sition to the plain meaning of the words, does virtually either deny the Bible to be the word of God, or exalts his own judgment above the judgment of his Maker. Would that men could be persuaded to consider how many times a day they do this, in thought, in word, in deed, and proudly justify themselves in doing SO. "A man who thinks for himself," is a term of commendation in society. "He has a great mind, he will think for himself," as if the terms were synonymous. Well, if it meant only an independence of man's judgment; or perhaps not always well then; for the opinions of men, if they be men of God, may be of value as derived from Him: and the opinions of the church, if it be the church of Christ, should be the echo of his own; to be subjected, however, to the test of Scripture. But this it does not mean. There are so few things upon which God has not spoken, except in the fields of science. There man may revel harmlessly in the plenitude of his own wisdom, provided he touch not the plain meaning of

the written word;-but in respect of character, and conduct, and principles, and all the relations of man to man, to his Creator and himself, there is nothing of which God has not spoken; and man cannot and must not think upon them independently. Christ did not;

angels in heaven do not. Perhaps they do in hell, for in Satan's kingdom independence has ever been a boast and a distinction: whether a reality, I leave the boasters to decide. They, who like some of old indignantly exclaim, "We were never in bondage to any one;" who are determined to serve God according to their conscience, to follow the dictates of their own understanding, and go to heaven their own way, know best whether they be free indeed, or in subjection to another master. They who dare commit sin in defiance of their Maker, know whether they dare abstain from it, in defiance of the world. They whose discretion judges of the fitness of God's commands, know whether they dare observe them against the most minute requirements of this world's fashions and opinions.

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does appear to me, that those who talk most of deep views, and large views, and do certainly most excel in new views, are different persons from those who, by study or experience, have really sounded the depths of divine knowledge. These last have been men of close application, and laborious research, whom the world heard little of, but by the matured and long digested product of their labours. they have been men, who under severe trial of their faith, in close intercourse with Deity, and devoted administration to the secret mind of others, have obtained a peculiar insight into the language of the Holy Spirit, and tried the value of their ore in many a fire, before they produced it to the world. These were men who spent their lives in kindling some small taper, for such it was, in comparison with the light of Revelation, and left it burning on their tombs. They were not the young, the loud, the popular, who blazon the day with torches to find out something new, and discover the secrets of the Lord; finding every day a

sition to the plain meaning of the words, does virtually either deny the Bible to be the word of God, or exalts his own judgment above the judgment of his Maker. Would that men could be persuaded to consider how many times a day they do this, in thought, in word, in deed, and proudly justify themselves in doing SO. "A man who thinks for himself," is a term of commendation in society. "He has a great mind, he will think for himself," as if the terms were synonymous. Well, if it meant only an independence of man's judgment; or perhaps not always well then; for the opinions of men, if they be men of God, may be of value as derived from Him: and the opinions of the church, if it be the church of Christ, should be the echo of his own; to be subjected, however, to the test of Scripture. But this it does not mean. There are so few things upon which God has not spoken, except in the fields of science. There man may revel harmlessly in the plenitude of his own wisdom, provided he touch not the plain meaning of