increasing light.  Take notice of what period of the church you are reading; and from this you may judge of the degree of obligation of its members; for this has been increasing with the increase of light, from the fall of Adam to the present day; and it will continue to increase to the end of time.  Note, also, the various declensions and revivals of religion which have occurred in every period of the church, and endeavor to learn their causes and consequences.  By this, you will become familiar with God’s method of dealing with his people; from which you may draw practical lessons of caution and encouragement for yourself. 3.  Inquire what doctrinal truth is either taught, illustrated, or enforced, in the passage you are reading; and also, what principle is recognized.  Great and important principles of the divine government and of practical duty are often implied in a passage of history which relates to a comparatively unimportant event.  Let it be your business to draw out these principles, and apply them to practice.  Thus, you will be daily increasing your knowledge of the great system of divine truth, the necessity of which I need not urge. 4.  Note every promise and every prediction; and observe God’s faithfulness in keeping his promises and fulfilling his prophecies.  This will tend to strengthen your confidence in him.  You will find it profitable, as you proceed, to take notes of these several matters, particularly; and, at the close of every book, review your notes, and sum them up under different heads.

(6.) Read the gospels with great care, for the particular purpose of studying the character of the blessed Jesus.  Dwell upon every action of his life, and inquire after his motives.  By this course you will be surprised to find the Godhead shining through the manhood, in little incidents which you have often read without interest.  Look upon him at all times in his true character, as Mediator between God and man.  Observe his several offices of Prophet, Priest, and King.  See in which of these characters he is acting at different times; and inquire what bearing the particular action you are considering has upon his mediatorial character.  Observe, also, the particular traits of character which appear conspicuous in particular actions; as power, energy, manly hardihood, dignity, condescension, humility, love, meekness, pity, compassion, tenderness, forgiveness, &c.  Take notes; and when you have finished the course, draw from them, in writing, a minute and particular description of his character.  This will be of great service to you as a pattern.  You will also, by this means, see a peculiar beauty and fitness in Christ for the office he has undertaken, which you would not otherwise have discovered.  But, do not stop with going through this course once.  Repeat it as often as you can consistently with your plan of a systematic study of the Holy Scriptures.  You will always find something new; and upon every fresh discovery, you can revise your old notes.