rule of duty, but provides for the pardon of former transgression, and furnishes strength and motive for future obedience. This is altogether new and peculiar to the Christian religion. Other religions prescribe, invite, threaten --but this pardons, renews, changes the state and disposition. Other religions deal with man on the footing of his own powers, and make the best they are able of his circumstancesChristianity brings in a new power, creates new circumstances, gives new life and feelings and pursuits, reveals new and divine agents for ef fecting man's salvation, presents a foundation of forgiveness in the sacrifice of Christ, opens a way for obedience in the direct help and aid of the Holy Spirit.

All this is so congruous to the precise exigencies of man, as to constitute a summary argument, requiring no detail of proof, of the divine origin of Christianity. It so completely answers the case-it so meets the very necessities and desires which men in every age have expressed, though incapable of devising any means of satisfying them, that it carries along with it a perfect conviction of its truth.

It is true, this remedy is most surprising and incomprehensible in many respects--but this does not lessen its suitableness nor its admirable efficacy, as it is practicably fitted for the re

lief of man's wants. It is surprising, it is stupendous, as we shall have to notice in our next lecture. But the Revelation being clearly admitted on its undoubted external testimony, all the matter of it rests on the truth of that God that cannot lie; and the subsidiary proofs, from the suitableness, in some respects, of its mode of supplying our wants, are in no way lessened by its stupendous or incomprehensible character in other points of view. For there are not wanting topics of observable suitableness to the reasonable and accountable nature of man, in the application of this great remedy.

1. The gospel works by proposing ADEQUATE MOTIVES. It opens to man all his real danger, and excites fear. It proposes divine encouragement, and inspires hope. It sets before him the terror of judgment, and the joys of heaven; and awakens correspondent anxiety and apprehension of consequences. It invites man to repentance and salvation, by presenting to him new truths, new facts, new assistances, new prospects. All is intelligent motive, addressed to a reasonable being. The stupendous redemption, in its pardon and in its grace, places him in a situation, and discloses to him circumstances, which move and actuate his determinations and efforts.

2. Further, it places man in a new and more

man, after four thousand years of interminable contests, wanted. The authority which revelation claims by its external evidences is thus in harmony with the tone and language which it assumes in its instructions. You are astonished at the display of the miracles-you view with surprise the other proofs of a divine religion. You open the sacred Record. You are assured beforehand that it will be most worthy of the great God from whom it came, though you presume not to say in what manner that will appear. On making yourself acquainted with the contents of it, you perceive that it uses the natural language and style of its divine Author; you seem to hear the very voice of God himself. You feel that the revelation takes the becoming attitude of superiority and command; and addresses you as an ignorant, weak, dependent creature.

This is altogether different from the style of any other book. This is quite distinct from the arrogancy of human presumption, as well as from the uncertainties of human reasoning. All is as it should be: God speaks; man is silent-God teaches; man learns-God determines, man obeys.

It is scarcely possible to read a single discourse of the holy prophets in the Old Testament, or of our Lord and his apostles in the New,

Christianity sets before him. Into the design of this system of means he must fall. He can obtain no grace, no divine aid, no relief, no pardon, no renewal of mind, no direction, no comfort, except as he heartily and humbly places himself in the attitude of a diligent disciple. This is altogether and most remarkably adapted for such a creature as man, and precisely agrees with all the dealings of God with him in his general providence, where little is accomplished but by the intervention of means.

God, indeed, acts according to his own merciful will, in the ways of religion, as in the operations of nature and the works of providence. He gives grace, he awakens the minds of men, he disposes of events as he pleases. But all this is designed to bring us to use the means of religious improvement, which we were neglecting. Every extraordinary operation of mercy falls into the system by which God ordinarily works.

4. These methods of Almighty God in the application of the gospel, entirely agree with

THE OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANCES OF MAN, IN

THIS WORLD. Every thing around us corresponds with this particular plan.

The world is so presented to man, his duties so arise, his trials so embarrass, his social affections so excite him; he is exposed to that in

of princes, the petty projects of legislation. It treats only of the greatest and most important concerns. It is God's book; and contains nothing trifling, nothing unimportant, nothing superfluous. It speaks of eternity and eternal things. It reveals pardon and grace; it marks out the ways of peace and holiness. It shows exactly those things which it most concerns us to know, and which we could never understand nor settle of ourselves.

Now all this is exactly adapted to man. He is weak, ignorant, sinful; distracted with conflicting opinions, and wandering in the darkness and sorrows which his rebellion has occasioned. Still he is accountable. As such, the Scripture addresses him: so that no other creature but man could understand such a book as the Bible.

It is to him, however, the precise Revelation he needs. He finds peace of mind in its authoritative dictates. He feels the ground firm under him. He flies from human conjecture and the intricacies of opposing systems, to repose in the authority of the Bible. Man, when his attention is awakened to the subject, knows in his inmost soul that he wants direction-he knows that to make out truth for himself, in the way of discussion, is impossible. Though, when attacked, he will defend his powers of

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