observable. The Old Testament contains thirty-nine books, by at least twenty-six authors; the New Testament, twentyseven books, by nine authors. All Jews indeed, but living at the distance of nearly sixteen hundred years. There are a few difficulties of chronology and history; and some circumstances mentioned by one, are omitted by another. And if a verbal or numeral error has crept in, in above 3300 years, it cannot invalidate their authenticity, when there is so striking an agreement in doctrine, sentiment, and facts.

But it is of far superior moment, respecting these writings, that they profess to be a revelation from God, and no other pretended revelation can compare with them. If they are discarded, no one here will pretend to supply their place with a better; nor to indulge the hope of one hereafter, if 6000 years have elapsed without God's interposition.

Nor can any one reasonably prefer the moral state of those countries which never pretended to a revelation. We need a revelation greatly, to know the origin and Author of the world; the design of our Maker, in placing us here; the way in which he would be worshipped; to fix a standard of duty; to point out the way to happiness; to ascertain a future state; and to unfold our eternal destiny.

The Holy Scriptures are confirmed by very strong evidences. By miracles; by prophecies; by the moral character of the penmen. It is incredible, such a character as that of Christ should have no prototype. Surely it never could have been imagined, or delineated by impostors, who yet do not panegyrize him.

The good tendency of the doctrines is another most powerful argument. The great facts of Christianity obtained credit on the spot, where they could have been most easily contradicted; and have still maintained their credit, notwithstanding the greatest opposition, by force, argument, and ridicule. They have had the most salutary effect in every change of circumstances; in life, and in death. We allow they have been the occasion of mischief. So have other most valuable gifts of God. Corn, wine, iron, &c. But do the Sacred Scriptures authorize persecution? No; search for yourselves. Blame not the scriptures for the faults of

those that disobey them. Examine, What do they teach? not, How do pretenders act, whose hypocrisy was foretold and reprobated? Dare not to reject any probable directory from heaven, without serious examination, and clear evidence of its falsehood. See to it, that you are able to say, 'I would thankfully have yielded to divine authority, if I could have found a revelation credibly sanctioned.'

But probably most of you admit the claim of the scriptures; while I fear some disregard their contents. You own them to be the word of God, yet do not search them, at least, not properly. You then, like the Jews, must be self-condemned. Let us then inquire into, SECONDLY, The manner in which such a search should be conducted.

Search the scriptures with candor and impartiality. If you search them unfairly, merely with a view to find objections to their authority or their contents, is it any wonder that you should mistake? Is it not just that God should give you up to error?

The scriptures must be searched seriously; not with levity, or a trifling spirit. They relate to very serious subjects: God, the soul, duty, salvation, the eternal world.

They should be searched with diligence and earnestness, as by those who wish to know the very truth, the whole truth, and to be kept from all mistakes.

It is not likely that we shall profit by them, if we do not search them with a right spirit; i. e. a docile spirit, willing to be taught and instructed; a spirit of subordination, willing to be governed by divine authority, and comply with God's commands; a spirit of self-denial, willing to be restrained, and to give up our lusts without reserve; a spirit of humility, willing to credit God's testimony and to admit his claims and charges. It is true, the doctrines of scripture may be mysterious, humiliating, involving a heavy charge of guilt, precluding all boasting, and securing glory to God.

Search the scriptures with prayer, especially for the Holy Spirit, that you may understand the Holy Scriptures. Our Lord assures you how ready God is to give his Holy Spirit.

Luke xi. 13. And Paul teaches you how necessary this is. 1 Cor. ii. 14.

Search the scriptures with self-application, or with a view to yourselves. Thus God describes me. This he demands of me. This he forbids me. This invitation warrants me

to apply.'

Search the scriptures with a view to find Christ and salvation in them." They are they that testify of me.” He is the central point of revelation. Antecedent truths show the need of him, and consequent truths derive their force from him. Nothing so much concerns us as to know Christ, and the truth as it is in Christ Jesus.

Search the scriptures, with a view to know your whole duty. What the law enjoins; what the gospel enforces; whither the whole system of doctrine tends.

Search, with a view to the full enjoyment of eternal life: that you may partake of all the privileges of the children of God, both here and hereafter; that you may know you are born of God. If that be the case, you are secured from condemnation all things are conspiring to promote your eternal interests; and your present light afflictions, which last but for a moment, shall work out for you a weight of glory, which shall far more than counterbalance them, and endure to eternity.

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Ah! my friends, if the Bible is true, such prospects are before you; such blessings are proposed to your acceptance! You are authorized to take them without money and without price; you are urged by all the authority and compassion of God, to accept of them; you cannot miss them, but by a voluntary rejection of the Son of God. Do you wish the Bible was not true? And why? That you may enjoy the pleasures of sin, and obtain the prize of annihilation!

LXXIII.

NONE REJECTED BY CHRIST.

JOHN vi. 37.

And him that cometh to me, I will in nowise cast out. Of all the sentences which ever fell, even from the mouth of him, "who spake as never man spake," and made hist

hearers wonder at the gracious words that fell from his lips, there never was one that was more gracious than this, nor one that would be more interesting to us, if we understood the true character of the speaker, and knew our own real circumstances. I earnestly wish I could place it in such a light as to excite the attention of all my hearers, and persuade you to come to this merciful Saviour; for though many have hitherto sadly neglected him, yet I am sure that you all stand in great need of him.

Some, I fear, never gave themselves any concern about this blessed Redeemer; while others, perhaps, yield so careless an assent to this declaration, as to infer, that because Christ says, "I will in nowise cast out ;" therefore they need not come at all; or at least, need not come yet. They think that they may have all the blessings of salvation without coming; or, that they may come without moving, without any strong emotion of mind, without any effort, without any difficulty, or any striving against objections. Why, say you, 'What can there be to obstruct after this declaration?' Nothing on his part; but then there may be many things on yours. He is willing to receive you, but perhaps you are not willing to come to him. While others, who begin to think seriously about coming, see so many reasons why he might justly reject them, that they can hardly believe what he affirms in our text.

The language here used is very strong and peremptory; but while it affords the highest encouragement to apply to the Saviour, it implies, that without this assurance there would have been great room to fear, in the case of many, if not of all, who apply to him. We may therefore found several interesting inquiries on these words, e. g. Why do any come to him; and why should we come to him? What ground should we have had for suspicion, that he might cast us out, if he had not given so positive an assurance to the contrary? And what considerations may best satisfy us, that notwithstanding all, he will in nowise cast out any who come to him? We will unite the two first inquiries, and can hardly keep the latter quite distinct, though we will attend to it more fully separately.

FIRST: For what reasons do any come to Christ; and on what account are they apt to fear being rejected?

They see a correspondence between the characters in which he is revealed, and their own necessitous circumstances; and yet they see grounds of objection, that might be made, if he were not wonderfully gracious. For example,

Christ is revealed as the great instructor of mankind; the prophet, who should fully make known the will of God. Now, says the soul that comes to Christ, I greatly need to be instructed by him, for I am very ignorant; but I fear I am too much so, for him to receive me. I am so dull, so slow of heart to embrace the truth; I have indulged groundless prejudices, and loved darkness rather than light. Will he admit me into his school? Will he accept me as his disciple? He may well upbraid me with past errors; his patience may well be exhausted by my dullness and forgetfulness. I shall need line upon line, and precept upon precept. I shall need him, not only to open to me the scriptures, but to open my understanding; yea, to open my heart, that I may receive the truth in the love of it.' Well, hear what he says, and apply for instruction: Him that cometh to me, I will in nowise cast out.

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He is revealed as the physician of souls. Have you no need to apply to him in this character? or does nothing ail you? or, can you heal yourself? Oh! yes, I need him. I have tried all others in vain : but my disease is so inveterate; it has infected my frame so universally, it is so enfeebling, so loathsome, so tormenting, so deadly, that I fear he will cast me out; especially as I know my case is not merely pitiable, but hateful and criminal: the more I need his aid, the less I deserve it.' Well, but what said he? "The whole have no need of a physician, but the sick." And what says the text? Him that cometh to me, I will in nowise cast out.

He is a wonderful counsellor, and a gracious advocate. But my cause is confessedly a bad one, very intricate; my accuser has much to say against me, nor can I deny the truth of his charge.' Now it is certain, that this advocate is emphatically and justly denominated Jesus Christ.