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ADDRESS TO CATECHUMENS.

you are to treasure up in your hearts, the solemn lessons of inspired truth. You are to make the Bible your study in reference to your own salvation. You are to discover what constitutes the Christian character. You are to learn what duties belong to you in your relation to God and your fellow-men. And you are to pray without ceasing, for the enlightening aid of the holy spirit, that the attainment of this knowledge may be followed by the dedication of yourselves to the service of the Almighty.

CATECHUMEN'S GUIDE.

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The following lectures will consist, as the reader is already aware, of brief explanations of the doctrines of Scripture, as they are laid down in Luther's Catechismdoctrines touching the duties which man owes to the Creator, to his fellow-men and himself; together with a practical application, shewing that all men are bound by the most solemn obligations, to act a very important part as moral beings. And may the Spirit of the Highest guide us in this momentous inquiry, and indelibly impress upon our understandings, by his sanctifying influence these illustrations of revealed truth.

PART FIRST.

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The first part of the Catechism, as you perceive, includes the ten commandments and the inquiry that presents itself, before entering upon the explanation of these commandments, is, by whom were they communicated, and what is the character of that Being whose will they contain ?

Q. What does the first part of the Catechism contain? By whom were these communicated?

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DIVINE PERFECTIONS.

The existence of a God, the Creator and Governor of the universe, is the fundamental doctrine of our blessed religion. This truth is plainly taught in the works of Nature, which indicate, so clearly, contrivance and design, that we are compelled to attribute them to an intelligent creating cause. And besides, we discover in the greatness of these works, the mighty power of Him who formed them, whilst their manifest adaptation to some important and glorious end, bespeaks the wisdom of their author. But it has been reserved for revelation to teach us more respecting the divine character and intentions than the light of nature ever has, or ever could disclose. The Bible declares this God, whose existence is proclaimed by every object of creation, to be infinite, not only in power and wisdom, but in goodness, justice, holiness and truth. According to the testimony of this blessed book, he not only exists, but is uncreated and omnipresent. He is also a spirit, and therefore requires a spiritual worship. Let us briefly attend to

The Divine Perfections.

1. Eternity. The Bible represents the divine existence as without beginning, and declares that it will be without end. This includes the doctrine of self-existence, for all created things must have a beginning. "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God." (Ps. xc. 2.)

Q. Does Nature teach us that there is a God? With no other light than that of nature to guide us, what attributes may we ascribe to the Divine Being? Ans. Power, wisdom, and goodness. Q. Why is the light of revelation preferable to that of nature? Mention the divine perfections. What do you mean by his Eternity? What other doctrine does this include ?

OMNIPRESENCE.

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2. Immutability. The Scriptures represent God as unchangeable. He is the same to-day, yesterday and forever. He is the same, or unchangeable in his nature. The lofty perfections of his adorable character cannot change. "He is the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."-(James i. 17.)

Hence the divine purposes are equally immutable. Whatever the great Eternal decrees must come to pass. He is true to all his promises, and every expectation of good that has been created by these promises, may be safely indulged. "He is not a man, that he should repent." (1 Sam. xv. 29.)

3. Omnipresence. We are also taught, that this God, who is self-existent, eternal, and unchangeable, is present every where at the very same moment of time. This attribute of his character is indeed essential to the exercise of his providential care, as well as to his moral government. The very fact, that all created things are sustained in existence by his hand, is satisfactory evidence that he pervades all nature. "Whither shall I go from thy spirit, or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”—(Ps. cxxxix. 7, 10.) It is.

If the

Q. What do you understand by the immutability of God? Divine nature is unchangeable, are not the Divine purposes and promises equally so? What do you understand by the Omnipresence of Deity? Of what are the arrangements of Divine Providence a proof? Is the Divine Omnipresence essential to the moral government of God? Mention a passage of Scripture to prove the doctrine.

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DIVINE PERFECTIONS.

impossible for us to explain or conceive the manner in which the divine agency is thus universally exercised d; nor is it necessary to the belief of the doctrine that we should. Its incomprehensibility is no argument against its truth; for let it be remembered that God is a spirit, and who can comprehend the spiritual nature of man himself? Who can describe the essence of the human soul, or explain the manner of its existence?

4. Omniscience. If God is present every where, it clearly follows that he must possess the knowledge of all events, and that this knowledge must extend to the most secret thoughts of the human heart. It is a solemn reflection that the Being on whom we depend for life and all its blessings, as well as the hope of immortality, can enter into the deepest recesses of the soul, and there read the very motives that actuate us. But it is also, to the believer, an abiding source of the richest consolation. Are the righteous persecuted for righteousness sake, God is the witness of all their trials, and theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Does the church languish, "God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; he will help her, and that right early." This attribute of the divine. character is referred to by the Psalmist in the 139th Psalm. "O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me. Thou knowest my down sitting and mine up rising; thou understandest my thought afar off."

Omnipotence. We learn from the works of nature

Q. Is its incomprehensibility opposed to its truth? What do you understand by the Divine Omniscience? Is God acquainted with the very motives of human action? What influence should this have upon all moral and accountable beings? With what feelings should every believer regard this attribute? In what Psalm is it refered to Repeat the passage.