We have the surest ground for believing the Bible to be the word of God, for in every page there is the hand of God, and in every part the Spirit of God. We have a further and most substantial reason to believe the Bible true, for it aims at our happiness, and points out the road to it. In it we have our prejudices opposed, our errors shown, and our sins condemned. It calls upon us to cultivate the best dispositions; commands us to be humane and forgiving, and enjoins us to study the good of others as much as our own. In fact, the principles it inculcates and the spirit it requires are such, that would, if universally followed, make our world the paradise of perfection, and the heaven of love.

The Bible is not only an invaluable work on account of the blessedness it

reveals, but very interesting for the unrivalled style in which it is written. Where shall we find such rich thoughts, such sublime imagery, such glowing prose, and such harmonious verse? nowhere but in the Bible. It would immortalize a man could he produce onehalf the fine ideas contained in the 40th chapter of Isaiah; but that is only one out of a great many chapters universally celebrated for containing a variety of the grandest thoughts ever penned.

Unbelief also rejects the evidences of a future state. Annihilation is an agreeable thought to a great number, because they live so wickedly in this world, they can have no hope in one to

come.

"Heav'n is all love, all joy in giving joy :
It never had created, but to bless ;

And shall it then strike off the list of life,
A being blest, or worthy so to be?

Heav'n starts at an annihilating God."

Every thing within and without man proclaims an hereafter; but some poor sin-deluded wretches will not, because they wish not to believe, that there is another state in which God will justify the rectitude of his moral government of this world, and show forth the sovereignty of his character by inflicting misery on the wicked, and bestowing felicity on the righteous.

In the Bible there are various passages which prove that we are all advancing to an eternal world, one in which every person will be rewarded according to his conduct in this state of probation. Repent ye for the kingdom "From ever

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of heaven is at hand."*

* Matth. iii. 2.

lasting to everlasting thou art God."*

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We, according to his promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth.Ӡ "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold."+ "Them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting contempt."S "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."|| "When the Son of man

* Psa. xc. 2.

↑ Job xix. 25-27.

+2 Peter iii. 13.

§ Daniel xii. 2.

|| 2 Cor. v. 10.

shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Then shall he also say unto them on the left hand, Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."*

Though the world in general do not perish upon the dangerous rocks I have just pointed out, the majority are unhappily lost upon the deceitful and

* Matth. xxv. 31-41.