Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

they would at least have Caufe given them to recollect with humble Thankfulness, not only that their Chriftian Brethren do, and are made

P

wife unto Salvation by these despised plain Paffages, and by thefe only, but that from Them, above the reft, proceeded all that Knowledge of the Redemption of Man, and almost all that Knowledge of natural Religion also, which the most learned enjoy; and which hath made even the vulgar of the Gospel Difpenfation fuperior to the ablest and best instructed amongst the Heathen: a Superiority, which will be loft again, in Proportion as Regard to the Word of God decays.

[ocr errors]

But though, in reading it, we must all begin with attending, and ever after attend chiefly, to the first Elements of Christian Inftruction, or, to speak in St. Peter's Language, as new born Babes defire the fincere Milk of the Word, that we may grow thereby ; and know it for a bad Sign, if we cannot relish the Food of fimpleft Tafte, and eafieft Digestion: yet keeping to this wholly is the Business of those alone, who, as the Epiftle to the Hebrews expreffes it, are unfkilful, or rather, unexperienced, in the Word of Righteousness; which hath in it P2 Tim. iii. 15.

4 1 Pet. ii. 2.

alfo

alfo ftrong Meat, belonging to them that are of full Age, who, by Reafon of Ufe, have their Senfes exercifed to difcern both Good and Evil". We shall thrive beft by the Ufe of lighter Nourishment firft: and mixing the more solid with it prematurely may both check our Growth, and hurt our Health. But when we have ac quired a due Firmnefs and Vigour, we shall both preferve and increase it, by feeding on other Things likewife, throughout the Scripture: the feveral Parts of which I fhall briefly go over once again for your completer Di

rection.

The Hiftorical Books of the Old Teftament may be read carelessly with as little Improvement, as any other Hiftory. But therefore to prevent this, we are to reflect as we go along: and obferve, according to the Nature of each Article, how it fets before us the Sovereignty, the Superintendency, the Wisdom, the Justice, the Mercy of God; the Amiableness and Rewards of good Actions, the Deformity and Punishment of wicked ones; the Heights of Piety and Virtue, at which the Saints of old Time arrived, as We may by imitating them; the dreadful Sins into which they fometimes fell,

VOL. VI.

Heb. v. 13, 14.

K

as

as we shall, if we take not Warning. For all thefe Things happened to Them for Enfamples; and they are written for our Admonition'. As to the Danger, which may arife from the bad Deeds of good Perfons, related without Cenfure, and Actions that seem unwarrantable, yet are told with Approbation, and were therefore either done by God's extraordinary Commiffion, or grounded on Circumftances, of which we are not well apprized: I have spoken of these in a former Difcourfe; and fhewn you, that, in fuch Circumftances, the Precepts, not the Hiftories of the Bible, must be our Rule.

In the Book of Job, fome Parts are highly poetical, and proportionably dark: for which Reason our Attention must be chiefly paid to those others, which will amply recompenfe it, by exhibiting the nobleft and moft pleafing Views of the Majefty of the Almighty, of the patriarchal Religion, of the exquifite Beauties of Humanity and Charity, of the hard Struggle of human Virtue with heavy Afflictions, and God's gracious Acceptance of imperfect Endeavours. Ye have heard of the Patience of Job: and have feen the End of the Lord; that he is very pitiful, and of tender Mercy.

¡ Cor. x. 11.

t James v. 11.

.As

to

As to the Pfalms: I have already explained you the Nature of thofe, which contain Imprecations. Of repeating them all in the Church, I fhall, God willing, fpeak fome other Time. Of reading them in private, I need only fay, that with the Exercife of but a common Degree of Judgement, every pious Perfon will find it equally improving and delightful.

The Proverbs have fcarce any Obfcurity, and much Ufe. Concerning Ecclefiaftes and the Song of Solomon, you have had, I hope, fufficient Inftructions for perufing them with Benefit.

The Prophetical Writings abound in difficult Paffages; but ftill more in plain ones, expreffing the fublimest Notions of Piety and Morals, the ftrongest Preference of inward Goodness to outward Obfervances, the awfulleft Denunciations against Wickedness of every Kind, the most affectionate Expoftulations, the most inviting Promises, the warmest and justest Concern for public Good: which the Prophets manifefted with so fearless and impartial a Freedom, in telling both the Body of the People, and the highest in Authority, their Duty and their Sins, that the Defcendants of those, whọ perfecuted them when living, held their Memories, when dead, in eternal Honour; doubly K 2

com

[ocr errors]

convinced of their Miffion from Heaven, by the Accomplishment of their Predictions, and the fingular Worthiness of their Conduct. In reading them therefore we must diligently attend to these interesting Points, each in its proper Place: obferving alfo, along with them, the gradual Unfolding of the great Scheme of our Redemption; to which we shall do well, even in these Days of opener Vifion, to take Heed, as to a Light Shining in a dark Place"; especially as it confirms to us, that known unto God are all his Works from the Beginning *. Such Paffages in their Books, as relate to the Affairs of diftant heathen Countries in Ages long ago paft, though of admirable Ufe then, and not a little fill as Parallels, we are neither likely nor concerned to understand fully. And fuch as belong to Things yet future, especially to the Times and Circumftances of thofe Things, are few, if any, of them fit for the Unlearned to pry into particularly. Nay, the Learned themfelves, if they are prudent alfo, will observe, what Anfwer the Angel gave to the Prophet Daniel. And I beard, but I understood not: then faid I, O my Lord, what shall be the End of thefe Things? And he faid, Go thy Way, Da

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« AnteriorContinuar »