Such are the solemn sanctions under which God has entrusted us with the Book of Life; nor can these sanctions be considered too weighty by any who rightly appreciate that gift. Next to the gift of God’s incarnate Son and of his Blessed Spirit, we rank the Book divine. We are thankful for the Church and its ordinances and means, and if we may distinguish between the Church and its ministers, we are thankful for them too; but we value the Sacred Volume above all institutions, however sacred, and above all men of whatever character. It is not our intention at this time to elaborate arguments for the necessity of a divine revelation; suffice to say, that without one we could have no certainty in matters of faith, and no authorised standard in matters of morality. That “the world by wisdom knew not God” is proved by the history of all nations, ancient and modern. The classic times of Greece and Rome were as destitute of correct knowledge of the true God as were the times most distant and barbaric, while the highest culture of arts and science did nothing whatever for pure morality; God, therefore, for his own glory and man’s good, condescended to speak from heaven, and give us a revelation of his will. It was necessary that this revelation should be a written one: for in matters of such importance no man could be satisfied with its transmission by tradition. Tradition never did and never can transmit any dictate of either God or man with certainty. What tradition can do as a medium of supplying knowledge from the past may be seen in the case of those nations which bordered the kingdom of Israel—whose fathers, descending from the patriarchs, must have had some knowledge of both God’s character and his claims; yet these nations had forgotten all, and lapsed into the most contemptible idolatry. It may be seen, in the case of the Israelites themselves. How simple and correct the views which Abraham their father entertained of God, and yet so completely did his descendants forget all this during their sojourn in Egypt that Moses found it necessary to ask the Lord by what name he should speak of him to them. The uncertainty of tradition may be further seen by a reference to the days of our Lord, when we find that by it the elders made void the law of God. Tradition is often at fault in its very origin. Look at one which rose among the disciples themselves. The Saviour, before ascending to heaven, informed Peter of the manner of his death, on which this Apostle was curious to know what should be the lot of John, who was coming up at the time. The Lord did not think it wise to satisfy that curiosity, and said, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee, follow thou me.” Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die; yet the sacred historian tells us, that for this tradition there was no foundation in fact. And who among us could tell in this day what were the doctrines of our own