2 TIMOTHY III. 14-17 221
hounding Love out of the world. That was indeed a mystery to this lover. When one went to see him towards Good Friday, one would note that his reading was in the story of the Cross as told by the Evangelists. He read it then and always — to use JoJm Bunyan's phrase — " with the water standing in his eyes " and also with wonder and glad surprise. If his prayers were like the drawing up of Eobinson Crusoe's ladder, I think his Bible-reading was akin to the hunting of that well-known adventurer. He yearned to find food for the day's tasks, to fill the storehouse of his life with the plenty of God's Word. He caught his venison and roasted it. His Bible gave him his daily banquet.^
III.
Sanctification.
"Every Scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for instruction which is in righteousness."
The Apostle singles out four ways in which the Scriptures may become profitable in our sanctification.
1. They are " profitable for doctrine " or for teaching. The Bible is pre-eminently a religious book. The substance of the Decalogue is love to God and man. The sacrifices and ceremonies of the law instituted by Moses were visible emblems of moral and spiritual truths. The great lesson of the Book of Job is the duty of trusting God in the darkest, stormiest day. In the historical books we behold the Divine providence in the affairs of men, and learn the vast importance of true principles in statesmanship, and right conduct in life. The psalms are poetic expressions of human wants — faith, prayer, and worship. The prophets enforce with marvellous eloquence the necessity of obedience to God. Solomon ended his teaching thus : " Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep his commandments ; for this is the whole duty of man." The sayings of our Saviour are " the words of eternal life." The writings of the Apostles explain the doctrines, duties, hopes, and joys of religion. The Book of Eevelation exhibits the triumph of knowledge, faith, right, and holiness over ignorance, infidelity, wrong and sin. The questions
* Love and Life : The Story of J. Denholm Brash, 64.
222 THE USE OF SCRIPTURE
to ask with regard to the Scriptures are these : Is the religion they offer adapted to the wants of man ? Do they teach a true spiritual philosophy? If men receive their doctrines and obey their precepts, will they become wiser, truer, and more holy than by rejecting them ? These questions are answered in the affirm- ative by the experience of thousands. They know that the Scriptures are what they profess to be, " profitable for doctrine " and " able to make men wise unto salvation," and therefore none of the difficulties which criticism may raise can shake their faith in the Word of God. There may be spots on the sun, but it is, notwithstanding, the great fountain of light to this and other worlds.
^ Oh, that we would all read our Bible with more teachable hearts, with more determined will to find out what it has to say to us about our calling here, our destiny hereafter, that we would store up its precepts in our memory, to be our strength in the moment of temptation, its examples in our imagination, to be the pattern and model of our daily lives ! Do not think that having a Bible, or reading a Bible, is any good, except so far as we live by the Bible. The Bible is the rule of life as well as of faith, of what we are to do, as well as of what we are to believe.^
2. Akin to this there is another thought that follows. The Scriptures are profitable for correction. Some read to criticize. They cannot admire the great opening poem of the Book of Genesis, in which the inspired muse sings the creative power of the Almighty in notes " harmonious with the morning stars," because it does not speak with scientific precision. It is quite right to point out whatever inaccuracies may be discovered in the history of the deliverance from Egypt and the sojourn in the wilderness, but one cannot help remarking that that is a peculiar state of mind in which a man can read through the wonderful story without being once struck with its spirit, its grandeur, and its awfulness. Others turn the sacred pages to find support for the systems they have formed. This is the same as if a man con- structed a theory of nature, and afterwards went in search of the facts whereby its truth must be proved. Others, again, read for comfort. They have been disappointed by the world in which they placed too much trust ; or death has broken in upon their ^ Bishop Fras&r's Lancashire Life, 35.
2 TIMOTHY III. 14-17 223
charmed circle and filled their hearts with sorrow ; or their healtli is failing, and there are indications that the end is not distant ; or their sin has been a burden from which they seek rest. Well, let them read for comfort, for the Bible is the book of sorrowful people. Its deep impressions of Divine love, sympathy, and tenderness have in them a power to heal the broken heart. But we should also know that the Scriptures are given for our " correction." He is the wise reader of God's Word who tries his opinion, beliefs, principles, life, and character by the Divine standard, and is willing to have them corrected.