never read at all. Now what folly is this ! What man in his senses, when navigating his ship amongst rocks and quick- sands, neglects to consult his chart ? Yet, as if there were no dangers in the Christian's way, or no great evil to be incurred by negligence, the generality are quite indifferent about that book which alone can conduct us safely to a better world. But let it not be so amongst you : " Search the Scriptures, in which ye think, yea and know assuredly, ye have eternal life." " Search them daily," as the Bereans did : " search them as for hid treasure :" and lift up your hearts to God for the teachings of his good Spirit, " to guide you into all truth." " He will open your understandings to understand them," and will work effectually by them to your salvation. They are the rod of God's strength, and the sword of his Spirit : and if you read them in humility and faith, you shall find them " quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow ; and they shall discover to you the very thoughts and intents of your hearts'1." If you will not sit thus at the feet of Jesus and learn of him, it is in vain for you to number yourselves among his disciples : but if you will come to him, you need not be discouraged at your weakness or ignorance ; for he says, " Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart ; and ye shall find rest unto your souls."]
2. What an unspeakable blessing is the Bible Society!
[Though the Scriptures are not with us, as among the Papists, locked up in a language not generally understood, yet by the cost of a Bible it has been to a great extent kept out of the possession of the poor. True it is, that they who have known the value of the Bible would procure it at any rate : but those who were unacquainted with its treasures have found it too costly for them to purchase. But now he that is able to pay only a part, may have it for that part ; and they who can really pay nothing, may have it for nothing. Now therefore the poor may well say, "Thy word is found : yes, it is found ; and I will eat it." O that there were in all of us such a heart ! and that we were all determined henceforth to feed upon its precious truths ; and that, like Job, we " esteemed it more than our necessary foodM" Now God is sending it to all of us, the poorest as well as the richest, exactly as he did the manna in the wilderness: he sends it home to our very houses, and invites us to live upon it. The king upon the throne has no richer food ; and the poorest amongst us has now a free access to it, so that he may " eat that which is good, and let
i Heb. iv. 12. r Job xxiii. 12.