when we recommend a cheerful submission to the voice of inspiration, and a humble dependence on God's promised aid, we cut up pride by the very roots, and lead men to confess, that all their sufficiency is of God alone. And if any pervert this doctrine to the fostering of their own pride (and what doctrine is there that has not been perverted ?) the fault is not in the doctrine itself, but in those who abuse it : and if an argument from the abuse of a thing be valid, we must then give up the Bible itself; since every doc- trine in it has been more or less abused.
Lastly, as to the discouraging of sound learning, how can that be a consequence of the foregoing state- ment ? We have not insinuated that worldly wisdom is unnecessary for worldly purposes, but only for the attainment of divine knowledge : and therefore we can no more be said to speak against human wisdom because we deny the necessity of it in order to the attainment of that which is divine, than we could be said to decry divine wisdom, if we should deny that to be necessary in the investigation of human sciences. Nor have we intimated that human wisdom is of little value for the elucidating of the Scriptures ; for most assuredly it is of exceeding great value in this view, especially when used in conjunction with, and in subserviency to, divine wisdom. And lest any one should conceive, that deductions unfavourable to the pursuit of literature should appear to be authorized by this discourse, we declare unequivocally, that it is the duty, the indispensable duty, of all students, what- ever be the sphere in which they are afterwards to move, to cultivate human wisdom, and with all dili- gence to prosecute the work assigned them, " not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake." We do not hesitate to say, that they would be culpable in the highest degree, if they should make religion a pretext for neglecting their Academical studies. We would solemnly exhort them all to remember, that, as in our families, so also in God's ftimily, every ser- vant best executes his Master's will, when he is most attentive to the duties of his place and station.
1949.] THE christian's PRIVILEGES. 133
Having thus endeavoured in few words to obviate such objections as were hkely to arise, what remains, but that we entreat those who think themselves wise' to become fools in their own sight ; and those v/ho feel that they " lack wisdom, to ask it of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and without upbraidingP."
P Jam. i. 5.