they make such sacrifices on the authority of books, on which a single doubt could hang? But again, let us ask how any man, or set of men, could have imposed upon them, books written under the names of the Apostles? For instance, St. Paul writes two epistles to the congregation of Corinth. Would any one have dared to forge these epistles while the Apostle was yet alive? And after his death, how should such epistles have been palmed upon these congregations, when every individual belonging to them could have said, that they never heard of them before?

Lastly, let it be noted that the character and style of these Scriptures preclude the possibility of such an imposition. They are not a history of ancient things, which took place during far distant ages, and in which errors might be inserted without detection or danger. But they are addressed to eyewitnesses; they speak of what had just happened; they appeal to those who were as deeply concerned as the writers themselves, in the truths related; who could not have been deceived, and who would not have tolerated the slightest attempt at imposition, where the interests of their souls. and bodies were concerned so deeply. From the whole, therefore, we may draw this irresistible conclusion, that any mistake as to the real authors of those New Testament Scriptures was impossible ;-that these twenty-seven books were certainly written by the eight men whose names they bear, and could not have been imposed upon the primitive Churches by any management whatever.

Many collateral arguments might be presented, my brethren, on this point of authorship, in reply to the

shallow and absurd allegation of modern unbelievers, that the books themselves are a forgery of the priesthood-an allegation, by the way, which they do not even attempt to prove. But, persuaded as we are, that those who are not convinced by the facts already detailed, must labor under difficulties of the heart, rather than of the head ;—and desirous not to detain you too long on this branch of the subject, we shall rest it here, and take it for granted in our future discourses, because sufficiently proved, that the books of the New Testament were actually written by the ostensible authors, and published at the times and in the manner set forth in their contents. Our next dis-course will be directed to the truth of the facts related in those books, so as to ascertain whether it was possible for the authors to have been deceived, or to have borne false witness. And we think that no human intellect can desire a stronger demonstration than belongs to that question, if we are only enabled to do it common justice.

But after all, my brethren, let us remember, that we gain nothing by admitting the authenticity or even the truth of the Scriptures, if we do no more. These things were written that we might believe in Christ, not with the cold assent of the understanding merely, not with the external homage of the lip, not even with the full formality of an outward profession, but with the inward affections of the soul. Thus only, can our belief profit us-thus only can we have life in his name. These Scriptures must be transcribed into our motives, our feelings, our words, our actions;-for 'if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature,' and 'without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.'

Let the unbeliever, then, if he will,-continue to object and cavil, though in the face of a stronger body of testimony, than any book on the face of the earth, besides the Scriptures, can claim. Let him, if he will,continue to cry out, 'Fraud and imposition,' without a shadow of reason, and under circumstances where imposture was utterly impossible. Let him turn to the authors of heathen antiquity with entire faith, and vilify that blessed volume, which is a thousand fold more worthy of his confidence. But let us take heed, that we furnish him with no ground for cavil by our inconsistency. Let us beware that the greatest stumbling block in his way, be not the ungodliness of professed disciples. And let us pity and pray for all who are in the blindness of this delusion. For what is so deplorable-what so melancholy, as to behold the unbeliever, walking downwards to the tomb, without one spark of comfort or of hope in his desolate soul. What is so awful, as to see an immortal being, trying to persuade himself that death is an eternal sleep. Or what is so worthy of supreme compassion, as to see those who do think themselves immortal, and yet cast aside the only record which establishes the fact; those who talk of a judgment to come, and yet acknowledge not the blessed Son of God, who is the only Judge ;-those who admit a future state, and yet put aside the only system of faith and practice, which can teach them what it is, and how to attain it.

But if the life of an unbeliever be thus dark and desolate, O! what is his death? Who can contemplate, without a thrill of horror, the last hours of that man, to whom the approach of dissolution brings nothing but the fearful doubts of infidelity, or the gloom of

utter despair. To plunge at once into annihilationto leave the sympathies of affection-the breathing world-the light of heaven-the warm feelings of home and kindred-for silence, and corruption, and decay. Or to go, we know not where-to suffer, we know not what-to be cast by an unseen and mighty power, into a condition surrounded by obscurity and terror-to be conscious of a thousand sins, and not know on what terms they will be pardoned, if at all—to be hurried before the awful bar of the Supreme and Omnipotent God, without Advocate, Intercessor, or Friend, without any authorized revelation of his will to rely on-without any acknowledged promise of mercy to plead-O! 'tis horrible to a reflecting mind or a heart of any sensibility, to think of such an hour, when the poor lost soul has shut itself out from the refuge of the Gospel.

Far different is the last end of the true believer. The spirit of the ransomed sinner contemplates death with more than submission-with placid joy. A peace which passeth understanding fills the bosom, and the ardent eye of faith seems to behold the present Saviour, sustaining the soul with the arms of divine affection, and comforting it with the promises of Almighty love. The language, the feelings, the holy exhortations, the sublime hopes of such an one-how impressive-how powerful the evidence which they afford to the truth of Christianity;-how they rivet themselves upon the memory, how they sink into the heart, and shed a delicious and thrilling solemnity of proof around the blessed promise of salvation. What are the discourses of an hundred tongues in comparison with the touching influence of the dying hour? There

is a light beaming in the countenance of the departing saint, which belongs not to earth. There is a joy within the soul which lifts it above every human care and affection. That light is an emanation from the glory of the Saviour that joy is the foretaste of hea

ven !

Yes, my beloved brethren! precious, in the sight of the Lord, is the death of his Saints. And precious, to us, should be the privilege of witnessing it, in all its purity, and loveliness of character. May the Spirit of God enable us to improve aright, each additional example of the excellence and power of his Gospel, which his Providence affords us, that when our own hour shall come, we may be found with our loins girt, and our lights burning,' 'believing in Christ the Son of God,' and sustained by the blessed hope that we too'shall have life in his name.'