The Portland Gazette

MISCELLANY.
On the importance of reading the Holy Scriptures in the house of God.
The custom of reading select portions from the Bible in the congregation of the faithful, is of great antiquity: It was practised in the synagogues of the antient Jews, and the assemblies of the primitive christians. A few observations thereon seem necessary to shew the wisdom of the appointment at the present day.
This will forcibly appear, if we reflect for a moment on the state of those, who compose our congregations. Many of them cannot read for themselves. Their parents, profanely careless about the eternal welfare of the offspring of their own bowels, took no pains to have them instructed in their childhood, so that they might be enabled to read the Bible. Many, who can read, are so engrossed by the labors of their several occupations in life, that they have but little time for the acquisition of scriptural knowledge. It is therefore highly expedient, that such persons should be furnished with frequent opportunities of hearing the blessed word of God rehearsed unto them. But it may be objected, that the custom of preaching renders the other unnecessary. This objection will be at once obviated, If it be considered, that much of the effects to be expected from preaching must be lost unles the hearers are in some measure previously acquainted with the contents and phraseology of scripture.
As the Bible is the standard of all spiritual truth, how is it possible that one, who is an entire stranger to its doctrines and declarations, should be able to determine, whether the word which he hears, be consistent with it? But, apart from the consideration of the incapacity of many to read for themselves, there are persons, who are able, but are destitute of the inclination to read the Bible. Yet many of these, under the influence of custom, will come to the house of God. Either they are so engrossed by worldly business, that they find no leisure at home for reading, meditation, and prayer ; or the Bible is to them so dull a book, and therefore they never open it : any other volume finds a preference in their esteem, and at their leisure moments, to that which came from heaven. Though it is evident that the attendance paid to the ordinances of God's worship by those persons, who find no relish for the scriptures, proceeds entirely from improper motives, whether from custom, curiosity or the unmeaning idea of the propriety of spending an hour or two on the Lord's day in such a manner; yet it is well that any inducement brings them into a place, where the word of God is publickly read; because they may possibly at some season or other be convinced of the necessity of that internal change, without which no man can enter into the kingdom of God ; for as much as the impossibility of such admission, in an unsanctified state of soul, arises not merely from the express declarations of the Judge of quick and dead, but also from the very nature of the case. For how can it be supposed that the unrenewed sinner, who at present experiences no heart-felt delight in those heavenly exercises, the enjoyment of which is the chief distinction between men and brute-animals, can ever, without becoming a new creature, relish those pure and unmixed spiritual enjoyments, in which the very essence of their future happiness consists? Take the person who is born with an ear untuned to har-mony, and let him be present at a concert of the most exquisite music; though for a season the novelty of the scene, the gay dress of the company, or some other object, unconnected with the immediate design of the entertainment, may attract his notice and employ his attention; yet, very soon his mind will be satiated with it, and he will wish himself where he might be conversant with pleasures more congenial to his taste.