pious Bishop Horne thus writes: "The Scriptures are wonderful with respect to the matter they contain, the manner in which they are written, and the effect which they produce. They contain the sublimest truths, which, when properly opened and enforced, terrify and humble, convert and transform, console and strengthen. Who but must delight to study and observe these testimonies of the will and wisdom, the love and power of God most high? While we have these holy writings let us not waste our time, misemploy our thoughts, and prostitute our admiration by doating on human follies, and wondering at human trifles.” The famous Erasmus expressed an ardent desire, that all descriptions of persons should read the Holy Scriptures. "I would to God," said he, "that the ploughman would sing a text of scripture at his plough, and that the weaver at his loom with this would drive away the tediousness of time. I would the warfaring man with this would expel the wearisomeness of his journey, and in short I would that all the communication of the Christian should be of the scripture." I cannot refrain from con cluding these testimonies, with an extract from Lord Teignmouth's Life of Sir William Jones. 66 66 Among such," observes his Lordship, as have professed a steady belief in the doctrines. of Christianity, where shall greater names be found than those of Bacon, of Locke, and of Newton? Of these men, it may be observed, that they were innovators in science. Disdaining to follow the sages of antiquity through the beaten paths of error, they broke through the prejudices which had long obstructed the progress of sound knowledge, and laid the foundation of science on solid ground. These same men, to their great praise, devoted much of their time to the study of the scriptures. If the evidence of revelation had been weak, who were better qualified to expose its unsoundness? If our national faith were a mere fable, a political superstition, why were minds, which boldly destroyed prejudices in science, blind to those of religion? They read, they examined, they weighed, and they believed. The same vigorous intellect that dispersed the mists which concealed the temple of human knowledge was itself illumined with the ra R diant truths of divine revelation. Such authorities, and let me add to them the name of Sir William Jones, are deservedly entitled to great weight; and although in matters of eternal concern the authority of the highest human opinions has no claim to be admitted as a ground of belief, yet it may with the strictest propriety be opposed to that of men of inferior learning and penetration; and those who doubt or disbelieve should be induced to weigh with candour and impartiality, arguments which have produced conviction in the minds of the best, the wisest, and the most learned of mankind. Let those who superciliously reject their testimonies compare their own intellectual powers, their scientific attainments, and vigour of application, with those of the men whom I have named; the comparison may perhaps lead them to suspect, that their unbelief to adopt the idea of a profound scholar, may be the result of a little smattering in learning united to great self-conceit; and that by harder study, and a more humble mind, they may recover the religion which they have lost." |