In 1818, two Buddhist Priests from Sri Lanka—high priests of the temple of Doodandhuve, near Galle, in the island of Ceylon—converted to Christianity and were baptised by Rev. Adam Clarke.
They accompanied Rev. Clarke for a time, but when he expected they might soon return to Sri Lanka, he decided to write a book of instruction that they could carry with them. He writes: “being well aware that there were several points of Christian knowledge on which their information must necessarily be imperfect, I thought it best to imbody and systematize those instructions which I had frequently given them, that they might be able at all times to have recourse to them, and be the better qualified to speak with their enemies in the gate, of whom they expected no inconsiderable numbers both in rank and learning. I have done what I intended, and made a copy for each to take with him on his journey“.
Those instructions were later published as a book, THE PREACHER’S MANUAL (1842). Below is an excerpt from the chapter titled “Directions for Profitably Reading the Word of God”.
Adam Clarke (1820), pages 67-70:
HAVING thus laid down at large the principles of the Christian religion, and the reasons on which they are founded, and given a general view of that divine revelation from which they are extracted, it may be necessary to give a few directions to those who seriously ask the question, “How may we profit most, and grow wise unto salvation, by reading the sacred writings?” I answer:
1. Deeply consider that it is your duty and interest to read the Holy Scriptures.
2. When you read, consider that it is GOD’S WORD which you read; and that his faithfulness is pledged to fulfil both its promises and threatenings.
3. Read the whole Bible, and read it in order; two chapters in the Old Testament and one in the New, daily if you can possibly spare the time; and you will have more time than you are aware of, if you retrench all needless visits, and save the hours spent in useless or unimportant conversation.
4. Think that the eye of God is upon you while you are reading his word: and read and hear it with that reverence with which you would hear God speak, were he to address you as he did the prophets and people of old; for, be assured, that he considers it as much his word now as he did when he first spoke it.
5. Remember that the word of God is not sent to particular persons, as if by name; and do not think you have no part in it, because you are not named there. It is not thus sent: it is addressed to particular characters; to saints, sinners, the worldly minded, the proud, the unclean, the dishonest, the unfaithful, liars, Sabbath-breakers, the penitent, the tempted, the persecuted, the afflicted, &c., &c.
6. Therefore examine your own state, and see to which of these characters you belong, and then apply the word spoken to the character in question to yourself; for it is as surely spoken to you as if your name were found printed in the Bible, and placed there by divine inspiration itself.
7. When, in the course of such reading, you meet with a threatening, and know from your own state that this awful word is spoken against you, stop, and implore God, for the sake of the sufferings and death of his Son, to pardon the sin that exposes you to the punishment threatened.
8. In like manner, when you meet with a promise made to the penitent, tempted, afflicted, &c., having found out your own case, stop, and implore God to fulfil that promise.
9. Should you find, on self-examination, that the threatening has been averted by your having turned to God; that the promise has been fulfilled, through your faith in Christ; stop here also, and return God thanks for having saved you from such sore evils, and brought you into such a glorious state of salvation. Thus you will constantly find matter in reading the book of God to excite to repentance, to exercise faith, to produce confidence and consolation, and to beget gratitude ; and gratitude will never fail to beget obedience. He who reads the Bible in this way must infallibly profit by it.
10. It is always useful to read a portion of the Scriptures before prayer, whether performed in the family or in the closet. In doing this, mark some particular passages, that they may become a subject for your petitions; by attending to this, all formality and sameness in this sacred duty will be prevented; and you will have an abundance of materials for petitions, supplications, thanksgiving, &c. And thus your prayers will never be tedious, unsatisfactory, or unedifying, either to yourself or to others.
11. Remember that in reading, you keep the eye of your mind steadily fixed upon Him who is the end of the law, and the sum of the gospel; for even the Holy Scriptures can make you wise unto salvation only through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. iii, 15.
12. Let the Scriptures, therefore, lead you to that Holy Spirit by which they were inspired: let that Spirit lead you to Jesus Christ, who has ransomed you by his death. And let this Christ lead you to the Father, that he may adopt you into the family of heaven ; and thus being taught of him, justified by his blood, and sanctified by his Spirit, you shall be saved with all the power of an endless life.
13. As often as you have an opportunity of hearing the word of God preached, be sure to attend; for remember, the Holy Scripture asserts that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” Rom. x, 17. It is, therefore, your duty and your interest to hear that word preached; diligently to attend public worship, and attentively hear what God, by the mouth of his ministers, shall say unto you. The minister is God’s messenger, and the expositor of his word. They who do not attend public worship, show that they have little reverence for his name, and little regard for their own souls. He who has the opportunity, and does not wait upon God in public, has little reason to expect that God will depart from his own institutions to bless him in private; “The path of duty is the path of safety;” and “they who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength,” Isa. xl, 31.
14. All these directions may be summed up in that most excellent form of sound words which is used in our church:
“Blessed Lord, who hast caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may in such wise hear them; read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them; that, by patience and comfort of thy holy word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.” (COLLECT FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT)
The whole book is available online at Archive.org: THE PREACHER’S MANUAL (1842).
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