clearly seen, and a more intelligent understanding arrived at. 3. Obtain, if possible, the Annotated Paragraph Bible, published by the Religious Tract Society, London. This will give you, in a moderate compass, introductions to each book of Scripture, with explanatory notes on difficult passages. SECTION IV. In addition to all, and above all, remember THE SPIRIT IN WHICH THE BIBLE SHOULD BE STUDIED. I quote the earnest words of a recent writer on this subject: "This book is not like other books to the understanding of which an ordinary intelligence is sufficient. Because it deals with great spiritual truths it must be spiritually discerned. The moral condition of a man has a great deal to do with his power to enter into the revelation of the things of the Kingdom of God. In order to the spiritual understanding of Scripture therefore, (1.) Read with candour and open-mindedness.Instead of being quite unfettered to receive the whole counsel of the Divine will, we are too often prepared to welcome the Word of God no farther than as it bears upon, and stands with, opinions we have already embraced. The Bible is too often searched with foregone conclusions, and for the purpose of argument and controversy. Thus the solemn stillness which the soul should hold before its Maker is destroyed or disturbed at every turn. Theorising has done immense mischief everywhere, and no where more than in religion. Men come to the Bible with creeds and systems, and make the Bible tally with them. They teach the Bible instead of being taught by it. It has been well said that "the primary requisites for all students of the Bible are earnestness and reverence. First of all, there must be a disposition of docility, of thoughtfulness, and of patience-a nature simple, true, and free; a mind open to all theories, but straining after none; at once ductile and self-determining; unwearied in seeking and listening; in judging independent and impartial. This kind of nature we call one that is sincere; and without this sincerity all error is possible to man, let him have what other accomplishments he may. "(2.) To right spiritual understanding it is above all things needful that we read the Book of God with deep prayerfulness of heart. In the midst of its high eternal verities we are but as little children, and need a spirit of wisdom higher than our own. Simple men who are prayerful find that which merely intellectual men utterly miss. For prayer brings to our side that divine Spirit of Truth who alone can guide us into all truth. As men were moved by the Holy Ghost to speak, so they must be moved by the Holy Ghost to feel and understand the Divine oracles. (3.). Reading and Meditation should go together. Let a man not merely say to himself, I have so many minutes, and will go over so many verses; but at the end let him ask himself what is the meaning and bearing of the truth which these verses contain? What new truth about God or myself or human life have I received, or what old truth has been deepened? A little well thought out is better than a great deal gone over carelessly. It is not the number of chapters or verses we read; but it is the frequency and earnestness with which we meditate on these things till the truth which may be in them becomes our own, that ensures our spiritual growth. (4.) Finally, we ought to read this Book of God with obedient faith. "If we receive the testimony of man the testimony of God is greater." (1 John v. 9) If there has been a Divine revelation given to us, it is because one was needed, and it is not left to our own choice whether we will accept it, or reject it. The possession of the Scriptures greatly increases our responsibility. Having the light we can never be as though we had it not. It is impossible to deny our responsibility without denying everything that makes us men. This Book comes with Other books you may read divine authority over us. and forget, this you must not forget; others you may have on your shelves and not read unless you like, this you must read if you can: upon others you may pronounce your opinions, this pronounces its opinion. upon you, and governs your opinions. "The truest way to read the Bible is to live it, to become yourself a living Bible, known and read of all men. If we try to live what we know, that which we know not will become plainer to us. Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord. If any man I will do His will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God. The Bible has been given to us not to amuse our leisure, but to direct and stimulate us in the way everlasting. It finds us going astray, and it earnestly aims to bring us back: it finds us in sickness, and it seeks to give us spiritual health. We have been alienated from God, and we need to be brought into loving relation with Him. We are under the power of sin, and we need to be purified. "This Book has a serious earnest purpose: may God help us to deal with it in a serious earnest spirit. O God! open Thou our eyes that we may behold wondrous things out of Thy law. Write thy laws upon our hearts by Thy Spirit. Lead us into all truth. Make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ our Lord." We commend the following beautiful and striking passage from the writings of the Rev. John Wesley to the serious reflection and imitation of every reader into whose hands this volume may fall : "To candid and reasonable men I am not afraid to lay open what have been the inmost thoughts of my heart. I have thought, I am a creature of a day, passing through life as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God, and returning to God; just hovering over the great gulf, till a few moments hence I am no more seen! I drop into an unchangeable eternity! I want to know one thing, the way to heaven, how to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end He came from heaven. He has written it down in a book. O give me that Book! At any price give me the Book of God! I have it. Here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be a man of one book. Here then I am, far from the busy ways of men. "I sit down alone. Only God is here. In His presence I open and read His Book, for this end, to find the way to heaven. Is there a doubt concerning the meaning of what I read? Does anything appear dark and intricate? I lift up my heart to the Father of Lights-Lord, is it not Thy word? If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God, "Thou givest liberally and upbraidest not." Thou hast said, If any be willing to do Thy will he shall know. I am willing to do. Let me know Thy will. I then search after and consider parallel passages of Scripture, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.' I meditate thereon with all the attention and earnestness of which my mind is capable. If any doubt still remains, I consult those who are experienced in the things of God; and then the writings whereby being dead they yet speak. And what I thus learn that I believe and teach." "This Book, this Holy Book-on every line And earnest sighs, TO READ, BELIEVE, AND LIVE. (Pollok.) APPENDIX. HELPS TO THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE. THE UNITY OF THE BIBLE. The Bible, though generally regarded as one book, and rightly so from the highest point of view, is really a collection of sixty-six books, differing in size and subject-matter, written by different authors at different times, the interval between the composition of the first book Genesis, and the last book Revelation, being fully 1500 years. The Bible consists of two great divisions, the Old and the New Testament, the former having been written before the birth of Jesus Christ, and the latter after His death. The Old Testament contains 39 books, written at different times in the course of a thousand years. The subject-matter of these books is sometimes history, like Genesis and Kings; sometimes legislation, like Leviticus; sometimes dramatic or devotional poetry, like Job and Psalms; sometimes moral teaching, like Proverbs, or spiritual exhortation, like the Prophetical Books. The New Testament contains 27 books, written in a period of about 50 years; these books comprise history, like the four Gospels, religious letters, like all the Epistles, or prophecy, like the Book of Revelation. It is very natural to ask why such a number of different books, written at different times by different men, should all be bound together in one volume. The answer is that these sixty-six books have a unity about them, and fit in to one another, so that the whole really constitutes one book. In a large house there are some things made of brick, others of wood, and others of iron. These are made by different people, yet they are made to order in accordance with the plan of the architect, and the whole of them |