It condemns people for an error in opinion, it is said. But it does not. It condemns unfaithfulness alone.

It is inimical to men's temporal interests, it is said. We however have shown that it is most friendly to men's temporal interests,-profitable to all things.

It is represented as opposed to civilisation; whereas it has given birth to the highest forms of civilisation the world has seen.

But Christianity favours the idea of miracles, and miracles, it is said, are impossible. We answer, miracles are neither impossible nor incredible, but actual. They are to be found both in nature and in the most authentic histories.

But Christianity is at variance with the facts of common life. We answer, that may be true of certain forms of theology, but not of Christianity. In short, Christianity is the most rational, exalted and beneficent system under heaven.

8. While the tendency of infidelity is to make men miserable, it is the tendency of Christianity to make men happy. When I was living at Burnley, a man, an infidel, came to me one morning and said, "Barker, we may say what we will, but those Ranters (meaning the Primitive Methodists) are the happiest men alive. There is one lives next to me, and he sings all the day long. He gets up singing, and goes to bed singing."

Some time after my return to Christianity, I spent a few days in the house of a Primitive Methodist, a farmer, on the Cheshire Hills. I seemed on the suburbs of heaven. The master and the mistress were cheerful and kind, and the daughters were almost continually singing delightful Christian melodies while busy at their work. One moment they were singing of a BEAUTIFUL STREAM, and then of a HAPPY LAND. One would begin, "Jesu, lover of my soul"—and when that was finished, another would begin with, "When I can read my title clear to mansions in the skies," and the singing and the work went on together all the day.

I knew a Christian man who, though he sang much when things went on pleasantly, sang still more, and sang more sweetly, when trials overtook him. His wife had noticed this so often, that when she heard him sing

ing more than usual, she would say to her children, "Some fresh trouble has overtaken your father."

I knew another who found relief in the midst of affliction and trial in the same way. There were certain hymns which he used always to sing when his trials were unusually severe, and glorious hymns they were. One was, Peace, doubting heart, my God's I am. Who formed me man, forbids my fear.

When passing through the watery deep,
I ask in faith His promised aid,
The waves an awful distance keep,
And shrink from my devoted head :
Fearless their violence I dare:
They cannot harm, for God is there.
To Him mine eye of faith I turn,

And through the fire pursue my way:
The fire forgets its power to burn,

The lambent flames around me play ;
I own His power, accept the sign,
And shout to prove the Saviour mine.
When darkness intercepts the skies,

And sorrow's waves around me roll;
When high the storms of trouble rise,

And half o'erwhelm my sinking soul;
My soul a sudden calm shall feel,

And hear a whisper, " Peace, be still."

And then he would sing the following :

Though troubles assail, and dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail, and foes all unite,
Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,
The promise assures us, "The Lord will provide."
The birds without barn or storehouse are fed,
From them let us learn to trust for our bread;
His saints what is fitting shall ne'er be denied,
So long as 'tis written, "The Lord will provide."
We all may, like ships, by tempests be toss'd,
On perilous deeps, but cannot be lost;
Though Satan enrages the wind and the tide,
The promise engages, "The Lord will provide."

And then, passing on to the last great trouble, he sang:When life sinks apace, and death is in view,

This word of His grace shall comfort us through; Nor fearing, nor doubting, with Christ on our side, We hope to die shouting, "The Lord will provide."

It was my own dear father that used to sing those delightful songs. I seem still to hear him, as he plied his daily task, raising his sweet and solemn voice on high, in hymns of trust and exultation.

A dear old woman, who had suffered for years, till her body was worn and weary, said to her friends, "I must go once more to the love-feast before I die." And she rose from her bed of pain, and went. She sat and listened to those around her till she could keep silence no longer, and then rose, trembling with weakness, to unburden her own soul. And what were the words that fell from the lips of this greatly tried, long suffering saint? Not words of sadness, impatience, or despondency, but words of confidence, and hope, and triumph. She raised her feeble voice, and, in the face of death, said calmly and joyously, Though nature's strength decay, And earth and hell withstand, To Canaan's bounds I urge my way At His command.

The watery deep I pass,

With Jesus in my view,

And through the howling wilderness
My way pursue.

The religion that could enable a woman so long and grievously afflicted to speak forth such words as these in the face of death is a grand and glorious reality.

How different the songs of the sceptic and the worldling! "The Last Rose of Summer," "The Light of Other Days," "Oft in the Stilly Night," &c., all begin in sadness, and end in despair. "Their rock is not as our rock."

Wesley declares that he had not had fifteen minutes' low spirits for fifty years. In his birthday hymn his rapture and exultation are unbounded. On another occasion he could say,

When my sorrows most increase,
Then the fullest joys are given.
Jesus comes with my distress,
And agony is heaven.

Fletcher, his friend and helper, was so happy, that he had to pray God to withhold His hand, lest the fulness of his bliss should be too much for his frail frame to bear.

Happy are the people that are in such a case: yea, blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.

9. Let me now give the sentiments of a few great men on religion, scepticism, and the Bible.

We live in the midst of blessings, till we are utterly insensible of their greatness, and of the source from which they flow. We speak of our civilisation, our arts, our freedom, our laws, and forget entirely how large a share of all is due to Christianity. Blot Christianity out of the page of man's history, and what would his laws, his civilisation, have been ?-Anon.

Never yet did there exist a full faith in the Divine Word (in Christ), which did not expand the intellect while it purified the heart,-which did not multiply the aims of the understanding, while it fixed and simplified those of the passions.-Coleridge.

There never was found in any age of the world, either philosopher or sect, or law or discipline, which did so highly exalt the public good as the Christian faith.—

Bacon.

When men cease to be faithful to their God, he who expects to find them faithful to each other will be much disappointed. The primitive simplicity will accompany the primitive piety in her flight from the earth, and then self-interest will succeed conscience in the regulation of human conduct, till one man cannot trust another further than he holds him by that tie. Hence it is, that although many are infidels themselves, few choose to have their families and dependents such; as judging that true Christians are the only persons to be depended on for the exact discharge of their social duties.-Bishop Horne.

I would rather dwell in the dim fog of superstition, than in air rarefied to nothing by the air pump of unbelief; in which the panting soul expires, vainly and convulsively gasping for breath.-Richter.

Infidelity gives nothing in return for what it takes away. What then is it worth? It cannot be accepted by any heart that loves truly, or by any head that thinks correctly. Infidels are poor, sad creatures; they carry about with them a load of dejection and desolation, which, though invisible, is terribly oppressive.-Chalmers.

There can be no reasonable doubt that it is better to believe too much than too little, since, as one observes, "a man may breathe in a foul air, but must die in a vacuum." -Sharpe.

As the man of pleasure, by a vain attempt to be more happy than any man can be, is often more miserable than most men are; so the sceptic, in a vain attempt to be wise beyond what is permitted to man, plunges into a darkness more deplorable than that of the common herd. -Colton.

Since the introduction of Christianity, human nature has made great progress; but it has not got in advance of Christianity. Men have outgrown other institutions and systems, but they may grow for ever and not outgrow Christianity. Channing.

Religion is a necessary and indispensable element in any great character. Religion is the tie that connects man with his Creator. If that tie be sundered, or broken, he floats away, a worthless atom in the universe: its proper attractions all gone, its destiny thwarted and its whole future nothing but darkness, desolation and death. -Webster.

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are most essential. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labour to destroy those great pillars of human happiness; those firmest props of virtue. And let us not suppose that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect national morality to prevail in the absence of religious principle.- Washington.

Religion is the basis of civil society, and the source of all good and of all comfort. We are so convinced of this, that there is no excess of superstition which we should not prefer to impiety.-Burke.