for me; and there is no obstacle to keep me from it, but my own perversity, my own disobedience. My Father is in that home, more than willing to receive me, poor and feeble as I am, if I but approach him with a humble and contrite heart; " and so I will arise and go to my Father, and will say unto him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son."

Let us rejoice that in all departments of life, that in this world, and in the world to come, the door of hope is forever open, that wherever man can live, he can find egress from the cloud and gloom of evil, — access into the domain of light and goodness, of joy and

repose.

DISCOURSE XXXVII.

CHRIST'S MORAL EMINENCE.

PHILIPPIANS II. 9-11.

WHEREFORE GOD ALSO HATH HIGHLY EXALTED HIM, AND GIVEN HIM A NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, OF THINGS IN HEAVEN, AND THINGS IN EARTH, AND THINGS UNDER THE EARTH. AND THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHer,

While so much is being said by way of discussion, with reference to the position, dominion and reign of Christ, and the promised results of his rule and labors, it is remarkable how clearly all these things are made known.in the Scriptures. So plainly, indeed, are these matters presented in these writings, that it seems to me that nothing of very great value would be lost to theology, or taken from the character of the Christian world, if the different sects should agree to accept these Scriptures as their only guide in Religion, tolerating the harmless differences which would continue.

None will deny that, should this be done, the belief in God would still be universal; for, everywhere in the Scriptures, God is acknowledged and worshipped.

In every part of this Book of books, he is referred to as the one great Creator and Ruler. In all the histories and narratives of this Volume, he is alluded to as the prime Cause and Director. On its illumined pages, we read in golden letters, of his universal Providence and Fatherhood.

Nor would any deny in case of an agreement of this character, that Christ, the Saviour, would be looked up to as a super-eminent Teacher, Leader and Governor; for the Scriptures have not been so carelessly written, that the Saviour is indistinctly presented in them. In these writings he is held up to us as occupying a lofty height in the moral universe. Every where in these records he is seen as infinitely above all other men. Let these records be our only guide and we cannot deny his divinity. To do that, we should be obliged to throw away many of the most valuable passages of the Bible. In every part of the New Testament, it is taught with unusual clearness that the Saviour is the Son of God, a supernatural Teacher and Saviour; that he is a Prophet greater than all former Prophets; that he stands in moral greatness, in love and holiness far, far above all other children of God, at the right hand of the Father. It is recorded of him in this book, that he spake as never man spake; that he uttered his doctrines with authority. It is also recorded of him that God gave him wisdom without measure, and made him so like himself in moral character, that he will be the same forever.

I have not kept out of sight that there would be differences of opinion, should the Bible be accepted

as the only guide of the Christian sects. I know that all men would not see alike, though all the creeds should be given to the flames. They never will look through the same eyes. They will see alike in certain essentials. In speculations they will not, even when particular ones believing themselves to be of one mind, come together and frame a creed, or write out and sign their articles of faith, they still differ, still show their different views, or have different shades of the same ideas. In signing their creeds or articles of faith, they have, at most, only shown a nearness to each other in thought, not an entire unanimity.

Under the best arrangement the sects could agree to, differences would continue; there would still be all forms and shades of thought and speculation. But these differences, as I have already said, would be harmless. They certainly would, if all the sects would be Christian in spirit, for love would be the universal law and life, and the truth would have free course and overcome all forms of error. Under au arrangement to take the Bible as the only guide, and as a guide on a plane above all sectarian grounds, there would be diversities of gifts, and diversities of operations. Yet, in all bodies there might be one spirit, the spirit of love and harmony. With this understanding, error would lose its power, and the truth would conquer.

But let the Bible continue to be only nominally the guide of all religious thought, and let other books, with their creeds and articles of faith, supersede it, and the cause of Christ will suffer, the Christian Church will be weak, like a house divided against

itself; the war of controversy will rage, and men' professing the religion of the loving, the meek and lowly Jesus, who said to his disciples, Overcome evil with good, whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them,- will persecute, and anathematize, worry and devour each other.

In the centuries past, I know not how many creeds have been written for different bodies of the Christian Church. Nor do I know how many books have been printed in the great conflicts of the Church, concerning the Divine Unity, or the Holy Trinity. No doubt, sufficient in number to fill a cathedral. Yet, what good have all these creeds and books accomplished? Ought I not to say: What animosities have been engendered by them! What walls of partition have they built up! What persecutions have they instigated! What terrible wars and sacrifice of blood have they induced!

The earth is wet with the blood of Christians, shed by the hands of fellow Christians. The Christian world is deeply sore and sad with the wounds occasioned by sectarian strife, by the dogmas of religious partizans inscribed on parchment and paper.

Now, the Bible has not done this great harm to the Christian world. Christianity has not so filled the world with sadness. Had the Bible been their only guide, had the religion of Christ been their only rule of life, all Christians would have been Christians indeed; and, though not in harmony on all points of doctrine and belief, would have manifested to one another, always the same spirit, the noble, the forgiving, the loving and merciful spirit of their Master.