speak thus in express terms: but if we bring our preconceived opinions or purposes, not in order to examine them strictly by the test of Scripture, but to find or wrest some passages in the word of God to countenance or justify ourselves; if our desire is not simply to be led in the very way of God's commandments; if we are not really willing to discover every error and evil that may be in us, in order to forsake them; we closely imitate these deceitful, obstinate, insolent Jews, be our pretences ever so fair; and are liable to the like dreadful judgment for our hypocrisy; the curse of God upon our devices here, and the portion of his enemies hereafter.

Where this sincerity is wanting, every thing is wrong; neither praying, nor hearing, nor reading, can profit. The Scripture abounds with the severest threatenings against those who presume to mock the all-seeing God: I shall only produce one passage from Ezekiel xiv. 5. "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in "their hearts, and put the stumbling-block of iniquity "before their faces: should I be inquired of at all by "them? Every man of the house of Israel that set"teth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stum"bling-block of iniquity before his face, and cometh

to the prophet, I, the Lord, will answer him that cometh, according to the multitude of his idols." I say not this that I would have any one throw aside the ordinances of God, especially his public worship. These are the means which God has appointed, in which he has commanded us to wait, and where he is often pleased to be found, even by those who seek him not. But I would entreat such persons seriously to consider the dreadful condition they would be in, if death should suprise them in such a state of insincerity as renders

their very prayers and sacrifices "an abomination to "the Lord," and perverts those things which are designed for their advantage, into an occasion of their falling.

A second thing necessary is Diligence. This, with the former, is finely described in the book of Proverbs.

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my "commandment within thee; so that thou incline thine "ear to wisdom, and apply thine heart to under"standing: yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and "liftest up thy voice for understanding: if thou seek"est her as silver, and searchest for her as hid trea"sures: then shalt thou understand the fear of the "Lord, and find the knowledge of God, Prov. ii. The wisdom of God, in which we are concerned, is contained in his word. The best understanding is to keep his commandments, Psal. cxi.; but as we cannot keep them unless we know them, neither can we know them without a diligent inquiry. The word which is rendered search, EpEvaw, is borrowed from the practice of miners: it implies two things, to dig, and to examine. First, with much labour they pierce the earth to a considerable depth; and when they have thus found a vein of precious ore, they break and sift it, and suffer no part to escape their notice. Thus must we join frequent assiduous reading, with close and awakened meditation; comparing spiritual things with spiritual, carefully taking notice of the circumstances, occasion, and application of what we read: being assured, that there is a treasure of truth and happiness under our hands, if we have but skill to discover and improve it. Only let us be mindful that we have the same views in reading the Scripture, that God has in revealing it to us; which the apostle thus enumerates :

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"All Scripture," or the whole Scripture, a yea‡n, "is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for "doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction "in righteousness; that the man of God may be per"fect, thoroughly furnished to every good work," 2 Tim. iii. And elsewhere it is said to be able to make us "wise unto salvation." How absurd would it be for a man to read a treatise of husbandry with a design of learning navigation, or to seek the principles of trade and commerce in an essay on music? No less absurd is it to read or study the Scriptures with any other view than to receive its doctrines, submit to its reproofs, and obey its precepts, that we may be made" wise unto salvation." All disquisitions and criticisms that stop short of this, that do not amend the heart as well as furnish the head, are empty and dangerous, at least to ourselves, whatever use they may be of to others. An experience of this caused a learned critic and eminent commentator, (Grotius,) to confess, towards the close of his life, Vitam prorsus perdidi, laboriose nihil agendo! Alas! I have wasted my life in much labour to no purpose! But, on the contrary, when we are diligent and studious, that we may be better acquainted with the divine precepts and promises, and better inclined to observe and trust them, then we may hope for happy success; for, "blessed is "the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and "who meditates therein day and night: for he shall "be like a tree planted by rivers of waters, which "bringeth forth its fruit in due season; his leaf also "shall not wither, and whatsoever he doth," under this influence, "shall prosper," Ps. i. Thus God has promised, and thus many have found it, and been enabled to adopt the words of David, "Thou through

"thy commandments hast made me wiser than my "enemies, for they are ever with me: I have more understanding than all my teachers, for thy testimo"nies are my meditation." Ps. cxix.

Humility is a third thing very necessary to a profitable perusal of the Scriptures. "God giveth his grace to the humble," James iv.: "He will guide "the meek in judgment, he will enlighten the simple "in his way," Ps. xxv. The proud he resisteth,

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TITIT he draws up against him, he prepares himself, as it were, with his whole force, to oppose his progress. A most formidable expression! If God only leaves us to ourselves, we are all ignorance and darkness; but what must be the dreadful case of those against whom he appears in arms? This has been a principal source of those various and opposite heresies and mistakes, which are the reproach of our holy profession, that vain man, though born a mere "wild "ass's colt," Job xi. has undertaken, by his own strength and wisdom, to decide authoritatively on the meaning of Scripture; without being aware of the ignorance, prejudice, and weakness, which influence his judgment in religious matters; without knowing the utter inability of the natural man to discern the things of God, and without attending to those means the Scripture itself has appointed for the redress of these evils. But would we not lose our time and pains, would we wish not to be misled ourselves, or not to mislead others, let us aim at a humble spirit: let us reflect much on the majesty and grandeur of the God we serve: let us adore his condescension in favouring us with a revelation of his will let us learn to consider the word of God, and the wisdom of God, as terms of the same import; in a word, let us study to VOL. II. 2 U

know ourselves, our sinfulness and ignorance; then we shall no longer read the Scriptures with indifference or prepossession, but with the greatest reverence and attention, and with the most enlarged expectation.

I shall mention but one thing more upon this head, which is as necessary in itself as any of the preceding, and likewise necessary in order to obtain them, and that is Prayer. Sincerity, diligence, and humility, are the gifts of God; the blessing we seek in the exercise of them is in his hands; and he has promised to bestow all good things, even "his holy Spirit, upon "those who ask him." Prayer is indeed the best half of our business while upon earth, and that which gives spirit and efficacy to all the rest. Prayer is not only our immediate duty, but the highest dignity, the richest privilege we are capable of receiving on this side eternity; and the neglect of it implies the deepest guilt, and includes the heaviest punishment. A stranger to prayer, is equally a stranger to God and to happiness, "like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed," James i. Are any of you, my friends, unacquainted with prayer? Then are you without God in the world, without a guide in prosperity, without resource in distress, without true comfort in life, and, while you continue so, without hope in death. But, especially, you are utterly unqualified to "search the "Scripture." There is a veil upon the mind and heart of every man, (as the apostle assures us, 2 Cor. iii.) so that he can neither see, nor embrace heavenly truths, till this impediment is removed: the means of this is prayer. Therefore David says, "Open thou "mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of

thy law," Ps. cxix. He knew there were wonderful things contained in the law, but confesses himself inca.