ADVERTISEMENT. The following discourse was delivered in compliance with a circular letter from the President of the Methodist Conference (the Rev. RICHARD REECE,) to the Preachers, reminding them that the 4th of October, 1835, was the "third centenary of the printing of the entire Scriptures in the English language," and suggesting the propriety of "commemorating" that event, as it "under God, contributed more than any other means to bring about the Reformation." And, it is in deference to the wishes of the Chesterfield Leaders' meeting, and many of the congregation, that the author has consented to its publication: he regrets that it is not more worthy of the occasion, and of their acceptance. Chesterfield, 26th Oct., 1835. &c. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."-1 Thess. v. 21. Ir is a serious consideration, but one which is compatible with our present probationary state, that ignorance, error, and evil, are ever to be found in the immediate neighbourhood of truth-that the deleterious stream runs fast by the waters of life: it seeks ar association with it, by assuming the hue and appearance of truth, and by practising that which St. Paul terms "the deceivableness of unrighteousness."* To provide against this deception we have the first part of the direction given in the text, "Prove all things;" try or test them as a chemist or refiner would the ore, in order to obtain possession of the unalloyed gold. And this is imposed on Christians as a solemn duty-an obligation under which we are laid by the God of Truth. Nor is this the only passage in the holy scriptures in which it is inculcated; for it was Paul's prayer for the Philippians, "That they might approve things that are excellent, "§ or that differ; John's direction, that those to whom he wrote should not "believe every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world;" it forms the subject of Christ's approbation of the church of Ephesus, 2 Thess. ii. 10. +AoxiμάŽETE a term expressive of the process through which ore passes in its purification. Parkhurst says it signifies "To try, prove, assay, as refiners do metals, by fire." Lex. p. 141; Ewing, p. 353. The word is of frequent occurrence in the New Testament, and is rendered in our version discern, prove, approve, examine, alloweth, try, &c. § Phil. i. 10. 1 John iv. 1. " Thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars;"* and, to say no more, it was by it the Bereans were led to embrace the faith, having “searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so."+ But it is of equal importance, that having found the truth, we "hold it fast." This remaining part of the injunction is necessary, when we keep in mind the deteriorating tendency which is in man, and in all bɔdies of men. Indeed, had no departure from truth and love ever been experienced, still the premonition of the text would have been in place, and on suitable occasions it would have been properly and fittingly urged. It is, however, the more imperative, when we remember the lamentable departures from truth which past generations have witnessed, and which we now witness, in many parts of the world, professedly christian. The entire canon may be suitably applied to such as have in "later times" been convinced of a departure" from the faith,"§ and who have happily been brought back to "the truth." And we need not go far to find an instance in point: we have it in the fact of the Reformation of christianity in Great Britain; an event which is surely of sufficient importance to induce British christians, and all who may at any time learn the story, to give heed to the entire exhortation of the text. Protestants should, at proper seasons, dwell on the event in question, with all i's instructive history, not to promote and increase a sectarian bigotry, and an uncharitable spirit towards each other, much less an intolerant and persecuting feeling towards those who still differ from them; but so to value that Reformation, and the principal means by which it was effected, as to hold fast the truth which our forefathers thereby recovered-the faith "once delivered unto the saints." The principal means employed in bringing about the Reformation in this island, was the translation of the sacred scriptures of the Old and New Testament into the vernacular language of the country; and as it is just 300 years, this day, since Miles Coverdale, afterwards Bishop of Exeter, finished the printing of what he calls a "special translation," and as this was the first translation of the entire scrip Rev. ii. 10. + Acts xvii. 11. § 1 Tim. iv. 1. + Jude, 3. || Ded. tures which was given us, it has been judged advisable to bring this fact, with the principles involved, and the happy consequences flowing from it, under the notice of Protestants generally. We, my brethren, are not alone in this celebration; for Protestants on the continent of Europe notice the event of the Reformation, at such times as have been the most remarkable in their respective histories of that event. I have only one thing farther to say, before entering on the discourse itself, and it is this-That in commemorating the event of the Reformation, we are not endeavouring to advocate any particular set of political notions. We engage in this service for the purpose and end of inducing each other to prize the advantages which we at present possess, and of being faithful to those principles of truth and christian conduct which our ever blessed ord and Saviour Jesus Christ hath committed, to his church, as a sacred deposit. To give some plan and form to our thoughts and recollections, I would attempt a short consideration of I. The state of christianity in Great Britain at the period of the Reformation. And here, I am not going to carry you back to the time of Cæsar's landing, fifty-four years before the birth of Christ, dwell on the system of Druidism which then reigned, and draw a picture of the idolatry and superstition of those days; nor to notice the state of things, which were not much improved, between the coming in of the Romans and the introduction of christianity—an event which by the bye happened sufficiently early to show that we received "the faith of God's elect,"* if not from the Apostles themselves, at least by the instrumentality "of those who had been the disciples of our Lord." That it was introduced at an early period, Tertullian, who died in the commencement of the third century, and who was then sixty-three years old, testifies. His words are-" Those parts of Britain which were inaccessible to the Romans are become subject to christianity;"+ and, one who has examined the point with his usual learning and judgment, concludes, "That the gospel was established here, as early as even our traditions state, and very probably, by the apostles themselves; or by persons immediately deputed by them." It was § Dr. A. Clarke's Introd. * Tit. i. 1. + Adv. Jud. A.D. 596, that Pope Gregory I. sent over Augustine or Austin, with his forty companions, who landed in the Isle of Thanet, in Kent; so that it was not by the exertions of the see of Rome that we obtained the knowledge of christianity. We will at once come to the time when christianity had been about 1500 years in this nation. And, since we have fixed on this, as a day of commemoration, let us place our attention on the 4th of October, 1535, as a point of observation-one from which we may be able to form a pretty correct estimate of things. According to what will not be considered an unreasonable expectation, christianity should have then appeared in its vigour and native glory, whereas the very reverse of this was the case. The view which all well authenticated history gives, is truly affecting: we have thought of the church of Christ in that day, and have been ready to join in the affecting lament of the ancient prophet over his beloved Zion-" How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed? the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street. The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hand of the potter."+ Nor can we, at this time, give any thing like a full and complete draught of the state of christianity in Great Britain, although this, with its causes is by no means an unprofitable subject of meditation, but so much only, as is sufficient to show that a reformation was most urgently required. There are four things which more particularly give form and character to the church of Christ; and by the state in which they are severally found, at any given time, we may judge of her actual condition. The first is doctrine: and the following may be selected as truths of vital importance in the christian system, namely, That the scriptures alone are sufficient for the ends and purposes of our salvation. "From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus." And "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, *Bede L. i. C. 25. + Lam. iv. 2. |