come this lethargy-to rouse to the state of activity which is necessary in pursuing this great inquiry, a divine power is required. Judgments may excite to attention for a few hours or days; the fear of punishment may alarm, and diligence may seem to be exercised; but remove the fear, and the mind sinks into its former criminal indifference and dislike.

...It will, however, be very different with the man who is in earnest about religion. He may indeed have to contend with indolence and prejudice, but it will be his sincere desire to overcome them. He will be ashamed to think, that in a matter so important, he can at any time be indifferent. Persuaded that in no valuable pursuit, can success attend the sluggard, he exercises diligence. He knows, that if a packet came to him, which contained information which deeply affected his worldly interest and happiness, every power of his mind would be employed in the examination of its contents. How then can he remain inactive, when God has sent him a book, which contains news of infinite moment, and which are specially addressed to him, and intended to promote his present and everlasting happiness. He finds that he cannot learn all its truths, so quickly as he once imagined that he could; and he has ascertained, that there are heights in religious knowledge to which he can have no hope of attaining, without the greatest diligence.

Under this impression, he not only seeks instruction from the preaching of the Gospel, but he improves every opportunity. He searches the Scrip

tures daily. Every hour is now considered valuable, because a proper use of it adds to his knowledge and his happiness. Once, he thought that it was enough to attend a place of worship, and listen to the preacher; but now he feels persuaded, that there must be diligence in private as well as in public, and that in fact, all religious ordinances will be of little avail, unless they are followed up at home.

Again, this inquiry should be pursued with per

severance.

The inquirer must expect to meet with many obstacles in the pursuit of truth. This, however, instead of hindering, should rather stimulate him in his inquiry. He may not be able at first, to discover the harmony of divine truth, or the meaning and design of all the declarations of God. The language of Christian experience, as employed by the sacred writers, may be obscure for a season, He may be discouraged, because he is unable to apply it to himself. While he is willing, cheerfully to admit all that God has revealed, yet he wishes to understand, and be able to bring home to his own heart, the deep things of God. Let him, however persevere. He knows that worldly men, would not be prevented by trifling difficulties, from pursuing any object that promised them an adequate reward. They would rather be excited to fresh vigour, from the obstacles presented; and keeping in view the object of pursuit, would go forward.

Let the inquirer be as wise in his generation, as the children of the world are in theirs. Let him

persevere in his most important pursuit, and never rest satisfied, till he has attained to a saving knowledge of divine truth-that knowledge which humbles and purifies, which elevates and saves. Let him remember that it is for his life, for the interests of his immortal spirit, that he goes on in his inquiry. Even experienced Christians, must continue learners in the school of Christ, to the end of their days. Indeed the longest period of human life, will be found far too short, to acquire and to understand all the knowledge which is to be found in the book of God.

Lastly, the inquiry must, above all things, be pursued, with earnest prayer to God for divine teaching.

7

It is not too much to say, that if this great duty be neglected, all other means will be in vain, as they regard real spiritual knowledge. Nay, without this spirit of prayer, there can be no genuine humility, no real diligence, no perseverance in the pursuit of truth. True, a theoretical acquaintance with Christianity may be obtained, without the assistance of God's Holy Spirit. An individual whose opinions have been sceptical, respecting the truth of Scripture, may by an examination of the arguments in favour of Christianity, see sufficient cause to alter his opinions; some objections may be answered, and some difficulties may be removed, and he may be willing to admit that the Bible is true. But if this is all, the inquiry has alas stopt far short of the truth. Here there is no gratitude of heart to God, for bestowing a revelation on his creatures;

there is no yielding of the will to the requirements of that revelation; there is no subduing, no purifying effect produced; the glory, the excellency, and the adaptation of divine truth to the circumstances of men, are not perceived. All that has been accomplished, is merely the result of external evidence, which the judgment was constrained to admit upon examination, and which evidence, if produced in favour of any other book, would in every honest mind, have equally led to the admission of its genuineness and authenticity.

Humbling as it may be to the pride of human reason, yet it is a truth declared in the word of God, and confirmed by the history of man, that "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."* It is therefore of essential moment, for the well-being of the inquirer, that he should seek and obtain the assistance of the divine Spirit. Without his enlightening and humbling influences darkness will continue to cover the understanding, and pride to fortify the heart; so that God cannot be known, nor the Saviour believed in, as the only deliverer" from the wrath to come." That this teaching is required, need not surprise us, when we consider the carnality, weakness, and darkness of the soul of man. The inquirer in some measure knows these things. He is ready to admit, that his own endeavours would be utterly in vain, in attain

# 1 Cor. ii. 14.

ing to a full and satisfactory acquaintance with religious truth. Under this conviction, let every step in this inquiry be accompanied with prayer to God, for the teaching of the Holy Spirit.

Let no one say, that too much is required from the religious inquirer; oh no! those who are really in earnest about the salvation of their souls, will acknowledge that they would willingly make any exertion, could they only obtain a good hope, that their inquiries would be crowned with success.

That there is every encouragement to persevere in a course of religious inquiry, is the chief design of this work to show. That this is the case, not merely in the circumstances in which men are universally placed, but also amidst the difficulties occasioned by the present state of Society, to which only some are exposed. It appears, therefore, unnecessary to state in this place, the grounds of encouragement, as in the different sections of this book, these are presented to the reader, and made to bear on the peculiar difficulties with which the inquirer may have to contend.....

To conclude, No individual can neglect religious inquiry, without being guilty of a high misdemeanor against God, and committing a fearful injury against his own soul. The Divine Being has declared it to be the first and great commandment, that he should be loved supremely. He has also enjoined us to know and believe in his Son Jesus Christ, and to seek the salvation which he has been pleased to reveal. He has again and again intimated, that his word was bestowed for the purpose