with what humility we ought to read. By

the things in Scripture which are hard to be understood," God checks our pride: by the gradual explication of thofe things, he gives us affurance that his word fhall endure for ever, and teaches us to look for that time ordained in his providence, for which the united labours of his fervants are preparing the world, when the infignificant attacks that have been made upon his word fhall be forgotten, when the scruples which those attacks have fometimes raised in pious breasts fhall be perfectly removed, and the wisdom and confiftency of this divine book fhall be univerfally acknowledged. In this hope, dwell ye upon thofe paflages which you understand: meditate on them: be thankful for them. Believe that a great deal of what you do not understand is plain to others more learned, more experienced, more diligent than you are. Attend to the connection in which difficult paffages stand with the context, to other places of Scripture where the fame thing is more clearly expreffed, to the explications which

you occafionally receive. If, after all, darknefs fhould remain upon many places, be not disheartened, and do not repine. Be affured that what you know" is able to make you wife unto falvation:" And, according to the counfel of the fon of Sirach,"be not curious in unnecessary matters, neither feek the things that are above thy ftrength; for more things are fhewed thee than men understand, and it is not neceffary for thee to fee the things that are in fecret."

THE Scriptures are "as a light fhining in a dark place, unto which ye do well that ye take heed, until the day dawn, and the day-ftar arise." This is but the beginning of our existence, the opening of the powers of reafon and virtue in our fouls. "The things which are reported unto us in this book are what the angels defire to look into," and they will afford employment to our minds when we are made like the angels, "Now we fee through a glafs darkly; then we fhall fee face to face. Now we know

in part; but when that which is perfect is then that which is in part fhall be done away."

come,

3. In order to profit by fearching the Scriptures, it is necessary to read them with Applition to our own Cafe.

THE Scriptures are not to be claffed with the many other books of amusement or improvement, in which our attention is engaged by remote objects, that are made interesting to us only by the beauties of fentiment or of compofition. Wifdom here uttereth her words. "To you, O men, fhe calls; her voice is to the fons of men." All kindreds and tribes are commanded to draw near; and the special interest which fome nations appear to have had in the tranfactions here recorded, only renders their history an inftructive leffon, which it is the duty and the wisdom of future generations to mark. The Father of the human race here gives to all his children

that counsel by which he would guide them in the way of life; and his counfel is accommodated with condefcending grace to all thofe varieties in their condition which he forefaw. There is a warning, a reproof, a confolation, a promife, a threatning adapted to every cafe: We are only required to prove ourfelves, and to draw out of this inexhaustible store-house that which we need.

Do not bufy yourselves with applying what you read or hear to others; an employment in which there is feldom a probability of doing much good, and always a danger of doing much harm: But seek to attain that effential benefit which may certainly be derived from a wife application of the Scriptures to yourselves. When you contemplate thofe excellent characters which are delineated in this book, do not think it enough to pay that tribute of admiration which the moft hardened finner cannot withhold; but turn upon yourselves, and fay, Am I a follower of that which I ad

mire? Have I any portion of the faith of A braham, of the fortitude of Jofeph, of the gentleness of Mofes, of the patience of Job, of the piety of Daniel, of the mind of Jefus? When your abhorrence is excited by thofe pictures of the iniquity of Ifrael which abound in the Prophets, and of the vices of the heathen world which occur in the Epiftles, fearch for the plague of your own heart; and fee if, in fome corner of the picture, the fin which befets you, is not painted with fo ftrong a pencil, that even your own partial eyes perceive the likenefs. When your fouls are ravished with the "great and precious promifes" of this word, ask yourselves, whether from the defcriptions of the fervants of God which are always conjoined with his promifes, you can take courage to clafs yourselves amongst the number of thofe to whom God fpeaks peace. When your heart ftands in awe of his threatnings, think if there is any part of your conduct, by which you are fetting up yourselves as a mark to receive the arrows of the Alinighty. When you