ture; surely, no man is guiltless who rejects the truth, because he can no more state the process of such re-animation than he can comprehend the principle of germination in the seed that is committed to the earth. It is set forth in Scripture, that two natures were united in the blessed Jesus, a divine and a human; for it is only on this supposition that Scripture does not contradict itself; surely, no man is at liberty to expunge this doctrine from the oracles of truth, because he cannot fully enter into the mysteries of this union, any more than into that which exists between body and soul. The untutored savage gazes with astonishment at effects produced by causes which are perfectly understood by the humblest peasant of a civilized country; but this peasant is at a loss to comprehend truths which are perfectly obvious to the man of science, and which he can clearly demonstrate. To man in his present state it is wisely ordered, that he should "see through a glass darkly." His duty is to believe and obey, not to cavil and dispute, to receive the word of God as he finds it, not to sit in judgment on the reasonableness of its plain statements. He cannot by searching find out God, he cannot find out the Almighty to perfection. It is high as heaven, what can he do? deeper than hell, what can he know?

Do I address any one, who, not contented with, and thankful for, what has been revealed, seeks to pry into subjects infinitely beyond his reach ? Let me bring before his notice, and suggest for his imitation, the conduct of the psalmist, whose heart was not haughty nor his eyes lofty,—who did not exercise himself in great matters, or in things too high for him, but who behaved and quieted himself as a child that is weaned of its mother, whose soul was even as a weaned child. Let me warn him against a state of excitement, which can be productive of no good result; but which, in all probability, will be productive of evil, and cause him to be "tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine." Let me remind him of the solemn charge delivered to Moses on the mount, "Go down and charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish ;" and of the punishment inflicted on the men of Beth-shemesh, who were smitten even to the number of fifty thousand threescore and ten men, because they had presumptuously looked into the ark of the Lord. Let me remind him "what perverseness and madness it is to break into the sacred repositories of heaven, and to pretend to accommodate those secrets of the divine kingdom to the measures and methods of

our weak capacities."* His present state, he may be assured, is one of feverish excitement, and not of sound spiritual health; and it is his duty, as will decidedly be for his peace and comfort, to turn his attention to the truths which are clearly revealed, and to the performance of the duties which are distinctly laid down.

"It

I speak to some one, perhaps, who is much disquieted and perplexed, who is in a state bordering upon despair, because he does not know to the full extent all God's purposes respecting himself, or those to whom he is attached by the closest ties. Let him derive instruction from the answer of our blessed Lord to his disciples, in reply to their inquiry, "Wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power;" and from his assurance to St. Peter, when that apostle exclaimed, "Lord, dost thou wash my feet ?" "What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter." Let me remind him that religion does not consist in acquiring knowledge, however accurate, or in entertaining views, however scriptural; but in that vitality of Christian principle, which is testified by love to God and to our fellow-men; for that though he had the gift of prophecy and understood all mys* Archbishop Leighton.

teries and all knowledge, yet were he destitute of charity, it would profit him nothing. Let me remind him, moreover, that whether the number of the redeemed shall be small or great, "there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit ;" that no one who cometh to the Saviour shall in anywise be cast out; that whosoever will, may "take of the water of life freely;" and that instead of harassing his mind with the vain attempt to fathom the deep things of God, it will be his wisdom, as assuredly it is his duty, to give all diligence," to add to his faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity," convinced that "if these things be in him and abound, they make him that he shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." For, "Alas! the niceties of a spruce understanding, and the curious nothings of useless speculations, and all the opinions of men, that make the divisions of the heart, and do nothing else, cannot bring us one drop of comfort in the day of tribulation.' Such "intricate questions tend to nothing but perplexity and scepticism; and the discussion of

these conduce to endless discord and confusion."*

But there may be a fourth class of persons now present, who run into the contrary extreme-some, whose error is not that of unwarrantable curiosity, but of sinful indifference-of negligence to the apostolic precept, "add to your virtue knowledge." They do not seek to know too much, they are contented with knowing comparatively nothing, on the subject of religion. They are ignorant on many points, which are not only clearly set forth in the Bible, but a knowledge of which is essential for their present peace and future happiness; their ideas on scriptural subjects are often vague and unsatisfactory, nay, not unfrequently most erroneous; and in the pursuit of some temporal good, of some knowledge which may promote their temporal well-being, and gain them applause from their fellow-men, they are contented to remain ignorant of those truths which were revealed, "that they might believe, and that believing they might have life," through the Saviour's name. Far different was the estimate of such knowledge formed by him, who exclaimed, "Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and * Bishop Horsley.