apostle, had still occasion to make use of books." And when we consider how strict a charge the same apostle gives Timothy, that great apostolic prelate, to apply himself to reading and study; and that the inspired prophets, under the Old Testament, thought the same exercises necessary for themselves; how dare we, (very mushrooms, the best of us, compared to them,) either, through pride, scorn and reject; or, out of sloth and laziness, neglect those helps? We ought not in the least to value the clamours of the wild fanatics among us, who cry out, "That if we study for what we do, we do it not by the Spirit;" as if the assistance of the Spirit and human industry were inconsistent with, yea, repugnant to each other. For, on the contrary, we may be assured, from what hath been said, that the Spirit of God will help none but the studious and industrious. Let us therefore give attendance to reading and study, yea, addict ourselves wholly to these exercises, with daily prayer to God for His blessing on them, that our profiting may appear unto all men.

3. And lastly, this may serve to instruct also lay Christians in their duty of diligently reading the sacred Scriptures, and those other good books that God's providence hath furnished them with, in order to their instruction in the matters of religion. If the ministers of Christ, yea, the very apostles of Christ, have thought reading and study useful to them, can you think you have no need at all of it? It is true, more time and pains in those exercises is required of the ministers of religion, than of others; but none are wholly exempted and excused from the duty; because all men are bound

to be "wise unto salvation," and to be so requires no small pains and industry. Ministers are to read, that they may be able to teach; and you are to read, that you may be capable of learning, or being taught. For unless there be a concurrent industry in the teacher and the disciple, the one teacheth in vain, because the other will never learn.

Be sure, therefore, daily to read the Holy Scriptures, and those other good books you have or can procure, that may help you to understand them. And if any of you cannot read yourselves, (I hope there are very few, if any, in this congregation under so unhappy circumstances,) get some relation, friend, or neighbour to read to you; and they must be very uncharitable indeed that will deny you that assistance. They that cannot read are concerned to double their diligence in hearing, and in a more careful attendance on all opportunities of instruction that shall be offered them in public, and in asking and seeking after instruction from their ministers in private, adding their daily and most earnest prayers to God for the assistance of His Holy Spirit in the use of those means, and encouraging themselves with that promise of His; "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

In a word, let none of you think or imagine divine wisdom and knowledge so cheap a thing as to be obtained without labour and diligence. And remember that it is worth your while and pains to learn the right

a James, i. 5.

way to heaven; for if you miss it, you are undone for

ever.

Wherefore "consider what I say, and the Lord give you understanding in all things."

To God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be ascribed all honour and glory, adoration and worship, now and Amen.

for ever.

VIA INTELLIGENTIÆ.

[BISHOP TAYLOR.]

A SERMON PREACHED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN, SHOWING BY WHAT MEANS THE SCHOLARS SHALL BECOME MOST LEARNED AND MOST USEFUL.

JOHN, vii. 17.

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

THE ancients, in their mythological learning, tell us, that when Jupiter espied the men of the world striving for truth, and pulling her in pieces to secure her to themselves, he sent Mercury down amongst them, and he, with his usual arts, dressed error up in the imagery of truth, and thrust her into the crowd, and so left them to contend still; and though then, by contention, men were sure to get but little truth, yet they were as earnest as ever, and lost peace too, in their importune contentions for the very image of truth. And this, indeed, is no wonder; but when truth and peace are brought into the world together, and bound up in the same bundle of life, — when we are taught a religion by the Prince of Peace, who is the Truth itself, to see men contending for this truth to the breach of that peace; and when men fall out, to see that they should make Christianity their theme; that is one of the great

est wonders in the world. For Christianity is uspos καὶ φιλάνθρωπος νομοθεσία, a soft and gentle institution; ὑγρὸν καὶ μείλιχον ἦθος, it was brought into the world to soften the asperities of human nature, and to cure the barbarities of evil men, and the contentions of the passionate. The eagle, seeing her breast wounded, and espying the arrow that hurt her to be feathered, cried out, πτερόν με τὸν πτερωτὸν ὀλλύει, the feathered nation is destroyed by their own feathers; that is, a Christian fighting and wrangling with a Christian. And, indeed, that is very sad; but wrangling about peace too: that peace itself should be the argument of a war, that is unnatural; and if it were not that there are many who are homines multæ religionis, nullius pene pietatis, men of much religion and little godliness, it would not be that there should be so many quarrels in and concerning that religion which is wholly made up of truth and peace, and was sent amongst us to reconcile the hearts of men when they were tempted to uncharitableness by any other unhappy argument. Disputation cures no vice, but kindles a great many, and makes passion evaporate into sin; and though men esteem it learning, yet it is the most useless learning in the world. When Eudamidas, the son of Archidamus, heard old Xenocrates disputing about wisdom, he asked, very soberly, "If the old man be yet disputing and inquiring concerning wisdom, what time will he have to make use of it?" Christianity is all for practice, and so much time as is spent in quarrels about it is a diminution to its interest: men inquire so much what it is, that they have but little time left to be Christians. I remember a saying