United Bible Reading

““WELL, Miss, as long as I was reading regular, I thought I might as well read what the others were reading,” said a young man-servant, as his reason for joining the ‘‘ Christian Progress Union.”;

‘© As well!” Yes, and much better. To begin with, we ought, every one of us, to be ‘‘ reading regular.” There is no doubt about that. How is any soul to ‘‘ grow” on one meal a day, or on uncertain and occasional draughts of the ‘‘sincere milk of the word”? Regularly, not only as to constancy, but as zo system. How much time is wasted in indecision, and wondering what to read next! How many are familiar only with their favourite parts of God’s word, neglecting others almost entirely; thus overlooking many a royal commandment, and losing much of the royal bounty, and gaining no wide and balanced views, of the great field of His truth! How can we be “throughly furnished unto all good works,” if we do not use God’s means thereto, ‘‘ a@// Scripture”?

And if we are, as every Christian ought to be, reading do¢h parts of His word regularly every day, why not ‘‘read what others are reading”? Why should you read Galatians while others are reading Ephesians 5 Ephesians while they are in Philippians? Why not ‘‘keep rank” with all one’s Christian friends, and thousands of fellow members, praying for the same light, the same teaching, day by day, for them and for ourselves? Why not lie down together in the green pastures, instead of scattering all about?

There are several arrangements for united reading, and membership of any will be more or less profitable. But some features of the ‘* Christian Progress Scripture Reading and Prayer. Union” seem to me to render it not only profitable, in a special degree, for ourselves, but peculiarly valuable, as an adjunct to our work among others.:

Our members read one chapter every day in the Old Testament, going straight through; and a short evening reading in the New Testament, in consecutive portions, averaging about fifteen verses,

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Personally, I believe each will find it a real help, and zo? a fetter or limit, to have these assigned portions. There is, or should be, plenty of time for any further Bible study, which may attract us. But this is a reminder to the young or unestablished Christian. It is a guard against desultoriness. It is a counteractive to one-sidedness, and a gentle guide into ‘‘the whole counsel of God.” It forms a pleasant bond alike for the near and the distant. It isa connecting link for scattered families and severed friends. It is also an immense help to profitable intercourse. The mere fact of ‘knowing that those around have certainly been reading the same chapters opens the way for questions or remarks, or mention of striking verses, which might not otherwise have been ventured on, and thus raises the tone of our household conversation. How few of us realize that we have to give account for our empty table-talk! Constantly, too, it will give easier opportunity for improvement of even a passing greeting, or enrichment of a quickly written note with a living gem of truth.

I would plead for the servants to be ‘‘partakers of the benefit.” With a little kindly explanation, they are almost invariably pleased to join, and the practical benefit is perhaps even greater in the servants’ hall than in the drawing-room. Children, too, if old enough to read for themselves, are important accessions. ‘‘It is so nice for our little boy and girl to join with us,” said a Christian mother; “it may be the means of making them steady Bible-readers for life!’? I am convinced that it would be a great blessing in schools. Many have already joined. In one young ladies’ school about sixty of the pupils are members.

Most especially would I commend it to Christian workers. Those who have a settled charge will find that no amount of general exhortations, to read the Bible, will be so effectual as ‘‘ Come, join with me!” This is immediate and definite, and will bring persons to a point. One lady, after joining herself, obtained some fifty members in about a week, from her two Bible-classes. Just try it! Join yourself, first; and then see if it is not a new power and blessing among those for whose souls you are labouring. Do not train them into bad ways by getting them to read only once a day. If you do that, you encourage the comfortable idea that they have done their duty very sufficiently by a chapter at night, while the whole eee ee

day has been Scriptureless. Aim higher at once, and you will strike higher. There is no power in half measures. It is one of the great benefits of this Union, that it is lifting such numbers out of their easy-going, once-a-day, reading, into a more excellent way-I believe it will be found to be a most valuable parochial agent, and that members of any congregation will be strengthening the hands of their ministers, by bringing it before them in this light. Very much might be said on this aspect of the Union, which it would be stepping out of my province to enlarge upon. Perhaps no item of parochial machinery would be so fraught with real spiritual blessing as this noiselessly powerful one, wherever heartily and thoroughly introduced.

For those who have temporary opportunities of special work with souls, this Union is simply invaluable. It is just what we want to consolidate our work. It is our best legacy when leaving those to whom we have been privileged to be God’s messengers of blessing. It is putting them on the rails; putting them in the way of further blessing; making the surest provision for their hourishment; giving them something which will be definite and perpetual help in the new path. It will be a delightful link, and a reminder to mutual prayer. It will help them to help each other, and give them something to do in trying to get others to join. Work for our young converts is often a difficulty, but this will give immediate opportunity both for confession of Christ and direct usefulness, and often lead to more.

Now, who will joinus? You may do so by sending your full name and address (stating whether Rev., Mr., Esq., Mrs., or Miss, and inclosing a penny stamp) to the Rev. Ernest Boys, Bengeo, Hertford. You will receive in return a card of membership, a copy of the Christian Progress Magazine, and other papers containing full information respecting it. If you are not gwife sure whether you would like it, send for the papers only, and try it for a month.

There need be no hesitation about joining, on the idea of its being a sort of irrevocable promise. You can cease to be a member any day, by returning your card of membership. If you forget a re&ding, you have not broken a vow, but missed a privilege. Those who cannot read for themselves can have the portions read to them; one of our heartiest members is ‘‘no scholar,” but his little daughter reads to him.

If you shrink a little from laying aside some favourite plan, or want of plan, of your own, will you not remember that ‘‘ none of us liveth to himself”? If you join for the sake of being in a better position to lead and lift others into the benefits of regular reading, you surely will not feel it any sacrifice! Rather you will find, as many of us thankfully acknowledge, that it is a decided personal benefit to ourselves.

“* Christian Progress,” the Organ of the Union, is well described as a ‘‘Magazine of help and encouragement in Christian life, testimony, and work.” ‘‘Its aim,” says the Editor, ‘‘is to encourage believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in their daily walk amidst the realities of life.’ Members can send questions relating to practical Christian life and work, or to the interpretation of Holy Scriptures; also special requests for prayer, which are inserted monthly. The Magazine contains tables of the readings and special notices to members.

In conclusion, let me say to every one of my friends, known and unknown, ‘* Come ¢iow with us, and we will do thee good!” lA ask

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