other christians, as judge of their consciences and religion; and whoever usurps such a power must be antichrist, and puts himself in the place of God; and as much as any subjects his understanding and heart to any man or church upon earth, he is guilty of idolatry. No, brethren, our dear Lord forbids us to call any man master, and every christian has a divine warrant to examine and judge for himself. 1 Thess. v. 21. "Prove all things, hold fast that which is good." 1 John iv. 1. "Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God." Phil. i. 9, 10. “And this I pray, that your love may abound, yet more and more in knowledge, and in judgment, that ye may approve (try, margin) things that are excellent." Gal. i. 8, 9. "If we or an angel from heaven,”---and again, any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." If the doctrines of angels and apostles were to be examined before received, it must be unaccountable stupidity to receive, without examination, the dictates of any since the apostolic times.

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Our Lord expressly taught the doctrine of private judgment. Luke xii. 57. “ Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?" The Jewish rabbies imagined that their dictates and traditions were as binding as the written law, but our Saviour bids the disciples "beware of this leaven, or corrupt doctrine of the pharisees," and lets them know they had a right to judge for them

selves. John v. 39. "Search the scriptures. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. He that is spiritual, judgeth all things." And the apostles followed their divine master, enjoining the same duty. "Judge in yourselves. I speak as to wise men: judge ye what I say." 1 John v. 10. "He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the witness in himself." It should read, holds the testimony for himself. Which points out the necessary connection betwixt a person's believing in the Son of God, and examining and knowing the testimony or record of God concerning his Son, on which his faith is built for himself.

The Bereans were highly commended for searching the scriptures, to see if the apostles' doctrine was agreeable thereto; and have the epithet of noble, or renowned, and honorable, given them for so doing. Whereas the Lord finds fault with such as blindly follow the dictates of men, Hos. v. 11, 12. " Ephraim is oppressed, and broken in judgment; because he willingly walked after the commandment. Therefore will I be unto Ephraim a moth," &c. The commandment here is that mandate of Jeroboam, with his corrupt council of priests and princes, to worship the calves at Dan and Bethel; which was not only sinful in them to appoint, but so in the people to comply with. Those who will follow men in matters of religion, may expect to meet with the judgments of God, whom they reject as their guide.

It must be highly commendable for every christian to search the scriptures, and compare the doctrines of men with the pure word of God. There is no way of finding the faith once delivered to the saints, but by diligent search into the word. In receiving doctrines by tradition, we make void the love and goodness of God, and involve ourselves in the guilt of the pharisees, who made the commandments of God of no effect through their traditions. We are ready to blame the papists for believing implicitly; but what are we better, if we take religion upon trust, without evidence from revelation itself?

It is a fault that prevails with most, that they neglect the study of the scriptures in general, and content themselves with a few scraps, the meaning of which they take from others, and consequently do not understand them; yet these they make the test of truth to them, and the ground of their principles, in contradiction to the whole tenor and scope of revelation. By much the greatest part of mankind, have no other evidence for their belief of revelation itself, than general received opinion; what has been held by their fathers, and all their acquaintance, passes for truth, and produces resolutions and actions.

Truth is but one, it cannot be mouldered and defined as our prejudices, passions, temporal interests or fancies would suggest; nor can it be al

tered, mended, suppressed, or established, by nations, synods, assemblies, congregations, or the agreement of parties. It is not what a divine may invent, or a society approve; nor does it change to suit circumstances as the times change. Like its author, it is unchangeably the same, in all ages and generations.

Truth was very early corrupted by ignorant and superstitious men, who, from self-conceitedness, were unsatisfied with the plainness of it; and it is still misunderstood in many particulars, by such as account themselves the true protestants, and most perfect reformers; nor will any one find it in its original purity, but by a free, diligent, and impartial study of revelation, in which its genuine principles are certainly explained; and whatever pains it may cost, the discovery of a treasure so valuable as native truth is, will richly reward the free enquirer. But whatever assistance is used, the work itself, no other person can do for us, every christian must do it for himself, if he would have a religion that he can call his own.

But instead of taking religion from the bible, if we take human systems and decisions, or our own conceits or suppositions for our guide like one who has lost his way in the dark, and led by a false light, we will wander in the maze of error and delusion, lose the beauties of truth, and live unacquainted with that divine temper of soul, that love,

goodness, comfort, and holy courage, which the knowledge of the truth inspires the mind with, which like the natural sun in the world, diffuses its genial light and heat through the soul and conversation of him, who is possessed of it. It creates a joy, which strangers to the exercise of searching the scriptures, do not intermeddle with, nor experience.

I cannot imagine how it should never enter into the minds of such as neglect to search the scriptures, how they think to answer to God at the great day, for turning over so many volumes of human compositions, while they, perhaps, never ONCE. in their life, closely and seriously read over the bible, which above all others, contains the most excellent knowledge; and which above all others, every christian is under the deepest obligation from God, and their own real interest, to study constantly, and know thoroughly.

If any one would know the truth, he must certainly be acquainted with the rule of judging what is truth. That man's religion is uncertain and precarious, who is not acquainted with the scriptures. He may read books on religious subjects, and hear sermons without number; but how shall he know what is truth or error, while he neglects to bring them to the standard, by which alone they can be tried and known. He may judge of what one man says, by what he hath heard from