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of stone, the establishment of the church and polity of the Jews, by the express appointment of God himself, and his conduct towards that ple, by extraordinary interpositions, till within about four hundred years before the Messias, together with the records of the characters of the most remarkable persons, in the course of this history, patriarchs, judges, kings, prophets, and the various prophecies, of the person, character, and kingdom of Christ, these are all to be found in the Old Testament. After that follows an account of the birth of the Son of God, with the most minute detail of time, place and other circumstances to attest its truth; then his doctrines, miracles and sufferings, during the time of his public ministry; then his death, resurrection and ascension; after that the public miracle of the gift of the holy spirit to his disciples, on the day of Pentecost; then the preaching, journies, sufferings and miracles of the apostles, till the finishing of the sacred canon, in the revelation made to the apostle John. All this vast history including nearly the time of four thousand one hundred years, is related in the most simple and affecting language; and its authenticity undisputed by all men of true learning, candor and piety. And I will venture to say, that for every thing great and interesting in narrative, as well as for sublimity of sentiment, and purity and excellence of morality,

it is infinitely superior to every thing produced by the mere wit of man.

And were it to be read, only with a view to entertainment, there is certainly no other book that can equally surprise and delight the mind, or move and affect the heart.

But, I hope the short view I have given of its contents and importance, will induce you to peruse and study it, from an higher motive; namely, to be instructed in your duty, in order to be hapin the favor and likeness of God, its adorable author.

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Make it a part of your daily business to read this divine book with attention, and seriousness, suitable to its own dignity, and your interest in it.

In the historical part, pay the most attention to those facts which most illustrate the providence of God, in the punishment of disobedience and vice, and the rewards of virtue and piety, which most clearly evince his truth and faithfulness, in the fulfilment of his promises and threatenings, and to those especially which seem most clearly to refer to the deliverer of the world, and have a direct part in the accomplishment of the promises and prophecies that concerned him.

Most of these indeed are attended with some obscurity, but this will generally be cleared up, by one part or another of his doctrines or life.

The Old Testament is an introduction or prepa ration to the New, while this is a full vindication, and illustration of that.

The book of Psalms is an excellent collection of devotional exercises, adapted to almost every state of the heart, and every circumstance of the life. In reading of these, it will be necessary for you to consider the different spirit of the dis pensation, under which the authors of them wrote, from that of the mild and forgiving temper of the gospel. Of praise, adoration, confession and penitential sorrow, of trust and confidence in God, you will find in them the most excellent examples, which cannot fail to affect and assist you, in all your religious exercises.

In the book of Proverbs, you will find most excellent maxims of wisdom and prudence for the conduct of life, in almost all the relations you can sustain. To treasure up these in your memory, to have them always in readiness for use, according to your circumstances, will be of great im

portance.

But, it is particularly in the New Testament, that I would have you to be most intimately versed. The doctrines of Christ are "the words of eternal life," his conduct a perfect example of benevolence and piety, and his sufferings and pro mises, the foundation and support of your hopes. What he taught is largely enforced and explained

by the apostles, in their different letters to the churches, and discourses on particular occasions; and all his excellencies that are intended for the imitation of his followers, his love, diligence, patience, humility and piety, are beautifully exemplified in their lives.

Of the doctrines of the scriptures, be most concerned to inform yourselves in those which lie at the foundation of the gospel, and are necessary for the faith and practice of all christians. With respect to these, allow me to give you one caution, and that is, never think of rejecting any of them, because you cannot entirely comprehend it, or solve all the difficulties that may seem to arise from it. Those very things which the pride and perverseness of our reason have laid hold of as objections against the whole of the revelation, are the highest and most infallible proofs of its authenticity. It is universally one character of the works of God, that they cannot be fully comprehended by the human understanding. If every thing were perfectly intelligible in the scripture, it would seem to want one essential mark of its divine original. You will find every thing necessary for you to know, sufficiently clear and intelligible.And while you have enough both for your duty and happiness, you ought cheerfully to submit your faith to the rest, and think it sufficiently happy for you, to have a good hope, that if it

should be necessary, in some future period of your being, God will reveal to you even these things.

"All things are possible to him that believeth." With such a faith in Christ as will purify your hearts, and overcome the world, you will surmount all the weaknesses, errors, and corruptions, that now attend you; and by following the sacred light which he hath shed upon the world by his word and spirit, you will be daily growing wiser and better, till you shall "see him as he is, and know even as you are known."

To have such a blessedness in expectation, on the true grounds of the gospel, is an "hope that maketh not ashamed." The world will ever dis

appoint and shame you-Riches and power will disappoint you, honors and pleasures will disappoint you wherever you look, you will see nothing but disappointment and sorrow, "vanity and vexation of spirit." But, with the oracles of eternal wisdom in your hands, and the divine spirit in your hearts; with your desires and hopes fixed on Heaven, and your labors and cares ultimately directed thither, you will find every thing turn to your good; and you will be fixed on a rock that will stand unmoved, when "the fashion of the world shall have altogether passed away, and all these things shall have been dissolved." I have now finished my design, and for the present