ADDRESS TO CATECHUMENS. 39 39 given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering." The wisdom here spoken of, is the wisdom conveyed to the mind through the gospel, and impressed upon the understanding by the spirit of truth; it is that saving knowledge of ourselves and the will of the Creator, which leads us to "make our calling and election sure." If then, my young friends, you desire to be thus eternally benefited by the study of the sacred Scriptures in which you are now engaged, you must offer up a fervent petition, whenever you enter upon the discharge of this solemn duty, to that Being who is the fountain of knowledge and wisdom, and who is able and willing to enlighten and instruct the children of men in the way of his commandments. If you cultivate and cherish this spirit of humble dependence on the aid of your heavenly Father, you will not be doomed to read the Bible in vain. You will find it sharper than any twoedged sword. It will bring to light your own sinfulness, as well as the danger to which your moral guilt has exposed you; and, by the administration of its cheering promises, it will gently constrain you to bow before the cross of a crucified Redeemer, there to make an offering of your services and your hearts to him. Be persuaded, then, never to open the leaves of the sacred volume, nor to enter the sanctuary of God, without first seeking that aid from above which is indispensably essential to your spiritual improvement, to the acquisition of that saving knowledge, which will guide you in the way of life. Father! give me thy spirit! should be the humble, yet confident petition of every inquiring soul. 3. It is essential that you enter upon the study of the sacred Scriptures, determined to practice every new 40 ADDRESS TO CATECHUMENS. duty you discover. The gospel is intended to lead you in the path of duty, for this only is the path of peace. I do not say that you can perform, unaided, the will of the Almighty. And yet, that you have much to do, and that your salvation depends upon your own efforts, is plainly taught in the volume of inspiration. "Come unto me," says the Saviour. If, then, you are sensible of your own weakness and inability as moral beings, resolve that you will discharge every obligation revealed to you, in the strength of the Lord. You can do all things through Christ. Whilst, therefore, you look habitually to him for assistance, employ your own efforts with diligence, and he will render these efforts successful. He will enable you to repent and be humble, to resist temptation, and to let the light of your example shine before the world. 4. Again: You must be ever mindful that the doctrines of the Bible are the doctrines of inspiration; and that, as such, they are to be understood in their obvious meaning, and not construed, so as to favor the prejudices and sinfulness of the human heart. "The Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." Christ declares, in reference to the grand system of gospel truth, "We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen;" (John, iii. 11.) When the apostles were commanded by the elders of Israel to teach no longer in the name of Jesus, "Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard ;" (Acts, iv. 19, 20.) 7 ADDRESS TO CATECHUMENS. 41 And in relation to the guilt of attaching any other signification to the disclosures of eternal truth, than that which they plainly bear, St. John has declared in the book of revelation, "I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book; and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life;" (Rev. xxii. 18, 19.) Many persons, erroneously supposing one system of belief as good as another, in as far as the final happiness of the soul is concerned, have rejected all the essential doctrines of the gospel, and adopted others better suited to their own sinful inclinanations, to which the gospel is opposed. When it is said: "He that believeth shall be saved," the salvation of the soul is promised as the result of a particular kind of faith. Wère it not so, the infidel would be as safe, and as sure of everlasting enjoyment as the most devoted Christian; for even the Atheist believes that there is no God-nay, the very devils believe, and tremble. As it is evident, then, that the Saviour alludes to a species. of faith as the ground of divine approbation, essentially distinguished from every other, it is equally plain, that this saving faith can be nothing else than the willing assent of the mind. to the fundamental principles of the Bible, and the constant exhibition of the influence of these principles, in a life of devotedness to the will of the Almighty. But if you cultivate a child-like disposition, and study the sacred writings in a spirit of prayer, there is but little danger that you will be led to reject any doctrine which the gospel reveals. It is, however, 42 ADDRESS TO CATECHUMENS. important that you should be warned against the pernicious sentiment, which in the present age seems to be gaining ground, that it is a matter of little moment what we believe, if we are only honest in the opinions we entertain. 5. Finally Let it be remembered, that in searching the Scriptures you are in pursuit of eternal life, of a crown of glory that fadeth not away, and a place at the right hand of God forever. The religion of Christ cannot be estimated too highly as enriching the pleasures of social intercourse, spreading the blessings of civilization, and imparting a delightful character to human government. But its chief recommendation consists in its being the grand scheme of redeeming mercy, revealed by the Creator to his rebellious offspring. It places life and immortality in a clear light; it displays how the forfeited happiness of man may be restored to him, without doing violence to any of the attributes of the divine character, and establishes the Christian's hope of future felicity on a sure basis. It opens the door of mercy to every soul. Its provisions and promises are adapted to men of all conditions, and in every circumstance of life. It aims to restore all to that elevation of moral purity and spiritual happiness, from which our guilty race has fallen; the poor as well as the rich, the unlearned as well as the learned, the slave as well as his master. It exhibits the condescension of Deity. It assures us that when the Saviour came into our sinful world, "God was made manifest in the flesh." It relates the heart-thrilling scenes of Gethsemane and Calvary. It points to the cross and the Lamb of God ex ADDRESS TO CATECHUMENS. 43 tended upon it, making atonement for human guilt, by his own vicarious sufferings and death. "Behold the man! though scorn'd below, He bears the greatest name above; The angels at his footstool bow, And all his royal claims approve. We can regard the volume of inspiration then in no other light than as the guide of the soul to heaven. It begins with the history of the Creation and fall of man; I declares that the promise of a future deliverer was given to our first parents; displays the deep interest which the Creator felt in human affairs, when he raised up a peculiar people, through whom he transmitted the record of his purposes to future generations; and contains the history of the sufferings, death, and triumphant resurrection, and glorious ascension of the long expected Messiah. You, my young friends, are about to commence the study of that blessed book, which contains these interesting disclosures; and need I add to what has already been said, that they ought to be of unspeakable interest to you? If you enter upon the discharge of this duty with a child-like and a prayerful disposition, and cherish continually a sense of its importance, you will soon be persuaded, that you are solemnly obligated, to confirm, or ratify the promises, made in your behalf, at your baptism, by a public profession of faith. You will know by happy experience, that the service of God affords a richer enjoyment to the soul, than the guilty pleasures of the world. Remember, that your duty does not consist in the mere repetition of words, but that |