Lord was precious - there was no open vision." Surely, then, God's kindness to you, summons you to great diligence and anxious improvement. Many advantages elevate you above your forefathers, but the chief of them all is this, that unto you are "committed the oracles of God."

5. Read it with earnest prayer for the blessing. To read it mechanically will not benefit you. King Alfred's prayers to God were long and ardent for Scriptural knowledge. Often, in secret, would he enter a church at night, and remain for many hours in earnest supplication, that God would open his eyes to "behold wondrous things" out of the divine law. And all who have been "mighty in the Scriptures," have engaged in similar exercises. "More light," cried Goethe, when his eyes were closing in death,-more light, more light, is the daily cry of the successful student. And the cry is not in vain. The Father of Lights hears—and the Spirit of Light descends.

"Sometimes a light surprises

The Christian while he sings;

It is the Lord that rises

With healing in his wings."

Implore the God of the Bible to enable you to understand, and receive its truth. Plead with Him,

that by his Spirit he would so lead and move you, as to cause you exclaim in wonder and gratitude,—“Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?"

6. With all these feelings combined within you, read it, in order to know the great blessing which it reveals. That blessing is to you of all things the most valuable. It is salvation from the mercy of God, through the blood of Christ. All things contained in Scripture, are meant to illustrate this glorious gift. You may learn much in Scripture, of history, of antiquity, of minerals, animals, and flowers; but unless you learn how a sinner is saved, your labour is worse than misspent. You may discover in the Bible much to delight you, to exercise your ingenuity, feast your imagination, and gratify your taste; but unless you find in it the way to Him "in whose favour is life,” and whose "loving-kindness is better than life," you have missed the very truth which the Bible was inspired to reveal, and come short of the very blessing which it was designed to bestow. The trumpet blows to warn you of danger, but you are only charmed with the music of the peal, and forget its purpose. You are so delighted with the ornaments and archi

tecture of the Temple, as to neglect its altar and prefer its portico to its mercy-seat. You are so amused with the form, richness, and beauty of the cup as to omit to taste the precious elixir which it contains. You admire the foliage, and inhale the fragrance of the tree of life; but you pluck not its fruit, and find it sweet to your taste. O, be warned against such delusion! Let the great end of your reading be the "salvation of your souls." This being your motive, your reward is certain. With what pleasure will you describe the result of your study,-"We have found him, of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth." "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent."

In fine, "give attendance to reading." It is the great and patent road to knowledge. The mother of Sir William Jones, when answering many of the questions put to her by the inquiring mind of her boy, was in the habit of saying," Read, and you will know." We repeat the advice to you in reference to the Bible. Are you desirous of being made further acquainted with the nature and government of Him who is the greatest and best of Beings?-Read, and you will know. Are you longing to understand the

only way in which you can be saved from wrath, and restored to the image and favour of Jehovah ?—Read, and you will know. Is there no curiosity in your hearts, leading you to pant after fuller information as to the truths you are to believe, the precepts you are to obey, the hopes you are to cherish, and the examples you are to follow ?-Read, and you will know. Be not content to know these things only by report. It is well that your parents instruct you. It is your duty to be ever making inquiry of them who can teach you divine truth. It would be wrong to neglect any means of knowledge, which your home, your school, and your church may afford you. Yet above all, and in union with all such sources of improvement, forget not our parting maxim,-Read, and you will know. Then shall you feel somewhat of that joyous assurance which animated the Samaritans, as they cried to her who had first told them of Christ, "Now, we believe, not because of thy saying; for WE HAVE HEARD HIM OURSELVES, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."

Understand the Bible.

My dear young friends, you will recollect that our second theme of admonition, or rather of mutual converse, was

UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE.-The Bible is meant to be fully and correctly understood. Its truths must be known ere they can be believed. Religion has been sometimes called a right state of feeling towards God. But it is only divine truth, clearly understood and cordially embraced, that can so change the heart as to induce it to love God, and obey his law. Sound Scriptural knowledge thus lays the foundation of religious character; and the more massive and secure the foundation, the safer and more graceful will be the structure reared upon it. Ignorance is both ruinous and inexcusable. The Bible resembles a