no express injunction about, but which were nevertheless entrusted to him by the Spirit. At the 25th verse of the same chapter the apostle has the following expression: "Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; yet I give my judgment as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful." The thought is the same here as in the former instances. Though no express command had been given by Christ, on the subject treated of, yet the apostle, as one of his inspired servants, had received that grace which qualified him for a full development of the divine will, in all those things to which the personal ministry of Christ had not been directed.

In the last verse of the chapter the apostle adds " And I think, also, that I have the mind of Christ;" an expression which some of the most eminent critics have shewn not to indicate an uncertain opinion, but full conviction and unhesitating knowledge, as in John v. 39.

But supposing all the above passages, and some others which might be quoted, to be instances in which the apostle spake without the

immediate guidance of inspiration,-a thing which I cannot admit for a moment,-it is clear that he must have acted under inspiration in apprising the church that the Spirit did not influence him in such communications; so that nothing can be derived from the objection against the immediate and full inspiration of other parts of the word of God; but on the contrary, it would rather go to the conclusion, that nothing short of an apostolic denial of such inspiration can justify any man in hesitating about the immediate divine authority of a single portion of the word of God.

CONCLUSION.

FROM the whole of the preceding remarks, we may infer the paramount duty of entire and unreserved submission to the authority of God in the written word. Our reason, our conscience, our affections, are all called to surrender themselves to the heavenly vision. In this inestimable volume God speaks to us upon subjects of the highest interest; and, refusing to

262 THE TRUTH AND EXCELLENCE, ETC.

listen to his voice, we seal our own unhappy doom. "Hear ye the word of the Lord," is the message addressed to all who possess the sacred boon; and he who by prejudice or sin excludes himself from the benefits of this message, which reveals the only method of salvation, is chargeable with a degree of rashness and folly which eternity itself will but fully disclose. Let the prayer of each one who reads this little treatise be-" Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wonderful things contained in thy law !"

THE END.

Harjette and Savill, Printers, 107, St. Martin's Lane.