XVIII.

The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses's seat. All, therefore, what they bid you observe, that observe and do: but do not after their works; for they say, and do not. Matt. xxiii. 2.

THIS is a very severe censure of a very corrupt priesthood—a priesthood that gives instruction, without example. How far this censure of the Scribes and Pharisees characterizes the ministers of our church, I should not wish to investigate. Numbers, no doubt, there are, who add example to precept: at the same time, we fear there are many who say, and do not. To

instruct, is an easy matter. There is ready access, in this enlightened age, to instruction of various kinds, which may be easily given at second hand; and Moses's seat may be very well filled. But a holy example is a different matter. Here we cannot draw from others, as we may topics of instruction. We must draw all from ourselves; and if future considerations have no weight with us, let us at least consider the scandal of talking and acting in different ways, and thus continually giving ourselves the lie.

XIX.

This people honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.— Matt. xv. 8.

THIS was spoken of the Scribes and Pharisees, whose religion went no farther than their lips. But it was the application of a prophecy, which may extend to this people, or that people, or any people, who treat God with their lips, and not with their hearts. More or less, all our prayers, alas! come under the prophet's censure. Who can keep his devotion so guarded, as never to suffer his thoughts to idle abroad? But when we keep the best guard upon them we can, in driving out all intruding thoughts, it may be hoped we may, in a great degree, escape the prophet's censure. He only is the guilty person, who deliberately makes the time of his devotion a time for thinking over any subject which may then occupy his thoughts who can settle an account, in his mind, at church, or adjust the terms of a bargain and have his lips alone in

God's service.

What is a man profited, if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? - Matt. xvi. 26.

WE see how highly our blessed Saviour estimates the soul of man. All the gratifications which the whole world can afford, he tells us, are nothing in the comparison. What then shall we say of the folly of those men, who sell their souls, in a manner, for nothing-for a few of the fugitive and guilty pleasures of this world? What shall we say of him, for instance, who sells his soul for a little knavish gain?- or of him, who sells it for the pleasure of getting drunk? or, for the pleasure of cursing and swearing ?— or, for any other of the short-lived pleasures of this world? For all these wretched commodities, we know, the soul of man is often bartered.Let us then be ashamed of so ruinous a trade and take care to preserve faithfully so noble a deposit as the soul of man, which our Saviour thought was more valuable than even the whole world of inanimate nature.

;

XXI.

Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures. 1 COR. XV. 3.

THE satisfaction of Christ for the sins of mankind, says the objector, is a very wonderful doctrine.

No doubt, it is.

But I can entertain no idea of it.

How is it possible you should? It is one of those great points in the hands of God, which man cannot understand; and you have only to qualify yourself for receiving the benefit of it.

But how can I believe what I do not understand?

On the credit of others. You surely on that foundation believe many things, which you do not understand. You believe that the tides of the ocean are governed by the moon; but you do not understand that truth; nor know any thing of it, but what you believe on the credit of others. You believe the wine is good, though

VOL. IV.

сс

it

it is not yet landed; and you know nothing of it, but what you believe on the credit of your wine merchant; you take a long journey, though you know nothing of the roads, the inns, or the distance, but what others have told you. The atonement of Christ is mentioned over and over in Scripture. If, therefore, you pay the same credit to Scripture which you do to a wine merchant, or an inn-keeper, you will believe it. The question, therefore, immediately subsides into this point-We must either totally give up Scripture, or believe in the atonement of Christ.