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with solemn awe! Habituate thyself, upon opening it, to think, This is the Book of ·God!

2. Search the scriptures thankfully. Bless God for a revelation of his will. The Roman Catholics do not allow the common people to read this book; thousands in the heathen world never heard tell of it; but thou art in a protestant nation, and the holy bible, faithfully translated, is put into thy hands. Let it be sweet to thy taste. "The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey or the honey comb.'

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3. Search attentively. Examine every sentence with studious care. Compare one part with another, and those parts which are plain will throw light upon those which are obscure. Some read these sacred books as a silly girl reads a novel; but let us attentively weigh and examine them, for they are of infinite importance. When Ezra read the law to the jewish people, "the ears of the people were attentive to the book of the law."

4. The scriptures should be searched with prayer: Entreat him, by whom they were inspired, to open thine understanding.

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Consider David's prayer: Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." The Holy Ghost, by his secret influences, can open our eyes; and if we ask for this blessing, we have every reason to hope it will be granted.

5. Search the scriptures with faith. Give full credit to every word of God. Some things may be above our capacity; but that is not a sufficient cause of unbelief. Contradictions may appear at first sight; but when examined impartially they will all vanish. Faith in the word will make the scriptures an unspeakable blessing: unbelief will make them a curse. They are a savour of death unto death to unbelievers; but to believers a savour of life unto life.

6. Humility is necessary in searching the scriptures. A proud spirit calls every thing in question; an humble spirit receives all with thankfulness. It is the pride of the understanding which has made so many infidels. They have been wise above what was written-wiser in their own eyes than men who can render a reason. Lean not to thine own understanding; but submit to be instructed by God. If reason were a sufficient guide, there would be no need of revelation.

7. We should search the scriptures wisely, and enter deep into divine truth; but we should not make mysteries where there are none. Curious, half-witted men, pretend to find in the scriptures what God never revealed. It is wise to search for the real meaning of the Holy Ghost. In doing so, we must understand passages in their plain grammatical sense. Spiritualizing, so called, frequently betrays great weakness of intellect. Some passages, indeed, must be understood spiritually; but let us not imagine that the spiritual meaning is some far-fetched allegory. Most passages, in their plain, literal, grammatical sense, convey a spiritual meaning, and establish some spiritual truth.

8. Search every part of the scriptures. Go through all the books regularly. It is wrong to read only here and there a chapter, and here and there a verse. I would advise every one, that he may see the great design of the whole, to begin at the beginning, and go regularly through every book to the end. At any rate, we should read one book through before another is begun. Thus we shall see all the designs of the Holy Ghost in this revelation, and the result will be a rational and comfortable view of the whole bible.

9. Search the scriptures frequently. Set apart a portion of time every day for this

important work, and let no business hinder. When we set about any other business upon this plan, we generally succeed; and why not in reading the scriptures? Surely the reading of this book is of greater moment than any other business. Let us never think the time lost which we spend in this way. We have read volume after volume of mere trash. Novels, plays, and romances have destroyed many of our precious hours. Henceforth may the bible be our delight!

10 Above all, search the scriptures practically. Desire to learn, that thou mayest obey. Bring truth into practice and experience. Then this book will be "a light to thy feet, and a lamp to thy path." To read practically, we must often stop and ask ourselves questions. For instance: I read, "Blessed are the meek;" and I ask myself, Am I meek? "Blessed are the merciful:" Am 1 merciful? "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart:" Do I thus love him?

Thus, while we search the scriptures, we shall feed upon them, and grow up in the life of God. They will be a safe guide to a better state, and a comfort by the way. Let us teach them to our children, and may both they and our children's children read, understand, and obey the heavenly oracles. Amen.

Directions how to hear Sermons,

SERMON XXIX.

LUKE viii. 18.

Take heed, therefore, how ye hear.

THE most important duties, when improperly performed, are offensive to God. The duty of hearing sermons is vastly important, and yet, how little is it regarded! Some scarcely ever hear at all, and others, who statedly attend, hear as if they were not accountable to God. Perhaps there is no duty which is more generally abused than that of hearing the word. Hence we see the necessity of the caution in our text, "Take heed how ye hear."

Here are two things to be considered: first, we should hear sermons; and, secondly, we should take heed how we hear.

1. WE SHOULD HEAR SERMONS.

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1. I shall say nothing about the place where we should hear the word of God.

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