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discoverable by those who rightly study them; that this one will may be understood by all in the same manner: otherwise the Scriptures, which were professedly given to bring men to the knowledge of the truth, as far as their finite intellects are capable of receiving it, would impart no certain information even to the most diligent student. It may indeed happen, from various causes, that some will fail in their attempts to discover the genuine sense of Scripture, and that the same passages will sometimes be very differently interpreted; but two interpretations, thus differing, though they may both be erroneous, cannot both be right; for the real meaning must ever continue as unalterable, as is the character of that truth which it discloses. That a God of mercy will make all due allowances for mistakes, arising from unavoidable ignorance, or unconquerable prejudices, we must believe. But, while we trust that pardon will be vouchsafed to every unwilling deviation from

c See Note XXXVI. Appendix.

the true standard, we are still bound to maintain, that such a standard has been set up; that there are some fundamental principles of doctrine, laid down in the Scriptures, for the information and direction of man; since no other view of the object of a divine revelation can be reconciled with the attributes of that Being, who can neither deceive us, nor be himself deceived. at 11

This cursory view of the argument, from the immutability and truth of the divine nature, may perhaps satisfy the reflecting and impartial reasoner, that unity is an essential property of true Christian faith. But, as the question is of primary importance, and as prejudices have been entertained on the subject, which cannot be easily removed, it may not be useless to shew, First, that the Scriptures decidedly maintain this position; Secondly, that the Church, from the earliest ages, has acted upon a conviction of its truth; and, Thirdly, that the very nature of faith admits not of that variety, which some have considered to be compatible with its purity.

1

I. We can obtain no higher proof of the necessity of faith, than that contained in the solemn commission given to the Apostles by our Saviour before his ascension; "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He “that believeth and is baptized, shall be "saved; but he that believeth not, shall "be damned."

By the belief here required as a condition of salvation, it is evident that we are to understand, an assent to the truth of those particular doctrines, afterwards taught by the Apostles under the direction of the Holy Spirit; those doctrines, which St. Paul calls " the whole counsel of God;" and which are commonly styled in Scrip"the faith," because they form the distinguishing creed of a Christian. It can scarcely be doubted by any, that these holy men, all acting under the same divine influence, were of one mind as to the precepts they were commissioned to deliver; but should evidence of this fact also be re

ture,

d Mark xvi. 15, 16.

• Acts xx. 27.

he

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quired, it may be obtained from the language of St. Paul to the Corinthians. Reproving them for their divisions, and for their propensity to attach themselves to particular instructors, one crying, “ I am "of Paul," another, "I am of Apollos;" says, "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye be"lieved, even as the Lord gave to every "man?" Thus plainly inferring, that, whoever was their teacher, the doctrine must be the same; since they spake not of themselves, but as the servants of Jesus Christ, the Author of that faith which they preached.

If then it be allowed, that a belief of some fundamental truths, to be taught by the Apostles, was required by our Saviour as an indispensable condition of salvation; and that they, being all sent by the same Lord, and directed by the same Spirit, must have spoken the same things; it will follow, that "the faith" means always one and the same system of doctrines;

f 1 Cor. iii. 4, 5. 8 See Note XXXVII. Appendix.

which, although they are not to be found artificially arranged in the Scriptures, may be clearly understood and satisfactorily deduced from them, by careful examination; and when so deduced, are to be received as the substance of that teaching, which the Apostles delivered orally to their immediate disciples.

Thus when we are told, that, in consequence of a progress made by St. Paul and Timothy through the cities of Phrygia and Galatia, h❝ the churches were establish"ed in the faith;" we shall understand by that term, the peculiar doctrines of that Gospel, which they preached. In his Epistle to the Philippians, the same Apostle desires to hear of them, that “ they stand "fast in one spirit, with one mind striving "together for the faith of the Gospel ;" thus not only speaking of the Christian doctrine as a defined and known system, but declaring that they who would walk as becometh that Gospel, must adhere to it with unanimity. And instructing Timothy

h Acts xvi. 5.

i Phil. i. 27..