which the Scriptures were designed to convey. Hopes adapted to our very wants and necessities, suitable to every exigency, and founded upon the veracity of God.

Tell me, Christians, is it not so? Are not the Scriptures your source of hope? Do they not, when every other hope disappoints, satisfy the desires of your soul?

How much then ought we to prize that holy book! how ought we to study it! how ought we to " read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest"1 it! How thankful should we be to God, for supplying us with a book so wonderfully calculated for administering direction, comfort, "hope!" How thankful should we be to God for raising up men to write it, men publicly to read it, men to teach it, men to translate it, men to print it! And with the words of salvation in our hands, and in our own tongue, "how shall we escape," if we neglect them! Had they been still locked up in a language unknown to us, it would have been some palliation to ignorance; but now to be lukewarm and indifferent in the concerns of our soul, is inexcusable ! Heaven is now laid open to our acceptance, and

if we fail of it, our condemnation must indeed be aggravated!

III.-But it may be asked, In what way are the Scriptures a source of "hope?"

By the examples therein contained, of the patience exercised by holy men, and of the relief and comfort they received from God in times of distress and calamity. So that by a diligent

observation of the lives of the saints of the Lord, we may have a confident hope of similar support and comfort.

Thus, when we read of Enoch, we learn the blessedness of those who "walk with God."When we read of Noah, we learn to exercise a firm and settled belief in divine declarations, although their accomplishment may appear to be long delayed.-When we read of Abraham, we learn to trust and obey God; by Jacob's history we learn the evil consequences of doing evil; by Joseph's, we perceive "that all things work together for good to them that love God." We read of Job, and learn patience of Moses, and learn meekness and self-denial-of Joshua, and resolve to serve the Lord;—of Eli, Elijah, Jeremiah, of David, of Solomon, of Hezekiah,

1 Rom. viii. 28.

of Josiah, of Samuel, and learn that God "is nigh to all them that call upon him" and that he scattereth abroad all the ungodly. The Scriptures teach us that by faith the people of God "subdued kingdoms, wrought righteous

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ness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of "lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped "the edge of the sword, out of weakness were "made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to "flight the armies of the aliens." 2 And why were all these things recorded? The apostle shall tell us: "Now all these things were writ"ten for our admonition, upon whom the ends "of the world have come," that we and they may hope to be partakers of the same help, the same spirit, and the same heaven.

But I must not stop here. I must remind you of the perfect example which the Scriptures unfold to us in the person of our Saviour Jesus Christ; for it is this to which the Apostle in the passage before us principally refers. That having considered him "who was with "God," and "who was God," "emptying him"self of his glory, and taking upon him, not "the nature of angels," but "the seed of "Abraham;" that having beheld him who had

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no sin, and in whose lips there was no guile, patiently endure the taunts of the wicked, and the scorn of the proud, we may learn resignation, patience under injuries, and forgiveness; may learn when "reviled' to bless;" when "persecuted to suffer it." That as "for the suffering of death" Jesus "was crowned with glory and honour," we, by the grace of God, may be animated to follow his example, that having suffered with Christ, "we may also be glorified with him." "The exceeding weight "of glory" promised in the Gospel, supplies motives strong enough to induce us to brave any danger, any difficulty, in the cause and service of God.

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Indeed, the hope of a glorious resurrection, as promised in the Scriptures, has in every age encouraged holy men to hazard their lives in behalf of the truth, to "hope" against hope," and to count the loss of all things gain. By the Scriptures men learn "to suffer afflic"tion with the people of God," in preference "to the enjoyment of sin for a season," and to "have regard to the recompence of reward." By the Scriptures, and the Scriptures alone, can men enjoy this life, or with satisfaction look forward to the next.

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1. A deep conviction of this important truth made our forefathers anxious that the precious word of God should be accessible to all, and that all should sedulously study them. "Go to now," says Coverdale in the preface to his translation of the Bible, go to now, dear reader, and sit thee down at the Lord's feet, and read his words. And as Moses teaches the Jews, take them into thine heart, and let thy talking and thy communication be of them, when thou sittest in thy house, or goest by the way; when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Above all things, fashion thy life and conversation according to the doctrine of the Holy Ghost therein contained; that thou mayest be a partaker of the good promises of God in the Bible, and be an heir of the blessings of Christ. And forasmuch," he goes on to

say, "as all Scripture is written for thy doctrine and ensample, it shall be necessary for thee to take hold upon it while it is offered thee, yea, with ten hands thankfully to receive it." Surely, dear Brethren, this is wholesome counsel. For if, as we have endeavoured to show, the Bible be the only book which can administer hope and consolation, can we be too diligent in searching into its exhaustless stores, and making its treasures our own?