[It is only at certain seasons that we can attend on public ordinances : but tlie Scriptures we may read at all times. In them is contained all that we need to know. And the Holy Spirit is promised us, to guide us into all truths Let the
m 1 Cor. i. 19. and in. 19. n Matt. xi. 25.
° Ps. XXV. 9, 12, 14. P Johnvii. 17. i Prov. viii. 17.
■^ Jam. i. T). s Jsai. xxxv. 8. * 1 Cor. i. 27, 28.
" Job xxiii. 12. Ps, xix. 7. "^ 1 Pet. ii. 9.
> 1 Pet, ii, 2. Hob. ii, 1 , ^ John xvi, 13. 1 John ii. 20, 27.
sacred volume then be our delight, and our meditation all the day ^ Let us not cavil at any part of it, or say, This is a hard saying'' ; but let us receive it with meekness, knowing that, if it be engrafted in our hearts, it is able, and shall be effectual, to save our souls*'.]
a Ps. i. 2. ^ John vi. GO. <= Jam. i, 21.
Prov. ii. 10, 11. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul, discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee.
PIETY, more than any other thing whatever, is regarded with jealousy and suspicion : and it is no uncommon thing for parents to guard their children against its advocates and professors, as they would against persons infected with a contagious disease. What the fruit of this folly, both in parents and chil- dren, too generally is, may be easily conceived : the children, taught to dread piety, which alone could preserve them from evil, become the victims of temp- tation, and fall into every species of iniquity ; and the parents not unfrequently are bowed down by the misconduct of their children, till their grey hairs are brought with sorrow to the grave. Men vainly hope to effect that by moral suasion, which nothing but the grace of God can produce : they would have fruit without a root, and blamelessness without any fixed principle of piety in the soul. But the only way in which any man can be kept in one uniform path of goodness and of honour, is, by submitting his soul to the influence of true religion, and surrendering himself up unreservedly to God. This at least was the conviction of Solomon's mind : " When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant to thy soul, discretion shall preserve thee, under- standing shall keep thee." By "^ wisdom and know- ledge" we are not to understand worhUij wisdom : for a proficiency in that, however great it may be, is no pledge of morality, no preservative from sin. These terms are used in Scripture to express real piety; and