And the hour is coming, when the dead "shall hear his voice, and shall come forth: they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."* Good and evil are so accurately and manifestly distinguished in the christian Scriptures, -the ways of pleasantness and the paths of peace are so plainly shown by the Sun of Righteousness, that nothing but the darkness of iniquity's self-delusion can ever obscure them from the sight. The great PRINCIPLE of man's duty towards God and his neighbour is so SET FORTH, with all the branches of duty which flow from that principle so fully, minutely, and precisely pointed out, that "woe," indeed, MUST be "unto them," who, with such a light shining round about them,-such a code of laws ever open before them,-can "call evil good, and good evil; put darkness for light, and light for darkness; bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter." "God is Love," says the " Scripture of Truth; " " and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him." § is the fulfilling of the law." "Love * John v. 28, 29. § 1 John iv. 16. † Prov. iii. 17. ‡ Isa. v. 20. When the Pharisee, which was a lawyer, asks our Lord the question-" Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first great commandment: and the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."* So, "Love is the fulfilling of the law." Love is the principle whence all our duties spring. "We love God, because he first loved us." And " If God so loved us," that he "sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him; "" if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."+ But, on account of the infirmity of our nature, we are unable to do those things which we would do; and as we read, "the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other."§ "The spirit, indeed, is willing, but the flesh is weak." St. Paul says, "to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I find *Matt. xxii. 37-40. 1 John iv. 9, 11. † 1 John iv. 19. § Gal. v. 17. not: for the good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do!" "Who shall deliver me from this body of death?" "I thank God," then, he says, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD."* "Walk in the Spirit," "and ye shall not fulfil the lust he says, of the flesh."+ 66 66 They that are Christ's, have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." "I will pray the FATHER," said Christ, in comforting his disciples; "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of Truth."§ "When the Spirit of Truth is come, he will GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH." And "the Spirit," it is written, helpeth our infirmities."¶ The Holy Spirit of God, "the Lord and giver of life," will bring unto the fountain of truth all those who seek it with "an honest and good heart," ** and cause that which they drink from that fountain to be in them "a well of water, springing up into everlasting life!"†† Christ, who has "entered into heaven,' "" of 66 *See Rom. vii. + Gal. v. 24. John xvi. 13. ** Luke viii. 15. Heb. ix. 24. Н † Gal. v. 16. § John xiv. 16, 17. we read, "ever liveth to make intercession" for all those who "come unto God by Him,"* and is able to save to the uttermost ALL that come." "Let him that is athirst," it is written, "come; and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."†. "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to EVERY ONE that believeth." And for his merits by faith, "which worketh by love,"§ man is JUSTIFIED. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." || But EVIL "is the portion of the wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him."¶ Such is a faint outline of the leading principles of the christian faith. VI... With respect to the idea of man's attaining a full and perfect comprehension of all pertaining to the doctrines of the christian revelation let man remember the axiom with which reason sets out on the path of religious *Heb. vii. 25. † Rev. xxii. 17. § Gal. v. 6. ¶ Job xx. 29. meditation and inquiry, viz. that it is the will of Almighty God, that human knowledge should be fitted to human life. He, who “shut up the sea with doors," saying, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; here shall thy proud waves be stayed;" He hath set also, 66 by a perpetual decree," "a bound" to man's understanding, " which man's understanding cannot pass;" and though the thoughts of the proud toss themselves, as the waves of the sea, " yet can they not prevail;" " though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it."+ ་ He, therefore, who would search the Scripture of truth, let him bring to that search, as he would for his help in any course of inquiry, the knowledge which he at present possesses. Let him consider, as far as his superlative ignorance will permit, what kind of knowledge he is of opinion he stands in need of, i. e. as concerning his Maker, and his own future destiny;-what portion would be sufficient for, or adapted to him; how much information on the subject of his anxiety should make him contented, thankful, and happy. *Job xxxviii. 8, 11. |