are any where to be found except in the "oracles of God."

To those who hold such sentiments, as are set forth in these extracts, how appropriate is the reproof of the Apostle !

"Ye have need that one THE ORACLES OF GOD." teach you again which BE Heb. v. 12.

THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF

Of how much importance is it then, that we should make ourselves well acquainted with first principles, by a diligent study of Holy Scripture, accompanied with prayer for the enlightening of the Holy Spirit; and that none should delude themselves, by supposing they can become acquainted with the first principles of Christianity, but from the revelation of the Spirit in the Holy Scriptures. The errors which result from a mere superficial knowledge of these sacred records are indeed fearful.

Observe the high pretensions of MYSTICISM to infallibility. Does popery itself go beyond this?

EXTRACT III.

Some tests for self examination.

"EXAMINE yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove yourselves know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? Now dont let your attention be turned outward from the expression of these words, for very probably the translators have not given it right

to us.

Because the outward Christ never could be, or can be,

in us.

No doubt it was meant that the light or spirit of life in the soul, is in every one of us, which is the anointing of the Lord." p. 222.

"The light or spirit of life in the soul, is in every one of us," &c.—How is the pretension of an INFIDEL, to the light and spirit of life in his soul, which he says does not deceive him, to be disproved, but by bringing his doctrines to the test of Scripture?

By the following tests, among others, a man may prove whether he be in the faith.

Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

"Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the | But whoso keepeth his same hath not the Father." word, in him verily is the 1 Jno. ii. 22, 23.

"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath | not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." 2 Jno. 9. "Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the Angels of

love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him." 1 Jno. ii. 3—5.

"And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment." 1Jno. iii. 23..

SERMON X.

EXTRACT I.

Emptying the mind.

"HE made it an ultimatum with his disciples to wait in deep humiliation of soul, till all creaturely things were swallowed up in oblivion in their minds. For till the vessel is empty, it is not fit to entertain the Holy Ghost, the light, life, and Spirit, of God Almighty. It must be first emptied of all combustible matter before man can be brought into a state to be taught true knowledge." p. 231.

WHERE did the Lord Jesus make this ultimatum; or teach the doctrine of the necessity of thus “ emptying the vessel?" Is it not by the reception of the Spirit and the word, that the mind becomes enlightened; and filled with the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus? The light and truth of the Gospel, must chase away darkness and error from the mind of fallen The carnal mind is enmity itself, against spiritual light and truth; and it is only by the influence and power of the HOLY SPIRIT, that the enmity is done away, and inclination for the light and truth of revelation is produced.

man.

See under Ser. II. Ex. 7; Ser. V. Ex. 2; Ser. VI. Ex. 1; Ser. VII. Ex. 1, 2.

EXTRACT II.

Translation of the Bible.

THOSE holy men, who, we acknowledge, wrote the Scriptures of truth, did it under the inspiring influence of God.It is now generally considered that the translators were not inspired men, how then could they give the true meaning of those Scriptures, which were written, and never could be written through any other means, than by the aid of divine revelation? And nothing else is a recipient for divine revelation, but the rational souls of the children of men. Now dont we see how these translators destroy each other's work, and continue to worry one another, in respect to what was written, and about what language they are to give it in, to us who know not the languages? Now under this view of things, should we put any confidence in the writings of these men, who deny revelation, wholly so, except as it is said to be written? By which they criminate the Almighty, and cast an indignity upon him, declaring that he is a partial God; that he is so inconsiderate and cruel, respecting his rational creatures, that he does not yet reveal his will to them; but that all the revelation he affords was collected and given to view, several hundred years ago; and that now we being in the dark, are to receive all instruction in heavenly things from without!" p. 232.

THE purpose of a faithful translator of the Bible, is to convey in another language, the same ideas which were conveyed by the language of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the "holy men of God, [who] spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." How well the translators of our version have accomplished this object, the most learned Christians, have abundantly shown. But the point aimed at in these extracts, is by any means, to undermine the Scriptures. A little

while ago we were told, that better Scriptures could have been written; now, that the Scriptures were written under the inspiring influence of God, but their efficacy is lost to us by the translation.

What do we know of God, beyond that which he has been pleased to reveal to us in the Scriptures? The proud curiosity of man is not gratified by having it declared to him, in what manner God deals with those, to whom his testimonies have not been given : nor has it pleased God to shew us, the reason why men are employed to open the eyes of their fellow men, and diffuse the knowledge of salvation,-to sow, to plant, and to water,-rather than that this knowledge should be communicated immediately from himself. But we are told, in Scripture, that when Christ "ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. And he gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying [building up] of the body of Christ."

EXTRACT III.

Unscriptural views of divine influence.

"WE may know more by this gift within us, than we could have from all the books and men on the face of the earth, for in this little gift, which has been compared to a mustard seed, is the fulness of God." p. 238.

How insidious! how pernicious! What fearful delusions are the consequence of unscriptural views