INTRODUCTION.

A PORTION of the sacred scriptures should always, if possible, be read before family prayer; for remember, "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." If we desire to be instructed and made wise and intelligent, we must pay a constant attention to the scriptures, for there we have truth unmixed with

error; and by a proper attention to the things there taught, the mind will generally be brought into a proper state for prayer.

Do any inquire, how much of the scriptures should be read at a time, and the best plan of reading them? As to the first point, it must depend entirely upon the leisure of the family: but, if only a few verses, or a whole chapter be read, let it be with the greatest reverence and solemnity. Remember, it is God's word, "which is able to make us wise unto salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus:"It is the word of him,

who will shortly come to be our judge.

In answering the second ques

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tion, What is the best method of reading the scriptures in the family?" Probably as profitable a method, as can be adopted in the general way, will be to read them regularly; taking a portion of the Old Testament one part of the day, and of the New, the other. We may read the Five Books of Moses, with the four Gospels, and the Book of Joshua with the Acts of the Apostles, between which, the analogy will appear most striking.

In reading these books together, we must bear in mind, that the Pentateuch contains the history of the great Jewish Legislator, and the laws on which the Jewish Church should be established. The Gospels contain a history of Jesus Christ, the great Christian Legislator, and of those laws on which his church should be established, and by which it should be governed. The Book of Joshua contains an account of the establishment of the Jewish church, according to the promises. and declarations of God. So likewise, the Acts of the Apostles