cels, with fuch interpretations as they judge expedient. That great body of Chriftians, on the other hand, who have separated from the Church of Rome, adopting this precept of our Lord as the principle of their feparation, have been careful to dif tribute copies of the Scriptures in a known tongue. For more than two centuries the Scriptures have been published in that language which is moft generally spoken in Great Britain. There is no book fo univerfally spread amongst us: none of the fame fize that may be fo cheaply purchafed. It is put into the hands of the people in their childhood; it continues their companion through life; and all the authority which they are accustomed to respect concurs in enjoining the fearch of the Scrip

tures.

WHILE the greater part of the inhabi tants of this island thus found eafy accefs to the Scriptures in their native tongue, while the progrefs of improvement in the low countries was daily increafing the

number of those, who, even in the humbler ranks of life, receive that education which qualifies them to read the Scriptures, the Society, before whom I now fpeak, directed their attention to thofe corners of the island, where the fituation of the natives was much more unfavourable. Their original charter grants them power to receive contributions and therewith to erect and maintain schools in the Highlands and iflands of Scotland, for the purpose of teaching to read, especially the Holy Scriptures.". Under this authority, they have proceeded, during the courfe of this century, gradually extending their schools, with the increase of their capital, through the most convenient stations: They require the masters whom they employ, to teach the scholars to read and speak the English tongue, and to translate Gaelic into English: They distribute English bibles to thofe fcholars whofe parents are unable to buy them; and, knowing the predilection which the inhabitants of thofe diftricts have for their native language, they have

invited them to fearch the Scriptures, by puolishing first the New Teftament, afterwards the Pentateuch, and lately the Pro phets, in the Gaelic tongue; and they have given notice that a tranflation of the remaining books of the Old Testament is very foon to follow.

THIS great work, by which the Society in Scotland for propagating Christian knowledge are just about to crown their pious labours, has naturally directed my atten tion to the fubject which my text prefents. Many useful and important topics connected with the inftitution of this Society, have been illustrated with distinguished learning and eloquence upon fimilar occa fions. But I may hope that I fhall not perform an unacceptable fervice to those before whom I speak, while I contribute my endeavours to promote the primary object of their attention; while, with the zeal of a good citizen, with the plainnefs and earneftness which become a preacher of the

gofpel, I recommend to my countrymen the fearch of the Scriptures.

I SHALL endeavour to ftate the advan

tages which may be derived from fearching the Sriptures; and I fhall then fuggest fome directions for fearching them fo thofe advantages.

as to reap

I. SEARCHING the Scriptures is useful for our information-for our comfortfor the direction of our conduct.

1. Searching the Scriptures is ufeful for our Information.

"ALL Scripture," fays the Apostle Paul, is profitable for doctrine," that is, for teaching truth, "and for reproof," that is, for confuting error. I comprehend both, when I fay, that fearching the Scriptures is useful for information.

WHEN the Scriptures were first published, they brought to light many important truths: They were eagerly read by those who received them; and the different parts of them were compared in order to attain the full meaning of that which they taught, The importance of the fubject still remains; but it has become less interesting by the want of novelty. Those who live in a Christian country are trained in the faith of that fyftem which the Scriptures reveal: Their curiofity is early fatisfied; and as they advance in life, and engage in a multiplicity of business, they are ready to account the fearch of the Scriptures a duty lefs needful than it was in former times, because they fuppofe that the knowledge conveyed in them is now completely incorporated with the whole mafs of human knowledge, and may eafily be acquired by converfation, by the established methods of inftruction, and by other books.

THIS is the amount of that apology, which many, who acknowledge the divine