of life, — the oracle of wisdom, — the rule of manners, — the heavenly seed of which the new creature is formed, James i. 18. " The Iwo Testaments (saith Austin) are the two breasts which every Christian must suck, that he may get spiritual nourishment." The leaves of the tree of life were for heal- ing, Rev. xxii. 2. : so these holy leaves of scripture, like those leaves, are for the heal- ing of our souls. The scripture is profit- able for all things : if we are deserted, here is spiced wine that cheers the hea^y heart ; if we are pursued by Satan, here is the sword of the Spirit to resist him ; if we are diseased with sin's leprosy, here are the wa- ters of the sanctuary, both to cleanse and cure. Oh, then, search the scriptures ! There's no danger in tasting this tree of knowledge ; there was a penalty laid at first, that we might not taste of tlie tree of know- ledge, Gen. ii. 17., " In the day that thou eafest thereof, thou shalt surely die ;" but there is no danger of plucking this tree of holy scriptures; if we do not eat of this tree of knowledge, we shall surely die. Oh, then, read the scriptures ! Time may come, when the scriptui'es may be kept from us.
Q. How should we so search the scriptures as to fivd life ?
A. 1. Read the Bible with reverence. Think every line you read, God is speaking to you. The ark wherein the law was put was overlaid with pure gold, and was car- ried on bars, that the Levites might not touch it, Exod. xxv. 14. And why was this, but to breed in the people reverence to the law ? — 2. Read with seriousness. It is matter of life and death ; by this word you must be tried ; conscience and scrijj- ture are the jury God will proceed by, in judging of you. — 3. Read the word with affection. Get your hearts quickened with the word ; go to it to fetch fire, Luke xxiv. 32., " Did not our hearts burn within us ?" Labour that the word may not only be a lamp to direct, but a fire to warm. Read the scripture, not only as an history, but as a love-letter sent to you from God which may affect your hearts. — i. Pray that the same Spirit that wrote the word, may as- sist you in the reading of it ; that God's Spirit would show you the wonderful things
of his law. " Go near, saith God to Phi- lip, join thyself to this chariot," Acts viii.29. So when God's Spirit joins himself with his chariot of the word, then it becomes ef- fectual.
A. 2. Be exhorted to prize the word wi'itten, Job xxiii. 12. David valued the word more precious than gold. Wliat would the Martyrs have jiivcn for a leaf of the Bible ! The word is the field where Christ the pearl of price is hid. In this sacred mine we dig, not for a wedge of gold, but a weight of glory. — 1. The scrip- ture is a sacred collyriuni^ or eye-salve, to illuminate us : Prov. vi. 23., " The com- mandment is a lamp, and the law is light." The scripture is the chart and compass by which we sail to the new Jerusalem. — 2. T.he scripture is a sovereign cordial in all distresses. TVliat are the promises but the water of life to renew fainting spirits ? Is it sin troubles ? There is a scripture-cor- dial, Ps. Ixv. 3., " Iniquities prevail against me ; as for our transgressions thou shalt purge them aivay ;" or, as it is in the He- brew, ' Thou shalt cover them.^ Is it out- ward afflictions disquiet thee? There is a scripture-cordial, Ps. xci. 15., " I will be with him in trouble,'"' — not only to behold, but to uphold. Thus, as in the ark Avas laid up manna, promises are laid up as man- na in the ark of scripture. — 3. '^1 he scrip- ture will make us wise : wisdom is above rubies; Ps. cxix 104., "By thy precepts
1 get understanding." What made Eve so desire the tree of knowledge? Gen. iii. 6., " It was a tree to make one wise." The scriptures teach a man to know himself; they discover Satan's snares and stratagems,
2 Cor. ii. 11., '' They make one wase to salvation," 2 Tim. iii. 15. O then highly prize the scriptures ! I read of Queen Eli- zabeth, that at her coronation, she receiv- ed the Bible ])resented to her, with both her hands, and kissing it, laid it to her breast, saying, that that book had ever been her chiefest delight.
A. 3. If the scripture is of divine inspi- ration, believe the word. Tlie Romans, that they might gain credit to their laws, reported that they were inspired by the gods at Rome. O give credence to the word I It is breathed from God's own moutli.
OF THE SCRIPTURES.
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