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CHAPTER II.

THE BIBLE TO BE Studied.

In order that home may be made happy, the Bible must have a prominent influence. If the father, the mother, the children, the domestics are governed by its precepts in their intercourse with each other-if the motives which it presents lead to faithfulness in their various and appropriate duties, home will indeed be a happy place. But that the Bible may produce its due influence upon the intellect and the heart, improving and enriching the one, and regulating and controlling the other so as to fit it for heaven, it must be so read and studied, that it shall be considered an interesting book, an agreeable study, while its truths sinking deep into the heart will spring up and bear fruit unto eternal life. One would think that it needed but to be known that the Bible is the word of God, the only guide to heaven, to ensure its being read with the deepest interest. is not so. Many who believe it to be the word of inspiration, consider it a dull book. They would not say so in words, but their practice proves it. It is read in reality as a task—a duty which conscience will not suffer them to neglect. They would gladly have it otherwise, but how to awaken interest they know not. The rich treasures of the Bible, treasures which may be found by the wayfaring man as well as by the gifted intellect are hidden from them.

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Some methods of studying the Bible we shall describe. The solitary and social study of it are both attended with peculiar advantages. The first can and should be pursued by every Christian, whatever his circumstances may be ;-the second should never be neglected where practicable. In the first, the soul may more fully realize that it is listening to the instructions of its Maker,-the attention is more undividedly fixed upon the truths before it, it is more ready to see and to feel how far it falls short of the requirements of that pure and holy standard of action; and fervent desires are awakened, that its spirit and principles may reign in the heart. Perhaps this method of study is to be preferred for the devotional and preceptive parts.

There are various ways of studying the Bible alone. One is to select some topic, and collect all the passages that relate to it. Take, for instance, the omnipresence and omnipotence of God. With the aid of a Concordance, find all the passages that tell us, that we can never for a moment fly from the presence of our Creator, either in this life or that to come, or conceal a thought or feeling from him. If a Concordance cannot be had, slowly turn over the Psalms and the Epistles, or any portion of the Bible where you think you may find texts relating to these truths, and write out on paper every one that meets your eye. Such pas

sages as these will occur: "Thou, God, seest me;" "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good;" "There is not a word in my tongue, but lo! O Lord, thou knowest it altogether;" "God will bring every work into judgment, and every secret thing, whether it be good or evil."

Now, if such passages as these are transcribed, and

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their solemn import considered in solitude, their influence will be felt in the busy scenes of life-amidst temptations to forget God, and our accountability to him. The subjects that may be examined in this way are innumerable, and no one, who honestly wishes to increase his acquaintance with the Bible, can pursue this method of study without becoming interested in it. One very important advantage that results from it is, it enables us to classify our knowledge of particular subjects. If the passages which describe the unrenewed heart are collected in this way, and written out, and their meaning considered, they will become impressed upon the memory, and by the laws of association so united, that when one occurs to the mind the others will follow. Let a collection be made of the express invitations which Christ himself gave to the burdened sinner, such as, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest;""Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out," &c.; or the most striking texts from the Epistles, which teach us, that salvation is to be obtained only through our great Atoning Sacrifice, and they will be similarly associated. Knowledge of any kind is of no use unless we have it at our command. Classification of it gives us command over it to a great extent. A ready recollection of texts of Scripture upon particular subjects, will be very valuable to the Christian, and it may often enable him to give a word of timely reproof to the sinner, of admonition to the wanderer, of wise counsel to his fellow-pilgrims in difficulty, or of comfort in affliction. It will assist

him to grow in grace, by enabling him to adapt more constantly his spiritual food to his own spiritual wants.

It is a very good plan, when studying the Bible in private, to write paraphrases, or simple, full and clear statements of facts which you may find in the chapter you may be reading, in the same style that you describe occurrences of the present day. One advantage of this plan is, it will assist very much in breaking up the mechanical habits of reading the Bible, which exist to a greater or less extent, in all minds that have been familiar with it from infancy. Try this experiment with some chapter that you have read a hundred times, perhaps till you are almost as familiar with its peculiar phraseology as with your alphabet, and it will increase your interest surprisingly. New and interesting ideas will be suggested that have never occurred before, and you will be amply repaid for your labour. Do not shrink from this exercise because of the difficulties in the way. Remember, that valuable improvement of any kind cannot be made without paying the price for it; and the intellectual and spiritual benefits which attend a humble, careful, prayerful study of the Bible are rich, varied, abundant, in whatever form it may be pursued. The more the mind is interested the greater the benefit.

But I intended to describe this exercise more particularly for my younger readers, and I shall be best understood if I give directions for re-writing some particular chapter, and they will apply essentially to any other one. The sixth chapter of John is the first one that suggests itself. The sea of Galilee is mentioned in the first verse. you do not distinctly recollect where it is, ascertain, and when it is fixed in your mind, read over attentively the first four or five verses, observe the reason assigned why the multitudes followed Christ.

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Form as distinct a conception as possible of the whole scene, and then describe it. Next give an account of the conversation between the Saviour and his disciples, with respect to the way in which refreshment was to be provided for the weary and fainting multitude before them. Imagine, if you can, and then describe, the mingled feelings of surprise, and distrust, and confidence, with which the disciples probably obeyed the directions of their Master to seat the immense assembly on the grass, while he prepared to distribute among them the scanty portions which, to humar view, five barley loaves and two small fishes, would have made even for a very much smaller number. Bring the case as clearly as you can before your mind. Think how the people would look, seated in companies, the Saviour standing, his disciples around him, the loaves in his hands. He implores a blessing upon the food about to be eaten, breaks the loaves and gives them to the disciples, who offer to each one in turn as much of the bread and fish as he chooses to have. Notice, as you go on writing, the lesson of frugality our Saviour taught, in directing to have the fragments gathered up; and always in these exercises write out fully and distinctly the meaning of passages which teach some duty to our fellow-creatures or to our Creator. In this way go through with the chapter or any portion of it, not passing over a single important fact or sentiment, without expressing it in a new form, and more fully than it is in the original. The influence of these exercises would be very valuable in promoting intellectual improvement, by assisting to form habits of close and careful observation when reading. An individual possessed of such habits of mind, will eventually have a rich