LETTER FROM A MINISTER TO HIS PARISHIONERS, ON THE TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE, AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY; AND ON THE WONDERFUL PRESERVATION OF THE SACRED TEXT, AND THE CORRECTNESS OF THE AUTHORISED ENGLISH VERSION, WITH SOME PRACTICAL INFERENCES AND OBSERVATIONS. "The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy."-REV. x. 19. BY THE REV. ROBT. GREEN, B.A. VICAR OF LONGHORSLEY. London: PRINTED FOR J. G. F. &. J. RIVINGTON; AND CURRIE AND GARTHWAITE, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, 1842. 400. FROM A MINISTER TO HIS PARISHIONERS. "THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY."-REV. x. 19. MY CHRISTIAN FRIENDS, Among the many extraordinary events which distinguish the times in which we live, is the rapid and extensive spread of gospel truth. It has pleased God of late years to pour down his blessing on the churches of our land, and to revive the spirit of religion among us in a very remarkable manner. Multitudes have been brought to see and to rejoice in the "truth as it is in Jesus," and yet more have been led to see the necessity of religion and the propriety of observing its outward duties, even when the power of it has not been felt. The truth of religion and the importance of the one thing needful are generally acknowledged, especially among the higher and better informed classes of society; and open infidelity is confined, with the exception, perhaps, of a few smatterers in science, to the most ignorant and depraved of the community. At the same time the light of Divine truth, radiating chiefly from this country, the favoured place of its abode, has shed its influence far and wide. The spirit of religion in the Protestant churches of the Continent is reviving. The light is beginning to appear even amidst the darkness of some Popish lands. Bible and Missionary Societies have carried the glad tidings of salvation into many of the most distant parts of the earth, where Christian churches have been formed, and numbers of the heathen are now rejoicing B in the knowledge of God's mercy to fallen man. Everywhere preparation seems to be making for the reception of Divine truth, indicating, we may hope, the dawn of that glorious, and probably not very distant, day, when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. of It could not be supposed that the great enemy of souls would quietly see his empire thus invaded and his dominion threatened, without making some efforts to retain his hold; accordingly, unusual exertions are being made, especially in this country, to disseminate error and to stop the progress the truth. Socialism, with its vile absurdities and outrageous impieties, has of late sprung up amongst us. Socinianism is labouring to propagate its soul-destroying and God-denying heresy. Popery is advancing apace, and the Man of Sin dreams of again bringing the world beneath his withering and deadly sway. The open enemies of the truth, with some who profess to be its friends but hold it in unrighteousness, have united to overthrow our religious institutions, and to put an end to our national recognition of God; and in this unholy crusade they have had but too much countenance and support from persons in power. Infidelity has its emissaries abroad, and by means of unprincipled newspapers and other pernicious publications, is endeavouring to diffuse its venom among the ignorant and depraved. With such it has been but too successful, while among many who are too well informed to embrace it openly, its influence may be observed in the senseless and heathenish fancy which so extensively prevails, that it is of no consequence what a man believes so long as he is sincere and lives according to his creed, just as if there were no difference between truth and falsehood-just as if it were immaterial in what light the Almighty is regarded, and as if it were just the same in the sight of heaven whether God's message of mercy to fallen man be embraced as a truth, with all the gratitude it deserves, or rejected as a lie. I am sorry to find that this neighbourhood has not escaped this wide-spread infection, and that irreligious publications have been circulated here with their usual effect upon the ignorant and vicious, who are ever disposed to seek a refuge in infidelity from the restraints of conscience and its uneasy forebodings. On this account I wish to draw your attention to the certainty we have of the truth of our holy religion, in order that you may see the madness and folly, as well as the sin and danger, of yielding to an evil heart of unbelief, and of living, as so many of you are doing, in the neglect of your religious duties. They whose hearts are under the influence of Divine Grace will not require any external proof of the truth of their faith. They have in themselves an evidence which nothing can surpass, that the Gospel is of God, in the transforming effect which it has had on their own souls and in the fulfilment which they have experienced of the promise" If any man "will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it "be of God.” (John vii. 17.) To such, however, it may be useful to have an answer to give to those who may ask them, for a reason of the hope that is in them, such as the enquirers can comprehend; while on others it may, by the Divine blessing, have a beneficial effect to know the certain foundation on which we rest our belief in the Word of God. Is the Bible the Word of God? Is it indeed given by Divine inspiration? This is an enquiry of the greatest possible importance, and thanks be to God we are not left in doubt as to the answer. We know it for a positive fact, on the most clear and convincing evidence, that the Bible is indeed the Word of God; that in very truth "holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost," and that "all Scrip"ture is indeed given by inspiration of God." There are many arguments in proof of the truth and authenticity of Scripture, of many different kinds, and each in its kind equally |