man, but to that God in whom he lives, and moves, and has his being.

When an individual, therefore, proceeds on the principle that he is ignorant of those things which belong to his everlasting peace, and that in the Holy Scriptures he can obtain all the information he needs, there is much to encourage him. In God's word he can become acquainted with his own character, and the evil of sin. There he can discover

the love of God to a guilty world. There he can read predictions of the prophets, respecting the Messiah, and behold them all accomplished in the history of Jesus of Nazareth. He can become acquainted with the sayings of him who spake as man never yet spake. There, he can discover the divinity of His nature, by the miracles he wrought in his own name; the language he employed respecting himself, and that in which he was addressed by others. He can find out how the first preachers of Christianity proclaimed the Gospel; read of its wonderful effects, and be told of its blessings. The free offers of mercy will appear suited to his poverty; and its efficacy as able to reach the extent of his sinfulness. He will find the joys of religion described, and the hopes of the Gospel unfolded. His views will be directed beyond the present state of trial and imperfection, to that land where happiness reigns, and where the contemplations of those very things which excite the ridicule of the world, will produce everlasting joy.

If it be true that an inquiry after divine knowledge is so intimately connected with what has just

been stated; that it has to do with the very subject which the Saviour has pronounced to be of infinite moment, when he says, "This is life eternal to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." If the soul, and the divine favour reaching to eternity, be put into one scale, and the laughs and sneers of the careless into the other, which will, which ought to preponderate with him who knows and feels that he is a sinner?

Important as human knowledge is, universal as the desire of wealth and pleasure may be, all sinks into insignificance compared with this inquiry,"What must I do to be saved?" Listen not to worldly men, who would limit research, and dis courage such a question as this. The wish to dis cover truth has not been genuine, if it has not prompted this inquiry. And not only should such a question be proposed, but the answer given should sink deep into the heart: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."

Were you indeed engaged in some pursuit that was trifling or foolish, some human scheme, the execution of which could only involve you in difficulty and distress, friendly persuasion, or even an exposure of the folly of your conduct, might be useful. But this ought to be done by those who themselves know the nature of your scheme, and on good grounds are convinced of its folly and danger. But how different is it, if seeking heavenly wisdom, and earnestly pursuing a better acquaintance with spiritual things. No one can prove such a pursuit to be trifling or foolish-no one that ever engaged in

it sincerely ever experienced it to be so. Whatever opposition then you meet with, must be from those who are altogether ignorant of the subject. Yet even the most senseless and groundless opposition must be distressing to a serious inquirer, because at first he may see many difficulties retarding his progress even in the examination of truth itself. We can hardly conceive a situation more painful, than that of one whose mind is awakened to the most intense anxiety respecting things unseen and eternal, but who has as yet derived no relief for that anxiety from the contemplation of them; teased and irritated by the mockery of fools without, while he has no solid confidence or settled conviction of the truth within.

Great, however, as the difficulties may appear, which present themselves in the way of attaining these, yet there is every encouragement to perse vere. Whoever humbly and seriously begins the investigation of Divine truth will certainly succeed; he will gradually perceive the meaning of the Scriptures. Their history and biography, their doctrines and precepts, will become more interesting, and appear more instructive. He will begin to perceive the harmony of their statements, and the importance of their claims. The clouds that darkened his understanding will by degrees be dispelled, and the light of truth will not only enlighten, but console the heart and purify the affections: the promise of Jehovah will be fulfilled," Then shall ye know, ye follow on to know the Lord." The Gospel will appear as worthy of all acceptation, and the

if

love of Christ will indeed seem to pass all understanding. Thus the peace of God will rule in the heart by faith; that hope will be laid hold of, which is as an anchor to the soul, both sure and stedfast; and then the wildest storms from without will be met with serenity and composure.

Such a result as this may well serve as a counterpoise to any opposition to be met with from fellowcreatures; and when this increased acquaintance with Divine things is obtained, all that men can say and do will appear trifling. There will now be a personal—an impressive conviction of the importance of truth. Success has crowned the first efforts in the study of it, and there will be a stretching forth to higher attainments in Divine knowledge. A successful inquirer should consider every clearer view he obtains, and every moment of real joy which he experiences in the pursuit of good, as an encouragement to resist evil, and to overcome it in the spirit of meekness. He has now found that, which should animate him in all his future inquiries, and which may impart a hope that he is beginning to think and act as an immortal being should do.

It must not, however, for a moment be supposed, that all this follows without Divine teaching and assistance. When success attends the inquirer, it is plain that he has proceeded, at least some part of the way, under the influence of a real desire to obtain religious knowledge-with a teachable disposition-ready to receive it, though opposed to his former opinions and practice, and with earnest

prayer to the Father of his spirit for his Divine illumination; and these are the effects of Divine influence on the soul. In connection with this, there have been diligence and perseverance; the exercise of all the powers of the mind, and the avoiding of those things that would interfere with his anxious inquiry after salvation. To such persons the aid of heavenly grace is not only promised, but given. "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him."

Here it may be proper to allude for a moment to those who profess to be inquiring after truth, but who never obtain the knowledge of it. They seem to begin well, and yet in a short time give up the pursuit, and allow themselves to be drawn aside by the remarks of ignorant men. Such persons have never been really in earnest; they have not been truly sincere in their inquiries. They have either trusted to their own abilities, or been unwilling to go all the length to which a belief of the truth would lead them. They have not sought the assistance of God's Holy Spirit, and would not receive the humbling and purifying doctrines of grace. They were unwilling to give up their false notions, and they still sought to secure the good opinion of the world. No wonder if they have failed in their proposed object, and that even a laugh has overcome their resolution, and they have stopped short on the very threshhold of inquiry. Such persons are much to be pitied. They have had some of the trouble and anxiety of religious inquirers, but they