speaks intelligibly, so that the meanest understanding may comprehend what is necessary to be known of saving truth. "The wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein." Compare the elaborate treatises which have been composed upon the various doctrines of Christianity, with the brief, comprehensive, clear statements of God's word; and you may perceive at once that to place confidence in any other guidance but that of Scripture is the certain way to become perplexed, if not deluded into error. Volumes have been written upon the doctrine of human depravity, but where do you find a plainer or more comprehensive statement of the doctrine than in the language of Scripture? "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” "The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Councils, fathers, and theologians have expended time and effort

1 Isa. xxxv. 8. 2 Jer. xvii. 9. 3 Rom. viii.7.

upon the attempt to elucidate the doctrines of the atonement and the scheme of a sinner's justification; but with what further success in many instances than to "darken counsel by words without knowledge," let any one say who has consulted their decrees or treatises, and compared them with such statements as these of the lively oracles themselves. "God hath made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him;'

being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."2 If you dive into the writings of theologians, you may find much that is valuable, much that is instructive, much that is comforting and precious; but you will find a vast deal more that is speculative, unprofitable, vain, or erroneous: whereas the more you search into Scripture, the more will you glean of essential truth; the more will you gain of what is in reality fitted to enlighten

1 2 Cor. v. 21.

2 Rom. v.

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and to elevate, to purify and to humble, to sanctify and to save. The Scriptures, then, are a mean of grace; first, as they are the source of saving truth. Millions have found them to be so millions of ransomed souls, now bathed in the splendours of that light which mortal man cannot approach, have been guided on their path through this wilderness world to the realms of glory by no other lamp than those very Scriptures which we possess, and of which David exclaimed,-"Thy word hath quickened me."

Again, the Scriptures are peculiarly adapted to promote growth in grace, as they abound with promise on the one hand and with threatening on the other; experience attests that there are no passions of the human heart which exert a greater influence upon human conduct than hope and fear. The language of promise is addressed to the one of these passions; and the language of threatening to the other. Let this language

be only believed, and in proportion as it is so the life will be influenced, and the work of grace be furthered.

In the first quickening of a sinner from spiritual death, is it not generally by means of fear or of hope that he is roused to exertion? It is either that the voice of God, telling of "tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil," "of the worm that cannot die, and the fire that cannot be quenched," 2 as the doom of the impenitent and the unconverted; that this voice, I say, has acted upon his fear of impending ruin, and made him in haste to flee from the wrath to come; or otherwise it is, that the same voice proclaiming the Divine willingness for his salvation, uttering the gracious assurance that the Lord "is long-suffering, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance;" promising to the returning prodigal the gracious welcome of a reconciled Father; bidding him 1. Rom. ii. 9. 2 Mark, ix. 44.

3 2 Pet. iii. 9.

draw near with a true heart, and in full assurance of faith that "Jesus is able to save to the uttermost," and that "whosoever cometh to God by Him shall in no wise be cast out."2 It is this language of proImise which has breathed into the soul a lingering desire for spiritual freedom; and the call to arise from the dead has been responded to as by the Psalmist of old, who exclaimed," When Thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.'

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And if it is by means of these addresses, whether to hope or to fear, that the Bible becomes instrumental to spiritual regeneration, in like manner, and at all the subsequent periods of a believer's experience, it is the promise and threatening of Scripture which become like a wall on the right hand and the left to keep him steadfast. Often might the enemy prevail against him, did not the dread of losing what he has 1 Heb. vii. 25. 2 John, vi. 37. 3 Ps. xxvii. 8.