book, if any man shall add unto these things, "God shall add unto him the plagues that are "written in this book; and if any man shall "take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out "of the book of life, and out of the holy city, " and from the things which are written in this " book." * Let every one take heed, lest by addition or subtraction he incur these tremendous curses! Forasmuch as the Scripture is a revelation from God, what an affront to Him is the neglect of it! Even a fellow-worm would consider himself to be contemptuously treated, if his letters were returned unopened: more especially if those letters contained matters of importance, and offers of friendly assistance in a season of embarrassment and distress; how gross an affront would it be, what a proof of black ingratitude, to treat them with indifference, and to throw them aside without notice! If letters from the Kings of the East are received by their subjects with every token of respect and reverence, Rev. xxii. 18, 19. Is there not reason to fear that some of the mystic writers, by pretences to immediate revelation which seem to put their unintelligible performances on a level with the book of God, have inadvertently committed the sin of adding to the things written in Holy Scripture? And should not those who so highly extol their productions be afraid, lest they involve themselves in the same guilt? Such persons would do well to consult an excellent paper on the subject by Dr. Horne, late Bishop of Norwich, inserted in the Appendix to his Life, by the Rev. Win. Jones. On the other hand, is there not good ground to conclude, that those who will admit nothing as truth, though plainly revealed in Scripture, but what approves itself to their own understanding, are in danger of subjecting themselves to the consequences of that tremendous declaration," God shall take away their part out of the book of life?" bending their bodies, and raising the pacquet to their lips; with what emotions of holy fear and lively gratitude should we receive the precious Bible! But do we not slight this inestimable gift, unless we constantly read it and diligently study it; unless we prize it, like the dying martyr, who, after having taken a solemn farewell of his wife, children, and other earthly valuables, reserved his last adieu for the Bible, concluding his valediction with these memorable words: "Farewell, thou blessed, blessed book "of God." If we know the value of the Scriptures, we shall constantly pray over them, and make it our daily endeavour to reduce the doctrines thereof to constant practice. The grand subject of the Bible is Christ crucified. He is the alpha and omega of all Divine revelation. Though a variety of other subjects. is spoken of therein, they have all a reference to Him. As the rays of a circle, though diverg ing to every quarter of the heavens, all concur. in one central point, so, although the Scriptures contain large portions of history, chronology, and ethics, and though the diligent inquirer after truth may find therein some light diffused on every path of science, yet Christ is that radiant centre in which every line meets. This. the Bible testifies of itself. Search the Scrip tures," says our Lord to the Jews," for in "them ye think ye have eternal life, and these "are they which testify of ME." When the adorable Saviour was walking with the two * History informs us, that in the time of Henry VIII. a Countryman gave a cart-load of hay for one leaf of St. James's Epistle in English. "The word of the Lord was precious in those days." + John v. 39. disciples, after His resurrection, on the road to Emmaus, it is said, that " beginning at Moses "and all the prophets He expounded unto "them in all the Scriptures the things concern σε ing HIMSELF." When Peter was preaching to his countrymen at Jerusalem, he told them that "those things which God before had "shewn by the mouth of all His prophets that "Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled." The historical parts of Scripture afford, in great abundance, memoirs of persons and things which illustrate the design of the coming of the promised Christ and the loveliness of His character. The prophetic Scriptures describe His sufferings and the glory that should follow. Does the Bible often allude to the natural history of the vegetable, mineral, and animal kingdoms? These allusions are frequently employed to set forth the dignity and excellency of Christ. The very genealogies of the Bible are inserted to lead us to the son of Mary who was born in Bethlehem of Judea. The chronological parts have all a reference to the times and seasons of Jesus Christ. The ceremonial law was throughout a shadow of Christ, exhibiting an outline of His mediatorial transactions and sufferings. The morál law also was given both to shew our need of Him and the perfection of His righteousness, and also to teach us how we may resemble Him. The promises of the Bible" are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus;' and even its threatenings are designed to render Him precious. Would you understand the Bible? You must keep this clew in your hand, that it is the record which God hath given * Luke xxiv. 27. " concerning His Son." If you explore this sacred field, without making it your principal object to find therein the pearl of great price, you will lose your labour, and (what is worse) you will lose your own soul. If you have never considered this blessed book as the supernatural star which is to divert the attention of pilgrims from every inferior object, and guide their feet to Bethlehem in Judea, it is no wonder that you have not judgment sufficient to ascribe to it its proper value; that you can open it without pleasure, and then close it without profit. Happy, thrice happy are they who daily study the Scriptures with this prevailing desire, "that they may know Him, and the power of His "resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, and be made conformable to His "death." They know, by blessed experience, the attractive force of those "cords of love,' even the truths of Scripture, which the Holy Spirit of God, as the glorifier of Jesus, entwines around their hearts, and by which He draws them off from" the pomps and vanities of this "wicked world" to Him, "who died and arose again that He might be Lord both of the "dead and living." ແ The end for which the Scriptures were written is nothing less than our salvation. We admire the philanthropy of those who employ their pens with a view to promote the temporal welfare and happiness of mankind. The learned physician, the wise politician, and the benevolent friend to human nature in its lowest state of misery (the name of Howard needs not to be mentioned, for it will recur to every mind), these claim from us no common share of esteem, not only while engaged in active services for the benefit of society, but also while in their closets they are employed in transmitting to posterity the fruits of their researches and experience. To these a tribute of gratitude is not denied. But who can sufficiently admire the Divine philanthropy, as it appears in the communication of the most gracious purposes of eternal love by means of the precious book of God? With respect to Him, the liveliest emotions and expressions of gratitude, and the loftiest hymns of praise, must fall infinitely short of giving Him the honour which is due unto His name. How valuable are maps to travellers, who are necessarily obliged to traverse immense tracts of uninhabited regions, where no other information is to be procured besides what is to be derived from that source! How justly would that man perish, who, while in possession of a chart that would enable him to direct his voyage to the desired port, should wilfully neglect to consult it! Would any sensible person wonder if his ship struck on a rock, or foundered on a quicksand? Every human being has a voyage to make, in which his everlasting all is embarked in one bottom. From time to eternity he must sail, whether it be agreeable to his inclination or not. The sea over which his voyage extends is full of sunken rocks and dangerous quicksands. The Bible is given him as a chart, by consulting which, and attending to the information it conveys, he may pursue his voyage perfect safety, and, without doubt of a miscarriage, reach the desired shore. How highly culpable, then, is that man who permits his time to be so engrossed with trifles as to neglect his Bible! How would every one be surprised at the folly of a mariner who should be engaged in |
