unbelievers difference of opinion. But when theChristia.n tea.cher or preacher decla.ree as be is honnd to do, that the Scriptures revca.l " the truth " concerning the oharacte; Rnd purposes of God, and oonoeming the na.ture a.nd prospects of ma.n, then a.II the hostility of the opponent of religion, of the man who believes in food and olothiog in science Rnd a.rt, a.nd in nothing beyond, is a.roused within him; a.nd with all the ~c-om of incredulity in his tones he asks, assured that there is no answer to be given, •• ,vhat is truth?" JI. 8CEl'TICISM: ASKS, "WHAT 18 TRUTR?n WITH THE SADDEST DOUBT AS TO THIii POSBI- DILTTY OF ATTAINING IT. The opponent of the believer is the infidel, who disbelieves. Betw<'en the two stands the sceptic, whose attitude is one of doubt, examina.tion, indecision. This is a stage of thought through which most educated and thoughtful persons psss--t10me to faith and some to disbelief, whilst there are those who linger in this stat.c throughout the resi of life. Christianity is no foe to candid inquiry; it bids us "prove all things;" any other principle would keep heathens heathens, a.nd Moham- med.ans Mohammodans, a.11 through life. What is to be avoided and blamed is the settle.I, contented acquiescence in doubt, which tends to no conclusion of belief, no definite action. Now, whilst there a.re topics upon which we a.re not bound to have a.n opinion-topics beyond our faculties, or remote from our interests-it must be main- tained that religion is of importance so vital, that if truth with regard to it can possibly be attained, it must earnestly be sought. Permanent scepticism is either a. sign of the weakest intellect, or it is a confession that the problem of greatest interest to ua is a problem we can never solve. III. INQUIRY PUTS THE QUESTION, "WHAT IS TRUTH?" WITH SINCER'E A.NDPRAYEBFUL Th"TEREST. There is no question which affords to the Christian teacher and preacher great.er pleasure, when propounded with intelligence and candour, than this. It evinces a mind alive to the great purposes and the great possibilities of life. .And further, there is the assurance that the seeker shall be the finder of truth. In many of their enterprises the fervent, the inquisitive, the avaricious, the ambitious, are doomed to fail. But there is a price with which truth may be bought; and the promise holds good. " He that seeketh findeth." Truth must indeed be sought in a right method and in a right spirit ; so sought, it will not be sought in vain. IV. FAITH ASKS, " W RAT lB TRUTH?" .Alrn JI.ECEIVES TO TBE QUESTION AN ANBWEB DEFIKITE, .A.BSURED, il"D SATISFYING. Belief in Christian truth is reasonable, based as it is upon evidence and testimony, upon the highest and most unquestionable authority, nnd upon the congruity between Christianity and the innate needs of man's under-· standing, conscience, and heart. Belief, as an intellectual assent, is necessary to truo religion; but it is in it.self insufficient. To believe the gospel is to put faith in him who is himself the Gospel, and faith in Christ is faith in God. Christ has said, " I am the Truth;" they, then, who find him, find revealed in him the mind, the very heart of God. The truth is to the Christian the favour and the fellowship of the Eternal, the law of life, the satisfaction of the whole nature. Very different are the Christian's convictions from many which are held tenaciously by the "men of this world;" for they are convictions which sha.11 never be distrusted and abandoned; they shall out- last the perishable fabrics reared by human ingenuity and human i.magination.-T.
Ver. 38.-No crime in Ohri6'. Pilate's language and conduct furnish us with an example of the way in which weak and unprincipled men are wont to allow themselves to be guided by the expected consequences of their actions, instead of referring those actions to principles and laws by which they might decide what is the right course to follow. Often, as in the case of Pilate, where the results of actions are more regarded tlaan their standards, men's convictions lead in one direction, whilst their pra.ctical conduct follows another and inferior path. l. TIIE DUlEDI.ATE .AND HIBTOBIO.AL LESSONS DEDUCIBLE FBOH TBJB ACKNOWLEDO- ME..."<'T OF PD..ATE. 1. With reference to the governor himself who thWI spoke, we infer from this language his judicial impartiality. .Accustomed t":° such examinations a9 tl.iat he ww. now conducting, he saw at once through the motives of the a.ccusers, aud rf:COguized the absurdity of their charges and the innocence of the .Accused. 'l'his was to the credit of his intelligence ; but his clear perception of the merits of the case m.akce his b'llilt the greater in yielding to the malice of the priests and the passion of Cll, um. 1-40.] Tim GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 411