It is of the utmost importance that you, and every one of us, study the word systematically. You could not do better-above all things seeking direct communion with God -than to devote the first-fruits of your time to a regular study of the Scriptures. Desiring the Spirit apart from the-word is a false pretention to power, outside the place or obedience and heart-subjection. As regards the guidance-of the Spirit and the method to follow, I see both in the apostle, but in the highest form: "Whether we be beside, ourselves, it is to God; or whether we be sober, it is for-your cause" (2 Cor. 5:1313For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. (2 Corinthians 5:13)). There is a power which, takes us, so to speak, out of ourselves, God being there, in divine energy; but there is likewise an activity of love, which also is divine. The apostle, through the Holy Spirit, was in power in the presence of God, but the love of God acting in him made him think of others. These are two blessed ways of being delivered from oneself. "Sober for your cause" is the method-loves consideration for others.
As to reading itself, Scripture is explicit: " Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all" (1 Tim. 4:1515Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. (1 Timothy 4:15)-Rev. Ver.). I see two ways of reading the Scriptures: to place, through grace, my heart and conscience before them so that they may act upon me as being subject to them; and to study them in order to lay hold of their import, the relation to each other of the different parts, and their depth.
The first thing is to be filled with them, then, in communion, to draw forth from these treasures; and finally, when there is reality, to allow scope for the free action of the Holy Spirit. Scripture distinctly speaks of order and of method, and also of the free action of the Holy Spirit. Almost the whole of the first epistle to Timothy shows methodic direction only now, that outward order has become the power of evil, and Christians find themselves as individuals in it, power has become the main thing—God being thus manifested; and, all the Lord's people not being gathered in a scriptural way, the general order cannot be there. Thus it is that the faith of the believer is put to the test. But this does not do away with the general principle of order,. and still less with individual order and method.