The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-06-06

@D@A IA 'E~@ growth and devel-
opment as to demand counsel and
direction. Growth in knowledge and
growth in grace are associated in the
closing words of Peters second epistle.
God has united these two and they
cannot be put asunder.
The word search" suggests care
full investigation. 1t is possible to
search the Scripture and yet fail to
obtain that for which the Scripture
was given. Our Lord charged the
Jews Of his own day with this very
thing. They made a minute and care
full study of the Scripture but with
a prejudiced mind and perverse Will.
AS indicated in the words of Christ,
aye will not come unto Me"
How then shall we search the Scrip
ture in order to obtain lasting good?
What are the essential requisites for
its reading and study? Scripture it
self gives the simplest and best an
swer.
The first essential is spiritual illuml-
nation. In l Corinthians 2:14 we
read. The natural mar receiveth
not the things of the Spirit of God
for they are foolishness unto him
neither car he know them because
they are spiritually dlseerned." From
this point Of view the Bible Is unlike
any other book. 1t deals with re-
vealed things; "the things of God"
The things of a man may be known
and explained by any other man but
not so with the things of God. God
Is not an explanation; He is a revela-
ton. The things of God" have been
revealed to US by His Spirit, but the
natural man receiyeth not the things
Of the Spirit. They are foolishness
to him, neither can he know them.
Who is this natural man? He Is
the man born once. He has had a
natural birth and possesses natural
life. This life is -self-centered and not
God-centered. Until that man Is born
anew, or from above, he cannot see
or know the things of God. In the
natural man the Spirit Of God does
not dwell but when a man / born
from above and receives that life
which the Bible describes as divine
and eternal, then the Spirit of God
finds a dwelling place within, and the
man is referred TO as spiritual"
rather than natural" The first es-
sential, then, in profitable Bible read
ing and study is spiritual iIlumlna-
ton. 1t is a serious mistake to sup
pose or assume that the Bible can be
understood by mere intellectual eff
fort. A book containing the revealed
things Of God and given by the Spirit
of God cannot be properly understood
without the aid of hat same Spirit.
The second essential in fruitful
Bible reading and study is mental
concentration. This is second to spir-
itual Northumberland in Importance
but in order. Tie first five verses of
the second chapter of Proverbs illus
trate and enforce this principla. In
derstanding and the knowledge of God
are I'm these verses conditioned on
diligent effort. IF thou seek as men
seek for silver and search as for hid
treasure, then shalt thou understand
the fear of the Lord and find the
knowledge Of God" There is no
royal road to this knowledge. All
profitable Bible study invoices a men
tai grasp OF its truths. Salvation Is
free but the truth costs. "Buy the
truth and sell it not" This is a Scrip
ture appeal. IN order to purchase one
must pay the price and the price here
demanded Is intelligent effort: appli-
cation Of mind; concentration of all
our powers. This is entirely compat-
ible with the deepest spirituality.
The third essential is found in Joshua
Is, Thou shalt mediate therein"
Meditation has been defined as atten-
tion with intention. The intention Of
a man of God in giving attention to
Bible study is explained In Psalms
1911, Thy Word have I hid in my
heart that I might not sin against
Thee" and again in Jeremiah 1915,
Thy words We're found, and I did
eat them and Thy word was INTO
me the joy and rejoicing of mine
heart" Defense against the encroach-
ments Of sin and provision for 0 n
stant joy and rejolcing-these are the
detectives Of the man of God in his
meditation upon the Word Of God.