apprehension, to rest satisfied in their conclusions, till they find them confirmed by the testimony of more experienced students of heavenly mysteries. To persons of this character-thoughtful, inquiring, but humble-minded Christians-it is equally consolatory and profitable to find a vast body of profound reasoners on the topics of theology, confirming the opinion which they were led to form from the study of Scripture itself: they are encouraged thereby to further inquiries; an activity of mind is preserved, which both gladdens and sobers; and while enthusiasm is kept far off, by the pure and healthy piety which delights only in truth, the heart is daily expanding with the increasing joy of higher and nobler convictions. Were Christianity a system which had been gradually evolved from successive events, and in such a manner that each of its parts, though forming a beautiful whole, might be easily separated, and exhibited in distinct perfection, far less diligence would be necessary in the study of the system than is now the case. The first lesson which Christ taught had respect to the full and complete spirituality of his religion. Verily, verily I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God;' and the means whereby the great change here alluded to was to be effected, are described in his later discourses, with a particularity the most solemn and impressive:-' 'I will not leave you comfortless: I will send you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him.' And the infinite importance of this promise is most strikingly demonstrated by the fact, that its fulfilment was the highest step in that climax of mysteries and mercies which compose the dispensation of the New Testament. The work which these reflections are intended to introduce to the Christian reader, affords satisfactory evidence that the most comforting and important truths of the gospel are established on a basis of unanswerable argument. That it has some defects may be allowed, without greatly derogating from its general claim to usefulness. The circumstance that an estimable and learned divine was to have ushered the present edition into the world, but found himself unable to fulfil his design, prevented the writer of this essay from paying so work as would other early an attention to the wise have been the case. He is happy, however, in having had the opportunity of speaking a few words on those points which it is the object of the publication to illustrate and enforce; being deeply persuaded that every age requires to be warned against that worldliness of thought and spirit, which assails Christianity on all sides, but more especially on that, wherein it exhibits the necessity of spiritual sanctification and spiritual mindedness. H. S. June 24, 1835. |