The Roman Catholic Church, while she has advocated the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, has never admitted that, the Bible is a rule of life, adapted to the people. Indeed, she has always maintained that, the naked Scriptures should not be read by the people.

In this, she is consistent; for she thinks the Bible has divers and diverse meanings, which the common people cannot understand. Hence the struggle in the United States, to keep the Bible out of schools, which Romish children attend.

The Romish position is, that the Scriptures must be interpreted by the doctors of the church; and these interpretations, with the decrees of the authoritative councils and the traditions of the fathers, constitute the only infallible rule in the church.

Protestants deny the decrees of the Romish Church, and the traditions; but they suppose the Scriptures are not, in form, a rule of life. The true Protestant position is, that it remains for each sect, to give authoritative interpretations of the Bible, to suit the various ages and circumstances

of the people, and yet they say, their members have the right of private judgment, or individual interpretations; but they are scrupulously careful that, these private interpretations of the Bible, agree with the higher interpretations of the respective churches. We shall next examine, what we most sacredly regard, as the Christian position.

We believe and teach that, the Heavenly Father gave a perfect code of laws to the Jews, which were adapted to the understanding of the people; and that every effort to interpret them, in a sense which would imply that, they could be improved by man, was a gross departure from authority. Hence the Savior charged the Jews with the sin of rejecting the commandments of God, by their traditions.

We believe and teach that, the New Testament is a "perfect law of liberty,” and that it is in matter and form, sufficient to make all "wise unto salvation" who will follow its teachings.

The most wonderful feature in the New Testament, is its perfect adaptation to Chris

tians in all time and in all circumstances of life. The man of deep learning may employ all his days in reading profitably the sacred oracles; and yet, so simple are parts of this "Last will and testament" of our Lord that, in the language of the prophet, “Though fools, they shall not err therein."

Each article of faith or item of belief is forcibly, and yet more handsomely expressed in the Bible, than in any other book on earth. Each duty to God, is fully revealed and forcibly written, and all church obligations and injunctions to the world, are clearly set forth.

Thus, we are fully prepared to answer the question, as to the origin of the knowledge of God and our information in reference to the invisible world.

The Bible is, undoubtedly, the only medium of communication between mortals of earth, and God their Maker. This proposition is sustained by the fact that, in no country or age has man's spiritual acquisitions transcended the information furnished in the Bible. We are sorry to know that,

even in this favored land, it is contended that, the Bible without an additional inspiration, is not sufficient for spiritual light. Still they tell us, in the next breath, that "The heathen are perishing for lack of the knowledge which the Bible affords." Thus it seems, according to these statements, that, while the Scriptures, to be efficacious at home, must be accompanied by other and higher revelations of the spirit, in less favored lands, and such as have no Bibles, there is no spiritual light. Man is often inconsistent in his ways. Take from us the precious oracles of God, and the sun of the moral world will be blotted out, and man, with all his boasted attainments, will, in a few generations, fall into ignorance and a life of barbarism. Good and evil, where the Bible is not, are words without meaning.

PART SECOND.

RULES FOR STUDYING THE BIBLE.

RULE I. We must be satisfied, before we can read the Scriptures understandingly, or profitably, that our kind Father intended them for his erring creatures of earth.

THEY are not addressed to angels, demons, infants, or idiots; but to lost sinners who need a Savior. If the precious oracles had been addressed to a chosen few called preachers, or expounders, the people would be dependent upon mortal aid and doubtful expositions for light; but we should thank God, that this rich source and pure fountain of truth, like rippling streams and cooling brooks to the thirsty, flows even to us, most unworthy creatures. If we fail learning the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, great will be our ignorance, and sad our misfortunes. Said the blessed Savior, "My