in particular; his own sufferings, death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven; the overthrow of Jerusalem by the Romans, and the success of his spiritual kingdom through successive ages in the world, notwithstanding every opposition. Not to know that those predictions were fulfilled, is to be totally ignorant of the Bible, the history of nations, the present state of the Jews, and of the Christian Church, which is spreading far and wide over the whole earth. So far, therefore, my fellow Christians, from your having followed cunningly-devised fables, the Bible contains the councils of Jehovah, to which he has borne the most indisputable testimony, by their minute and certain accomplishment in the face of the whole world.

4. The MORAL CHANGE which the truths of the Bible has produced in the minds and conduct of sinful men is a great evidence of its authenticity. Indeed, very few of the opposers of Revelation but what readily admit the justness of this remark. Men, devoted to intemperance, cruel, profligate, ungodly, have been so changed in their hearts and lives, as to become virtuous and useful members of society. Many who were enveloped in error, sensuality, and idolatry, were turned from dumb idols to serve the living and true God. Nor was this changing influence confined to the early ages of Christianity. There is no age, no clime, no place where the Gospel has been faithfully preached, but what it has proved the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believed. Every sinner, converted from the error of his way to virtue and truth, is a living witness of the authenticity of the Bible. I will also add, the utility and sufficiency of the scripture precepts to direct, in the paths of life, and the government of the heart; its promises to support,

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and to reconcile under the numerous ills of life, and the holy consolation that millions have enjoyed in conflict with death; these produce abiding evidences that the Bible is of God. I want no further internal evidence of the authenticity of the Bible, than the lively picture which I find it to contain of my own heart in all its operations: it opens sources adequate to my various necessities, leads me to my God, and assures me of future immortality.

I might now proceed to show you the antiquity of the Bible; the history of its preservation; that although kings and emperors may have made an improper use of it, by blending a profession of it with civil powers, yet in itself disclaiming all alliance with worldly governments, it solicits not their aid for its preservation and progress. I might examine some of those extraordinary miracles which are recorded in it; each of which would form a still greater weight of evidence, that we have not followed cunningly-devised fables; but, the limits of our Lectures will not allow me to pursue them. Enough, I hope, has been said to afford this family some instruction upon a subject of such importance. In the list of evidences I should have named the MORAL CHARACTER OF JESUS CHRIST; an examination of which is of great weight to determine the virtue of his religion. But this pleasing part of the subject you recollect I have already attempted to explain in the twenty-third Lecture.

Let me now entreat you to make these evidences familiar with your mind. The faith of God is built on truth. Christianity has stood the test of its most violent opposers. Permit me to ask each of you, if you are solemnly conscious of your sinfulness and accountability to God? What expedients have you tried to produce peace

in your breasts? Until you are made to feel the dire effects of sin in your own persons, you never will properly estimate the blessings of Revelation. It is too often found, that men oppose the Bible, because they deny their own depravity, and are unwilling to live beneath the Scripture precepts. I sincerely wish you may know the virtue of the Gospel in your own experience, and live beneath its cheering influence through all the changes of your lives. Plead for the influence of the same Spirit who inspired the sacred writers to compose the volume, to open its truth to your hearts, and make them operative in your lives. Render unto God thanksgiving for the new Revelation of his will in Christ for saving sinners. What would have been the state of fallen men, if God had not arisen upon us by the light of his word! Testify your gratitude by living under the holy precepts of the Gospel, that you give no occasion to contradict your profession; and be assured that the word which has hitherto been a light unto your feet, and a lamp unto your paths, will conduct you safe to the end.

LECTURE XXIX.

CHRIST A PHYSICIAN.

MATT. ix. 35.

And Jesus went about all the Cities and Villages, healing every sickness, and every disease among the people.

Physician of my sin sick soul,
To thee I bring my case;
My raging malady controul,
And heal me by thy grace

Pity the anguish I endure,
See how I mourn and pine;,
For never can I hope a cure
From any hand but thine,

By the history of Jesus Christ we are taught to revers him as a benevolent Physician to the bodies and the souls of men. It was long foretold, as characteristic of Mes siah, that by his power the eyes of the blind should see out of obscurity, and the ears of the deaf should be unstopped; the lame man should leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing. This was both literally and morally accomplished by Jesus, the Physician of value' who went about the cities and villages healing every sickness and every disease among the people, by the word of his mouth. It is, however, evident, Jesus did not learn the medical art of man; whatever cures he performed, were by the exertion of that innate virtue, which, at his pleasure, he was able to communicate.

If there were no diseases, there could be no need of a physician; if man had not sinned, he would have known no sorrow. Soul and body are infected, and the natural

diseases of the one characterise the evils of the other. Not one of human nature exempt; A seed of evil doers, children that are corrupters; they have forsaken the Lord; they have provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head, there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrifying sores; and, what adds to the misery of sinners, is, they are utterly insensible of their state, and reject relief. So true are the words of Jesus, The whole need not a Physician, but they that are sick. Indeed, such is the stupifaction of the sinner, there is an absolute necessity for the exertion of the Physician's power to bring the subject to a state of sensibility. This is God's method. I wound and I heal. The Lord does not make every man feel alike the evils of his heart; yet, all are taught to know the evil and demerit of sin in such a degree as to be convinced they cannot heal themselves, and that Christ alone can make them whole.

These preliminary remarks on the moral state of man, were necessary to my naming the subject of this discourse. To present a physician to a man in health, would be an insult; but, to a person sensible of disease, it is an instance of friendship. Presuming you are made sensible of the nature, malignity, and demerit of sin; permit me to give you a few general outlines of the character of Jesus as the Physician of value; and, may he graciously perform his invaluable office, by granting you the healing balm, which shall infallibly effect your restoration.

1. No man can be deemed a physician unless he knows the nature, process, period, and consequences of disease; for this is indispensably necessary to the application of remedy. Jesus Christ need not any one to testify what