5. We may infer that God requires Men to read his other Books of the Holy Scripture, and to hear them publickly read, and to keep thofe Things which are contained in them: And likewife, that it is incumbent on the Ministers of Chrift publickly to read them; especially those Parts of the Holy Scriptures, which contain the Doctrines, the Promifes and Threatnings, the Statutes, the Ordinances, and the Laws of God; the Predictions recorded in his Word, and the Hiftories of the Righteous, and the Wicked, and of God's Dealings with them.

And the Bleffedness fpoken of fhould be a Motive prevailing both with Minifters and People, confcientiously to perform the Duty now mentioned.

We should always remember that there is one LAWGIVER, who is able to fave, and to deftroy. (James iv. 12.) We fhould always endeavour to know the revealed Will of our gracious God, and faithfully act according to it.

Should not a People feek unto their God? it is faid, Ifa. viii. 19. and in ver. 20. To the Law, and to the Teftimony; if they speak not (i. e. do not teach) according to this Word, it is because there is no Light, or Truth, in them.

It appears to me moft evident, that the right and true ANSWER to the Question confidered, is this, viz.

Answer: That the publick Reading the Holy Scriptures in the Affemblies of Chriftians every (Sabbath, or) Lord's Day, is an Ordinance of divine Appointment, and Part of that Worship which God requires from his People.

It is hence manifeft, that the Difufe of this Ordinance, is a taking away from the Things, which the Lord hath commanded; and is a Tranf

5

greffion

greffion of thofe Laws which were mentioned in the Introduction of this Letter.

HAPPY will it be, if all the Societies of Chriftians of every Denomination fhall examine by the facred Scriptures, their religious Cuftoms in the Worship of God; of the great God, jealous of his own Authority and Glory; and if they fhall lay aside every Usage, which is an Addition to the Things which the Lord hath commanded, and fhall fet up the Use of every Ordinance of God, which has hitherto been neglected.

The CONSEQUENCE, the glorious Confequence, will be an endearing Coalition of the different Sects of Chriftians, and a bleffed Reformation among the profeffed Disciples of the holy Jefus. Then will Idolatry and Superftition cease among Chriftians, then the Worship of God will be more pure, and intire, more agreeable to his revealed Will, and free from Additions to, and Diminutions from his Ordinances, which he has strictly forbidden, and which he greatly abhors; and therefore it will be more pleafing to him, and more comfortable and profitable to those who fincerely worship him.

O gracious God, by the Influence of thy holy Spirit on the Minds of Chriftians of every Denomination, do thou bring fuch a Reformation to pafs! Do thou convince all Men of the Excellency and Value of thy WORD! Oh, that they could truly fay unto thee, The Law of thy Mouth is better to me than Thousands of Gold and Silver! (Pfal. cxix. 72.) LORD excite them both to read and hear it! Open their Understanding, that they may understand it, and help them by thy Grace duly to improve it! Ameh.

2 Tim. iii. 15. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES; which are able to make thee wife unto Salvation, through Faith, which is in Chrift Jesus. Y

A pious

A pious Poet well expreffed himself to the gracious Author of our Bible, in the following Lines, viz.

Let all the Heathen Writers join
To form one perfect Book ;

Great God, if once compar'd with thine,
How mean their Writings look!

Not the most perfect Rules they gave,
Could fhew one Sin forgiven;

Nor lead one Step beyond the Grave;
But thine conduct to Heaven.

WATTS'S Pfalms, p. 318.

Pfal. cvii. 8. Ob that Men would praise the Lord for his Goodness, and for his wonderful Works to the Children of Men! Amen.

CONCLUSION.

THIS, and the preceeding Letters, are addreffed unto all Men, because all Men are most nearly concerned in the Contents of them; and because. all who fhall believe the Words of the LORD cited in them will have Peace, Comfort, and Honour in this World; they will have that Honour which cometh from God only, the Honour of being his true Servants, his beloved Children, and his Heirs; and they will have inexpreffible Felicities, and Glories in that endless World to which we are going. And at the Day of Judgment they will receive the Reward of the Inheritance, they will be put into the Poffeffion of a Kingdom and a Crown, which Christ has purchased, and in his Gospel promised, to all his fincere Difciples, who fhall reign in Life by him. Rom. v. 17.

That

That this may be the Cafe of those, who shall read thefe Papers, is the Prayer of,

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