Bible, needs not to go to the philosopher, and consult with him ; nor need he regard the maxims current in the world. With the Scriptures as his guide, and the Holy Spirit as his instructor, he needs no casuist, but an upright heart; no director, but a mind bent upon doing the will of God. If he derive assistance from any, it is from those only who are more fraught with divine knowledge, and whose superior illumina- tion has qualified them to instruct others. But they are no farther to be regarded, than as they speak according to the written word.
Compare now the illiterate Christian with the most learned pagan, and see how greatly he is benefited in this respect also by the light of revelation. If indeed he rest in his admission into the Christian covenant, and look no further than to a mere profession of Christianity, he may easily overrate his privileges : but if he consider them means to an end, and improve them in that view, he can never be sufficiently thankful, that he was early received into the bosom of the Church, and initiated by baptism into a profession of Christ's religion.]
Having stated our advantages, we proceed to notice,
II. The improvement we should make of them —
If the possession of the sacred oracles constitute our chief advantage, doubtless we should,
1 . Study them —
[" Search the Scriptures," says our Lord, " for in them ye think ye have eternal life." If we neglect the word of God, we lose the very advantage which God in his mercy has vouch- safed to give us, and reduce ourselves, as much as lieth in us, to the state of heathens. If then we shudder at the thought of reverting to heathenism, let us, not on some occasions only, like the heathen, but on all occasions, consult the oracles, whereby we profess to be directed. " Let our meditation be in them day and night ;" and let them be " our delight and our counsellors b" ]
2. Conform ourselves to them —
[The end of studying the sacred oracles is not to obtain a speculative knowledge, but to have our whole souls cast, as it were, into the mould which is formed therein. By them we must regulate both our principles and our practice. We must not presume to dispute against them, because they are not agreeable to our pre-conceived opinions ; we must not complain that this is too humiliating, and that is too strict ; but must receive with submission all which the Scriptures reveal,
b See Deut. vi. G— 9. and Ps. i. 2. and Prov. ii. 1 — 6.