in confounding the two kinds of religion. They are distinct ; and they should be kept so.
To enter deeply into the theory of religion, much strength of intellect, much general knowledge, and much patient investigation are requisite. To have just, and even enlarged, views of the practical part, little is wanting but a humble teachable mind, en- lightened by the truths, and sanctified by the influence, of the Gospel of Christ. The former, when possessed in the highest degree, will consist with all manner of evil tempers, and evil habits : the latter necessarily involves in it a change both of heart and life. The former is of importance principally to those, whose office calls them to defend the outworks of Christianity against the assaults of infidels : the latter is essential to the happiness of every individual. To the former your mind is now directed from time to time, by a zealous and learned professor b, who is giving us the result of his own laborious researches, and commend- ably exerting his talents to promote amongst us the too much neglected study of sacred literature : to the latter, which we consider as more appropriate to the ordinary services of the Church, we would on the on the present occasion solicit your attention.
The subject which we would submit to your con- sideration, is a solemn charge, brought by God him- self against his people of old. They were guilty of gross idolatry ; and for that, in part, they are here reproved : the very heavens are summoned to bear witness against them, and to express with utter astonishment their abhorrence of such impiety. But
its authenticity, serves in their minds as a strong external evidence, that the Bible is really given by the inspiration of God. Neverthe- less, their actual experience of a change of heart and life, wrought in them by the Bible, is to them a strong additional evidence of its Di- vine authority. Of course, this change cannot produce any convic- tion in the minds of others ; because none but God and a man's own conscience can know the full extent of that change.
b The Rev. Herbert Marsh, D. D. now The Right Rev. Lord Bishop of Peterborough, of St. John's College, Lady Margaret's Pro- fessor of Divinity ; who was giving Public Lectures in the Univer- sity Church, on the principal subjects connected with Theological Learning.