and above all, those it may be useful to give a few di- parts are neglected which teach rections to those who are convinced men the particulars of the Chrisof their duty in this particular; and tian temper, and of those duties in desire to attend to it with profit to which they are most deficient. themselves, or those placed under It hath been found very useful by many to divide the Bible into two I. Examine the whole of the sa- or three parts, and to read a portion cred Scriptures. I do not mean, from each of them in order, in the that the same degree of attention morning, at noon, and in the eveand time should be employed about ning, as people have leisure and every part of the Bible: some things opportunity; allowing a larger meaare but more remotely useful to us; sure of time to the New Testament, some are easily understood and ap- or devotional parts of the Old; and plied; others require more close reading these wholly, or princiand frequent investigation; whilst pally, on the Lord's day, or other the obscurity of some passages seasons set apart for religion. This, (especially to unlearned readers) in a course of years, will bring a renders them less adapted to their man familiarly acquainted with the edification. Yet every part of the whole Scriptures. And though sacred oracles has its use, and singing the praises of God very throws light upon the rest: and as properly forms a part of family preachers very properly make their worship, where both can be atappeal to the Scriptures, in support tended to; yet reading the Scripof their doctrines; so the hearers tures in course (with a few excepcannot so well judge how far their tions, at the discretion of him who arguments are conclusive, unless officiates) seems a most valuable they have a competent acquaintance method of preparing the minds of with the whole of them. Nor is children and servants for profiting the Bible so large a book, but that by public instruction, as well as for even they, who have not much giving them a comprehensive view leisure, may, in process of time, of our holy religion. get a general knowledge of it in It is also very advantageous to every part; if they bestow a mea- ministers, and others who have sure of diligence, proportioned to much leisure, to vary their method the value of the acquisition and of reading: at some times going "all Scripture is given by in- through a larger portion, with a

as

more general regard to the scope be improved by it. It may also be of the sacred writer: at others, mi- observed, that hearing sermons, nutely examining every word and reading religious books, or joining sentence in a smaller portion; its in pious discourse, will often misconnexion with the context, and lead, and seldom profit those, who coincidence with other Scriptures: do not compare the whole with the and to mark well the harmony and sacred Scriptures, by "daily searchmutual subserviency of every part ing them, to know whether things of divine truth; the proportion of are so or no."

one part to another; the distinct III. Read the Bible with the parts of which the whole consists, express purpose of appropriating and the way in which the several the information communicated by subjects are stated, handled, ar- it, from God to man. When we

ranged, and expressed.

have humbly and attentively conII. Search the Scriptures daily. sidered and ascertained the meanDivine truth is the food of the soul, ing of any proposition, we should which wants its nourishment as implicitly believe it, how contrary often as the body does. That day soever it may be to our former opimust have been misspent, in which nion, or that of others in reputation no part of the Scriptures has been for wisdom. We ought to reveread, or meditated on; we should rence the authority, omniscience, therefore redeem time from indo- veracity, and faithfulness of the lence, recreation, useless visits, Lord, who speaks to us in his word; trifling conversation, &c., for this not doubting the truth or importemployment: and then no lawful ance of any of his instructions, but business would prevent any one studying the meaning of them in from finding a little leisure, morning docility and patience. Thus imand evening at least, for reading bibing wisdom and knowledge from some portion of the scripture; which their source, through the appointed would furnish the mind with sub-medium, we shall grow more learnjects for meditation, when not ne- ed in divine things than any teachers cessarily engrossed about other or aged students, who lean to their matters, to the exclusion of vain own understandings, (Psalm cxix. thoughts and polluting imagina- 98-100); even as the bosom friend tions. The more habitual this prac-of the prince, who learns his setice becomes, the greater pleasure crets from his own lips, will know will it afford: and even the old more of his designs than any conChristian will not think that his jectural politicians can do, though knowledge renders it superfluous, their sagacity and abilities be far or seek an excuse for omitting it; superior to his. but will apply to it as a healthful IV. Use helps, in searching the person craves and relishes his food. Scriptures, but do not depend on I would especially enforce it upon them. The labours of those pious the consciences of the young, not men, who have spent their lives in to let any day begin or end, without studying and elucidating the sareading carefully a portion of Scrip- cred oracles, may be very profitable ture: this will become in a short to those who either have less leisure time a most useful habit; and if or ability, or who are newly engaged they are abridged of a little sleep in such researches: and it savours by this means, their bodies will of self-sufficiency to undervalue not be injured, and their minds will either commentators or other writers

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