05.06. Weighty reasons for diligently reading and searching the Book of God
Weighty reasons for diligently reading
and searching the Book of God.
1. Because the way of salvation is to be found only therein, John 5:39. ’Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.’ This is the star risen in a dark world, to guide us where Christ is. All the researches of the wise men of the world, all the inventions of men, can never guide us to Emmanuel’s land, John 1:18. ’No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.’ Here, and here only, the counsels of God touching man’s salvation are discovered. And so, as salvation is the most necessary thing, the study of the scriptures, is the most necessary exercise. slight it, is to judge ourselves unworthy of eternal life.
2. It Is the only rule of our faith and lives, Isaiah 8:20. ’To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them,’ Ephesians 2:20. ’Ye are built upon the foundation of the prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone,’ Revelation 22:18-19. "I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this 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.’ The Bible is the pattern shown on the mount, to which our faith and lives must be conformed, if we would please God. The Lord says to us, as Deuteronomy 28:14 ’Thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand or to the left.’ None can walk regularly unless they observe the rule;, but how can one observe it unless he know it? Matthew 22:29. ’Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.’ God has given each of us our post in the world: the Bible is the book of our instructions; and shall we not study it? The lawyer studies his law-books, the physician his medical books, and shall not a Christian study the book of the Lord?
3. The Lord himself dictated it, and gave it us for that very end, 2 Timothy 3:16-17. ’All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, For correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.’ Romans 5:4. ’Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning.’ And has the Spirit of the Lord written it, and will not we read it? Has he given it us to be studied by us, and will we slight it ? This must be horrid contempt of God, and ingratitude to him, with a witness. Whose image and superscription is this on the scriptures? Is it not the Lord’s? Then take it up and read.
4. We must be judged by the scriptures at the great day, John 12:48. ’He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.’ That is one of the books opened, Revelation 20:12. This is the book of the Lord’s laws and ordinances, by which he will proceed in absolving or condemning us. I own God win go another way to work with those who never had the Bible. Romans 2:12. But know thou, that seeing it is in the country where then livest, though thou never readest a letter of it, thou must be judged by it. Is there not good reason then for reading the scriptures?