The book was the first volume of Horne's Introduction. A brother of the bar came upon him, just as he was finishing the concluding page. This friend, knowing the nature of the study which had employed him, being himself a sceptic, asked as to his impression concerning its contents. Whilst shutting the book slowly and gravely, he made the following reply, and said no more: "Were I a juror, and sworn the ordinary oath, and were you, as one of the parties to establish just this amount of evidence, nor more, nor less, I should declare, by my verdict, that your point was proved." I never heard from him again. When he died, his mind was impaired; but I have not been entirely without hope, that perhaps, his reading was not altogether in vain. These cases are the only two remembered through long observation, where, after ample research and full inquiry, a total cure did not seem to be the result. Many will promise to read, but will never perform. Others will begin with considerable earnestness, but soon de. sist. Others will pass on as with a task, and understanding the discussion with difficulty, find the labour very toilsome, and after a while, begin to shun it. But there are others, thank God, who believe that it would be well for them to know, with some degree of certainty, whether they are, or are not, to live for ever. They seem resolved to find out either the truth, or falsity of the pages of inspiration, even should it cost them some labour. When they begin, if they find much of the subject dark, they re-peruse the same treatises, or they ask after other authors on the same points, until they are capable of comprehending. Of such an effort as is made by these, I have ever known but one termination. That was a perfect cure. They have said uniformly, af ter a thorough study, "this is the book of God." CHAPTER XXX. AVERSION TO COMMENTARIES. Reader, our natural tendency toward falsehood, or the secret suggestions of the evil One, often cause men to object against the perusal of notes on the Bible. The sophism used as an excuse and subterfuge in this case, is often plausible. "We wish to judge for ourselves," say they; "commentators dispute between each other, but we will read and decide on our own account." Those who speak thus, obtain information, generally speaking, from no source whatever. Dear reader, there are some Bible facts concerning which men do not dispute. Again, doctrinal controversy you may neglect if you choose. Notice it not, if you are so disposed; but neglect not certain knowledge which is within your reach, and which you must acquire at the risk of your soul. Men do not refuse to read the notes of others on chemistry, astronomy, or philosophy, because writers have disputed here; but the author is willing to avail himself of the assistance of others: to use that which may seem to him valuable, and cast the rest away. We have de. termined, dear friend, to give you plain examples of the fact, that you may avail yourself of the toil of others, and that you need their labours. Commentators can point you to facts most valuable, and such as you may see as soon as named, but such as you would not have noticed had they not been remarked. The first case we give by way of illustration, shall be one which happened in connection with the seventeenth chapter of Revelation. And furthermore, dear reader, this chapter may be one of interest to you, for it speaks of the events of eighteen centuries. It is a chapter which concerns you much, for it also describes certain political events of Europe, which are taking place at the present time, and it goes on to mention some affairs which are to happen in approaching years. Thus you may receive a double benefit by noticing the verses of this chapter. They exhibit the necessity of commentaries for the ig norant, they also inform us what the Lord has recently done, and shortly will accomplish. Lest you should fail to read the passage named, we will transcribe verse after verse as needed, so that each section shall be on the page fairly before us. 1. "And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters. 2. With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 3. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness; and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand, full of abomi. nations and filthiness of her fornication." A man read this chapter who had been an infidel. He had read it and heard it read, (like thousands of others,) often, without attaching any meaning to the words. He did not observe, until he took up a volume of Scott's Family Bible, that this was a part of scripture which explains itself, and is of course as plain as others or perhaps more so; for when the Lord interprets emblematic language, he makes it as plain as any words known to us will permit. He had read history enough to have noticed the truth of the following remarks without assistance, but he did not observe the declaration of the last verse, until it was pointed out to him. The last verse is, " And the woman which thou sawest is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth." This reader was well enough acquainted with history to know what city reigned over the kings of the earth, when Domitian was on the imperial throne, when John was in Patmos ; for long before, and for many centuries after. There is no difference be tween unbelievers or Christians, as it regards the city that stood on the Tiber, clothed in purple, and has been there ever since. We may here say to the reader, who may have been in the habit of glancing over pages of the Bible, and noticing nothing: "Friend, if you do not know distinctly and certainly what city did reign over the kings of the earth in St. John's time, you had better not only inquire fully, but keep it before your recollection, together with several other particulars, for they may concern you more nearly in the present day than you suppose." "" The man of whom we have been writing, who was startled on reading part of a com mentary on this chapter, had read enough to remember something of the red cloth, and purple, and gold, and scarlet, and gaudy trappings and sumptuous externals, of both pagan and modern Rome; but while reading the following words from Scott's notes, he began to notice and remember historic pictures more distinctly: "The angel carried John in the spirit, (that is, under the influence of the prophetic spirit he seemed to be convey. ed into the wilderness,) and he there saw a woman seated on a scarlet-coloured beast. This woman was the emblem of the church of Rome; and the beast, of the temporal power by which it has been supported; and the latter was full of names of blasphemy, which we have had repeated occasion to mention." Almost any blasphemous title which we could fancy, has been assumed there, His Holiness,-Infallibility,-King of kings,-Christ's Vice-gerent,-Vice-God,-Yea even, God on the earth, &c. "The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, for these have always been the distinguishing colour of popes and cardinals, as well as of the Roman emperors and senators; nay, by a kind of infatuation, the mules and horses on which they rode, have been covered with scarlet cloth; as if they were determined to answer this description, and even literally to ride on a scarlet-coloured beast. The woman was also most superbly decorated with gold and jewels; and who can sufficiently describe the pride, grandeur, and magnificence of the church of Rome in her vestments and ornaments of every kind. Even papists have gloried in the superiority of their church in this magnificence, to ancient Rome when at the height of her prosperity. This appears in all things relating to their public worship, and in the papal court, even beyond |