reading which I advise, these must be omitted till after
you have gone through the Gospels and Acts, that you may not lose the
historical thread.

_Of the New Testament, which is constantly to be referred to as the Rule
and Direction of our moral Conduct._

51. We come now to that part of scripture, which is the most important
of all, and which you must make your constant study, not only till you
are thoroughly acquainted with but all your life long; because, how
often soever repeated, it is impossible to read the life and death of
our blessed Saviour, without renewing and increasing in our hearts that
love and reverence, and gratitude towards him, which is so justly due
for all he did and suffered for us! Every word that fell from his lips
is more precious than all the treasures of the earth; for his "are the
words of eternal life!" They must therefore be laid up in your heart,
and constantly referred to on all occasions, as the rule and directions
of all your actions; particularly those very comprehensive moral
precepts he has graciously left with us, which can never fail to direct
us aright, if fairly and honestly applied: such as, "whatsoever you
would that men should do unto you, even so do unto them." There is no
occasion, great or small, on which you may not safely apply this rule
for the direction of your conduct; and, whilst your heart honestly
adheres to it, you can never be guilty of any sort of injustice or
unkindness.

52. The two great commandments, which contain the summary of our duty to
God and man, are no less easily retained, and made a standard by which
to judge our own hearts--"To love the Lord our God, with all our own
hearts, with all our minds, with all our strength; and our neighbour (or
fellow-creature) as ourselves."--"Love worketh no ill to his neighbour."
Therefore, if you have true benevolence, you will never do any thing
injurious to individuals, or to society.

53. Now, all crimes whatever, are (in their remoter consequences at
least, if not immediately and apparently) injurious to the society in
which we live. It is impossible to love God without desiring to please
him, and, as far as we are able, to resemble him: therefore the love of
God must lead to every virtue in the highest degree; and, we may be sure
we do not truly love him, if we content ourselves with avoiding flagrant
sins, and do not strive, in good earnest, to reach the greatest degree
of perfection we are capable of.