tianity will be left. It may be said, there will be faith still. A bare historical faith, such as that of the devils, who believe and tremble. Abraham's faith, the pattern of a Christian's, was a moral virtue; not a bare belief of a few propositions, but a full persuasion of the veracity of the divine promises, a filial trust in God, an absolute dependance upon him in all the events of life, and a thorough resignation to all his disposals. And in like manner the Christian faith, that bringeth salvation, is not a mere assent to Christian truths; but the receiving Christ for our Master, embracing the whole complex of his religion, and cordially complying with its terms. And so far as there is any thing valuable in faith, so far as it contains any thing acceptable to God, so far it has the nature of moral virtue. And in this extensive sense it comprehends every thing that is regular, beautiful, and good; as all iniquity, and disobedience of every kind, is the contrary thereto, immoral. But we may confine the term to the duties which more immediately relate to society and our fellow-creatures. Even then, if any man disparage it, he disparages the word of God. No writers speak more respectfully of this branch of morality than the sacred. We call it indeed our duty to our neighbour, because he is the more immediate object of it; but in reality, and in the last result, it is as much our duty to God, as any other. There is therefore nothing preposterous, no postponing God to man, if we say, that it is as valuable as any other part of our duty. God is our Master, and we are to be about his business; but we should learn from himself what his business properly is, and take our z James ii. 19.

estimate of our Master's service from our Master's own directions. And if he prefer mercy to sacrifice, and an act of humanity to a long prayer; who are we, that we should reply against God? There is no need, however, of setting the two tables against one another, which in themselves are at entire agreement. Let men only be cautious to avoid extremes ; and not, under pretence of magnifying the duties of piety, either degrade in speculation, or disregard in practice, the social virtues. Should religious exercises be neglected, no doubt men would soon lament the ill consequences of it: but, on the other hand, nothing is more pernicious, even to religion itself, as well as to the world, than to find those, who make the greatest pretensions to it, most miserably defective in the duties between man and man. This affords mirth to the libertine, and triumph to the unbeliever.

There are other ways, yet unmentioned, by which men take away from the word of God. Here again the church of Rome is justly chargeable; which, by depriving the people of the use of scripture, deprives them of all benefit from it, and of all the value and veneration which they ought to have for it. Here too are they to be condemned, who, by any practices, endeavour to render it cheap and contemptible; who read it, only in order to furnish themselves with objections against it; who load it with absurdity and contradiction, and turn the very scripture of truth into an occasion of their falling into error. Whatever plea may be offered to extenuate the guilt of other takers away from scripture, these seem to be without excuse; as they sin with design, and offend of malicious wickedness. More learning, perhaps,

might enable them to reconcile every seeming inconsistency; or more humility, however, would incline them to acquiesce, though there was something, after all their pains, which they could not perfectly account for. Of near affinity with this, is the practice of burlesqueing scripture; or treating either its doctrines or diction in a profane and unworthy manner. But it is needless before any men of sense, and soberness of mind, to inveigh against a custom, or enlarge on a practice, which is to be found only amongst those fools who make a mock at sina.

I did not engage, nor will the time permit me now, to speak to the latter part of my text, and consider the denunciation made against those, who thus take away from the words of this book of God. The degrees of wilfulness and deliberation with which this guilt is contracted will either alleviate or inflame it, as in all other cases. But in itself, it is a sin of a very high nature; diminishing or corrupting the rule of life, the means of grace, the instrument of pardon. In vain shall God speak unto men, if they regard him not; if they take the liberty to alter his words, or reverse his orders, and, instead of complying with his laws, become a law to themselves. He has cautioned them, once for all, against such ungrateful behaviour, and plainly told them what will be the fatal consequences of it. Let us, being admonished, learn wisdom. Let us lay aside all preconceived opinions and notions of our own, and come to the holy scriptures with the docility of children and of learners. We shall then be prepared for the reception of truth; and, under the influence of the blessed Spirit of it, be led into all that is necessary, a Prov. xiv. 9.

and preserved from all error that is destructive. And as for those who are already too far advanced in a different method of procedure, may they at last see their danger, and retreat. May their part be not taken away out of the book of life, though they have inadvertently committed the sin against which that severe punishment is threatened. In some measure, they handle the word of God deceitfully; but they consider not sufficiently that it is his word, and that thou, Lord, hast spoke it. May this be offered in extenuation of their crime, as once it was of the greatest that could be committed, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they doc.

b 2 Cor. iv. 2.

© Luke xxiii. 34.

SERMON XI.

2 TIM. iii. 7.

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

How deep soever natural or philosophic truths may lie concealed, and with whatever difficulties the search after them may be attended, we must acknowledge in honour, and in justice to the gospel of Christ, that it has plainly revealed the important points of religion, and the great articles of faith. If men study the scriptures with any tolerable degrees of diligence and sincerity, and make use of the proper assistances which are commonly within their reach, there is no doubt, but that generally they will attain to the knowledge of those truths which alone are able to save their souls. An all-wise Being must certainly be both able and willing to make any revelation, which he is pleased to give men, answer all the ends which he originally designed it should; and therefore, if in the event it prove insufficient or ineffectual to these purposes, with regard to any particular men; this must be ascribed, not to any defect in the revelation, but to some misconduct of their own. This reflection indeed will bear hard upon a numerous part of mankind; some or other of whom there have been in all ages, who, notwithstanding the clearest discoveries of the truth, have entertained it with difficulty and distrust, or even

a James i. 21.