let it be considered that man is made an accountable agent for those talents only with which he is intrusted, be they few or many; and that the neglect of the least and lowest, as well as of the largest, is the only ground of his condemnation; as the right application and improvement of them is the ground of his gracious acceptance. And seeing that the whole human race, so far as they are partakers of the effects of Adam's fall, are proportionably included in the conditional restoration, provided for them by the second Adam, "the Lord from heaven," we are warranted to believe that a measure of saving grace is communicated to every individual, by the due occupation of which, the salvation of the soul may be obtained. Yet as has been before observed in the course of these Lectures, no conclusive evidence appears to have been afforded, of the establishment of a Church possessing spiritual gifts and graces, by an internal manifestation of Divine power, uncombined with a knowledge of those sacred oracles which contain the whole counsel of God, so far as it has been committed to successive generations.

Sufficient therefore as we must acknowledge

every soul He has brought into existence, under whatever dispensation of probationary terms He may see meet to administer his redeeming virtue; yet a presumptive proof is hence obtained, that the external and internal revelation unitedly of Christ, who is "exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins," will constitute that knowledge of his glory which is designed to "fill the earth as the waters cover the sea;" when "the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, who shall reign for ever and ever.”

In the joyful anticipation of that blessed period, the believing soul is enabled at seasons to unite in the heavenly acclamation of "Amen Hallelujah!”

Lecture XV.

THE MYSTERIES OF THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM, IN RELATION TO THE MEDIATORIAL PROCESS OF THE REDEEMER.

"Great is the mystery of Godliness."

There is assuredly no subject of this mysterious character, that more eminently demands our reverential contemplation, than that which is set forth by the inspired writers as the atoning and propitiatory sacrifice, offered up for the sins of the whole world, by the blessed Mediator; who is also styled "the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.”

There cannot be found, throughout the whole of the Sacred Record, a fact more variously and cogently insisted on, by expressions the most emphatical that human language could supply, than that which is brought to our view under the foregoing description, as the

X

essentially procuring cause of salvation to fallen man, and as the Source of every spiritual blessing, or capacity of blessedness, which is renewedly bestowed upon him by his beneficent Creator.

It has been the unworthy endeavour of some individuals who would be disposed to style themselves philosophical writers, so to lower the sense of these Scriptural expressions, as to bring the subjects of them to a level with their own understandings. Some of this class represent the terms "Propitiation, and Propitiatory Sacrifice"Atonement," and "atoning blood,"-" blood of the everlasting Covenant," &c. as only adapted in accommodation to Jewish and even to Heathen practices and prejudices. In the attempt so to do, they shamefully overlook and pervert that Divine intention which is evident to the devoutly attentive reader, in prescribing with a wisdom. so conspicuous, and a precision so remarkable, the whole Jewish ritual, for the purpose of indicating by the most impressive signs and symbols, the striking features of an all-important fact, further illustrated in the language of prophecy, and ultimately fulfilled in the person of the blessed Jesus.

It has been the equally erroneous practice of some pious persons, to limit their signification precisely to the sole import, which such expressions must literally convey, and thus to expel from the Christian school, every idea of mystery, at least of such sort as must remain inexplicable on every human hypothesis. Such persons are disposed to consider Christianity a system or scheme, by which every difficulty may be explained, though at the expense of a deduction from the perfections of the Divine attributes; by resolving into the principle of vindictive wrath, or retributive justice, the whole process of the Redeemer's sufferings; which, whether considered as inflicted on Him, or undertaken by Him, was an effect of love unspeakable, in the Author, and in the Agent or subject of that mysterious process; whereas the Divinely appointed human teachers of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity, not only bear express testimony to the subsistance of such mystery in reference to the present subject, but distinguish it, as being preeminent among those things which "angels desire to look into." Hence then it is certainly the indispensible duty of mortal man, to be humbly advertent to things which so importantly