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motives and conduct of the characters described. If they are unconverted men, you will learn the workings of human depravity, and discover what influence a correct religious public sentiment has in restraining that depravity. If they are good men, you will see, in their good actions, living illustrations of the great doctrines of the Bible. Endeavor to learn by what means they made such attainments in holiness, and strive to imitate them. If any of their actions are bad, look back and inquire into the cause of their backslidings. If you discover it, you will find a waymark, to caution you against falling into the same pit.

8. The poetical and didactic parts of the Scriptures are scattered throughout the whole Bible. These abound with highly-wrought figures. This is probably owing partly to the insufficiency of ordinary language to express the lofty and sublime ideas presented to the minds of the writers by the Spirit of truth, and partly to the method of communicating ideas which always prevails in the infancy of language. Endeavor to understand the figures used. They are often taken from prevailing habits and customs, and from circumstances peculiar to the countries where the Scriptures were written. These habits and circumstances you must understand, or you will not see the force of the allusions. Others are taken from circumstances peculiar to particular occupations in life. These must also be thoroughly studied, in order to be understood. But where the figures are drawn from things perfectly familiar, you will not perceive their surprising beauty and exact fitness to express the idea of the sacred

penman, until you have carefully studied them, and noted the minutest circumstances. Beware, however, that you do not carry out these figures so far as to lead you into fanciful and visionary interpretations.

9. The books of the prophets consist of reproofs, exhortations, warnings, threatenings, predictions, and promises. By carefully studying the circumstances and characters of those for whom they were written, you will find the principles and laws of God's government set forth, in their application to nations, communities, and individuals. From these you may draw practical rules of duty, and also learn how to view the hand of God, in his providence, in different ages of the world. The predictions contained in these books are the most difficult to be understood of any part of the Bible. In reading them you will notice,

(1.) Those predictions whose fulfilment is recorded in the Bible, and diligently examine the record of their fulfilment. You will see how careful God is to fulfil every jot and tittle of his word.

(2.) There are other prophecies, the fulfilment of which is recorded in profane history; and others still which are yet unfulfilled. To understand these, it will be necessary to read ancient and modern history, in connection with the explanation of the prophecies, by those writers who have made them their study. Attention to this, so far as your circumstances will admit, will be useful in enlarging your views of the kingdom of Christ. But beware of becoming so deeply absorbed in these matters as to neglect those of a more practical nature; and, especially, be cautious of ad

vancing far into the regions of speculation, as to what is yet future.

10. You will find it an interesting and profitable employment, occasionally to read a given book through for the purpose of seeing what light it throws upon some particular point of Christian doctrine, duty, practice, or character. For example, go through with Acts, with your eye upon the doctrine of Christ's divinity. Then go through with it a second time, to see what light it throws on the subject of Revivals of Religion. Pursue the same course with other books, and in respect to other subjects. In this way, you will sometimes be surprised to find how much you have overlooked in your previous reading.

The foregoing suggestions may appear formidable, on account of the time and study requisite to carry them into execution. But it is to be remembered that the young Christian has his lifetime before him, and that his great business is to obtain a knowledge of divine things. The plan is not sketched with the expectation that every thing here recommended will be accomplished in a single year; but with the view of laying out business for life.

CHAPTER VII.

PRAYER.

CHRIST and the apostles insist much on the duty of prayer; and this service has ever been the delight of the true children of God. In ancient times, it was considered the distinguishing mark of the pious that they "called upon God." All the holy men of God, of whom we read in the Scriptures, abounded in prayer. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, erected altars to the Lord wherever they pitched their tents. Moses, David, Elijah, Daniel, and other eminent saints, under the Old Testament, were mighty in prayer. The Jews regarded this as so essential to a pious life, that their houses were furnished each with an apartment for private devotion; and, in the mountains and desert places, little oratories were erected, to which devout persons retired, for more protracted seasons of communion with God. The Lord Jesus, our great Pattern, has set before us a life of prayer. The spirit of devotion characterized all that he did. He observed special seasons of prayer, before engaging in matters of importance. After having been employed in the work of his ministry, in the most laborious manner, during the day, we find him retiring to the mountains, or to some desert place, to commune with his Father;

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sometimes spending the whole night in prayer to God. And his example was followed by his apostles, whom he endowed with inspiration and miraculous gifts, to qualify them for settling the order of the Christian dispensation. But, if it became inspired apostles, and even the Lord of life and glory, to spend much time in prayer, how much more such weak and sinful creatures as we are, who are surrounded with temptations without, and beset with corruptions within!

The advantages of prayer are twofold. It secures to us the blessings which we need, and also brings us into a proper attitude for receiving them. The Lord does not need to be informed of our wants, for they are open to his view before they are known to us; but he has been pleased to require us to ask for the things which we desire, as one condition of granting them. And surely it is a reasonable requirement, that we should thus acknowledge our dependence upon Him"from whom cometh down every good and perfect gift." Moreover, the necessity of so doing leads us to a sense of our need, to feel our unworthiness, and to keep in view our dependence upon God. It likewise exercises our faith in his existence, and confidence in his promises. This is the great channel of intercourse between man and his Maker, and should, therefore, be esteemed not merely a duty, but a most blessed privilege.

As to the nature of prayer, it is the offering up of the sincere desires and devout emotions of the heart to God. It consists of the several parts of adoration, confession, supplication, intercession, and thanksgiv