tioned, that religion is a science, and like unto other sciences, must be taught by professors, whose education, and learning, and study, have enabled them to explain its doctrines, but alas! with what a perplexing variety of results, is but too evident! That was a striking testimony of a clergyman to the sufficiency of the Spirit of truth in the heart, to expound the Scriptures without the aid of commentators, who, whilst on his death-bed, acknowledged to his brother, that in this season of retirement from his books and the world, there had been presented to his mind such an insight into Scriptural truths, which, all his life long, he had laboured in vain to find by consulting commentators and expositors. "How plain," said he, "do many texts of Scripture now appear, to which, after consulting all the commentators, I could hardly affix a meaning! Now I have their true meaning, without any comment at all. There is but one key to the New Testament, there is but one Interpreter. I cannot describe to you, nor shall I ever be able to describe, what I felt at the moment when it was given to me.”—John Cowper, M.A., in conversation with the poet, as related by the latter.

If people were, simply and individually, to take, as they profess to take, the Bible and the Bible only, as the book of their religion, and place their dependence for explanation on the assistance of the Holy

Spirit rather than upon the contradictory comments which learned expositors have put forth; if they were to do this, and adopt as their motto, "In essentials, unity-in non-essentials, charity," then would there be a much nearer approach to the test of discipleship, (love) and a greater unity of purpose in spreading the knowledge of the Gospel throughout the world than is at present manifested.

The generality of men, it is to be feared, take their religion on trust, as their fathers have done before them, and thus they relieve themselves from further anxiety on the subject, and feel at liberty to pursue other objects more suited to their natural inclinations. This may be taken as a general habit of the people, let their name to religion be what it may ; doubtless, there are exceptions, those who search the Scriptures for themselves; the Spirit of truth within them, assenting, or dissenting from their conclusions.

Not that the labours of literary men are to be rejected-far from it to their acquirements we are deeply indebted for the Holy Scriptures in our native language, and many other privileges. But speculative criticisms on points of doctrine, however acute or profound, tend to embarrass rather than to inform the honest inquirer after truth; for the things of God knoweth no man but by the Spirit of God which is in him. Religion was not given to man to be taught by the rules of science: its vital principles,

though exceeding broad, are very few in number, and so plain that they who run may read; even the wayfaring man, though unlearned in the wisdom of this world, need not fail to understand what the Lord his God requires of him. Pure religion, like loveliness itself, needs not the foreign aid of ornament or of argument," but is, when unadorned, adorned the most."

When divested of the party-coloured garments which the inventions of men have sought out, the vital truths of Christianity, from which living principle all good works are produced, may be comprehended in a few concise terms, and that without disparaging the contents of the Sacred Volume itself, which is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction. Repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and love to all mankind, comprise the root and essence of true religion. On love to God and man hang the moral law and the teachings of the prophets, and upon Jesus Christ acknowledged in all his office, outward and inward, in his flesh and by his Spirit, the Gospel is built, as upon the only sure foundation.

Redemption from sin through the blood of Jesus, and a restoration to holiness through the power of the Holy Ghost, is the glory of the Gospel, and to as many as believe in it, and are led by it, it becomes to them, the glad tidings of salvation.

When Christ has said, "Do this and live," and, "Believe this and thou shalt be saved," is it not pre-> sumption in any man to say, "Do more than this, or thou shalt be condemned?" Many pious people are careful and troubled about much outward service in: religion, but one thing is needful, and those who have chosen this good part, do sit at their divine Master's feet, and are taught by Him.-See Luke x. 38-42.

It is to be feared that the many sections by which the Christian Church is unhappily divided and distracted, when all ought to be ONE in the unity of the Spirit, is the occasion of the humiliating fact in the present condition of Christianity, That, in the nineteenth century, so small a proportion of mankind should have been converted to the truth as it is in Jesus, whilst the great mass of the human family are still living without knowledge of the true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent,-sent, not for our redemption only, but that of all mankind. It is now eighteen hundred years since our Saviour said to his followers, "If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me." Wherefore, then, is the day not hastened, when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of the Lord and his Christ, when he shall reign for ever and ever? Can it be, that this consummation, so devoutly wished for by all good men, is retarded through people having forsaken the fountain of living waters, and gone after and

relying upon the many cries of "Lo, here is Christ,' or, "Lo, he is there," instead of following the pure principles of the Bible, which lead to the Saviour himself, from whom these principles flow as living streams from the fountain of Truth.

With a measure of the Holy Spirit for our individual guide, and the Scriptures of truth for our outward rule, we shall not need that any man teach us, but as the same anointing teaches us all things necessary for our salvation: That men should require to be put in mind of the truths of the Gospel, is not of necessity, but through their own supineness and neglect. It is easier, but less honourable, to beg than to dig.

The following pages are intended to exhibit a concise and simple epitome of the Christian religion without any mystery, as taught in the Bible, and the writer trusts, that the little work may find acceptance with those who are not afraid sometimes to compare their religious profession with their practice, in order to discover how far the one is in unison with the other in which number he desires to include himself.

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Islington, 1849.

J. P.