the simple means whereby we attain a personal interest in the Redeemer's work; of God's electing love in ordaining a remnant to be saved; and of man's accountableness for the gracious overtures wherewith the Gospel meets him; of the necessity, notwithstanding we are justified simply through believing, that we should exhibit the fruits of faith in such good works as are by Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God. These doctrines, in their bearing upon the pardon of sin and upon the conversion and salvation of the guilty, are the very sum and substance of the preacher's message; and all the while nothing may he deliver as a matter of doctrine which cannot be clearly and satisfactorily proved from the testimony of God's own word. The commission of the preacher is, "Preach the word," neither adding to nor diminishing from the written oracles of God; and evermore, in the discharge of his office, should the preacher bear in mind that if he is called

to watch for souls, he must do it as one that has to give account.' The design of the ministry being to save souls, his eye should be often fixed upon that solemn scene when minister and people shall together stand in the judgment, each to be reckoned with for their respective discharge of the responsibility which rested upon each. each. With what views, then, ought the people to attend upon the ministry of the word ? Dear brethren, wait upon this ordinance as one of the most important of all the means of grace: wait upon it in the earnest hope and believing expectation that through the mouth of His ministering servant Christ will impart to those who seek it spiritual blessing. That you may profit by the ordinance, resort to it in a spirit of prayer and of readiness to receive what message God may be pleased to send. It is your solemn responsibility, further, to believe nothing which you hear the preacher enunciate, except in so far as

1 Heb. xiii. 17.

2

its agreement can be proved with the written word. "Beloved," saith the Apostle, "believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God." The Bereans were commended, not because they took for granted every word that fell from apostolic lips, but because they searched the Scriptures daily whether these things were so. If you find the language of the preacher to be in harmony with God's word, receive it as God's message to your soul. If you find it the contrary, it is your imperative duty to reject it at once, as erroneous and unsound. The duty of abstaining from attendance upon preaching which is calculated to mislead, is plain and imperative,-"Cease to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge." We live in days when error of all kinds is prevalent, and when each is called for himself to examine into the grounds of his own

I 1 John, iv. 1.

2 Acts, xvii. 11.

3 Prov. xix. 27.

faith, and the truth of the doctrines which he hears proclaimed by others. We have one infallible rule, and one infallible teacher: that rule is God's word, and that teacher is God's Spirit. To search into the one is our most urgent duty; to depend upon the help of the other is our distinguishing privilege. He who will cleave to the texts of Scripture in humble reliance upon Divine illumination, will not miss the way that leads to eternal life. But in order to do this, every preconceived prejudice must be laid aside; all kind of reliance upon what this man or the other says must be abandoned; and there must be the disposition which of old prompted Samuel to say,"Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth."

LECTURE II.

THE STUDY OF SCRIPTURE.

PSALM CXix. 50.

Thy word hath quickened me.

IN fulfilment of the intention which I announced upon the morning of Wednesday last, I proceed, in dependence upon Divine help, to consider "the study of the word of God," as one of the most important of the several means of grace. You will bear in mind what has been already advanced concerning the subject of grace in general, and the nature of those means, in the faithful use of which God is ordinarily pleased to dispense grace to the believer.