variety of information and instruction contained in the Holy Scriptures, its main purpose, from Genesis to Revelation, is to testify of Christ. The words of the Most High, written in the sacred volume, are still found to point in various ways and forms-by the shadows of the law, by the types of the history, by the predictions of the prophets, by the narrations of the evangelists, by the doctrines of the apostles, by the figures of the Apocalypse-to Him who is the WORD. They reveal and portray Him who was with God in the beginning, by whom God made the worlds, who was incarnate in the flesh, died for our offences, rose again for our justification, ascended up on high, reigns above in glory, and will come again to judge the quick and the dead. The words which the apostle John applied to his own gospel, are truly descriptive of the Scriptures as a whole"These are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name: John xx. 31. Now the Son of God was bestowed on the whole world; "God so loved THE WORLD that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life:" John

iii. 16. Christ was the "propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD:" 1 John ii. 2. Thus it appears that all men, the world over, have to do with Him of whom the Scriptures testify, and whom they areintended to make known. All men, therefore, have their part in these Scriptures, just as they have it in the gospel which they contain, and which is to be preached to every creature. "God would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of his truth." Therefore all men are invited to possess, read, know, and understand those writings, which are able to make us WISE unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus :" 2 Tim. iii. 15.

It may be hoped, that the scriptural view here taken of the intended use and universal application of the Holy Scriptures, will be found to accord with the best judgment of all who love the truth as it is in Jesus, and who long and pray for its universal diffusion. But what are we to say of the interpretation of the book? Are all men to explain it according to their own wisdom and liking? Certainly not; but all men are invited to

read and consider it, for themselves, in a devout and humble disposition, and in reverent dependence on the illumination and teaching of God's Holy Spirit. The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost-in his peculiar character of Interpreteror of Him who takes of the things of Christ, and shows them to his disciples, (John xvi. 14,)-is bestowed not on the apostles alone, but on the servants of Christ in every age; and not on the hierarchy or clergy alone, but on the church universal-on the whole people of God.

The laws of grammar and philology, and the science of exegesis, in all its branches, are open to all mankind, and have actually led to the pouring in of so much light on Scripture, as very much to fix its meaning, for the permanent benefit of our race. In the mean time the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who holds the key of David, is still pleased to OPEN THE HEARTS" of his followers, that they may understand the Scriptures spiritually and savingly, and may thus find their pardon and cure, their peace and deliverance, their full and final rest

66

in HIM.

CHAPTER II.

ON ANTICHRIST, THE MAN OF SIN.

"LITTLE children, it is the last time, and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists, whereby we know that it is the last time. He is antichrist that denieth the

Father and the Son :" 1 John ii. 18, 22. Again, this

66

apostle says, every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and this is that Spirit of antichrist whereof ye have heard that it should come, and even now already is it in the world" iv. 3. This last testimony to the work and character of antichrist, is repeated in his second epistle, "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist :" 2 John 7.

It is clear, from these passages, that the term antichrist is of very general application, as descriptive of that spirit among men which rebels against the dominion of the Son of God, invents false doctrine, and corrupts good manners. Such was the spirit of those spots in the believers' feasts of charity, of whom the apostles Peter and Jude speak in their epistles"clouds without water, carried about of winds, trees

the sea, foaming out their own shame, wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever:" Jude 12, 13; comp. 2 Pet. ii. 10-22. It appears that these sons of error and dissipation professed a peculiar degree of sanctity-" speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron-forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats," &c.

There can be no doubt that even in apostolic times the seeds of heresy and corruption were sown in the church, and that afterwards, these seeds produced a vast and varied crop of bitterness, unbelief, and sin. Here it ought to be confessed, that except in the articles of forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats,