Short Sermon. amongst those who make a fair outward profession of Christianity, hardly ever read the Bible at all. They hear it read in Church, no doubt, and they hear sermons, and they have a general knowledge of its contents, but they are not familiar with its principles, and do not take it as their daily guide. Others, who do read it, read it very often rather to see in it the doctrines they take with them to its study, to confirm themselves in their pre-established opinions, and to find a condemnation of all those who differ from them. Others, no doubt, read it just for the sake of reading it. They have some remains of conscientious feeling about the duty of reading the Bible; and so, perhaps alone, perhaps with their families, they read a portion morning or evening, and only read it. It is forgotten as soon as read. It is read as a duty to be done, not as a means of learning what duty is to be done. But what I would commend to my readers here as a great help to holy living is the daily reading of the Holy Scriptures with the one view of carrying their principles out in daily life and busi ness. When Captain Hedley Vicars became an earnest Christian, he laid his open Bible on his table, and told all who came in that henceforth that was the Book by which he meant to act. I am not suggesting that you shall lay your Bible on your counting-house table-it might lie there only to be seen; but that you should, each day, go to business with some part of God's word fresh in your mind, as the direction of your God, and the principle of your life. I have headed this subject, Reading the Word of God for Principles,' for the New Testament, and, indeed, the Old too, as far as it applies to us, is made up of great broad principles. We do not find there directions for every minute particular of action, but great motives, broad principles, transcendent promises, overwhelming threatenings. It is our business to become so familiar with these as to bring them to bear on every action of life, great or small. They are sufficient to save us, if we do so, but not more than sufficient; and it is certain that if we do not avail ourselves of the forces they offer us, we shall constantly be beaten by our foe, and eventually lost. You will remember that Holy Scripture was the sword of the Spirit which our Saviour used in His temptation, and that it was with a word of God that, on each occasion, He silenced and eventually drove away the evil one. It is written,' He said, 'it is written.' And you will remember also that St. Paul, when instructing the man of God how to be throughly furnished, writes thus: '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, throughly furnished unto all good works' (2 Tim. iii. 16, 17). The course of ordinary business is like that of a full river rolling on in its might, and carrying everything away with it as it goes. Men think of nothing else. There is need of some rock, islanded in the midst of their thoughts, to stem and check their gress, if it is to be stemmed at all. pro Such a rock would be the Word of God, if known and believed to be the Word of God. But who rarely reads it never thinks of it, especially where thought is needed, so that it has no more effect upon his course of life than a stone thrown from the bridge into some swollen river. But a man who had just been reading, as the Word of God, 'All liars shall have their portion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone,' would hardly tell a lie with that Rock standing up before him. A man who had just been listening to 'What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?' would hardly with that rising up in his mind risk the losing of his soul for the sake of gaining a few pounds. A man who had just been thinking over our Saviour's words, Whosoever shall be ashamed of me in this evil and adulterous generation, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he comes with his holy angels,' would hardly then and there shrink with shame from the confession of that Saviour. A man who had been reading that morning, 'I say unto you, Whosoever shall look upon a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart,' would hardly, with that ringing in his ears, let his eyes run loosely where they please. A man who had just heard from the lips of the Saviour, 'Seek ye the kingdom of God and His righteousness first, and all these things shall be added unto you,' would hardly set to work in business as if there were no God, and money were the one thing to be sought. A man who had just been reading of the exceeding tenderness and loving kindness of the Lord, shown in that while he was yet a sinner Christ died for him, would hardly then and there run into sin which crucifies that Lord afresh. No, it is because we forget these facts, and are so unfamiliar with these truths, that they have little or no influence upon us. They are not islanded as rocks in our hearts, and so the stream of life flows on and carries them away as but leaves upon its surface. What I suggest, then, is this, that you labour not only to become more familiar with Holy Scripture, but that you aim at bringing it as a real restraining power into your daily life. Read it with reference to daily life. Fix in your mind, for each day, some great promise, some great threatening, some great principle. Write it in your memory as you walk down to business. Think of it again and again as the work of the day goes on. Apply it in your work. Place it side by side with your practice. Urge it upon your fears. Press it on your hopes. God says this and this. How shall I dare to disobey Him? God writes thus; and how shall I have the folly to act otherwise? God promises this. What in this world can be so joyful, what so worthy of effort? Let me please God my Saviour, though all the world be set against me. Ask, 'Lord, what would thou have me to do?' And be ready, when He speaks, to say 'Here I am, Lord, send me.' |