When the Spirit enlightens it, He does so through the instrumentality of the ordinary faculties. When after careful, patient thought, or after an effort of the Imagination to realize some Scriptural Narrative in all its details, we find that the difficulties, one after another, begin to clear up, like clouds rolling away from the bosom of a mountain, and revealing patches of verdure smitten with the sunbeam; or when Memory recalls some apposite allusion elsewhere, or some illustrative experience, through which we ourselves have passed, the light so vouchsafed is undistinguishable in our consciousness from that which is supplied by our natural faculties; it is supplied through them, they being called into operation and assisted by Grace, whose primary actings are in the abysmal depths of the mind, far beyond the ken of the keenest selfintuition. Secondly the fact that to each individual under the New Dispensation is covenanted the teaching of the Holy Ghost to guide him into all truth, does not the least interfere, if rightly understood, with the necessity of human instruction. Human instruction-Preaching in the wide sense of the word-is itself one of the channels through which the Holy Spirit dispenses Truth. Originally there was no other channel. Before the composition and compilation of the Books of the New Testament, men received Divine Truth exclusively through the voice of the Instructor.

If between this fact, and the doctrine that Christians are taught supremely by the Holy Spirit (a doctrine assevered in the strongest terms in Heb. viii. 11), the Apostles saw no discrepancy, why should we discover a discrepancy at the present day? The fact is, that both the Preached Word and the Written Word are instruments, not originating agents, of instruction. The Teacher in both is the Holy Ghost. Moreover, to be preached to, is to receive the results of another's thinking upon God's Word, and his thoughts are as likely to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit (rather, as the Christian Ministry is a Divine Institution, honoured and blessed of God, far more likely to be so enlightened) than our own. In saying, therefore, that Christians are to search the Scriptures for themselves, with prayer for guidance into all truth, we by no means imply that they may dispense with the instruction of God's ambassadors, or that they must not avail themselves diligently of every human means, from which enlightenment in the knowledge of God may be derived.

Thus, then, we close the consideration of the great subject, which has occupied these pages. God dispose all hearts to adopt the practice, for which they have been designed to furnish helps. And as I am speaking to the young especially, as well as to all generally, I will say that this is one of those points of duty which supply us with a

test of character in early life,-which serve while at School to discriminate the godly from the godless boy. The outward form of prayer is so commonly adopted by all, that it has ceased to be a test. I apprehend that now-a-days, in all our Schools (God be praised for it), the entire neglect of private prayer would be visited with the censure and disapprobation of society. Not so, as I understand modern school life, the Study of the Scriptures. The minority only study them; or at least, only the minority study them daily, prayerfully, and thoughtfully. Therefore, this sort of study will furnish to members of a School, a test of their religious character and attainments; not of course an infallible test, but still one which to him who can pass it, will be fraught with more or less of comfort, in proportion to the depth and reality with which the devotional exercise is performed.

God make us all to know and feel that real peace and solid satisfaction cannot be enjoyed except in Communion with Him; and that such Communion is impossible, except both we address Him, and He address us. And may He address us out of His lively oracles, warning, guiding, encouraging, instructing, comforting us, turning the old archive into a living counsellor, and causing His Word to become to each one amongst us His Voice.

CHAPTER XI.

THE PLAN OF A MEDITATION.

whom E serve with my spirit.”-ROMANS i. 9.

A complete specimen of a Meditation is one which calls into exercise all the powers of the mind, the Imagination, the Memory and Understanding, the Affections, and the Will-The relative importance of these exercises stated-Objection arising from the difficulty of Meditation answered.

Ir is thought well to subjoin to the preceding little treatise the plan of a Meditation on Holy Scripture, such as we have recommended.

But lest, in giving the full detail of such a plan, I should discourage or terrify any reader, by seeming to exact more than he can give, let me say at the outset, that as it is with the money, so it is also with the leisure which is at our disposal. God requires us to give to the extent of our ability, and not beyond our ability. We are about to furnish a general framework upon which meditations may be constructed, not a model to which we are to tie ourselves down in a slavish and scrupulous spirit. And be it remembered that, as was suggested in a former Chapter, many hours of

solitude not spent in our closets, yet in which our thoughts are free, may be profitably devoted to this exercise. A solitary walk may frequently be applied in this manner, when no other time can well be found. The freedom from interruption, and presence of Nature, furnished by a walk, are both of them helps to the mind in the performance of such a work.

First, Endeavour to realize the Presence of God, or of Jesus Christ, according to that conception of this great Truth, which best suits your own mind. Do not be long about it, or get the mind into tangles, and curious questions, as to the method of God's Presence. A simple, lively remembrance will suffice. He is here. That is certain. That is enough.

As

Secondly, Call upon God, as an essential condition of success, to inspire you with holy thoughts and to bless them to your spiritual profit and growth in grace, for CHRIST's sake. This too is to be done very briefly; but, as every thing depends upon it, with great earnestness. you would act with a friend who is just quitting you, throwing your whole soul into one parting injunction, or one parting request, which you whisper in his ear as he is turning his back,employ even such brevity and such earnestness, in urging your suit to the High and Holy One.

Thirdly,-Open the passage of Scripture, which is to form the subject of the Meditation; or, if