certain its true meaning and apply its instructions to the practical purposes of life. To suffer reason to proceed a step beyond this point, is to destroy the use, and defeat all the purposes of revelation. It is more; it is impious presumption; it is to deify reason and set up human judgment in the place of divine wisdom. "Give me a Bible," said one; "give me a Bible. Convince me that it is the word of God. Let me find in it a doctrine plainly taught, and I ask no more. I embrace it, and I embrace it with all my heart. Whether it is a doctrine which reason might have discovered, or whether it relates to something altogether beyond the limits of human observation; whether the wisdom and benevolence of it can be fully comprehended by a finite understanding, or whether it involves a mystery which nothing but an omniscient eye can penetrate, and nothing but an infinite mind can unfold, is a matter of no importance in the decision. It is enough for me, it is enough for every humble and submissive spirit, that it is a doctrine of revelation; that it was given by the inspiration of God, that it was spoken and written by holy men, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

What

Without this teachable disposition in us, my hearers, without this submission to the authority of the Scriptures, of what practical use can they be to us? can it avail, to read the Bible, even with a critic's eye, if, after all, we refuse to submit to its decisions; if it must be made to bend to our reason, blinded as our reason often is by passion and appetite; to our judg ment, warped as our judgment sometimes is by prejudice; to our understandings, darkened as our understandings always are by the depravity of our hearts? If man, if every man for himself, must try the ways of God by his own ways, and the thoughts of God by

his own thoughts; must sit in judgment on the doctrines and precepts of the gospel, the Bible may as well be neglected as read. For it will fail to instruct and guide those who thus read; it can never thus render the man of God perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The

Thirdly, I remark, and the remark is closely connected with the observations just made, that habitual obedience to the known will of God, as well as a temper of submission to divine authority, is necessary to a profitable reading of the Scriptures and a full development of their spiritual meaning. "If any man," said our Saviour, "will do the will of my Father, he shall know of my doctrine." In order to learn the truth, we must be willing to obey the truth. If we would know the will of God, we must be prepared to do his will as fast as it is discovered. Indeed, religious knowledge is peculiarly practical and experimental. In all branches of knowledge, practice and experience are necessary to render science definite and useful. ory, however correct and perfect, will accomplish nothing, is of no value, without practical skill. This remark is substantially true in relation to all the pursuits of life. But, as I said before, it is peculiarly applicable to the subject of religion. Without religious experience and practice, there may, indeed, be speculation, conjecture, opinion; but there can be no such thing as definite religious knowledge or established saving faith. Men of corrupt hearts and unholy lives, sometimes talk about religion and duty; but they do not draw their religious sentiments, nor obtain their views of duty from the Bible. They understand neither what they say nor whereof they affirm. Take heed, therefore, whom you hear as well as how and what you hear; for "evil men and seducers wax worse and worse,

deceiving and being deceived." Listen not, I beseech you-I here speak especially to the young and inexperienced-listen not to the comments of the profane, the intemperate, the careless and hardened transgressor. Turn a deaf ear to those who talk and dispute about religion, while their habitual deportment shows, that they have never felt its power nor drunk in its spirit. "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge." "Walk not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful.”

I remark, fourthly, that those who would find the Scriptures profitable, gain a full understanding of them and obtain from them all the instruction which they need, must not only read them, and in the manner and with the spirit already prescribed; but they must use all the helps which God in his providence has furnished and placed within their reach. As they have opportunity, they should avail themselves of the labors of pious and learned men, who have devoted their lives to the study of the languages in which the Scriptures were originally written, and of the history and literature of the people among whom they were first published. Much assistance may indeed be obtained, by occasionally consulting almost any of those popular commentaries, which abound in our age and country. But none of these helps can supply the place of the living expositor, or supersede the necessity of attending statedly on the preaching of the gospel. This is, indeed, the most important and indispensable help which God, in the economy of redemption, has provided for us, and expressly directed us to use, in order to render the instructions of the Scriptures interesting, impressive and effectual to salvation. For this purpose he has instituted the ministry of reconciliation;

and commissioned those whom he accounts worthy and puts into the ministry, to preach the gospel to every creature. With a view to the same end, he has set apart and consecrated a portion of time for public worship and its connected duties, a day of holy convocation and religious instruction; and has commanded us with an authority not to be questioned, and in language of universal application, to "remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy;" and "not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is." There is something in the tones of the human voice and the expressions of the human countenance, which, connected with the example of a good minister of Jesus Christ, and the mutual affection, growing out of the pastoral relation, together with the sympathies and solemnities of a public assembly in the house of God-there is something in all this, which is calculated to arrest attention, touch the heart and give peculiar efficacy to the word preached. So that stated attendance on public worship and the preaching of the gospel, in connection with the daily reading of the Scriptures, is found to be indispensable to secure the end for which the will of God has been revealed

to man. However unnecessary and inadequate the means may appear to some, who are wise in their own conceit, it will be found that those who neglect the ordinances of public worship and the instructions of the sanctuary, will neither enjoy the consolation, feel the power, nor exhibit the spirit of the gospel; will not become wise to do good, wise unto salvation. Knowledge, learning, cultivated intellect even, furnishes no ground of exception to this remark. It is not true, as Dr. Paley has hastily admitted, that men of enlarged and cultivated minds do not need the exercises of public worship on their own account; and are

bound to attend, merely for the sake of furnishing an example for the benefit of others. No, my hearers, they need these exercises for their own sanctification. They need to be reminded of what they already know; and they need to be reminded of it, under circumstances calculated to awaken their sympathies and touch their hearts; in the midst of their fellow-pilgrims; where prayer is made and praises are offered; where the spirit of grace, of adoration, humility and love is diffused all around them, and comes pressing with irresistible power upon their hearts.

I wish that I could cause my voice to be heard by those who, through pride, or vanity, or self-sufficiency, never come within the ordinary compass of the preacher's voice. I would admonish them of their guilt, and warn them of their danger. I would say to them plainly, but with all tenderness and affection: You are not only leading your children, and neighbors, and all within the influence of your example, to ruin; but you are destroying your own souls. For, whether we are here able to discover the direct connection between cause and effect, or not, Infinite Wisdom has unquestionably constituted such a connection; and experience and observation fully accord with this testimony of inspiration: "When, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe."

If therefore, my hearers, you would become imbued with the spirit of the gospel, and obtain a safe guidance to heaven, you must attend on the preaching of the gospel; you must not forsake the assembling of yourselves together; you must hear, as well as read the word of God; and you must take heed how you hear. Finally, I remark, that in order to understand the Scriptures, and feel the power of divine truth, we must