How explicit is the sixth Article on this point. "Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of the faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation." In this article, too, she expressly excludes "the Apocrypha" from being considered as of divine authority.

The question proposed to priests and bishops must not be omitted*"Are you persuaded that the Holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all doctrine required, of necessity, for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ? and are you determined, out of the same Holy Scriptures, to instruct the people committed to your charge, and to teach and maintain nothing as required of necessity to eternal salvation, but that which you shall be persuaded may be concluded and proved by the same?" "I am so persuaded and determined by God's grace," is the reply.

The eighth Article is very decisive. For in it we are told, that the only reason why the three creeds are to be received, is, because they may be proved by most certain warrants of Holy Scriptures. Not because they are of authority, or because the church proposes them, but because they can be proved by the rule of faith.

I must now refer you to the Homilies. In the first part of the first Homily we have the following important declaration:-"Unto a Christian man nothing is more necessary, or profitable, than the knowledge of Holy Scriptures; as many as desire to enter into the right and perfect way unto God, must apply their minds to know Holy Scripture; without the which, they can neither sufficiently know God or his will, neither their office and duty-for in Holy Scripture is FULLY contained what we ought to do, and what to avoid; what to believe, and what to love, and what to look for at God's hands at length." Again, in Homily 22nd, after stating that

• The question to both is proposed in nearly the same words.

it would be impossible sufficiently to conceive, or express the utility and profit of hearing and reading Holy Scripture, the Homilist says "Wherefore Satan, the old enemy,' seeing the Scriptures to be the very mean and right way to bring the people to the true knowledge of God, and that Christian religion is greatly furthered by diligent hearing and reading of them; and also perceiving what an hindrance and let they be to his kingdom, doth what he can to drive the reading of them out of God's Church.

Let

every man, woman, and child desire to know Holy Scripture." No point can be more fully established. The evidence is complete, that the Church of England teaches the apostolical doctrine-that the Bible alone is the only rule of faith and practice. May we ever then protest against the false teaching of the Church of Rome; and may we, with equal fidelity, stand in the gap against the efforts of the Tractarian innovators, who are trying to pervert us from our simplicity in Christ on this, as well as on other points.

We pass on to notice-that,

3dly The depravity of human nature is scripturally taught by the Church of England.

In the word of God the real condition of man is fully described. Thus saith Jehovah: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it." Jer. xvii. 9. Lo, this have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." Eccles. vii. 29. That which God made, and declared to be "very good," is now, through sin, "only evil, and that continually." The moral image of God was, by the fall, effaced from man's soul. Not one ray of spiritual light was left. The darkness of the soul is "darkness which may be felt." Not one spark of spiritual life lingers behind-Death reigns. "The carnal mind is enmity against God." Man's will is perverted; his understanding darkened; his affections misplaced; his judgment

unable to decide rightly concerning truth; his memory quick to retain only evil; his conscience defiled, and he himself, disinclined to follow out its convictions: in short, all man's powers and faculties are corrupted. And, again, we say, in the emphatic language of Scripture, The carnal mind" of man "is enmity against God." This is no over-drawn picture; its tints are but too deeply penciled on the pages of inspiration to escape observation; this is no over-drawn picture, for every day's experience proves but too painfully, that it exactly describes the real condition of the sons and daughters of Adam, of every age, in every state, in every rank of life, and in every clime.

Have we not all, this day, declared in this house of prayer, "That we have erred and strayed from the ways of God like lost sheep, and that there is no health in us?" Have we not cried for mercy, with the bitter cry of those who thereby acknowledged that they deserve wrath? Our spiritual death; our inability to deliver ourselves; our disinclination to return to God; and the sinfulness of all our actions in a state of nature, are set forth in our articles. In the 9th Article it is declared-"That original sin is the fault and corruption of our nature"-" the nature of every man naturally engendered of Adam; whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth against the spirit; and therefore in every person born into this world, it deserveth God's wrath and damnation.”

So clear is the Church of England on this point, that she declares, "that works done before the grace of Christ, and the inspiration of His Spirit, are not pleasing to God, and that they partake of the nature of sin." Article 13. And in the Tenth Article, the Church declares that "The condition of man, after the fall, is such, that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and good works, to faith and calling upon God." Fearful condition! How well calculated to excite, in every breast,

the anxious inquiry of the Philippian Jailor-"What must I do to be saved?" The design of revelation is to answer this all-important question in such a way, that God may be glorified, and sinners saved. Which leads me to notice,

4thly-That the Church of England teaches the true method of acceptance with God.

Here the trumpet gives no uncertain sound: for then who could prepare himself for the battle? The trumpet must sound loud, and long, and without reserve, in the way appointed by the Lord himself, or the walls of the city can never fall down flat, to admit the rightful owner to take possession of the citadel now usurped by sin and Satan.

How can man be justified in the sight of God? What must he do to be saved? "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved"-is God's own testimony. "For this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life; and this life is in His Son." Repentance and forgiveness of sins, in the name of Jesus, He himself commanded his Apostles to proclaim to every creature. The Church of England delights to dwell upon this precious truth. In the texts selected at the commencement of her services this is prominent. And her ministers, as ambassadors, constantly proclaim, that "GOD pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his Holy Gospel."

The Son of God became the Son of man. It behoved Him to be made like unto his brethren in all things, sin only excepted. "Perfect God and perfect man," He was able to save, and He was a suitable Saviour. By the sufferings He endured, as the man of sorrows, terminated as they were by a cruel, shameful, and painful death, He made a complete satisfaction for the sins of a guilty world. "By one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." And thus, in Jesus, (6 we have

redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins." On this account we are warranted to proclaim, "That the blood of Jesus Christ, His son, cleanseth us from all sin. Full, free, present pardon of all sin, in the name of Jesus. Again, the God-man fulfilled the law, magnified it, and made it honourable; even his enemies themselves being judges, said there was no fault in Him. Thus, by his active obedience, He worked out a righteousness, which is unto all, and upon all them that believe. How sweet the tidings! what good news to the convicted, wounded sinner! Blessed message; oh, that we could cause its sound to reach the ear of every sinner. Oh! that the Holy Spirit may impress it deeply upon every heart. Only consider the following words, (and bear in mind that they are just as true as if God were now to pronounce them aloud from heaven,) "Be it known to you men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sin: and by Him all that believe ARE JUSTIFIED from ALL things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses." Acts xiii. v. 39. Justice is satisfied, holiness illustrated, truth maintained, love displayed, the Triune Jehovah glorified, and penitent and believing sinners saved!!

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved; that is, trust in Him. For trust in Jesus is the method by which the blessings of the Gospel are appropriated to the soul of the sinner. Believe and live. Look and be saved. Christ is the City of refuge; flee into the city before the blood avenger lays hold of you, sinner: "and now is the accepted time, now the day of salvation." The gate stands open wide; every obstacle is removed; on every sign-post, REFUGE is inscribed: flee, and be safe for ever: for your High Priest never dies. Num. xxxv, v. 25. "He ever liveth to make intercession for you;" and "He is the same yesterday, to-day andfor ever."

But does the Church of England teach thus? And does