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The beautiful arrangement of the celestial bodies, which modern science has discovered, doubtless leads the mind to reflections on the wisdom which conceived, and the power which executed so wonderful a fabric. But how much more touching to the Christian is the reflection, that the same God who arranged the motion of those heavenly bodies, is the God to whom he looks for individual support, and in whose immediate presence he continually dwells: that the same hand which binds the sweet influences of Pleiades, and looseth the bands of Orion, actively interferes to guide the faithful in all the intricacies and troubles of this life: that He, whose agency continually controls all the mighty changes of the material world, notes also every word which we speak and every thought which we conceive: that the Creator, who called out of nothing all that we behold, and sustains the Universe by his will, is also about our path and about our bed, and spieth out all our ways.'

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To the contemplation, then, of the works of God, let us add the daily study of his word. So may we hope for that knowledge of heavenly things which no study of mere natural objects can attain; to be regu

Job xxxviii. 31.

Psalm cxxxix. 3. Great Bible.

lated by a law perfect in itself, directing the very thoughts; and to receive those assurances of pardon, and that assistance of heavenly grace, which alone can convert and restore the soul.

LECTURE VI.

THE EVIDENCES OF REVEALED RELIGION: AND

ITS PRACTICAL APPLICATION.

Psalm XIX. 7.

The testimony of the Lord is sure; making wise the simple.

If a book, which purports to contain a revelation from heaven, and to offer instructions for the regulation of life, be put into the hands of man, it is requisite that evidence should be given, sufficient to satisfy a reasonable mind that its pretensions are valid. Accordingly David, in enumerating the excellencies which characterize the written word of God, neglects not to observe that the "testimony of the Lord is sure."

Every imposture courts concealment: and false religions have always been anxious to discourage enquiry into their origin. They have enveloped the source of their belief in fables, and hidden it in the obscurity of remote ages. The Scriptures, on the contrary, not only permit, but command us to investigate

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their pretensions to be really the word of God. They direct us to be ready to give to every one that asketh us a reason of the hope which is in us. Much has consequently been done by Christians in all ages, to establish the certainty of our faith: and it has been shewn that the goodly fabric of the universal Church is built upon so firm a foundation, that against it the gates of hell shall not prevail.

After so many have successfully laboured in this important work, it would be superfluous now to enter at large upon the evidence which they have accumulated, in order to prove the authority of the Holy Scriptures. Such an undertaking involves researches into many points of great intricacy; and requires more time and more study than many can bestow. Our present object requires only such a brief outline to be drawn of this evidence, as may illustrate the assertion of David, The testimony of the Lord is sure."

I. 1. Since we derive our knowledge of the Christian religion from the written books of the New Testament; it is evidently requisite first to ascertain that these books are the genuine productions of the persons whose names they bear, or, at least, that they contain a true account of the facts which they relate, and of

a 1 Pet. iii. 15.

the doctrine preached by the original founders of our faith. The canon of the New Testament has been established by an enquiry into the writings of those who lived at an early period of the Christian æra. Long before any written list of canonical Scripture was drawn up and fixed by any authority of the Church, the very same books, which we now receive as the undoubted works of the Evangelists and Apostles, are found to have been quoted and appealed to as authority by all Christian writers. These quotations can be traced back regularly from the present time to the age of the Apostles. Many of these writers give catalogues of the books which are received by them as genuine, carefully noticing those few which, though received by the majority of the Christian church, have yet not met with unanimous assent. Their testimony, therefore, in favour of the books which they all approve is perfectly convincing. And the doubts which they express, respecting some of the sacred books, have only this effect, that more care is requisite in tracing them to their source, than in proving the authenticity of the uncontroverted books. These writings, besides, were soon collected into a volume, and distinguished by titles of respect: they were divided by a broad line of separation from all other

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