❝ detail of the evils it has produced, if we do not give at the same time an enumeration of the advantages "which have flowed from it. Were I to relate all "the evils that have arisen in the world from civil “laws, from monarchy, and from republican govern"ment, I might tell of frightful things. Were it of "no advantage for subjects to have religion, it would "still be of some if princes had it, and if they whitened "with foam the only rein which can restrain those who "fear not human laws. A prince, who loves and "fears religion, is a lion who stoops to the hand that

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strokes, or to the voice which appeases him. He, "who fears and hates religion, is like the savage beast "that growls and bites the chain which prevents his "flying on the passenger. He, who has no religion "at all, is that terrible animal, who perceives his "liberty only when he tears in pieces and devours.” (s)

OBJ. IX. The Bible is a tasteless, insipid, inelegant, uninteresting book, composed almost always in a dull heavy style; and therefore cannot come from Him who is the Author of language and sentiment.

In replying to this we must relinquish reasoning, and oppose assertion to assertion. To overthrow the objection then, I cheerfully refer to the Bible itself, and ask where else can be found such wonderful and varied specimens of sublimity, as in the fifth chapter

(s) Montesquieu, Spirit of Laws, book xxiv. chap. 2. For a very masterly refutation of the numerous attempts to weaken the authority of Scripture, founded upon the real or imaginary anomalies in the conduct of David, see Dr. Delany's admirable and elegant Historical Account of the Life and Reign of David King of Israel, in 2 vols. 8vo.

of Judges, the fourth, twenty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of Job, the twenty-ninth, hundred and fourth, hundred and seventh, and hundred and thirty-ninth Psalms, several portions of Isaiah and Ezekiel, the first and second chapters of Joel, and the first chapter of the Apocalypse? Taking them even as they appear under the disadvantage of a translation, I will venture to affirm, that nothing can be found in Homer, Virgil, Shakspeare, or Milton, that will bear comparison with most of them in point of beauty, splendour, majesty, and grandeur. Where, again, will you find such interesting stories, so artlessly, yet often so pathetically, told, as those of Jacob and Rachael, of Joseph and his brethren, of the death of Jacob, of the widow of Zarephath's and of the Shunamite's sons, of Naomi and Ruth? Where will you find more genuine touches of nature, more delightful pictures of the effects of friendship and sympathy, than those in the eleventh and fourteenth chapters of John's Gospel, and the twentieth chapter of the Acts?

Be assured that those, who lay aside the Bible under the notion of its being dull, dry, and unentertaining, deceive themselves most miserably, and thereby deprive themselves of the highest intellectual delight. This most excellent of all books, besides being of the highest authority in its historical portions, and of invaluable utility, as furnishing the only consistent and practicable scheme of morality, contains very much that is superlatively adapted to gratify the finest mental taste. It enters more sagaciously and more deeply into human nature; it developes character,

delineates manners, charms the imagination, and warms the heart, more effectually than any book extant: and if once a person would take it into his hand, without the strange unreasonable idea of its flatness, and be only not unwilling to be pleased, I doubt not that he would find all his favourite authors dwindle in the comparison, and soon perceive that he was not merely reading the most religious, but the most entertaining, book in the world. (t)

The great objects, however, for which the Scriptures were put into our hands, are vastly more important than the mere furnishing us with amusement. God, who is infinitely wise as well as infinitely good, knows our compound nature, and has regard to it, by bestowing upon us a Revelation which is fitted to man who has a mind to be instructed as well as entertained, a heart to be amended and renewed, and a soul to be saved.

By this time, I hope, you feel persuaded, upon the solid ground of the most rational conviction, that the Bible contains the pure and unadulterated word of God; such as comported with the majesty and mercy of the Supreme Being to bestow, and such as it will be highly salutary to man to receive with humility and gratitude. Study it, then, with daily attention, thankfulness, and reverence. Consider it as an unerring light to your feet, and lamp to your path." Here

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(t) For numerous examples and quotations in proof of this position, I refer those who have any doubts, to Blackwall's Sacred Classics, and Melmoth's Sublime and Beautiful in Scripture: also to Burke on the Sublime, part ii. sec. 4, 5, 13; and to various parts of Blair's Rhetoric.

we are strangers and pilgrims: the Bible points to heaven as our home. Here we are in an enemy's country: the Bible directs us to "fight the good fight "of faith," under the guidance of the "Captain of

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our salvation." Here we are exposed to temptations, even to all the "fiery darts of Satan:" the Bible furnishes us with "the whole armour of God," and exhorts us to put on the "breastplate of righteousness, and the shield of faith; and to take the helmet "of salvation, and the sword of the spirit." Here we are subject to want, distress, and disappointment: the Bible cheers us with the prospect of " a better and an "enduring substance" in a happy region, where " God "shall wipe away all tears from all faces." Here we may be poor, destitute, and despised; but if we are Christians indeed, the Bible assures us we are heirs of an invaluable and indestructible inheritance," an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and "that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us."

Thus numerous and inestimable are the benefits offered to those who believe the Scriptures, and live conformably to the precepts therein exhibited. That these benefits and blessings may be yours, my dear friend, suffer me to entreat you sedulously to cherish the dispositions essential to a profitable perusal of the sacred pages: those dispositions have been ably delineated by an excellent clergyman now living, (v) in a passage with which I shall close this branch of our correspondence.

"In the first place, study them Devoutly. Re

(v) Mr. Gisborne, in his Familiar Survey, &c. p. 231,

"member that they are the word of God: that they "were written under the superintendence of his

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Spirit; and that their great purpose was to introduce " and extend over the whole earth the Gospel and the kingdom of his Son. Remember, also, that they were written to conduct you to salvation through "faith in Christ Jesus. Read them, therefore, with a 66 reverence and holy fear; and make it your earnest "and constant prayer to Him, from whom alone "cometh every good and perfect gift, that his grace

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may open your understanding, enable you clearly "to comprehend the import of the Sacred Writings, " and deeply impress it upon your heart."

"Secondly, study the Scriptures with Humility ; "with a sincere desire to receive instruction from them, "and to submit your own opinions to the declared will "of your Maker and your Saviour. If we may judge, "by the manner in which some persons speak con"cerning the Scriptures, of the temper and spirit "with which they read them, we may almost conclude "that they read them for the purpose of cavilling, "finding fault, and raising difficulties and objections. "Be not thus blind and presumptuous. If you take

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up your Bible with Christian humility, you will not "say concerning any doctrine, This is a strange "and unreasonable doctrine, and I cannot receive it.' "Your language will rather be, This doctrine is "clearly contained in the word of God, and there"fore must be true.' You will not say concerning

This is a hard and grievous

65 any rule of practice, “commandment, and I may be excused from regarding