Hence ariseth all the profaneiicss of men, they do not believe the scripture, Is. liii. 1., *' who hatli believed our re])ort?" Did you believe tlie glorious rewards the scripture speaks of, would you not give diligence to make your election sure ? Did you believe the infernal torments the scriptures speaks of, would not this put you into a cold s\\'eat, and cause a trembling at heart for sin ? But people are in part atheists; they give but little credit to the word, therefore they are so impious, and draw such dark shadows in their lives. Learn to realize scripture ; get your hearts wrought to a firm belief of it. Some think, if God should send an angel from heaven, and declare his mind, then they should rather believe him, — or if he should send one from the damn- ed, and preach the torments of hell all in flames, then they would believe, — but Luke xvi. 31., " If they believe not Mo- ses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." God is wise, and he thiiiks this way fittest to make his mind known to us by MTiting; and such as shall not be convinced by the word, shall be judged by the word. The belief of the scripture is of high importance ; it is the belief of scripture that will enable us to resist temptation, 1 John ii. 14., " The word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." It is tiie belief of scripture conduceth much to our sanctification ; therefore these two are put together, sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth, 2 Thess. ii. J 3. If the word written be not believed, it is like writing on the water which takes no im- pression.
A. 4. Love the word written: Ps.cxix. 97., " O how love I thy law !" " Lord (saith Augustine) let the holy scriptures be my chaste delight." Chrysostom compares the scripture to a garden ; every truth is a fra- grant floAver, which we should wear, not on our bosom, but our heart. David count- ed the word " sweeter .than honey and tlie honev-corab," Ps. xix. 10. There is that in scripture may breed delight : it shews us the way to riches, Deut. xxviii. 5., Prov. iii. lU.; to long life, Ps. xxxiv- 12.; to a kingdom, Ileb. xii. 28. Well then may we count those the sweetest hours
which are spent in reading the holy scrip- tures ! Well may we say with the i)rophet, Jer. XV. 16., " Thy words were found, and I did eat tliem ; and they were the joy and rejoicing of my heart !"
A. 5. Conform to scripture, let us lead scripture lives. O that the Bible might be seen printed in our lives ! Do what tlie word commands. Obedience is an excel- lent way of commenting upon the Bible, Ps. Ixxxvi. 11., "I will walk in thy truth." Let the word be the sun-dial by which you set your life. Wliat are we the better for having the scripture, if we do not direct all our speeches and actions according to it ? ^\^lat is a carpenter the better to have his rule about him, if he sticks it at his back, and never makes use of it for the measur- ing and squaring his work ? So, what are we the better for the rule of the word, if we do not make use of it, and regulate our lives by it ? How many swerve and dcA i- ate from the rule ! The word teacheth to be sober and temperate, — but they are drunk ; to be chaste and holy, — but they are i)rofane ; they go quite from the rule. AVhat a dishonour is this to religion, for men to live in contradiction to scripture ! The word is called " a light to our feet," Ps. cxix. 105. It is not only a light to our eyes to mend our sight, but to our feet to mend our walk. O let us lead Bible con- versations !
A. 6. Contend for scripture. Though we should not be of contentious spirits, yet we ought to contend for the word of God; this jewel is too precious to be parted with, Prov. iv, 13., " Keep her, for she is thy life." The scri])ture is beset with enemies, heretics fight against it : we must therefore " contend for the faith once delivered to the saints," Jude 3. The scripture is our book of evidences for heaven : shall we part with our evidences ? The saints of old were both advocates and martyrs for truth ; they would hold fast scripture, though it were with the loss of their lives.
A. 7. Be thankful to God for the scrip- tures. What a mercy is it that God hath not only acquainted us what his will is, but that he hath made it known by writing ! In the old times God did reveal his mind by revelations, but the \\'ord written is a
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THAT THERE IS A GOD.