he may draw from it materials to enlarge and beautify and establish his own system of philosophy, and every devotee to system, as well as every enemy to truth, has read the bible from age to age not to receive but to pervert and accommodate its testimony to their respective purposes. He who explores the sacred page, determined to find in it only what accords with his reason, or his inclination, will always need to be taught which are the first principles of the oracles of God. As well may the student in geography approach his maps predetermined what shall be the boundaries of each kingdom and where the mountains shall stand, and the rivers run. And yet there are many who study the Bible with the admission of its divine authority, understood in their own way, and with the threat that they will abandon it as being a revelation from God whenever its testimony upon certain points can be fairly shown to be against them. They will use the Bible as brick and mortar to build their own superstructure, but if it cannot be made subservient to that design they will reject it.

3. Read the scriptures daily. I will not say that in no case circumstances may be such as to justify an occasional omission, but ordinarily there can be no excuse for the omission. Life is short, and the cares and labours of life will make their daily and ample requisitions up on our time. He therefore who reads his Bible only when he finds himself at leisure, will read, and will understand but little of its sacred contents. There is no way but to command time by commanding circumstances in such a manner that a portion of each day, may be devoted to the employment of sitting at Jesus' feet and hearing his words. This we need to do, not only that we may advance in knowledge, but that we may retain what has been acquired, and renew upon the heart the enfeebled impression of truth. Every day, we need to hear again the command, the re

ward, the threatening, the exhortation, that taking to ourselves the whole armour of God we may be able to stand. Without such means of preservation, the tide of worldliness will bear us away. The reading of the Sabbath will not suffice, the time devoted to public worship, to family instruction and to works of necessity, leaves but a small portion for devout reading in retirement; or the mind may be enfeebled and confused by too much reading at one time.

The circumstance most likely to be plead for the neglect of reading the Bible daily; viz. want of time, is of all others one of the most powerful reasons for enforcing the duty.The very pressure of daily care and labour announces with fearful premonition now or never, for the habit of daily postponement will become a habit of almost entire neglect.

The benefits of reading the Bible depend greatly upon the frame of mind in which it is read. A cold heart approaching the sacred fire at distant intervals, receives but little light or heat. It is daily access which prepares the heart to receive impression and to avert that blindness of the understanding which is occasioned by the darkness of the heart.

4. Read the Bible with attention. The pages of inspiration may be glanced over without obtaining an idea, or receiving an impression, and in this manner usually, is the tax paid to conscience, when conscience instead of inclination brings the reluc tant student to his work. The catholic who for expedition counts his beads, each of which represents a prayer, knows as well for what he has prayed, as multitudes know what they have read, when they lay down their task book, the Bible. To be understood, the sacred page must be pondered. The mental eye must be constantly open to discern the meaning of each passage, and must pant with concentrated attention on passages less obvious, until their meaning breaks out with lustre. As the natur

the

alist wherever he travels keeps his eye open upon the works of nature, and seizes with eagerness every discovery, so should the christian explore the Bible, searching for wisdom as for hid treasure. There is a beauty in truth, upon which as we read, eye may fix in silent admiration. This is the mode of reading the Bible, which the christian loves. He meets with passages, which touch his heart, which suggest new trains of thought, which shed a lustre around him, disclosing to an unwonted extent the relations and glory of the revealed sys

tem.

5 Read the Bible with an intention to reduce to method the knowledge obtained.

The Bible is not written in the form of a regular system; but does it follow from this, that it does not contain a system? or that we may not profitably place each doctrine in its appropriate order,and draw around it its own appropriate testimony? Wisdom and goodness are displayed in scattering instruction, without method, throughout the sacred pages; here a little and there a little. Had the unwelcome doctrine been illustrated in separate chapters, they had been purposely neglected, as some do now neglect the IX of Romans; whereas every page is so imbued with knowledge as that wherever the eye falls, it meets instruction. Still a man may read his Bible all his days, and, without methodising his knowledge, be always weak in faith and waver.

Let the Bible then be studied.— Keep the eye open as you read, to whatever respects the great doctrines or duties of religion. Mark the testimony relevant to one and another point: collect the scattered rays and pour their concentrated light on their appropriate points, until each is placed in a state of intense illumination.

In this manner the jurist becomes learned in the law; he reads with exploring eye, treatises and reports, marks the relavency of decisions to the various principles of law, and brings his scattered authorities to sur

round and defend their appropriate positions. In other words, he reduces his knowledge to method and has it at command.

In like manner, the philosopher studies the book of nature. With curious eye he watches every fact and movement, observes to what subject they belong, and assigns to each its appropriate place, in evidence or illustration of nature's law, and in this manner only can the Bible be studied to the best effect. As assistant in this mode of exploring the Bible, passages appropriate to a particular subject, which occur in family reading or in retirement, may be marked at the time with a pencil, and at leisure be recorded in a text book, under the appropriate head of doctrine.

Another aid, and a great one in exploring the sacred volume, may be found, in consulting well constructed marginal references. Of these, those of Scott now printed in an octavo Bible, without note or comment, are undoubtedly the best in the world.By means of these a single text upon any doctrine refers you to the whole testimony of the Bible on that subject; and half an hour each day devoted to tracing references, will give in one year more methodical knowledge of the doctrines of the Bible than the cursory miscellaneous reading of an entire life.

The texts collected under appropriate heads in Weeks' Catechism, and the shorter Catechism, with proofs, may be consulted to great advantage. The reading of sermons is useful also on this account as well as others,because each sermon, if doctrinal, gives us, to some extent, the proof-texts on the subject of which it treats, some of which we may have overlooked.

The short discussions of christian doctrine and expositions of Scripture contained in religious periodical works are also of great use.

Error is always varying its mode of attack, and, beaten off the ground in one shape, it returns in altered guise to carry on the work of decep

tion, so that the victorious defences of one age, no longer shut out the speeious intruder.

Volumes are slowly made, and thinly scattered, and are read by comparatively few, and single sermons circulate to but a small distance, and are soon forgotten. A religious Magazine on the contrary, illustrates or defends a doctrine in a short compass, points the argument at the existing forms of error, extends its light to a greater extent, endures longer and is read more than sermons, while every year a continued defence is made, adapted to the exigences of the church and the shifting forms of error.

Every science and art has its repository, where facts are treasured and arguments are weighed, where every hint of improvement is recorded, and by such means the arts and sciences are improved, and by the same means may our knowledge in theology be advanced with equal success.

The very repetition of doctrinal discussion and illustration keeps the pious mind awake to the subject, and gives to truth. a more extended and powerful influence.

Another means of obtaining doctrinal knowledge may be found in the consultation of christian commentators, when it can be done; not with implicit confidence, but availing ourselves of the light which they shed upon the meaning of the bible, to aid in the formation of our own judgment. It would be singular if able men, honest and pious, devoting their life to the study of the bible, should not from their treasures of knowledge be able to furnish us material aid in understanding the Scriptures.

Expositions which may have cost them weeks and months of research, may be at the close presented to us, in five minutes, attended with such evidence as shall give entire satisfaction. All men cannot be commentators, but all by a judicious consultation of them may reap the fruit of their labours. Of the commentaries on the Bible, I regard that of Scott as among the most judicious, pious, and correct of those intended

for the use of families. Every family which is able to procure it, may regard itself as eminently favoured with the means of understanding the word of God.

Finally, the bible should be read and studied with prayer for the illumination and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

From the limited nature of our intellect, and the comprehensiveness of the subject, from our relative ignorance, from the influence of preconceived opinions, from prejudice, from pride of intellect, from depravity of heart, and the subtelties of others, we are greatly liable to be deceived.Against this danger no absolute defence is to be found, but in the preservation of God, and this is to be expected only in answer to prayer. A spirit of self-sufficiency in the study of the bible will almost inevitably mislead. Consciousness of our ig norance and depravity, and prayer to God for wisdom, must secure that guidance and that opening of the understanding to receive the scriptures, which are indispensable to our exemption from error.

To this account of the manner in which the bible should be read, some may perhaps be disposed to object that they have not time to devote to such investigation.

It is admitted that some christians, from their condition in life, have more time than others-and that those who are blessed with property, leisure and books, are bound to make progress in knowledge in accordance with their advantages. But can a reason be given why all, in every condition should not habitually read and study their bible? Are we living under the government of God and have we not time to read and understand his laws? Are we ruined by sin, and have we not time to explore the way of salvation? Are we polluted by sin, and have we not time by growing in knowledge, to advance our sanctification? Are we walking through a dark wilderness into eternity, and have we not time to attend to that bible which is the only light to