and well being if they had continued obedient, there can be no doubt-they did not continue obedient, and the light that was in them became comparative darkness; yet was so far from being utterly extinguished, that some glimmerings, although faint, gave at once evidence of its former brightness, and the possibility of its reillumination. Even the lowest species of idolatry indicates something of the kind, and like the ruins of a magnificent structure, affords the traces of former proportion and splendour.

Such is what

is generally understood by the phrase the light of nature”—and as it cometh down from the Father of lights, is not to be treated with contempt or accounted of no value whatever. We cannot imagine that Paul held the nature of man in a very low degree of estimation, when he declares him still to be the image and glory of God; and when moreover, as is apparent from his discourses and writings, he thought that those who had not the benefit of the revealed law might yet do by nature the things contained in it; might show its provisions written on their hearts, and might incur guilt and condemnation by disregarding the dictates of conscience. And another apostle emphatically intimates that, in every nation, there may be such as fear God and work righteousness, and consequently are in a state of acceptance with him. Nor have I the smallest doubt, that amidst the prevailing ignorance and degeneracy of the most barbarous people, individuals might be found, in whom the natural perception of the difference between moral good and evil is plainly discernible. But it is a truth which will admit of no dispute, and which nothing I have said is intended in the least to invalidate, that this light was too indistinct, and this law too feebly

operative, to effect the restoration of the human race to their primitive state of rectitude and happiness. It therefore became the wisdom and goodness of the Almighty to interpose in the way we are assured he did that is, by the patriarchal, the Mosaic, the prophetic, and lastly by the Christian dispensation, for the revival of that eternal law, from which, it is easier that heaven and earth should fail, than that one jot or one tittle should pass; to extend its provisions, and to enforce it by new and most powerful sanctions-this is what we understand by revelation, or the revealed will of God, the records of which are contained in the books of the Old and New Testa-ments.

From these records, the plan, formed in the divine counsels for the ultimate comprehension of the whole human race within the sphere of the blessings of this revelation, is fully apparent, and therefore demands our humble and cordial acquiescence. As its developement was to be gradual, so its early aspect wore the marks of immaturity. Its confinement, at first, to a single family, and afterwards to the descendants of that family, together with the injunction of many things not necessarily connected with moral purity, and the permission of others not altogether consistent with it, abundantly proved that the law, in this stage and under this modification, made nothing perfect→ it nevertheless contained the promise of a better hope

In thee," it was divinely declared to the father of the faithful, in thee, and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." I need not particularise the several passages of Old Testament scripture wherein either direct predictions or plain intimations are given of the approach of an highly im

proved order of things, to be declared and established by a divine messenger, far superior in extraordinary endowments to any that had preceeded him. To some of these your attention has already been directed. Indeed it is not improbable that they were more numerous and impressive than what now appear upon record. Abraham earnestly desired to see the days of the Messiah, and was favoured with such a discovery as filled him with joy. Many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which should then take place they inquired and searched diligently concerning this grace, and this salvation, of which they testified beforehand; and when the fulness of time was come, the universality of the offer of gospel blessings and privileges was one of its most distinguishing features. It was indeed cause of offence and bitter enmity, in many of those who had conceived of themselves as the only people in whose favour any peculiar interposition of heaven ought to have been made, nor was at first well understood, even by the men who had it in command to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature;" but it was received with transports of joy by the Gentiles, who had till then been considered as sinners, aliens, outcasts, and cut off from every hope of the divine regard.

I conceived it to be right, my Christian friends, to enter with some particularity into these preliminary matters, that it may be seen upon what just and solid foundations are formed the plans of that highly respectable and eminently useful association, as whose advocate I have the honour on this occasion to appear. So far from being visionaries or enthusiasts, nothing can be clearer than that they are acting in full

consonance with the views of the divine Providence, whose tender mercies are over all its works, and that they are employed, together with it, in extending to the whole family of mankind the permanent blessings of peace and order, of virtue and happiness. For this purpose, recourse must be had to human means and endeavours. It was necessary, in the beginning, that the attention of men should be drawn to the voice of heaven by effects beyond mere human power, and out of the established order of natural laws. But it was equally proper that these should continue only for a season, sufficient evidence being left on record of their reality, and the purpose for which they were performed. Abundant provision of another kind is now made for the same end, which, although it has appeared to arise out of the common course of human events, would, a few years ago, and in prospect, have appeared little less than miraculous-I allude to what has been already mentioned respecting the arts of printing and navigation, which warrant us in looking forward to a progress in improve ment, bounded only by the limits and duration of the globe itself. Few perhaps, if any, of my audience, will be disposed to charge me with enthusiasm, if I consider as a prophecy of the spread of divine knowledge, to be effectuated by these instruments, that passage in Rev. xiv. 6, 7. "I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and peor, But saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give to him, for the hour of his judgment is colly be a elikely worship him that made heaven, and eart!. ich diversea, and the fountains of waters." It may

considered as a most striking and beautiful allegory, descriptive of the rapidity and generality with which the blessings of scripture truth are now about to be diffused. Of the cordial co-operation of this church with the views of the Bible Society, I cannot permit myself for a moment to doubt. With the principles they profess, this undertaking has a perfect congeniality as a measure of religious liberty-of benevolence and of Christian unity.

1. We recognise in it the genuine characters of religious liberty.

Alas! my brethren, what dismal times were those when the word of God was immured in the cells of a cloister, and bound in the fetters of languages known only to a few, who found their account in keeping it out of the reach of common hands and common understandings! The effects were visible in the degeneracy, not only of the laity, but of those who should have been their guides and examples-consequences, far worse than any to have been apprehended from a general acquaintance with the sacred books. That which was held up as most to be dreaded, did indeed take place a diversity of interpretation, naturally flowing from that exercise of the right of private judgment, which was the main point whereupon the Reformation turned. This was strenuously asserted by Luther, in his vindication of himself to the pontiff Leo. I shall," says he, "admit of no restraints in interpreting the word of God; for the word of fo 1, which inculcates the liberty of all, must itself specta "Yet this distinguished champion of reliadvocateedom fell into the error of refusing to others pear. Sad so forcibly and justly insisted on with nothing cat himself. Happy had it been for man