3. Observe the depravity of the human heart, and the evil nature of sin, as manifested in the conduct of wicked men, who have been left without restraint, and in the consequences resulting from such conduct.

4. See the hatred of God towards sin, as displayed in the miseries brought upon the world in consequence of it.  In reading history, we find that individuals, whom God could have cut off by a single stroke of his hand, have been permitted to live for years, and spread devastation, misery, and death, everywhere around them.  The infidel would pronounce this inconsistent with the character of a God of infinite benevolence.  But the whole mystery is explained in the Bible.  All this wretchedness is brought upon men for the punishment of their sins.

5. Observe what bearing the events recorded have upon the church of Christ. One of the great laws of God’s moral government upon earth, appears to be, that he directs and overrules all things with particular reference to the kingdom of Christ.  Often, events which seem, at first glance, to be altogether foreign to the interests of this kingdom, appear, upon a closer examination, to be intimately connected with it.  Take, for example, the conquests of Alexander the Great.  As the life of this extraordinary man stands out alone, unconnected with the subsequent history of the church, we see nothing but the wild career of mad ambition.  But, in taking a more enlarged view of the subject, we discover that he was the instrument which God employed for spreading over a large portion of the world one common language; and so to prepare the way for the introduction of the gospel.  Wherever the arms of Alexander extended, the Greek language was made known; and this was the language in which the books of the New Testament were written.  And, no doubt, if we could discover it, every event of history has a bearing, equally direct, upon the interests of Christ’s kingdom.

But, in order to keep all these things distinctly before your mind, you must maintain, in the midst of your reading, a constant spirit of prayer.

In reading church history, you will have occasion to observe the same things, because the history of the church is necessarily connected with the history of the world.  But there are also some things to be noticed, wherein the history of the church differs from that of the world.  The dealings of God with his own people differ from his dealings with his enemies.  The afflictions which he brings upon the former are the wholesome corrections of a tender Father, and designed for their good; those he brings upon the latter are designed either to lead them to repentance, or they are just judgments, intended for the destruction of those who have filled up the measure of their iniquities.  But be careful, in reading church history, that you do not lose sight of the true church of Christ.  Most of the histories which have been written, are filled either with accounts of individuals, or of bodies