men; 3. The immortality of the soul; 4. The end for which man was created; 5. The origin of evil, and the inseparable connection between sin and misery; 6. The vanity of the present world, and the glory reserved in a future state for the pious servants of God. In the Bible we are taught the purest morality, perfectly accordant with the dictates of sound reason, and confirmed by the witness of our conscience, which God has placed for himself in our breasts. In this volume we see described all the secret workings of the human mind, in a manner which demonstrates the inspiration of Him, who is the Searcher of hearts. It gives us a particular account of all the spiritual maladies of man, with their various symptoms, and the methods of their cure. From this source flow all the pure streams of spiritual and healing knowledge, to bless mankind with recovery from his fallen state, with salvation and immortality.
Although many hundreds of thousands of books have been written in different ages by wise and learned men, even the best of them will bear no comparison with the Bible, in respect either of religion, morality, history, or purity and sublimity of composition. Perhaps no man was ever better qualified to pronounce his judgment in this matter than the late sir "William Jones, who was one of the most learned men that ever lived. He says, "I have regularly and attentively read the Holy Scriptures, and am of opinion that this volume, independent of its divine origin, contains more true sublimity, more exquisite beauty, purer morality, more important history, and finer strains both of poetry and eloquence, than could be collected within the same compass, from all other books that were ever composed in any age or nation. The antiquity of those compositions no man doubts, and the unstrained application of them to events long subsequent to their publication, is a solid ground of belief that they were genuine predictions, and consequently inspired."
The commendation which bishop Home gives to the book of Psalms, is found to be true of the whole Bible, by the devout christian, who, alone, is capable of perceiving its excellency. That pious prelate says, "Indited
