IN response to the invitation in the January number, we have received a letter on the above subject from A. E., from which we make the following extract: ―
In the first place, let me admonish you to read attentively and prayerfully the word of God—at stated periods if possible, but do not on any account miss your daily meal.
The next thing is searching, which takes more time, but
A little each day will add to your store,
And thus day by day, you will know more and more.
There is a necessity of knowing what saith the Scriptures, because of the error which abounds.
Having read and searched you now have something to meditate upon. The Psalmist said, “My meditation of him shall be sweet” (Psa. 104:3434My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord. (Psalm 104:34)). May He command our thoughts and our affections wherever we may be, whether in the din of labor, or as we walk along the way, or even as the Psalmist says, in the night watches. “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips. When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night, watches” (Psa. 63:5, 65My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: 6When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. (Psalm 63:5‑6)).
I have found it very useful to have a systematic way of reading. I commence with Genesis, and read right through, not to finish in any given time, say, in a year; this I have found becomes more a duty than a pleasure, because one is apt to set the mind on getting through the allotted portion and thus is deprived of blessing. I have found it helpful to take certain subjects and trace them out; for example, the “I wills” of our Lord, or the “Fear pots” of the Old and New Testaments.
I have derived great benefit from committing portions to memory, and in this exercise the Lord will surely refresh your soul by the Holy Spirit.
It was the lot of a certain young friend to have little spare time during the day, yet it was evident that in spite of these adverse circumstances he was getting more and more acquainted with the word of God, and consequently growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, so much so that the curiosity of some was aroused to inquire about him. It was, however, explained very simply by his landlady, who said, “Oh, he just sits down to his meals with his Bible before him, and reads while he is having his food.” Thus the diligent soul was made fat.