THE SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE, &c. 179

nothing else capable of furnishing any satisfactory testimony, in reference to those doctrines which properly constitute the Christian faith. And, therefore, in the execution of my task, it has been my endeavour to turn away your minds and my own from all the decisions of human authority, and to fix them on the plain, unsophisticated truths, revealed to us in the holy scriptures. And in guarding my views of that interesting subject, from the errors of defect on the one hand, and those of excess on the other, I have been careful to express them, as much as possible, in the very words of Christ and his Apostles. Whatever difficulties presented themselves in my way from scripture, I endeavoured to explain by scripture itself-on the safest and most reasonable rule of explication-interpreting the dark and doubtful by the plain and positive; and speaking of those things, "not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth-comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

In the course of our investigation, I have repeatedly and earnestly urged you to an humble, serious, and impartial perusal of the Christian scriptures, as being the only sufficient and infallible test of the doctrines which have been laid down. If you have done so, with an honest desire to find the truth, and in a faithful dependence on the blessing of God, and the guidance

of his Holy Spirit then are you qualified to judge whether my views be conformable to scripture or not. If you have neglected to do so;

if you are not intimately acquainted with the teaching of the word of God;-then, whatever other teaching you may have had, and however confident you may be of the rectitude of your opinions, it is plain that you know little, and care as little, about the matter. I trust and hope there are not many among you, my beloved brethren, who come under this latter description. But whether you belong to the class of those who may be regarded as the sincere, humble, honest inquirers after the truth of the scriptures; or of those who may be said to be blindly devoted to the decisions and dogmas of fallible men;-it may be well to follow up the interesting subjects we have been upon, by turning your attention strongly on the sufficiency and perfection of holy scripture as the sole standard of Christian faith, with the duty and obligation thereby imposed of refusing subjection to any other; and, farther, by endeavouring to ascertain from scripture the duty of Christians towards each other; who, though differing on some few speculative or controverted points, are yet agreed in the main essential doctrines of the gospel of Christ. For the first of these purposes I have made choice of those words of the Apostle Paul: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

On the subject of the divine authority and perfection of holy scripture, taken in a general view, almost all Christians and Christian churches seem nearly agreed. At least, they generally profess to think, that a divine revelation was vouchsafed to man, to serve as the rule of his faith, the measure of his practice, and the foundation of his hope. But when they come more into detail; when they come to the adjustment of particulars, there are few churches which seem willing to rest satisfied with the standard of the Bible. They appear generally to act on the principle, that there is an expediency, if not a necessity, for some collateral standard-some creed of human composing, drawn up "in the words which man's wisdom teacheth"-as though they conceived themselves capable of improving that standard of faith drawn up "in the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth."

Now it is obvious that this practice, wherever it is found, is directly inconsistent with the general profession, of regarding the holy scriptures as the true and sole criterion of faith. But this practice is found to prevail, more or less, in almost all the churches of Christendom. Of the Church of Rome it seems unnecessary to speak

in this matter-as, by her tradition, and her groundless claim of infallibility, she has sought out so many inventions, and raised around her such a mass of human contrivances, as have well nigh overwhelmed the Christianity of the Bible. Although, it must be confessed, she acts with some degree of consistency in discountenancing, and, so far as her influence extends, prohibiting the general perusal of the scriptures as the sole rule of faith; well knowing that if the sacred volume were consulted and reverenced as it ought to be, all those clouds which have been congregating around her for so many ages, and under the darkness of which there has been so much hoodwinking of mankind, would be gradually and speedily dispersed, as the vapours the night are scattered before the morning sun.

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It was just in this way, and by this process, it was by a direct reference to the Bible, that such a blessed illumination broke in upon the Christian world at the period of the Reformation. Whenever men opened their eyes upon the scriptures, the light of truth from heaven shone full upon them; and happy has been the general result.

There is no question, that the bad passions of human nature were brought very much into collision during the struggle. This, perhaps, was in some measure unavoidable, in such circumstances. But He whose truth was concerned in the issue, can bring good out of evil, and order

out of confusion. He can make all things work together for good; and cause even the wrath of man to minister to his praise. And if we look over the Christian world at this day, we cannot but be struck with the vast superiority in civilization, morality, and general intelligence, so clearly discernible in those portions of it which have been rescued from that long continued darkness, and restored, in some measure, to the light of the gospel; and discernible, just in proportion to their more or less complete restoration to the enjoyment of unadulterated gospel light.

It is, however, much and deeply to be regretted, that even in the most favoured portions of the Christian world, there is still to be met with an admixture of those untoward ingredients; which, if they do not intercept the light from heaven, do at least contribute to dim its radiance, and tinge its complexion, and cause it to show as "a light shining in a dark place." Even in the respectable and venerable national churches of this empire, some things of this antiscriptural character still remain, and are likely to remain. In the accredited standards of the one, you meet with that extraordinary production, the Athanasian creed, with its damnatory clauses, so abhorrent to the best feelings of the most Christian people of her communion. In the accredited standards of the other, you find a strong infusion of the rankest ingredients of Calvinism, so unpa