THE PRACTICE DEFENDED.

induced to make this application by some vague and indefinite impression received at a prayer meeting which she had recently attended. It was the day previous to confirmation, when the circumstance I am now relating occurred. The minister explained to her the necessity of being acquainted with the requirements of that Master whom she professed a willingness to serve. He told her that her present feelings might undergo a very material change after she became enlightened in regard to Christian duty, and that it would be impossible for her to test the firmness of her present purpose, without the knowledge of the most prominent truths and obligations of the gospel. He also advised her to attend a course of catechetical instruction, then in progress, and recommended that she should apply to some pious friend to read to her the Scriptures, as she could not read them herself. But it proved in the end, that the feeling which prompted her request to be admitted into the church, was momentary, and transient, and unfounded on a real sense of duty. And the subsequent conduct of this individual, confirmed. the wisdom of the measure pursued in her case.

It must ever be remembered, that man is an intelligent being, possessing reason and judgment, and the power of choice, and therefore to be properly influenced as a free, moral agent, he must be made acquainted with all the facts and circumstances, attending any course of action he is requested to pursue. In reference to religious truth, it is essential that he become persuaded,-1. Of the necessity of a divine revelation; 2. That the Bible is a divine revelation; and finally, by arguments drawn from the Bible itself, and addressed to his understanding, that he is obligated by every serious consideration, and by every

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worthy motive, to love and serve that Being who has revealed his character and will to man. The light thus diffused throughout the mind, and brought home to the conscience by the spirit of truth, will become the power of God unto salvation. The most of those who live in Christian lands are already convinced of the divine origin of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, and all that remains to be done in this case, is to state and explain the prominent doctrines of revelation, and make known the duties they involve.

I have said, that the practice for which I am contending, is clearly recognized in the Bible itself. This position I shall now endeavor to establish. Here let it be borne in mind, that catechetical instruction is nothing more, or less, than the statement and illustration of Christian doctrine and duty. The faithful minister exhibits to the members of his class, the whole system of evangelical truth. He describes to them the character of that God whom they have offended. He speaks of their own sinfulness, and their need of a Saviour. He dwells upon the scenes of Calvary, and points to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world. He exhorts them to flee from the wrath to come. He lays various motives before them. He appeals to their love of happiness and their dread of suffering. He warns and entreats. In a word, he employs every argument which he thinks will influence their decisions, and arrest their attention to duty, and the interests of their immortal souls. Now this is the only course to be pursued, if man, as a rational being, possessing the power of choice, is to be influenced by motives or persuasion. Does the Bible then recognize and sanction this kind of influence? Let us see.

It is evident in the first place, that the requisitions of the moral law are not arbitrary; and though God, as the moral Governor of the universe, has an undoubted right to require the obedience of man without expostulation or argument, in revealing his will to our sinful race he has graciously condescended, not only to state the ground of his requirements, but to present every motive to obedience, which infinite affection and wisdom could suggest.

Again: The intellectual powers of man have become more or less affected by the fall. One of the most dreadful consequences of sin is the prostration of those faculties of the mind, which, had they remained unimpaired, would have enabled us, at a glance, to admire the infinite perfections of the Deity, to be grateful for the evidences of his goodness, and to acknowledge the reasonableness of all his requirements. In other words, the moral condition of the sinner, has influenced his intellectual condition, in as far as religious truth and moral duty are concerned. Under these circumstances, how is apostate man to become a worshipper of the living God? The wisdom of the Almighty has established the means of imparting light to his understanding through the medium of divine revelation. And this is just such a revelation as he wants. It is admirably adapted, not only to his mental, but also to his moral constitution. It addresses him not only as a rational being, but also as a being so depraved by sin, as to remain unaffected by the simple statements of duty. It meets all the prejudices of the human heart, and takes from the sinner every apology for non-compliance with its inspired dictates.

Refer for a moment to the book of the prophet Isaiah, (i. 18) "Come now and let us reason together, saith the

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Lord." This appeal, which so beautifully and touchingly exhibits the condescension of the Creator, unfolds to us the true Character of man as a free agent-a character which, though imparted by a higher power, is never to be lost sight of, in any effort that is made to influence the individual thus constituted. In all the overtures of divine mercy, man is left to choose for himself, an eternal destiny of happiness or woe. And it is the design of God that every truth should be exhibited to the sinner's view, so that he may have no excuse for his rebellion, and also that his resolution of obedience may spring from a conviction of the reasonableness of the divine law. It is thus with every true and persevering child of God. He walks in the path of duty, because reason, enlightened by revelation, points it out to him as the path of wisdom and of peace.

The address that was made to the Israelites by Elijah, when at his command they were assembled by Ahab, at Mount Carmel, may also serve to illustrate this point. "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God follow him; if Baal, then follow him." Here the question of their allegiance to God is thrown open to discussion; and the Israelites are justly censured for remaining in a state of indecision, because their very constitution as rational beings, enabled them to pass judgment on the conflicting claims of the Lord and Baal, to their service and their love. They are urged to test these claims, and to decide, by their knowledge of the attributes of the true God, and of the idol of the Zidonians, which of the two, their duty, as well as their interest, required them to worship.

The testimony of Christ in reference to this question

THE PRACTICE DEFENDED.

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is still more satisfactory, as he proves the absurdity of professing an attachment to him, or his cause, before we have acquired the knowledge of the many sacrifices and duties, which that profession involves. The Saviour said to the multitude who followed him: "which of you intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it."

But

This counting the cost is a mental process, and consists in that calm deliberation, with which every one is to regard the responsibilities of the Christian character, before he assumes them. As already remarked, every disciple of Christ is required to make sacrifices, if faithful to the interests of his Master's cause. Many of these borrow their complexion from the circumstances of the individual himself; as in the primitive age of the Church, the Christian became the child of poverty, and the victim of persecution, in the very nature of the case. there are principles of action, established in the gospel, which demand the exercise of a self-denying spirit, under every circumstance that is favorable to its manifestation. "If any man will be my disciple," says the Saviour, "let him deny himself." Hence, no desire is to be indulged, and no affection cherished, in any instance, that is inconsistent with the moral requirements of revealed truth. Every emotion of anger, and every feeling of revenge, is to be subdued. Wealth, honor, and the approbation of the world, are all to be sacrificed, unless they can be acquired in the way of duty. In social intercourse, that golden rule is to be the basis of action: "Do unto others, as you would wish others do unto you." The prosperity of an enemy must not