the New Testament, are inestimably precious to us, as revealing to us the method and plan of redemption by the perfect obedience and meritorious death of our Lord Jesus Christ. And every reader of the Acts of the Apostles must perceive the abundant and satisfactory evidences which this book affords of the truth and divinity of Christianity. The details of the progress and triumphs of the gospel, among both Jews and Gentiles, prove that its establishment on the earth was the result, not of human policy and skill, but of the power and grace of God accompanying the ministration of the holiest, the most benevolent, and most self-denying preachers, that ever professed to seek the welfare of mankind. Their miraculous endowments and their singleness of purpose, their perseverance against the greatest difficulties, and the fruit of their labours, in the conversion of multitudes from ignorance, superstition and sin, to holiness, in obedience to the laws of Christ, demonstrate their commission as the servants of God. The whole contents of these five books, as exhibiting the origin, perfection and planting of Christianity in the world, prove them to form the most precious portion of the Holy Scriptures.

ROMANS, CORINTHIANS I. and II., GALATIANS, EPHESIANS, PHILIPPIANS, COLOSSIANS, THESSALONIANS I. and II., TIMOTHY I. and II., TITUS, PHILEMON and HEBREWS, were written by the Apostle Paul. They were sent on different occasions to churches or to individuals, in the course of his apos tolic ministry, and they form inestimable treasures to the churches of Christ.

D

"The Epistle to the Hebrews," in certain points of view, is the most valuable of all. It has been considered by some as a kind of appendix to the Epistle to the Romans, inculcating the same divine doctrines, but proving and illustrating them upon principles peculiarly suited to the Jews, with their acquaintance with the Old Testament institutions; while that to the Romans was designed especially for the converted Gentiles, who had gained but a little knowledge of the Scriptures. This Epistle to the Hebrews contains a kind of epitome of God's dispensations to man until the appearance of Christ. It is an inspired commentary on the Levitical laws. It contrasts the grandeur, the efficacy and the perpetuity of the new covenant privileges, worship and promises under the gospel, with the worldly character and temporary nature of the typical institutions established by Moses. It was designed to reconcile the believing Jew to the destruction of his temple-the loss of his priesthood

-the abolition of his sacrifices-and even the extinction of his name; because it exhibits to him a nobler priesthood, and the only perfect sacrifice of atonement by Jesus Christ-with a far more magnificent temple in a heavenly country, and an eternal memorial under a new name in the kingdom of God.

James, Peter I. and II., John I., II. and III., and Jude, were Epistles written by the apostles whose names they bear. They are very valuable documents, adapted to edify believers, and worthy of the inspiration of God.

REVELATION. This mysterious book, written by the Apostle John, is so called from the signification

of its Greek name, Apocalypsis, as it reveals many things regarding the future condition of the church and the world. It was given in a series of visions to John, to lead him to exhibit the prophetic history of the church to the end of the world. This book is regarded by many as the most sublime of all that are contained in the New Testament. "It is worthy of justice, in respect of the Revelation," says Mr. Scott, "that the views given in it of God and heavenly things, of the kingdom of providence and grace, of the Redeemer's glory, and the happiness and character of his people, with the wickedness and ruin of his enemies, are set forth in so striking and peculiar a manner, that even those who do not at all understand the prophetical meaning, are interested and edified by reading it, in proportion to the degree of their humility, faith and piety."

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These divine books having been written to different parties, and in distant places, were a considerable time before they could be collected by any individual, or by any church, into a complete volume. But this was done, in a great measure, during the lifetime of the apostles; as it is evident from the Apostle Peter referring to what, he says, our beloved brother Paul hath written in all his epistles," and to "the other scriptures." (2 Peter iii. 15, 16.) This collection was soon made, however, by many churches and individuals, prompted by the Spirit of God; so that many of them in the second century possessed nearly the whole or the entire collection of the books of the New Testament.

CHAPTER IV.

DIVINE INSPIRATION OF THE SCRIPTURES.

Divine Inspiration defined by Dr. Henderson-Dr. Stow-Dr. A Clarke-Dr. Robinson-Dr. Gill-Mr. Boyle-Dr. Doddridge— Inspiration belongs to the original Scriptures.

HOLY SCRIPTURE, originating as we have seen, must have been given by divine inspiration. The sacred books could not have been the devices of men, however ingenious and learned. They bear the character of truth, and the manifest impress of God. A celebrated poet has justly asked, therefore,

Whence, but from heaven, could men, unskilled in arts,
In different ages born, in different parts,

Weave such agreeing truths? or how? or why
Should all agree to cheat us with a lie?

Unasked their pains; unwelcome their advice;
Starving their gains; and martyrdom their price!
-DRYDEN.

Divine revelation must necessarily be the gift of heavenly wisdom. An apostle, therefore, declares, concerning the books of the Old Testament; " All scripture is given by inspiration of God." (2 Tim. iii. 16.) The Apostle Peter, also, in perfect agreement with his great fellow-labourer, Paul, states; "Know'ng this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of iny private interpretation. For the prophecy came

not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter i. 20, 21.)

Divine inspiration signifies a rational creature being influenced by the Spirit breathing into it, so that the intellect is supernaturally improved beyond its ordinary powers. By this inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the soul is excited and moved to undertake some good work, by preaching or writing for the instruction of mankind. Thus the prophets of God are said to have spoken as they were moved, or inspired, by the Holy Ghost. This sacred influence must have been enjoyed in different degrees, according to the requirements of knowledge, by the several writers of the sacred oracles, in the Old and New Testament.

This great subject, so vital to Christianity, in which the minds of believers should be firmly established, will be understood best from the testimonies of a few of our most eminent divines; and, therefore, instead of argument, we offer their admirable thoughts on this manifestation of the sovereign goodness of God.

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Dr. Henderson defines divine inspiration as an extraordinary and supernatural influence exerted by the Holy Spirit on the minds of the sacred writers, in such modes and degrees as to lead to, and secure in, documentary forms, the deposition of such historical, didactic, devotional and prophetic truth, as Infinite Wisdom deemed requisite for the immediate and future benefit of mankind."*

* Divine Inspiration, Congregational Lecture. Lecture vii., p. 254