the humility and modesty of such per-
sons, to suppose that they have misun-
derstood them; and instead of making
Scripture inconsistent with itself, look
out for an interpretation of these difficult
texts, which will reconcile them to those
passages which are perfectly clear and
obvious. Happy is it for us that we have
the sacred Scriptures to refer to, and
are not obliged to receive as the word of
God, the doctrines and opinions of fal-
lible men. Happy is it for us,
that "we
are not to be judged by Man's judgment,
but He who judgeth us is the Lord."
"He will judge the world in righteous-
ness, and the people with equity." When
this grand and discriminating day shall
arrive, and the whole race of mankind
shall be convened before His tribunal
"Salvation, and Glory, and Honour, and
Power, shall be ascribed unto the Lord
our God, for his true and righteous judg-
ments;" and then it will appear, that He
inflicteth judgment upon the wicked, not
because his Justice cannot pardon, but

;

because goodness requires that vice, which is the source of all deformity and misery in the universe, be destroyed by natural evil. Then shall "those who have sinned without law, perish without law," and while some "shall be beaten with many, others shall be beaten with few stripes." Then likewise will "those who have sown sparingly, reap sparingly, and those that have sown bountifully, reap bountifully." While all the pious and good, shall be exempted from labour, sorrow and trouble, the joys of some will transcendently exceed those of others; they that have been wise, shall shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father; and they that have turned many to righteousness, and (let it be remembered) been righteous themselves, as the stars in the firmament, for ever and for ever.

LECTURE XXXIX.

He

RELIGION may, with great propriety and with singular advantage, be considered as resulting from the relations which subsist between God and man and as such, it must necessarily depend upon, and be governed by, the natures and characters of both these Beings. that has formed just sentiments of the Divine and human nature, of the absolute perfection of the one, and of the just bounds and limits of the other, will be prepared to form a right judgment of every doctrine, opinion, and practice, relating to Religion. Whatever doctrine is plainly inconsistent with the Nature or Perfections of God, or with the nature of man considered as his rational offspring, cannot be a doctrine which

has a sufficient foundation in reason or If these two standards or

Scripture.

tests of religious truth were uniformly regarded, they would, I apprehend, more than any thing else, prevent the progress of superstition and enthusiasm, and lead men to think accurately on those subjects in which they are most deeply interested, but which they have generally misunderstood either through inattention or prejudice.

In the ensuing Lecture, I shall lay before you some observations on an attribute of the Divine Nature, which is not so often attended to as it ought to be, but which cannot be meditated upon without the greatest advantage. I shall direct your attention to the Blessedness, Happiness, or Self-sufficiency of God.

This is a subject which admits of a clear and satisfactory proof. As this perfection is essential to the Nature of God, so it is a fundamental principle in

Religion, from which many other important principles take their rise, and with which all must be consistent. The importance of right sentiments concerning it will be evident from the further prosecution of the subject.

God is styled in Scripture the blessed God. Now, blessedness, when ascribed to Him, has a peculiar and appropriate sense, and is to be understood emphatically and absolutely. The blessedness of the great God is the perfection or highest degree of that state. The holy angels are blessed. Sincere Christians shall be So. Good men are said to be blessed on several accounts, particularly on account of the pardon of their sins, and their being in a state of favour and acceptance with God. But the blessedness of good men here is far short of that which they will arrive at in heaven ; and that of the future and heavenly state admits of degrees, and will be perpetually increasing. But the Blessedness, or the