Revelation. Some other objections are occasionally obviated in other parts of this fourth Book; and for a full view of the controversy between the opposers and defend. ers of Revealed Religion, the reader may consult the au thors on that subject, recommended page one hundred and sixty. In whose writings he will find full answers to the most trivial objections; and will observe, that the cavils started from time to time, by the Deistical writers, have all been fully considered, and completely answered over and over; so that nothing new has been, for many years past, or is likely ever to be, advanced on the subject.

SECTION II.

A compendious View of the Scheme of Divine Revelation.

HOLY Scripture comprehends (though penned by a number of different authors, who lived in ages very distant from one another) a consistent and uniform scheme of all things that are necessary to be known and attended to by mankind. Nor is there any original writing besides, that does this. It presents us with a view of this world before its change from a chaos into an habitable state. It gives us a rational account of the procedure of the Almighty Author in forming and reducing it into a condition fit for being the seat of living inhabitants, and a theatre for action. It gives an account of the origination of mankind; repre senting the first of the species as brought into being on purpose for discipline and obedience. It gives a general account of the various dispensations and transactions of God with regard to the rational inhabitants of this world; keeping in view throughout, and no where losing sight of, the great and important end of their creation, the training them up to goodness and virtue, in order to happiness. Every where inculcating that one grand lesson, which if mankind could but be brought to learn, it were no great matter what they were ignorant of, and without which all other knowledge is of no real value; to wit, That obedi. ence to the Supreme Governor of the Universe is the certain, and the only means of happiness; and that vice and irregularity are both naturally and judicially the causes of misery and destruction. It shows innumerable instances

of the Divine displeasure against wickedness; and in order to give a full display of the fatal consequences of vice, it gives some account, either historically or prophetically, of the general state of this world in its various periods from the time of its being made habitable from a chaos, to its reduction again to a chaos by fire, at the consummation of all things. Comprehending most of the great events which have happened, or are yet to happen, to most of the great em pires and kingdoms, and exhibiting in brief, most of what is to pass on the theatre of the world. Setting forth to the view of mankind, for their instruction, a variety of examples of real characters the most remarkable for virtue, or wickedness, with most signal and striking instances of the Divine approbation of, or displeasure against them.

It is only in scripture, that a rational account of this world is given. For in scripture, it is represented as God's world. The inhabitants of it are every where spo ken of, as no other way of consequence, than in the view of their being his creatures, formed for Religion, and an immortal state of happiness after this life, and at present under the laws and rules of discipline, to train them up for the great end of their being. Even in the mere historical parts, there is always an eye to the true state of things. Instead of informing us, that one prince conquered another, the scripture account is, that it pleased God to deliver the one into the hand of the other. Instead of ascribing the revolutions of kingdoms and empires to the counsels of the wise or the valour of the mighty, the scripture account of them is, that they were the effect of the Divine disposal, brought about by Him, " in whose hand are the hearts of kings, who turns them which way he pleases; and who puts one down, and sets another up; who does in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, whatever seems good to Him, and whose hand none can stay, or say,-What dost thou ?" The view given in scripture of our world, and its inhabitants, and their affairs, is that which must appear to an eye observing from above, not from the earth. For scripture alone gives account of the original causes of things, the true springs of events, and declares the end from the beginning: which shows it to be given by one who saw through all futurity, and by the same, who has been from the beginning at the

head of the affairs of the world, who governs the world, and therefore knew how to give an account (so far as to his wisdom seemed fit to discover) of the whole current and course of events from the creation to the consummation. We have no where, but in scripture, a display of the wonders of Divine mercy for a fallen guilty race of beings. We have no rational account any where else of a method for restoring a world ruined by vice. In scripture we have this great desideratum: Holy scripture shines forth conspicuous by its own native heavenly splendor; enlightening the darkness, and clearing the doubts, which, from the beginning of the world, hung upon the minds of the wisest and best of men, with respect to the important points, of the most acceptable manner of worshipping God; of the possibility of gaining the Divine favour and the pardon of sin; of a future state of retribution; and of the proper immortality, or perpetual existence of the soul: giving more clear, rational and sublime notions of God; teaching a more perfect method of worshipping and serv ing Him; and prescribing to mankind a distinct and explicit rule of life, guarded with the most awful sanctions, and attended with the most unquestionable evidences, internal and external, of Divine authority. Bringing to light various important and interesting truths, which no human sagacity could have found out; and establishing and confirming others, which, though pretended to have been discoverable by reason, yet greatly needed superior confirmation. Not only enlightening those countries, on which its direct beams have shone with their full splendor; but breaking through the clouds of heathenism, and superstition, darting some of its Divine rays to the most distant parts of the world and affording a glimmering light to the most barbarous nations, without which they had been buried in total darkness and ignorance as to moral and religious knowledge. Drawing aside the veil of time, and opening a prospect into eternity, and the world of spirits. Exhibiting a scheme of things incomparably more sublime than is any where else to be found; in which various orders of being, angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, rise in their several degrees, and tower above another towards the perfection of the Divine Nature; in comparison of which, however, they are all as

nothing. Holy scripture, in a word, takes in whatever of great or good, can be conceived by a rational mind in the present state; whatever can be of use for raising, refining, and spiritualising human nature; for making this world a paradise, and mankind angels; for qualifying them for that eternal bliss and glory, which was the end of their being. And it is highly probable, that while the world stands, learned and inquisitive men will be from time to time dis covering new wonders of Divine wisdom in that inexhaustible treasure. The continual improvement of knowledge of all kinds, and the farther and farther completion of prophecy, give reason to expect this. They, who know what amazing lights have been struck out by Mede, Locke, and a few others who have pursued their plan, will readily agree, that, as a century or two past have shown us the Bible in a light, in which it was probably never seen before, since the apostolic age; so a century or two to come may (if mankind do not give over the study of scripture) exhibit it in a light at present inconceivable.

>That it may ina satisfactory manner appear, how import ant the subjects, how wide the extent, and how noble the discoveries of Scripture are; it may be proper to trace the outlines of the vast and various prospect it exhibits, mean, to range in order the principal subjects of Revela tion, as they lie in the holy books. This I will endeavour to draw out of the Bible itself, in such a manner as one wholly a stranger to our systems and controversies, and who had studied Scripture only, might be supposed to do it.

Holy Scripture begins with informing us, that God was the Author and Creator of the Universe; which truth is also consistent with human reason; and the direct consequence to be drawn from it is, That all creatures and things are his, and that all thinking beings ought to dedicate themselves to his service, to whom they owe their ex istence, and whatever they have, or hope for. As the Almighty Creator is a pure spirit, wholly separate from matter, or corporeal organs of any kind, it is evident, that what he produces, he does by an immediate act of volition. His power reaching to the performance of all pos sible things, nothing can resist his will. So that his willing, or desiring a thing to be, is producing it. His saying, or thinking, Let there be light, is creating light.

Scripture informs us, that the human species begun in two persons, one of each sex, created by God, and by him. self put directly in the mature state of life; whereas all the particulars of the species, who have been since pro duced, have been created indeed by God, but introduced, into human life by the instrumentality of parents. We learn from scripture, that the first of our species were brought into being, not only in a state of innocence or capa, city for virtue, but likewise naturally immortal, being blest with constitutions so formed, that they would of themselves have continued uninjured by time, till it should have been thought proper to remove the species to a new and more spiritual state.

The appointment of one day in seven, as a day of rest; the sanctifying a seventh part of our time to religious pur, poses, was an ordinance worthy of God; and the account we have in scripture of its having been appointed so early, by Divine authority, and as law for the whole world, explains how we come to find the observance of a seventh day as sacred, by universal custom, mentioned in such ancient writers as Homer, Hesiod, and Callimachus. Nor can any appointment be imagined more fit for keeping up an ap pearance of religion among mankind, than this. Stated solemnities, returning periodically, have, by the wisdom of all lawgivers, been thought the best expedients, for keeping up the lasting remembrance of remarkable events. And it is evident, that no event better deserved to be kept in remembrance than that of the completing of the work of creation; till such time as the work of redemption, the second and best creation of man, was completed in the resurrection of the Saviour of the world. Upon which the first christians sanctified the first day of the week, and, according to the best authority now to be had, the seventh likewise; though neither with the strictness required by the Mosaic constitution; but with that decent liberty, with which christianity makes its votaries free.

The design of creating the human species, was to put them in the way toward such a happiness as should be fit and suitable to the nature of free moral agents. This ren dered it necessary to place them in a state of discipline; the only possible method for learning virtue; and we accord.

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