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The wisest of the Pagans, therefore, considered a revelation from the Deity as exceedingly desirable in order that bewildered mortals might learn the way, in which they could worship him with acceptance and be happy; and some of them entertained hopes, that such an inestimable favour would at length be vouchsafed. Indeed, confused expectations of this kind have been common in the world; as is manifest from the reception that hath been given to pretended revelations, which otherwise could not have obtained credit and currency.

Various impositions, in this important concern, have been detected by careful investigation and there is but one book in the world, in behalf of which, as a divine revelation, any thing even plausible can be advanced. This has stood the test of ages and undergone the most severe scrutiny; and the more carefully serious inquirers have examined it, the fuller conviction have they obtained of its divine authority. No one now ventures forth as an avowed, sober, and manly adversary, to dispute its claim in the open field of fair argument: yet few in comparison are practically convinced, that it is the unerring word of God; and an increasing number of objectors perplex themselves and others, by discovering supposed inconsistences and unimportant difficulties; or by setting up their own reasonings and imaginations in opposition to its doctrines, and making that disagreement a ground of hesitation or rejection. So that scepticism, and a partial, frivolous, disingenuous, carping infidelity have become exceedingly common; the minds of young persons especially are ed; great pains are taken to disseminate

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these cavils and objections, (though they have been solidly answered again and again;) and those persons are treated as weak enthusiasts, or irrational bigots, who simply believe the Scriptures as the sure testimony of God.

It may, therefore, be seasonable to state, with all possible brevity, some of the most conclusive reasons, by which reflecting men have been induced to submit to the authority of the Bible, and to believe that it is a revelation from the God of truth. By the divine Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, I mean, • Such an immediate and complete discovery, by the Holy Spirit to the minds of the sacred writers, of those things which could not have been otherwise known; and such an effectual superintendency, as to those matters which they might be informed of by other means, as entirely preserved them from error, in every particular, which could in the least affect any of the doctrines or precepts contained in their books.' Every proposition, therefore, is to be considered as the sure testimony of God, in that sense according to which it is proposed as truth. Those facts occurred, and those words were spoken, as to the import of them, and the instruction to be deduced from them, which there stand recorded; but we must judge concerning the morality of men's actions, and the truth of their sentiments, by the preceptive and doctrinal parts of the Scriptures. Nor does it at all invalidate the complete inspiration of the sacred writers, to allow that they expressed themselves in common language, and wrote of things as men generally spoke of them, rather than according to philosophical exactness, or in the style that was

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