to say absolutely necessary, for all who are set for the defence of the gospel, who should be apt to teach, able to convince gainsayers, and rightly divide the word of truth; giving to every one a portion in due season; becoming all things to all men; furnishing milk for babes, and meat for strong men; exhorting, rebuking and reproving with all long suffering and doctrine. But to obtain an experimental acquaintance with duty, a practical knowledge of Christianity, it is of no avail. In the school of Christ, the learned seem to have little or no preeminence above the unlearned. He who runneth may read; and the wayfaring man, though a fool-he whose heart is right with God, of whatever standing in the literary world-may understand, as far as rules and motives of action, applicable to himself, are concerned, all the doctrines of the gos pel. While we say this, however, and rejoice that the Scriptures furnish instruction adapted to all capacities, we add; let it not be supposed that they can be understood without attention, without thought, without inquiry and consideration, without using the appropri ate means of Christian knowledge with diligence and care. The careless, the vain, the self-sufficient and presumptuous, whether learned or unlearned, will remain ignorant, fatally ignorant, of the things which be long to their peace.

I remark therefore, positively;

1. That in order to obtain Christian knowledge, the Bible must be read, the Scriptures searched with fre quency and attention. A Christian should never suf fer a day to pass, without consulting these oracles of God. Nor should he ever read this sacred book without fixed attention and profound humility. When he places the Bible before him, he should remember that he stands on holy ground; that no profane cavils, or

vain speculations, or foolish jestings are to be admitted there; that it becomes not man to sit in judgment on the wisdom of God; but in meekness to inquire what God has taught, and what he requires. With these views and feelings, with a humble and earnest desire to learn the will of God, therefore, should he search the Scriptures.

Be per

Subordinate to the reading of the Bible, is the perusal of commentaries and other religious books, conversation with experienced Christians and constant attention on the faithful preaching of the gospel. But in all these cases, ultimate reference must be had to the divine standard of truth and duty. "To the law and to the testimony" must we continually repair; and by the test of inspiration, must we try the works of every man, who assumes the office of teacher. suaded, as you wish to increase in Christian knowledge, to read the Bible with increasing diligence and humility. Make this sacred book your constant companion, your familiar friend. Read therein by day, and meditate thereon by night. "As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word." "Take heed unto the sure word of prophecy until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.”

2. Prayer, I remark, is another of the means by which Christian knowledge may be obtained. "If any man lack wisdom," says the apostle James, "let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him." And to the same purpose, our Lord himself has said: "Ask, and ye shall receive." We are not, indeed, to expect to hear a voice from heaven in answer to our prayers; or to obtain an intuitive knowledge of what has already been taught by inspiration. But prayer, humble, spiritual prayer, prepares the mind for the recep

tion of divine truth. If the things of the Spirit are spiritually discerned, the enlightening influences of the spirit must be necessary to a clear view and an abiding sense of the truths, revealed by the Spirit. We should, therefore, not only search the Scriptures, but pray for assistance to understand and apply them; we should unite spiritual prayer with the reading of the Bible; and make it part of our preparatory exercises in all our researches after truth, in the closet and in the house of God. Indeed, I shall be supported not only by the testimony of experience, but by the language of inspiration, when I affirm, that the Scriptures are "a dead letter," and the Bible "a sealed book," to those who attempt to read without prayer; with a self-righteous spirit. For saith an apostle: "The nat ural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

3. Christian knowledge, I remark again, may be treasured up and increased in the mind, by an habitual and practical regard to it. A truth discovered will be soon lost, or become obscure, if disregarded in practice. All speculative knowledge without practice, is indeed, obscure, indistinct and useless. But this is peculiarly the case with regard to the knowledge of spiritual things; for religious knowledge, as we have seen in this discourse, is always experimental and practical. "If any man," said our Saviour, "will do the will of my heavenly Father, he shall know of my doctrine, whether it be of God." And, with the same implication, an apostle has declared: "If any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass; for he beholdeth himself and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso

looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

Wherefore, my brethren, if you would retain and improve your Christian knowledge, let it be often brought to view, and kept in exercise by continual practice; or, to give the exhortation in the language of the apostle, to whose authority we have just appealed: "Lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls; but be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

Finally; let all, who have faith, regard the exhortation in our text: "Giving all diligence, add to your faith-knowledge." Carefully use all the means of grace and knowledge. Rest not satisfied with present attainments, but continue to grow in grace and increase in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; till you appear in his likeness; till you are called home from this school of improvement, and admitted, where you shall "see as you are seen, and know as you are known."

LECTURE VI.

TEMPERANCE OR SELF-GOVERNMENT.

2 PETER I. 5-7.

GIVING ALL DILIGENCE, ADD TO YOUR FAITH VIRTUE,

AND TO VIRTUE KNOWLEDGE, AND TO KNOWLEDGE TEMPERANCE, AND TO TEMPERANCE PATIENCE, AND TO PATIENCE GODLINESS, AND TO GODLINESS BROTHERLY KINDNESS, AND TO BROTHERLY KINDNESS CHARITY.

THE sensibilities, on which the passions and appetites depend, are a constituent part of animal nature. They are possessed, in common, by all animals with which we are acquainted; and they were unquestionably implanted in them, by the Creator, for wise and benevolent purposes. Their utility, indeed, is perfectly obvious. They constitute the very spring of animal action. They give activity to animal life. They are essential to animal being; necessary, both to preserve an individual and to perpetuate a species. An individual, without them, would become an easy prey to other individuals differently formed, or through inactivity would soon perish for want of sustenance. A whole species, thus constituted, would soon become extinct; or, to extend the supposition indefinitely, the whole animal creation would remain inactive, gradually mouldering back to dust, and sinking into primeval chaos. But although these susceptibilities are common to all animals, and even essential to animal existence; yet would they be fatal to that existence,