What a field of usefulness does this world present to the Church. All its members may and should labor; should follow their Lord; and then would they be instrumental in doing much for the world, and in bringing much glory to God. Is it not right for us to be ambitious, that when we shall have departed hence, it may in truth be said of us, that the world was bettered by our living in it?

us an example of forgiveness

Jesus has set us

and mercy.

How ready was Jesus to forgive, how willing to show mercy. Peter, who had deeply sinned, beheld the merciful eye of Jesus, whose glance brought him to repentance, which was followed by a free and full pardon. The thief, also, on the cross received a kind response to his prayer. One of the last acts of a merciful Redeemer was to pray for His enemies: "Father, forgive them; they know not what they do." This is enjoined by Christ in a most forcible manner: "If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses." And we are told to forgive till seventy times seven. Some will say, "I forgive; but will not forget." Does this not look like retaining malice in the heart? Surely we, who have shared so largely

in forgiving mercy, should be ready to forgive, and remember the offense no more. Phocion, the heathen, who was unjustly condemned by the Athenians, being asked if he had any message to send to his son, made this noble reply: "Yes, certainly; it is my desire that he would never remember the injustice of the Athenians." He then drank the hemlock and expired. And shall the Christian fall below the heathen, in the exhibition of this beautiful trait of character? No, my brethren; we must, we will forgive.

In conclusion, let me me ask each of you and myself, "Are we in Christ?' If so, it becomes us to evidence this union by following our Saviour in His perfections. If in Him, then should we hearken to the apostolic exhortation: "And now, little children, abide in Him." If out of Christ, we are out of the Ark of safety. And when the deluge of Divine wrath shall come, we must experience all its dreadful effects. The day of mercy is not yet passed; the Spirit strives, the Gospel invites, the ambassadors plead; Christ, the city of refuge, is still accessible.

Oh, then, turn to the Stronghold, while yet prisoners of hope, ere the day of gracious visitation shall have passed to return no more.

SALEM, NEW JERSEY, November 20th, 1848.

ON THE ORIGIN, USE, AND DESIGN

OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.*

"ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE PERFECT, THOROUGHLY FURNISHED UNTO ALL GOOD WORKS." -II. Timothy iii. 16, 17.

W

ITH grateful hearts we may exclaim, "The lines are fallen unto us in pleasant places;

yea, we have a goodly heritage." For while multitudes of our fellow-beings are sitting in darkness and the region and shadow of death," we are favored with the lamp of Heaven's revelation; while many are worshipers of idols, we are taught to worship the true God in spirit and in truth, and in the beauty of holiness.

This Sacred Volume deters us from vice and

* Preached before the Salem County, New Jersey, Bible Society, October 26th, 1847.

excites us to virtue, by arguments the most cogent, by motives the most enforcing, by promises the most encouraging, and by threatenings the most dreadful. Our duty to God, to ourselves, and to our fellow-creatures is here plainly and fully set before us. Hence, we are here furnished with a rule, an infallible rule, for our faith and practice. And Paul, who was well qualified to give a correct opinion of this rule, assures us that its origin is Divine, its use is beneficial, and its design the perfection of our nature.

Convened as we are, this day, to do our part towards spreading the Sacred Volume throughout the land, and especially throughout our own county, we think the passage selected as the foundation of our remarks appropriate. In the consideration of which, we proceed to notice the Origin, the Use, and the Design of the Holy Scriptures. I. The Origin of the Scriptures.

Various are the appellations given to the revelation which God has been pleased to make of His will to man.

It is called Scripture, which implies writing; Holy Scripture, sacred literature; Oracles, by which we understand revelations; Sacred Canon, by which is meant, rule of faith and practice- that which claims our unqualified belief and prescribes our

daily practice; Testament, the will of God made. known; the Word of God, to denote that God hath uttered it. It is, however, more generally known by the name Bible, which term is derived from biblos, signifying THE Book, and is so called because it is pre-eminent-the Book of Books.

It is presumed that the "all Scripture" mentioned in our text refers specially to the Old Testament; but we may, with great propriety, apply the appellation to both the Old and New Testaments.

This Sacred Volume is Divine in its Origin. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God." Holy men of old spake not of their own will; but as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." Hence, the Scriptures, though written by men, are not the work of men, but the production of Divine wisdom.

Inspiration has been defined, "The imparting of such a degree of Divine influence, assistance, or guidance, as enabled the authors of the several books of Scripture to communicate religious knowledge to others, without error or mistake."

And certainly, it is not contrary to enlightened reason, to admit that the sentiments and doctrines taught in the Scriptures should be suggested by the Almighty Himself, since they