affirming necessity of existence to be only a consequent of its way rather than the contrary way, could not be necessarily existence; and that, when I have supposed it finite, I very in itself, but was either caused by the will of an intelligent safely conclude it is not infinite; I am utterly at a loss, upon and free agent, or else was an effect produced and determined what expressions in my letter this conjecture can be founded. without any cause at all; which is an express contradiction: But if you mean, that I first of all prove a being to exist from as I have shown in my Demonstration of the Being and Attrieternity, and then, from the reasons of things, prove that butes of God. [Page 14, edit. 4th and 5th; page 12, edit. 6th such a being must be eternally necessary; I freely own it. and 7th.]

Neither do 1 conceive it to be irregular or absurd; for there To the second head of argument, I answer: Space is a prois a great difference between the order in which things exist, perty [or mode] of the self-existent substance; but not of any and the order in which I prove to myself that they exist. other substances. All other substances are in space, and are Neither do I think my saying a necessary being exists some- penetrated by it; but the self-existent substance is not in where, supposes it to be finite; it only supposes that this space, nor penetrated by it, but is itself (if I may so speak) being exists in space, without determining whether here, or the substratum of space, the ground of the existence of space there, or every where. and duration itself. Which [space and duration] being evi

To my second objection, you say, "That which exists neces-dently necessary, and yet themselves not substances, but prosarily, is needful to the existence of any other thing, as a perties or modes, show evidently that the substance, without sine qua non; in the sense space is necessary to every thing: which these properties could not subsist, is itself much more which is proved (you say) by this consideration, that space (if that were possible) necessary. And as space and durais a property of the self-existent substance; and, being both tion are needful (i. e. sine qua non) to the existence of every necessary in itself, and needful to the existence of every thing else; so consequently is the substance, to which these thing else; consequently the substance, of which it is pro- properties belong in that peculiar manner which I before menperty, must be so too." Space, I own, is in one sense a tioned. I am, Sir, property of the self-existent substance; but, in the same Your affectionate friend and servant. sense, it is also a property of all other substances. The only difference is in respect to the quantity. And since every part of space, as well as the whole, is necessary; every substance consequently must be self-existent, because it hath this selfexistent property. Which since you will not admit for true; if it directly follows from your arguments, they cannot be conclusive.

What you say under the first head proves, I think, to a very great probability, though not to me with the evidence of demonstration: but your arguments under the second I am not

able to see the force of.

Dec. 10, 1713.

THE FOURTH letter.

Reverend Sir,-Whatever is the occasion of my not seeing the force of your reasonings, I cannot impute it to [what you do] the want of clearness in your expression. I am too well acquainted with myself, to think my not understanding an I am so far from being pleased that I can form objections argument, a sufficient reason to conclude that it is either imto your arguments, that, besides the satisfaction it would properly expressed, or not conclusive; unless I can clearly have given me in my own mind, I should have thought it an show the defect of it. It is with the greatest satisfaction I honour to have entered into your reasonings, and seen the must tell you, that the more I reflect on your first argument, force of them. I cannot desire to trespass any more upon the more I am convinced of the truth of it: and it now seems your better employed time: so shall only add my hearty thanks to me altogether unreasonable to suppose absolute necessity for your trouble on my account, and that I am with the great- can have any relation to one part of space more than to anest respect, Reverend Sir, other; and if so, an absolutely necessary being must exist Your most obliged humble servant. every where. Dec. 5, 1713.

THE ANSWER TO THE THIRD LETTER.

I wish I was as well satisfied in respect to the other. You say, "All substances, except the self-existent one, are in space, and are penetrated by it." All substances doubtless, whether body or spirit, exist in space; but when I say that a spirit exists in space, were I put upon telling my meaning, I know not how I could do it any other way than by saying, such a particular quantity of space terminates the capacity of Sir, Though, when I turn my thoughts every way, I fully acting in finite spirits at one and the same time; so that they persuade myself there is no defect in the argument itself; yet cannot act beyond that determined quantity. Not but that I in my manner of expression I am satisfied there must be some think there is somewhat in the manner of existence of spirits want of clearness, when there remains any difficulty to a per- in respect of space, that more directly answers to the manner son of your abilities and sagacity. I did not mean that your of the existence of body; but what that is, or of the manner saying a necessary being exists somewhere, does necessarily of their existence, I cannot possibly form an idea. And it suppose it to be finite; but that the manner of expression is seems (if possible) much more difficult to determine what reapt to excite in the mind an idea of a finite being, at the same lation the self-existent Being hath to space. To say he extime that you are thinking of a necessary being, without ac-ists in space, after the same manner that other substances do curately attending to the nature of that necessity by which it (somewhat like which I too rashly asserted in my last), perexists. Necessity absolute, and antecedent (in order of na-haps would be placing the Creator too much on a level with ture) to the existence of any subject, has nothing to limit it; the creature; or however, it is not plainly and evidently true: but, if it operates at all (as it must needs do), it must operate and to say the self-existent substance is the substratum of (if I may so speak) every where and at all times alike. De- space, in the common sense of the word, is scarce intelligible, termination of a particular quantity, or particular time or place or at least is not evident. Now though there may be a hunof existence of any thing, cannot arise but from somewhat dred relations distinct from either of these; yet how we should external to the thing itself. For example: why there should come by ideas of them, I cannot conceive. We may indeed exist just such a small determinate quantity of matter, neither have ideas to the words, and not altogether depart from the more nor less, interspersed in the immense vacuities of space, common sense of them, when we say the self-existent subno reason can be given. Nor can there be any thing in na-stances is the substratum of space, or the ground of its existture, which could have determined a thing so indifferent in ence: but I see no reason to think it true, because space seems itself, as is the measure of that quantity; but only the will of to me to be as absolutely self-existent, as it is possible any an intelligent and free agent. To suppose matter, or any thing can be: so that, make what other supposition you please, other substance, necessarily existing in a finite determinate yet we cannot help supposing immense space; because there quantity; in an inch-cube, for instance; or in any certain must be either an infinity of being, or (if you will allow the number of cube-inches, and no more; is exactly the same ab-expression) an infinite vacuity of being. Perhaps it may be surdity, as supposing it to exist necessarily, and yet for a objected to this, that though space is really necessary, yet the finite duration only; which every one sees to be a plain con- reason of its being necessary is its being a property of the tradiction. The argument is likewise the same, in the ques- self-existent substance; and that it being so evidently neces tion about the original of motion. Motion cannot be necessary, and its dependence on the self-existent substance not so sarily existing; because, it being evident that all determina- evident, we are ready to conclude it absolutely self-existent, tions of motion are equally possible in themselves, the ori- as well as necessary; and that this is the reason why the idea ginal determination of the motion of any particular body this of space forces itself on our minds, antecedent to, and exclu

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN DR. BUTLER AND DR. CLARKE.

543

sive of (as to the ground of its existence) all other things. [itude of the blind man is very apt, to explain your meaning Now this, though it is really an objection, yet is no direct (which I think I fully understand), but does not seem to answer to what I have said: because it supposes the only come entirely up to the matter. For what is the reason that thing to be proved, viz: that the reason why space is neces- the blind man concludes there must be somewhat external, to sary is its being a property of a self-existent substance. And give him that idea of hardness? It is because he supposes supposing it not to be evident, that space is absolutely self- it impossible for him to be thus affected, unless there were existent; yet, while it is doubtful, we cannot argue as though some cause of it; which cause, should it be removed, the efthe contrary were certain, and we were sure that space was fect would immediately cease too; and he would no more only a property of the self-existent substance. But now, if have the idea of hardness, but by remembrance. Now to apspace be not absolutely independent, I do not see what we ply this to the instance of space and duration: Since a man can conclude is so: for it is manifestly necessary itself, as from his having these ideas, very justly concludes there must well as antecedently needful to the existence of all other be somewhat external, which is the cause of them; consethings, not excepting (as I think) even the self-existent sub-quently, should this cause (whatever it is) be taken away, his ideas would be so too: therefore, if what is supposed to

stance.

All your consequences, I see, follow demonstrably from be the cause be removed, and yet the idea remains, that supyour supposition; and, were that evident, I believe it would posed cause cannot be the real one. Now, granting the selfserve to prove several other things as well as what you bring existent substance to be the subtratum of these ideas, could it for. Upon which account, I should be extremely pleased we make the supposition of its ceasing to be, yet space and to see it proved by any one. For, as I design the search after duration would still remain unaltered; which seems to show, truth as the business of my life, I shall not be ashamed to that the self-existent substance is not the subtratum of space learn from any person; though, at the same time, I cannot and duration. Nor would it be an answer to the difficulty, to but be sensible, that instruction from some men is like the gift of a prince, it reflects an honour on the person on whom it lays an obligation. I am, Reverend Sir,

Dec. 16, 1713.

Your obliged servant.

THE ANSWER TO THE FOURTH LETTER.

say that every property of the self-existent substance is as necessary as the substance itself; since that will only hold, while the substance itself exists: for there is implied, in the idea of a property, an impossibility of subsisting without its substratum. I grant, the supposition is absurd: but how otherwise can we know whether any thing be a property of such a substance, but by examining whether it should cease to be, if its supposed substance should do so? Notwithstanding what I have now said, I cannot say that I believe your argument not conclusive; for I must own my ignorance, Sir,-My being out of town most part of the month of Jan- that I am really at a loss about the nature of space and durauary, and some other accidental avocations, hindered me from tion. But did it plainly appear that they were properties of answering your letter sooner. The sum of the difficulties it a substance, we should have an easy way with the atheists: contains is, I think, this: that "it is difficult to determine for it would at once prove demonstrably an eternal, necessary, what relation the self-existent substance has to space:" that self-existent Being; that there is but one such; and that he "to say it is the substratum of space, in the common sense is needful in order to the existence of all other things. of the word, is scarce intelligible, or, at least, is not evident:" Which makes me think, that though it may be true, yet it is that "space seems to be as absolutely self-existent, as it is not obvious to every capacity: otherwise it would have been possible any thing can be:" and that "its being a property generally used, as a fundamental argument to prove the being of the self-existent substance is supposing the thing that was of God. I must add one thing more: that your argument for the of the matter; and I will endeavour to give you as brief and omnipresence of God seemed always to me very probable. clear an answer as I can. But being very desirous to have it appear demonstrably conThat the self-existent substance is the substratum of space, clusive, I was sometimes forced to say what was not altoor space a property of the self-existent substance, are not gether my opinion: not that I did this for the sake of disperhaps very proper expressions; nor is it easy to find such. puting, (for, besides the particular disagreeableness of this to But what I mean is this: The idea of space (as also of time my own temper, I should surely have chosen another person or duration) is an abstract or partial idea; an idea of a cer- to have trifled with ;) but I did it to set off the objection to tain quality or relation, which we evidently see to be neces- advantage, that it might be more fully answered. I heartily sarily existing; and yet which (not being itself a substance) wish you as fair treatment from your opponents in print, as I at the same time necessarily presupposes a substance, with- have had from you; though, I must own, I cannot see, in out which it could not exist; which substance consequently those that I have read, that unprejudiced search after truth, must be itself (much more, if possible) necessarily existing. which I would not have hoped for.

to be proved." This is entering indeed into the very bottom

I know not how to explain this so well as by the following similitude. A blind man, when he tries to frame to himself the idea of body, his idea is nothing but that of hardness. A man that had eyes, but no power of motion, or sense of feeling at all; when he tried to frame to himself the idea of body, his idea would be nothing but that of colour. Now as, in these cases, hardness is not body, and colour is not body; but yet as the understanding of these persons, those properties necessarily infer the being of a substance, of which substance itself the persons have no idea: so space to us is not itself substance, but it necessarily infers the being of a substance, which affects none of our present senses; and, being itself necessary, it follows, that the substance, which it infers, is (much more) necessary. I am, Sir,

Jan. 29, 1713.

Your affectionate friend and servant.

THE FIFTH LETTER.

I

Feb. 3, 1713.

I am, Reverend Sir,

Your most humble servant.

THE ANSWER TO THE FIFTH LETTER.

Sir,-In a multitude of business, I mislaid your last letter; and could not answer it, till it came again to my hands by chance. We seem to have pushed the matter in question between us as far as it will go; and, upon the whole, I cannot but take notice, I have very seldom met with persons so reasonable and unprejudiced as yourself, in such debates as these.

I think all I need say, in answer to the reasoning in your letter, is, that your granting the absurdity of the supposition you were endeavouring to make, is consequently granting the necessary truth of my argument. If* space and duration necessarily remain, even after they were supposed to be taken away; and be not (as it is plain they are not) themselves substances; that the substance, on whose existence they

Reverend Sir,-You have very comprehensively expressed, in six or seven lines, all the difficulties of my letter; which should have endeavoured to have made shorter, had I not been * Ut partium temporis ordo est immutabilis, sic etiam ordo parafraid an improper expression might possibly occasion a mis- tium spatii. Moveantur hæ de locis suis, et movebuntur (ut ita dicam) take of my meaning. I am very glad the debate is come into de seipsis. Newton. Princip. Mathemat. schol. ad definit. 8. so narrow a compass; for I think now it entirely turns upon est duratio vel spatium, sed durat et adest. Durat semper, et adest + Deus non est æternitas vel infinitas, sed æternus et infinitus; non this, whether our ideas of space and duration are partial, so as ubique; et existendo semper et ubique, durationem et spatium, to presuppose the existence of some other thing. Your simil-eternitatem et infinitatem, constituit. Cum unaquæque spatii parti

depend, will necessarily remain likewise, even after it is sup- that matter is necessarily infinite and necessarily eternal, posed to be taken away: which shows that supposition to be and ascribing all things to mere mechanic laws of motion, impossible and contradictory. exclusive of final causes, and of all will and intelligence and As to your observation at the end of your letter; that the divine Providence from the government of the world) hath argument I have insisted on, if it were obvious to every incredibly blinded the eyes of common reason, and prevented capacity, should have more frequently been used as a funda- men from discerning him in whom they live, and move, and mental argument for a proof of the being of God: the true have their being. The like has happened in some other cause why it has been seldom urged, is, I think, this; that the instances. How universally have men for many ages beuniversal prevalency of Cartes's absurd notions (teaching lieved, that eternity is no duration at all, and infinity no amplitude! Something of the like kind has happened in the matter of transubstantiation, and, I think, in the scholastic notion of the Trinity, &c. I am, Sir,

cula sit semper; et unumquodque durationis indivisibile momentum ubique; certe rerum omnium Fabricator ac Dominus non erit nunquam nusquam. Omnipræsens est, non per virtutem solam, sed etiam, per substantiam : nam virtus sine substantia subsistere non potest. In ipso continentur et moventur universa, &c. Newton. Princip. Mathemat. Schol. general. sub. finem.

April 8, 1713.

Your affectionate friend and servant.

Puto implicare contradictionem, ut mundus [meaning the material world] sit finitus. Cartes. Epist. 69. Partis primæ.

SERMONS

BY

THE LATE REV. ROBERT HALL, A.M.

OF KELSO.

[The following discourses are from a volume recently" for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation issued from the Edinburgh press, prefaced by a biographical unto the end of the earth." sketch of the author; from which we learn that he was born In order that we may comprehend, and that we may appreciate, the benefits contained in our text, it must lie with us to take near Glasgow, studied theology under Brown of Haddington, a view of the Gentile nations as in a state of darkness-to was for forty-six years the pastor of a seceding church in Kelso, and died in 1831, aged 74. He appears to have possessed an uncommonly vigorous mind.-Ed. Ch. Lib.]

SERMON I.*

illustrate this prophecy, that the Gospel shall be given to the Gentiles as a light-and to bring forward a body of evidence in favour of the certainty of this universal Christian illumination.

When taking a view of these nations as involved in moral darkness, we shall find the Gentiles under the darkness of ignorance and error. For even among such of these nations

The Gospel a light to the Gentiles, and a salvation unto the end as have arrived at the highest eminence and improvement, of the earth.

and whose minds have been the most enlightened by civilization and by science-among the inhabitants of the great

I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be ancient commonwealths, who were so famous for their knowmy salvation unto the end of the earth.-Isaiah, xlix. 6.

ledge and their wisdom, and whose vast superiority in all the walks of learning threw such a lustre over their names, such

The chapter now before us, like many other chapters to be a brilliancy over their manners, such a grandeur and celebrity found in Isaiah, contains an illustrious prophecy respecting over their achievements, that wherever we turn our eyes, we the future advent of the Messiah, and respecting the great meet with sagacious politicians, heroic patriots, respected cibenefits which shall be made to result from the dissemina- tizens, brave soldiers, eloquent historians, searching and tion of Christianity. For, whereas the Jews, throughout a sublime philosophers,-even among the most eminent of the long series of ages, had been in the exclusive enjoyment of Gentile nations, what ridiculous fancies were entertained, and Divine Revelation, it is the subject of prophecy, in the chap- were spread abroad respecting the Diety, respecting human ter now before us, that the enjoyment of this privilege should obligation towards the Diety, respecting the nature of Spirit, not be confined to the Jews, but hereafter should be univer- and respecting an eternity beyond the grave! How wrapt up sally extended. "It is a light thing," says the Father to the in shade was any knowledge of the responsibility of man! Son, according to the language of our text "that thou should- And, not having a mind to be like God, they made God like est be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to re- unto themselves; nay, lower than themselves was he made, store the preserved of Israel; I will also give thee for a light when, invisible and incorruptible, having no connection with to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the matter, except that he brought it into being, and having no end of the earth." connection with material forms, except that he upholds them In the material creation there are not any objects more oppo- in the being which at first he inspired, he was impiously site to each other than light and darkness; and in consequence, transformed into the shape of callous and unreasoning aniamong all nations these objects have been employed as fig-mals, of weak fluttering birds, and of reptiles that creep upon ures of speech, and as figures of speech to represent conditions the ground. Instead of the one only living and true God, the fartherest removed and the most contrary-darkness being among the most eminent of the Gentile nations, there were expressive of every thing frightful, wretched, melancholy-gods many, and there were goddesses many; at Rome, there light being expressive of every thing agreeable, and bene- were not fewer than thirty thousand objects of religious worficial, and happy. Now, by bringing these contrary objects ship; and the greatest of the Greek philosophers, we mean into approximation, the conditions represented under these Socrates,-though he had taught the unity of God, was so figures will appear the more affecting through contrast; and, uncertain and wavering, or was so insincere as to his belief consequently, these figures will enable us to form a juster in this unity, that he gave sanction to Pagan idolatry in his conception of the state of the Gentiles, as made known under last moments, when, a little before his decease he issued orthe image of darkness, and of the magnitude of the blessing to ders for the offering up of a sacrifice to one of these imaginary be conferred upon the Gentiles, when the Gospel shall be deities. And under what moral darkness, under what ignocommunicated as a light. "I will also give thee," says the rance and error, shall we find such countries to be lying, as Father to the Son, according to the language of our text, are immersed in savage habits-among whose inhabitants civilization has not appeared, nor the rays of science beamed! For, not to condescend upon specific places, or upon such of

* A Missionary Sermon, preached in July, 1789. VOL. II.-3 T

the European countries as are under the darkness of popery, wanting a Saviour, they must be prisoners without release, shall we not universally find, that over the continents of Asia, captives without ransom, sinners without hope-Jesus Christ of Africa, and of America, and over the countless islands is called the wisdom of God; but wanting a Saviour, as they within the Southern and Eastern Oceans, there is not any have been trained amid folly, they must be cast away into knowledge of the Supreme Being-there is not any know- the condemnation of fools-Jesus Christ is the way; but in ledge of religious worship-there is religious adoration to want of a Saviour, the people must go wrong-Jesus Christ stocks and stones, to the sun and the starry firmament, to is the truth; but in want of a Saviour, the people must be fountains, to rivers, to groves, and even to cats and crocodiles tossed to and fro with each breath of imposture and of false-there is not a mere ignorance with regard to God, and with hood-Jesus Christ is the life; but in want of a Saviour, the regard to the religious worship which they ought to give, and people must be dead in trespasses, and through eternity shall which He will agree to receive, but likewise ignorance with die the death which immortals endure-Jesus Christ is the respect to the best ground of consolation amid trouble, with light; but in want of a Saviour, the people are under midrespect to a Saviour, and to redemption through his atone-night moral darkness, and know not whither they walk. ment, with respect to moral duty, and with respect to a fu- Great was that darkness which brooded over Egypt, when ture existence beyond the grave-there is an immense forest the Lord thus addressed himself unto Moses, "Stretch out of nations, but without a single verdant leaf, and without a thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over gleam of sunshine on the brauches? the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt." But, When taking a view of these nations as involved in moral oh! it was a darkness upon the body, and it was a darkness darkness, we shall find the Gentile nations under the dark-wherein men lived; while the Gentile nations are under a ness of guilt and depravity. For, if guilt works so power-darkness which closes upon every faculty of the soul, and fully, and depravity not seldom bursts forth into forms so overspreads the inhabitants with sorrow and with misery. hideous, and if there is atheism the most audacious, and in- When taking a view of these nations as involved in moral temperance the most loathsome, and bloodshed the most un- darkness, we shall find the Gentiles under the darkness of merciful, among nations which have the Gospel shining upon ignorance and error-under the darkness of guilt and deprav them, and which are regulated by means of wise and salutary ity-under the darkness of sorrow and of misery. But if we laws, how gross shall be that darkness where the nations turn our eyes from contemplating the present dark state of are ignorant and superstitious, and where fallen guilty human the Gentiles, we may reap comfort from the anticipation of a nature is hurled along by its passions without check or con-blessed era soon to be with us, when the language of our trol! View them in religious worship, and you shall have to text shall be accomplished, "I will also give thee for a light witness human sacrifices, with intoxication, and revelling, to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end and outrage, and obscenity; view them coming home from of the earth."

battle, and they shall be seen feasting upon the flesh of cap- The language of our text conveys to us this important protives, and exulting with savage triumph over the blood of the phecy,-that Jesus Christ shall be given unto the end of the slain; view them as individuals, and ambition, relentless earth as a salvation from ignorance and error: and that a great fury, and revenge, shall be observed as bearing the charac- and blessed era is fast approaching, when the sacred sentiter of virtues, while with unrestrained indulgence they give ments of Christianity, taking possession of the mind with themselves up to impurity, the men and women living to- the light of truth, shall chase away the gloom of superstition gether promiscuously in whole communities, and the infants and the thick clouds of falsehood-when there shall not be being murdered without remorse. And, at the same time, as any more ignorance of God, whether in his nature, or in his there is no conviction of sin, so there is no feeling of shame; character, or in his administration-—when the ruin which has guilt has no sting, and turpitude is not infamous: whence been incurred by sin, and the remedy which has been furnishyou shall have to witness among them, not merely as general ed by a Saviour, and that most useful and most interesting habits, but as general habits which wise men have recom- knowledge which relates to human beings under the twofold mended and lawgivers authorized, theft, exposure of new-born capacity of mortal and of immortal, shall be laid open to the infants, and that sin which brought down the Almighty upon view--when the one God and the one Mediator shall be clearly Sodom and Gomorrah in overwhelming torrents of flame. unfolded, and idolatry cease, and Christian service arise This representation is sad, but it is true-this picture fright- beautiful upon the Gentiles-when tongues, however rude, ful, but drawn from the life-these colours gloomy and wild, shall confess, and the stiffest knees worship, and the hardbut not overcharged. est hearts adore, and people of all customs and of all com

When taking a view of these nations as involved in moral plexions joyfully embrace, the God and Father of our Lord darkness, we shall find the Gentiles under the darkness of Jesus Christ. No longer shall Confucius be the boast of sorrow and of misery. For what though they roam amid the haughty China; the roving Tartars no longer halt at the fairest scenes of nature-though the rocks be rich with gems, banks of the Volga, and worship the Grand Lama with slavethe mountains stored with costly mines, the hills covered crouching fear; no longer the sable Hindoos seek for holiwith frankincense, and the valleys teem with luxuriant blos-ness within the consecrated waters of the Ganges, or fall soms and fruit-what though the rivers roll on with golden prostrate before Vishnu's unshapely and monstrous image; sand, and the woods breathe fragrance and sweet odours,-no longer the copper-coloured Peruvians make the valleys of what avails this wondrous wealth, and what avails this gor- the Andes to resound, through its wild caverns, with songs of geous profusion of terrestrial bliss? A man may be in want thanksgiving to the beams of the sun; no longer the South of liberty, and yet he may have happiness like Joseph-a man Sea Islanders redden the altars with blood, and uplift the may be in want of peace, and yet he may have the comforts savage yell of exultation above the screams of the victim: of David—a man may be in want of health, and yet be finally but, brought unto the knowledge of Christ, and brought under strengthened like the once afflicted Job-a man may be in the authority of Christ, and melted with the love of Christ, want of food and refreshment, and yet at length he may be fed, what a change there shall be upon the Gentile nations,-ignoand may be refreshed by the ravens of Elisha-a man may lose rance changed into heavenly wisdom, error into sound realife itself, and yet Jesus Christ, who cheered the proto-martyr soning, idolatry into spiritual worship, and horrid cruelty into Stephen, may shed consolation upon his departing soul: but meekness and brotherly kindness!

in want of the Gospel, he is want of a Saviour; and in want The language of our text conveys to us this important proof a Saviour, his condition must be truly sorrowful and mis-phecy,-that Jesus Christ shall be given unto the end of the erable,—no blessing upon him while in life, no consolation earth as a salvation from guilt and depravity; and that a great for him when he comes to die, and no happiness when he en- and blessed era is fast approaching, when the sacred sentiters into eternity. For whatever be the tender mercies of ments of Christianity, taking possession of the mind with the God-and we know that they are infinite, and that they are light of holiness, shall irradiate the benighted Gentile nations inexhaustible-yet it stands within the Holy Scriptures as by a view of that atonement for which they have long sighed, matter of revelation, that "there is none other name under and for which they have long sighed in vain-by a view of heaven given among men whereby we must be saved," than that Saviour who bore our sins in his own body upon the the name of Jesus Christ; and till another revelation be cursed tree-by a view of that remission of guilt, and that granted from on high, we must continue to rest with the be- freedom from iniquity, through which the wickedness withlief, that they who are in want of the Gospel are in want of in us may be removed, the conscience be unburdened of the means of salvation-that the people who sit in darkness guilty feelings, the soul restored unto tranquillity, the heart abide in the region of the shadow of death. Jesus Christ is encouraged, and through which the whole man may rejoice called the living bread and the living water; but wanting a Sa- in God and our Lord Jesus Christ-and by a view of this viour, they must languish in spiritual hunger, and in spiritual gracious atonement, not as a sluggish and a stagnant mass thirst-Jesus Christ is called the redemption of the soul; but of merit, but as the source of active holiness, and of moral