instances, death itself.

But these, like his other in

structions, were all verbal, and in the plenitude of such communications, they still remained but partially illuminated; beholding little of the symmetry of that Salvation which was about to be unfolded to the world. But if the disciples were perplexed, at this time, as to the true nature of the Gospel, with all the advantages of the Saviour's oral instructions, what prospect was there that they would more lucidly comprehend its scope and tendency after his decease, seeing that no documents existed, to which, on dubious points, they might refer for explanation ? In the midst of this immediate doubt, and prospective uncertainty, it remains as a memorable opposition to all that is human in calculation, Jesus Christ gave not to his followers those writings, which alone would have specifically defined his immediate and remote views, and would have remained as a lasting test of his Religion, both to themselves, and all generations; so that, without analogy in the annals of man, he felt wholly insensible to those anxieties which, under such circumstances, would be inseparable from our nature, and deliberately renounced all that is desirable in life, and even life itself, to effect objects which he took no rational means to secure! But the subject admits of being viewed in a still stronger light.

Christ declared, "The Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the Last Day." What words? Words! so fleeting! so liable to misconstruction! and yet to words is it that so vast an influence is ascribed! on which are to hang the future destinies of mankind! Human prudence would have suggested the importance, or rather the necessity of recording in the clearest language those express words, by which mankind were to be judged in the great day of account, but not

one expression was thus written, and those who heard the language of Christ, were "unlearned and ignorant men!" If any unassisted faculties had attempted to state the discourses of Christ, these discourses would have descended to our time in an inaccurate, and deteriorated state, in which something of the sentiment might have been preserved, but the exact words, (of such stupendous import!) would probably have been represented with no more fidelity than the orations of Cyrus were, and those of other ancient chieftains who, with such fictitious eloquence, are stated to have barangued their followers at the moment of conflict.

It is obvious that no beneficial result could be expected from a Judicial Act, which merely passed in the Legislature, but which was never transcribed, and dispersed, in undeniable characters, and yet the words of Christ, his perpetual Laws! so briefly expressed! so sententious ! so liable to be perverted by the least infraction on their exact order of utterance, and on which rested such momentous consequences! (which were Spirit," and which were k Life!") were unrecorded, and the disciples, themselves, preserved no vestige at the time, what those awfully-important, words were, nor even charged their memory with collecting them, till after the revolution of many years! What a pause ! How might feeble and short-sighted humanity have trembled, lest this great gift of God to the world should have perished! and the memorial of a Saviour have been lost!

Regarding the circumstance with a merely human aspect, was it consistent with ordinary foresight, or even with equity itself, that Jesus Christ should have pronounced words to his disciples, which involved, as he declared, the eternal happiness or misery of all mankind!

and yet that he should have neglected the only certain and indispensable means for giving to them an undoubted accuracy, and a general dissemination; namely, by distinctly recording those words, that future generations might clearly comprehend the exact foundation on which they were to be judged in the Last Day? This general abandonment of the means essential to a proposed end, is utterly irreconcileable with all the principles which habitually regulate man.

But if Jesus Christ did not write down his memorable words, he did that which was transcendently more calculated to impress, and demonstrate that the work he had to accomplish was from God. He declared that his kingdom was not of this world, and its maxims therefore he disowned. He affirmed that he received not honour from men, and discarding the contrivances that the heart would have naturally suggested, with a dignity and elevation according with his real character, he calmly told his disciples, "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Is this the language of a man? and how was the promise verified?

These ignorant fishermen did produce writings, which, in a moral light, infinitely surpass the proudest efforts of human learning. The very words of Christ, bearing the clearest internal marks of authenticity, were brought again to their remembrance, and the Holy Spirit so influenced the minds of these unlettered men, that they became the vehicle for giving to earth an immaculate work, in which self is annihilated; vanity unknown; impartiality, in its most rigid sense, exemplified; where the individual sentiments, even of the actors themselves, in panegyrizing their Lord, or reviling his

foes, are repressed; in which all that is earthly is separated; and the whole is consolidated into one coherent aggregate, which bears the impress of Heaven, and the stamp of immortality.

Some

Whilst the words and actions of Christ appeared to common spectators as casual, and unconnected with a majestic series and result, an unseen and interior machinery was in full operation, and a stupendous whole proceeding fast toward its accomplishment. intimations of this august, but invisible œconomy, was given to the disciples, when, on the mount of Transfiguration, "two men appeared in glory, and spake of his decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem;" as well as when Christ mysteriously said, "I beheld Satan, like lightning, fall from heaven." It was a reliance on this ample and miraculous influence, which produced in the Saviour that mysterious composure, under circumstances calculated to excite anxiety or alarm; whether exposed to the machinations of the Sanhedrim, or the rage of the populace; confiding in his invulnerable panoply till his "work" was accomplished. This incited him to discard the precautions essential to the success of an earthly scheme; and caused him to warn his disciples, when they were brought before kings and governors, for his sake, not to take thought, how, or what they should speak, for that it was not they who spake, but the Spirit of his Father which spake in them! and this is the solution which reconciles all difficulties, and throws lustre over the obscure.

An infidel has remarked that the greatest miracle in the Bible, was, that Jesus Christ should so easily have found twelve men, like the Apostles, who proved to be such efficient auxiliaries in his cause; and, on his principles, it must have appeared inscrutably marvellous:

but to him who remembers,—the Governor of all hearts, no difficulty will appear in the assemblage of the Twelve, nor any wonder be excited, that the Saviour should have abstained from recording his words, and have rejected the round of obvious means for establishing and perpetuating his Gospel.

The whole argument is conclusively illustrated by the following consideration. No system was projected by the Apostles. At the crucifixion of their Lord, they had written nothing, and nothing was written for them, and with frustrated hopes, each said to the other, in despair, "I go a fishing!" But the end was not yet. This was the moment for Omnipotence to make bare his arm. The consummation now began to unfold. Though each of the Prophets, and Apostles, had to perform what resembled an insulated and detached work, yet, when the scattered elements were combined, and the CANON OF SCRIPTURE was formed, a result arose, magnificent as it was harmonious, and which at once disclosed the Invisible Hand, by which the "STONE was cut out of the MOUNTAIN !"