Miscellaneous

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Reading the Scriptures

HERE is a very desultory kind of reading, even of the Holy Scriptures, in which the sick often indulge. They can read but little, and therefore they often choose the portions which they like the best, and think will be the most profitable to them. Thus they lose much of the meaning of the Bible, by taking it in detached passages, instead of in its connexion; by taking verses apart from the context, they often get a false idea of the meaning; and many portions which would be very instructive to them they never read: choosing for themselves what their food is to be, instead of having it given to them. To have some plan in reading is a very great help, and especially to those who are so much taken from the ordinary helps in this way. It is pleasant to look to some one to guide us and teach us, and to tell us what to do; and it prevents that vague feeling of wanting to

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know what it is best to do, and how to read the Scriptures the most profitably. "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." Therefore we should read all Scripture; otherwise we shall omit something that is "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction." Reading detached chapters and verses does not answer the same end.

Can there be a better rule than the one given by the Church? And if we read the daily Lessons and Psalms, as far as our strength permits, we shall read the Old Testament once every year, and the New Testament three times, and the Psalms twelve times through. We shall soon find how wonderfully each Lesson and each Psalm seems to bring something peculiarly fitted to our need at that very time and every day, as we read them afresh, we shall find this more and more, and be able to appropriate them as the portion given to us for our profit, and not self-chosen. And we shall have the happiness of not reading alone, but with "many members of the one body.""

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Do not fear that it will degenerate into a mere form; it will grow less and less so as you pursue it. But sick people need not have so much fear of forms-they, perhaps, of all others, need them the most-for they are deprived of so many that come

1 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17.

21 Cor. xii. 12

in the natural order of things to people in health, that they are in great danger of growing desultory.

Often a husk may be thrown away as useless, not knowing that it contains a precious kernel. The husk may look to you like other husks-unsightly and valueless; but you cannot get at, or preserve the kernel without it. At any rate, do not throw it away until you have well examined it; and in this case the only way of thoroughly testing it is by long and daily practice.

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Sunday

NOTHER subject of trial to sick people is the Sunday. Some feel this much more acutely than others. The want of public worship is, and ought to be, a great trial to you; the loss of assembling together, of having a place "where prayer is wont to be made," where many are praying together, thus helping each other; where God is especially felt to be present; and where a fixed time is appointed for prayer, the quiet of which cannot be broken in upon by outward distractions and interruptions. Besides this, there is a wonderful help in the sympathy of many worshipping together; our sluggish souls need every help : also the voice of prayer is a great assistance, and

3 Acts xvi. 13

keeps up the attention. And when praise is offered, the heart is lifted up with others, and at least the "voice of melody"4 ascends. There, also, the fulfilment of the promise may especially be claimed: “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I will be with them;"s and there is the realization of the Church; of being many members of one body; so that we learn to say, "I believe in the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints."

All these blessings are withheld from the sick; the cheerful sound of the Church bells does but remind them that they "cannot go up to the house of the Lord ;" and would sound with painful sadness in their ears, if they were not learning the lesson to "rejoice with them that do rejoice."6

The degree to which the absence from public worship tells on private devotion, they can best declare who have been for months or years debarred from it. The habit, the fixedness, the place, are all wanting. It is a very difficult thing day after day to continue devotions in the same unchanged place; with nothing outward to call you away from the world, to call you to worship. In that very room, that very bed, perhaps, you must carry on everything; there are your pains and sicknesses; there you see your friends; you take your meals; you transact all your worldly business; you sleep; there it is that everything which fills up your life is carried on. The outward helps of being called to

4 Isa. li 3

5 Matt. xviii. 20

6 Rom. xii. 15.