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84

DIVINE AID.

SELF-APPLICATION.

secure, we should take care to have every thing about our persons adjusted in the most becoming manner. So let it be with our minds when we come to converse with God. Let us shut out all worldly thoughts, and strive to secure a tranquil, holy, and tender frame, so that the truths we contemplate may make their proper impression upon our hearts.

III. Seek the aid of the Holy Spirit. Christ promised his disciples that, when the Holy Spirit should come, he would "guide them into all truth." Without his enlightening influences, we cannot understand the word of God; and without his gracious influences, we shall not be disposed to obey it. But we have the most abundant encouragement to seek the aid of this divine Instructor. Christ assures us that God is more willing to give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him, than earthly parents are to give good gifts to their children. Before opening God's word, therefore, we should pray that he would show us the truth, the rule of our duty, and incline our hearts to obey it; and, as we proceed, keep our hearts silently lifted up to God for the same object.

Whenever you

IV. Read with self-application. have discovered any truth, ask what bearing it has upon present duty. If it relates to spiritual affections, compare with it the state of your own heart. If it relates to the spirit and temper of Christians, in their intercourse with one another, or with the world, compare it with your own conduct. If it relates to some positive duty, inquire whether you have done it. And, wherever you find yourself deficient, endeavor to

READ THE BIBLE

REGULARLY.

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exercise repentance, and seek for pardon through the blood of Christ, with grace to enable you to correct what is wrong.

V. Read the Scriptures regularly. A daily supply of refreshment is no less necessary for the soul than for the body. The word of God is the bread of eternal life," the food of the soul." Take, then, your regular supplies, that your soul may not famish. Choose for this purpose those seasons when you are least liable to interruption; when you can retire and shut out the world; when you can best command the energies of your mind. There is no time more fit and suitable for this than the morning. Then the mind is clear, vigorous, unencumbered, and prepared to receive impressions. There is also a propriety in consulting God's word at the close of the day. But this depends much on the state of the body. If you become exhausted and dull, after the labors of the day, I would rather recommend taking the whole time in the morning. But by no means confine yourself to these stated seasons. Whenever the nature of your pursuits will admit of your seclusion for a sufficient length of time to fix your mind upon the truth, you may freely drink from this never-failing fountain the water of life.

If you

VI. Study the Scriptures systematically. read at random, here a little and there a little, your views of divine truth will be partial and limited. This method may, indeed, be pursued in regard to reading strictly devotional; but only when other time is taken for obtaining a connected view and a critical under

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STUDY SYSTEMATICALLY.

standing of the whole Bible. The Holy Scriptures are like a dish of savory meats. There is almost every variety of style and matter. There is history, biography, argumentative and didactic essays, and poetry. Although these various kinds of writing are contained in a great number of books, written by various authors, at different times, without concert, yet a remarkable unity of design pervades the whole; and perfect harmony of sentiment prevails throughout. Every thing, from the very beginning, points to the glorious plan of redemption revealed in the gospel. Although we may, at first view, feel the want of a regular system of divinity, yet a careful attention to the subject will discover Divine Wisdom in the present arrangement. We have here the principles of his government exhibited in living examples; which give us a clearer view, and more vivid impression of them, than we could obtain from the study of an abstract system. In the systematic and thorough study of the Bible, the following hints may be of use:

1. Keep before your mind the grand design of the Scriptures; which is, to convince mankind of their lost and ruined condition, make known the way of salvation, and persuade them to embrace it.

2. Make it your constant aim to ascertain what is the plain and obvious meaning of the writer; for this is the mind of the Spirit. To aid you in this, observe the following particulars :

(1.) Endeavor to become acquainted with the peculiarity of each writer's style. Although the Scriptures were dictated by the Holy Spirit, yet it

POINTS OF INQUIRY.

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was so done that each writer employed a style and manner peculiar to himself. This does not invalidate the evidence of their divine origin, but the rather shows the wisdom of the Spirit; for, if the whole Bible had been written in a uniform style, it would have given opposers a strong argument against its authenticity; while the want of that uniformity furnishes conclusive evidence that it could not have been the work of a single impostor. Again, a continued sameness of style would make the reading of so large a book as the Bible tedious and unpleasant; but the rich variety presented by the various authors of this blessed book, helps our infirmities, and makes the reading of it pleasing and delightful.

(2.) "Inquire into the character, situation, and office of the writer; the time, place, and occasion of his writing; and the people for whose immediate use he intended his work." This will enable you to understand his allusions to particular circumstances and customs, and to see the practical application of the principles he advances.

(3.) Consider the principal scope or aim of the book; or what was the author's object, design, or intention, in writing it. Notice, also, the general plan or method which he has pursued. This will enable you to discover his leading ideas, if it be an argumentative work; or the particular instructions of God's providence, if it be historical.

(4.) Where the language is difficult to be understood, pay strict attention to the context, and you will generally find the author's meaning explained. But,

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DO NOT TASK YOURSELF.

if not, consider whether the difficult phrase is a peculiarity of the writer's style. If so, look out the place where he has used it in a different connection, and see what meaning is attached to it there. But if this does not satisfy you, examine the passages in other parts of the Scriptures which relate to the same subject, and compare them with the one under consideration. This will generally clear up the darkest passages. But if you still feel in doubt, you may find assistance from consulting commentators, who have made themselves acquainted with the particulars I have mentioned; which, with a knowledge of the language in which the book was originally written, may have enabled them to remove the difficulty. But, in reading commentaries, always bear in mind that they are the productions of fallible men, whose opinions are not to be taken for Scripture. You may, however, avail yourself of their knowledge, without submitting your mind implicitly to their judgment; and this you will be compelled to do, because, on many points, they differ in opinion.

3. Do not task yourself with a certain quantity of reading at the regular seasons devoted to the study of the Bible. This may lead you to hurry over it, without ascertaining its meaning or drinking into its spirit. You had better study one verse thoroughly, than to read half a dozen chapters carelessly. The nourishment received from food depends less on the quantity than on its being perfectly digested. So with the mind one clear idea is better than a dozen confused ones; and the mind, as well as the stomach, may be

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