that this was not a slight or arbitrary circumstance. We have there this explication : "For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary, by the High Priest, for sin, were burnt without the camp: wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth, therefore, without the camp, bearing his reproach." I must not enlarge any farther, or it were easy, by the clue the Apostles in their writings have given us, to trace the important meaning of many of those institutions, which scoffers, who are wise in their own conceits, though neither acquainted with themselves nor the subject, presume to censure as frivolous. The sense of the sacred writings lies too deep for a captious, superficial, volatile survey; it must be a search, a scrutiny; a humble, diligent, sincere, and persevering inquiry, or no satisfaction can be expected.

The import of the Scripture testimony concerning Christ, which was the third thing I proposed to speak of, must be deferred to another opportunity. I hope what has been already said, may, through the Divine blessing, engage you to "search the Scriptures." Remember it is the command of our Lord Jesus Christ: it is the only appointed way to the knowledge of Him, whom to know, so as to love, serve, and obey him, is both the foundation and the sum of our happiness here and hereafter. We, as well as the Jews, think we have eternal life in the Scripture, and shall, like them, be inexcusable and self-condemned if we neglect it. Let us not be like fools, with a prize, an inestimable prize, in our hands, but without heart or skill to use it. Better it would have been for us to have lived and died in the

eye to "thou

The comforts taste, "than He is happy

wilds of America, without either means of grace or hopes of glory, than to slight this record which God has been pleased to give us of his Son. But happy the man whose delight is in the law of his God! He has sure direction in every difficulty, certain comfort in every distress. The beauty of the precepts are preferable in his sands of gold and silver," Ps. cxix. of the promises are sweeter to his honey or the honey-comb," Ps. xix. in life; for the word of God is to him as a "fountain of living water." He shall be happy in death; the promises of his God shall support him through that dark valley: and he shall be happy for ever in the presence and love of Him for whose sake he now searches the Scripture; "whom having not seen," 1 Pet. i., yet, from the testimony there given of him, " he loves; in whom, though now he sees him not, yet, believing, he rejoices with joy unspeakable and full of glory."

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Pleraque autem (si detur liberè loquendi venia) quæ etiam in Theologicis scholis tractantur, et magno cum apparatu et strepitu docentur et disputantur, spinosum fortè acumen habent, sed simul certè spinosam sterilitatem: lacerare et pungere possunt, animos pascere non possunt: "Nemo enim ex spinis uvas colligit unquam, aut ex tribulis ficus." Quorsum alta (inquit quidam) de Trinitate disputare, si careas humilitate, et sic Trinitati displiceas?" Et aptè St. Augustinus ad illud Esaiæ, "Ego Deus tuus docens te utilia;" "utilia (inquit) docens, non subtilia." Et hoc est quod opto et oro; ut nobis pro modulo nostro subdocentibus, ille efficaciter vos perdoceat, qui cathedram in cœlo habens, corda docet in terris. -Archiep. Leighton. Prælect. Theol. pag. 4. edit. Lond. 1693. 4to.

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SERMON VI.

THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

JOHN V.39.

Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

IN a former discourse on these words, I mentioned four things as highly requisite, if we would acquire a useful knowledge of the Scripture; sincerity with respect to the end, diligence in the use of means, a humble sense of our own weakness, and earnest prayer to God for the assistance of his grace and Spirit. To engage us to this practice, and perseverance therein, I next.considered how the Scriptures, when properly searched into and compared, do clearly and in every part testify of Christ, that he is the end of the Law, the sum of the Prophets, the completion of the promises, the scope of the types and ceremonies, and the great object of the whole Old-Testament dispensation. I am now to say something to the third point I proposed;

III. Concerning the import of the testimony the Scriptures bear to Christ.

The principal difficulties on this head are, where to begin on a subject absolutely boundless; and what to select that may be most suitable and useful to this assembly, from the immense variety of topics that offer. For this being the great end and design of the Scripture, to proclaim the excellency of Christ Jesus our Lord, "that we through him may have strong consolation," Heb. xii., it is inculcated in so many places, set in such a diversity of views, and couched under such deep

and comprehensive expressions, that not only our present opportunity, but my whole future life, would be too short, if I would collect, state, and explain, all that properly belongs to this single article. For order's sake, I shall reduce the little I must say at this time to three or four distinct particulars, what the Scripture testifies of Christ, as to his person, his offices, his power, and his love.

When we hear of some great undertaking to be performed, we inquire of course about the person who is chiefly concerned in it; so, when we are told of the mighty works Jesus Christ engaged to perform, to redeem a lost world, to satisfy Divine justice, to make an end of sin, to abolish death, and to bring life and immortality to light; the first question that occurs is, Who is he?" Search the Scriptures," and you will have a clear and decisive answer. The Prophet Isaiah, rapt into future times, describes him thus: "Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and he shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace," Isa. ix. 6. The union of the Divine and Human natures in the Messiah is so strongly asserted, the names and attributes of God are so clearly ascribed in this passage, to one who should be born into the world, that "he who runs may read; the wayfaring man, though a fool," must understand it; and it requires a considerable share of unhappy ingenuity to wrest the words to any other than their obvious meaning. This text, if it stood alone in the Bible (supposing the Scriptures to be a revelation from God), would be a full warrant, and a firm foundation, for that great point of Christian faith and doctrine, That Jesus Christ is very God and very man; or, as the Apostle better expresses