dead? It is a remarkable fact that every one of the miracles wrought by our Lord, when upon earth, was witnessed by a sufficient number of persons to bear ample testimony to its truth; and the reality of no one miracle was at all doubted or gainsaid by the Jews then living, who were also the enemies of our Lord; on the contrary, we find them establishing the reality of his miracles, by saying that "he casteth out devils through Beelzebub." Nay, our Saviour says of himself, "I spake openly to the world, and in secret have I said nothing.' Now if the Jews did not, it was because they could not contradict, his miracles; on the other hand, if co-temporary historians, such as Josephus, Tacitus, Pliny, and others who were not christians, did bear testimony to the life, and character, of our Lord Jesus Christ; and if such testimony be in unison with the accounts contained in the New Testament, it is undeniable evidence, that the New as well as the Old Testament furnishes us with a true record of the events of which it treats. The Gospels thus place before us a faithful mirror, wherein are presented such miracles, wrought by our Lord, in his own name, and by the power of God, inherent in him, as were never before wrought. Moses, and the Apostles afterwards, wrought miracles in the name of Jesus, or by a power delegated to them. Jesus wrought his miracles by his own power, and in his own name; whereas Moses, but for once presuming to do so, at the waters of strife, was shut out from the terrestrial Canaan. Hence we may safely conclude, even if we had not the more "sure word of prophecy," that Jesus Christ was the Messiah that was to come into the world, and that the Gospel narrative is true. Such arguments as I have now adduced have reference more especially to the authenticity of Holy Writ. In the next sermon, I purpose, God willing, to look into some of those proofs of the divine inspiration of the Bible, which are to be found amongst the prophetical writings; to compare the spiritual foreshadowings contained in the prophetical books with their actual fulfilment; and I do earnestly pray that we may, one and all, so see the finger of God impressing every page of the sacred volume with the signet of divine truth, as to enable us to believe and obey;-to realize his goodness towards us, in thus revealing himself by the mouths of his holy prophets, and to apply to ourselves, individually, the varied manifestations of his love. Believe me, the Bible is a great storehouse of wisdom, power, and goodness;-it is the book of books, commending itself to our diligent and prayerful perusal, by the depths of its wisdom, and the greatness of its object, even the enlightening and purifying of our souls; pointing out to us with unerring truth, the means of our salvation, Christ Jesus and him crucified,-and showing us the pathway of holiness, as the way of peace, and the earnest of the believer's future rest in the eternal world of glory. The book of nature, we admit, reveals to our view, not only the existence of God, but also many of his glorious attributes. Every gentle zephyr, every beautiful flower, every warbling songster, and every bright and dewy morning, proclaim his wisdom, power, and goodness, all divine; but however splendid and radiant with the image of God these may be, yet very faintly do they shadow forth his goodness, when compared with the glory, majesty, power, and love of God, as he has been pleased to reveal himself to us in his written word. Do we indeed read God's holy word? If not, we are in the same condition as were those heathen philosophers at Ephesus; following only the light of nature, and the dictates of our own evil hearts;-we are followers of the men of the world, and with it we also must ultimately perish. Now the Word of God teaches us not to be "conformed" to this world, but "transformed;" it says, "be ye transformed, by the renewing of your minds, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." How forcible is the expression here used: If we be fol lowers of the living God, with our faces Zionward, we shall "prove" how acceptable and perfect the will of God is. It is in strict unison with the expression of the Saviour himself, in the 7th chapter of St. John's Gospel: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God." Believe me, if we would be happy, we must know God as he has graciously manifested himself to us in the face of Jesus Christ; and this knowledge of him is only to be obtained by "searching the scriptures." Out of Christ, God is a consuming fire, and our best knowledge of him, as such, is of a repulsive character: our sense of guilt and shame, and our natural distaste of holiness (both derived alike from the fall of our first parents), make God shunned by us. We flee from his presence, and either like the Athenians of old, set up an inscription "to the unknown God;" or like the Pagans at Ephesus, make silver shrines for some imaginary deity. Thanks, however, be to God, he has neither left us in heathen darkness, nor in philosophic ignorance. He has given to us his Word, and, in the text, has told us "to take unto us the whole armour of God." He has told us to examine its sacred treasures, and "to have our loins girt about with truth." God thus, as it were, stoops down to us from heaven, and holds communion with us through his word. He imparts to us, in the pages of that blessed book, knowledge, which the light of nature could not, and did not afford. He tells us of the love wherewith he has loved us, in that he has "given his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but should have everlasting life." He has pointed out a way in which "He can be just, and yet the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus." He has told all men to search the scriptures, for "they are they" he says "which testify of me." He has told them that "in the world they shall have tribulation;" but in Christ, peace. Having secured an interest in him, of whom Moses and the prophets wrote, the believer is enabled to triumph over the world and its storms, because his soul rests upon Him who rules the one, and guides the other. He can then joy even in tribulation; being superior to its depressing influences. He can joy in the Lord, and realize the truth of the poet's assertion, who says: "That field of promise, how it flings abroad "Its perfume, o'er the christian's thorny road; "Weeps tears of joy, and bursts into a song." SERMON II. ON THE EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY. www wwww EPHESIANS VI. 14. "Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.” THE Command, which is here given by St. Paul to his Ephesian converts, is as applicable to us now, as it was to them at the time when it was written. The inhabitants of Ephesus were famous for their devotion to the goddess Diana; many subsisted by making small images of the goddess, or of her temple, called "shrines;" whilst multitudes occupied themselves in the study and practice of what was wicked. Moreover, many apostate Jews were there,-propagating false doctrine, and presumptuously attempting to expel demons by calling on the name of Jesus. The christian converts were, in consequence, greatly exposed to the ensnaring allurements of Jewish ritualism, and heathen idolatry. St. Paul had, during three whole years, preached the Gospel of the grace of God at Ephesus, and in the region round about. Many believed the word spoken by Paul, and so sincere were these christians in the profession of the truth, and so numerous were they, that, on casting away their idols,-burning their wicked books,and giving up idolatry, they destroyed articles estimated at seven thousand pounds sterling. Converts, thus manifesting their sincerity by making such sacrifices would be highly esteemed by St. Paul; who was doubtless most anxious that they should continue steadfast in the profession of a true faith. We find him, consequently, addressing them in language very peremptory; and regarding them as soldiers of the cross, he says unto |