to know in general, that it cannot be liable to the Imputations, which profane People would caft upon it, because the Spirit of the whole is inconfiftent with their Suggestions. If indeed they themselves would but take the Trouble of understanding what they take the Liberty of burlefquing, it would fave them the Guilt of many a blafphemous Reflection, and the Shame of many a filly Jeft. But at least Persons of better Difpofitions will furely be perfuaded to fo rational a Method of guarding against the Infection of their pernicious Irreverence. Poffibly fome will reply, that irreligious Thoughts and Temptations to Unbelief may arise from what occurs to us in reading the Bible ourselves, as well as from what others occafionally say of it. But certainly the Danger is far lefs: and the greatest Part of that may be prevented by obferving fuch Rules for the fafe and useful Performance of this Duty, as Perfons, one should imagine, would of Course lay down for themfelves, or at least will fee to be reasonable, when proposed to them; as, God willing, they shall be to you the very next Opportunity. And if ftill any Difficulty and Trial remain, yet coming in our Way, when our Minds are in a ferious and confiderate State, disposed to

examine

examine impartially and reverently, as in the Prefence of God, and to beg, that his Spirit would guide us into all Truth; there will be no Doubt of obtaining, on due Inquiry, competent Satisfaction.

I shall only say this farther, to fhew the Evil of neglecting the facred Writings, that They are what makes us to differ from the Gentiles, which know not God, for even our natural Religion is borrowed from them; and they can be useful only by being read: that when the Church of Rome had almost fuppreffed them, Christianity was buried under Falsehood, Superftition and Wickedness; and when they were reftored to common Ufe, true Piety, Virtue and Liberty, were reftored by their Means: that those Nations and thofe Perfons, who attend to them with the highest Respect, are the moft fincerely, the most steadily good: and that in Proportion as We of this Nation have difregarded them, we have grown unfettled in our Faith even of what Reason teaches, profligate in our Behaviour, unmindful of public or private real Welfare, and visibly ripe for speedy Destruction.

John xvi. 13.

Theff. iv. 5.

Let

Let us all therefore inftantly return to the right Way, before it is too late. The pooreft of us, if he hath not a Bible, may have one, either by Purchase, for he lays out much more in a few Weeks on Matters of far lefs Neceffity, or by the charitable Gift of fome pious Benefactor. And the bufieft of us may and must find Time for every Branch of the one Thing needful'. Every Perfon hath at least several Hours of the Lord's Day, and fome little Share of others, for the Exercises of Religion: But many of us have much more Leifure; not all of it perhaps innocently, and a great deal of it not prudently, employed. Spending a due Part of it on the divine Law would both dif pofe and enable us to spend the reft, whether devoted to worldly Affairs or to Relaxations, with truer Cheerfulness now, and to a better Account at the great Day. We have most of us at Times heavy Sufferings: and poor Supports are any others, that we can use under them, compared with theirs, who by Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures have Hope . The most cautious of us have frequently violent Affaults from our fpiritual Enemy: and we cannot arm ourselves against him more effectually,

f Luke x. 42.

g Rom. xv. 4.

than,

than, as our Lord himself did, with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God". The ftrongest of us have fad Remains of Weakness, the discreetest of Injudiciousness: and the fureft Remedy for both is that of the Son of Sirach: Let thy Mind be upon the Ordinances of the Lord, and meditate continually in his Commandments: He shall establish thine Heart, and give thee Wisdom at thine own Defire'.

h Eph. vi. 17.

Eccluf. vi.

37.

SER