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ignorance and error keep the foul enthralled
to vicious attachments: "The victory that
"overcometh the world is our faith. Now

faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
"word of God." It is the Scriptures of truth
heard and read, which are the principal means
employed by God," for opening the eyes of
"the fpiritually blind, and for turning men
"from darkness to light, and from the power
"of Satan unto God" The word of God
is defcribed to be like fire, that enlightens,
warms, and purifies; it is like a hammer that /
breaks the rock in pieces, and bends the flub-
born will of man to an acquiefcence in te
will of the Almighty: "It is quick and po.
"erful, and sharper than any two-edged fwar
"piercing even to the dividing atunder of fou
"and fpirit, and of the joints and marrow,
"and is a difcerner of the thoughts and in-
"tents of the heart." How warm are the
encomiums of the royal pfalmift upon the im-
portance and peculiar excellencies of the di-
vine law! Pfal. xix. 7. &c. "The law of the
"Lord is perfect, converting the foul: the
"teftimony of the Lord is ture, making wife
"the fimple. The ftatutes of the Lord are
"right, rejoicing the heart: the command-
"ment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the

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The fear of the Lord is clean, en-
eyes.
"during for ever: the judgements of the Lord
"are true and righteous altogether. More
"to be defired are they than gold, yea, than
"much fine gold: fweeter alfo than honey, and
VOL. IV.

the

"the honey-comb. Moreover, by them is "thy fervant warned: and in keeping of them "there is great reward. -The law of thy "mouth is better to me than thousands of "gold and filver. I will meditate on thy pre"cepts, and delight myfelf in thy ftatutes: I "will not forget thy word. I have hid it in "my heart, that I might not fin against thee." Equally ftrong is the commendation which Paul gives of the Scriptures in his fecond epiftle to Timothy, iii. 16. 17. "All Scrip"ture is given by infpiration of God, and is "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for cor"rection, for inftruction in righteoufnefs; "that the man of God may be perfect, tho"roughly furnished unto all good works.""Whatsoever things were written aforetime, "were written for our learning; that we "through patience and comfort of the Scrip"tures might have hope."

Under the perfuafion of the importance and excellence of divine truths, pious perfons have made the facred records the subject of their moft diligent study in every age and country where religion hath been maintained in any degree of purity. Jofephus informs us, that "if any man asked a Jew concerning the laws,

he could tell him every thing more readily "than his name." And Maimonides affirms, that it did not fuffice a Jew to read the "law, but he wrote it too. For though a "father had left his fon a copy of the law,

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"he

" he was nevertheless obliged to write for him"felf another copy with his own hand."

In the pureft ages of the Christian church, no lefs ardent was the attachment of the friends of religion to the ftudy of the Scriptures. In the first age, this appears from the paffages already recited, and from the commendation bestowed on the Bereans in the text. In the fecond age, Clement of Alexandria reprefents attention to the infpired writings, and conferences on them, as a diftinguishing part of the character of Chriftians. In the third century, Origen mentions his early acquaintance with the Scriptures, and recommends the perufal of them to all. "Think it not fufficient, (fays St Austin), "that ye hear the Scriptures in the church; "but also attend to them in your houfes at "home; either read them yourfelves, or get "one to read them to you." Many other authorities might be brought from writers in feveral fubfequent centuries in proof of their fenfe of the advantages of studying the Scrip. tures. It appears from the hiftory of the perfecutions, that Chriftians would rather part with their lives than with their Bibles; and that it was deemed an inftance of the highest weakness and fear, when fome of them were perfuaded to deliver their Bibles to their perfecutors.

The denial then of the free ufe of the Scriptures, is contrary to the fenfe of antiquity, or of the earlier periods of the church. Indeed

Indeed the learned writers in the church of Rome cannot deny this charge of novelty.

Even thofe who with hold the Scriptures from the laity, join with us in acknowledging the excellency of the truths contained in them, which is the beft argument for the diligent perufal of any book. It is in this facred volume that we have the moft clear and fatisfactory difcoveries of the nature, perfections, and providence of God; of the worship that is due to him; and of the effential qualifications of his worshippers. It is here that we have the most important and authentic information concerning the original condition of mankind, our apoftafy, and its fatal confequences, and the method of our restoration to the friendship of God, and happinefs, through the mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ in our nature. In this divine repofitory of useful knowledge, there is the pureft fyftem of morality that was ever communicated to the world. In our Saviour's fermon on the mount, and in many other portions of holy writ, every virtue perfective of our nature is recommended by the moft powerful arguments, and every vicious indulgence of heart and life is prohibited under the moft awful fanctions. Here are exhibited the moft admirable examples of religious and moral duties, in the characters of the patriarchs, prophets, apofiles, and others; but above all, in the perfect lite of the great Author and finisher of our faith: "in whom "there was no fin, neither was guile found

in

" in his lips." Here every obedient fubject of the Redeemer's kingdom may find, for his encouragement, the moft precious promifes; of affiftance in the difcharge of his duty; of strength to refift and overcome temptation; of comfort under affliction; and, finally, "that all things fhall work together for his "good; and that he thall be kept by the

power of God through faith unto falva"tion." The unparallelled Jove of Chrift is fet forth in all its attractive luftre, to engage our obedience, and reconcile us to all the dif pofals of the divine will. It is the discovery of the wonderful fcheme of our falvation through him, which is the grand fubject of revelation, and which is indeed glad tidings of great joy to all people. It is here that the typical inftitutions and predictions of the Old Teftament chiefly terminate. On this most important theme the apoftles enlarge with pleasure, and place, in a variety of the most ftriking lights, the riches of divine love, and the practical influence of the grace of God, that bringeth falvation.

The rewards and punishments of a future life are brought to the clear eft light by the gofpel. There we are affured of the immortality of the foul, the refurrection of the body, and a future judgement. There we are informed, that our Lord Jefus Chrift is to be our Judge; that all mankind are to appear at his tribunal, and every one to receive according to the things done in the body, whe

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