to the heart of man to conceive; incorrup tible, eternal in the heavens.

BUT however benevolent the original purpose of God in the formation of man, however his fpirit has fince continued to ftrive with the perverfity of his creatures, it appears from the whole tenor of fcripture, that a certain degree of co-operation on their part is indifpenfible to the attainment of the happiness that awaits them; nay, that happiness in a rational being implies, and is infeparable from, the practice and conscioufnefs of virtue. The idea of God's benevolence is not more confirmed by the ineftimable benefit of redemption, than the neceffity of doing all the words of his law is enforced by the mode in which it was conferred. Inftead of pronouncing an unconditional pardon, which perhaps would have been inconfiftent with his attributes, he fent Chrift upon earth to be at once a preacher

preacher and example of moral and religious duties. The conduct of the Son of God was invariably regulated by those principles which reason and conscience dictate to mankind, and this ftrict conformity to them was fo far from being derrogatory from the dignity of his.nature, that it is affigned as the cause of his exaltation above all principalities and powers, and of his investiture with a kingdom which shall have no end, the fceptre of which is emphatically called a fceptre of righteoufnefs. It is ef fential that the character of the subjects of this kingdom fhould refemble that of their Sovereign to form fuch a character is a work of care and time. Fitness for the comparatively trifling employments of our prefent ftate implies a previous course of inftruction, continual application, and much practice: and as the feafons of childhood and youth are feasons of preparation for the duties of maturer age, fo the whole of

:

this mortal life is a season in which principles and habits are to be acquired that may qualify us for the life to come.

IN the acquifition of the principles there is no difficulty, or danger of being misled. They are contained in books written by perfons divinely commiffioned to impart them, and imparted with fuch plainnefs and fimplicity, that the commoneft underftanding is competent to difcern the great truths neceffary to falvation. By frequent meditation on thefe facred truths, man becomes impreffed with fentiments of love and reverence for the author of all that is good; his views are gradually enlarged, and he learns, not, as fome vainly affect, to undervalue the employments and bleffings of this transitory state, but to appreciate them by the relation they bear to that to which he aspires. In proportion as the mind is fo conftituted, the creature approximates,

proximates, vast as the interval must always be, to a resemblance of him who made him. What is finful, by degrees ceafes to be a temptation, and becomes an object of abhorrence: what is juft and holy is no longer a task, but the attracting power to which his heart feems inftinctively to turn. There is no unreasonablenefs in fuppofing that admiffion to a more intimate acquaintance with the perfections of God, and appointments to offices of more important truft, may conftitute, to a fpirit fo prepared and trained, that ineffable bleffednefs referved for those who have been faithful in the things committed to them here below. But what remains for those whofe faculties have been immerfed in floth, or brutalized by fenfual pleasures? What, at best, but the unfatisfied cravings of degenerate appetites, fince they have rendered themfelves incapable of tafting any happiness

that

that is fit for a pure and holy being to bestow.

Ir is not meant to be affirmed that the whole of what is revealed, though it is revealed for our edification, and belongs to us and to our children, is therefore open to the apprehenfion of every man who may fearch the fcriptures with a ferious purpose, and with his best attention. Perfons whofe understandings, naturally ftrong, have been improved by culture, and who have leifure for contemplation, will difcover, both directly and by inference, what escapes an ordinary reader; but, if they have been actuated in their researches by a motive worthy of the fubject, they will confider the diffufion of thefe difcoveries as the best acknowledgement they can make, in their humble fphere, to the Father of lights, from whom all knowledge is derived, and who difpenfes his gifts unequally,