3. To rejoice the heart —
[Ignorant men imagine, that the application of God's word to the soul is productive only of pain and sorrow : but those who have ever " tasted of the good word of life" have found, by happy experience, that it tills them " with joy and peace in believing," yea, " with joy unspeakable and glorified." The word is to them the charter of all their privileges, and the map of their everlasting inheritance. As an heir peruses with delight a will in which great wealth is unexpectedly bequeathed to him, so the Christian finding in every page of the Sacred Volume his title to all the blessedness and glory of heaven, how can he but rejoice in such records ? how can he but concur with David in saying, "They are more desired by me than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb?"]
We may learn from hence,
1. Our privilege —
[If it was the highest privilege of the Jews, that " to them were committed the oracles of God," much more are we distin- guished, who have the writings of the New Testament superadded to those of the old. Let us learn to estimate this privilege aright. Let us remember, that in this blessed volume is contained all that can be needful either for the instruction of our minds, or the salvation of our souls : and, whilst we enjoy this inestimable blessing ourselves, let us labour by every possible means to com- municate it to others ]
2. Our duty —
[We should '^ search the Scriptures daily," " digging into them as for hid treasures," and praying earnestly to God, that he would "open our understandings to understand them." We should look to them as the ground of all our hopes, and the rule of all our conduct. To study the book of nature will be well : but to study the Sacred Volume with prayer will tend to our highest perfection, and will " thoroughly furnish us unto every good word and work."]