knowledge. The Saviour, in a conference with a ruler in Israel, affirmed the necessity of man's being born again; and it is in His holy Word that the means are prescribed whereby this great work can be effected. The doctrines of the Lord, unlike the doctrines of man, not only contain precepts for man's obedience, but information how we can render it conformable to the Divine will—yea, even more than this; for, like the ark of the covenant, to which it corresponds, it possesses an influence which will enable us to receive its doctrines and precepts with sincerity into our minds, to render this obedience in a spiritual manner. With an energy peculiar to itself, it will remove all fallacious principles and evil affections; it will exalt and purify the tender germs of goodness that begin to be developed in the mind; it will open those interior degrees of our spiritual organization which shall render us capable of becoming receptive of a more enlarged sphere of heavenly happiness—in a word, "it will restore the soul." The law of the Lord alone can effect this wonderful change in man; and this it accomplishes because of its perfection. As God is a perfect being, so His Word, His law, His doctrine is perfect, because it is the expression of His own Divine wisdom, and is a pure emanation of Himself. There is no other medium afforded whereby the human race can attain conjunction with the Lord—and, therefore, salvation—except by the Word; and if it were removed from the earth, we should be deprived of the medium whereby we might obtain this conjunction, and our salvation would be impossible, because our regeneration could not be effected. There is a Divine sphere continually emanating from the Sacred Oracles,
