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There are other difficulties, we acknowledge, the solution of which is beyond the power of man. The Bible, in some respects, is a mysterious and wonderful book. It contains many prophetic declarations, and descriptions, which belong to the remote future, and cannot be explained except by the events to which they refer. It contains many mysteries, which although stated in the simplest forms of speech, cannot be comprehended by a finite mind. We ought not to be offended to find such things in the Bible, nor turn away from it as unworthy of our attention, because it has its unintelligible side.

The flowers

Is it not so in all the works of God? What part of this glorious universe is there that is not mysterious? Those things that are the most familiar, are often the most difficult to explain. that bloom beneath your window, and the grass that clothes the fields with verdure, are wonderful in their simple beauty. Natural religion is full of mystery. The creation of the world, within a given period,

or eternal creation ;-The origin of evil;the reciprocal influence of spirit and matter in man;-the fearful problem of human existence;-all these subjects involve difficulties which no human intellect can explain.

And shall we demand that the volume of inspiration, which speaks to us of God and Divine things, shall contain nothing which surpasses our finite powers? Shall we make it a condition of faith that every thing here shall be perfectly intelligible? If this were the prominent characteristic of the Bible, we should have a more fatal objection to its Divine origin than is drawn from its mysteries. We should at once say, This book cannot be Divine because it is not in harmony with the other works of God; it is level to the capacity of man, and therefore to be regarded as a human production. We miss here the superscription of God, and cannot receive this as his work. The mysteries of the Bible, therefore, instead of being obstacles to faith, are themselves a part of that evidence by which we recognize it as Divine.

Nor are they useless in the economy of grace. It manifests a narrow view of revelation to maintain that we are benefitted only by that which we fully comprehend. Does not that which we know, in all cases, rest upon that which we do not know, as its basis and support. The plain truths which we understand and love, derive all their influence from that unknown region whose infinite and eternal light gleams out here and there in the pages of the Bible.

Besides, those mysterious passages, before which the ignorant and the learned are equal, exert a direct beneficial influence over the mind. They serve to repress the daring pride which says with Lucifer, son of the morning, "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, I will ascend above the height of the clouds, I will be like the Most High." Is. 14: 13. They admonish us of the weakness of the human intellect, and excite us to seek by prayer for the teaching of that spirit that can alone lead us into all truth. They quicken us to that diligence in

reading and study, which, though it can never render us familiar with all the deep things of God, will nevertheless make us wise unto salvation. They elevate the soul by their solemn grandeur, and awaken within us an unspeakable longing for that time, when freed from the burden of the flesh, and the darkness of our prison, we shall see as we are seen, and know even as we are known.

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CHAPTER III.

ON FALSE PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION.

HAVING Shown in what state of mind the Bible is to be read, and pointed out the nature and source of the difficulties which we may expect to meet in our reading; we come now to inquire whether there is any general principle or rule of interpretation, which will guide the reader safely in those places where a variety of explanations is possible, and by which the clashing opinions of men, especially in respect to things pertaining to salvation, may be tried.

That there is such a principle or rule, the application of which, as a touch-stone, will discover the true sense of Scripture, so far at least as is necessary to prevent all essential error, and enable the diligent reader to understand all that it is important for him to know, we cannot doubt: but all parties do not agree as to what and where this rule is.

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