case, Judas-who had so long lived with Christ, was intrusted with the bag, which shows that he was not treated with any reserve, and was acquainted with the private life of Christ-must certainly have known; and, if he had known of any blemish, he ought to have told it, and doubtless would. Duty to God, to his own character, and to the world, obliged him to it. But his silence in this respect gives the loudest witness to Christ's innocence, and his awful death proves the Divine authority of Jesus. 15. With farther reference to the moral character of Jesus, I would ask, Was it possible for him to appear so holy and so free from all taint of evil; could he go up and down the land of Judea, enduring want and reproach, discovering a solicitous and unremitted attention to the welfare of mankind, by healing their bodies, and instructing their minds; and yet, at the same time, be (what nevertheless he must have been, unless he were the Messiah) the worst impostor in the world? 16. Christ and his apostles (as well as many of the Old Testament writers) confirmed their doctrine by working miracles, or by performing wonderful works, beyond the common laws of nature. Now these miracles, whether real or pretended, were often wrought before a large concourse of spectators; and was it possible there could be any juggle in the case, when a multitude of witnesses saw the dead raised from the cold prison of the grave? Thousands of spectators, who were professed enemies to the cause of Christ, owned that notable miracles were performed, Acts iv. 16, that the lame were made to walk, the blind to see, the dumb to speak. These enemies could neither deny the fact, nor find out the deception, though they were present at the time. How was this? Could it be all delusion? Or, if it was real, would God let his omnipotence subserve the designs of impostors ? 17. The inspiration and Divine authority of the Bible are confirmed by the fulfilment of prophecies, recorded both in the Old Testament and in the New. Could men or devils pry into the dark depths of futurity? Or would God unseal the book of his decrees to disclose his secrets in this wonderful manner to deceivers? Consider how the Scriptures have been fulfilled in the destruction of Egypt, Nineveh, and Babylon. Behold the agreement between the Old Testament and the New, and observe the Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in the New, especially those relating to the Messiah Nor can this be a false contrivance: for the Jews, who have had the prophecies in their keeping from before Christ's coming to the present time, were, and still continue, bitter enemies to Christianity. This renders it impossible for any to surmise, with the least foundation, that the prophecies were framed by Christians, and published after the event; for how could Christians impose them on their inveterate enemies as ancient prophecies? Certainly, if either the prophecy or the fulfilment had been a forgery, the Jews could not have been at a moment's loss how to detect and expose it. So, likewise, known events have taken place in the world, according to the predictions of the New Testament. The prophecies contained therein are fulfilling to the present day. Witness the preservation of the Jews as a distinct people, while unnumbered mighty nations of antiquity are entirely lost, so that no one can ascertain who are their descendants; yet this one nation, which has suffered such peculiar hardships, both at the taking of Jerusalem, when their temple was utterly destroyed, and ever since, is nevertheless preserved, though scattered far and wide through all the nations of the earth, and remains an astonishing proof of the fulfilment of Scripture prophecies. Thus we see the accomplishment of prophecies contained in the New Testament, especially in the book of the Revelation, relative to the Christian church. She has felt the assaults of her enemies, according to the forewarnings there given. See the corrupt church of Rome, described as a harlot drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, Rev. xvii. 5, 6. The pope, or rather popery, foretold by Paul, under the character of the man of sin, 2 Thess. ii 3-12. In short, proofs crowded upon proofs surround us on every side, and bear the plainest testimony to the ear of reason that all Scripture was written by holy men of God, who spake as they were inwardly moved by the Holy Spirit. CONCLUSION. O blessed book! the gift of infinite love to men, God grant my soul may prove thy almighty efficacy! Teach me, thou Holy Spirit, who didst teach the prophets themselves. Bring every thought of my heart into subjection to thee. Show me the sinfulness of sin, the strictness of thy holy law, the need of a perfect righteousness to justify my soul. Teach me the imperfection of my own righteousness, and the allsufficiency of the righteousness of Christ, which is imputed to every believer. Show me how all God's attributes harmonize in saving sinners through the blood of Immanuel. Give me to discern these important truths as discovered by thy light, and thus join thy inward witness to all other evidence of the truth of the written word. Then, however my soul may be tossed by the waves of fierce temptation, this inward witness can never be lost. Sceptics and infidels may assault my soul, but all their hopes are vain; their arts can never succeed, and my soul can never perish, unless the word of God could fail: built on this rock, it shall remain unmoved for ever, nor shall "the gates of hell" prevail against it. "Precious Bible! what a treasure Does the word of God afford! All I want for life or pleasure, Food and Med'cine, Shield and Sword: THE ENGLISH MONTHLY TRACT SOCIETY, 27, RED LION SQUARE. J. & W. Rider, Printers, Bartholomew Close, London. THE WORTH OF THE SOUL. THE Soul of every man is of more worth to him than all the world. What would it profit him if he were to gain the whole world, were he thereby to lose his own soul? Such is the uncertainty of life, he might not long enjoy his power, his riches, and his pleasures. If he could possess all these, with health and friends, and live to very old age, an eternity then succeeds, and all that is past is but as a tale that is told, or as a dream of the night. For a small portion of the things of time men are all activity and life. They are ingenious in managing their trades, careful in preserving their health, and watchful in securing their property. But should the care of the soul be overlooked? Should the health of the soul be neglected? Should the future happiness of the soul be disregarded? How many have lost their souls through ignorance, impenitence, unbelief, disobedience, fleshly lusts, love of the world, fear of man, love of ease, or some profitable or pleasant sin, or neglect of the great salvation; yet how plain and decided are the oracles of God on all these points! Observe each in its order. On the subject of ignorance it is said, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee," Hos. iv. 6. Of impenitence, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish," Luke xiii. 3. Of unbelief, "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him," John iii. 36. Of disobedience," To them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, he will render indignation and wrath," Rom. ii. 8. Of fleshly lusts, "They war against the soul," 1 Pet. ii. 11. Of the world, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world; if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him," 1 John ii. 15. Of the fear of man," It bringeth a snare," Prov. xxix. 25. “The |