Imatges de pàgina
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the ceremonial nor moral law, can procure our acceptance with God, but faith in his covenant of mercy established through Christ;-the former asserts, that "faith without works" is insufficient for this purpose, and that it must be such as produces a constant and persevering endeavour to keep God's commandments, as the best test of its genuine nature and beneficial effects. Thus, the sentiments of the two apostles may be easily reconciled. In short, there is no disagreement in any doctrine of scripture, but one uniform and consistent tenour of sound principles and virtuous practice is recommended throughout every part of the sacred writings.-But the concluding book of scripture, known by the name of the Revelation, is accused of obscurity above all the rest, and therefore said to be unprofitable. Yet who can tell, how much the truth of Christianity may be illustrated in future ages by the fulfilment of those apocalyptic prophecies which now appear so enigmatical and mysterious? Let us wait patiently the time appointed by the Father, for bringing again the captivity of Jacob," and "the fulness of the Gentiles" into the Christian church; when "the knowledge of the Lord shall fill the earth, as the waters cover the sea." Let us be careful to improve the knowledge we derive from the scriptures, for our own edification and instruction in righteousness; for they contain a complete system of theological and moral science; not arranged indeed with order and regularity, but requiring our study and research, our selection and application, that we may by the precepts therein delivered, be thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

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Such being the utility of scripture, it may be interesting to shew,

II. The obligations under which we are to search them for our edification.

Let us consider that the scriptures are the word of God, which is given to lead and guide us unto all truth. Do we regard it as necessary to know the statutes of the realm in which we live, in order to render us submissive to every ordinance of man; and shall we not be much

more concerned to discover what the Lord requireth of us, as subjects of his moral government? Hath he enjoined statutes and ordinances for our observance, and shall we remain ignorant what they are? Nay, hath he informed mankind what is well-pleasing in his sight, and what will provoke his indignation, and shall we "care for none of these things?" Hath he delivered a full and complete declaration of his will in the scriptures, and shall we deem ourselves at liberty either to regard or disregard it at pleasure? No: for it is only by obeying his will that we can secure his favour, which is better than life; it is only by keeping his commandments that we can approve ourselves to him in well-doing.

But how shall we become acquainted with his will and commandments, unless by reading the scriptures in which they are contained? There only can we ascertain the extent of our duty, and the particular obligations incumbent upon us; there only can we be informed what we must believe and do in order to salvation. We are not now left to act according as our several inclinations may sug gest, and be either religious and holy, or profane and sensual as we please-no: for the scriptures teach us, that "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, and righteously, and godly in the world." Therein we find the most strict and excellent precepts for e gulating our thoughts and words, our passions and tempers, our dispositions and habits; and the most definite rules prescribed for directing our conduct both towards God and man. Therein we have the most powerful motives for enforcing our obedience, derived from our present and future happiness, calculated to awaken our hopes and fears, and inspire us with a resolution of devoting ourselves to the service of that God "who is able to do exceeding abundantly for us above all that we can ask or think." Therein also are we instructed in the method adopted for saving us from sin and misery, by the incarnation and death of the son of God, and the means we must employ to become partakers of his redemption. These and similar subjects of equal importance are revealed in the scriptures for our belief; and it is the will of

God that we should study to observe all things written in the book of the law to do them.

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He hath delivered to us a complete code of laws for teaching us our duty, and warned us that by them we shall be judged at the last day; and it hence becomes a most serious concern for each of us to inquire what the will of the Lord is, and whether we are walking in his commandments or not. For how shall we escape, if we neglect to receive the words of everlasting life, which are given as "a light unto our feet, and a lamp unto our path?" Has God sent his servants the prophets, in ancient times, and in these last days spoken unto us by his own Son; has he inspired the apostles to declare to us the message of reconciliation, and preserved the whole of his revealed will in the scriptures of truth; and shall we make light of his sacred oracles by refusing to examine them? Assuredly, when God hath thus condescended to become our teacher it becomes us to imbibe the instructions he communicates, if we would "learn his righteous statutes."

But we are not left to infer our obligations to search the scriptures, we are expressly commanded to perform this duty. Thus we are enjoined to "lay up the words of the living God in our heart and in our soul, and teach them diligently to our children even to the third and fourth generation." It is also written, that "the book of the law shall not depart out of our mouth, but we shall meditate therein day and night, that we may observe to do all that is contained therein; for then shall we make our way prosperous, and we shall have great success.In conformity with this, the psalmist says, of the pious man, that "his delight is in the law of the Lord, and therein doth he meditate day and night."-Isaiah, wishing to convince the people how important the study of the scriptures was, exhorts them "to seek out the book of the law and read," that they might know all that God commanded them.-Our Lord, knowing the valuable information that may be derived from the sacred writings, persuades the Jews to "search the scriptures, for in them are the words of everlasting life, and they are these which testify of him." "For whatsoever things were written

aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through faith and patience might have hope."

If this be the case with the Old Testament, which contains a dispensation of things that is now abolished, how much more worthy of our study is the New, which details the account of that gracious covenant into which God hath entered with his own Son for bringing us to glory and to happiness! Accordingly we are told, that the gospels are written "that men might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that believing they might have life through his name." But how shall they believe, unless they read and study, and apply them for their instruction in righteousness?-Indeed so careful were the apostles to enforce upon their converts the perusal of the scriptures, that St. Paul directs his epistles to be read not only by the persons to whom they were written, but "by all the holy brethren."-And St. John, in the beginning of the Revelation, which seems least fitted of any for common use, encourages Christians to peruse it, when he says, "blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy of this book."-Such was the veneration paid to the scriptures by the primitive Christians, that they employed their thoughts continually in meditating on them; they carried about a copy of them wherever they went, to supply themselves with materials for useful reflection, and gave up their lives rather than part with so sacred a treasure. Shall we not be equally solicitous to know the will of God by inquiring what he would have us to do? Shall we not be constrained by the divine commands enforcing us, to impress upon our minds the truths revealed in the scriptures, lest at any time we should let them slip?

Our obligations to study the scriptures will appear still more clearly, by considering the evil consequences which ensue from neglecting them. While we daily consult the oracles of truth for information on subjects of religion, we shall by such application become familiarly acquainted with that knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation. But if we seldom or never examine the contents of the sacred volume, we shall be liable to ignorance, uncertainty,

and error, in matters of the utmost importance. We shall form wrong notions of God and of ourselves, of this world and the next; we shall neither understand his holiness nor our own sinfulness, the superior importance of our spiritual to our temporal interests, nor the qualifications necessary for rendering us meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. A sense of these things shall wear out of our minds, and we shall gradually acquire such a careless temper as to live without religion in the world.—If also we neglect to inquire into the several duties and right dispositions which the scriptures inculcate, we shall at last become regardless of conformity to the divine will, we shall live" according to the fashion of the world which lieth in wickedness;" and as we do not like to retain the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, "God will give us over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient," till we be averse to every good work. Such, in general, is the result of neglecting to search the scriptures; and accordingly we find, that those who have disused the practice of reading the word of God in their families and in their closets, become lukewarm in the profession of religion, and insensible to the value of their spiritual and eternal interests. If we would be religious, not in name only, but in deed and in truth; let us search the scriptures, as we shall find them profitable for doctrine and instruction in righteousness, and be thereby furnished unto all good works.

That we may derive advantage from the reading of the scriptures, consider,

III. The manner in which this exercise should be performed.

It is evident, that as the divine oracles contain a great variety of matter, with all of which we should be acquainted; it is necessary we should frequently apply ourselves to study and examine them. If we wish to attain a knowledge in any art or science, it is only by repeated trials in the practice of it that we can at last excel. If we would become versant in the subject which any book illustrates, it is only by perusing it often that we can gain a compe

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