hope from which I would not part, when I remember how candidly he confessed, whenever his argument was truly prostrated, that he may, before his departure, have asked the Maker of suns to be his Redeemer. This is the history of one case where the powerful remedy, sober investigation, may have failed to cure, for aught I was able afterwards to learn.

CHAPTER XXIX.

CASE 2.-I had an acquaintance, in days of boyhood, with an amiable young man, who was liberally educated. After sixteen years of separation, we met again. He had become thorough in his profession (the law) by unceasing practice. He was an unbeliever, and the society with which he had commonly mingled at the bar, was of that description. After some long and friendly interviews, he promised me to read on the evidences of Christianity, and I engaged to provide him with books. I had stronger hopes of success in this case, from the fact that law was his profession. I do not know why it is so, but it is the result of eighteen years experience, that lawyers, of all others with whom I have examined, exercise the clearest judgment, whilst investigating the evidences of Christianity. It is the business of a physician's life, to watch for evidence and indication of disease, sanity, or of change; therefore I am unable to account for the fact, yet, so it is that the man of law excels. He has, when examining the evidences of the Bible's inspiration, shown more common sense in weighing proof and in confessing argument,

where argument really existed than any other class of men I have ever observed. It is no easy matter to prevail upon these men to think about eternal things. They float along on the surface of secular schemes and political turmoil, they have little time, they think, for any thing but business, and they look surprised for a moment when they are told that they are ignorant of Bible literature; but when they do read thoroughly, and examine faithfully, they are better than ordinary judges of what is debility, or what is force in reason

Concerning the man of whom I have been writing, I am unable to remember distinctly the authors he read, or how many were furnished him. I never saw him afterwards, but so contrived it that certain books were put into his hand. Of one volume I remember, and I heard distinctly and accurately, the result of its perusal. The book was the first volume of Horn's Introduction. A brother of the bar came upon him, just as he was finishing the concluding page. This friend, knowing the nature of the study which had employed him, (was himself a sceptic,) asked after his impression concerning its contents. Whilst shutting the book slowly and gravely, he made the following reply, and said no more: "Were I a juror, and sworn the ordinary oath, and were you, as one of the parties to establish just this amount of evidence, nor more, nor less, 1 should declare, by my verdict, that your point was proven." I never heard from him again. When he died, his mind was impaired; but I have not been entirely without hope that, perhaps, his reading was not altogether in vain.

These cases are the only two remembered through long observation, where, after ample research and full inquiry, a total cure did not seem to be the result. Many will promise to read, but will never perform. Others will

begin, with considerable earnestness, but soon desist. Others will pass on as with a task, and understanding the discussion with difficulty, find the labour very 'toilsome, and after a little, begin to shun it. But there are others, thank God, who believe that it would be well for them to know, with some degree of certainty, whether they are, or are not, to live for ever. They seem resolved to find out either the truth, or untruth of the pages of inspiration, even should it cost them some labour. When they begin, if they find much of the subject dark, they re-peruse the same treatises, or they ask after other authors on the same points, until they are capable of comprehending. Of such an effort as is made by these, I have never known but one termination. That was a perfect cure. They have said uniformly, after a thorough study, "this is the book of God."

CHAPTER XXX.

UNGODLY men have a very particular aversion to reading commentaries, or the remarks of holy men on any part of the sacred volume.

Reader, our natural tendency toward falsehood, or the secret suggestions of the evil One, often causes men to object against the perusal of notes on the Bible. The sophism used as an excuse and subterfuge in this case, is often plausible. "We wish to judge for ourselves," say they, "commentators dispute between each other, but we will read and decide on our own account." Those who speak thus obtain information, generally speaking, from no source whatever. Dear reader, there are some Bible facts concerning which men do not dispute. Again,

doctrinal controversy you may neglect if you choose. Notice it not, if you are so disposed; but neglect not certain knowledge which is within your reach, and which you must acquire at the risk of your soul. Men do not refuse to read the notes of others on chemistry, astronomy, or philosophy, because authors have disputed here; but the reader is willing to avail himself of the assistance of others, to use that which may seem to him valuable, and cast the rest away. We have determined, dear friend, to give you plain examples of the fact, that you may avail yourself of the toil of others, and that you need their labours. Commentators can point you to facts most valuable, and such as you may see as soon as named, but such as you would not have noticed had they not been remarked. The first case we give by way of illustration, shall be one which happened in connection with the seventeenth chapter of Revelation. And furthermore, dear reader, this chapter may be one of interest to you, for it speaks of the events of eighteen centuries. It is a chapter which concerns you much, for it also describes certain political events of Europe, which are taking place in this year, (1836,) and it goes on to mention some affairs which are to happen the approaching years. Thus you may receive a double benefit by noticing the verses of this chapter. They exhibit the necessity of commentaries for the ignorant, they also inform us what the Lord has recently done, and shortly will accomplish. Lest you should fail to read the passage named, we will transcribe verse after verse as needed, so that each section shall be on the fairly before us.

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1. "And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto

me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters.

2. With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabiters of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

3. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness; and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

4. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones, and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication."

A man read this chapter who had been an infidel. He had read it and heard it read, (like thousands of others,) often, without attaching any meaning to the words. He did not observe until he picked up a volume of Scott's Family Bible, that this was a part of scripture which explains itself; and is of course as plain as others or perhaps more so; for when the Lord interprets emblematic language, he makes it as plain as any words known to us will permit. He had read history enough to have noticed the truth of the following remarks without assistance, but he did not observe the declaration of the last verse, until it was pointed out to him. The last verse is, "And the woman which thou sawest is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth." This reader was well enough acquainted with history to know what city reigned over the kings of the earth, when Domitian was on the imperial throne, when John was in Patmos ; for long before, and for many centuries after. There is no difference between unbelievers or Christians, as it regards the city that stood on the Tiber,