some of you have known : may you know it more ! And may its personal experience, its salutary influence, be abundantly spread !-We observe,

III. The END of this change; the object which its Divine Author particularly regards; and this is, a right accquaintance with the holy Scriptures.

“ Then opened he their understanding ;" why? to what end and purpose?" that they might understand the Scriptures.” Here let it be carefully notedthe holy Scriptures are a complete revelation of the mind and will of God. The Spirit of Christ is given not to discover what is new, but to teach us savingly what is already made known. The Spirit in the heart conveys nothing different from what the Spirit in the word affirms they both testify exactly the same things. All pretended teaching, therefore, which is contrary to the Scriptures is imposition; and whatever goes beyond them is dangerous delusion. If the familiar expression may be allowed, Christ's scholars are all Bible scholars: they are students in this blessed Book. Divine teaching was never meant to relax our attention to the word of God, but rather to facilitate our acquaintance with it, to endear it to our hearts, and to render it effectual to the salvation of our souls.

Let us, then, revere and esteem the holy Bible. Let us try all our religious sentiments, feelings, and impressions by this sacred standard. And let us ever beware of those persons, and of their insinuations, who affect to be "wise above that which is written." "To the Law, and to the Testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

But what is this understanding of the Scriptures,

this right acquaintance with the word of God, which evinces the teaching of the Spirit of Christ?

1. It is impressive.-It is knowledge which touches and interests the heart. Hence the subjects of it are said to have "passed from death unto life," and are "called out of darkness into marvellous light," Divine Truth produces impressions according to its kind, as wax receives the image of the seal. Some truths are adapted to excite fear; others to inspire hope, to awaken desire, to impart comfort, to stimulate to action. All do not experience these effects in the same degree: in some persons, they are much stronger than in others; yet, in every case, an impression is produced corresponding with the nature of what the heart believes.

Ask a man who has lately been roused to a serious concern about his soul: he will tell you that the names of God and of Christ; the terms Sin, Death, Judgment, Eternity, affect him altogether differently from what they once did. When he reads the Bible, it appears as a new book: he perceives a beauty, he feels a power, to which before he was a stranger. Those parts of Scripture which are most plain and spiritual, but which he has read with cool indifference, perhaps a hundred times, now touch his conscience, and move his heart: they awaken the most interesting emotions, and produce the purest satisfaction. When Jesus joined the company of these disciples going to Emmaus, he taught them; and was not his teaching impressive?" They said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?"

2. It is progressive.-The Spirit of Christ teaches

gradually. His influence on the mind, like the morning light, shines more and more unto the perfect day. Jesus, when on earth, taught his disciples as they were "able to bear it ;" and he does so still. He imparts knowledge seasonably with wisdom and tenderness peculiar to himself, he advances by degrees our best improvement.

This instructs us, not to look for too much at once; not to expect to know every thing in our first setting out in the divine life. There is much meaning in that word; "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord."

It also teaches us to make candid allowance for those who are but beginning in the ways of religion. We must not look for wise and established Christians, in such as have lately become the followers of Christ. Wisdom and stability are attained by degrees; as a tree gathers strength by standing, or as wheat matures by its growth: there is "first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." Are you born again from above; the partakers of heavenly life? Be it your concern not only to live, but to increase in all the marks of vigorous and useful life? To rise up, from babes in Christ to young men; and from young men to fathers;-to" grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

3. It is practical.-This knowledge has influence on the spirit and conduct of men, an influence most salutary and important. For instance:

It humbles for sin.-There is a knowledge even of the Scriptures, "which puffeth up;" which leaves the heart impenitent, and fills the soul with selfrighteous conceit; but not this which "the Holy

Ghost teacheth." The wiser we are under his instruction the more diffident we are of self, and the more abased before God: we feel more sensibly the burthen of our guilt; we abhor ourselves, and repent in dust and ashes."-It also endears the Saviour. It renders him" precious." It makes us esteem him" altogether lovely." We see not our need of Christ, but by the teaching of his Spirit; and the same Spirit reveals his grace, unfolds his glory, gives us to view his all-sufficiency, inclines us to apply to him, and enables us to rest on him; counting "all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord."-It promotes holiness. Yes, it operates; it stimulates; it urges the believer to evangelical obedience. There are professors of Christianity who "hold the truth in unrighteousness;" but not so they whose minds are enlightened by the Spirit of Christ. When this was the case with Saul, his immediate inquiry was; "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" In the Colossians, "the truth of the Gospel brought forth fruit, since the day they heard it, and knew the grace of God in truth." And here is the grand test of right acquaintance with the Scriptures. Let us apply it. Are we more diligent, more watchful, more holy? Does the "grace of God, bringing salvation, teach us to deny ungodliness, and worldly lusts; and to live soberly righteously, and godly, in this present world?" If not, our knowledge is vain; our faith is vain; we are yet in our sins. All understanding of the Scriptures is empty and worthless which is not practical, which has not a holy tendency and a purifying influence on the heart and life. Let us learn so to know God, as to love him; and so to

love him, as to serve him in cheerful, unreserved obedience! "Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments."

From the whole we remark,

1. The unhappy condition of those whose minds are yet closed against the light of the word and Spirit of Christ.-Natural blindness is a melancholy affiction, but unspeakably more so this darkness of the soul! "If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost;" concealed from persons in a depraved and perishing condition-" whose minds the god of this world hath blinded, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." Men are unwilling to believe that this is their condition; but is not the fact evi"He that loveth not,

dent? The Bible affirms; knoweth not God." And do not men's actions demonstrate that they love not God? Did they love him, would not their hearts be with him? Would not the desire of their souls be to his Name, and to the remembrance of him? Whatever any of you may have attained, if you do not so understand the Scriptures as to feel and exemplify their effects, your knowledge is essentially defective. You are destitute of that "wisdom which is from above." You are the dupes of error, the slaves of Satan, trespasses and sins."

"dead in

What is the judgment you pass on your own state? What apprehension have you of danger? You are not altogether insensible: your fears of death, and dread of wrath, are not utterly asleep. Know, then that for the guilty there is mercy; and even to such as are ready to perish, the Gospel proclaims a full