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FURTHER PROOFS OF THE TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE.

SERM.

subsequent concerns of the church and of the world to this present day. This forms such a demonstration, that the Bible is indeed the word of God; that the more carefully it is examined with a serious and impartial mind, the fuller conviction it must produce. It is indeed a kind of unobtrusive permanent miracle, which escapes the notice of the careless, but gives entire satisfaction to the diligent enquirer and to this, all who have doubts on the subject, will do well to take heed, ❝ as to a light shining in a dark place," till their own experience of the blessed effects produced by the gospel, prove an inward witness, the dawn of eternal life in their souls.

We might adduce many other arguments in confir mation of this truth, from the nature and tendency of the sacred oracles; the character of those in every age, who have most firmly believed them; the efficacy of the pure gospel on the minds and conduct of mankind, in rendering them wise, holy, peaceful, and happy; and the manifold consequences, which must follow, if all men did indeed repent of sin, believe in Christ, worship God spiritually, love him supremely, and love one another with a pure heart fervently. But these few hints are sufficient to show that our religion is no vain or doubtful matter, but an authenticated revelation from God; and that men oppose it, because it testifies of them that their works are evil, and cannot be made consistent with the lust of the flesh, the "bust of the eye, and the pride of life."

Neither is it a superfluous or unnecessary thing. Whatever plausible and soothing notions students in their retirement may entertain; facts undeniably prove, that

17 MAN'S URGENT NEED OF DIVINE REVĒLATION. 11

reason, untutored by revelation, uniformly leads men into atheism, idolatry, impiety, superstition, or enor mous wickedness. Renowned and elegant Greece and Rome sunk as deep into these absurd abominations, as the barbarians whom they despised. The philoso phical Athenians were ignorant worshippers of an unknown God, amidst their highest improvements; nor have the most celebrated modern unbelievers been preserved from most gross absurdities, or lamentable ignorance. How confused are their discourses, when they attempt to show, in what way a sinner may be justified before God! Or when they would instruct mankind, in the method of conquering bad habits, resisting strong temptations, overcoming the world, or meeting death with humble, serious, and reflecting composure!

If then unaided reason, in its highest advancement, can give so little satisfactory information on these most important points; what must have been the state of the world at large, if revelation had not been vouchsafed? So far therefore from deeming it unnecessary, we ought to value it unspeakably more than gold and precious stones; and to relish it as sweeter than honey and the honey-comb."

The message of God is no vain thing, because it is exactly adapted to the condition of mankind, and fully adequate to the case of the most enslaved sinner upon earth. If a man's crimes have been ever so numerous, complicated, and atrocious, during the whole course of a long life; if his propensities, habits, and connec tions expose him to the combined force of many for midable temptations; and if his difficulties and

12 THE ABSOLUTE SUFFICIENCY OF REVELATION,

[SERM

distresses be urgent in the extreme ;-yet, by attending to the word of the gospel in humble faith, he shall surely be guided into the way of peace, find effectual assistance in the path of duty, be extricated from all perplexities, made victorious over all enemies, and finally be brought to the enjoyment of eternal felicity. Indeed whenever we mistake our duty or our interest, or whenever we are cast down on any account, it may be said to us," Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures;" and forget that "thus it was written, and thus it must "be." We want no other directions, or encouragements, than such as are contained in the Bible: nothing can be added to this perfect rule of faith and practice. All that men can do in this matter to good purpose, consists in calling the attention of mankind to the scriptures, explaining their contents, and exhorting them to believe and obey the divine message: and if any one, whether he be a moralist or philosopher, an inventor of superstitions, or a pretender to new revelations, attempt to add to the scriptures, or to amend any thing in them; he may be compared to an optician, who should undertake, by new discoveries, and. well constructed glasses, to improve the light of the sun.

Nor is the message of scripture a vain thing, or a matter of small importance: Moses therefore added, "because it is your life." "Whatsoever a man hath "will he give for his life," is a maxim that is generally found true, though it was once spoken by the father, of lies. The merchant throws his rich freight into the sea, when it endangers his life and the patient. rewards the surgeon for performing some torturing operation, when it is necessary to rescue him from

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AND THE AWFUL IMPORTANCE OF ITS CONTENTS.

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death. In ordinary computations life is deemed our highest interest; capital punishment is regarded as the most formidable; and it is an admired, though often a proud and rebellious, heroism, when a man prefers death to penury, ignominy, or bondage. Yet our Lord hath said, "Fear not them that kill the body,

and after that have no more that they can do, but "fear him, who hath power to destroy both body, and

soul in hell." And "what is a man profited, if he "gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Qur temporal life is not principally concerned in the subject before us; but our future and eternal condition, When Christ declares, "These shall go away into "everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life "eternal;" the same original word is used in both clauses; the punishment could not be eternal, if the person punished should at length cease to exist; and the strongest expressions of the copious Greek language, that language of speculating philosophers, are used in scripture to denote the eternity of the punishment, prepared for the wicked in another world. We are not competent to determine what sin deserves, or how it behoves the Governor of the universe to show his abhorrence of it. Shall not the Judge of all the "earth do right?" It is our wisdom to submit to his justice and to seek his mercy; and not to waste our lives in vain disputations, concerning matters too deep for our investigation,

We must, however, close this part of the subject in a summary manner. It depends on the reception which we give the message of God, whether we shall for ever enjoy his inestimable favour, or feel the weight

44 THE CONSEQUENCES OF REJECTING REVELATION, [SREM;

of his awful indignation; whether our capacity of reflection, memory, and anticipation shall be our noblest privilege, or our most aggravated misery; whether we shall bear the holy image of God, or be given up to the unrestrained dominion of every hateful passion; and whether happy angels or apostate spirits shall be our companions, during our eternal existence. In the mean time, this must also deter mine, whether in the present life we shall possess that peace of God which passeth all understanding, or resemble the tempestuous waters of the ocean, in the dissatisfied and unsettled state of our minds; whether we shall pass through life with comfort and usefulness, and meet death in joyful hope; or spend our days in vanity and vexation, and at length be driven away into darkness and despair.

The scriptures certainly require all, who would "declare the whole counsel of God," to use this decided language: and whatever plausibility may appear in the reasonings or conjectures of those, that become the advocates of the heathen, whom St. Paul declared to be" without excuse;" it is impossible, consistently with scripture, to entertain the least hope concerning persons who reject revelation, and prefer their own self flattering imaginations to the sure testimony of God. It hath therefore been sufficiently shown, that the subjects of which we treat, as far as we adhere to scripture, are most certain, necessary, and important; and that, in comparison, all the objects, which ambition, avarice, or sensuality pursue, are frivolous as the toys of children, and transient as a dream when one awaketh.