Antiquity of all times, universality of all places, consent of all the people. So strongly and so mightily were they founded. Who would think such a religion, so ancient, and so universal, and so defended by common consent, could ever possibly be removed?

But when the fulness of time came, God sent forth His word, and all was changed. Error fell down, and truth stood up: men forsook their idols, and went to God. The kings and priests and people were changed. The temples and sacrifices and prayers were changed: men's eyes and hearts were changed. They forsook their gods, their kings, their priests; they forsook their antiquity, customs, consent, their fathers, and themselves. What power was able to work these things? What emperor by force ever prevailed so much? What strength could ever shake down so mighty idols from their seat? What hand of man could subdue and conquer the whole world, and make such mighty nations confess they had done amiss? This did the Lord bring to pass by the power of His word, and the breath of His mouth. This was it that led captivity captive, and threw down every high thing that

lifted itself up against the Lord; and brought all powers under subjection unto the Lord. It is the image, the power, the arm, the sword, and the glory of God. It is mighty, of great force and virtue, of authority and majesty, because it is the word of God; therefore the glory thereof is great.

THE PROFIT WHICH CHRISTIANS REAP BY THE SCRIPTURES.

Now let us stand afar off, and humble ourselves, and in reverence and fear learn to take the fruit and comfort of the same: for so is the will of God, that we may be partakers of His glory. But where shall we find entrance into this matter? And how shall we be able to come to land? For this is the sea, and the depth of all the works, of the judgments, and mercies, and of the kingdom of God. This is a sea that hath no shore, a pit that hath no bottom. The holy Scriptures are the mercyseat, the registry of the mysteries of God, our charter for the life to come, the holy place in which God sheweth himself to the people, the Mount Sion, where God hath appointed to dwell for ever. The more comfort in them,

so much the more greedily let us desire them: the more heavenly and glorious they are, with so much the more reverence let us come unto them.

For consideration of this matter, of the fruit and comfort which God worketh by the word; what may we better call to mind, than that is recorded by St. Paul? "Whatsoever things are written aforetime, are written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope"." All that is written in the word of God, is not written for Angels, or Archangels, or heavenly Spirits, but for the sons of men, for us and for our instruction: that by them we may receive strength and comfort in all adversities, and have hope of the life to come. It is the word of God; God openeth His mouth and speaketh to us, to guide us into all truth, to make us full and ready in all good works, that we may be perfect men in Christ Jesus; so rooted and grounded in Him, that we be not tossed to and fro with every tempest.

The profit which the word of God bringeth shall best appear, if we first take a view of our estate, what we are, in what place we stand,

u Rom. xv. 4.

and what enemies make force against us. We are the sons of Adam, stubborn children, the children of vanity and of wrath; the children of those fathers who forsook God, and have erred in their hearts, and were deceived. God, who created man, and breathed into him the breath of life, saith, "The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." Such are we even by the judgment of God; and His judgment faileth not. What error, what idol, what wickedness ever hath been heard, which hath not been forged, and wrought in the heart of man? We can neither do, nor speak, nor think the thing that is good: our understanding is heavy, our will froward, our eyes blind, and our heart unclean. We go astray through this world as lost sheep, every man after his own way. Even as a leaf is carried up and down with a blast of wind, so are we easily driven into error: in ourselves we find no stay, no succour, nor help. Such are we,

and so weak of ourselves.

But where are we? In the world. And what is the world? Some think it to be a place full of all delights and pleasures, a goodly

Gen. viii. 21.

strong and gorgeous palace, and a paradise of joy. Let no man deceive us, nay rather, let us not deceive ourselves: the world is a shop of vanities, it is a dungeon of darkness, a pot full of poison, a ship full of leaks, a way full of snares. It blindeth our eyes, beguileth our senses, and helpeth us forward into all dangers. We are blind ourselves, and the place wherein we are is nothing else but dark

ness.

Whereunto may I resemble our case? Jeremiah the Prophet was cast into a dungeon. There he sat without light, and without comfort. His case was miserable, and the place loathsome; yet he knew where he was; he knew what he lacked: he cried unto the Lord, and was delivered. Daniel was cast into the den of lions, there to be torn in pieces and devoured. But he saw his misery, and the danger in which he stood : he saw the lions, the paws which should. gripe him, and the teeth which should tear him. His case was miserable; yet is ours more miserable. We are in the deep dungeon of hell, and think we are in safety: we are in the midst of darkness, and think it to