EXTRACT IV.

Perverting the Scripture.-Setting Scripture in its right place.

"THERE is no other way for them to act, without they would be willing to turn to the light, and gather into it. But for want of this the Scriptures are a sealed Book. And instead of being useful, it becomes a curse to them, while they are determined to put their own construction upon them, it keeps them in darkness. And there are those who assert that I disbelieve the Scriptures, and that I undervalue them! But there is not a greater falsehood expressed among mankind! And I will assure you, my friends, that what I say is truth; I have loved the Scriptures from my youth, and I have delighted in reading them. And I presume, according to my knowledge, no man has received more advantage than I have, and continue to have, from reading them. And I am at this time convinced, that wherever I have been called to be a mouth for the Lord, in the line of the Gospel ministry, I need not make this apology or declaration. No individual ever brought forth more Scripture to prove their doctrines than I have, when under the influence of divine love and truth, that gave forth the Scriptures. Divine Wisdom knowing the state of the people, that they would hardly receive my doctrines unless confirmed by Scripture testimony, here immediately, without the necessity of seeking for it, a passage would rise up in consonance with my assertion or declaration And I appeal to the people, where my lot has been cast, if it has not been the case. Then what infatuation, to say that I undervalue the Scriptures of truth. No, my friends, I do not undervalue the Scriptures, but I feel it a duty TO SET THEM IN THE RIGHT PLACE, and I dare not set them above it."§ p. 19.

*SOME persons go to the Scriptures, not for the purpose of being taught by Scripture, but for the purpose of building up their own theories. "A desire to have

Scripture on our side," says an eminent writer, "is one thing, and a sincere desire to be on the side of Scripture is another."

With what force does the warning against the danger of putting our own construction upon Scripture, attach to those who thus awfully pervert the divine Word; and instead of interpreting Scripture by Scripture, and accepting what is given by inspiration of God in its most obvious sense, distort and becloud it with mysticism!

§ WHO is the man that admits that he undervalues the Scriptures? The veriest infidel thinks he sets them IN THEIR RIGHT PLACE. The foregoing extract is a sufficient proof, that a declaration of high esteem for the Scriptures, is entitled to little regard, when it comes from those who account what our Lord Jesus Christ has spoken, and what the Holy Spirit has revealed to prophets and apostles, and has given for our instruction, inferior as a rule, to those impressions on their own minds, which they believe to be from the Holy Spirit.

"I feel bound in spirit to inform you, that there is such a pilot as will carry every individual of us to the celestial city We read in the few expressions of Jesus of Nazareth, who the

D

He told his followers that he

pilot is that can do this for us. was not the one that could do it; that it was expedient for them that he should go away,-that this pilot, this Comforter, this safe deliverer of the soul, would not come unless he did go away. They had looked to him as an outward comforter, therefore he could be no more than an outward comforter to them, although comprehending in himself greater power than any that had gone before him, and by which he did many miracles to convince them, yet all these were outward, and only evident to their external senses; BUT HE COULD NOT SAVE THEM, otherwise than to relieve them from their outward afflictions and perils. That this was absolutely the case, is evident from the necessity of his departure, that so his followers should have nothing to depend on; that they should see their total want, and their inability to do any good thing, or to take one step in the right way; and by which they might see that it was in the wisdom of God that they were thus brought to feel their own insufficiency, and so to humble themselves, as never to seek to man, or any external thing that is mortal. For every thing that these external eyes see is mortal; and THEREFORE

IT NEVER CAN BE A SAVIOUR TO THAT WHICH IS IMMORTAL. And how correct-how blessed it was, that he had given them this direction to come out of all dependance on man, that so they might find out the Pilot, the Comforter, and that they must trust in him.-Tarry at Jerusalem.'-Now Jerusalem signifies a place of quiet.*-' Tarry at Jerusalem, until ye shall receive power from on high." pp. 26-28.

IN the preceding extract, the deity of Christ is kept out of sight, and the offices of the Son of God, and those of the Holy Spirit are confounded. With awful presumption it is then asserted, that JESUS OF NAZARETH was not the Saviour of the world.

These sentiments are at variance with the whole tenor

*

Jerusalem means either "people or dwelling of peace," not "place of quiet." Vide Gesenius Lex. Heb.

of the New Testament, which ascribes the salvation of man, to HIM, who in the beginning was with God, and was God-by whom all things were created-who in the fulness of time took flesh, and dwelt among men-offered himself a sacrifice for our sins-rose from the dead-ascended up on high-and ever liveth to make intercession for us.

and slain.

"JESUS OF NAZARETH, | fied This a man approved of God JESUS hath God raised among you by miracles up.- -Therefore let all and wonders and signs, the house of Israel know which God did by him in assuredly, that God hath the midst of you, as ye made that same JESUS yourselves also know; whom ye have crucified, him, being delivered by both Lord and Christ." the determinate counsel Acts, ii. 22, 23, 32, 36. and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have cruci

"I am JESUS OF NAZARETH, whom thou persecutest." Acts, xxii. 8.

Is not this JESUS of NAZARETH the same, to whom the following passages refer?

1st.-The Testimony of Jesus Christ himself, as to his
being the Saviour.

"God sent not his Son | to give his life a ransom into the world to condemn for many." Matt. xx. 28. the world; but that the world through him might be saved." Jno. iii. 17.

"I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." John, xii. 47.

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more

"The Son of Man is come to save that which was lost." Matt. xviii. 11. "The Son of Man came | abundantly." Jno. x. 10.

2nd. The Testimony of the Spirit.

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that CHRIST JESUS came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim.

* According to Irenæus, the earliest writer who has made any mention of the design of John's Gospel, this very passage was written against those heretics, who separated CHRIST from JESUS.-Michaelis.