Ryle,
This. . .may
fall into the hands of some one who is willing to begin reading the
Bible, but wants advice on the subject. Reader, are you that man? Listen
to me, and I will give you a few short hints.
For one thing, begin reading your Bible this very day.
The way to do a thing is to do it, and the way to read the Bible is
actually to read it. It is not meaning, or wishing, or resolving, or
intending, or thinking about it, which will advance you one step. You
must positively read. There is no royal road in this matter, any more
than in the matter of prayer. If you cannot read yourself, you must
persuade somebody else to read to you. But one way or another, through
eyes or ears, the words of Scripture must actually pass before your
mind.
For another thing, read the Bible with an earnest desire to understand it.
Think not for a moment that the great object is to turn over a certain
quantity of printed paper, and that it matters nothing whether you
understand it or not. Some ignorant people seem to fancy that all is
done, if they clear off so many chapters every day, though they may not
have a notion what they are all about, and only know that they have
pushed on their mark so many leaves. This is turning Bible reading into a
mere form. It is almost as bad as the Popish habit of buying
indulgences, by saying a fabulous number of ave-marias and paternosters.
It reminds one of the poor Hottentot, who ate up a Dutch hymn-book,
because he saw it comforted his neighbours’ hearts. Settle it down in
your mind, as a general principle, that a Bible not understood is a
Bible that does no good. Say to yourself often as you read, “What is all
this about?” Dig for the meaning like a man digging for Australian
gold. Work hard, and do not give up the work in a hurry. Continue at Eric T. Young
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