or any of the other mysteries connected with it. More- over, whilst reason can do so Httle in favour of rehgion, all the prejudices, and passions, and interests of man- kind are acting in full force against it. Faith and sense are always at variance with each other, and always striving for the mastery; and unless faith be in lively exercise, sense is sure to triumph. Hence the Church of God is inundated with errors of various kinds : and hence we need to have frequently incul- cated upon our minds the truth contained in our text, " There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
In illustration of this truth, I will point out some of those ways, which, though right in the estimation of those who walk in them, will assuredly terminate in death. No other issue will there be to the way,
I. Of sceptical indifference —
[There is a great degree of scepticism prevailing, in refe- rence both to the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures, and to all the principal doctrines contained in them : and men of considerable ability have laboured much to invalidate the former, and to explain away the latter. Hence many will say, ' How can I ascertain what is true, amidst such a conflict of opinions?' or, ' How can I depend on any thing, of which so many great and learned men have dovxbted ? Is it reasonable to suppose that God will call us to an accoimt for not admitting what has been so often controverted, and, in the opinion of some, so suc- cessfully refuted ? Let us rather hope that God, as a God of mercy, will accept us all, though we do not all walk in that pre- cise way, which those who profess a greater reverence for the Scriptures conceive to be right.'
But these hopes will be found fallacious at the last : for there is far more criminality in unbelief, than men in general are aware of. It does not proceed from any want of evidence in the Scriptures, but from an evil bias in the heart of man. There is " an e\il heart of unbelief," which causes us to depart from the living God. Men will not submit to God, but will exalt themselves against him ; and think themselves justified in reject- ing whatever they, with the short line of their reason, are unable to fathom. What would a philosopher think of a peasant wdio should argue thus in reference to sciences which he was unable to comprehend ? and in what light must God view us, when we presume to sit in judgment thus on the plainest declarations of liis word ?
136 niO VERBS, XIV. 12. [784.
But supposing tliat there were not so much criminaHty in unbehet", should we be at all the more justified in neglecting our eternal interests ? Does not reason itself teach us, that we are amenable to God for our conduct ; and that, whether our views of revelation be more or less clear, we should labour incessantly and with all our might to secure his favour ? and should we not use all possible means, particularl}^ such as he himself has prescribed, for the attaining of an insight into his revealed will ?
However innocent we may imagine our scepticism to be, or however justifiable the indifference connected with it, this way will at last infallibly end in death. The Jews in the wilder- ness could not enter into the promised land because of their unbelief: and the same cause will operate also to the exclusion of our souls from heaven''. The people who denied the Messiahship of Jesus doubtless thought that they were justi- fied in so doing by a want of evidence : but our Lord said to them, " If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins '^ :' ' and in like manner he has commanded it to be pro- claimed to every child of man, " He that believeth and is bap- tized, shall be saved ; but he that believeth not, shall be damned '^"]