their various relations to God and man-and which most nearly affect their comfort and happiness in the present life, and their most precious interests in the life to come. Equally should we be upon our guard against all illiberal and acrimonious language, even towards persons, who differ from us upon points, where our own enquiries have been most diligent, and our own assent is most sincere.

If indeed the benevolent spirit of our religion is really felt by those who undertake the defence of it, they will have a fearful sense of the difficulties and obscurities in which it has pleased the moral Governor of the Universe to leave many subjects of abstract speculation. They will separate the motives and personal characters of men from their arguments, and in confuting the one they will be cautious not to misinterpret or to insult the other.

Prepared alike for meeting with good or evil report in the defence of truth, they will never swerve from that wisdom which forbids them to provoke where they may conciliate, and where by conciliation they may obtain a more favourable reception to the correctness of their reasonings and the seriousness of their expostulations.

Thus adorning by their prudence and their moderation that holy religion, which they profess, and are anxious to vindicate, they will be content to leave the issue of their well intended labours in the hands of that Being, who in his own good time will afford to truth its fullest share of triumph, and who often employs the meekness and benevolence of his creatures as the most powerful instruments for turning

the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just.

The proofs of revelation are always laid before the human understanding with increased efficacy, when accompanied by visible marks of its salutary influence upon the hearts and lives of those who contend for it as the rule of their actions here, and as the foundation of their best hopes hereafter.

More especially then are we called upon to take heed unto our ways in an age when the advocates of infidelity are so numerous, so active, and some of them perhaps so largely gifted with abilities to make the worse appear the better cause. If then we are solicitous to prove ourselves worthy of that sacred name by which we are called-to walk in wisdom towards those that are without-and to promote the glory of God by diffusing a spirit of peace and good will among men, we shall in truth "redeem the time"-we shall avail ourselves of all the opportunities which God has afforded us for contributing to the spiritual welfare of our fellow creatures-and in thus diligently and faithfully laying out the talents entrusted to us for the good of others, we shall effectually secure our own salvation in the awful day of judgment.

END OF VOLUME V.

ERRATA TO VOL. V.

Page 5, line 15, for more abstract, read mere abstract.
16, for opportunity, read importunity.
17, for motion, read motions.

14, 19,

57, 20, for judiciously, read judicially.
27, for case, read cause.

98,

144,

159,

239,

263,

291,

310,

321,

842,

406,

440,

450,

491,

5, for Gomora, read Gemera.
10, for yet, read yes.
10, for mind, read kind.
13, for house, read houses.
14, for Greeks, read Greek.
penult, after defeat dele by.
22, for attacked, read attached.
9, for the age, read the age.

7, for they equally, read they were equally.
8, dele advice.

19, for resolution, read resurrection.

28, for It may with, read It may be with.

494, 12, after thus far add only.