of his mouth, and fuftains us by the word of his power. It is he, whose voice can Shake the mountains, and make the whole earth to tremble; he, who is God over all, and gives laws to the whole world, fpeaks now to us with an audible voice'; and therefore certainly it becomes us to hear what he faith with reverence. We dare not furely scoff at and deride his words, who can in a moment turn us into hell for doing fo; we dare not prefume lightly to esteem his words, who is a God jealous of his honour, and will revenge all affronts offered to him, even to the third and fourth generation. No, we will receive them with fuch a refpect, as it becomes a poor, vile, dependent creature to fhew to his Creator, Preferver and Law-giver.

Secondly, Since it is God's word, it deserves to be read by us with the greatest care and attention poffible. When God fpeaks, it is certainly worth our while to hearken to him; for, whatever infinite wisdom can fay, muft needs be of great ufe to man. Hearken therefore unto the word of the Lord, and incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart unto understanding. Refolve before thou readest, heedfully

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heedfully to mind what thou readeft, or elfe it will be better for thee not to read at all.

Thirdly, All God's words must be believ'd. Whatsoever comes from him muft be true; for he is truth it felf, and cannot lie. He cannot be deceived by others, neither can he himself deceive any man; and therefore we may firmly depend upon whatever he faith, as infallibly true. Thy word is true from the beginning, faith David; and he that fent me is true, faith our bleffed Saviour. God is not a man that he should lie, faith Moses; nay, God cannot lie, faith St. Paul. He cannot be deceived, because he is omnifcient, and knoweth all things; nor can he deceive, because he is truth it felf, and it is impoffible for him to lie. Prepare thy foul therefore to receive whatever he faith, with a firm and unfhaken belief. Remember that it is God who speaks, even the God of truth, and make no doubt of believing his words. Thou canst not offer a greater affront unto him, than to disbelieve him; for this is to call him a liar. And therefore it will be lefs excufable for thee, never to look into the fcriptures,

fcriptures, than, when thou knowest them to be the word of God, to read them constantly, without a steady faith in them. Fourthly, Whatever God faith, must be obeyed by us. God is the foveraign

law-giver of the world, and may impose any laws upon us his creatures, that he pleaseth. And therefore, when he speaks, his word must be a law to us. The Lord is our law-giver, faith Ifaiah. He is that one Law-giver, who is able to fave and to destroy: Obey his voice therefore, and provoke him not. As Mofes faid to the children of Ifrael. The fcriptures contain the laws of God, written with his own finger, and he who reads them, and obeyeth them not, is a tranfgreffor of the law, and shall perish. Beware therefore of doing this. For it will be much better for you, never to read a line of fcripture, than to read it frequently and not obey it. For to fin against a clear light, which we have constantly in our eye, is the greatest aggravation fin is capable o. Make this refolution therefore with thy felf, before thou readeft, that thou wilt fincerely practise what thou readeft.

Again, As the fcriptures are the word of eternal life, that is, as they offer us conditions, which if we perform, we shall moft certainly obtain eternal life; they lay a fresh obligation upon us to receive them with reverence, attention, faith and obedience. For what gift fhall we receive with reverence and refpect, if not the gift of everlasting happiness? What words fhall we liften to, if not the words of eternal life? Where fhall we fhew our readinefs to believe, if we are flow to believe the greatest and most welcome news that ever man heard? Laftly, What commands fhall we be willing to obey, if not those, which will reward our obedience with an eternity of happiness?

That therefore thou mayeft read the scriptures, and be the better for them; nay, that thou may'ft not be infinitely the worse for reading them; it will be neces fary for thee, before thou ventureft to open these holy books, to refolve that thou wilt peruse them with a moft profound reverence and respect; that thou wilt liften to them with a moft wakeful attention, affent to them with an unfeigned faith, and obey them with a fincere and ready fubmiffion. Having

Having put on these holy refolutions, thou haft now nothing elfe to do, before thou settest thy felf to reading, but to beg the affistance of God's fpirit, which alone can ftrengthen these thy refolutions, and instruct thee in the things that are of God, in these words of our church.

Bleffed Lord, who haft caufed all boty feriptures to be written for our learning, Grant that I may in fuch wife read, mark, and inwardly digeft them, that by patience and comfort of thy boly word, I may embrace and ever hold faft the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou haft given us in our Saviour Jefus Chrift.

And now you may fafely venture to unfold these facred books, and look into them; and need not fear not being benefited by them, if in your reading of them, you are careful to obferve these following rules.

First, To chufe for your reading such portions of them as are most plain and intelligible, and relate moft immediately to your duty. Such as are in the Old Teftament.

The whole book of Genesis, which gives you an account of the creation of all things

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