wonderful that he should not be able to understand everything in a Divine composition like this. One thing he knows, that there is enough there that he does understand, and which in his heart of hearts he feels to be true and to be God's Word; and for the sake of that, if for no other reason, he will hold fast to the Holy Volume as long as he lives. It has been a comfort to him in many an hour of sickness and trouble, and—let doubters say what they may—he desires to die with it under his pillow.
But the pious man, who is at the same time intelligent and thoughtful, and who would be glad to have some satisfactory solution of these difficult questions, will always, we are persuaded, find at least a general explanation, by applying the principle that has been laid down—namely, that the Holy Scriptures (and the more ancient parts in particular) having been written in an age of the world, when mankind were in a comparatively rude and barbarous condition, the language of its letter was necessarily and most wisely accommodated, in a great degree, to their unrefined ideas. Keeping this in mind, the peculiarities referred to will not prevent the Christian from receiving benefit and delight from the same Volume, because, as before said, its Divine Author has taken care to introduce an abundance of passages and expressions which neutralize or modify the effect of the others, by throwing light upon their true meaning,—and which reveal the Divine character in its true tenderness and beauty. For instance, the enlightened reader finds Jehovah calling Himself, to the Jews, a "jealous God," and describing Himself as "angry" and even "furious," against the disobedient, and threatening them with destruction.
