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resenting injuries, and forgiving them; i. e. suppose the first universally to prevail, to the total exclusion of the second, and the world would in consequence of it be filled with strife, oppression, and bloodshed: but let the second universally prevail, to the total exclusion of the first, and there will at once be an end to every hostile passion; every man will look upon his fellow man as his brother, and peace, and harmony, and love, as the natural effect, will soon extend their happy reign to every corner of the habitable globe.

Let the whole, therefore, of what has been advanced on this subject, now be put together; i. e. consider the Bible as distinguished by the two principles before stated -recollect also this is a peculiarity which the Bible alone can claim-and that in this respect it is totally opposed to all the writings and commonly received opinions of men. View, in connection with this, the holy and peaceful effects which would result from the prevalence of the last, in opposition to the first of these two principles-compare these effects, and see how exactly they harmonize with the spirit and nature of that long list of moral precepts previously quoted :—and may I not reasonably suppose, that, on this view of the subject, every candid enquirer will be ready to acknowledge, that this distinguishing feature of the Bible is a weighty consideration, and demands a prominent place in the long list of evidences by which its high authority is supported?

SECTION 2.

The Characters which the Bible is designed to form.

It is one of the highest compliments that a Hindoo can pay to a man, to say that he is well acquainted with the Shasters; but according to the rules laid down in the Bible, acquaintance with its contents will avail men nothing, unless they apply that knowledge to practical purposes. In the practical use of these precepts, the Bible is not only designed, but also calculated to form a perfect

character. It furnishes a perfect rule-presents a perfect example: and so far as men live under the genuine influence of its important truths, so far will they habitually approximate towards that perfection which it is designed to produce.

That the Bible presents a perfect rule, is sufficiently evident from the variety of its precepts which have alrea dy been quoted. I shall therefore now proceed to notice that perfect example which it presents, and afterwards endeavour to shew the holy influence of its truths upon those who have received and obeyed it, by exhibiting two or three characters formed upon the model of that perfect example which it presents, and commands men universally to imitate.

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In the conduct of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose history is recorded in the Scriptures of the New Testament, we have a spotless character, and a perfect example presented to our view. It is testified of him, (1 Peter ii. 22.) that he did no sin, neither was any guile found in his mouth: when he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. And again it is stated, (Heb. vii. 26.) that he was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. The statement which is given in these passages of his perfect holiness, and freedom from every sin, is corroborated by the testimony of Judas and Pilate. Judas, his betrayer, after hearing that he was condemned, unable to sustain the conscious weight of his guilt, went out and hanged himself, saying, (Matt. xxvii. 4.) "I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood:" and Pilate, the Roman judge, after he had examined him on the ground of the accusation which the Jews brought against him, said, (Luke xxiii. 4.)" I find no fault in this man." We have also, in John viii. 46, an account of an appeal which Christ himself made to his enemies on this subject: "Which of you," said he, addressing himself to them, "convinceth me of sin?" To this appeal, however, they made no reply, which is an incontestible proof of his inno

cence; as their malice, jealousy, and opposition to the doctrines he taught, would naturally lead them in reply to accuse him, had there in any part of his conduct been the least shadow of a fault with which they could have charged him.

In addition to these attestations of his holiness and innocence, we have also, in the same inspired records, a further account of the activity and benevolence by which his life was characterized. It is said, in reference to his labours," that he went about doing good;" in reference to his teaching, "that he spake as never man spake;" and in reference to the perfect obedience which, as our representative, he rendered to the law of God, " that he magnified it, and made it honourable."

I shall now present to the view of my readers, an account of a few characters formed on the model of this perfect example, which the Christian Scriptures exhibit: and the humble, holy, and peaceful deportment, by which these characters have been distinguished in the midst of unparalleled labours and sufferings, may be considered as an exhibition of the uniform practical effects of the truths of Christianity upon all who live under their genuine influence.

The inhabitants of several cities of Greece, before they became Christians, were fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, covetous, drunkards, revellers, extortioners, &c. &c. but after they embraced the gospel, they entirely renounced every vile practice to which they were previously addicted: they put off all these, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy communication out of their mouth. He that had been accustomed to steal, stole no more, but laboured, working with his own hands the thing that was good, that he might have to give to him that needed. There was, on their becoming Christians, an end to bitterness and strife: they mortified their members upon earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, covetousness, &c.; they put away all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, with all malice,

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and became kind, tender hearted, forgiving one another, knowing that God for Christ's sake had forgiven them. They brought forth the fruits of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. They abounded in every good word and work, and were, for the purity of their lives and the peacefulness of their tempers, "living epistles, read and known of all men." In short, so entire and complete was the moral change which the gospel produced upon them, that the apostle could address them in reference to it, saying, "Ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

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I shall now pass on from this cloud of witnesses to notice two individual characters, viz. Stephen and Paul, in whom the admirable influence of gospel principles was remarkably exemplified. Christ has commanded his people to pray for the welfare of their enemies-and this he did himself; for when dying by the hands of wicked men, he prayed that divine mercy might be extended to them. Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke xxiii. 34.) Now to approve of the precept which Christ has given in this respect is easy, but to imitate his example is difficult, because such a line of conduct is contrary to the depraved feelings of the human heart, which naturally incline men to anger, resentment, and revenge. We have, however, in the account of Stephen, which is recorded in the Acts, (chap. vi. vii.) an instance of divine grace triumphing over these depraved dispositions. The enemies of Stephen, because he endeavoured to convince them of their errors, and to instruct them in the principles of Christianity, were so enraged, that they stoned him to death; and the last words which he uttered, before he expired, were a prayer for their forgiveness. (Acts vii. 69.) "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge; and when he had said this, he fell asleep."

The apostle Paul, before his conversion to Christianity, was, according to his own confession, (1 Tim. i. 13.) a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious: but afterwards he spent a life of unwearied exertions, which was also attended with unparalleled privations and sufferings, in his endeavours to do good, and to benefit the condition of his fellow creatures. The account of the labours and sufferings which he underwent in this career of philanthropy are fully stated in the following passages.

1 Cor. iv. 9. I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; and labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: being defamed, we entreat we are made as the filth of the earth, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 2 Cor. xi. 24. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils amongst false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

2 Cor. vi. 4. In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings.

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