and all prosperity is from above, and that, what is "wanted in this day is" (as a pious living writer observes) "more of the presence of the Holy Ghost."

It may be true, that there is no royal way to mathematics: but it is true also, that there is a royal way to goodness, happiness, and heaven. Search the Scriptures, to-day, to-morrow, the next day, and every day; pray for an enlightened and teachable mind; for a believing and humble heart: and then you will enter into that verse of holy writ, and see and feel its truth and force. "And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called, The Way of Holiness: the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein."

To these brief remarks, which are submitted to the calm and close consideration of the reader, it may suffice to add the humble and earnest prayer, that these plain and unpretending pages may, through the divine blessing, promote the diffusion of sound scriptural piety among those to whom they are addressed.

Repton, Bower Hill,

Oct. 23, 1851.

COTTAGE LECTURES.

LECTURE I.

THE ORIGINAL AND PRESENT STATE OF MAN.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.Genesis i. 26, 27, 28.

IT is a thing of the greatest importance, that we should have a right knowledge of ourselves. We ought clearly to understand our nature, relations, and circumstances. What are we? Whose are we? Where are we? What is our condition? These are plain enquiries; but they lead us to the most weighty considerations. To answer them, we must search the Scriptures. These only can make us rightly acquainted with ourselves; and if we study them with humble and devout minds, they will do it.

In the second chapter of Genesis we are informed of what we are made; the dust of the ground and the breath of God; flesh and spirit; body and soul. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground,

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and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Man is made of mean materials; of the dust of the ground: ought he not therefore to be humble? But in this earthly frame there is a spiritual being; and at the thought of this, ought he not to be serious, and to cherish views and feelings worthy of a reasonable and immortal creature? What a wonderful creature is Man! He is mortal and immortal. By his soul he is allied to the heaven on which he looks; by his body he is allied to the earth on which he walks.

But the religious state and character of Man is the great subject that demands our attention; and accordingly we see that it is the first thing that is mentioned respecting him in the Bible. In the verses that we have just read, we see what he was at his creation. He had dominion over all things: the blessing of his Creator was upon him, so that he should have a numerous progeny. But the most interesting point is this: he was a holy and happy being. "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness. God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him."

This is very remarkable language: let us dwell upon it with serious and devout minds. Let us consider what we were; what we now are; and what we ought to seek to be.

I. We may consider what we were; that is, what was the religious character of our first parents at their creation; or, in what the image and likeness of God consisted. To have a just view of this, we must think of God. What is our notion of Him? To Him belong infinite presence, power, and knowledge: but these could not belong to such a limited creature as man; nor indeed to any creature. But God is holy, just, and good. He loves righteousness, and He hates all iniquity. It is very clear that God might create a being holy, just, and good; loving righteousness and hating iniquity; and thus like himself. Such a being Man was. When God

made the world, and made an inhabitant for it, he made him a holy, excellent, exalted, and happy creature; wise in mind and pure in heart.

Thus we see what Adam was in paradise. What lofty thoughts were his! What devout and happy feelings! Eden is an emblem of heaven: and its upright inhabitant is but little below the angels.

II. Let us now consider what we are. Do we now possess that excellence which we have been contemplating? Do the image and likeness of God still belong to us? It is true that Christians in general think far too highly of themselves, as to their intellectual and moral character; and it is true, that they think too ineanly, or rather not at all, of themselves as the creatures of God. Did men regard their bodies as the habitations of immortal souls; and did they regard their immortal souls as the breath of God; they would not so readily and greedily defile body and soul with sin.

The lofty notions that men have of their virtues and good deeds, prevent them from seeing their real condition. But we are not now holy, wise, and exalted creatures, as Adam was. Sin has darkened our minds, corrupted our hearts, disordered us entirely; and we form only a shattered wreck, a melancholy ruin, of what we originally were. Our vain thoughts, our idle fancies, our corrupt passions, and our worldly affections, show that the divine image is awfully defaced, and that we are very far gone from original righteousness. Adam was holy; but we are not holy.

III. We are now to consider what we ought to seek to be. The account of Man in the verses before us, is not given us, either to amuse us, or to distress us; but it is given to stir us up, seeing from what height we are fallen, and what glory and blessedness have been lost, to make the most strenuous exertions to recover the original perfection. God is holy; heaven is holy; angels are holy; and we must become holy; or we shall never enter into blessedness. The cares and pleasures

of the world are vain things. The great and the essential thing is holiness; likeness to God; wisdom and purity in mind and heart. We only live as we ought, when we live endeavouring to recover the image that Adam lost. What does St. Paul say? "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

Let us be thankful for the Scriptures. How clear, satisfactory, and true is the account which they give us of ourselves! In a few plain sentences, they make us familiar with our nature and condition. Let us study them; let us lay their instructions to heart; let us pray to God for the influences of his blessed Spirit, that we may be made wise unto salvation. We are now fallen, guilty, and unholy creatures; but in the mercy and grace of God in Christ Jesus, we have Salvation: let us know our blessings, and so use them as to become continually more holy, more like our Creator, and more fit for his presence.

THE PRAYER.

Blessed God, I thank thee for the Scriptures, and for the information that they give me of my own nature and character. Thou didst make man upright in thy own likeness: but he by transgression fell; and we, his posterity, are unholy creatures. I know that I am ignorant and corrupt; worldly and thoughtless; unlike thee, and far from thee. But, such is thy wonderful love, in the Lord Jesus Christ, the second Adam, we have redemption, pardon, righteousness, grace, and life. Help me so to read, hear, meditate, and pray; so to repent, believe, and live, that I, who am in the first Adam a perishing, polluted, and miserable sinner, may in the second Adam be a redeemed, holy, and happy creature, enjoying thy favour here, and thy presence for evermore. Grant this for the sake of thy beloved Son Jesus Christ. Amen.