By such mode of procedure, which surely is rational,* man is more likely to arrive at further convictions, mighty to lead him towards the assured hope of everlasting life, than one who would more proudly lay such considerations aside.+ Setting out with the mature consciousness, of how "the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and their devices uncertain; " how "the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the earthly tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things;" knowing how " hardly we GUESS aright at things that are upon earth, and with" (how much) "labour we find the things that are before us," man, with God's blessing, will be better able to perceive how, although the knowledge attainable through Christ in the gospel be such as is symbolized by St. Paul's figurative * Although, possibly, not as some may understand the term. + "What think ye? A certain man had two sons: and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you." expression, "we see through a glass darkly;' yet, that that knowledge, that portion of truth, to them who possess it even in the least degree, is "a MARVELLOUS LIGHT!"*—a light, indeed, " "great" "to them that walked in darkness, and dwelt in the land of the shadow of death; "+ "the SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH HEALING IN HIS WINGS," I "to those eyes which see its salvation." § "The DAY-SPRING from on high," "to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to guide their feet in the way of peace." || VII...It is light of such a nature, that they who seek to shun it, clothe themselves with the leprous shame of this condemnation, that light is come into the world, but that they love darkness rather than the light, BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS ARE EVIL."¶ "Now about the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." I...IN considering the variety of opinion in religious matters which prevails in the present day, any person, whatever his education may have been, supposing him to be beginning, strict inquiry and reflection, on the subject of his religious opinions [which inquiry and reflection unfortunately with many is much neglected and postponed,] supposing him, at an advanced period of manhood, to commence seeking for himself CONVICTIONS On the subject, which convictions had not been supplied to him before, either by his own attention, or by the care of his parents;-any person, it appears, in this situation, would be sensible of some perplexity, while he contemplated the wilderness of religious divisions, in which the minds of mankind at present exhibit themselves. He would see, it is true, the verification of those words [should those words ever have engaged his thoughts] which the Founder of our religion made use of, in forewarning his apostles who were to preach his doctrines after him, of events which would in future take place, where he said, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth!-I came, not to send peace-but a swORD! For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-inlaw; and a man's foes shall be they of his own household."* But, supposing the religious sentiments of the inquirer not to be well founded; supposing him to be ill prepared to meet such contemplations as the above, which in fact we have assumed in the outset of these remarks; then would he of necessity feel a somewhat painful and possibly disheartening impression from the prospect open before him. *Matt. x. 34-36. He would probably ask himself,-whither, as I now stand, am I to direct my intellectual sight, that I may discern as heretofore the mercy and the goodness of Him who "never left himself without witness: in that he did good and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with joy and gladness." "The invisible things of Him, from the creation of the world, have been clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead." His boundless goodness has been plainly discerned from the things which he has made; and "his mercies" have been seen "over all his works."+ Is there no source, we naturally inquire, where we may gain a reply to the aspiration of our hearts? What is the truth? Whence may we know that which is pure and holy from the "cunningly devised fable?"§ "for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." Has not the God of all goodness provided here, as elsewhere, that his goodness be made plain, in that in this strait, as in all *Acts xiv. 17. † Rom. i. 20. |