ORATION IV.

JOHN V. 39. SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES.

THE OBEYING OF THE ORACLES OF GOD.

We have discoursed upon the preparation necessary for holding intercourse with the word of God, summoning your souls to it as to a most honourable interview, and to a feast of heavenly wisdom. We have pointed out the place which you should occupy, and the part which you should perform, while listening to the voice of your Creator, and receiving the law at his mouth-giving ear as the light did when summoned from its primeval residence, or the sun, and the moon, and the stars: and as mute Nature listens still. We have searched into that strong reluctance which we bear to the divine law, and sought to overcome it by the fearful picture of the desolation which overtakes the impenitent; arguing sore between the world and the word of God, and praying you to be reconciled for the sake of Christ. Heaven grant that we may not have spoken in vain! And now that we address ourselves to a loftier argument, may his Spirit fill us with knowledge and affection, that his mysterious and momentous truths may

suffer no disparagement from our weak conception and feebler utterance. The argument for which we pray to be enabled, is the good which will accrue to all who search and entertain and obey the Scriptures after the manner we have set forth. And we shall display it under three heads: the knowledge thence obtained; the life of heavenly enterprise thereby begotten; and the eternal reward reserved in store for those who walk after the precepts of the Lord.

The eternal power and Godhead of our Creator, says St. Paul, speak through the things which are made. But the oracle of the works of God, however loud in commendation of his power and providence, is not easy to be explored by the multitude, who, little enlightened by knowledge, are much taken up with the necessary avocations of life. And those who are conversant with it, do generally in the act of consulting stop short in admiration of the temple itself, paying their reverence to its richness and decorations, but seldom reaching the inward sanctuary where the oracle is heard. Either nature hath changed her song, or man hath lost his faculty of interpreting it; for into his ear she now uttereth many a strain in commendation of herself, few in commendation of her God. And natural knowledge while it is thus divorced from the knowledge of Nature's God, satisfieth not the spirit of man, which must join league with another spirit in order to taste its true delights. For what communion hath the soul with the superficial beauty

of the earth, which they call Taste, or with the knowledge of matter's changes, which they call Science? The human soul groans in langour till she finds a fellow spirit, or a generous cause of human welfare, to engage her affections; then beginneth her revelry of delight. Unfeigned friendship, chaste love, domestic affection, pure, heavenward devotion-who compares the intensity and delight of these unions with the stale and heartless sympathy there is between a naturalist and his museum, or a scholar and his books?

Even such languor, such dissatisfaction finds the soul, when, without a guide, she goes to seek God in his natural universe, groping about and unrested, hungering for larger insight, perplexed with difficulties, and finding "no end, in wandering mazes lost." How refreshing to such a longing spirit, when the dark cloud God has retired within bursts, and in visible glory he displays himself to his benighted children, speaking to them in an intelligible voice, and revealing the mysteries of his nature! Then cometh rest, and with rest refreshment and enlargement of the soul. There is no cause beyond this First Cause to search after. Than God the mind can ascend no higher, and is satisfied with his likeness: in which there is perfection without a blemish, which we range the world for in vain,-justice never perverted, which it has been the glory of man to live under,-mercy, with all the tender affections which pacify and harmonize the life of man,-holiness, holding a spotless reign over

the happy fields of heaven-all composed and peaceful within that same Being, who is clothed with the elemental powers, armed with the thunder-bolt, and served with the army of heaven and the voice of fate.

Do ye love to meditate nobleness of nature? -Here it is infinitely noble. Do ye love to contemplate stupendous power put forth in soft acts of goodness?-Behold it here, pouring the full river of pleasure through the universe. Here is the Father of all families, from the highest order in the heavens above to the lowest tribe upon the earth beneath, serving out justice and liberality to them all. What would you more to fill your mind with than the idea of God, which, while it fills, elevates, enlarges and refines. With what ardour men behold their favourites of the present and past ages, aiming generously to equal or excel them. What silent musings over their history, and estimation of their parts! Why not rise higher to contemplate the revealed image of the invisible God? He is not seen; neither are the worthies of a former age. They are written of. He is writen of. The one is as lawful an object of thought and imitation as the other.

Nay, the closer to bring you into fellowship, he hath despatched from his highest sphere the image of himself to act the divine part among earthly scenes, and seeing we had fallen from his neighbourhood, and could not regain our lost estate, hath he sent forth his own Son, made of a woman, made under the law, down to our sphere,

to bind the link between heaven and earth, which seemed for ever to have been broken. Who clothes himself in the raiment of flesh; puts on like passions and affections, and presents himself to be beheld, talked with, and handled of the sons of men. He opens up the heart of God, and shows it wondrous tender to his fallen creatures. He opens up his own heart, and shows it devoted to death for their restoration. He stretches out his hand; disease and death flee away. He opens his lips; lovingkindness drops upon the most sinful of men. He opens a school of discipline for heaven; none is hindered from entering it. Whosoever comes he cherishes with food, fetched from the storehouse of his creating word. The elements he stills over their heads and makes a calm. He brings hope from beyond the dark grave, where she lay shrouded in mortality. Peace he conjures from the troubles of the most guilty breast. The mourner he anoints with the oil of joy. The mourner in sackcloth and ashes he clothes with the garment of praise. And what more can we say ?-than that, if the knowledge of death averted from your heads be joy, and the knowledge of offences forgiven be contentment, and the knowledge of God reconciled be peace, and of heaven offered be glory, and of wisdom streaming from its everlasting fountain be light to the understanding, and strength ministered from the arm of the omnipotent be life to the soul,then, verily, this peace, contentment, honour, and life is yours, Christian believers, through the

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