What does GOD in his written word do more or less, than shew thee, O man, how thou art fallen into that blindness, darkness, and misery, of which thou feelest and complainest? And, at the same time, he points out the way to what thou desirest, even how thou mayest be redeemed out of it by believing in, and copying after the Son of his love.
As I told you before, so I tell you again, upon these two truths rest all divine revelation. It being given us for no other end, but to shew us our misery, and our happiness; our fall and recovery; or, in one word, after what manner we died in _Adam_, and how in CHRIST we may again be made alive.
Hence then arises the necessity of searching the scriptures: for since they are nothing else but the grand charter of our salvation, the revelation of a covenant made by GOD with men in CHRIST, and a light to guide us into the way of peace; it follows, that all are obliged to read and search them, because all are equally fallen from GOD, all equally stand in need of being informed how they must be restored to, and again united with him.
How foolishly then do the disputing infidels of this generation act, who are continually either calling for signs from heaven, or seeking for outward evidence to prove the truth of divine revelation? Whereas, what they so earnestly seek for is nigh unto, nay, within them. For let them but consult their own hearts, they cannot but feel what they want. Let them but consult the lively oracles of GOD, and they cannot but see a remedy revealed for all their wants, and that the written word does as exactly answer the wants and desires of their hearts, as face answers to face in the water. Where then is the scribe, where is the wise, where is the solidity of the reasoning of the disputers of this world? Has not GOD revealed himself unto them, as plain as their own hearts could wish? And yet they require a sign: but there shall no other sign be given them. For if they believe not a revelation which is every way so suited to their wants, neither will they be persuaded though one should rise from the dead.
But this discourse is not designed so much for them that believe not, as for them, who both know and believe that the scriptures contain a revelation which came from GOD, and that it is their duty, as being chief parties concerned, not only to read but search them also.
I pass on, therefore, in the
_Second_ place, to lay down some directions, how you may search them with advantage.
_First_, Have always in view, the end for which the scriptures were written, even to shew us the way of salvation, by JESUS CHRIST.
“Search the scriptures,” says our blessed LORD, “for they are they that testify of me.” Look, therefore, always for CHRIST in the scripture. He is the treasure hid in the field, both of the Old and New Testament. In the Old, you will find him under prophesies, types, sacrifices, and shadows; in the New, manifested in the flesh, to become a propitiation for our sins as a Priest, and as a Prophet to reveal the whole will of his heavenly Father.
Have CHRIST, then, always in view when you are reading the word of GOD, and this, like the star in the east, will guide you to the Messiah, will serve as a key to every thing that is obscure, and unlock to you the wisdom and riches of all the mysteries of the kingdom of GOD.
_Secondly_, Search the scriptures with an humble child-like disposition.
For whosoever does not read them with this temper, shall in no wise enter into the knowledge of the things contained in them. For GOD hides the sense of them, from those that are wise and prudent in their own eyes, and reveals them only to babes in CHRIST: who think they know nothing yet as they ought to know; who hunger and thirst after righteousness, and humbly desire to be fed with the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby.
Fancy yourselves, therefore, when you are searching the scriptures, especially when you are reading the New Testament, to be with _Mary_ sitting at the feet of the holy JESUS; and be as willing to learn what GOD shall teach you, as _Samuel_ was, when he said, “Speak, LORD, for thy servant heareth.”
Oh that the unbelievers would pull down every high thought and imagination that exalts itself against the revealed will of GOD! O that they would, like new-born babes, desire to be fed with the pure milk of the word! then we should have them no longer scoffing at Divine Revelation, nor would they read the Bible any more with the same intent the _Philistines_ brought out _Sampson_, to make sport at it; but they would see the divine image and superscription written upon every line. They would hear GOD speaking unto their souls by it, and, consequently, be built up in the knowledge and fear of him, who is the Author thereof.
_Thirdly_, Search the scriptures, with a sincere intention to put in practice what you read.