righteousness. When they wish to have their views extended, or their faith confirmed in Christianity generally, or in any of its particular doctrines, they are in the habit of going to the works of some favourite author, who has written expressly on the subject. They very probably compare his statements, and arguments, and conclusions, with the Scriptures, and flatter themselves that they acquiesce in them only so far as they perceive the accordance of the one with the other; but the ordinary result is, that there is far more of what is human, both in the substance and ground of their belief, than they are aware of. It would mightily contribute to the scriptural character, and, of course, to the sanctifying and comforting influence of our religious principles, if we were more in the habit of making the first application, as well as the last appeal, to the Sacred Oracles. To ascertain what is the truththe exact truth-the whole truth, on the various points of Christian doctrine, should be an object steadily kept in view, in our perusal of the Holy Scriptures; for it is just in proportion as this object is gained, that the grand design of Christianity, to purify and bless, will be accomplished in our experience. The same truth materially, will not produce the same effect, when apprehended in the divine record, and when received through the medium of a human representation. There is something altogether peculiar in the effect produced, by bringing the mind of man, if we may so phrase it, into direct contact with the mind of God. It is this which gives energy to religious principles; and it is because much of what is substantially correct in the views of professed Christians has not been obtained in this way, that it is found to be so powerless in answering the grand practical purposes of a vital Christianity. It has been most justly remarked, that "if we adopt the principles of fallible men, without searching the Scriptures for ourselves, and inquiring whether these things be so or not, they will not avail us, even allowing them to be on the side of truth, as if we had learned them from a higher authority. There is a savour in truth, when drawn from the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth, which is lost, or at least diminished, if it pass under the conceptions and expressions of men. needed; for he who receives his creed from men, may deliver it up to men again. Truth, learned only at second hand, will be to us what Saul's armour was to David; we shall be at a loss to use it in the day of trial."* Nor will it avail us when most In studying divine truth in the Scriptures, if the desultory reading of the Bible deserves the name, there are many Christians who never seem to get farther than the first principles; and even these elementary doctrines wear in their minds the aspect of unconnected propositions the expression of insulated facts. In this way, the doctrines of the guilt and depravity of mankind-the Trinity-the incarnation-the atonement-election-justification--divine influence the perseverance of the saints, &c. are often considered. It is no doubt of radical importance that we should know, and know well, what the Bible states on these subjects separately; but it • Fuller. is not of less importance, that we should distinctly and accurately apprehend their mutual relations and dependencies. The doctrines of Christianity are not like the maxims of Solomon, which, though inesti mably valuable, are, for the most part, entirely unconnected. They are component parts of a great system; and it is only when they are contemplated in this point of view, that they can be properly understood. He who has never risen above the con sideration of the elements of Christian truth in their separate form, knows very little of Christianity. The materials of Solomon's temple the mighty masses of squared timber and hewn stone and the heaps of iron, and brass, and silver, and gold, would have conveyed a grand, but a very confused idea, of the stately and splendid fabric into which they were destined to be formed. The various parts of the human body, as exhibited in the museum of the anatomist, however accurately examined, give no distinct.conception of the beauty and symmetry of living man. A person may be familiar with the separate portions of a complicated machine, its wheels, and pinious, and springs; and yet, if this is the whole of his know, ledge, he may be quite ignorant of the purpose it is intended to serve, and incapable of apprehending the display it affords of the ingenuity of its inventor. It is much in this way that we meet with persons, who, while they know a good deal of some of the doctrines of the Gospel separately, seem to know little or nothing of their connection. Confusion, indistinctness, and inconsistency, often characterize the religious views of such persons; and they see comparatively little of the tendency of the Christian OF THE REV. JOHN MACLAURIN, LATE ONE OF THE MINISTERS OF GLASGOW. WITH AN INTRODUCTORY ESSAY, BY THE REV. JOHN BROWN, EDINBURGH. SECOND EDITION. GLASGOW: PRINTED FOR WILLIAM COLLINS; OLIVER & BOYD, WM. WHYTE & CO. AND WM. OLIPHANT, EDINBURGH; |