could not be studied separately. Their civil and ecclesiastical laws, their religious ceremonies, and even the nature, use and form of the Temple, with all its ornaments and implements, formed also a necessary branch of knowledge; and even the genealogies of their tribes and families were an important part of their education. But it is evident, that it would be quite superfluous for a · Christian to store his memory with these particulars. There are others, however, with which he should, to a certain degree, be acquainted. He should have a general knowledge of the history of Revelation, from the beginning; and should meditate upon those edifying narratives, with which the Old Testament abounds. He should assiduously peruse the moral and devotional books, such as Job, the Psalms and Proverbs; and study those portions of the prophets, which are calculated to excite our pious affections, or contain predictions of Christ. The whole of the New Testament should be diligently studied, and habitually read; though his principal attention is evidently demanded by the history and discourses of our Lord himself. It may not be necessary nor expedient, to perplex himself with learned and tedious commentaries and paraphrases; but every Christian will find it satisfactory, to consult such brief expositions, as point out the meaning of scriptural expressions, and the nature of antiquated customs.

Neither are the books called Apocryphal unworthy of the notice of a Christian. After abstracting some fabulous circumstances, they will be found to contain a rich vein of piety and morality. The Wisdom of Solomon and Ecclesiasticus, abound with beautiful and sublime illustrations of the finest passages in the canonical books; and the Maccabees, beside having their use in connecting the histories of the Old and New Testaments, are finely calculated to awaken a noble spirit of patriotism, and reliance on Frovidence, in trying and dangerous times.

After these general observations, the most edifying view of this subject that occurs to me, is, to state the motives, which should invite different classes of people to an habitual perusal of the sacred writings, and the benefit, they may respectively hope to reap from this practice. Let us dwell on the intellectual, moral and spiritual improvement, to be derived from the study of the Bible; on the preparation of spirit for an immortal existence, to be drawn from this source by every class of men; and on the practical consequences likely to result to society at large.

With respect to the noble and the rich, it is evident, that the more exalted, or wealthy any man is, the more need has he for religion, to admonish him of the precarious tenure, by which he holds his honours and possessions, their vanity, while they last, and the awful account, that he

will have to render of the employment of his talents, after they are gone: and where can he be so effectually reminded of these circumstances in his situation, as in those books, which contain the will and the law of God? Where else can he be so authoritatively instructed in the duties of humility, charity and devotion? Where can he behold such edifying examples of the exaltation of humble piety, or the downfal of sinful pride, and the instability of all human affairs? To be impressed with these sentiments, it is not enough to hear a lesson occasionally read in public. We must be in the practice of habitually studying our Bibles in private, and meditating on every fact, precept and doctrine, which bears upon our peculiar infirmities and temptations; and acquire a habit of attending to the divine instructions, reproofs and promises, with faith, as addressed to ourselves. The intercourse of our Lord with dif ferent classes of people, was so variegated and familiar, that there are few situations in which we can be placed, that may not remind us of something similar in the life or conversation of Christ. When this coincidence occurs to our minds, either in active life, or while we read the Gospels, we should ask ourselves, how would Jesus have behaved, or what would have been his sentiments in such a case: how did he actually conduct himself when similarly circumstanced; and have we acted in such occurrences, conformably to his

example. It is thus, that the word of God becomes a check on the passions of mankind; and by a silent but continual operation, produces an effect infinitely more powerful than any single impulse, however violent and impressive. Every gentle persuasion, and every awful warning, is continually working upon millions of minds, and insensibly moulding the world to a conformity with the Divine will. "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you; for inasmuch as ye have shown mercy to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have shown it unto me."* These gracious words have been food to the hungry, clothes to the naked, a shelter to the stranger, and a shield to the oppressed; medicine to the sick, and relief to the prisoner, in every land, and in every succeeding age. They are still the charter of the poor and feeble; a law to the affluent and powerful; and the source, which supplies the demands of public and private charity, throughout the world.

Now, if this duty be binding on the most elevated ranks in society, and so beneficial to the virtuous, pious and enlightened, it must be still more profitable to those, who are destitute of other means of instruction, and other guards against sin.

* Matt. xxv. 34.

Let us, then, inquire what advantages accrue to the poor, from the habitual perusal of the sacred volume.

I believe, I may venture to assert, that, in point of intellectual, moral and religious acquirements, there is a greater difference between a man in the lower rank of life, who has never read his Bible, and another, who has studied it habitually and piously, than between this last, and the most learned man in the nation. The mind of the first is a perfect vacuum, as to spiritual qualities and endowments; or, if not a vacuum, it is a chaos. Except some vague, instinctive principle, or rather feeling, of moral obligation, and some hearsay notion of God, he is a stranger to morals and piety. As to the conduct of Providence, and the history of mankind, he has not a notion of them, beyond the period of his own existence; and, if he be so completely enveloped in darkness concerning this life, he must be totally destitute of any conception of a life to come.

The humblest rustic, on the other hand, though he be a herdsman, or a shepherd, on the side of a remote mountain, who is in the habit of assiduously and seriously perusing his Bible, is possessed of treasures of knowledge and wisdom, which can be undervalued only by those, who are ignorant of them, or those, to whom they are so familiar, that they forget, or overlook the sources, from which they have been derived.