1 Tim. iv. 13.-Give attendance (says he) to reuding, to exhortation, to doctrine, evidently distinguishing reading as one of the public duties incumbent upon Timothy. There can be no reason for separating these three, as if the former was only a private duty, and the others public ones. It may be reasonably concluded, that they were all public duties; and that the reading here spoken of, was no other than the reading of the Scripture in those Christian assemblies where Timothy was concerned, and which the apostle would have him by no means to neglect. If the public reading of THE SCRIPTURES was so necessary and important in those religious assemblies which had Timothy for their minister, how much more must it be in our assemblies, and even in those which enjoy the labours of our most able and eminent ministers.

6. The SCRIPTURES are given for our information and instruction in matters of the most interesting and momentous nature. They contain, as it were, the Epistles of God to mankind on the most important of all topics. They concern all, and are addressed to all—all nations—all the world; and Christians ought to endeavour, as much as in them lies, that all should be made acquainted with their contents. Whereever God founds or gathers a church, it is always by the ministry of his word: and afterward the Scriptures are still to be there published as the directory, or rule of faith and practice, to the community and to all the hearers.-The reading of the Scripture, of course, becomes a necessary part of the service there.

7. It is by THE SCRIPTURES that the Spirit of God now speaks to Christians and to Christian churches. But how can he be said to speak to the churches, as such, if the Scriptures be not read to the churches in their congregated state, or when assembled together? When they are read to individuals, it is to individuals the Spirit is speaking; but, in order that he may speak to the churches, it becomes necessary that they be read in the assemblies of those churches. How can it appear that those churches which neglect this practice have ears to hear, or a relish to attend to, what the Spirit says unto them; or that they have a real and earnest desire to be led and comforted by the Spirit of God?

8. God may indeed be said to speak to his creatures in the works of creation, and in the ways and dispensations of his providence; and it behoves all men to attend to what he there says to them: but in THE SCRIPTURES it must be said that he addresses them in a more especial manner. It is there alone the doctrine of a Future existence is revealed; there, and there alone, do we hear the voice of his Forgiving love; there only are spoken the words of Eternal life! By the Word of God are sinners called and converted, and saints comforted and edified; will it not follow, therefore, that the Scriptures ought to be publickly read, as a part of the divine service, in all those congregations where the worship of God is attended to, or maintained?

9. The various important uses and ends of DIVINE

REVELATION might be urged as a further corroborative proof of the point here pleaded for. Very remarkable, and much to our present purpose, are those words in 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17, 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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. One might think that the character here given to the SCRIPTURE would alone suffice to recommend and sanction the practice now pleaded for.-Every part of the above description strongly sets forth and supports the propriety and necessity of such a practice. A book, designed and calculated to accomplish such valuable and glorious ends (and the only book in the world that can really or actually accomplish them), ought, most assuredly, to be publicly read, and that in no scanty measure, wherever the public worship, or service of God is carried on or performed.

10. Many more of the apostolic sayings might be referred to, or mentioned, in corroboration of the present point: such as, that men receive the Spirit by the hearing of faith; that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by THE WORD OF GOD; that THE SCRIPTURES are able to make men wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus; that men are born again, not of corruptible, but of incorruptible seed, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever; that men are saved by the gospel; and that the gospel has been written that`

they might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing they might have life through his name; (Gal. iii. 2; Rom. xi. 9; 2 Tim. iii. 15; 1 Cor. xv. 2; John xx. 31.) Things have been often strangely miscalled among religious people; and it is surely high time to resolve from henceforth, and make a point of calling every thing by its proper name. What is the chaff to the wheat! We have been too long accustomed to hear the fallible and crude compositions and performances of weak, presumptuous, and arrogant men, under the name of Sermons, denominated Gospel, and the word of God!

11. Another good reason for this practice is, that it appears to have been invariably observed in THE PRIMITIVE CHURCHES, till it was superseded, with many other wholesome observances, by the overbearing influence and vile policy of the Man of Sin, or Antichrist. It seems to have maintained its ground at least for the two first centuries: corruption then flowed in on every side, and every useful institution soon became perverted. With the genius of Popery it did not consist to have THE SCRIPTURES publicly read, or even to suffer the people to have access to them. Severe laws were made, prohibiting their being read by the laity; and many pious people have lost their lives for having the Scriptures in their possession, or their being found in their houses! At THE REFORMATION, although a happy change did then indeed take place, so that

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the Scriptures were translated into the vulgar tongue, and put into the hands of the common people, yet was there not sufficient care taken to restore and establish the practice of having them copiously read in the public congregations. What was still worse, though the book was translated, and put into the hands of the people, and they were allowed to read it, they were not allowed, strictly speaking, to judge of it and understand it for themselves though the reading of it was allowed, the sense of it, as one may say, was still prohibited. This many a poor Baptist, and others, found to their cost! But here we are pleading for the practice of reading the Scripture in our religious assemblies; and surely we ought to deem it a duty and privilege to endeavour to revive and restore whatever the Apostles have sanctioned, and whatever Antichrist has suppressed; and to teach and encourage one another to observe all things whatsoever our blessed Lord Jesus Christ has commanded.

12. A further reason for recommending to Christians the observance of this practice, is the readiness with which many of them will acknowledge that there are deviations and deficiencies to be found among them, and that a stricter conformity to the primitive standard, and a thorough reform would be very desirable; while they yet seem not to be aware that the neglect of the public reading of THE SCRIPTURES ought to be classed among those deviations or deficiencies. Of late years, in some places,