JOHN XII. 34-36.-"The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up! who is this Son of man? Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you: walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness, knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them."
AN acquaintance with the letter of the Holy Scriptures is a very important acquisition. It is not the knowledge which is eternal life, but it is the basis of that knowledge. Where the first is wanting, the second cannot exist. It is the instrument which the Holy Spirit employs in bringing men to that understanding and faith of divine truth which are "able to save the soul." He who is acquainted-it may be, well acquainted-with the Scriptures literally, may be, notwithstanding, altogether ignorant of them spiritually; but he who is ignorant of them literally, cannot be at all acquainted with them spiritually.
This literal kind of acquaintance with the Scriptures is eagerly to be sought, but it is not to be rested in; it is a means, not an end. If it be regarded as an end, it will be productive of no real permanent advantage; for all the purposes of direction, motive, and consolation, it will be found useless; and it may even prove dangerous and injurious. The Apostle Peter speaks of men who, in his days, "wrested the Scriptures to their own destruction;" which they could not have done if they had not had some literal acquaintance with them; and every one at all acquainted with the history of the christian church knows, that the most specious