ROMANS XV. 4. That we through Patience, and Comfort of the Scriptures, might have Hope. "Tis, HE Defign of the holy Scriptures is, to inftruct us in the Knowledge of true Religion, and to perfuade and engage us to the Practice of it. They are indeed capable of making us wife unto Salvation. * But how fhall this great End be answered, if we do not frequently and feriouly peruse them? How shall our Minds be enriched with the mofl important Knowledge, if we neglect the Foun Wherever this Mark occurs, I have borrowed either a fhort Paffage, or at least a Hint, from the wor thy Mr. Nelfon's Book, entitled, "The Practice of "true Devotion." tain, from which it fprings? How shall we be led to keep God's Commandments (which are holy, juft, and good,) unless we confult those facred Oracles, which contain the perfect Will of God, together with all the Motives, that ought to influence us, as rational Creatures, to ftrict Obedience. God, in His infinite Wisdom and unbounded Goodness, hath been pleased to fupply Men with the Revelation of His Will. He inspired the Prophets and Apoftles; and providentially ordained that their Writings fhould be preserved: that the Truth might remain more fure, than if it had paffed down to Pofterity by Tradition only. And, as they are the Manifeftation of His Will, who in all His Difpenfations intends the Happiness of His Creatures, and perfectly knows by what Means their Happiness may be accomplished, we are bound to confider them as an invaluable Treasure. The The Neglect of reading the facred Writings, as it is the Cause of that shameful Ignorance, which prevails amongst many Chriftians. fo doth it certainly lead to that Corruptnefs of Principles and Practice, which prevails in the World. To this we must attribute the Growth of thofe deceitful Maxims, with which the worldly-minded, and they, that wallow in the Brutishness of Intemperance and Debauchery, encourage and harden themfelves. And chiefly to the fame Cause the fpreading of every impious, as well as every fuperftitious or enthufiaftic Notion. For, as foon as we forfake that Guide, which God hath judged neceffary for us, we must unavoidably go aftray. As foon as we prefumptucufly quit the facred Light of God's Word, we fall into a Thousand Dangers. Whoever is fincerely defirous of finding the Way. that leads to everlafting Life, will be diligent in reading the holy Scriptures. Scriptures. For therein is the Way of Life fo plainly pointed out, that every well meaning Perfon may receive full Inftruction in whatever is neceffary for the obtaining of Salvation. And, to relieve us from the Fear of mistaking the holy Will of God, our Saviour exprefsly tells us, that he, who is willing to do the Will of God, fhall know of the Doctrine, whether it be of God. It is manifeft to common Obfervation, that the Capacity of fome Perfons is much inferior to that of others. Nature has not allowed the fame Brightness of Understanding to all. But it is the peculiar Character of the holy Scriptures, that they are fuited to all. Capacities. Those Truths and Doctrines, which are neceffary to be known, are delivered in fo plain and fimple a Manner, that a Perfon of the meaneft Understanding, if he has but an honeft Heart, may quickly make himself acquainted with them. All All Perfons have not the fame Time and Opportunity of reading. Some Men's Condition of Life lays them under the Neceffity of more conftant Labour, or closer Attention to worldly Business than that of others. But, generally speaking, all may find Time enough for this Employment if they please: much more indeed than they commonly are difpofed to make Ufe of. If Men were more acquainted with the Contents of Scripture, they would be better prepared for edifying by the pub lic Service of the Church, and for receiv ing useful Inftruction and Admonition from Sermons. In fhort, reading the holy Scriptures is abfolutely neceffary for keeping up a Senfe of Religion, and a Spirit of Devotion towards God. They, who neglect it, will unavoidably fink into an Indifference and Difrelifh of holy Things: which |