when it is given, but that truth itself springs from another source, and is derived from "the Father of lights," the uncreated Sun of Righteousness.

Now the grand medium by which divine truth is communicated to the mental eye, is the Word of God. And through the natural images of natural things, spiritual things are impressed upon the mind. In the visible world, the atmosphere which is connected with, and which surrounds the earth, receives in itself the image of the sun, and transmits that image to the natural eye. Thus, though not connected immediately with the sun, it becomes the medium by which the solar light is given, and by which the eye is enabled to discern the objects around. In the' same manner, human language and natural objects with which man is familiar, are in the Scriptures the atmosphere, which receives in itself the light of God, and communicates that light to the mind. Though not connected immediately with the divine mind, but proceeding from human ideas, and material forms, yet they become the medium by which the truth of Heaven is infused into the mind, and by which reason is enabled to put itself into exercise.

Is the eye then the judge of light? It can decide upon objects, when light is given; but it can never decide upon that which gives it the power of decision. Is reason the judge of Divine Truth? It can judge of things by the power of truth, but it cannot judge that which is the source of its power. Yet reason is not contrary to truth, any more than the eye is contrary to light, the one is fitted to receive and act by the other. It is possible however that light may exist in that state of brilliancy, that the eye may be incapable of receiving it, and it may then produce blindness instead of sight; and so also it is true, that the Divine Wisdom, is in itself far too bright for the reception of reason, and when this faculty is exercised upon subjects beyond the comprehension of man, it becomes "darkened by excess of light" and runs into error, through the overpowering influence of truth itself.

Thus there are doctrines in the Word of God, which when received as laid down; and acted upon, produce faith, and enlighten the mind, but which when approached too nearly dazzle and perplex, not because they are erroneous, but because they are divine. The man then who, because he cannot fully receive and comprehend a doctrine; because it puzzles his

mind, and distracts his reason, declares that such doctrine is false; is like one who gazing till his sight becomes dim, at the meridian sun, insists that darkness and not light proceeds from his beams. Let it be remembered however, that I by no means plead for doctrines which are opposed to reason and which contradict it; but for those which are above it, and beyond its power. That which is false in reason can never be true in Scripture, but a doctrine may be incomprehensible, and still be true.

It is not then the mere narrative of the Scriptures, (the concerns of the Jewish nation, the actions of their kings and the extent of their conquests,) that is interesting to us, 'but the things which these events signify, and which they are intended to communicate. The words which are spoken through the Divine Spirit are not merely relations of natural things, but they are spiritual and living forms, embodied in natural language; and in this sense while the "letter killeth, the Spirit giveth life."

If the word of God is divine, it is divine in every part: for if it is not divine in each iota, then it is not all divine, and consequently it is not all to be depended upon. If every book is divine, if each distinct book is, according to the apostle, "God-breathed;" then that breath of God which fills each book, must fill each chapter of which the book is composed; and each verse contained in the chapter-and each sentence contained in each verse. Nay, I might go further, if each verse is "breathed into by God," and each sentence divine, then every word in every sentence must be divine likewise, and even every letter which forms every word! That which fills the whole must fill all the parts, and that which does not fill every part, does not fill the whole.

Reason then having received the Scriptures, must decide by the Scriptures; they are the light by which it must discern truth, they are the Judge, to whose authority every doctrine must be made to bend. "To the law, and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

J. G. B. P.

CHAP. III.

THE ASSERTION OF UNITARIANS, THAT JESUS CHRIST WAS MADE LIKE UNTO HIS BRETHREN.

O SOCINIANS! you have by infernal assistance, cut the Holy Scripture into lengths, suited to your own fancy and imagination. It was prophecied, hundreds of years before the coming of Christ, that God would give his only begotten Son, and that he should dwell in a temple of flesh from the lines of David. This temple was the putting on of the appearance of man. It was ordained to feel the woes and grief of the human race. For our sins he groaned, he bled; his sacred blood has washed our souls from sin's polluting stain. He appeared in the likeness of man on Earth, but his Majesty was concealed within it, as a pattern to the human race. He appeared humble, charitable, and humane. Words are not sufficiently strong to express the affection he felt for the Christian Church. His Soul which dwelt in this flesh, was the supreme Son of God, begotten before all worlds; and as all

power is in the hand of God, so also is the miraculous conception: and thus, coming into the flesh, he was born of the lineage of David.

O, deluded Socinians! which of you dare contradict the word of God? See the two last verses of the third chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. "When Jesus was baptized, he went up straightway out of the water and lo! the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him; and lo! a voice from heaven, saying, 'this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

O, deluded men! O, dreadful men! pause a little ! stand amazed, and think who who it is that will deny the Son of God! Who dare venture to contradict the Almighty, who claims him for his "only begotten Son in whom HE is well pleased?" What? will you contradict Him, when he comes in the clouds of heaven to judge the world? Ha! Ha! methinks I hear you say, "O mountains and rocks fall upon us to hide us from the Son of God! O then if nature itself is to hide you in that dreadful day when thousands of thousands must give an account of the deeds done in the body, if this is to be your shelter, call now, and be hid from your shame! Call now, and be hid from him with whom you are at open war! Call now, and be hid from him, whom you think not worthy to fall down and worship! Call now, and be hid from him, before whom you will not pour out your spirit in prayer! Call now,

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and say, you will not accept him whom God chose for his beloved Son,-say you will rather be hid, than accept of Him. O mountains and rocks fall upon them-fall upon us! Pause! Pause amazed, and ask, how is this to be done? Who is to do it? We will not ask Christ-shall we ask God who declared this is my beloved Son? This will not do. Shall we do it ourselves? Stand amazed! Wild! Lost! lost creature !-O, distracted creatures, run and hide yourselves-but "where must we run?" "The eye of Omnipotence is upon us, we cannot run!" O then, thoughtless sinners, let us come and receive the affectionate invitation: be attentive to the calls of the Spirit, and follow the drawings of the Father till they bring you to the Son. Fix your eyes upon the rising light of the Gospel, till the morning star arise in your hearts. Venture! confidently venture upon the boundless mercy of God in Christ Jesus.

Again, if Jesus Christ had been like unto his brethren, could he have wrought the miracles which he did? All agree that he could not! It would fill volumes to enumerate the miracles which he performed. Read the second, third, fourth, and fifth verses of the eleventh chapter of St Matthew's Gospel. "Now when John had heard in prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, go and shew John again those things which