most learned and most highly-gifted men who disregard this light of Heaven. Their views may be overlooked and despised by men who have learnt in any other school than that of the Bible; but, in spite of unimportant errors, they are substantially correct; according to the promise of our Lord, that "if any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God*" They have the witness within themselves, that, whereas they were blind, now they see;—and their knowledge has this paramount advantage over the speculations of those who lean to their own understanding, that it changes the heart. Other knowledge is confined to the understanding;—that derived from the word of God, and applied by the Spirit of God, converts the soul. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soult." It exhibits the divine image, and changes those who behold it into the same. There are persons who, by the simple reading or hearing of the word of God, accompanied by scarcely any other helps, have been brought to such a maturity of understanding in divine things, and such a conformity to the divine image, as + Ps. xix. 7.

* John vii. 17.

have astonished those who have been most conversant with divine things; and have proved that the Sacred Scriptures alone are able—as they were affirmed by St. Paul to be able to make men "wise

unto salvation through faith

which is in Christ

Jesus*." I do not say this to disparage human helps, used in dependence on the divine blessing— far from it; these are highly useful, and, where they are accessible, may be affirmed to be necessary-but to assert a simple fact, which does no more than justice to the wonderful effects produced by the entrance of the word of God into the heart of man.

But not all who read or hear the word of God are enlightened ;—and much less are all saved by it. No.-This is another particular in the text which remains to be considered. It is there said, "It giveth und erstanding unto the simple." The word simple" here means the same thing which is elsewhere expressed in Sacred Scripture by the word "babes." It is only the persons who possess simplicity and teachableness, resembling those of

66

* 2 Tim. iii. 15.

children, that derive from the word of God the saving knowledge which it is capable of imparting. "The meek," said the Psalmist, "He will guide in judgment: the meek will He teach His way*."

"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and he will shew them His covenant +."While others shall "grope in the noon-day," these shall hear a voice behind them, saying, This is the way, when they turn to the right hand or to the left.- "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth," said our Lord Jesus Christ, "because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."

This simplicity, this willingness to be taught, may be, and often is, possessed by those who are under the greatest temptation, from their talents and attainments, to lean to their own understanding. When it is found in such persons, it qualifies them, beyond all men, to be the teachers of others. But when it is found in illiterate persons of the humblest station, it prepares even them, in the hearing and reading of the word of God, to make Matt. xi. 25.

* Ps. xxv. 9.

+ Ib. 14.

a rapid proficiency in all needful divine knowledge. It will soon raise them in the school of Christ, above those persons, however gifted, who presume to sit in proud judgment on that which God has revealed, and to select and reject from it according to their own preconceived notions.

Is the question asked: Do you, then, expect the poor and unlearned-if only they have simplicityto be favoured with any supernatural teaching?' I answer, that if by supernatural teaching be meant any teaching which is not accessible to all who seek it in the appointed way, I do not expect it. But if by supernatural teaching be meant the teaching of the Spirit of God, I do expect it. I do not expect the Spirit of God to teach them any thing which is not contained in the word of God - the Sacred Scriptures; or to teach without the use of the word of God heard or read. But, in the use of that word, I do expect that the Spirit of God will teach them what they would not learn without His teaching-the saving knowledge of the Truth-that He will make them wise unto salvation. He will create in them an appetite for spiritual food

-a desire for "the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby." He will enable them to apprehend and to relish those truths, which none can apprehend aright, or relish, except they be taught of God: and He will, in due time, bring them to such maturity of knowledge and conformity of heart and life to the will of God, as shall make them meet to be inheritors of the kingdom of heaven.

This subject suggests a word both of caution and encouragement.-It is very common, for persons in humble station especially, to remain in wilful ignorance of the fundamental truths of Religion, because they will not take the trouble to learn them. At the same time, they pacify their consciences, by saying that they are no scholars, and cannot be expected to be acquainted with such things.' And the same spirit manifests itself, under a somewhat different form, in many who are not of humble station. Some persons, who would be ashamed to confess ignorance on other subjects, and who are very intelligent in their own particular department and in the general concerns of mankind, yet confess,