SUMMARY OF DISCOURSE VIII.

2 TIMOTHY, CHAP. III.-VERSE 15.

THE common blessings, which we daily experience, are usually received without emotion, and enjoyed without thankfulness: this topic enlarged on, particularly in our neglect of those advantages, which every individual in a civilised nation does, or may, in some degree, possess. Instead, however, of pursuing such general observations, it is considered best to direct attention to the peculiar advantages of studying the sacred Scriptures.

They will be found, on the slightest inquiry, to afford abundant matter of gratification to the elegant and inquisitive mind; to contain vast information in history and manners, the purest instruction in morals, &c. Though such a recommendation of them may seem degrading, yet it cannot be denied that this species of merit is eminently visible in the historical and poetical parts of them this topic dilated on.

But though the writers of them do condescend to delight the fancy, their principal aim is to inform and improve the mind. Without detracting from other historians, we may safely affirm, that the most extensive information and instruction are conveyed by the sacred writers. The events which they relate fill up a longer space of time, and are more interesting in themselves and in their consequences: this enlarged on.

As these writings form the most extensive and connected history of man, so they present us with the most varied and lively picture of human manners: this enlarged on.

Herein the sacred writers excel others: there are also advantages peculiar to themselves. In common details the causes

of things seldom appear; and where the connecting chain breaks, we depend solely on the conjectures of the historian : but in the inspired pages a cause is assigned, which is fully adequate to the most marvellous events: in them 'is the arm of the Lord revealed.'

Another circumstance, which makes these writings peculiarly instructive, is the form of government which obtained among the people they describe; wherein the justice of God was most awfully displayed, and the moral nature of his government most distinctly revealed: this topic enlarged on.

Beside the general tendency of these writings to promote the interests of virtue, the only aim of some among them is evidently the improvement of the people in manners and morals. They abound with high moral and prudential precepts, &c. The laws of Moses, if not the most complete, are certainly the earliest system of morality offered to the world: their imperfections are owing more to the genius of the people than to that of the legislator. Their hardness of heart would not have received the delicate impressions of refined morality, &c.: it was the liberal spirit of Christianity which improved and perfected the morality of Moses, and abolished the long reign of prejudice and partiality, &c.

But, when taken in a religious point of view, the superior excellence and importance of the Scriptures are undoubted. The religion of the heathen world consisted in a few rude, undigested notions, derived from tradition, and easily bent to interest or caprice: this subject enlarged on.

The Jews had clearer lights; but their knowlege was more frequently derived from cautious inference than express assertion; and their expectations were rather raised than gratified: the promises of the Messiah were imperfectly understood, and his purposes indistinctly explained, &c.: this enlarged on.

The day, so long and anxiously expected, at length arrived, when the Sun of righteousness arose, &c. The brightness of

the gospel dispelled the clouds of ignorance, prejudice, and passion; the pride of reason was humbled, and her doubts removed; the justice of God was disarmed, and the hopes of man were placed on the firmest basis. We are there plainly taught what human reason unwillingly admitted; viz. the evils derived from man's fall, with the remedy provided by God's mercy, &c.: this enlarged on. Exhortation to accept the terms of this mercy, and not to cavil at the means of grace. Lastly, we are not only instructed in the means employed by divine wisdom to effect our happiness, but in the conduct to be pursued by ourselves; and are encouraged to aspire to the rewards of virtue, by the promise of God's mighty aid: this enlarged on. But in vain do we hope for farther blessings, if we neglect or abuse those already conferred on us. Divine wisdom is acquired by the same attention as earthly learning. Neglect therefore no means of improvement, for none are without their use; but chiefly search the Scriptures, for in them are the words of eternal life. The pursuit of religious knowlege is the universal duty of mankind: this topic enlarged on: opportunities of acquiring this knowlege afforded to all in this enlightened age; consequent responsibility.

DISCOURSE VIII.

THE EXCELLENCE AND IMPORTANCE OF THE

HOLY SCRIPTURES:

2 TIMOTHY, CHAP. III.-VERSE 15.

And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation.

THE common blessings, which we every day experience, are usually received without emotion, and enjoyed without thankfulness. Health and cheerfulness are of all things perhaps most conducive to the happiness of human life; and yet are received with a tranquil indifference, which is seldom raised into gladness, or heightened with the sense of gratitude. It is true, that the inestimable value of these advantages may be obtruded on our thoughts, by any of the numberless disorders which attack the body, or the afflicting losses which prey on the mind. But there are blessings of so constant a nature, that we are destitute even of these painful means of discovering their importance. The opportunities and helps to knowlege are now become so numerous, that we have ceased to consider them as blessings. We seldom reflect on the situation of men in darker ages; nor, if we did, could we readily conceive the difficulties which they encountered in the pursuit of learning. Consider what a total alteration it would produce in the minds and manners of mankind, if every one were reduced to that slender fund of knowlege, which could be procured without foreign assistance: what a variety of means must be tried to accomplish the most simple ends; how many patient efforts would be requisite to lead to the most trifling discoveries. There is not a wider contrast, than that between the rude understandings of

an untutored tribe, and the polished minds of a civilised people: the former, unused to reason, and unimproved by culture, soon arrive at that little excellence, which they never exceed; the latter, gradually formed and disciplined by education, and enriched with the stores and acquisitions of others, find few difficulties, which they cannot with diligence surmount: the exertions of the one are weak and irregular; those of the other are strengthened by habit, and guided by the accumulated wisdom and experience of ages: the former, unassisted and unenterprising, are scarcely acquainted with their native shore; while the latter, with the spirit of adventurers, explore the boundless ocean, and add new worlds to the dominions of science.

Such are the advantages, which every individual of a civilised nation does, or may, in some degree or other, possess. But are not these, like the other blessings of a gracious Providence, too often neglected or perverted? There is a sort of idle study, which neither enlightens the understanding, nor improves the heart. It were well if the mischief stopped here; if the learning of some men were merely useless; if the fruit of the tree of knowlege were not still destructive to our innocence, and did not too often open our eyes only to the discovery of our own nakedness. The ends, we ought to aim at, are information and instruction; if we attend to neither of these views, we may indeed sometimes meet with innocent amusement, but we shall more frequently be led to criminal gratification; we may for a time enjoy the pleasures of the imagination, but, without great care, we shall, sooner or later, find serious cause to lament the corruption of the heart.

Instead of pursuing these general observations, it will be necessary, from the extensiveness of the subject, to confine ourselves within certain limits; and it may be most useful, and certainly will be most suitable to this time and place, to direct our attention to the peculiar advantages of studying the sacred Scriptures.

They will be found, on the slightest inquiry, to afford abundant matter of gratification to the elegant and inquisitive mind; to contain the most extensive information in history and manners, the purest instructions in morals, and the only rational