our own church in the absence of Hebrew learning? If sacred criticism be the sole foundation and constitute the very grounds of our belief, upon what has our belief hitherto been grounded? This opinion places the Christian Religion on the footing of the superstitions of Mahomet and Brahma; which is this, that if you commit to memory a certain number of historic facts, and can read certain languages, (all of which, both facts and languages, may be oblitered from your memory in less than twenty years) you are a good Theologian; but with this advantage, however, in favour of the Mahometan, in regard to many Theologians of this day, that, whereas he can read his Koran in the original Arabic, they cannot read the Old Testament in the original Hebrew.-My brethren, by this argument, (which is the same in principle with those which, as we have seen, were uttered in a dark age from the chief seats of learning) the assisting Grace of God, and all that is peculiar to the Christian religion, seems to be very BOLDLY extinguished.

But perhaps the source of this misapprehension lies in confounding these two terms, a Theologian and a Christian. That which constitutes a Christian is, Faith, Hope, and Charity, these three. Much human learning is not essentially necessary to constitute a Chris

tian. Indeed, a man MAY BE a profound Theologian and not be a Christian at all. He may be learned in the doctrines and history of Christianity, and yet be a stranger to the FRUITS of Christianity. He may be destitute of Faith, of Hope, and of Charity.

Let us not then confound the FRUITS of religion, namely, its influence on the moral conduct, its peace of mind, and hope of heaven, with the CIRCUMSTANCES of religion. True religion is that which its great Author himself hath declared. It is a PRACTICAL knowledge of the Love of God the FATHER, “who sent "not his Son into the world, to condemn the "world; but that the world, through him, "might be saved;" of the ATONEMENT of God the Son, by faith in whom we receive remission of our sins, and are justified in the sight of the Father; and of the SANCTIFICATION of God the HOLY GHOST, by which we are made MEET" to become partakers of the inheri"tance of the saints in light."-The preacher who can communicate THIS knowledge to his hearers (and it is true, that if he possess a critical knowledge of the Bible, and of the history of Christianity, he will be likely to do it with the most success), the same is "a "workman that needeth not be ashamed,

"and a good minister of Jesus Christ." 1 Tim.

iv. 6.

As an illustration of this truth, we may adduce the influence of the Gospel on the ignorant minds of persons born in the heathen world.

It has been maintained by some, that civilization must always prepare the way for Christianity. But this position, like many others allied to this subject, is completely at variance with the fact. Civilization is a blessing of itself, and ought to be given, as we have opportunity, to all nations: but it is not universally necessary that it should precede the Gospel. The fact is, that the religion of Christ has sometimes found more difficulty in conflicting with a refined superstition, with what St. Paul calls" the wisdom of men," than with the ignorance of barbarism. It doth not appear that human learning, in itself considered, though in many ways an important instrument of good to mankind, predisposes the mind in any manner or degree to receive the Grace of God. There is a sense in which Learning, like Riches, may impede our spiritual progress, for "Knowledge puffeth up," (1 Cor. viii. 1.) though we are ever to distinguish between the use and the abuse of learning. On this subject we ought to keep

in remembrance our Saviour's words, "The poor have the Gospel preached to them:" in which is implied, That the poor would "UNDERSTAND the Gospel, and RECEIVE the Gospel; and these words have been illustrated in every age. The Apostle Paul had less success among the learned at Athens, than among the barbarous people. And the same is sometimes the experience of Preachers at this day among the Gentile nations. It so happens that the most numerous conversions, during the last century, have been among those nations which have least civilization. * And this fact demonstrates the PERMANENT CHARACTER and DIVINE NATURE of the Christian dispensation. For, "Where is "the wise?" saith the Apostle, in reference to this subject: "Where is the Scribe? "Where is the disputer of this world? Hath "not God made foolish the wisdom of this "world? For ye see your calling, brethren; "how that not many wise men after the flesh, "not many mighty, not many noble are call

*The ESQUIMAUX Indians of LABRADOR; the COLAREES of the Decan in India; the AFRICAN slaves of several islands in the West Indies; and the natives of Caffraria, and of the Great and Little Namaquas, in the South of Africa. See the Reports of the Moravian, Danish, and English Missions.

❝ed. But God hath chosen the foolish "things of the world to confound the wise: " and God hath chosen the weak things of "the world to confound the things that are

mighty: That no flesh should glory IN HIS PRESENCE: But that, according as it is writ"ten, He that glorieth; let him glory in the "Lord." 1 Cor. i. 26.