most blasphemous: namely; that the Holy Ghost, whose office in the divine œconomy was to lead the Apostles into all truth, was unqualified for his undertaking: he either did not make use of language sufficiently correct to convey the proper idea; or purposely made use of that, which was most calculated to lead into error. For with what propriety the title of “Lamb of God," can be applied to a prophet and teacher of righteousness, simply considered; it remains for them to determine, who profess to regard our Redeemer in no other character. It being undeniably certain, that had teaching been the sole object of our Saviour's coming; a mere man, enlightened from above, might have performed the whole business. On this supposition, admitting the language of inspiration to be correct, a title, which in such case must carry with it an idea totally foreign to our Saviour's character, could never have been applied to Him. These are a few of the many questions that might be asked on this occasion. But as it is not our object so much to pursue error, error, as to establish what we understand to be the truth, on the broad basis of Scripture; it will not be expected, that we should push our enquiries further. Our attention is directed chiefly to those, who receive the Bible as a Divine Revelation; and profess to be guided by the contents of it, as they are understood by our excellent Church. Our professed object has been, to put them into that way of reading this sacred Book, considered as containing the title deeds of our heavenly inheritance, that may most conduce to the right settlement of their faith, and the consequent establishment of their practice. By following the course of divine Providence through the different Dispensations of grace, and marking that harmonious connection by which the whole œconomy of Redemption is, as it were, indissolubly held together; they will be prepared for the full accomplishment of the mysterious plan, in the person and office of an incarnate God; and their faith, thus built on the Rock of Ages, will have nothing to fear from the attacks, that either open open infidelity, or imposing sophistry may ever attempt to make against it. If the systematic establishment of the Christian faith on the firm basis of divine Revelation, was ever necessary, it is peculiarly so in the present day; which bears witness to the most open and desperate attack that has ever been made on the Christian Religion, since the time that it was first published to the world. And never surely were the clergy more imperiously called upon to bear their most decided testimony to the doctrines of the Cross, than under the present awful circumstances of the world. Having marked the progress and direful consequences of that overflowing ungodliness now so much to be dreaded; in manners corrupted, morals depraved, dissipation predominant, above all, in Religion publicly discarded, and infidelity as publicly avowed; we must be convinced, if we are to be convinced of any thing, that Christianity has the promise of the life that now is, not less than of that which is to come: and consequently that whoever endeavours to banish it from society, whilst he is a rebel to his God, God, proves himself, at the same time, to be the worst enemy to man. But it is not from the attacks of open and declared infidelity that the member of the Christian Church has most to fear; but from that slow and gradual process, which the secret enemies of Christianity are constantly employing, for the purpose of sapping and undermining those fixed principles, which at all times characterize the true Christian professor. "It is mar vellous to behold in what manner every department of literature has been occupied, and converted into a battery against the faith and the Church. Half our danger does not arise from tracts professedly penned on the subject of Religion, but from writings of other kinds, carrying nothing hostile in their appearance. The unsuspecting reader, who sat down to inform or amuse himself with a piece of natural or civil history, biography, a poem, a tale, or a fable; if he have not his wits about him, finds his reverence for the doctrines of Christianity, and those who teach them, filched from him; rises, to his great surprize, half an infidel, and is not sure whether whether he has a soul, a Saviour, or a God."-Bishop Horne. By such kind of reading, we find the authority of the Bible gradually losing its hold on the mind: in consequence of which, instead of employing means, which through divine grace would bring our faith back to its proper standard, we are more disposed to compromise the subject with the enemies of Christianity; by persuading ourselves, that the plan of it is of a still more comprehensive nature, than the Scripture has revealed it to be. Having once adopted this generalizing (erroneously called liberal) system, which, by effacing all distinctions of sects and doctrine, tends to produce a general indifference for all religious opinions; we are no longer prepared to give a reason for the faith that is in us. In this unsettled condition we must not be surprized, if the event should be, what it too often is, that we are either led captive at will by the specious pretences of ignorance and enthusiasın; or make entire shipwreck of our faith, for want of having laid in proper ballast,to keep our vessel steady in its course. Against |
