with our utmost application, we shall never perfectly comprehend the divine word; for, we are told, there are mysteries, which even the angels desire to look into. This sacred volume contains the most ancient history now to be found among all the records of preceding ages. It contains frequent allusions to the customs and manners of every nation with whom God's peculiar people the Jews were at any time connected. It comprehends many astonishing prophecies; of which, some have already received their entire completion; some are now accomplishing; and others will hereafter be accomplished in the world. It affords the most sublime representations of the attributes of Almighty God, and the most ravishing prospects of the felicity of heaven. It inculcates, under the most powerful sanctions, all the duties required of us, as men and as Christians, which are comprehended under the three great branches of sobriety with respect to the regulation of our own appetites and passions; of righteousness in our dealings with other men; and of godliness in our deportment towards our Creator. Here is an ample field which invites our most diligent researches; here is a vast variety of subjects, which can never be exhausted by our most intense application. The man who undertakes the duties of a Christian minister without a competent knowledge of the sacred Scriptures, goes forth, without his armour, to combat a host of foes. All Scripture, being given by inspiration of God, is good for doctrine, for correction, and instruction in righteousness; and it is only by the diligent study of this sacred record of divine truth, that the man of God can expect to be perfect in his ministry, and thoroughly furnished unto all the good

works of his heavenly vocation. Destitute of weapons, how shall he assault and beat down the strong holds of error and vice? How shall he repel the attacks of enthusiasm, on the one hand, and of infidelity on the other? The apostle has, therefore, commanded us, to have our feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, and to take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; and he has assured us-" That "this word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper "than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the 'dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints " and marrow; and is a discerner of the thoughts and "intents of the heart." Thus, Timothy, the first bishop of Ephesus, is commended for having devoted himself, from a child, to the study of that sacred book, which was able to make him wise unto salvation; and the eloquent Apollos was fervent in spirit, and taught diligently the things of the Lord, because he was mighty in the Scriptures. These are examples which the Christian minister of the present day is constantly to hold in view, and with assiduous zeal to emulate.

2dly. If the priest's lips should keep knowledge, that he may effectually discharge the duties of his station, he ought to devote a very particular attention, so far as he possesses the means of doing it, to the writings of the primitive fathers of the Church, the immediate successors of the apostles. From these, he is to make himself thoroughly acquainted with the Christian doctrine and discipline, as they were maintained in the first and purest periods of Christianity. The safest, the most rational method, to understand the Holy Scripture, is to consult the general sense of the Catholic writers in the uncorrupted ages of the

Church. The current of Christianity, flowing and descending down to us through a long course of time, has been more or less adulterated with foreign mixtures of human invention-the nearer we approach to the fountain-head, the more pure will the stream be found to flow. The practice of the holy fathers, who, for the most part, belonged to the noble army of martyrs, is certainly the best comment, the surest interpretation of the sense and meaning of the sacred Scriptures. From this source we obtain a strong confirmation of our faith, and a sure guide to direct our behaviour in the Church; for they who conversed with the inspired apostles, must certainly be supposed to be well acquainted with the mind and will of God.

Why do we believe the books of the Gospel to be the writings of those persons whose names they bear? Because they were universally received as such, in the first age of the Church, when Christians had the best opportunity of ascertaining their authenticity; and in that character they have been transmitted down to us.

Why do we Christians celebrate our Sabbath on the first day of the week, and not on the seventh, according to the original institution, and the invariable practice of the Jews? Because it is intimated in the Gospel, that the first day of the week, or the Lord's day, was set apart and sanctified for religious worship; and some of the fathers, who wrote within forty years of the death of St. John, expressly declare-"That on Sunday, "because it is the day of our Lord's resurrection, all "Christians met together in city or country; that the "writings of the prophets and apostles were then read "to them; that they gave alms, united in prayer, "and received the sacrament; and that the presiding

clergyman made a sermon to the assembly, to ex"hort them to imitate, and perform the things which "they had heard."

Why do we receive infant baptism as an ordinance of divine appointment? Because, since St. Paul calls baptism the circumcision made without hands, it must be concluded, that infants are as well qualified to be admitted now into covenant with God by the spiritual, as they were before by the carnal circumcision; and in confirmation of this opinion, we find that it was a constant usage in the purest ages purest ages of the Church to baptize infants, and sign them with the sign of the cross. And, lastly, why do we believe the Episcopal government of the Church to rest upon divine authority? Because, in the Scriptures, the ministers of God's word and sacraments are evidently distinguished by different names and degrees of power; and, in the primitive writers, this distinction of name and office is most pointedly marked and clearly ascertained. To mention only one instance-St. Ignatius, who was a disciple of St. John, a bishop of Antioch, and a martyr for the truth, expressly mentions the distinct orders of bishop, presbyter, and deacon, no less than sixteen times in seven short epistles. I shall, therefore, conclude this head of my discourse, in the language of Job-"Inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and

prepare thyself to search of their fathers. For we "are but of yesterday, and know nothing. Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out "of their heart?" Thus instructed by the glorious company of the apostles, and the noble army of martyrs, we shall be steadfast in the true faith, and lovers of the primitive discipline. We shall stand forth to oppose,

in the meekness of wisdom, the principles which are too prevalent in this licentious age, when men would sometimes be Christians without baptism, and priests of their own ordination; when they would explain away all the sublime doctrines of the Trinity, the incarnation of the Son of God, and the atonement which he offered for the sins of mankind; and thus vainly attempt to reduce the mysteries of faith down to the feeble standard of human reason and comprehension.

3dly. In order to inculcate effectually the doctrines of the Gospel, and to recommend them to the affections of the people, the priest of the Lord should endeavour to become acquainted with the complicated system of human nature, and with every avenue to the heart of man. For consider, to what various inclinations and capacities his instructions are to be communicated; in what different situations he may be called to the exercise of his office. The infidel is to be convinced, and the enthusiast moderated; the steadfast are to be applauded, and the doubtful directed; the prosperous are to be warned, and the afflicted soothed; the meek are to be encouraged with tenderness, and the captious and passionate to be treated with discretion. In a word, virtue must be so inculcated, as to be rendered amiable; and vice so corrected, that the vicious may not be more confirmed in their errors. The wise observation of St. Paul is ever to be held in viewSeeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, not handling the word of God deceitfully, but by mani"festation of the truth, commending ourselves to every "man's conscience, in the sight of God."