On the 7th November 1765 a gentleman whose name Coco can no longer remember was about to leave Shropshire but before he did so he wrote to Jonathan Scott. After he reminded his reader of his own mistakes he continued: Your Christian calling is a warfare, where no quarter can be given on either side. He then set out at least three necessary things in the engagement to which we are called:
- Secret prayer
- Devout study of the Word of God
- Worship together with God’s people
He joins these three together and speaks in this way of the necessity of reading the Word:
To secret prayer you will join devout study of the Bible; because it is our infallible guide, and the treasury of all truth necessary to salvation. But the riches laid up there are not to be found by proud or careless minds: none possess them, till they dig for them as for silver, longing to know the will of God, that they may do it. To superficial readers of the Bible, it presents little more than a great number of duties, which must be performed; and sins, which must be renounced; with insupportable pains, in failure of obedience; – passages of excellent use, when believed: as they at once rouse the selfish soul of man to seek reconciliation with God, and help from Heaven: – and sweep away every refuge of lies, under which love of sin leads us to take shelter. But earnest and devout readers of their Bible discover much more: they discover the tender heart of Christ; the efficacy of his blood, to cleanse from all unrighteousness; and a variety of spiritual blessings, which are the present reward of being true-hearted in his service. I am at a
loss for words to express how much solid knowledge, transforming your mind into the divine image, you will certainly gain by persevering in diligent prayer, year after year, for the true interpretation of God’s blessed Word, that you may be made wise and holy.A pattern is plainly set before us, in these memorable petitions: – may they come from our hearts, and ever dwell upon our tongues! –
“I am a stranger upon earth (very soon to leave it; therefore its riches and honours cannot profit me);
O hide not thy commandments from me, which will enrich me for ever!
Open thou my eyes, that I may see wondrous things in thy law!
Thy hands have formed and fashioned me; O give me understanding, that I may know thy law!This method of reading the Bible must be continued through life, especially whilst the capital truths of the Bible are before our eyes. By this means we have an absolute security from abusing any part of the Word of God. And those who dare despise persevering prayer to be taught by the Spirit of God what is contained in his holy Word, as if they knew enough, fall into pernicious errors; wrest some passages of Scripture, to contradict others; or grow violently zealous for doctrines; but very cold respecting that
heavenly mind those doctrines are revealed to produce.Our profiting will then only appear, when, after the example of David and St. Paul, we pray from deep conviction that we cannot be properly affected with what we believe, unless we are divinely taught; and that if any man thinketh that he knoweth anything us he ought to know, that man knoweth nothing.
Coco is glad to have received these words from a friend some forty five years ago. Receive them also from him, but rather pay attention to the Word of God, than to anything that Coco might say.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work, Paul to Timothy (2 Tim 3:16).