favour of the Lord." Prov. chap. 8, ver. 35. Of whom does Solomon say that life can be found, since John bore witness that in the "true light was life?" Turn to the book, and we shall find that a greater than Solomon is here"-we shall find that Him in whom LIFE may be found, "the Lord possessed in the beginning of his way before his works of old," in Him whose delights were with the sons of men," even in the "Wisdom of God," for it is the "Wisdom of God" of whom the King of Israel was speaking. And who is the "Wisdom of God?" The Apostle Paul tells us, Christ, the power of God, and the WISDOM OF GOD." These several testimonies of our Saviour,-John the Baptist, and of the disciple John, together with those of Paul, Solomon, and Isaiah, most distinctly and unequivocally show, that "the light," "life," and "Word," are properly applicable as scriptural expressions, to Christ alone: they also show that the "light," "life," and " Word," "" I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was;"—and, that of this "light," "life," and "Word," Solomon said, "I LEAD in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment." me, and those that seek me early shall find me." My limits will not permit me upon this head, to "search the Scriptures" farther at this time, or a most overwhelming evidence could be adduced to strengthen, the already impregnable phalanx before us-these however are quite enough, for any mind making enquiries in the "simplicity of truth." We have "searched the Scriptures, and have found what our Lord declared, that "they are they that testify" of him. We have

"I love them that love

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found them "testifying" that there is a "light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world." have found that THEY are not that light," but that, bear witness of that like John, they have been sent to “ light," which "light," they declare to be Christ ;—and that to Christ, "the true light," we are to go, that we

might have life." Is it not then astonishing, with these clear declarations and powerful testimonies, to "the light of Christ" in man, that a whole host of writers should spring up, armed with the old rusty weapons of former warfares-pregnant with the constructions, the "impressions," the derisions, and the falsehoods of the Baxters and the Owens, of the sixteenth century? How can these men call the doctrine of the light of Christ" in man,-mysticism, impression, delusion of Satan, and tending to lead "step by step into the gulf of Hicksism and deism ?" With calumnies such as these, falling from their pens, and rankling in their hearts, one of these writers assumes the character of EVANGELICAL, for his publication goes under the title of "The Evangelical Magazine;"— but how closely he resembles the Evangelists in his irreverend and scornful mode of designating, that light" which is "the life of men," I leave to the light' in his own conscience to judge; and would feelingly recommend him to forego the mockery of assuming the title of EVANGELICAL, for a Sectarian publication, which makes itself the vehicle for publishing opprobrious and derogatory sentiments, respecting Him who said, "I am the light of the world." And can it with any show of truth or reason be contended, that the writings of holy men which have been given out in the light and

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Spirit of Christ, are a higher rule" to men than that light and Spirit itself? What rule had Abraham to walk by? What Scriptures had HE? Not those at all events, that we have; for venturesome and dogmatical as you are in your assertions, you will scarcely have the face to assert, that they were written in His time. What rule then did HE walk by? And what rule did Enoch walk by, of whom it is said, that he "walked with God?" What Scriptures had these faithful men to resort to, in order to try "the truth of every doctrine, and the propriety of every practice?" What "light" did they follow? What word did they preach? What rock did they drink of? Think ye not, that it was "the light of the world?" the Word that was in the beginning? the spiritual rock of which all the fathers drank? and was not that light-that word—and that rock Christ? And what authority more than your own "impressions," or the delusions of Satan," can you adduce-what more than a limping syllogism to demonstrate, that this everlasting light-this eternal word -this spiritual and unmoveable rock of which the "fathers drank," and to which the righteous of all ages have fled, and found refuge, has withdrawn its beams, its power, and its living waters, from all but those only who have the printed records, (and but a small portion of these either,) of the revelations in former ages?

CHAPTER VI.

THE powerful testimonies to the light of Christ, adduced in the last chapter, are, I conceive, amply sufficient to demonstrate, to any but those who are disposed to cavil at the plainest truths, that, whatever light within, or “Beacon" without, man may "set up," there is but one light, which is the "life of men," and that light is Christ. And whether men bow down before idols that are the work of their own hands, and the device of their own hearts; or whether they worship the host of heaven, or any of the innumerable things, all good in their kind, that the all-beneficent Father of the universe hath given forth from his inexhaustible stores of creation, still to Him alone is all power, and honour and glory due; neither will he give it to another. The Patriarchs I walked" with him; Moses hearkened to his voice; and he led the children of Israel through the wilderness, by a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. "At sundry times, and in divers manners, he spake in times past, unto the fathers by the PROPHETS, and hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." These things have been recorded by holy men, as they have been moved thereunto by his Holy Spirit, "that we, through patience and comfort thereof, might have hope." Part of these writings have been lost-part remain unto this day,

subject to the constructions and misconstructions— the translations and mistranslations—of fallible, partial, and erring man. Some learned men render a text this way, others render it another; those that do not understand the dead languages, are obliged to take it upon the faith of those that do; and, splitting into divers parties, the Christian world, as it is called, are swept along the varied currents of opinion, either because they were brought forth upon the stream which bears them on, or fall into it by accident, or feel themselves at liberty to embark on that, which in their opinion, appears most likely to empty itself, direct and unimpeded, into the ocean of eternal life. Thus running, as they do, divers ways, contradicting and confuting each other-they profess but one beacon to direct them-but one "ultimate appeal for the truth of every doctrine, and the propriety of every practice." I can only compare it to so many travellers to a country or a city, who, furnished with a valuable history of the perils and hardships, the discoveries and joys of former travellers, who have been commissioned by the king to record their experiences for the instruction and consolation of those that might follow, relating those things of which they were witnesses-" which their eyes had seen and their hands handled of the Word of life;"-I say that I can only compare it all to so many travellers, furnished with so valuable a directory, wasting their time, and disputing about whether this verb should be translated indicatively or imperatively, and numerous other important trifles; but at the very same time they were thus strenuously contending for their diverse readings and understandings, nevertheless extolling