any would he found to approve of this fidelity, even if it were (exercised towards them. The pious Reformers of the Esta- blished Church were of a different mind ; they have faithfully declared to us the whole counsel of God : but amongst their degenei'ate children there are few who follow their example; almost all having ranged themselves as partisans of opposite and contending opinions, instead of conforming themselves simply to the declarations of Holy Writ. But I hope the time is not far distant, when all the Articles of our Church will be equally esteemed, and every tnilh of Scripture be impartially brought forward in our public Ministrations.]
2. In our submission to their authority —
[To every part of God's blessed Mord we should bow with meek submission ; not regardmg any doctrine as " an hard saying," or doubting the truth of it because it exceeds our comprehension. We are but children; and, as children, we should receive with implicit reverence whatever has been spoken by our heavenly Instructor. And if with simplicity of mind we receive the first principles of the Oracles of God, we shall have our understandings progressively enlarged, and be gradually guided into all truth. In relation to those things which we do not at present understand, we should be content to say, " What I know not now, I shall know here- after."
So likewise, in reference to the commands of God; no one of them should be considered as " grievous," but all be viewed as " holy, and just, and good." To explain them away, or to lower them to the standard of ovu* own attain- ments, is criminal in a high degree. We should have no wish but to be conformed to the mind and will of God, and to have our whole souls poured, as it were, into the mould of his Gospel. As far as respects the impiety of the act, it matters very little whether we change the words or the sense of the holy Scriptures : in either case we greatly offend God, and entail on ourselves all the judgments that are denounced against us in the text.]
Application —
[The words immediately following my text may well serve to enforce every word that has been s])oken. It is the Lord Jesus Christ himself who " testifies of these things," and who, to impress them the more deeply on our minds, says, " Surely, I come, cjuickly." He will come quickly : and whatever he has spoken shall surely come to pass ; not one jot or tittle of it shall ever fail. We may now take aM'ay from his word, or add to it, as seemeth us good; but hi that day, his word shall stand; and his judg- ments
1221.] PERFECTION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 420 ments be dispensed in perfect accordance with it. We may deceive others by our perversions of Scripture, and may even deceive oursehes : but him we cannot deceive : nor, when he shall pass sentence on us for our temerity, shall we be able to elude his vengeance. I pray you then to regard the Scriptures with the veneration that is due to them. Imagine not that they were given us for the purpose of displaying our skill in controversy ; though I deny not but that we ought to combat error, and to contend earnestly for the faith deUvered to the saints: but the Inspired Vo- lume is holy ground : and we should " put off our shoes," as it were, whenever we enter upon it, and implore help from God, that we may be enabled to " receive it with meek- ness as an engrafted word," and find it effectual to save our souls.]