the least quit their character as laymen, never attempt to preach, nor in the least encroach on the ministerial office, or neglect their proper calling. But every person, however poor and obscure, has relations, connexions, acquaintance : a pious book put into the hands of one, a letter written to another, a word of reproof, warning, direction, or instruction to another, as opportunity offers, if weight be added to it by friendly offices, and a good example, may be the blessed means of doing good. A word spoken in due season, how good is it! How good it is, cannot be expressed. -Especially when persons are sick and under affliction; at some of those many times which there are, the mollia tempora fandi, when the mind, as it were, lies open, and invites us to speak; the same things may be spoken without offence, which at other times would excite contempt and indignation. Then to speak a suitable word, or to recommend persons to send for some pious minister, may be the means of incalculable good. At other times we may induce them to hear the word of God. Come and let us go up unto the house of the Lord!-In such ways prudent zeal and persevering endeavours will certainly be blessed and, though we should fail in a thousand instances, and at length succeed in only one, would not that one amply recompense a true Christian for all his labour? Thus, when Andrew found Christ he used his influence with his brother Peter and Philip did the same with Nathanael. Come and see, said he and Nathanael came, and saw, and believed. Thus also the woman of Samaria addressed her fellow citizens, Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did: and we know the blessed effect. Thus the mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment: his lips disperse knowledge, and his mouth will be a well-spring of life. This is that improvement which we ought to make of the gift of speech and utterance, according to our ability, when, through divine grace, the members of our body become instruments of righteousness unto God: and thus employed our tongue would indeed be, as the Psalmist calls it, our glory.— We know how this little member, being set on fire of hell, setteth on fire the whole course of nature, and doth infinite mischief in the world, especially in promoting profaneness, infidelity, and false religion: but were it set on fire, as it were, of heaven; were our hearts filled with the fire of divine zeal and love; it might be in some measure a proportionable instrument of communicating the holy flame to the hearts of others, and propagating true religion in the world. "But he who would thus glorify God and serve his generation, must not be a mere talker: his conduct must be truly Christian, or he will do much mischief. He must be much in prayer for wisdom, much in meditation, and watchful against spiritual pride: and he must cultivate and manifest a meek, disinterested, benevolent spirit. Men will never believe that we really intend the good of their souls, if they do not find that we endeavour to do them good disinterestedly in temporal things. -Finally, let me recommend to truly zealous Christians this caution: Not to reprove any person for such things as his conscience does not in some measure condemn, but ever to begin with things confessedly wrong. A man will fall under reproof for swearing, taking God's name in vain, lying, and other evils of the like kind, who would rage or scoff if you found fault with him for frequenting some diversion' * * * To a Gentleman. ON UNREASONABLE REASONINGS-AND ON THE LOVE OF GOD. "DEAR SIR, Aston Sandford, "Since I received your's, I have had many things, not only to occupy my time, but so far to interest my feelings, as to unfit me for duly writing on the difficult subjects concerning which you wish for my sentiments.-As to the last particular, I refer you to Mr. Locke. I exist, ergo my Creator exists. The house exists, and some one built it; ergo the builder existed. He that is not satisfied with this demonstration will never be satisfied in a way of argument. I could read Dr. Clarke and other writers of that cast, till I was a sceptic: but, if I see a cottage, I never think it was selfcreated, or made by chance, or existed by necessity, or has existed from eternity; I am sure, quite sure, it was made by intelligent agents: and the external creation, and the existence of my own body and soul, all showing such evidently wise contrivance, render it infinitely more absurd to think that they existed without an intelligent author. "My dear Sir, I see clearly that you are too prone to reason, and too backward to believe. Two hours' earnest prayer (upon the reasonable supposition of a God" that heareth prayer,") to be satisfied on that point, would have done more good than two years' seeking the demonstration you speak of. He that will not act till he can demonstrate, that it is impossible such and such things should not be true, will never more eat, or walk, or buy, or sell.-I believe the existence of God to be demonstrated in the best possible way by the existence of his works: but, were it only highly probable, considering the shortness and importance of life, this affords sufficient ground to act on, even as if it were demonstration. "I begin with this first, because I fear it is the cause of your other difficulties. Allow that there is such a thing as moral demonstration, as distinct from mathematical, (and what judge ever thought of trying causes by mathematics?) then I am confident the Bible is proved by testimony, the testimony of men and of God himself,1 to be divinely inspired. Now, shall we teach God, or he us? Do we know God any further than he has revealed himself? Canst thou by searching find out God? Except ye receive the kingdom of God as a little child, ye shall in no wise enter therein. If the Bible be divinely inspired, every part of it is true: and it is the highest exercise of reason to believe what God says, however contrary his declarations may be to my reasonings: for they cannot be contrary to truth and reason. I may be mistaken, God cannot. He is the teacher, I the scholar. But,' says the scholar, 'I cannot comprehend it, and answer all objections to it.' Let the parent, the schoolmaster, the tutor, the lecturer in the university, answer this. How would you answer 1 Heb. ii. 4. |