must be particularly careful to do in the books and chapters which are doctrinal, and especially in the Epistles; which is the reason we have been obliged to add a little to the length of the Arguments of those chapters.

If a right judgment be necessary, as we have observed, in order to understand the Scriptures, it is not less useful in order to discover the improvement we are to make of them. To this end it must be considered, that the great design of the Scriptures, and the use they should be applied to, is to produce in us true faith and the love of God, and thereby bring us to eternal life. These things were written, says St. John, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that believing, ye might have life through his name. St. Paul says likewise, that whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning; that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope. This is the natural and genuine effect of every part of revelation. Its doctrines are revealed, that we may receive them with faith; that they may purify our hearts, and lead us to love and fear God: its commandments were given, that we might keep them; its promises and threatenings tend wholly to dissuade us from that which is evil, and incline us to that which is good; and the examples, which the Scriptures set before us have the same tendency.

Therefore, whenever we read the Scriptures, we must endeavour to discover, first, what is of use to instruct and inform us; and then what tends to sanctify us, and bring us to God; that what we read may al

ways excite us more and more to piety, and dispose us to live a godly life. Moreover, it is of great importance for every one to take notice of what particularly concerns himself, and what bears the greatest affinity to his own circumstances and necessities. In this impartial application to ourselves of what we meet with in God's word, consists the right use of this Book. This St. James teaches us, when he says, If any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass; for he beholdeth himself and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man

he was.

Whereas the wise and faithful hearers of the word, are those who seriously and attentively consider and meditate upon it, and obey its commands. By which the Apostle shows that the use we must make of the Holy Scriptures, is to learn obedience; that we must read and hear them with a design to grow better; and that he who does not make this use of them, deceiveth his own soul.

4. The Scriptures must be read with submission and obedience of faith. Since it is God who speaks in them, we have nothing to do but to be well assured that we rightly understand their meaning, which is never difficult in things necessary to salvation; and then we are with submission and docility to receive whatever they reveal, and make that the rule of our faith and practice. Therefore, when we read the histories recorded in the Scriptures, we must believe them as firmly as if we were eye-witnesses of every event: which we have the more reason to do, as there is no history which is attended with so many convincing proofs of its truth and certainty.

When the Scriptures propose doctrines as the objects of our faith, we must embrace them without the least doubt or hesitation. If the doctrines revealed are of such a nature, that it is impossible fully to comprehend the reason, or the manner of their existence, this should not in the least stagger our faith. We must consider, that the most evident and incontestable truths, if we attempt to fathom them, are attended with difficulties which no one can resolve. Therefore, it must be prudent as well as pious, upon such occasions, not to give way to a spirit of curiosity; to lay aside vain reasonings and rash inquiries, which would only serve to tempt us to doubting and infidelity. God has spoken and let that suffice.

When we read the commands and precepts which God has given us in his word to be the rule of our actions, it is our duty to believe, that obedience and conformity to them is absolutely and indispensably necessary. And as the sense of the Scripture is never obscure in this respect, and it is impossible we should be deceived, unless we wilfully shut our eyes against the truth; all we have to do is, with humility and an honest heart to submit to whatever God is pleased to command: continually remembering, that as he has an absolute right and authority to command our obedience, so are we sure he will require nothing of us, but what tends to make us happy. Should the divine commands appear ever so disagreeable, and thwart our most favourite passions and inclinations, it suffices that God has said, This do, to make it our duty to obey; or, This ye shall not do, to oblige us to abstain. We must silence our passions, and not

ence.

listen to the suggestions of our own hearts; for our passions are the enemies which raise all the difficulties we meet with in the way of God's commands, and suggest false reasons to excuse our disobediAnd if to this end it be necessary to resist our inclinations, and do violence to ourselves, let us remember, this is the best proof we can give, that faith and the love of God is the ruling principle of our actions. Resisting our inclinations, and overcoming our natural reluctance, is the only test of our obedience, and a proof that our will is in entire submission to the divine will. But it is a dangerous thing, and repugnant to the nature of faith, to argue when God commands, and to dispute, either about the nature or necessity of our duty. To banish all false reasonings and all vain pretences, whereby men endeavour to elude the express declarations of God's word, is the reason why the apostles, when speaking of the laws by which we shall be judged, so frequently advise us, Not to be deceived, nor suffer ourselves to be seduced by philosophy and vain deceit, and the like.

Lastly, This submission must take place, likewise, in the promises and threatenings contained in the Scriptures; that is, when they describe the happiness of the life to come, or the punishments reserved for the wicked, we ought no more to doubt of the certainty of those promises or threatenings, than if we now actually saw the completion of them, and the great day of retribution was already come. This is one of the principal effects of faith. Faith, says St. Paul, is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. Now, since such is the

nature of that submission of faith, which ought to accompany the reading of the Scriptures; if we have it not, we shall read them and hear them in vain. The word doth not profit, unless it be attended with faith in them that hear it.

The last disposition with which the Scriptures ought to be read, is piety and devotion. This disposition is the principal, and includes all the rest. He that reads the Scriptures must have a love for truth and virtue; should have a heart inclined to good, and sincerely desirous to know the will of God and to do it. This upright intention is what our Lord calls in the Gospel, An honest and good heart, which makes a man, when he has heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. This makes the mind attentive, inspires it with that prudence and judgment, which is so necessary to the right understanding of what God would have us know and do to be saved. Those who have this pious intention, this honest heart, fail not to enter into the true sense of the Scriptures, and to discover their beauties. This Jesus Christ teaches us, in these remarkable words. If any man will do the will of God, he shall know of my doctrine. God manifests himself to those that seek him, and sheds abroad in their hearts the allquickening light of his Holy Spirit, and furnishes them with the most useful knowledge.

To conclude the whole. As the reading of the Scriptures requires a pious heart, so does it likewise demand a heart truly devout. Devotion, which, by the confession of all who make any pretences to religion, is a necessary qualification in prayer, is not less requisite in reading. When God speaks to us in