of thofe Lights, which in these later times God has rais'd up in his Church; he will apply all his Stock of Reading, all his Skill in Arts and Sciences and Languages, all his Knowledge in Profane Authors, to the Study of this One Book, which he judges, of all that were ever writ, to be only worth the understanding. But if he have not thefe Advantages of Learning, he will be never the lefs diligent in ftudying the Holy Books: themselves, carefully comparing Scripture with Scripture, which is ever its own befti Expofitor, and bringing Light to the darker Places from those that are more clear. But further; This Love of Truth does imply also a Love of nothing but Truth; and he who comes thus prepar'd, has no Prejudices: to bribe his Judgment, no preconceiv'd Opinions to gratify at the Expence of Truth, no Perfwalion that he is not willing to lay down, upon theConviction of the contrary. He ftudies not Scripture for Contention or Oftentation, to maintain a Cause, or hold an Argument, with a Defign to wreft it to One fide, or to bring it over to a Party which he has efpous'd: But having One only Aim, which is to fearch after Truth diligently, and embrace it as heartily, when found, this is infallibly the Highway to it. We may be fure, that the God of Truth will not fuffer fuch honeft Endeavours to be in vain; but M 3 will

will lead a devout Soul thus enclin❜d, if not into all Truth, yet into as much of it as fhall be fufficient for his Everlafting Happiness; and preserve him, if not from all Error, yet from all that fhall be hurtful or dangerous to his Salvation.

3dly. A Third Qualification for the Reading of Scripture, fo as to improve in the true and faving Knowledge of it, is an Uniform and Univerfal Obedience to all the Precepts contain'd in it.

Practice is certainly the beft way to the Knowledge of any Doctrine; being actually exercis'd and daily converfant in the Duties of the Gospel, will give a Man a furer and more fatisfactory Notion and Feeling of the Excellence and Wisdom of it, than the moft claborate Expofitions and Commen. taries of the most able Divines. He that hath that Principle of Obedience within, opens willingly and readily his Soul to all that he reads; for it fpeaks to his Heart, and every thing in the Gospel fits the Temper of his Mind. But befides this natural Tendency, there are thro' the whole Scripture many clear and Pofitive Promises of Heavenly Knowledge, and further Degrees alfo of the fame Knowledge, and an Encrease of it to a due and fincere Practife of what we already know. The Secrets of the

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Lord are with them that fear Him, fays Holy David. I have more Understanding than all my Teachers, fays the fame Royal Prophet: but whence came all this divine Knowledge? It immediately follows, because I keep thy Precepts. But our Bleffed Saviour's Promife is of all most exprefs and encouraging, John 7. 17. If any Man will do His Will, he fball know of the Doctrine if it be of God.

Ifhall conclude this Head with an Anfwer full of Wisdom and Piety, which a' great and pious Cardinal of our own Nation gave, when being confulted, What Me thod of Study was likely to be most effeAual towards the understanding of the dif ficult and obfcure Paffages inSaint Paul's Epiftles, he gave this Advice: That the way likelieft to fucceed, was to begin at the End of thofe Epiftles, to ftudy diligently and practise faithfully thofe Rules, which he there with so much Plainnefs lays down, relating to Chriftian Manners, a Holy Life and Godly Conversation: and then, and not till then, to proceed to the former Part where the doctrinal Points and Matters of Faith are more nicely and fubtilly and exactly handled. Without doubt a Mind exercis'd in the plain Precepts, will of all other most easily discover the more Obfcure Truths of Religion. Whereas on the contrary They who neglect or defpife the clear intelligible

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telligible Commands, whatever Study or Application elfe they may ufe, are defervedly fhut out, as Unholy and Prophanę, from the more hidden Venerable and Holy Mysteries of the Gospel.

The laft Requifite, which I fhall mention, is conftant and earnest Prayer to Almighty God, that That Spirit of Truth, which first did dictate to thofe that writ, may be prefent alfo and affiftant to us that read the Holy Scripture. This of all the other Qualifications is moft neceffary, for without this all the reft, and all our other Study and Endeavours will prove fruitless and vain, Prayer indeed without Study is Prefumption, but Study without Prayer is Atheism. We find Holy David, who had made the Word of God his Exercife Day and Night, who understood more of it than bis Teachers, or the Aged; yet continuing ftill in Prayer, and in fundry Places with much importunity and fervour fuing to God for further Light and Inftruction in it. Let us therefore, in Imitation of that Man after God's own Heart, whatever Knowledge we have, afcribe all of it to the Gift of the Holy Ghoft, and never ceafe to pray for greater Improvements and further Degrees of it; left even that should be taken from ús, which we have. Let us never take the

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Bible in our hands, never approach to confult thofe Oracles, without fome of these devout Ejaculations of the Holy Pfalmift in our Mouths or in our Hearts: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Teach me Thy Statutes, Open Thou mine Eyes, that I may see the wondrous Things of thy Law. Teach me, O Lord, the Way of thy Statutes; give me Understanding, and I fball keep thy Law. Teach me Good Judgment and Knowledge, for I have believ'd thy Commandments. Deal with thy Servant according to thy Mercy, and teach me thy Statutes. And for the prefent let us conclude with that excellent Prayer of our Church :

Bleffed Lord, who haft caus'd all Holy Scripture to be written for our Learning,Grant that We may in fuch wife hear them,read,mark,learn, and inwardly digeft them, that by Patience and Comfort of thy Holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the bleffed Hope of everlasting Life, which thou haft given us in our Saviour Jefus Chrift. Amen.