may

I ask you to-night, in the presence of God, if the Bible allowed vice, would you not love it? If it tolerated iniquity, would you not prize it? If it allowed those pleasures which fascinate and gratify your appetites and passions, would you not cherish it? Is not the great secret of enmity to the Bible that it insists upon holiness, and declares that "without holiness no man shall see the Lord?" Shall I speak to you of their sufficiency Had a person no other book in the world, this book is enough to comfort him in sorrow, direct him in duty, encourage him in difficulty, warn him in danger, and save his immortal soul: and if he had all the books in the world, without this, they could neither comfort a human soul, nor save that soul. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

But the final proof is their glory. O, see the wonders they have effected! See three thousand converted by them from the ways of sin in one day; see the domestic peace they have cast amongst families; see the comforts they have given; see the holy changes they have made in moral character; see the hospitals in the Metropolis which they have built; see the missionaries they have sent forth through them the wilderness and the solitary place are glad, and the desert rejoices and blossoms as the rose. Rome, in its glory, could boast of its palaces, its arches, its pillars, its bridges, its theatres, and its cities; but not a single penitentiary or almshouse, not an hospital or infirmary, was to be discovered within its walls. These are the triumphs of Christianity; these are the glories of the defamed Bible.

Now these, young men, are the proofs which I have to present to you, that this Bible will be a friend to you, and a friend, the consulting of which will greatly aid and greatly bless you.

But I still feel an objection whispering in some young man's ear, who would, perhaps, if he might, utter it. It is not fashionable, some say, to read the Bible: every polite and intelligent companion would ridicule your study of the Bible. Perhaps their politeness and their intelligence might be questioned in such a deed as this. But be it so. Are there no dignified, intelligent, and honorable men, who read their Bibles? What think you of Moses, the greatest legislator that ever ruled? He wrote the law, and he read it. What think you of Joshua, the greatest captain that ever held a sword? And there was not a word of all that Moses wrote that Joshua did not read. What think you of Nehemiah, who was cupbearer to the king of Persia? What think you of the Bereans, who were "more noble than those of Thessalonica, in that they searched the Scriptures, to see if these things were so?" What think you of Timothy, that highly-elevated, that dignified and excellent youth, who is commended by the Apostle for his practice of searching and studying the Word of God? But do not let me confine myself to days of yore; let me come down to days not far distant; let me not forget my own land. King Edward the Sixth diligently read the Bible. When Queen Elizabeth had the Bible presented ta her at her coronation, she received it with both hands, and, kissing the Bible, pressed it to her bosom, and said that that blessed Book of God had been all her consolation and direction in her captivity. And it is well known, that our late venerable monarch, King George the Third, not only read the Bible himself,

and studied it too, but recommended it to his subjects, and declared that it haa been his desire all his life that every child in his kingdom should be able to read the Bible. But most of the greatest men England ever knew were lovers of the Bible. You have the examples, my brethren, and encouragements of the wisest and noblest men of our land, to consult and be edified by the Word of God. I do not like the charge which has been brought against it, that it is suited only to weak minds. Let us see if we cannot find some noble and intelligent spirits who were students of the Word of God. Are you a poet? Consult your Bible. Milton, Thomson, Cowper, Young, read and studied their Bible. Are you a statesman? Littleton and Vansittart say, "Read your Bible." Are you a philosopher? Bacon, Locke, Newton, the three greatest minds that England ever produced, were readers and students of the Bible. Are you a moralist? Johnson, Addison, Steele, were readers of their Bible. Are you a lawyer? Hale, Blackstone, Erskine, say, "Read your Bible." Are you in the ministry, or are you preparing for it? What honour Doddridge, Watts, and a thousand others, gained by reading their Bible. Are you a physician? Lettsome, Good, and, you will not forget, Buchan, read their Bibles, and recommend you to read it.

Now, my dear young men, place against this array of moral minds and moral characters, the comparatively feeble intellects, and the injurious course of life of those who thus question the authority of revelation: and on whose side will the evidence preponderate? I fear not the question; I dread not the examination.

Dr. Hawker says that, when he left his home to go to sea, his beloved and pious mother took him into her closet before she permitted him to go on the sea voyage; and after kneeling down and praying with the devoted youth, she took a little pocket Bible out of her closet, and presented it to him, saying, "Robert, as you love me, as you love your soul, as you hope to go to heaven, I charge you to read one verse of this Bible every day " And did not, young man, your fond mother put the Bible into your hand when she sent for you to bid you farewell, when you left home for this great Metropolis? And does not that book sometimes look you in the face, and many regrets steal over your mind that it has been suffered to accumulate dust for the want of perusal or study? O, remember your father or your mother's charge, and read your Bible. Young man, let the world frown, and let the ungodly reprobate your conduct, I say, read and study your Bible; the smile of God, and the peace of conscience will more than counterbalance a universe of frowns. And in order to entice you to do this, let me read to you what God says. He declares that "she is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her" that the individual who possesses himself of the excellences of this Book shall "never perish, but have everlasting life.”

But it is already time that I should, in the second place, advert to another point. I said you were to consult it as a friend in your way; I now say, secondly, you must compare it as a map with your way. Young men, you have entered a dangerous road, full of traps and snares, beset at every path with some soul-deceiving bait. Here, among the worst, perhaps, of your foes, you will meet with many deceitful friends, who will tell you of the excellence of sin, the pleasure of its enjoyment, and the reward of its perpetration; and. as soon as they have enticed you to commit it, cut you off, and turn away from you. 2 F

VOL. II.

Like Judas, they will say, "Hail, Master," kiss you, and betray you: like Joao, they will kiss you, and stab you under the fifth rib. And there you will have to contend with the most implacable enemies: there the bewitching snares of a gay world-sin, and the enemy that lieth in your way, endeavour to entrap you and bring you into ruin. But who would think of travelling in such a land without a map or a guide? Who would think of taking a dangerous voyage without a pilot, or a chart? And such, young man, is your conduct, if you are living without taking heed to the Bible. The Bible is a map, drawn by Infinite Wisdom, correct in all its parts, descriptions, and definitions. Now never was it heard, since this Bible was brought into existence, that a mariner or a traveller was lost who followed its counsel; but thousands have been lost who had this map, and would not use it. Now, in this map, two ways are marked out-the way of life, and the way of death. Just, for a brief time, let us follow a little the track of the latter, and observe a few of the places marked on this map, which are filled with danger, and which it is desirable that we should avoid.

The first place I shall mention marked on this map is Robbery Tent. It was inhabited by one Achan, whose covetous eye saw the wedge of gold, and the shekels of silver, and he took them into his tent, contrary to God's commandment. Now just near that spot, lest any young man should be enticed to the same act, there is a finger-post marking the lot of this individual, and saying, "Neither thieves nor covetous shall inherit the kingdom of God."

Near this spot is marked another, and that is Intemperance Lodge. It was inhabited by one Nabal, of Maon, who had great estates, but who was smitten of God in a fit of drunkenness; and for the warning of all travellers is this finger-post: "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit: for drunkards shall not see the kingdom of God."

See also another spot-Liar's Graves, leading to Liar's Lake. They contain the bodies of Ananias and Sapphira, who, when telling a lie, were struck dead in the presence of the multitude: and near this spot, to caution all imitators, you may read in legible characters, "All liars shall have their part in the lake, which burneth with fire and brimstone."

Adjoining to this is marked on the map, Infidelity Lanes. One of them is between the mountains where Pharaoh and his army, disbelieving the threatenings of God, plunged themselves into the sea, and were all drowned by God for their infidelity. Another of these lanes is before Jerusalem, where Sennacherib and his army boastingly asked, who was God that he should obey him, and who was the Almighty that he should be under his control: and an angel was sent to smite a hundred and eighty-five thousand of his army in one single night, for his infidelity. Now, lest any should imbibe this sentiment, their doom is posted up, as you will find towards the conclusion of the first chapter of the book of Proverbs: "For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: they would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices."

I have another spot to show you: there is the Enchanted Ground. On this spot, young man, is the blandishment of beauty, and the enticement of wicked Are you on the borders of this ground? I ask again, are you on the borders of this ground? Take out your map, and see how many souls it has

women.

deceived and ruined. It was this that put the sore into David's bones all his lays; it was this which commenced and perfected Absalom's destruction; it was this which stole the heart of one of the wisest men from God, and stole peace from his soul; it was this, beloved, that caused Herod to murder the best of men, because John said to him, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife." I ask again, young men, are you on the border of this land?

"Stop, poor sinner, stop, and think;

Oh think before you go;

Will you sport upon the brink
Of everlasting woe?

"Once again I charge you stop;

Unless you warning take,
Ere you are aware you'll drop
Into the burning lake."

Are you on this ground?

Are you not only on the borders of it, but are you

Flee, young
Methinks I

on this ground? I say to you, what St. Paul said to Timothy : 'man, for your life, flee youthful lusts which war against the soul." hear the trumpet sounding the alarm at you, young traveller, and declaring in your hearing what the end of all this must be. "Hearken unto me, now, therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death."

We will look at one more spot marked on this map; that is Pleasure Hall. It was occupied once in Babylon by Belshazzar, and his concubines, and his lords, and his ladies, and his captains, and the great men of the land. Profané mirth abounded in this hall. The vessels of the temple were brought out, and filled, and desecrated to a profane use; and they toasted their friends and their companions, and they praised the gods of wood and stone, which their own hands had made. But in the midst of their feasting, a hand came and wrote upon the wall-" Mene, Mene, TEKEL, UPHARSIN-Thou art weighed in the balances and found wanting." The prince's loins began to shake, and his knees began to tremble; and he called for the magicians of the empire, who had been accustomed to comfort him in the midst of his distresses; but there was none to speak to him, none to offer a word of consolation. Daniel was brought in. Daniel had only time to read his doom, and to tell him that the Medes were at his gates, and that the city and kingdom were rent from him from that instant. My dear young friends, will you follow me in the track of the path of life for a moment or two, that we may nark a few more things and spots. I see, beneath the walls of Eden, I see the place where Abel, the youthful shepherd, was martyred for the cause of God. I see Enoch, when he was a young man, (for he died at about thirty years old of our present computation), walking with God like a familiar friend, and God honouring him with freedom from death. I see Noah, when a young man, believing God's word, building an ark, preaching righteousness, and warning the world. I see Abraham, wine youthful, leaving his father's country, and his father's house, at God's commandment, God blessing him with honour and riches, and spreading his name

throughout all lands; so that Jews and Gentiles vie with each other to have Abraham's name. I see Jacob, a servant to his unkind uncle, the sun scorching him by day, and the frost biting him by night; his uncle changes his wages, yet his covetous heart at parting with him is obliged to acknowledge from the honourable conduct of Jacob, "I have learned by experience, that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake." I see Joseph as a steward, resisting the most violent and ensnaring attacks on his virtue and integrity: he is cast into prison, though innocent; but the Lord was with Joseph, and Joseph was a prosperous man; for the prison was the way to the throne. I see Moses, the prince of Midian, when he was of years (that is, forty years of age) refusing to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, and choosing rather to suffer affliction with the children of God, and God ennobling his name, and loading him with spiritual and temporal blessings. I see Joshua, while yet hoary hairs were far from him, protesting before his brother officers, that whatever they did, that whatever the priests of the nation might do, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Young men, all these are marked on the map with this title, “Them that honour me I will honour."

Once more. If you would have your way thoroughly cleansed, then you must obey the Scriptures as a charge for your way. When Jacob was about to leave his home, his father Isaac gave him a charge. When Joshua was about to take the command of the army, Moses gave him a charge. When Timothy was about to enter the ministry, Paul gave him a charge. And what are the Scriptures? Why the Scriptures are a charge which Christ gives you, young men, for your journey in life. With what emphasis does this charge come to you! Beloved, dying words of parents often leave an indelible impression. Perhaps some of them may be registered in your memory to-night; and the recollection of the scenes you have witnessed, may rise up before your eyes and your minds. But this charge has the emphasis of the blood, the groans, and the exaltation of a dying and an immaculate Saviour. Here he declares to you, that because you have sinned, you require two things to cleanse your way; his blood and righteousness to cleanse your way from its guilt, that justice may not condemn you, and the law may not arrest you: "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." He declares to you also, in the second place, that the regenerating influences of the Holy Spirit, are necessary to renovate and to sanctify your nature: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Now, dear young men, do not begin, I beseech you, by mending first this branch of your conduct and then the other. The house must not be repaired and patched here and there; it must be pulled down, the foundations and all. The tree must not be pruned and lopped here and there; it must be rooted up entirely the root of that tree is underneath, and the fruits of that tree correspond with the root. And therefore it will not do to patch up this house or to attempt to mend it; it must be altogether altered, and you must begin anew O, do not be like the man that confesses his house is out of repair, and in some danger of falling in, but will not be convinced that the foundation is rotten, and that it must be entirely rebuilt or it will involve him in ruin. Young man, let me entreat you to think not of trying any experiment by yourself, of adopting this course and that method to reform your character; but