Still more valuable resources for the attainment of religious truths are found in the holy Scriptures—­the revealed word of the Most High.  In forming their religious opinions, let the young fail not to make these sacred pages their constant study.  Nor should they dream they will find there any contradiction to the lessons read on the broad pages of Nature’s book.  These are but different methods in which the same God reveals himself to his creatures.  He will not contradict himself.  His revealed word as plainly asserts his power, wisdom, and goodness, as his works shadow forth these glorious perfections.  While the Scriptures do not contradict the voice uttered by nature, they lead us to higher departments of religion, and to clearer revelations of God and his character.  They represent him as a Father, exercising a parental government over man—­a government characterized by benevolence, justice, mercy, and truth, and administered for the promotion of his own glory, and the highest good of those called to obey.  The Scriptures, moreover, bring to our knowledge the Son of God and his gospel—­presenting us in the life of Jesus Christ, a beautiful example of truth, purity, righteousness, and love, and imparting, in his teachings, the most perfect rules of human conduct, and the brightest anticipations of life and immortality beyond the grave.

In perusing the Scriptures, let reason be your guide.  Reason should not be elevated above the Scriptures; yet they cannot be understood without its aid.  The Creator, in the Bible, addresses himself directly to man’s reason:  “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord."[9] Without the exercise of reason in reading the Bible, it will be as a sealed book.  How else can man comprehend its truths, and be instructed by its rich lessons of wisdom?  In the exercise of this highest capacity bestowed upon us, the word of God will appear harmonious in all its parts—­beautiful and sublime in all its truths—­instructive in all its lessons—­inspiring the brightest, broadest hopes the mind can conceive.  But lay reason aside, in its perusal, and it will be involved in inextricable confusion, and impenetrable darkness.

[Footnote 9:  Isaiah i. 18.]

The young should not lose sight of the fact, that we have the Bible only in the form of a translation by uninspired men, from the original Hebrew and Greek, in which it was penned by the inspired writers.  Hence it should not seem surprising that there are some inaccuracies connected with this translation; nor that certain words, allusion, and forms of speech, appear obscure and unintelligible.  There is a plain and simple rule by which all obscure and disputed words and passages should be understood.  Give them such construction as will most perfectly correspond with the attributes and character of God, as revealed in his word and works, his omnipotence and omniscience, his wisdom and goodness, his justice and mercy—­and as will best accord with the grace and love which moved the Saviour in his divine mission to the earth.