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man will ever voluntarily
neglect to make himself acquainted with the contents of a message sent to him by
one whom he acknowledges as his superior, or on whom he feels himself to be
dependent. Let a subject receive a communication from his acknowledged
sovereign, and as it claims, so it will receive his immediate attention. Nor
will he, especially if it contains various and important instructions, think a
hasty perusal of it sufficient. No, he will study it till he feels confident
that he is acquainted with its contents, and understands their import. At least
equally certain, and equally evident is it, that every man whose heart
acknowledges God to be his rightful Sovereign, and who believes that the
Scriptures contain a revelation from him, will study them attentively, study
them till he feels confident that he understands their contents, and that they
have made him wise unto salvation. The man who does not thus study them, who
negligently suffers them to lie, for days and weeks, unopened, says, more
explicitly than any words can say, I am Lord; God is not my Sovereign; I am not
his subject, nor do I consider it important to know what he requires of me.
Carry his messages to those who are subject to him, and they will, perhaps, pay
them some attention.