stand the truths of the Bible, "the poor have the Gospel preached to them,"

It is only truth that we are to learn out of the Bible; and truth is only plain common sense-that which is consistent with itself, with reason, and the nature of thingsand hence it is adapted to the common mind. There is nothing revealed concerning the personality, character, and attributes of God, that we are to learn, but what is consistent and easy to be understood. All that is said of man's moral condition, and the plan of redemption, and his future destiny, can be understood by the common people, and it is their privilege to walk in the light of divine truth, and become men and women in understanding-and in Christ Jesus. The Bible must be allowed to be its own expositor, and we must compare spiritual things with spiritualscripture with scripture-doctrine with doctrine-and interpret the language and meaning as we do that of any other book, or it is of no use and intelligence to us. If we are denied the right of private judgment in the study of the Bible, and must depend upon the decision of priests and ecclesiastical councils, then we might well despair of ever coming to a knowledge of the truth, and lay down in darkness and death. But Christ invites all to come and learn of him-take his yoke which is easy and his burden which is light. His requirements are just, and equal, and easy to be understood and obeyed.

In matters of faith and doctrine we are to call no man master, neither are we to seek to be called Rabbi, for one only is our master and teacher, and he is from above. All authority in religion is invested in Jesus Christ, and he has

not delegated his authority to any of his disciples. They are all alike subject to him, and are to reverence and obey him as the head and master of the church. The privileges Christ has granted to his disciples are not to lord it over one another, but to serve and be helps to each other in the discharge of their duty, and in their temporal and spiritual good. The Bible is the great Statute Book of the divine government. It contains all the moral laws of God, and consequently all that we are to observe and obey. And it is the imperative duty of every person to consult these statutes for himself, and be able to prove all things, that he may not be imposed upon by the cunning, crafty devices of men. There is no safety for the true disciples of Christ, in these times of divisions and creed-making, only to take the Bible alone, as a rule and guide to their faith and practice.

It is not necessary to consult "the Fathers" to know what is truth, as they are not the foundation and authority of Christ's church, and were certainly in no better circumstances, or possessed any greater advantages to understand the doctrines of the Christian faith and plan of salvation, than is now enjoyed and available to the theological student. In the defense of any religious tenet it is very popular to quote passages from the Fathers, and if they are made to speak in favor of any particular view or doctrine, it is considered authority enough by many of our religious teachers, and the point is urged with great boldness and zeal, however at variance it may be with the plain, positive teachings of divine inspiration. It should be known and considered that the questions of faith and Christian practice that agitate and divide the Christian world at the

present day, distracted the church then, and there was no way in those days for the pious Christian to settle what was truth, only by a direct appeal to the Scriptures. Passages from different authors-men of genius and learning in the church, in the second and third centuries-might be quoted to sustain almost every error and false doctrine that was then, and is now propagated in the Christian world. Would it be considered good authority and wise, in future centuries, for the Christian teachers to quote from the dif ferent authors and councils of this age, to sustain their views? Their quotations would be partial-they would only quote such authors as favored their peculiar views. So it is in quoting from the Fathers. Truth and error can both be quoted from their teachings and writings; and truth and error, in any subsequent period, might be quoted from the teachings of this age. So that the Bible, after all, is now, and ever should be, the Book of reference, and our only guide in all matters of faith and Christian doctrine. It is the only true lamp to our feet and light to our path, that we have, and if any man speak, let him speak as the Oracles of God.