ate of bodily feeling. If you become exhausted
and dull, after the labors of the day, I would rather recommend taking
the whole time in the morning. But by no means confine yourself to these
stated seasons. Whenever the nature of your pursuits will admit of your
seclusion for a sufficient length of time to fix your mind upon the
truth, you may freely drink from this never-failing fountain of the
water of life.

6. _Study the Scriptures systematically._ If you read at random, here a
little and there a little, your views of divine truth will be partial
and limited. This method may indeed be pursued in regard to reading
_strictly devotional_; but only when other time is taken for obtaining a
connected view and a critical understanding of the whole Bible. The
Bible is like a dish of savory meats. There is almost every variety of
style and matter. There is _History, Biography, Argumentative and
Didactic Essays, and Poetry_. Although these various kinds of writing
are contained in a great number of books, written by various authors, at
different times, without concert, yet a remarkable unity of design runs
through the whole. They all aim at the development of the plan of God's
moral government; and a most striking harmony of sentiment prevails
throughout. We find everything, from the very beginning, pointing to the
glorious plan of redemption revealed in the Gospel. Although we may, at
first view, feel the want of a regular system of divinity, yet, a
careful attention to the subject will convince us that God's plan is
best. We have here the principles of his government exhibited in _living
examples_; which give us a clearer view, and more vivid impression of
them, than we could obtain from the study of an abstract system. There
are several things to be observed, in the systematic and thorough study
of the Bible, some of which I shall mention.

(1.) Always keep distinctly before you the grand design of the
Scriptures; which is, to convince mankind of their lost and ruined
condition, make known the way of salvation, and persuade them to embrace
it.

(2.) Make it your constant aim to ascertain what is the plain and
obvious meaning of the writer; for this is the mind of the Spirit. To
aid you in this, observe the following particulars: 1. Endeavor to
become acquainted with the peculiarity of each writer's style. Although
the matter and words of Scripture were dictated by the Holy Spirit, yet
it was so done that each writer emp