ften, however brief each time may be. And I must use methods of study,
more than one, in parallel lines.

As a sort of ground-work to all other methods I venture first to say, be
always reading the Bible _through_, however slowly, or rapidly. For
certain purposes, for instance in order to grasp the scope of a book, as
perhaps an Epistle, or the Revelation, or St John's Gospel, or the
latter half of Isaiah, or the Book of Genesis,[9] rapid reading may be
quite reverently done. In any case, get as soon as you may, and as
often as is practicable and practical, over _the whole surface_. Lord
Hatherley, amidst the heavy occupations of a barrister's and judge's
life, used to read the whole Book through carefully every year, and this
for more than thirty years. I cannot say that I do the same. But I aim
to read the Bible over carefully within every few years.

[9] To touch on a very small point I write here "the Book of Genesis,"
not "the Book Genesis." English literature, if I do not mistake, is as
unfamiliar with the latter phrase as it is with "the city London."

PLOUGH-HUSBANDRY.

Then, practise what I would call the _plough-husbandry_ of the Book.
"Make long furrows." Investigate what the Scriptures have to say by
topics, by doctrines, by leading words, over great breadths of their
surface; keeping _that_ subject, _that_ word, all along in view. Bring
all your mind to work that way, in the light of the Presence sought by
prayer. An occasional special form of such study may be illustrated by
that admirable book, written long ago, but full of life still, the late
Professor Blunt's _Undesigned Coincidences_. I was thankful in my first
days of ministry to be led to put in practice its examples and
suggestions by ploughing in the field of the New Testament for the
coincidences between the Gospel narrative and the allusions to our
blessed Lord's life scattered over the Epistles.

SPADE-HUSBANDRY.

Then, practise also a diligent _spade-husbandry_ in your Bible study.
Dig as well as plough. In each narrow plot of the great field there are
treasures hid. Dig a verse sometimes, using perhaps the spade of
parallel references. Dig a paragraph at other times; a chapter; a short
book. You are quite sure, under the blessing of the Master of the Field,
to bring up rich results, more or less.

I will close my talk upon the Bible by offering a specimen of such
spade-husbandry. A few years ago, at the Church Congress at Wakefield, I