alteration or erasure to make its parts harmonize with each other, to free its pages from the prejudices or delusions of the age or the land in which they were written; or to bring its facts and its doctrines into harmony with the ever-widening dis coveries of Science and Philosophy? We have an explanation, if we admit that the Bible needs to undergo no emendations or changes, because however varied as to their condition in life, their attainments of mind, or the age in which they lived, were the men whose pens contributed to produce the sacred volume, they were all inspired, were moved and controlled in their holy work by that Omniscient One "who seeth the end from the beginning; neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight, but unto whose eyes all things are naked and open." This solves the case, and there is no other solution which is either just or rational.

Let me add a word more, which I trust many, if not all before me will rightly appreciate. If such be the care and the wisdom with which the Most High God has prepared his Word; and if such be the care and vigilance with which he has preserved

it; how and in what spirit ought we to regard it? "The words of the Lord are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times." Do we value them and honor them according to their worth? I appeal to the generous of heart, who shrink from the imputation of ingratitude as a stain on their names and a poison to their own peace. Can you bring yourselves to treat lightly a book which your Creator commends to your faith by stamping on its every page the broad seal of Heaven, by preserving it through all time with the wakefulness of an eye that never slumbers nor sleeps, and which he puts into your hands to mark out the pathway which leads you to heaven? I appeal to men of enlightened minds, to the lovers of truth and knowledge. Can you find a book in which the veins of wisdom run so rich and deep, in which the lore of former ages is so carefully embalmed, and the germ of all the later acquisitions of the human mind is seen rising so brightly and constantly to the eye of every reader? And lastly, I refer to that condition of our race in which we all share; share too argely; I appeal to all who have sins to be forgiven; who are offenders against

a righteous God; tell me, sinful men; if we shut up this Bible, where is your hope? If there is no help for you here, neither earth nor heaven contains it. In all the wide universe of God there is neither truth nor reality left to guide you in life or support you in death, and you are lost, lost forever.

SECOND LECTURE.

Causes of Infidelity among Men of Learning.

John iii. 19, 20.

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."

In our previous discourse we have called your attention to the fact that men of learning are sometimes found in the ranks of infidelity, and we have aimed to do full justice to their literary acquirements. We are hereafter to show that if the question respecting the inspiration of the Bible is to be settled by the authority of names renowned for literature in all its branches, the friends and ad vocates of the holy volume so far outweigh its adversaries as to put an end to controversy on the subject. But before we bring into view this splen

did array, armed with the panoply of truth, there is an important inquiry which it may be well to answer. Admitting that men of learning, who are on the side of infidelity, are comparatively few, it may be asked, How are we to account for their avowed unbelief? Was it the fruit of their learning, or did it spring from a very different and less creditable source?

In answer I might call up one of their own number, and refer you to his testimony. The history of John, Earl of Rochester, is well known. He was an infidel to whom his friends often pointed as a star of no common brilliancy. His courage was even heroic, showing a spirit not to be influenced by any cowardly dread of death. But in his later days, when cool reflection came and conscience was allowed to speak out, wishing to undo the evil he had done by his profane scoffs against eligion, he often laid his hand upon the Bible and declared, "A bad heart, a bad heart is the great objection against this Holy Book;" and most carefully did he provide for having the recantation of his infidelity authenticated, as the honest and deliberate act of a dying man. We have an account