which we cannot be faved. There are others of which good men have been comparatively ignorant; but still every doctrine is important. By ignorance of one, we, in fome measure, lofe the beautiful harmony of divine truth. Our resemblance to God bears an exact proportion to our real knowledge of him. Thus the apoftle prays for the Coloffians, "that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full affurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Chrift," Col. ii. 2. No man is perfect in knowledge. None can say that in this he has attained, or is already perfect; and if any man fay that he is fatisfied with the measure of his knowledge, provided he could but grow in holiness, he manifeft's great ignorance of the way of falvation revealed in Scripture, where growth in knowledge and in grace are always declared to be infeparable. Paul counted all things lofs for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, and defired to know him and the power of his refurrection, Phil. iii. 8. 10.

Amongst the men of the world, a man's creed is thought of little confequence, provided his practice be good. A deceived heart turns them afide. They do not perceive the connection between just views of the character of God, and delight in doing his will. They confider the great doctrines of the gospel to be merely fpecu

lative points, on which good men may, and do entertain different opinions. They justify their indifference about thefe, by their dislike of controverfy. They affirm that zeal about fuch matters fours the temper, and often diforders the intellect. The man, on the contrary, who is taught of God, understands that true holiness is neceffarily connected with the belief of the truth; that the whole of revealed truth is practical, and effectually works in those who believe. He therefore earnestly contends for the faith once delivered to. the faints, and on account of his attachment to that gospel which is the power of God unto falvation, he is branded as a bigot by the world. How much does the conduct of fome Chriftians towards their brethren refemble this! They judge it unimportant what outward order is adopted in worship, provided we hold fast the great truths of God, and follow after holiness. They do not perceive the influence the one has upon the other; that both are enjoined by the fame authority; and that while we do the one, the other is not to be left undone. I would not for a moment be. thought to put the most important doctrines of the gospel on a footing with order or modes of worship. The man who worships God in fpirit and in truth, and he only, fhall be accepted: but order and modes of worship may, and must have much influence in promoting spirituality, and in fixing our minds on the object of worship, or leading

fouls; yet are we told, that attention to the Scriptures on these matters tends to distract the mind, and only leads to difputation and controversy.

If, then, we would pay proper respect to the revelation with which we are favoured, let us attend to the whole of it. The more we do so, the more shall we perceive the wisdom of God in every part. We shall experience the efficacy of the belief of the truth, in fanctifying our minds, and in making us delight in holiness, while by attending to the various ordinances delivered to the churches, the belief and influence of the truth will be greatly promoted. I would fay to those who are afraid of attending to all Chrift's commandments, left their minds be rendered lefs fpiritual, as Philip faid to Nathanael," Come and fee." External matters may indeed be contended for by carnal men, deftitute of the truth, but ftill they are a part of that Scripture which cannot be broken; and although they may be perverted and wrefted by the ungodly to their own destruction, they are admirably fuited to promote the benefit and comfort of the humble follower of Jefus.

The lofs we may suffer by neglecting any part of the revelation of God, is incalculable. Harvey was led to the discovery of the circulation of the blood, by confidering what might be the purpose of valves in the veins, which, opening by preffure on the one fide, and clofing by preffure on the other, admitted the blood to flow only in

nomy answered fome important purpose; he knew not what it might be, but attributing this to his own ignorance, and perfuaded that nature did nothing in vain, he persevered in his researches, and his fuccefs juftified the foundness of the principle he had affumed.

Some might ridicule Harvey for fuppofing, that attention to fuch minute parts of the human frame could lead to any useful discovery, or falutary practice; they might urge him to attend to the ftructure of the more important parts of the body: but they were filenced by the event, and the practice of medicine is now greatly influenced, and the welfare of mankind promoted, by this important discovery. If Chriftians entertained the fame confidence, that whatever the wifdom of God has feen fit to record in the lively oracles, is defigned for our inftruction, and that obedience to every precept is calculated to promote holinefs, they would reap much advantage and edification from it, and it would have an equally falutary effect on their fouls.

It is not indeed effential to falvation that we fhould know all which God has revealed. We are all, alas! imperfect in knowledge; but furely it is neceffary to falvation, and the infeparable effect of believing the gofpel, that we desire to know whatever God has revealed. It is undoubtedly inconfiftent with the spirit of a Christian, to be indifferent about any part of the will of God. Let it

Scriptures we can only have full evidence that we shall perfevere, and consequently that we shall be faved, when we give all diligence to grow in knowledge, as well as in faith, fortitude, patience, and godliness, 2 Pet. i. 5. 11. It is also essential to Jalvation, that we obferve and profess whatever we do know to be the will of Christ. If, from regard to human authority, worldly interest, or from that indolence which prevents men from searching matters to the bottom, we neglect any of his commandments, alleging that they are minute or unimportant, we fin prefumptuously, our hearts must condemn us, and God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things. A good fubject never thinks of violating human laws, under pretence of their being of little confequence. This would justly be deemed an impeachment of the wisdom of the legislature by whose authority they were enacted, and would, in every case, subject him to punishment: and shall Chriftians treat the laws of Jefus with lefs refpect, the infringement of any one of which infers condemnation ? James ii. 10.

Our extreme pronenefs to error, in regard to religion, is also an important reafon why we should diligently attend to every part of the word of God. This difpofition is acknowledged by all who admit the corruption of human nature. The wisest men have always displayed their folly in religion, when unenlightened by divine revela