were promoting the ends of truth. A history of the church, therefore, for so many ages, and comprehending the description of so many millions, can only exhibit those individuals, whose talents, virtues, vices, or errors, have rendered them conspicuous;-those opinions, measures, and events, which have, more or less, influenced the state and character of the church at large, either in its internal or external relations. But there is no room in such a record for an account of the many thousands of poor, humble, and sincere Christians, who passed their lives in quiet and obscurity, in whom, chiefly, the purest effects of Christianity were best exemplified. We find the truth of this observation illustrated in the "Church History" of Milner, who has traced soundness of essential principles, and consistency of practice, or, in other words, the principles and fruits of genuine Christianity, among individuals of almost every sect, and denomination, in every age. When we carry our researches still further, we can discern, that in proportion as corruption, errors, and schisms increased, was the Bible neglected and forgotten; and we need not wonder at the darkness and ignorance, the follies, crimes, and controversies of the middle ages, when we learn

that the Scriptures had almost disappeared from among them; and when the reading of them, where they could be found, was prohibited by authority, and confined to one class of the community, and the right of private judgment and interpretation condemned, under the pains of imprisonment and death: had the belief, and the lives, of nominal Christians, been sound and pure under such circumstances, we must have concluded, that any regard and attention to the Scriptures was unnecessary. When the Reformation took place, the Scriptures were restored to their proper rank and authority as the standard of all moral and religious truth, and the test by which opinions and actions were to be tried; and since that period, we find that, in proportion as their circulation has extended, and their doctrines and precepts have been understood and followed, has the happiness of mankind increased: thus affording, as well on the dark as the pleasing side of the picture, which the history of the past displays, a striking and important proof of the divine origin of the Scriptures.

The same principle will furnish us with the means of satisfactorily accounting for the differences which still subsist among eminent and

good men, on many points directly connected with, or allied to, Christianity. In Christian countries, all are educated with prepossessions for the opinions and ceremonies, or want of ceremonies, of the sect to which they belong, and with a corresponding prejudice against the peculiar opinions and ceremonies of others. Some writers are influenced by a mixture of worldly motives, in their attempts to display powers of original observation; talents for profound speculation; their stores of erudition; their acuteness and strength of reasoning, or the charms of eloquent composition; and hence they are often led to the discussion of subjects, over which revelation has thrown a veil, and placed between us and them an impassable barrier. Some, are even destitute of the capacity requisite to elucidate the difficult subjects which their rashness prompts them to handle. Some, are formed by their peculiar education, and habits of thinking and study, to partial views of the Christian truth, and are, consequently, apt to underrate one part, and overvalue others. But whether these differences regard errors in doctrine of more or less importance, or relate to sound doctrine, elevated or depressed, out of its due proportion with others,

whether they consist in unwarranted speculation, illogical inferences, in hostility and acrimony against others, or unreasonable boasting of themselves and their sect, we justly ascribe them to a want of the full, and perfect understanding of the Scriptures, and of that spirit of caution, humility, and mutual love, which they so beautifully, and so frequently, inculcate.

However varied, therefore, the view may be which we take of the past and present state of Christianity in the world; we find, when we reflect well and reason justly, that the authority of the Scriptures stands on its own grounds, unimpeached and unimpaired; and while we acknowledge the errors, and follies, and imperfections of Christians themselves, we must, on all occasions, but more particularly in fair and logical discussions with Sceptics or Deists, make a distinction between Christianity, as it is found in the Scriptures, and the errors, abuses, and imperfections of Christians themselves, and impute blame to that quarter alone where it is exclusively due. Here his lordship remarked, that "he always had taken care to make this distinction, as he knew enough of Christianity to feel that it was both necessary and just."

I said, his lordship acted right in doing so, and that it would have been fortunate if all, who have doubted or denied the truth of Christianity, had adopted the same course. But we find the contrary to be almost universally the case. We can trace in the writings of all those who have expressed doubts of its Divine authority, or who have altogether denied it, as well as among those who privately acknowledge or profess such opinions, the sources from which they have chiefly drawn their notions of Christianity. They have been formed rather from the writings of Christian authors, and from the review of the progress which Christianity has made, and the effects which it has produced on society, than from a minute and attentive examination and study of the Scriptures. We may justly conclude this to have been the case, from the scope and tendency of the writings of unbelievers. I know no sceptical writer, who, influenced by fair reasoning and candour, has made a distinction between the Scriptures themselves, and the abuses made of them by Christians; and who, dismissing the consideration of Christianity as it is held, and appears in the world, has set himself to a free, unbiassed, full and complete investigation, and refutation of