whofe inspiration the Scriptures were written, continues to proceed from him; and by the internal illumination of the Holy Ghost, or by various inftruments which he is able to raise up, he answers the prayers which, amidst their darkness and doubts, his fervants offer, in his name, to the Father of lights. "Did not our hearts burn within us," faid the difciples, "when he talked to us by the way, and opened unto us the Scriptures?" And do not the hearts of his disciples ftill burn within them, when he removes the veil from their eyes in reading the Scriptures, and enables them to perceive the things that are fpiritually difcerned? "The fecret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and to them will he manifeft his covenant.'

EVEN David, the man who felt fo ftrongly, and who has defcribed fo copiously, the advantages of fearching the Scriptures, does not fay that he difcovered thefe advantages, but he prays that they may be fhewn to him. pen thou mine eyes, that I

may

"O

behold

I am a

wondrous things out of thy law. ftranger upon the earth; hide not thy commandments from me." Mark the fpirit

of these words; follow the example of this devout man; "when you lack wisdom, afk of God, and it fhall be given you." Let prayer enliven and fanctify your fearch of the Scriptures. It will render

the word of God to you quick and powerful, and will give it an influence over your minds very much fuperior to that of any other study. The Almighty will inftruct you, and guide you with his eye; he will make you wife through the knowledge of his word, and he will enlarge your heart to run the way of his commandments.

THE view which has been taken of the precept of our Lord, has appeared, in the progrefs of this difcourfe, to reflect great honour upon the Society before whom I now speak. To their pure minds it will fuggeft much encouragement to perfevere: And to the public, it may fuggest the

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strongest reasons for granting them that countenance and aid, which are necessary to render the benefit of their pious labours ftill more effectual, and more extensive

It is our happiness to live in times when Government appears folicitous to improve the internal refources of the country, when the attention of men of rank, of fortune, and of influence, is turned to corners which had long been neglected, and the most refpectable affociations are formed for enabling the inhabitants of the coafts to avail themselves of their natural advantages. May it not be expected that this liberal and enlightened policy will embrace the important objects of this Society as congenial with itself; that those who seek to extend the wealth of the community, will, from the fame benevolent principles, encourage every rational attempt to cherish the virtues of the community; and that, amidst the patriotic efforts to rescue our brethren in the Highlands and islands from poverty, and flavish dependence, and to re

concile them to their native land, by rendering their fituation more comfortable, the exertions of this Society to form their minds by Christian knowledge, will appear praise-worthy in the eyes of every Briton? The profanity and profligacy of the lower ranks are felt and lamented in the more populous and wealthy diftricts of the empire; and even those who, in other respects, do not difcover much zeal about the interefts of religion and morality, have been made to fee and know that the inftruction and reformation of the people form a most defirable object to the state. Is it not equally defirable to prepare a remedy for the evil where it has not yet become inveterate, to complete the provision for the prosperity and improvement of the remoter parts of the island, by administering to the uncorrupted inhabitants the wholefome counsel of this book, at a time when they are eager to receive it. Their hardy valour has often maintained the honour, and repelled the dangers of their country: Their morals, established upon Christian principles, may

reprove the impiety and licentiousness of the age; and, as they and their defcendants fpread through the different parts of the empire, they may thus carry with them an antidote against the general infection.

LET not, then our princes, our rulers, and our nobles, think it beneath their dignity, or a diverfion from their generous pursuit of the public good, to encourage, by their countenance and fupport, the labours of the minifters of the gofpel in their feveral departments, and the more extenfive plans which this Society has formed. The most enlightened writers upon political oeconomy cannot point out a treasure of fuch value to the state, as a stock of useful fubjects trained by early culture and familiar inftruction, to honefty, industry, and temperance: And the efforts of the moft able and upright statesmen to lift this country above its misfortunes, will prove abortive, unless thofe under their administration have knowledge and virtue. "Righteousness exalteth a nation: But fin is the reproach

H