Christianity is the sun of the system. I am the light of the world,' says Christ himself. Let us remember, that it is the inspiration that makes the oracle; not the priest or the shrine. Take away the spring from the time-keeper, and though the wheels are curiously contrived, and the gold in which it is cased, and the jewels with which it is adorned, may still be valuable, yet it will no longer be esteemed but as a costly toy, or looked at, by those who want information, with confidence. Thus, the gospel will have no vital, converting effect, when considered only as an historical narrative, with moral precepts occasionally interspersed, but unaccompanied with the ministration of the Holy Spirit.'

The successful propagation of the gospel could not be effected by the causes assigned by Mr. Gibbon, but must have been effected by the Holy Ghost. Is it not reasonable to believe that it may now be propagated and continued by the same means as at first-the powerful agency of heaven? Let us hear a sensible writer on the subject.

"The sole adequate cause of the successful propagation of the gospel is, according to the Scriptures, the Holy Ghost. It will be well if his agency, in these polite and rational days, be thought to deserve a moment's attention. Yet it is evident, that there must be some cause for this wonderful phenomenon. I shall not disgust the rational world, by supposing the agency of any supernatural being in the affair, but that of the great Author of Nature. Any Spirit inimical to him could not, and any Spirit obedient to his authority would not, produce a character of such goodness, but under his authority, and by a power derived from himself. Even miracles cannot change the heart, whatever effect they may have on the judgment; and the ruling providence of God, implying only an external government, does not influence the will; as facts abundantly testify. All that is rational and human is totally unequal to the task; nay, perhaps the most sensible of mankind, should they deign to honour these sheets with their inspection, can scarce bear the idea of a real Christian with patience. There is an energy more than human which produces this character; and it remains that this must be the influence of the Holy Ghost.

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For political and interested purposes, it may be talked of in churches and universities; it may be scholastically defended, and generally professed, and yet totally misunderstood and misrepresented. It will have no influence on the hearts of men: no, not on the hearts of the very persons who thus talk of it, profess it, defend it; nor of those who read or listen to the most elaborate apologies, de

"The reader who will allow himself seriously to weigh this subject, may see that nothing short of this could constitute one real Christian, in this or any other age of the church. Let him consider, whether it is even possible for mere man to invent such doctrines; much less to propagate them with any success, in a world like this. A number of men, possessed of a sixth sense, of which we had not the least idea, would find but few brought over to their opinion that they were possessed of such a sensation. Their pretensions would be construed into pride or folly; but those whom the Most High should endow with the same sensation, would easily believe. The application is obvious.

ture.

"Thus we have a simple and obvious proof of the truth of Christianity (the propagation of it by the influence of the Holy Ghost). I fear, indeed, it will weigh but little with those who love not the real gospel. The generality will say, 'At this rate, the majority of those who call themselves Christians, do not even know their own religion.' It is devoutly to be wished that this were not the case; that even many that have written ably in defence of Christianity, had themselves known its naMuch of the advantage which deism has gained had then been prevented; we should have had more of the experimental proof; and that Scripture had been better known, 'He that believeth in the Son of God, hath the witness in himself.' (1 John, v. 10.) Sceptical doubts will vanish before stubborn facts. Were the gospel itself understood, little time need be spent on its evidences. One sight of the sun is sufficient to point out its glorious Author. In all things else, experience is allowed to be the best schoolmaster; in religion only it is called enthusiasm." -Milner.

"Judas Iscariot knew Jesus Christ-all that he did-just in the same manner (though much better) as a mere historical believer of the gospel; a mere learned theologist. All knowledge of Christ, but that which is by divine inspiration, or the

fences, and demonstrations.' Christ must be formed in the soul, before the soul can recognize the truth and efficacy of Christianity.

Nearly two thousand years have elapsed since the written gospel was promulgated; and it has appeared to stand in need of defences and apologies to this very hour. Nor have defences or apologies been deficient in number, or in sagacity and erudition. Fabricius reckons up several hun

new birth, is but as poor and profitless as the knowledge of Judas Iscariot."-Law.

"The empty, letter-learned knowledge, which the natural man can as easily have of the sacred Scriptures and religious matters, as any other books or human affairs, being taken for divine knowledge, has spread such darkness and delusion all over Christendom, as may be reckoned no less than a general apostacy from the gospel state of divine illumination."—Ibid.

"The best ability of the natural man can go no further than talk, and notions, and opinions about Scripture words and facts; on these he may be a great critic, an acute logician, a powerful orator, and know every thing of the Scripture, except the Spirit and the truth."-Ibid.

"He who goes about to speak of the mystery of the Trinity, and does it by words and names of man's invention, talking of essences and existences, hypostases and personalities, priority in co-equalities, and unity in pluralities, may amuse himself, and build a tabernacle in his head, and talk something, he knows not what; but the good man, that feels the power of the Father, and to whom the Son is become wisdom, sanctification, and redemption, in whose heart the love of the Spirit of God is shed abroad, this man, though he understands nothing of what is unintelligible, yet he alone truly understands the Christian doctrine of the Trinity."-Bp. Taylor, on John, vii. 17.

Miserable and disgraceful have been the rancorous disputes on the Trinity; a subject, one would think, which, if worldly sentiments did not interpose, might be discussed with perfect composure of temper. The enemy has triumphed, while Christians have been tearing each other in pieces on an opinion.

"But rise; let us no more contend, nor blame Each other, blam'd enough elsewhere; but strive, In offices of love, how we may lighten

Each other's burden, in our share of woe."--Milton.

dred books in defence of the Christian religion. Diligent as he was, he has omitted many; and since his time, there has been a very considerable addition to the number. Yet the cause is said still to labour; and appearances justify the assertion. Accordingly, we have lately seen ingenious theologists, and excellent writers, called forth, by the exigencies of the times, in our own country, almost two thousand years after the origin of Christianity, and after all the preceding labours of divines, to display its evidences, as if it were the production of yesterday. Such a display is said to be more necessary than ever; and Europe has produced many excellent works of the kind. Such books furnish exercise for the schools. May they be efficacious, as they are learned and ingenious! May they carry conviction to the heart, produce a lively faith, and refute the gainsayers! If they should fail, their failure must not be attributed to any defect of abilities in their authors, but to the omission of the internal evidence of the Holy Spirit. They are, almost without exception, above the reach, and disgusting to the taste, of the multitude; and let it be duly remembered, that to mere human reason and human learning, the infidel is ever ready to oppose weapons from the same armoury. His heart must be pierced with the two-edged sword of the Spirit, before he will surrender to faith the citadel of his own reason.'

'The celebrated pamphlet, entitled, Christianity not founded on Argument, was certainly nothing more than a piece of irony. Nevertheless, many a truth is told in a jest; and ridentem dicere verum quid vetat ?

I allow that Christianity is not founded on argument; and I make the concession willingly, because I know that it has a

But however the works now alluded to may succeed in carrying conviction to the hearts of men, it is certain that different persons, in different ranks of life, with various degrees of natural sensibility and intellectual improvement, will be struck, respectively, with different arguments, and actuated by divers modes of persuasion. A learned defence or proof of Christianity, which is extolled by some, shall appear to others dull, lifeless, and totally foreign to the purpose. What

better foundation. Christianity is not built on the sand; but, like the house of the wise, on the rock-even the rock of ages. I will quote the words of the ironical adversary, and let them avail as much as they can.

"No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Here is pointed out to us that great dictator and infallible guide we have been seeking for, and, indeed, the only character we can possibly think of, any way equal to such a province. It could be nothing less than omniscience and omnipresence itself; nothing but this inexhaustible fountain of all truth, that could be sufficient to such a demand; and he it is, the promised oracle, who is to attend the charge of believers to the end of the world; to keep alive his divine light constantly in their hearts; not to teach them rudiments of logic, but to irradiate their souls at once with a thorough conviction; and perform more by one secret whisper, than a thousand clamorous harangues from the schools. From the satisfaction consequent to the mind from his performance of this great office, it is, that he is so eminently styled the Comforter; as his operations are in another place very strongly and significantly termed the power of God unto salvation. He that believeth in the Son of God, hath the witness in himself.' In this sense it is, that we are properly styled the temples of the Holy Ghost; the consecrated scenes of his constant residence, there ever personally present, and dispensing his certain intelligences to the soul, which the apostle calls the witnessing of the Spirit with our spirit.'

"It were endless to recount all the innumerable passages, throughout the whole Scripture, that concur in ascertaining the same supernatural and all-sufficient source and origin of our faith, in opposition to all the feeble aids and uncertain advices that reason might possibly contribute to the purpose. For we