them thinking, judging men; intelligent in their belief as well as firm. He therefore taught them by degrees, dwelt long and frequently on the simplest truths, and led them slowly, and step by step, to the understanding and belief of the higher doctrines of religion. Thus it should be with teachers and learners of religion still. We ought not to require Christ's scholars, and Christ's scholars ought not to attempt to take in a system of divinity at once. It is enough if our faith keep pace with our understanding. We should first labour to comprehend the doctrine, and then to see on what ground it rests; and those doetrines only, which we discover to rest on the plain testimony of God's word, should we receive as our creed. If we have received doctrines in other ways, as is the case with all who have been taught religion in their youth, we ought to review our sentiments, and by comparing them with God's word, see for ourselves, whether they be indeed the truth as taught by Jesus. Some adopt a creed at once, and then instead of trying it by the word of God, and modeling it according to its teachings, they only search the scripture for arguments to support their creed. Their creed is the standard, and instead of making it bend to scripture, they make the scripture bend to their creed. The scripture is interpreted according to their opinions, and not according to the mind of God. They search for no instruction in the scriptures, but what is contained in their creed; and they will allow nothing they meet with there, to shake their belief in its articles. These gain the reputation of orthodox in their sect, but they seldom prove of much use to the world. They stop the church in its way to perfection, and keep it in a state of lasting infancy. Their confused and inconsistent exhibitions of the christian system, give occasion to the adversary to blaspheme the name of Christ, and betray the cause of God into their hands. Error is handed down by them from generation to generation, and the wisdom of God is hid amidst their unmeaning words and vain

traditions.

Others, thank God, pursue a better course, and follow where God and reason lead the way. All doctrines that agree not with the plain and unadulterated word of God they reject; all doctrines that the word of God inculcates they receive, however contrary to human systems. These dare doubt where the voice of God is silent, though all the world should call on them to believe; these dare think, when God invites them to think, though all the world should threaten them with excommunication. These are they who shake the rude and ill-built systems of men to pieces, and scatter the unsound materials to the winds. They overthrow the errors of a hundred generations, and free the human race from fear and bondage. They are seldom honoured by such as are devoted to the interests of a sect, and often slandered and persecuted by narrow and slavish spirits; but they gain the approbation of God, and the esteem of the wise and good. It is to this honourable and happy class that I would have my readers to belong. Make truth your aim in all you read and all you hear. Be not so anxious to think as others think, as to think right; and what it is to think right, ask the scriptures. Aim not at conformity to any human creed, but at conformity to the mind and will of God. Acknowledge God alone for your Governor, and obey no law but what agrees with his; acknowledge Christ alone for your Teacher, and receive no doctrine but what agrees with his instructions. If you believe the Bible, and with sincerity and diligence and prayer, endeavour to understand its meaning, and obey its laws, it is enough. You are not bound to receive any other creed; nor are you bound to receive any interpretation of that creed, but what commends itself to your own mind. We are bound as far as the authority of God and our own consciences hind us, but beyond this we are free as the winds of Heaven. The authority of bishops, and councils, and fathers, is the same as the authority of a little child. If they can help us to the knowledge of the truth, it is all

well; if they cannot we have no call for them. Search after truth then, and search with diligence and prayer and perseverance. Throw off all fetters,

and be free. Trust yourselves into the hands of God, and let HIM lead you. Take the Bible, and fear not to believe its sayings. If all the creeds in the land should be against that book, count them as nothing. Be not afraid to reject a thousand doctrines, if you find them not agreeable to the simple teachings of the gospel. God will not fail to guide aright, the souls that own his word, and trust themselves in his hand. 66 'The meek will he guide in judgment; the meek will he teach his way.' Let this be our determination, to seek for truth, to love and honour God, to help and guide and comfort one another, and to spread the knowledge of the gospel and the enjoyment of its blessings through all the dwellings of mankind.

ADAM SMITH AND TEMPERANCE.

Adam Smith contends that the more restraints and prohibitions are laid on people, to keep them from dangerous courses, the more eagerly will they run into danger; and that the way to keep them within due bounds is to do away with restrictions, and leave men more to themselves. The fewer opportunities men have of drinking freely, the more greedily they drink and the worse drunkards they become when they do find an opportunity, says the infidel philosopher and politician Adam Smith; and the more opportunities men have of drinking as much as they please, the less likely are they to drink to excess. Hence amongst the wealthy who have always drink at command, there are few drunkards; while among the poor who are restrained by their circumstances from indulgence, and to whom drink is in consequence a luxury, drunkards abound. But when Adam Smith spoke thus he showed more anxiety for the triumph of infidelity, than he showed respect either to philosophy or common sense. It may be true

that there are fewer drunkards among the wealthier classes than among the poorer; but if it be, it is to be accounted for on a very different principle from that of Adam Smith. The wealthy soon loose their wealth, when they become drunkards, and fall into the ranks of the poor; while some of the poor who are industrious and temperate, are always entering the ranks of the wealthy. If all the wealthy who become drunkards were kept to themselves, and not suffered to be numbered with the poor; and if all the temperate who become rich were still to be numbered with those from whom they sprung, it would soon be found that, according to their numbers, more rich people fall victims to drunkenness than poor people. The principle which Adam Smith lays down is not true. It is not true that the fewer opportunities men have of drinking freely, the more greedily they drink when an opportunity does come, It is only true of some men, namely such as erroneously believe intoxicating drinks to be good, and have by using then got an appetite for them. If those who are thus deluded and partially vitiated, are kept from intoxicating drink awhile, they will drink more greedily when they have an opportunity; but it is not restraint that is to blame, but the want of more perfect restraint. Those who are restrained from such drinks from their youth, and who consequently have formed no appetite for them, will not drink them at all; especially if they are taught the salutary truth that they are hurtful things. The instances Adam Smith mentions in confirmation of his principle, prove nothing, because the persons he refers to were in error, and their tastes had been vitiated by the previous use of intoxicating drink. Unreasonable restraint may enrage men's minds, especially when only partial, but restraints enforced by reason, especially when uninterrupted, will subdue the evil prin eiple, and prepare the way for virtue.

Adam Smith's principle is opposed to facts. Those children that have wine to run to, either become

drunkards or die; while those who seldom taste, care little about it. There is no man who wished to rear a family, would give his little ones the free and unrestrained use of the bottle. It is the same with men as it is with children; the more liberty in these indulgences, the greater slaves will they become. The Bible is a system of restraints, and Adam Smith was so opposed to the Bible, that he would write the silliest falsehoods, rather than not contradict its principles. But the Bible will overthrow his foolish system after all, and bring to shame and confusion all that have exalted themselves against its authority. The Bible will break in pieces every false system of philosophy and polity, and never cease its triumphs till it has converted or confounded the last of the unbelieving tribe, and placed the world on the firm foundations of truth and temperance and piety.

THE WISDOM OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE. One reason why God allows the wicked to oppress and afflict the righteous is, to excite the righteous to more diligent exertions to convert the wicked, and bring their crimes to an end. If God should so order things, that the moment a man began to be righteous, he should be secure from all the bad effects of the wickedness of his neighbours, he would be in danger of forgetting his duty as a reformer. People are seldom very anxious to correct those evils which they do not feel. Even the best of men are in danger of allowing crimes to be committed without opposition, except when the evil consequences fail partly upon themselves Government may oppress a distant colony, and no one shall complain; but let them touch a citizen at home, and murmurs and outcries are heard instantly. Government may go to war with a nation with whom we have no connexions, and however unrighteous the war may be very little opposition is made to it. But let war be declared against a country on whose custom our merchants are dependent, and the war will be denounced at once. Every one who has read the history of the church or of the world, must have observed how seldom he meets with any one who ever distinguished himself as a reformer, until he had been made to feel the evils of oppression himself. Luther would probably never have pleaded for li berty of conscience, if the Pope had not endeavoured to force his conscience. The Pope might have forbidden every other person to write against abuses,and Luther never have thought it wrong perhaps, if restraints had not been laid upon himself and his friends. It was the attempt of King Charles to take his property illegally, that brought forth Hampden as a reformer. It was after Wesley was expelled, that he began to preach against the corruptions of the established church: and it was when a bill was brought into the House of Lords,