ingratitude? Will you not, on the contrary, turn away with disgust and horror; or will you not warmly assert the cause of your blessed Saviour, and stand forward as his defender? You would look back with reverence and love on the memory of a deceased friend, who lost his life for your sakes; how much more then will you regard Jesus Christ as your revered and most dear friend?

I have directed your attention this day to consider the immense obligation we owe to our blessed Redeemer, because we are now entering upon that solemn week in which we are required by the Church to bring to memory the sufferings which Christ underwent for our sakes. This is called Passion Week, the Week of Christ's Passion or Sufferings, and is appointed to be kept holy out of respect to his memory. Think what a ransom was given for us with his blood; think who it was that redeemed us, and then consider the inestimable love of our Lord Jesus Christ! One would think it impossible to forget it. He that died to save us still lives. He lives for ever in Heaven. He, at this moment, looks down upon us his servants, and knows every thought of our hearts; let him not find ingratitude lurking there. Let him not perceive that all our devotion is constrained; that while we feel and express gratitude to our friends and benefactors here, we are insensible to our infinite obligations to God; that we are grateful to all but our Redeemer!

EDITOR-.

THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF READING THE SCRIPTURES.

MR. EDITOR,

At a crisis like the present, when the doctrines and opinions of certain scoffers of the Bible are widely circulating, and it is feared doing much mischief among the unstable and unlearned," it may not be deemed unseasonable or unseemly to the readers of the "Plain Englishman," to offer a few remarks on the great value and importance of the Scriptures.

I shall commence these remarks, Sir, by observing that it was required of the King of Israel" that he should write him a copy of the Law in a Book, that it should be with him, and that he should read therein all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God."-(Deut. xvii. 18, 19.)

And here it is observable, that, as he was to read in the law all the days of his life, so he is enjoined to write a copy of it, which the Jews say, and with much apparent propriety, was to be done

with his own hand, as a means to fix it the better in his memory. A similar charge is given, Joshua, i. 8:-" This Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe according to all that is written therein."

Nor were rulers only, but the whole body of the people, exhorted to read and study the law, as will appear by the following injunction to the whole Israelitish nation:" And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart, and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them, when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."(Deut. vi. 7.)-From these words it will appear, that they were not merely to read the words of the law, but to learn and digest them, and teach them to others.

In the New Testament, the command to "search the Scriptures," by our Saviour, is frequent. "They have Moses and the Prophets," says Abraham in the parable of the Rich Man, "let them hear them." (Luke, xvi. 26.)—We find also the Apostle recommending the Scriptures to the Ephesians, as a most useful piece of armour:-"Take the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."-(Ephesians, vi. 17.)-And, to the same purpose," Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom."-(Coloss. iii. 16.)

Now, if we consider these precepts either as the instructions of a sovereign or the advice of a friend, they surely ought not to be neglected; but when we know that the recommendation comes from "the Lord God, merciful and gracious, abundant in goodness and truth," we may justly exclaim," How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation."

It is a matter, however, of comfortable reflection to every devout Christian, that the Holy Scriptures have, in all ages, been held in the highest veneration. For the truth of this I beg to offer the following testimonies.

"I have esteemed the words of thy mouth," says Job, "more than my necessary food."-(Chap. xxiii. 12.)

It was the peculiar privilege and advantage of the Jews, that "to them were committed the oracles of God," and how they prized and used them we cannot be ignorant. David makes it the character of the blessed and pious man, "that his delight is in the law of the Lord, and that therein he meditates day and night. (Ps. i. 2.)-That the Psalmist possessed an ardent love for the word of God may be readily collected from his own writings. A few extracts therefrom shall suffice.

66

"The Statutes of the Lord," says this pious man, are right, rejoicing the heart; more to be desired than gold, yea than much

fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.-(Ps. xix. 8, 10.)" I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches."-(Ps. cxix. 14.)" My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath to thy judgments at all times; thy testimonies are also my delight and my counsellors."-v. 20. 24.-" O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day."—v. 97.

The Apostle Paul too has given us an account of his own knowledge of the Scriptures, in the following words:-" For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion; how that beyond measure I persecuted the Church of God, and wasted it; and profited in the Jews' Religion above many, my equals, in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers."—(1st Gal. xiii. 14.)—Of Timothy it is recorded," that, from a child, he knew the Holy Scriptures.' In fine, Josephus asserts, that, "Ask one of our nation concerning the law, he will tell you all things more readily than his own name; for, learning them as soon as we come to have any knowledge of things, we preserve them deeply engraven on our minds."

"

With reference to the Christian Church, the Sacred Writings inform us," Apelles was mighty in the Scriptures."—Acts, xviii. 24); and "the Bereans searched the Scriptures daily."-(Acts, xvii. 11.) The primitive confessors, it appears, had that value for the Bible, that no terrors could prevail with them to part with it, and resign it to the fury of their enemies. It is recorded of Tertullian, that he was employed night and day in studying the Scriptures; of Saint Austin, that they were his most pure and chaste delight; of Theodosius the Younger, that he could repeat any part of them with the greatest exactness; of Origen, that he never went to meals without reading some portion of them.

Zuinglius, it appears, wrote out Saint Paul's Epistles, and got them by heart; Beza could repeat them in Greek at eighty years of age, having learned them in his youth; and it is said of Cranmer and Ridley, those renowned martyrs, that they each knew the New Testament by heart.

I shall beg leave to close this long subject, Sir, by adding the opinions of two eminent divines, of modern date, on the beauty and value of the Scriptures. The pious and venerable Bishop Horne, in describing the excellencies of the holy Scriptures, thus expresses himself:-" The Scriptures are wonderful, with respect to the matter which they contain, the manner in which they are written, and the effects which they produce. They contain the sublimest spiritual truths, veiled under external ceremonies, figurative descriptions, typical histories, parables, similitudes, &c. When properly opened and enforced, they terrify and humble; they convert, and transform; they console

and strengthen. Who but must delight to study and to observe these testimonies of the will and the wisdom, the love and the power of the Most High. While we have these holy Writings, let us not waste our time, misemploy our thoughts, and prostitute our admiration, by doating on human follies, and wondering at human trifles."

The following are the sentiments of Sir William Jones on the Scriptures:

"I have regularly and attentively read the holy Scriptures, and I am of opinion that this volume, independently of its divine origin, contains more true sublimity, more exquisite beauty, more pure morality, more important history, and finer strains, both of poetry and eloquence, than can be collected from all other books, in whatever age and language they may have been composed."

T. R.

DOCTOR MACLAINE.

[The Rev. Archibald Maclaine, D. D. was born at Monaghan, in Ireland, in 1722. The family name was Maclean; which he was induced, in carly life, to change to Maclaine, in consequence of the execution of his brother, Maclean, “the Gentleman Highwayman." He became Minister of the English Church at the Hague; where he resided until 1794; when the French Revolution drove him to seek refuge in England. He fixed his residence at Bath; in which city he died, greatly respected, in 1804, and lies buried in the Abbey-Church, beneath a Monument raised to his memory by his friend Henry Hope, Esq.

Dr. Maclaine is principally known to the world as the Translator of Mosheim's Church-History; for which valuable work he received only 1307., although it has become a source of great emolument to the proprietors.

We subjoin an interesting account of the last hours of Dr. Maclaine, with which we have been favoured by a highly-valued friend, eminently distinguished for her piety and talents.-L.]

As soon as Dr. Maclaine's weakness began to increase to an alarming degree, so as to announce approaching dissolution, he seemed to divest himself of human infirmities. His humility was particularly conspicuous in every instance; his ideas were completely detached from this world; and, on all thoughts of reputation, acquired either by his learning or useful life, he seemed to make the nicest distinctions. He was thankful for it as God's gift; but the applause of men he seemed not even to think of.

In a conversation with a friend, who remarked to him, that looking back on the past must be a great satisfaction to him, as it presented a well-spent life, devoted to instruct in private, as well as in public, his countenance grew animated; and, putting

up his hand so as to check his friend, he said, "Don't speak thus to me; it is humility, deep humility, that I want; I come to the Throne of Grace as an unworthy sinner, entirely relying on the merits of my dying Saviour. If I have been a humble instrument, in GOD's hand, to bring others to his knowledge; if my ministry, in many instances, has been crowned with blessings, praise be to his immortal name. No merit of my own enabled me to be so. It is not for me to boast. It is mercy, it is forgiveness I want.'

In this heavenly state he continued, and his heart and tongue were full of praises and thanksgivings to the last. He was attended by faithful servants, who adored him. He had a great affection for his man-servant; who had served him for several years with great zeal and attention. He regretted much that he had nothing but his blessing to leave him. The man exclaimed with tears, "Don't regret it, Sir, your blessing and example is of more worth to me than any earthly good you could leave me.'

At one time, when I came to him on his waking in the middle of the night, he said, " My dear, I don't want any thing; but how came you to be up so late?" Some conversation then passed, in which he expressed his gratitude and his fear of giving trouble. I told him how delightful it was to me to see him at all times patient, kind, and grateful. He said, "Oh, my dear, thank God with me that he enables me to behave so. It is his grace, his mercy, that surrounds me on every side; nothing but blessings. I have little suffering, I am so well taken care of. Oh that I may be sufficiently thankful!" He took leave of us all separately, enforced the necessity of early pious habits, told us the history of his life, and showed us what difficulties he had overcome by trusting in Providence, and by associating with the virtuous and the good; how severe afflictions had been to him blessings in disguise'; and "now I am come to my death-bed, where that God and that Redeemer in whom I trusted, and who have been my firm rock and support in life, do not abandon me in the hour of conflict, but enable me to come to the Throne of Grace with humility and hope; for I know in whom I have believed. Come and see how a humble Christian is supported in his last moments."

He delighted much in hearing Gisborne's Sermons read, particularly the last in the first volume; and said, "Dear Gisborne, I hope I shall see you in Heaven."

"Nov. 13, 2 o'clock.

I feel that I am going very gradually. I shall not remain long here. I have always had a religious turn of mind. When I was young I was fond of attending places of worship of all kinds, and of going to funerals, being impressed with the solemnity