will, and affiance on the divine truth and mercy, which have been found in the world since the fall of man, have arisen from a proper perception of this great truth, and the doctrines connected with it. Spirituality, (or delight in and supreme valuation of the holy excellence of spiritual things, and a disposition to seek pleasure and satisfaction in religion,) is intimately connected with a believing dependence on the promised influences of the Holy Spirit: and that view of the worth of the soul, the evil of sin, the justice and mercy of God, the vanity of the world, and the believer's obligations to a Saviour "who loved him, and redeemed him to God with his blood," which the doctrine of the cross communicates, is fundamental to deep repentance in genuine humility, gratitude, patience, meekness, forgiveness of injuries, love of enemies, and other parts of the Christian temper and character. Without this, a proud morality, and pharisaical task and form of godliness, will comprise the sum total of man's religion; except as he is brought under those impressions and leadings, which will in time influence him to embrace "the truth as it is in Jesus." This will appear more fully, and be proved more at large in the subsequent essays. The importance. of revealed truth, therefore, may be evidently perceived, both from the authority of Him who speaks to us in the Scripture; the various methods he has taken to confirm the words of his servants; and the tendency and efficacy of sound, doctrine to produce spiritual affections and holy obedience. Indeed, the doctrines of Scripture may be received by a dead faith into the understanding as true, whilst the heart does not embrace them as good; and then they will "be held in unrighteousness." But a real and living belief of them is the proper root of true holiness. By regeneration the heart is prepared for thus receiving the truth, which then becomes the principle of progressive sanctification : a whited sepulchre " is the emblem of all that can be attained to, where this is proudly rejected or treated with indifference and every man's spirituality, piety, humility, : and enlarged, disinterested, unostentatious philanthropy, will bear proportion to the degree in which he knows and cordially embraces the great doctrines of the Bible. It must, therefore, be evident, that every person to whom the Scriptures are sent, ought to study them, and get acquainted with their contents. For if God, in compassion to our ignorance and love to our souls, as well as in regard to the honour of his own name and government, hath given us a book, penned under the inspiration of his Holy Spirit; and if the truths revealed in it be of the greatest importance: it must be most reasonable, that we should bestow pains to acquire the knowledge of them. Whether we consider the Scriptures, as a revelation which the Lord hath made to us of himself, that we may know, worship, and glorify him; or of his law and government, that we may submit to and obey him, and learn our true condition as sinners; or of his mercy and salvation, that we may find acceptance with him; or of the privileges of his children, in this life and that which is to come: in every view of the subject, the duty of searching them must be manifest. Nor can we neglect it, without avowing that we despise the knowledge of God and heavenly things; that we do not desire to serve our Creator; that we neither value his favour nor fear his frown; or that we can discover the way of peace and happiness without instruction. Nothing, therefore, can be more expressive of our ingratitude, rebellion, and alienation from God, than the general neglect of the Bible, which prevails among those that profess to believe it to be his word. Does He then speak from heaven to us sinners about the way of eternal salvation, and shall we refuse to hear his gracious words? Does He give us a book, to guide us to happiness in this world, and for ever, and shall we not study it? Does he make known to us mortals those glories which angels adore with unceasing rapture, and shall we turn away with contemptuous aversion? Hath he provided for us sinners such a redemption, as sinless "angels de"sire to look into," and shall we think "the subject un worthy of notice?" Who can pretend to justify this conduct? Yet how much more pains do lawyers, physicians, and other students, who desire to excel in their professions, bestow in poring over voluminous authors, than men called Christians do in searching the Scriptures! Yea, how ma ny give a decided preference to amusing and ingenious trifles, or political discussions, (not to say publications suited to corrupt their principles and morals,) above the sacred word of God! They would be ashamed not to have read some admired or popular author, though the work perhaps be wholly useless, (if not worse;) yet they remain, year after year, unacquainted with the Holy Scriptures! "Surely in vain is the word of the Lord given to them; "the pen of the scribes is in vain *." It cannot be necessary, in such a compendious essay, to show particularly, how the study of the Scriptures is inculcated in every part of the sacred volume. Let the more attentive reader turn to what Moses spake to Israel†, what the Psalmist teaches †, and Solomon §, and what is contained in many passages of the New Testament ||. Indeed the apostles and evangelists always reasoned from, and appealed to, the Scriptures of the Old Testament, and supposed the Jews to be acquainted with them; and the penmen of the New assure us, "those things were written, "that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of "God; and that believing we might have life through his "name?" (John xx. 31.) The case then is plain, that our obligation to search the Scriptures is indispensable; and that it is a duty of the greatest importance. Every person who allows them to be the infallible word of God, must be convicted in his own conscience of acting in an unreasonable and criminal manner, if he do not diligently study them; and the general neglect of men in this great concern, manifestly proves them not to be fully satisfied that the Bible was given by Jer. viii. 8, 9. + Deut. vi. 6-9. xi. 18, 19. Psalms i. xix. cxix. S Prov. ii. 1-6. xvii. 11. 2 Tim. iii. 15-17. D inspiration from God, and that it reveals the only way of peace and salvation. We do not urge men to believe without evidence: but we call upon them humbly and serious-ly to examine the proofs afforded them that the Scriptures are the word of God; and then to bestow pains to learn the religion contained in them, and to compare the doctrine we propose, with that unerring standard from which we profess to have learned it. Nor can we doubt, but they who will not comply with such requisitions, will be left without excuse at the day of final retribution, whatever excuses or pretences they may make at present. It may therefore be useful to give a few directions to those who are convinced of their duty in this particular; and desire to attend to it with profit to themselves, or those placed under their care. I. Examine the whole of the Sacred Scriptures. I do not mcan, that the same degree of attention and time should be employed about every part of the Bible: some things are but more remotely useful to us; some are easily understood and applied; others require more close and frequent investigation; whilst the obscurity of some passages (especially to unlearned readers,) renders them less adapted to edification. Yet every part of the sacred oracles has its use, and throws light upon the rest: and as preachers very properly make their appeal to the Scriptures in support of their doctrines; so the hearers cannot well judge how far their arguments are conclusive, unless they have a competent acquaintance with the whole of them. Nor is the Bible so large a book, but that even they who have not much leisure, may, in process of time, get a general knowledge of it in every part; if they bestow a measure of diligence proportioned to the value of the acquisition: and as "all Scripture is given by inspiration from God, and is "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for in"struction in righteousness; that the man of God may be "perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works;" so every word demands a measure of our attention. It is, therefore, a very great hindrance to edification, when ser ous persons rest satisfied with text-books, and abstracts from Scripture, or with a few favourite passages that are continually resorted to, whilst the rest of God's word is lit-. tle regarded; and above all those parts are neglected, which teach men the particulars of the Christian temper, and of those duties in which they are most deficient. It hath been found very useful by many, to divide the Bible into two or three parts, and to read a portion from each of them in order, in the morning, at noon, and in the evening, as people have leisure and opportunity: allowing a larger measure of time to the New Testament, or devotional parts of the Old; and reading these wholly, or principally, on the Lord's day, or other seasons set apart for religion. This in a few years, will bring a man familiarly acquainted with the whole Scriptures. And though singing the praises of God very properly forms a part of family worship, where both can be attended to; yet reading the Scriptures in course, (with a few exceptions, at the discretion of him who officiates,) seems a most valuable method of preparing the minds of children and servants for profiting by public instruction, as well as for giving them a comprehensive view of our holy religion. It is also very advantageous to ministers, and others who have much leisure, to vary their method of reading: at some times going through a larger portion, with a more general regard to the scope of the sacred writer; at others minutely examining every word and sentence in a smaller portion, its connexion with the context, and its coincidence with other Scriptures; and to mark well the harmony and mutual subserviency of every part of divine truth; the proportion of one part to another; the distinct parts of which the whole consists; and the way in which the several subjects are stated, handled, arranged, and expressed. II. Search the Scriptures daily. Divine truth is the food of the soul, which wants its nourishment as often as the body does. That day must have been mispent, in which no part of the Scriptures has been read or meditated on: we should therefore redeem time from indolence, recreation, |