mediate or secondary inspiration of the Holy Ghost is still experienced by the faithful, and is essential to the very existence of Christianity in the heart of man. This our church recognizes in its full extent ;* while, at the same time, she takes care to crush that spirit of enthusiasm, by which Satan has always laboured to exhibit the solid effects of the influence of the Spirit of God in a ridiculous point of view. To this end in her sixth article she declares, that Holy Scripture • containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be • proved thereby, is not to be required of any • man, that it should be believed as an article of the faith, or be thought requisite or necessary 'to salvation.' Very awful are the words of our Lord at the conclusion of the sacred volume, I testify to every man that heareth the words of the prophesy of this book, if any man shall add • unto these things, God shall add unto him the • plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book

*Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit.' Com. Service. "Grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts.' Collect for the nineteenth, Sunday after Trinity, Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things.' For Whitsunday. Grant that we may in such wise hear (the Scriptures), read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace,' &c. --For the second Sunday in Advent.

of this prophesy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city,

and from the things which aro written in this 'book.'* Let every one take heed, lest by addition or subtraction he incur these tremendous curses!

Forasmuch as the Scripture is a revelation from God, what an affront to Him is the neglect of it! Even a fellow-worm would consider himself contemptuously treated, if his letters were returned unopened. More especially, if those letters contained matters of importance, and offers of friendly assistance in a season of embarrassment and distress; how gross an affront would it be, what a proof of black ingratitude, to treat them with indifference, and to throw them aside without notice! If letters from the kings

*Rev. xxii. 18, 19. Is there not reason to fear that some of the mystic writers by pretences to immediate revelation, which seem to put their unintelligible performances on a level with the book of God, have inadvertently committed the sin of adding to the things written in holy scripture? And should not those, who se highly extol their productions, be afraid, lest they involve themselves in the same guilt? Such persons would do well to consult an excellent paper on the subject by Dr. Horne, late Bishop of Norwich, inserted in the appendix to his life by the Rev William Jones. On the other hand, is there not good ground to conclude, that those who will admit nothing as truth, though plainly revealed in Scripture, but what approves itself to their own understandings, are in danger of subjecting themselves to the consequences of that tremendous declaration, "God shall take away their part out of the book of life?

of the East are received by their subjects with every token of respect and reverence, bending their bodies, and raising the pacquet to their lips; with what emotions of holy fear, and lively gratitude should we receive the precious Bible! But do we not slight this inestimable gift, unless we constantly read it, and diligently study it; unless we prize it,* like the dying martyr, who, after having taken a solemn farewell of his wife, children, and other earthly valuables, reserved his last adieu for the Bible, concluding his valediction with these memorable words, farewell, thou blessed, blessed book of God.' If we know the value of the Scriptures, we shall constantly pray over them, and make it our daily endeavour to reduce the doctrines thereof to constant practice.

6

The grand subject of the Bible is Christ crucified. He is the Alpha and Omega of all Divine revelation. Tho' a variety of other subjects is spoken of therein, they have all a reference to Him. As the rays of a circle, though diverging to every quarter of the heavens, all concur in one central point so, although the scriptures contain large portions of history, chronology, and ethics; and, though the diligent inquirer after truth may find

* History informs us, that in the time of Henry VIII. a countryman gave a cart-load of hay for one leaf of St. James's Epistle in English. The word of the Lord was precious in those days.'

therein some light diffused on every part of science; yet Christ is that radiant centre, in which every line meets. This the Bible testifies of itself. Search the Scriptures,' says our Lord to the Jews, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and these are they which testify of ME.'† When the adorable Saviour was walking with the two disciples, after His resurrection, on the road to Emmaus; it is said, that beginning at Mo6 ses, and all the Prophets, He expounded unto • them in all the Scriptures the things concerning • HIMSELF.' When Peter was preaching to his countrymen at Jerusalem, he told them, that

those things, which God before had shewn by • the mouth of all his prophets that Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled.' The historical parts of Scripture afford in great abundance memoirs of persons and things, which illustrate the design of the coming of the promised Christ, and the loveliness of His character. The prophetic Scriptures describe His sufferings, and the glory that should follow. Does the Bible often allude to the natural history of the vegetable, mineral, and animal kingdoms? These allusions are frequently employed to set forth the dignity and excellency of Christ. The very genealogies of the Bible are inserted to lead us to the Son of Mary, who was born in Bethlehem of Judea. The

Chronological parts have all a reference to the times and seasons of Jesus Christ. The ceremonial law was throughout a shadow of Christ, exhibiting an outline of his mediatorial transactions and sufferings. The moral law also was given both to shew our need of Him and the perfection of His righteousness; and also to teach us how to resemble Him. The promises of the Bible are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus' and even its threatenings are designed to render Him precious. Would you understand the Bible? You must keep this clue in your hand, that it is the record, which God hath given concerning * His Son.' If you explore this sacred field, without making it your principal object to find therein the pearl of great price, you will lose your labour; and (what is worse) you will lose your own soul. If you have never considered this blessed book as the supernatural star, which is to divert the attention of pilgrims from every inferior object, and guide their feet to Bethlehem in Judea; it is no wonder that you have not judgment sufficient to ascribe to it its proper value; that you can open it without pleasure, and then close it without profit. Happy, thrice happy are they who daily study the Scriptures with this prevailing desire, that they may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellow'ship of His sufferings, and be made conformable