importance of reading the Bible. I have shown that no book is written in
such a manner as the Bible,--that knowledge of the Bible is absolutely
necessary to salvation,--that no book contains such matter,--that no
book has done so much for the world generally,--that no book can do so
much for every one who reads it aright,--that this book is the only rule
of faith and practice,--that it is, and always has been, the food of all
true servants of God,--and that it is the only book which can comfort
men when they die. All these are ancient things. I do not pretend to
tell anything new. I have only gathered together old truths, and tried
to mould them into a new shape. Let me finish all by addressing a few
plain words to the conscience of every class of readers.
(1) This paper may fall into the hands of some who _can read, but never
do read the Bible at all_. Are you one of them? If you are, I have
something to say to you.
I cannot comfort you in your present state of mind. It would be mockery
and deceit to do so. I cannot speak to you of peace and heaven, while
you treat the Bible as you do. You are in danger of losing your soul.
You are in danger, because _your neglected Bible is a plain evidence
that you do not love God_. The health of a man's body may generally be
known by his appetite. The health of a man's soul may be known by his
treatment of the Bible. Now you are manifestly labouring under a sore
disease. Will you not repent?
I know I cannot reach your heart. I cannot make you see and feel these
things. I can only enter my solemn protest against your present
treatment of the Bible, and lay that protest before your conscience. I
do so with all my soul. Oh, beware lest you repent too late! Beware lest
you put off reading the Bible till you send for the doctor in your last
illness, and then find the Bible a sealed book, and dark, as the cloud
between the hosts of Israel and Egypt, to your anxious soul! Beware lest
you go on saying all your life, "Men do very well without all this
Bible-reading," and find at length, to your cost, that men do very ill,
and end in hell! Beware lest the day come when you will feel, "Had I but
honoured the Bible as much as I have honoured the newspaper, I should
not have been left without comfort in my last hours!" Bible-neglecting
reader, I give you a plain warning. The plague-cross is at present on
your door. The Lord have mercy upon your soul!
(2) This paper may fall into the hands of some one who is _willing to
begin reading the Bible, but wants advice_ on the subject. Are you that
man? Listen to me, and I will give a few short hints.
(_a_) For one thing, _begin reading your Bible this very day_. The way
to do a thing is to do it, and the way to read the Bible is actually to
read it. It is not meaning, or wishing, or resolving, or intending, or
thinking about it, which will advance you one step. You must positively
read. There is no royal road in this matter, any more than in the matter
of prayer. If you cannot read yourself, you must persuade somebody else
to read to you. But one way or another, through eyes or ears, the words
of Scripture must actually pass before your mind.
(_b_) For another thing, _read the Bible with an earnest desire to
understand it_. Think not for a moment that the great object is to turn
over a certain quantity of printed paper, and that it matters nothing
whether you understand it or not. Some ignorant people seem to fancy
that all is done if they clear off so many chapters every day, though
they may not have a notion what they are all about, and only know that
they have pushed on their mark so many leaves. This is turning Bible
reading into a mere form. It is almost as bad as the Popish habit of
buying indulgences, by saying an almost fabulous number of ave-marias
and paternosters. It reminds one of the poor Hottentot who ate up a
Dutch hymn-book because he saw it comforted his neighbours' hearts.
Settle it down in your mind as a general principle, that a Bible not
understood is a Bible that does no good. Say to yourself often as you
read, "What is all this about?" Dig for the meaning like a man digging
for Australian gold. Work hard, and do not give up the work in a hurry.
(_c_) For another thing, _read the Bible with child-like faith and
humility_. Open your heart as you open your book, and say, "Speak,
Lord, for thy servant heareth." Resolve to believe implicitly whatever
you find there, however much it may run counter to your own prejudices.
Resolve to receive heartily every statement of truth, whether you like
it or not. Beware of that miserable habit of mind into which some
readers of the Bible fall. They receive some doctrines because they like
them: they reject others because they are condemning to themselves, or
to some lover, or relation, or friend. At this rate the Bible is
useless. Are we to be judges of what ought to be in the Word? Do we know
better than God? Settle it down in your mind that you will receive all
and believe all, and that what you cannot understand you will take on
trust. Remember, when you pray, you are speaking to God, and God hears
you. But, remember, when you read, God is speaking to you, and you are
not to "answer again," but to listen.
(_d_) For another thing, _read the Bible in a spirit of obedience and
self-application_. Sit down to the study of it with a daily
determination that _you_ will live by its rules, rest on its statements,
and act on its commands. Consider, as you travel through every chapter,
"How does this affect _my_ position and course of conduct? What does
this teach _me_?" It is poor work to read the Bible from mere curiosity,
and for speculative purposes, in order to fill your head and store your
mind with opinions, while you do not allow the book to influence your
heart and life. That Bible is read best which is practised most.
(_e_) For another thing, _read the Bible daily_. Make it a part of every
day's business to read and meditate on some portion of God's Word.
Private means of grace are just as needful every day for our souls as
food and clothing are for our bodies. Yesterday's bread will not feed
the labourer to-day, and to-day's bread will not feed the labourer
to-morrow. Do as the Israelites did in the wilderness. Gather your manna
fresh every morning. Choose your own seasons and hours. Do not scramble
over and hurry your reading. Give your Bible the best, and not the worst
part of your time. But whatever plan you pursue, let it be a rule of
your life to visit the throne of grace and the Bible every day.
(_f_) For another thing, _read all the Bible, and read it in an orderly
way_. I fear there are many parts of the Word which some people never
read at all. This is to say the least, a very presumptuous habit. "All
Scripture is profitable." (2 Tim. iii. 16.) To this habit may be traced
that want of broad, well-proportioned views of truth, which is so common
in this day. Some people's Bible-reading is a system of perpetual
dipping and picking. They do not seem to have an idea of regularly going
through the whole book. This also is a great mistake. No doubt in times
of sickness and affliction it is allowable to search out seasonable
portions. But with this exception, I believe it is by far the best plan
to begin the Old and New Testaments at the same time,--to read each
straight through to the end, and then begin again. This is a matter in
which every one must be persuaded in his own mind. I can only say it has
been my own plan for nearly forty years, and I have never seen cause to
alter it.
(_g_) For another thing, _read the Bible fairly and honestly_. Determine
to take everything in its plain, obvious meaning, and regard all forced
interpretations with great suspicion. As a general rule, whatever a
verse of the Bible seems to mean, it does mean. Cecil's rule is a very
valuable one,--"The right way of interpreting Scripture is to take it as
we find it, without any attempt to force it into any particular system."
Well said Hooker, "I hold it for a most infallible rule in the
exposition of Scripture, that when a literal construction will stand,
the furthest from the literal is commonly the worst."
(_h_) In the last place, _read the Bible with Christ continually in
view_. The grand primary object of all Scripture is to testify of
Jesus. Old Testament ceremonies are shadows of Christ. Old Testament
judges and deliverers are types of Christ. Old Testament history shows
the world's need of Christ. Old Testament prophecies are full of
Christ's sufferings, and of Christ's glory yet to come. The first advent
and the second,--the Lord's humiliation and the Lord's kingdom,--the
cross and the crown, shine forth everywhere in the Bible. Keep fast hold
on this clue, if you would read the Bible aright.
I might easily add to these hints, if space permitted. Few and short as
they are, you will find them worth attention. Act upon them, and I
firmly believe you will never be allowed to miss the way to heaven. Act
upon them, and you will find light continually increasing in your mind.
No book of evidence can be compared with that internal evidence which he
obtains who daily uses the Word in the right way. Such a man does not
need the books of learned men, like Paley, and Wilson, and M'Ilvaine. He
has the witness in himself. The book satisfies and feeds his soul. A
poor Christian woman once said to an infidel, "I am no scholar. I cannot
argue like you. But I know that honey is honey, because it leaves a
sweet taste in my mouth. And I know the Bible to be God's book, because
of the taste it leaves in my heart."
(3) This paper may fall into the hands of some one who _loves and
believes the Bible, and yet reads it but little_. I fear there are many
such in this day. It is a day of bustle and hurry. It is a day of
talking, and committee-meetings, and public work. These things are all
very well in their way, but I fear that they sometimes clip and cut
short the private reading of the Bible. Does your conscience tell you
that you are one of the persons I speak of? Listen to me, and I will say
a few things which deserve your serious attention.
You are the man that is likely to _get little comfort from the Bible in
time of need_. Trial is a sifting season. Affliction is a searching
wind, which strips the leaves off the trees, and brings to light the
birds' nests. Now I fear that your stores of Bible consolations may one
day run very low. I fear lest you should find yourself at last on very
short allowance, and come into harbour weak, worn and thin.
You are the man that is likely _never to be established in the truth_. I
shall not be surprised to hear that you are troubled with doubts and
questionings about assurance, grace, faith, perseverance, and the like.
The devil is an old and cunning enemy. Like the Benjamites, he can
"throw stones at a hair-breadth, and not miss." (Judges xx. 16.) He can
quote Scripture readily enough when he pleases. Now you are not
sufficiently ready with your weapons to be able to fight a good fight
with him. Your armour does not fit you well. Your sword sits loosely in
your hand.
You are the man that is likely to _make mistakes in life_. I shall not
wonder if I am told that you have erred about your own marriage,--erred
about your children's education,--erred about the conduct of your
household,--erred about the company you keep. The world you steer
through is full of rocks, and shoals, and sandbanks. You are not
sufficiently familiar either with the lights or charts.
You are the man that is likely to _be carried away by some specious
false teacher for a season_. It will not surprise me if I hear that some
one of those clever, eloquent men, who can "make the worse appear the
better cause," is leading you into many follies. You are wanting in
ballast. No wonder if you are tossed to and fro, like a cork on the
waves.
All these are uncomfortable things. I want every reader of this paper to
escape them all. Take the advice I offer you this day. Do not merely
read your Bible "a little," but read it a great deal. "Let the Word of
Christ dwell in you richly." (Coloss. iii. 16.) Do not be a mere babe
in spiritual knowledge. Seek to become "well instructed in the kingdom
of heaven," and to be continually adding new things to old. A religion
of feeling is an uncertain thing. It is like the tide, sometimes high,
and sometimes low. It is like the moon, sometimes bright, and sometimes
dim. A religion of deep Bible knowledge, is a firm and lasting
possession. It enables a man not merely to say, "I feel hope in
Christ,"--but "I know whom I have believed." (2 Tim. i. 12.)
(4) This paper may fall into the hands of some one who _reads the Bible
much, and yet fancies he is no better for his reading_. This is a crafty
temptation of the devil. At one stage he says, "Do not read the Bible at
all." At another he says, "Your reading does you no good: give it up."
Are you that man? I feel for you from the bottom of my soul. Let me try
to do you good.
Do not think you are getting no good from the Bible, merely because you
do not see that good day by day. The greatest effects are by no means
those which make the most noise, and are most easily observed. The
greatest effects are often silent, quiet, and hard to detect at the time
they are being produced. Think of the influence of the moon upon the
earth, and of the air upon the human lungs. Remember how silently the
dew falls, and how imperceptibly the grass grows. There may be far more
doing than you think in your soul by your Bible-reading.
The Word may be gradually producing deep _impressions_ on your heart, of
which you are not at present aware. Often when the memory is retaining
no facts, the character of a man is receiving some everlasting
impression. Is sin becoming every year more hateful to you? Is Christ
becoming every year more precious? Is holiness becoming every year more
lovely and desirable in your eyes? If these things are so, take courage.
The Bible is doing you good, though you may not be able to trace it out
day by day.
The Bible may be restraining you from some sin or delusion into which
you would otherwise run. It may be daily keeping you back, and hedging
you up, and preventing many a false step. Ah, you might soon find this
out to your cost, if you were to cease reading the Word! The very
familiarity of blessings sometimes makes us insensible to their value.
Resist the devil. Settle it down in your mind as an established rule,
that, whether you feel it at the moment or not, you are inhaling
spiritual health by reading the Bible, and insensibly becoming more
strong.
(5) This paper may fall into the hands of some who _really love the
Bible, live upon the Bible, and read it much_. Are you one of these?
Give me your attention, and I will mention a few things which we shall
do well to lay to heart for time to come.
Let us resolve to _read the Bible more and more_ every year we live. Let
us try to get it rooted in our memories, and engrafted into our hearts.
Let us be thoroughly well provisioned with it against the voyage of
death. Who knows but we may have a very stormy passage? Sight and
hearing may fail us, and we may be in deep waters. Oh, to have the Word
"hid in our hearts" in such an hour as that! (Ps. cxix. 11.)
Let us resolve to be _more watchful over our Bible-reading_ every year
that we live. Let us be jealously careful about the time we give to it,
and the manner that time is spent. Let us beware of omitting our daily
reading without sufficient cause. Let us not be gaping, and yawning, and
dozing over our book, while we read. Let us read like a London merchant
studying the city article in the Times,--or like a wife reading a
husband's letter from a distant land. Let us be very careful that we
never exalt any minister, or sermon, or book, or tract, or friend above
the Word. Cursed be that book, or tract, or human counsel, which creeps
in between us and the Bible, and hides the Bible from our eyes! Once
more I say, let us be very watchful. The moment we open the Bible the
devil sits down by our side. Oh, to read with a hungry spirit, and a
simple desire for edification!
Let us resolve to _honour the Bible more in our families_. Let us read
it morning and evening to our children and households, and not be
ashamed to let men see that we do so. Let us not be discouraged by
seeing no good arise from it. The Bible-reading in a family has kept
many a one from the gaol, the workhouse, and the Gazette, if it has not
kept him from hell.
Let us resolve to _meditate more on the Bible_. It is good to take with
us two or three texts when we go out into the world, and to turn them
over and over in our minds whenever we have a little leisure. It keeps
out many vain thoughts. It clenches the nail of daily reading. It
preserves our souls from stagnating and breeding corrupt things. It
sanctifies and quickens our memories, and prevents them becoming like
those ponds where the frogs live but the fish die.
Let us resolve to _talk more to believers about the Bible_ when we meet
them. Alas, the conversation of Christians, when they do meet, is often
sadly unprofitable! How many frivolous, and trifling, and uncharitable
things are said! Let us bring out the Bible more, and it will help to
drive the devil away, and keep our hearts in tune. Oh, that we may all
strive so to walk together in this evil world, that Jesus may often draw
near, and go with us, as He went with the two disciples journeying to
Emmaus!
Last of all, let us resolve to _live by the Bible more and more_ every
year we live. Let us frequently take account of all our opinions and
practices,--of our habits and tempers,--of our behaviour in public and
in private,--in the world, and by our own firesides. Let us measure all
by the Bible, and resolve, by God's help, to conform to it. Oh that we
may learn increasingly to "cleanse our ways" by the Word! (Ps. cxix.
9.)
I commend all these things to the serious and prayerful attention of
every one into whose hands this paper may fall. I want the ministers of
my beloved country to be Bible-reading ministers,--the congregations,
Bible-reading congregations,--and the nation, a Bible-reading nation. To
bring about this desirable end I cast in my mite into God's treasury.
The Lord grant that it may prove not to have been in vain!
VI
GOING TO THE TABLE
"_Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread,
and drink of that cup._"--1 Cor. xi. 28.
The words which form the title of this paper refer to a subject of vast
importance. That subject is the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.
Perhaps no part of the Christian religion is so thoroughly misunderstood
as the Lord's Supper. On no point have there been so many disputes,
strifes, and controversies for almost 1800 years. On no point have
mistakes done so much harm. Even at this very day the battle is still
raging, and Christians seem hopelessly divided. The very ordinance which
was meant for our peace and profit has become the cause of discord and
the occasion of sin. These things ought not so to be!
I make no excuse for including the Lord's Supper among the leading
points of _practical_ Christianity. I believe firmly that ignorant views
or false doctrine about this sacrament lie at the root of half the
present divisions of professing Christians. Some neglect it altogether;
some completely misunderstand it; some exalt it to a position it was
never meant to occupy, and turn it into an idol. If I can throw a little
light on it, and clear up the doubts of some minds, I shall feel very
thankful. It is hopeless, I fear, to expect that the controversy about
the Lord's Supper will ever be finally closed until the Lord comes. But
it is not too much to hope that the fog and mystery and obscurity with
which it is surrounded in some minds, may be cleared away by plain Bible
truth.
In examining the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper I shall content myself
with asking four practical questions, and offering answers to them.
I. Why was the Lord's supper ordained?
II. Who ought to go to the Table and be communicants?
III. What may communicants expect from the Lord's Supper?
IV. Why do many so-called Christians never go to the Lord's Table?
I think it will be impossible to handle these four questions fairly,
honestly, and impartially, without seeing the subject of this paper more
clearly, and getting some distinct and practical ideas about some
leading errors of our day. I say "practical" emphatically. My chief aim
in this volume is to promote practical Christianity.
I. In the first place, _why was the Lord's Supper ordained_?
I answer that question in the words of the Church Catechism. I am sure I
cannot mend them. It was ordained "for the continual remembrance of the
sacrifice of the death of Christ, and of the benefits which we receive
thereby."--The bread which in the Lord's Supper is broken, given, and
eaten, is meant to remind us of Christ's body given on the cross for our
sins. The wine which is poured out and received, is meant to remind us
of Christ's blood shed on the cross for our sins. He that eats that
bread and drinks that wine is reminded, in the most striking and
forcible manner, of the benefits Christ has obtained for his soul, and
of the death of Christ as the hinge and turning point on which all those
benefits depend.
Now is the view here stated the doctrine of the New Testament? If it is
not, for ever let it be rejected, cast aside, and refused by men. If it
is, let us never be ashamed to hold it fast, profess our belief in it,
pin our faith on it, and steadfastly refuse to hold any other view, no
matter by whom it is taught. In subjects like this we must call no man
master. It signifies little what great Bishops and learned divines have
thought fit to put forth about the Lord's Supper. If they teach more
than the Word of God contains they are not to be believed.
I take down my Bible and turn to the New Testament. There I find no less
than four separate accounts of the first appointment of the Lord's
Supper. St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. Paul, all four describe
it: all four agree in telling us what our Lord did on this memorable
occasion.--Two only tell us the reason which our Lord assigned why His
disciples were to eat the bread and drink the cup. St. Paul and St. Luke
both record the remarkable words, "_Do this in remembrance of Me_."--St.
Paul adds his own inspired comment: "As often as ye eat this bread and
drink this cup, ye do shew (or declare or proclaim) the Lord's death
till He come." (Luke xxii. 19; 1 Cor. xi. 25, 26.) When Scripture speaks
so plainly, why cannot men be content with it? Why should we mystify and
confuse a subject which in the New Testament is so simple? The
"continual remembrance of Christ's death" was the one grand object for
which the Lord's Supper was ordained. He that goes further than this is
adding to God's Word, and does so to the great peril of his soul.
Now is it reasonable to suppose that our Lord would appoint an ordinance
for so simple a purpose as the "_keeping His death in remembrance_"?
Most certainly it is. Of all the facts in His earthly ministry none are
equal in importance to that of His death. It was the great satisfaction
for man's sin, which had been appointed in God's covenant from the
foundation of the world. It was the great atonement of almighty power,
to which every sacrifice of animals, from the fall of man, continually
pointed. It was the grand end and purpose for which Messiah came into
the world. It was the corner-stone and foundation of all man's hopes of
pardon and peace with God. In short, Christ would have lived, and
taught, and preached, and prophesied, and wrought miracles in vain, if
He had not _crowned all by dying for our sins as our Substitute_! His
death was our life. His death was the payment of our debt to God.
Without His death we should have been of all creatures most miserable.
No wonder that an ordinance was specially appointed to remind us of our
Saviour's death. It is the very one thing of which poor, weak, sinful
man needs to be continually reminded.