which will foon be followed by the Neg. lect of many Duties, and a flavish Subjection to worldly Paffions. Although the reading of the holy Scriptures is the most excellent Means of Inftruction and Edification, yet it nruft be owned that fome Perfons read them, who reap little or no Advantage therefrom. But this may easily be accounted for; and needs not be any Difcourage-. ment to those, who are fincerely defirous of improving themselves. And one may reasonably hope that many, who come at first with a Degree of Indifference truly unworthy of thofe living Waters, will in Time be affected with a proper Sense of their Importance, and receive more and more Benefit and Comfort from them. In Order to reap that Benefit, which God defigned us. from the Ufe of the holy Scriptures, it is neceffary that we *read #read with an intire Submiffion of our Judgment to whatever e hath been pleased to reveal. *Being convinced that the Revelation comes from God, we are bound to embrace every Doctrine and every Precept contained therein. *We muft not put a forced Interpretation upon Scripture, for the Sake of making it agree with our pre-conceived Opinions, but must rectify our Notions according to the Dictates of that Wisdom, which is infallible. Neither muft we Neither must we fet up our favourite Inclinations in Oppofition to any of the Precepts, it contains: though we, fhort-fighted Mortals, comprehend not in fome Inftances the Reasonableness thereof. Helpless and ignorant as we are, at the best, it furely becomes us to truft in His Wisdom and Goodness, who is too perfect ever to deceive or to be deceived. *We ought certainly to read the Scriptures with particular Attention. *Men ftrangely Arangely impofe upon themfelves, when they think they have difcharged their Duty by reading fo many Chapters: although perhaps they have not fo much as aimed at that Comprehenfion of what they read, which might influence their Conduct, and difpofe them to put in Practice the Precepts of God's Law. *In Order to fix our Attention, we fhould confider, who it is that fpeaks to us ;even the King of Heaven and Earth. *We fhould confider the exceeding great Importance of thofe Things, which are revealed for they concern our everlasting Peace. If our Minds were properly impreffed with the Idea, "that it is God-Almighty Himself, who speaks to "us in the holy Scriptures, proclaiming "His divine Commands, and declaring "that the moft magnificent and rich Re 66 ward, or the most dreadful Punishment, "fhall be the Confequence of our Obe "dience or Difobedience," it is easy to conceive how happy an Effect fuch a reverential verential Awe would have upon us, whenever we read or heard or thought of any Part of the facred Volume. And it is owing to the Want of this Impreffion of Awe, that the reading of the holy Scriptures becomes unprofitable to many. *If an earthly Prince condefcended to dif course with us, we fhould not prefume to affront his Dignity by a difrefpectful Inattention. But how much greater an Affront is it to the almighty Creator, who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, when we receive the Words of His InAtruction in a carelefs and negligent Manner! *We must read with a fincere Purpose of practising whatsoever we find to be the -Will of our heavenly Father. *For the holy Scriptures are not defigned to fill our Heads with vain Knowledge, but to enlarge our Minds and improve our Hearts. They are calculated to give us a juft Idea of God and ourselves. They are appointed to be a Rule and Guide for the Conduct of our Lives; and to encourage us in well-doing by the gracious Promise of divine Help and Favour in the prefent Life, and the Prospect of a glorious and eternal Reward hereafter. Two of the Apofles (St. Peter and St. James) have exprefsly told us, that God refifteth the proud, but giveth Grace to the humble. The royal Pfalmift also declareth, that God will guide the meek in Judgment, and teach them in His Way. A Temper of Meekness and Humility is always a teachable Temper. Our bleffed Saviour well knew that this was the very Soil adapted for receiving the good Seed, and bringing forth Fruit abundantly. Therefore he was continually endeavouring to establish this Difpofition in his Difciples. He not only exhibited in himself the most wonderful Pattern of Humility, but repeatedly called on them to obferve and imitate his Example in that |