Profitable Reading of Scripture # 1

Profitable Reading of Scripture # 1

The subject of this address is a very common one; for I do not hunt after novelties, but desire to stir up your minds in a way of remembrance. My object now is to point out to you, and enjoin upon you, a profitable method of reading the Scriptures.

What an inestimable treasure is the sacred volume! Well does it deserve the emphatic title by which it is distinguished from all other works, as "THE BIBLE," which means THE Book. Yes , it is indeed the book: the one, and only book for man, as an immortal creature, a lost sinner. It is a book containing God's thoughts, expressed in God's words; or as the great John Locke said, in a description, the comprehension and beauty of which have never been surpassed, "It has God for its author, salvation for its object, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its contents."

What a blessing ought it to be accounted, that we have this Divine revelation in the form of Scriptures, that is, writings, and not merely in oral tradition; that the Divine communications have been translated from the original languages, into our own tongue; that we are delivered from the tyranny of the Church of Rome, which denies the unrestricted use of the Scriptures to the people; and that they are now cheapened down, by various means, to be within the reach of the poorest individual. Never was the Bible so low in price, as it is now. Never was the Bible so much talked about as it is now. It is now the "Bible Age."

From the very nature of things, preaching has some advantages over reading; for not only are difficulties solved, seeming contradictions reconciled, and hidden beauties disclosed - but the combined effect of reasoning and rhetoric, aided by countenance, gesture, and voice - must at once awaken and sustain attention, instruct the judgment, captivate the imagination, impress the heart, and excite the conscience. It is therefore of unspeakable importance, constantly to hear the word preached; for faith comes by hearing; and the preaching of the Cross is the power of God unto salvation, to those who believe. But still it is an indolent and injurious relinquishment of our own inestimable privilege and indefeasible right to search the Scriptures for ourselves, entirely to substitute hearing for reading; and those people will be found to be the most profitable hearers of the word, who are its most devout and diligent readers.

It cannot be denied, that much of the religion of the present day is the religion of public meetings and excitement. The closet is a dull scene compared with the place of public resort; the silent page of Scripture a dull teacher, compared with the living voice of the eloquent preacher; and our solitary self dull company, compared with the trooping multitudes of the great congregation. But still, no one can be an eminent Christian, however frequently, admiringly, or pleasantly he hears his favorite minister, who does not converse much with his Bible in secret. He that would grow in grace and in knowledge, must commune daily with prophets and apostles, through the medium of their own inspired productions, he must drink largely of the pure living waters and undiluted milk of the Word. It will be found to be a weak and sickly piety, unfit to meet the exigencies, to cope with the difficulties and to maintain the conflicts of the Christian life - that depends for its support, exclusively, upon the hearing of sermons; or even the reading of Christian magazines, tracts, and reviews.

God's Word is the food of the soul, and there is more of concentrated nourishment in a single text of Scripture, when it is drawn out by the digestive process of meditation, to strengthen the heart of the believer, than in many pages of uninspired, though otherwise attractive, and even instructive, composition. God's words are life, and they are Spirit. Read the pages of Christian martyology, and while wondering at the noble heroes that stand before you, and admiring their deeds of deathless fame, you will find the secret of their strength in their intimate acquaintance with the Scriptures; they were Bible Christians, and not mere sermon Christians. If you were but deeply experienced in the ways of God, and the devices of satan, you would easily remember times of conflict and of peril, when the perusal of a single chapter or verse without the intervention of a human teacher, sounded like the voice of God and seemed like the coming into your soul of the mightiness of His Omnipotence. If, then, you would relish the uncorrupted sweetness of the Word; if you would realize its strength-giving efficacy; if you would grow to the strength and stature of a perfect man in Christ Jesus; if you would be valiant in the fight of faith - you must be much in converse with God alone.

Is not this precious privilege too much neglected by many of you? Does not the Bible lie upon the table, or the shelf, for days, yes weeks, unopened? What excuse have you to offer for so ungrateful a return for this inspired book? Diligence, prayer, and a holy state of mind, and the help of the Holy Spirit,  will unlock most of the hidden treasures of inspiration. Those who complain of the darkness of the Scriptures, are generally those who have devoted the least time and attention to the study of them. Many uninspired books are difficult to those who only dip into them occasionally, but which, to the very same people, become easy, when studied with care. The aid of a commentary may be of help to those who have leisure to peruse it.

But, perhaps, you say you have no time.  No time to read the Bible! No time to read the book of God! - a book written by God to you, and for you, and of you! The only book which can make you wise to salvation! Have you time to eat, drink, and sleep? And have you no time to read the Scriptures? Have you time to read letters from your friends, and no time to read letters from God! Time to read the newspaper, and not time to read the Bible? Do you not feel ashamed at the idea, especially when actually put into language? You must find time; and, if in no other way, be redeeming it from sleep, business, recreation,  conversation, and other pursuits. How much time would it take daily to read, even with serious attention, a whole chapter? How many precious fragments of time might be gathered up from other  occupations, which are actually wasted - to be employed on this high and holy engagement!

Probably you wish for some DIRECTIONS for your Bible-reading. A delight in the reading to of the Scriptures, is the best guide. He that is in love with a book, scarcely needs a rule to assist him. He will carry it about with him; make himself acquainted with the book; take it out when a few minutes leisure present themselves; store its  contents in his memory; think of them often; and apply them as occasions may present themselves. Love to read the Scriptures - and you will be sure to read them with profit. A real lover of his Bible cannot be an unprofitable one. But it you wish assistance, take the following rules - 

~John Angell James~

(continued with # 2)