And, fecondly, those who are distinguished as the moft religious, pious, and good-who are the least exceptionable in their character and conduct and who are confidered as the best of chriftians-thefe have discovered fo much gloominess, melancholly and fadnefs-fo much referve, unfociability, and stiffness-fo much bigotry, enthusiasm, or fingularity—that men have been hereby led to conceive religion to be the moft difagreeable, forbidding, mortifying, and unhappy life, it is poffible for man to live in this world; whatever it may be in the next.

But, firs, thefe two reafons need no longer prevent men from studying the word, or becoming religious; because the word of God is now opened in its true fpiritual meaning-the vail is taken awaythe Lord hath, by a meffenger of his own choofing, dispersed the clouds of darkness and error, which have fo long prevailed; he hath exhibited truth in its own genuine light, and native beauty. He is come himself to those who will receive him in his fecond appearing, as their God and Saviour; to whom he will, by the divine influx of his love and wisdom, open abundantly the truths of his holy word. And as I have always found that those Serious and chriftian minds, who would candidly read the writings of our author, with a defire to know and receive the truth, have been convinced of the darkness, miftakes, and errors which abound, and have cordially acceded to the divine truth, now manifefted from heaven. So I am confidently af

fured

fured you will, if you take the fame fteps, with the fame candor and fincere defire, be as cordially convinced of, and as fully accede to, divine truth, as they have done.

You will then fee that the bible is one confiftent regular system; a connected series of doctrines and truths; a plain and folemn declaration of the divine will. You will then understand that all the falfe doctrines and opinions which men have embraced, have been founded upon the bare letter of the word, misunderstood; but that now, as mankind give up the mind to the Lord, receive the light of heaven, and enter into the true fpiritual knowledge of the word, they will be united in doctrine, faith, worship, affection, and life. And, in the second place, that now religion will be exhibited in its own native charms-in its own divine excellence and glory;--not as a gloomy, melancholly, unfocial life-not as a haggard, forbidding, and difgufting form-but as a cheerful, happy, and focial life as the most beautiful, pleafing, and lovely form.

But, to return to the words of our text"Hearken, O daughter, and confider; and incline "thine ear." To hearken, fignifies to attend to, bear, and regard the word of the Lord; to confider, implies meditation and reflexion upon the word

-to confider whofe word it is, what it contains, and the importance of its inftructions; and to incline the ear, is to obey the word, delight in it, be

ruled by it, and govern the life according to it. These things need not be further explained, but to enforce them may not be improper.

First, then, my christian friends, let it be your care to attend the word, hear it, read it, and regard it; and think not that, because I have advised you to read the writings of our illuminated author, I thereby wish to divert your minds from the bibleno; God forbid! May my tongue ever reft in filence, rather than I fhould do that. My only reafon, (if I know my own motives) is, that by reading thofe writings, you may truly understand the word, love it more than ever, and obey it from the heart.. I am well convinced what the doctrines and inventions of men have done—that, like the Jews, they have fet afide the word of God, and made it of none effect by their traditions-I am free to avow before the world, that these writings which I recommend, will fet afide thofe traditions, make them of none effect, and thereby exhibit the truth in its own divine light, in its own divine power and efficacy.

I wifh, my fellow chriftians, thus to behold the word of the Lord; and I do know, that as it comes to be truly and spiritually understood, it will lead us all into one regular fyftem-into pure and undefiled religion-into one faith and life-and unite us all in pure affection-in cordial love. And I long to fee the happy day when chriftians fhall be of one heart and of one foul. The morning of that day appears -the fun of heaven arifes, and it will afcend to

its meridian glory; when its divine heat shall warm all our hearts, its heavenly light illumine our minds, and when we shall learn war no more, but fit down under the banner of our Lord, in peace, in harmony, and love-united in bonds of charity, truth, and goodness-and each making the other happy with all the powers of his foul. I well know that infernal fpirits will, with all their fubtilty and might, oppose the progrefs of truth, the increase of love, and the happiness of men in thefe laft days. But what then? The arm of the Lord of Hofts will put them to flight! The fet time to favor his Zion is come; yea, the Lord is come himself in power and great glory-his church shall stand and prosper-christians fhall be happy—and truth and love prevail.

Come, then, let us, according to our text, confider the word of our Lord; meditate and reflect upon it; confider whose word it is; that it is the word and will of the Lord-and confequently that it must be spiritual and divine in every part-that it must be infinite in wifdom and love-that its doctrines are true, its commandments juft and good, and its promifes fure and immutable-that there is nothing therein but what is calculated for our real good and happiness, to make us good men, good relations, good neighbours, good chriftians, and bright angels in heaven. The importance of the word is infinitely great-without the bible we had wandered in the dark mazes of ignorance and folly; been as grofs idolaters as other nations; and

known

known but little of God, of ourselves, or of an

eternal state.

But, to pass on. The Lord requires us, in our text, not only to hearken and confider, but also to incline the ear. And when the true internal fenfe of the words is understood, here appears a beautiful and important gradation:-firft, to bear the word; that is, to admit it into the understanding by hearing, reading, and the like :-then, fecondly, to confider; that is, to weigh its importance, its value, its doctrines, laws, and precepts; to consider the author of the word, the nature of it, its defign and end:-and then, thirdly, to incline the ear; that is, to obey the word from a full conviction that it is the truth of God, and alfo from a real love to it. All this is implied in the words.

Now, my good firs, apply the words to yourfelves for a moment; for the Lord our God speaks to ALL-he invites, exhorts, and commands all to attend his word. He fays unto every one of you, "Hear, read, and learn my word." It is no less than the Almighty himself who calls you to this workthe God who created, redeemed, and blesses you-your Lord, your Friend, and your Father. And can you acquit yourselves to him if you do not read that word? if you do not acquaint yourselves with the contents of it?-Suppofe we live a number of years in this world, and, when called away by death, we have not made the bible our study-we have not confidered its value, nor attended to its injunc

tions;