"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 shall "fee face to face. Now we know in part; but "when that which is perfect is come, then "that which is in part fhall be done away."

3. In order to profit by fearching the Scriptures, it is neceffary to read them with application to our own cafe.

The Scriptures are not to be claffed with the many other books of amufement 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. Wisdom 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 intereft 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 wifdom of future generations to mark. The Father of the human race here gives to all his children that counfel by which he would guide them in the way of life; and his counfel is accommodated with condefcending grace to all thofe va rieties in their condition which he forefaw. There is a warning, a reproof, a confolation, promife, a threatning adapted to every cafe: We are only required to prove ourselves, and

to

to draw out of this inexhauftible ftorehouse that which we need.

Do not bufy yourfelves 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 yourfelves. 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 with-hold; but turn upon yourselves, and fay, Am I a follower of that which I admire ? Have I any portion of the faith of Abraham, 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 likeness. When your fouls are ravifhed with great and precious promifes" of this word, ask yourselves, whether from the defcriptions of the fervant of God which are always conjoined with his promifes, you can take courage to clafs yourfelves amongst the number of those to whom God fpeaks peace.

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When

When your heart ftands in awe of his threatnings, think if there is any part of your conduct, by which you are letting up yourselves as a mark to receive the arrows of the Almighty. When you read the prayers of good men in Scripture, and fee the felf-abafement, the earneftnefs, and repetitions with which they approached a throne of grace, recollect your own condition, the feeblenefs of your refolutions, the temptations to which your virtue is expofed, the dangers which encompafs your life, your property, your family, your good name, and think what need you have to exercise the fame humility and dependence upon Heaven which their devotions exemplify. When you read their fongs of praise, think of the bleffings which have followed you, the perils out of which you have been refcued, the mercy which has sustained you in the time of trouble; and mark how God feems to put into your mouth every word, by which they endeavoured to express the gratitude that glowed in their breasts. Your fituation in life, and the particular occurrences of your lot, have imperceptibly formed your fentiments concerning the ways of Providence, the value of this world, the excellence and the happinefs of man. Try your fentiments by comparing them with the many ftriking views of thofe important fubjects which the Scriptures open; and be affured, that there is fome defect in the ftate of your mind, unlefs you are able to regulate your opinions and principles by that standard which is the truth. Do not destroy, in regard to yourselves, the

usefulness

ufefulness of the Scriptures, by feeking to fhelter your vices under the maxims or customs of the world; beware of keeping at a distance from the light, left you begin to hate it, because it reproves your deeds; but let the word of God be, with you, the test of every gain, every indulgence, every purfuit; and by this readiness with which you come to the light, let it be made manifeft that your deeds are wrought in God.

"Thefe words that I command thee this "day," faid the Lord by Mofes, "fhall be in "thine heart; and thou shalt teach them di"ligently unto thy children, and thou shalt "talk of them when thou fitteft in thine "houfe, and when thou walkeft by the way,

and when thou lieft down, and when thou "rifeft up." The expreffions by which the Almighty condefcends thus earnestly to recommend the fearch of the Scriptures, fuggest that the application of them should begin early in life. "Thou shalt talk of them to thy chil"dren when thou fitteft in thine house." What an edifying fubject of domestic converfation! You have often obferved that no pieces of hiftory take fo ftrong a hold of the mind of the young as thofe recorded in Scripture. Try then to form the minds of those who are dearest to you, by teaching them, as they are able to bear it, to apply to themselves different parts of Scripture. Accuftom them, as their understandings open, to receive and

to

to digeft that wholefome food of the foul, which will nourish them to every virtuous exertion, which will furnish them with ftrength to refift temptation, with an antidote against the words of the fcorner, with a cordial amidst the disappointments and forrows which Providence may ordain for them. "Where"with fhall a young man cleanse his way?

by taking heed thereto according to thy "word." "My fon," let every father fay with Solomon, "bow thine ear to the fayings "of this book; let them not depart from "thine eyes, and keep them in the midst of "thine heart, for they are life unto those that "find them. When thou goeft, they fhall "lead thee; when thou fleepeft, they fhall "keep thee; when thou awakeft, they fhall "talk with thee: For the commandment is a "lamp, and reproofs of inftruction are the way of life."

4. In order to profit by fearching the Scriptures, it is necessary to read them with Prayer.

The word of God contains his counfel to his children: Prayer opens their minds to receive that counfel. The one is a memorial left us by a Being who is not prefent to our fenfes; the other is that method of correfponding with him, which, while we are at a distance, we are permitted to maintain. The memorial will foon lofe its effect in recalling divine things to our minds, if the correfpondence be wholly laid afide. But the two fupport