God, on which He hath caused us to hope, are sure, and faithful, and eternal; more sure than the foundations of the heavens and the earth. Here then is something to lay hold of, something to cling to, something on which the soul can rest with full assurance and repose, amidst all the changes and revolutions, trials, temptations, and sorrows, of a world that lieth in wickedness, and is (we know not how soon) to be destroyed.

Let then this be fully settled in our minds, that this Word is given by inspiration of God; that the Holy Ghost is the Author of every word from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation. Let no one by any pretences of critical learning, by any specious cavils, difficulties, and objections, be suffered for one moment to shake our strong assurance of this truth. If there should be found any real difficulties, we can safely and quietly leave them, till the light of heaven and of eternity shall remove them all; but if we once begin to question the truth and certainty of any portion of God's Word, we know not whither this will

tend it will involve us in unthought of difficulties and perils: it will rob us of all sure and satisfying consolation,-perhaps at those very seasons when most of all we need it. Give place to the devil in the times of ease, and your soul shall smart for it in the days of trouble.

And be it remembered that our English Bible is God's gift to the plain English Reader. Not s perfect indeed as to excuse those from reading the original, who can; but yet so excellent, that it well deserves to be received, studied, honoured, clung to, with unspeakable thankfulness, by those who cannot. And (as a general rule) though you may listen to those who point out a depth, or an accuracy in the original, which is lost or overlooked in the translation: yet not to those who really differ from, or contradict, the received version: much less to those who treat it with disrespect.

Do not imagine that in thus insisting on the direct verbal inspiration of the Scriptures, and the excellence of our authorized version, I am turning out of my way to discuss mere critical questions. No: these questions are important

here. I am only insisting upon that, in which you are practically and experimentally concerned, and on which, in time of affliction, you will find your peace and comfort to depend ;-whatever you, or the church at large, may think of it, in those seasons of outward prosperity, which are too commonly accompanied with inward indif ference and lukewarmness.

When "thus it is written," and "thus the Lord hath spoken," is sufficient with us tɔ settle and decide every question, and answer every difficulty, then we go upon sure ground, -we have that upon which the soul can repose in comfort and affliction, life and death, for time and for eternity.

Well-what are ages and the lapse of time,
Match'd against truths, as lasting as sublime?
Can length of years on God himself exact?
Or make that fiction, which was once a fact !
No-marble and recording brass decay,
And, like the 'graver's memory, pass away;
The works of man inherit, as is just,

Their author's frailty, and return to dust :

But Truth divine for ever stands secure,
Its head is guarded, as its base is sure;
Fix'd in the rolling flood of endless years,
The pillar of the eternal plan appears,
The raving storm and dashing wave defies,—
Built by that Architect who built the skies.

Engrav'd as in eternal brass,

The mighty promise shines;

Nor can the powers of darkness raze
Those everlasting lines.

Thine every word of grace is strong
As that which built the skies;
The voice which rolls the stars along,
Spake all the promises.

My hiding place, my refuge-tower,

And shield, art Thou, O Lord;

I firmly anchor all my hopes

On Thy unerring word.

Is not the Lord at hand?

men.

"Let your moderation be known unto all The Lord is at hand.-Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." Phil. iv. 5. James v. 7, 8.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which