duce a single principle, which has been discovered and established, in this wide range of Science, and which stands in conflict with any truth or fact known to be contained in the sacred Volume. Indeed, as we hope to show in the progress of the work we have prescribed to ourselves, so far is the Bible from having anything to apprehend from the investigations of Science, that it invites her to proceed with diligence in her appropriate task; and while it cautions her not to dishonor her own name by theories that are crude and ephemeral, it asks her to hasten forward with her richest stores of discovery, that it may use them to strengthen its own claims on the faith of mankind, by showing that when the volume of nature is most widely unfolded, and is placed side by side with the volume of the gospel, they appear like twin stars, combining to shed increased light on the otherwise dark world beneath them.

With this view of the subject before us, we will ask infidelity to account for such an unexampled, unresembled exemption from error, for this immaculate accuracy of the Bible-nothing from beginning to end of the Book, altered or erased, or needing

alteration or erasure to make its parts harmonize with each other, to free its pages from the prejudices or delusions of the age or the land in which they were written; or to bring its facts and its doctrines into harmony with the ever-widening discoveries of Science and Philosophy? We have an explanation, if we admit that the Bible needs to undergo no emendations or changes, because however varied as to their condition in life, their attainments of mind, or the age in which they lived, were the men whose pens contributed to produce the sacred volume, they were all inspired, were moved and controlled in their holy work by that Omniscient One "who seeth the end from the beginning; neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight, but unto whose eyes all things are naked and open." This solves the case, and there is no other solution which is either just or rational.

Let me add a word more, which I trust many, if not all before me will rightly appreciate. If such be the care and the wisdom with which the Most High God has prepared his Word; and if such be the care and vigilance with which he has preserved

it; how and in what spirit ought we to regard it? "The words of the Lord are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times." Do we value them and honor them according to their worth? I appeal to the generous of heart, who shrink from the imputation of ingratitude as a stain on their names and a poison to their own peace. Can you bring yourselves to treat lightly a book which your Creator commends to your faith by stamping on its every page the broad seal of Heaven, by preserving it through all time with the wakefulness of an eye that never slumbers nor sleeps, and which he puts into your hands to mark out the pathway which leads you to heaven? I appeal to men of enlightened minds, to the lovers of truth and knowledge. Can you find a book in which the veins of wisdom run so rich and deep, in which the lore of former ages is so carefully embalmed, and the germ of all the later acquisitions of the human mind is seen rising so brightly and constantly to the eye of every reader? And lastly, I refer to that condition of our race in which we all share; share too argely; I appeal to all who have sins to be forgiven; who are offenders against

a righteous God; tell me, sinful men; if we shut up this Bible, where is your hope? If there is no help for you here, neither earth nor heaven contains it. In all the wide universe of God there is neither truth nor reality left to guide you in life or support you in death, and you are lost, lost forever.

SECOND LECTURE.

Causes of Infidelity among Men of Learning.

John iii. 19, 20.

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."

In our previous discourse we have called your attention to the fact that men of learning are sometimes found in the ranks of infidelity, and we have aimed to do full justice to their literary acquirements. We are hereafter to show that if the question respecting the inspiration of the Bible is to be settled by the authority of names renowned for literature in all its branches, the friends and advocates of the holy volume so far outweigh its adversaries as to put an end to controversy on the subject. But before we bring into view this splen