suaded, is often a wretched and a debasing one for both parties. The people surrender their equality and their rights into the hands of a hireling, who follows religion as a trade, by which he is to gain his daily bread; whilst the preacher, on his part, surrenders his independence and every upright feeling, to teach prescribed doctrines to an ignorant multitude, who dictate to him what doctrines they will buy at his hands in the first place; and then drive with him a hard and unfeeling bargain as to the price which they shall pay him for his teaching in the second. Well has Mr. Bennett (in words which deserve to be inscribed on the portal of every church and chapel where the priest officiates) well has he described the miseries attendant upon such a state of things. "WOE" (he exclaims, p. 30)" TO THE "PASTOR AND THE FLOCK WHEN THE FIRES OF THE PULPIT ARE OF THAT UNHALLOWED KIND THAT ARE 66 KINDLED BY THE MERCENARY DESIRE OF EARNING A *66 MORSEL OF BREAD." THE TEACHING OF JESUS. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."-Matt. xiii. 44. THERE is a force and sincerity in the sayings of Jesus which carry with them the conviction and feelings of the reader; which command our admiration of his character, and confirm the authenticity of his claims to a divine mission. When the mind is deeply affected and impressed with some important truth, it becomes associated, either by comparison or contrast, with whatever passes within or without uswith the business and circumstances of life-with our own experience and that of others; and, by the reflections and conclusions thus obtained, we seek to impart to the world the vividness of our own feelings, and the high value of the principle with which our soul is inspired. The importance of that dispensation of mercy and pardon to man, of which Jesus was the harbinger and head, appears to have been a fixed and deeply-rooted principle in his mind; and this importance he labours to enforce, sometimes by clear and impressive reasoning; and sometimes, as in the instance before us, by familiar illustration drawn from the realities of life, and so well chosen and happily expressed, as to engage the affections by their feeling, and convince the judgment by their force! These flowers of moral truth lay scattered through the gospel histories, and the lapse of ages has not diminished their freshness, or destroyed their beauty. "The kingdom of heaven is like TREASURE hid in a field." Here the importance and excellence of Christianity is exhibited by reference to the estimation in which worldly riches are held by men; and its value is greatly enhanced by reason of the manner in which its possession is supposed to be obtained. These treasures are represented as being found in a field, and we have a natural picture of the joy of the fortunate individual-his caution in concealing his discovery -his readiness to part with all that he has, that he may be in a condition to become the purchaser of that field. "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hid in a field, the which "when a man hath found he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth "and selleth all that he hath and buyeth that field." So then the religion which Jesus came to promulgate was so inestimable a treasure as to excite in those who should discover it the greatest joy, and a readiness to secure its possession even at the sacrifice of every thing besides; and this too upon a principle of policy-upon a mere calculation of the high advantage the supreme value of Christianity; for though we should obtain it at the price of every earthly possession, still, like him who should sell all that he hath to purchase a field teeming with hidden treasures, we should only be parting with a lesser to secure a greater blessing. Such is the view which Jesus takes of that system which he came to establish on earth; such his mode of representing it to the world. Conscious that he had received his mission from God-impressed with its importance to man-he exhibits a just and natural description of the feelings it was calculated to inspire in every well disposed breast. He presents us with a living, breathing picture of the heart of man, when animated with the importance of divine truth, and sensible of the benignity of divine forgiveness. The constant tenor of the teaching of Jesus goes to exhibit Christianity in this light, as a gift-a favour-a manifestation of the love of God to man. Resting, therefore, the claims of his system upon its own intrinsic worth and beauty, Jesus urges its adoption by no suspicious solicitations -by no appeal to the passions-by no excitement of the fears-by no specious pretences-by no special pleadingbut by a calm and dignified appeal to the benefits and blessings with which it is so replete to man! This is the necessary characteristic of a religion that is true-of a system that has its origin in heaven: to be admired it is only necessary that it should be known—and when known its interest will be esteemed paramount to every other consideration. How well is this principle exemplified by the conduct and experience of those who were the first to receive, and the first to teach the Christian dispensation. Jesus, living a life of reproach and dying a death of ignominy; Paul, renouncing his kindred, his friends, his hopes of advancement-suffering "the loss of all things "that he might win Christ;" Peter, and the other apostles, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for "his name:" the early converts, to whom it was "given in "the behalf of Christ, not only to believe but also to suffer for "his sake," these serve as critics to illustrate our text, and martyrs to adorn our cause!! 66 This cloud of witnesses with which we are encompassed, was not composed of designing or deluded men. Interest -worldly interest-suggested the rejection of what they so gladly received. Prejudice their prejudices inclined them to a disbelief, not a belief, of the gospel. All of them had doubted, some had persecuted, that faith which they afterwards so nobly supported. But they were sincere, soberminded men, open to truth, and willing to obey the dictates of an enlightened conscience and a convinced judgment. Some of them had seen the miracles of Jesus; others had received and been convinced of their truth from " those who 'from the beginning were eye witnesses and ministers of the "word." They received Christianity, therefore, on the fullest evidence; and receiving it, they had found in it that HIDDEN TREASURE, which more than compensated for every sacrifice, privation, and suffering. Their conduct explains the parable we have been considering-the parable explains their conduct! But is this view of the importance of the gospel dispensation a vain persuasion, or a just and well formed estimate? Is Christianity a mean and spurious gem, or a goodly pearl of great price? Let us examine it, for it challenges our scrutiny. We speak now of pure, uncorrupt Christianityof that enlightened system of faith and practice which Jesus taught, and his apostles promulgated in their dis courses and writings, as left upon record in the New Testament Scriptures. These scriptures are certainly not free from those obscurities upon minor points which are incidental to all ancient writings; but in their clear, general, and express tenor, they place Christianity before us in the following points of view:- As a system, communicated by the Divine Being to man, through the agency of Jesus, his appointed messenger, As a system, separated from earthly power, and opposed to its maxims and policy. As a system, seeking no conquests but those of conviction -no triumphs but those of truth. As a system, proclaiming the rights of conscience, and founded on the liberty and just equality of all its adherents. As a system, free from doubt and mystery-simple, and easy to be understood by every honest mind. As a system, addressed to the mind, and divested of forms, ceremonies, and outward observance. As a system, communicating to man all that is necessary for him to know of his Maker-his omnipotence, justice, and goodness. As a system, proclaiming pardon for past transgressions, on condition of unfeigned repentance. As a system, proposing a satisfactory assurance of future happiness as the reward of present obedience. As a system, regulating the mind, controuling the passions, enlightening the understanding, and conducting us amid the temptations and vicissitudes of life, to virtue, security, and bliss! How suited is such a system of revealed truth to man in all his circumstances, wants, and feelings! Is he ignorant? Christianity will instruct him! Does he wander in darkness and in doubt concerning his duties, his state, and destiny? Christianity will enlighten his path, and direct his steps to virtue and to heaven! Does he weakly submit himself to the arbitrary rule or spiritual domination of another? Christianity will emancipate his mind from slavery, and conduct him into "the glorious liberty of the "children of God!" Is he the slave of sin looking forward to the wages of death? Christianity proclaims pardon to past transgression, and invites him to holiness and newness of life! Is he oppressed with fear at the contemplation of an angry and offended God? Christianity exhibits the Divine Being as full of mercy and of love, to whom "anger "is his strange work!" Is he exposed to temptation and suspended in his course from the antagonism of passion and of duty? Christianity will strengthen his motives to virtue, and enable him to triumph over every feeling adverse to his happiness and peace! Is he neglected, friendless, and alone in the world? Christianity adopts him into the church of God, and surrounds him with the charities and affections of the children of God! Does he suffer from the cares, the pains, the wrongs of life? Christianity brings "life and immortality to light;" dispels our transitory woes; resolves our doubts; discloses to us the future and bounteous plans of heaven; allows us to penetrate the grand scheme of divine benevolence; enables us to contemplate every movement in the natural and moral world, as parts of one vast design of wisdom and of love; and permits us secretly to adore his great unseen power 66 By which the mighty process is maintained- And whose beneficence no charge exhausts."-Cowper. Divine gift! Inestimable treasure! well did the great teacher of Christianity esteem the sterling value of his system as the most powerful inducement to its reception; well did he liken it to "treasure found in a field ;" and if he who had discovered a perishable treasure joyfully sold all that he had to possess it, how much more dearly ought we to estimate THE ETERNAL TREASURES OF RELIGION AND OF TRUTH? THE DOCTRINE OF THE FALL OF MAN DISPROVED: By an Explanation of the early part of the Book of Genesis. ESSAY I. THERE is not, perhaps, any part of the scriptures more deserving our serious attention than the first three chapters of Genesis; nor any that has been more perverted, or so little understood. The whole superstructure of that system of superstition, which now passes by the name of Christian, |