to be but members of the universal hypothesis, whose objects, I conceive to be, the nature, counsels, and works of God, as far as they are discoverable by, for I say not to us in this life."

BOYLE'S Excellency of Theology. Works, Vol. iv. 16-19. London, MDCCLXXII.

(7) Page 327. It is not for any controversial purpose, that we are chiefly, or primarily, to engage in sacred study.] When heresies arise, however, controversy must needs ensue. And from Irenæus and Augustine, to Hooker and to Horsley, those divines have deserved well of the Church, and of religion, who have detected and chastised the arts of pernicious sophistry, whether in matters of Christian faith, or ecclesiastical discipline. But in controversy, beyond all other pursuits, it is indispensable that DISCRIMINATIVE CHARITY be the main-spring of all our movements. "The man that is wise," says the incomparable JEREMY TAYLOR, "he, that is conducted by the Spirit of God, knows better in what Christ's kingdom does consist, than to throw away his time, and interest, and peace, and safety; for what? For religion? No. For the body of religion? Not so much. For the garment of the body of religion? No; not for so much. But, for the fringes, of the garment, of the body, of religion." Sermon, before the University of Dublin.

(8) Page 329. spiritual wisdom.]

Moral rectitude is the parent of Christianity," says JEREMY TAYLOR, "is the easiest, and the hardest thing in the world. It is like a secret in arithmetick; infinitely hard, till it be found out, by a right operation; and

then, it is so plain, we wonder we did not understand it earlier." Sermon, before the University of Dublin.

"There is a kind of sanctity of soul and body," says Dr. Henry More, "that is of more efficacy for the receiving or retaining of Divine truth, than the greatest pretences to discursive demonstration." Divine Dialogues, i. § 4.

"The knowlege of the great and profound truths of religion is a knowledge that men are not so much to study, as to live themselves into. A knowledge, that passes into the head, through the heart. I have heard of some, that, in their latter years, through the feebleness of their limbs, have been forced to study upon their knees. And I think it might well become the youngest and the strongest to do so too. Let them daily and incessantly pray to God for his grace; and, if God gives grace, they may be sure, that knowledge will not stay long behind. Since it is the same principle that purifies the heart, and clarifies the understanding. Let all their enquiries into the deep and mysterious points of theology be begun and carried on, with fervent petitions to God, that he would dispose their minds, to direct all their skill and knowledge to the promotion of a good life, both in themselves and others; that he would use all their noblest exertions, and most refined notions, only as instruments, to move and set at work the great principles of action, THE WILL AND THE AFFECTIONS; that he would convince them of the infinite vanity and uselessness of all that learning, which makes not the possessor of it a better man."

B

"The truths of Christ crucified are the Christian's philosophy; and a good life is the Christian's logic;

that great, instrumental, introductive art, which must guide the mind into the former. And, where a long course of piety, and close communion with God, has purged the heart, and rectified the will, and made all things ready for the reception of God's Spirit, knowledge will break in upon such a soul, like the sun shining in his full might, with such a victorious light, that nothing shall be able to resist it."

DR. SOUTH. Sermon on St. John, vii. 17. Works, i. p. 82.

(9) Page 329. A right division of the word of truth.] Ορθοτομούντα τον λόγον της αληθείας. I agree with those expositors who derive this metaphor " from the distribution made by a steward, (or rather, perhaps, by a carver,) in delivering out, to each person under his care, such things as his office, and their necessities, required."

A few authorities are annexed, for the advantage of my younger clerical readers.

Ogloroμsiv. Spectare diligenter, quid ferat auditorum captus."

FULLER; quoting BEZA. Misc. Sacr. iii. 16. σε Ορθοτομειν τον λόγον της αλήθειας. Prudenter distribuere docendo; et usibus auditorum diversis accommodare."

GLASSIUS; Philologia Sacra. Col. 1837. "Ego vocem og oτoμew, in propriâ et nativâ significatione intelligo, ut notet, recte secare, dividere, distribuere, verbum veritatis; hoc est, cuique tradere id, quod ipsis convenit; rudibus informationem, malis correctionem, adflictis consolationem."

SCHOETTGENIUS. Hora Hebraica, p. 888.

A A

The importance of this right division is admirably enforced, by St. Gregory the Great, in his instructive treatise on the pastoral care.

Non una eademque cunctis exhortatio congruit; quia non cunctos par morum qualitas astringit. Sæpe, namque, aliis officiunt, quæ aliis prosunt. Quia et plerumque herbæ, quæ hæc animalia nutriunt, alia occidunt: et medicamentum, quod hunc morbum imminuit, alteri vires jungit: et panis, quia vitam fortium roborat, parvulorum necat. Pro qualitate, igitur, audientium, formari debet sermo doctorum ; ut, et sua singulis congruat; et, tamen, a communis ædificationis arte, nunquam recedat. Quid enim sunt internæ mentes auditorum, nisi, ut ita dixerim, quædam in cithara tensiones stratæ chordarum? Quas tangendi artifex, ut non sibimet ipsi dissimile canticum faciat, dissimiliter pulsat. Et idcirco, chorda consonam modulationem reddunt: quia uno quidem plectro, sed non uno impulsu, feriuntur. Unde et doctor quisque, ut in una cunctos virtute caritatis ædificet, ex una doctrina, non una eademque exhortatione, tangere corda audientium debet.

ST. GREGOR. Regul. Past. Pars iii. Prolog. Ed. Bened. Tom. ii. p. 32.

The matter of the following APPENDIX has grown unexpectedly under the Author's hands. He trusts, however, that the intrinsic importance of the subject, will, in some measure, atone for the length of the discussion. It remains to be mentioned, with equal gratitude and pleasure, that, both for authorities and arguments, he is largely indebted to the same excellent person, whose assistance, in one of the notes, has already been acknowledged.