of us : and we must all study it for ourselves, receiving its testimony with a believing heart, and submitting both our reason and our passions to its enlightening and sanctifying influence.]
2. It is suitable to all —
[In the sacred oracles there is " milk for babes, and strong meat" for those of an adult agee. The fundamental truths are written there so plainly, that "he who runs may read them :" and so clearly do they mark out the path to hea- ven, that " the way-faring man, though a fool, cannot err therein," if only he receive its directions with an humble and contrite spirit. On the other hand, there are in the inspired volume mysteries which no finite intelligence can fully com- prehend. Not only may the greatest proficients in sacred literature be always advancing in knowledge, but the very angels themselves acquire more enlarged views of the manifold wisdom of God, from the revelation that is made of it in the Holy Scriptures f. Moreover, so infinitely diversified is the instruction to be gathered from the sacred volume, that we can be in no situation in which it does not contain the direc- tions and encouragements most suited to our case.]
3. It is sufficient for all —
[" The Holy Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus." We need no ac- quaintance with any other book, nor with any other subject which is not contained in that volume. Other books doubtless are useful, and a knowledge of many other subjects is desirable; but nothing is necessary for salvation which is not contained in the Holy Scriptures, and easily to be learned from them. A strange idea is maintained by some, that the Scriptures are unintelligible to the poor and illiterate ; and that they are more likely to mislead them, than to guide them aright. But what a reflection is this on God himself, as having imparted to us a book altogether unsuited to the end for which it was given ! But there is no ground for any such reflection. There are doubtless in the Scriptures some things hard to be understood, and which an unstable person may wrest to his own destruc- tion : but we again affirm, that all which is necessary to be known is easily to be gathered from the word of God ; and that, if it be " received with meekness as an engrafted word, it is able," and shall be effectual, " to save the soul g."]
Let us now proceed to consider,
II. What effect it will produce —
e Compare Heb. vi. 13, 14. with 1 Pet. ii. 2. and Col. iii. 16. f 1 Pet. i. 12. with Eph. iii. 10. s Jam. i. 21.