spirit of Christ. If it relates to some positive duty, inquire whether
you have done it. If not, you have to go through the same work of
repentance and application to the blood of Christ. But do not stop here.
_Do your duty immediately._

5. _Read the Scriptures regularly._ To sustain these frail bodies, a
daily supply of nourishment is required. Equally necessary is daily food
for the soul. The word of God is the bread of eternal life. Take, then,
your regular supplies of spiritual food, that your soul may not famish.
Choose for this purpose those seasons when you are least liable to
interruption; when you can retire and shut out the world; when you can
best command the energies of your mind. There is no time more fit and
suitable for this than the morning. Then the mind is clear, vigorous,
unincumbered, and prepared to receive an impression. There is also a
propriety in consulting God's word at the close of the day. But this
depends much upon the state of bodily feeling. If you become exhausted
and dull, after the labors of the day, I would rather recommend taking
the whole time in the morning. But by no means confine yourself to these
stated seasons. Whenever the nature of your pursuits will admit of your
seclusion for a sufficient length of time to fix your mind upon the
truth, you may freely drink from this never-failing fountain of the
water of life.

6. _Study the Scriptures systematically._ If you read at random, here a
little and there a little, your views of divine truth will be partial
and limited. This method may indeed be pursued in regard to reading
_strictly devotional_; but only when other time is taken for obtaining a
connected view and a critical understanding of the whole Bible. The
Bible is like a dish of savory meats. There is almost every variety of
style and matter. There is _History, Biography, Argumentative and