ΤΟ HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS FREDERICK, DUKE OF YORK, PATRON; The Right Honourable the EARL OF LIVERPOOL, The Right Honourable LORD VISCOUNT SIDMOUTH, The Honourable and Right Reverend the LORD BISHOP OF DURHAM, The Right Honourable LORD KENYON, VICE-PATRONS; The Right Honourable and Right Reverend the PRESIDENT; WILLIAM ASTELL, Esq. M. P. and others the JOSEPH WILSON, Esq. The Rev. WEST WHELDALE, Rector of Christ Church, Spitalfields, HONORARY SECRETARY; Messrs. ROBERT CLEMENTS, and MARK ANTHONY LOW, Churchwardens, AND A SERMON, &c. 2 TIMOTHY, III. 15. And that 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. WHEN We are called to the performance of any duty, we should consider on what command or promise of God it rests. The divine will is man's rule and encouragement. In proportion as this is express and clear, we should exert ourselves with vigour and cheerfulness. Few duties then are enforced by more weighty considerations than that of assisting in the religious education of the young. The language of the Apostle in the text is sufficient to establish this point. For if the young are capable of knowing the Holy Scriptures from their earliest childhood; and if this knowledge be the ordinary means of making them wise unto Salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus; then the obligation of instructing them must be imperious. A command and an encouragement are virtually united in the text; and we have only to enter fully into its meaning, in order to excite a Christian congregation to the exercise of its wonted benevolence. Let us then consider, I. The duty of communicating to the young an early knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. II. The inestimable benefit arising from the right discharge of this duty. On entering upon the subject, I would observe, that though the Apostle Paul must be understood as speaking in the text of the writings of the Old Testament; yet as his statement is equally applicable to all those sacred books which God has revealed for the instruction of mankind, we may fairly comprehend in our argument the entire Sacred Canon, as consisting of the Scriptures of the Old and New Tes tament. The Book, then, with which children are to be acquainted is the Holy Scriptures. It is so called to distinguish it from the writings of the heathen moralists and philosophers, which treat of some branches of morals, and of civil justice and honesty, but do not rise to holiness and obedience to God. Such writings, therefore, in opposition to the Bible, are profane. They may contain some fine sentiments, and many acute and useful details of various virtues; but they are carefully to be separated, in point of design and authority, from the Book of God. This is called Holy, as to its author, its subject, and its end. Its Author is the Holy God, being given by inspiration from Himholy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Its subject is a doctrine according to godliness; as it treats of holy things, reveals holy truths, lays down holy principles, and enjoins a holy spirit and conduct. Its end also is to make men holy, and, through holiness, happy both here and hereafter. The Bible is also thus described, as demanding a solemn awe and reverence on the part of those who read it. It is the volume of God. Other books of religion may be taken up and laid down as convenience or curiosity may suggest. We may approach them with more or less of respect and deference, as they are composed by persons of different measures of piety or information; but the Bible is the HOLY BOOK, to be opened with solemnity of mind, with submission to the authority of God, a sincere desire to know and do his will, and prayer for the Holy Spirit to illuminate and |