h

they also may be excited to seek the blessings of the Gospel, for an everlasting possession. "Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord". Recollect you are responsible, in a high degree, for the misconduct of those whom God has confided to your care. If they should become unrighteous for want of proper instruction and a good example, they will perish, "but their blood will be required at your hands." A consideration of the curse which will fall on the heads of those who have been negligent in their duty to their tender offspring and servants, and of the blessing which will come upon those parents who have honoured God by a religious life, will equally prompt you to use the utmost diligence in teaching all, under your immediate charge, the fear of the Lord; that, having served Him together on earth, you may mutually rejoice in His presence and favour in heaven.

The following remarks on the good which may be derived from the proper observation of the Sabbath, by Sir Matthew Hale, who was one of the most enlightened judges that ever sat on the English Bench, are worthy of the most serious attention. "I have, by long and sound experience, found that the due observance of this day, and of the duties of it, has been of singular comfort and advantage to me. The observance of this day hath ever had joined to it a blessing on the rest of my time; and the week that hath been so begun hath been blessed and prospered to me and, on the other side, when I have been negligent of the duties of this day, the rest of the week has been unsuccessful, and unhappy, as to my own secular employments; so that I could easily make an estimate of my successes in my own Eph. vi. 4.

i

Ezek. xxxiii. 6.

secular employments the week following, by the manner of my passing this day: and this I do not say slightly, or inconsiderately, but upon a long and sound observation and experience."

Nor is this account at all incredible, when it is considered that the Sabbath is a means of grace, in which God often smiles on the souls of his people, who are refreshed with the abundance of peace, whilst they "draw water out of the wells of Salvation".'

The promises of the Lord warrant us to expect that he will bestow tokens of his regard on those who honour His holy day. "To every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; even unto him will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and daughters: I will give him an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off."' ib. lvi. 3-8.

ii Isa. xii. 3.

LECTURE LXXIV.

John v. 39.

READING THE SCRIPTURES.

Search the Scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. IF God, from commiseration to our ruined condition, and from a desire to do what was expedient to make us happy, has vouchsafed the inestimable gift of his Holy Word, it is a duty incumbent on us to search, examine, and weigh its contents.

No consideration is wanting to enforce upon us a devout regard to the Scriptures. They are "given by inspiration of God:" and shall He speak to us about our salvation, and we refuse to listen to his gracious words? Is there nothing in a proclamation from

Heaven, to rebels who have made themselves obnoxious to His wrath, to engage their attention? Are we in danger every moment of mistaking our path, and destroying our souls; and can we coolly refuse a guide, who offers to conduct us safely through this troublesome world, to a land of everlasting rest and peace? Has the redemption of Christ, which is a theme so big with wonder that "angels desire to look into it," no power to attract our hearts? Surely, if we do not rightly esteem so invaluable a treasure, we not only affront God, but manifest a stupid unconcern about our eternal welfare,-an indifference which, in the end, will prove fatal to us, if we persist in it..

The diligent perusal and study of the Scriptures is strongly inculcated by God himself. "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart and thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children: and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."

All the Sacred Penmen exhort us to meditate frequently upon the Word of God. "Search the Scriptures," was the command of Christ; who, as well as his Apostles, constantly appealed to the Divine Oracles, supposing their hearers were acquainted with them. In the same manner, Ministers, in their public addresses, appeal to Scripture in support of the doctrines which they teach.

How, then, can their auditors be competent judges of the force of their arguments, unless they have some knowledge of the Bible? I shall, therefore, give some brief directions for performing this duty with advantage.

3 Deut. vi. 6-10.

b John v. 39.

1. Search the whole of the Scriptures contained in the Old and New Testaments, that you may see their design and tendency. Every part of the sacred volume should be accurately examined, in order that its relation to the rest may be better understood.'

It may be admitted, without undervaluing their just authority, that all the truths revealed in the Bible are not equally important; yet every thing which it contains has its special use, and is by no means unnecessary or unimportant. We may safely bestow less attention on those portions of Holy Writ which contain no doctrine of moment: yet the whole, as being the word of God, is entitled to a proportionate share of serious consideration; for one part throws light upon another; and therefore we cannot discern the coincidence and harmony of the Scriptures, unless we have a suitable acquaintance with the whole of them.

It would greatly facilitate our acquiring a general knowledge of the Bible, to assign separate portions of time for reading it. The Old Testament may be perused in the morning, and the New in the evening. When the whole is read, by the help of marginal references one passage may be compared with another, and thus the mutual dependence of the several parts on each other will be more distinctly seen: The New Testament will appear as a valuable clue to unravel the intricacies of the Old: and the important lessons which they both teach will appear to rest on the same common "foundation of/ the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself. being the chief corner-stone" da

By such a method as is here proposed, a person Eph. ii. 2022. !.

may become familiarly acquainted with the Scriptures in a few years: and, whilst the plan suggested of reading through the Bible will prove highly beneficial to parents and masters, it will be found profitable to children and servants, who will thereby obtain a comprehensive view of the religion of the Gospel, and be prepared for reaping every benefit from the public instructions of God's house.

2- Read the Bible every day; and not, as some do, merely on particular occasions, or, at most, on the Lord's Day, when their attention is more especially invited to it; but regularly, and at stated periods.

The Word of God is the food and nourishment of the soul, which requires constant support as well as the body. If, therefore, the mind be not frequently supplied with heavenly aliment, it will be filled with those vain thoughts which will only pollute and destroy itd.

In the morning, some leisure moments should be spared to inspect the Scriptures. And again, in the evening, when you retire from the bustle and labours of the day, the perusal of the Divine Word should be resumed.

The most striking texts and portions of it should be committed to memory, that they may direct our path, and instruct us how to discharge every duty.

Many advantages may be expected to result from this practice: you will thereby furnish yourselves with the strongest motives to a holy, discreet, useful, and happy life. When your minds are enlarged by an acquaintance with Sacred Writ, you will acquire the most valuable knowledge, applicable to the various

Gen. vi. 5. John vi. 63. Psalm xix. 10, 11.